No. I’ve looked into it. It just seemed a bit messy and unduly complicated.

I agree. I was at first. That's why if I encounter any thing technologically daunting i go to my tech savvy my nieces, nephews or children of friends.

It’s not that it’s technologically daunting (I’m way out of Warrior’s league - aren’t we all - but I do run two websites that I have set up). It’s just the mess of stop starting a paid service plus the degrading impact of VPN in normal usage.

Andy Green can attest to the reputation of the Philadelphia police force I imagine (at the risk of putting him on the spot). More like the Philadelphia gestapo in some respects, especially during my youth. I finished HS in a nice upper class suburb of Philly using a local address and the local constabulary were nice, helpful, small town police types.

I also have 4 friends who are police officers. One a former HS classmate. Salt of the earth guy. That said, policing in America, especially urban areas are often tantamount to bullies with guns. Imagine that 5th former that hit the younger students all the time for nothing and now he's got a gun and a badge and free reign to do it without much repercussions? Exactly.

When ever those of us in America demand better conduct from our police force, after some incident of abuse that gets national attention, we are invariably given the response by someone "They put their lives on the line. We can't fault all of them over a few bad apples." That term 'a few bad apples" is repeated ad nauseam.

I've never heard of anyone who would agree to get on a plane of an airline if they openly allowed a 'few bad apples' to among their many pilots. Or a hospital that had a 'few bad apples' among all the surgeons. Even the American military doesn't allow a 'few bad apples' among the soldiers. But we allow an organization that is given an extensive screening process, extensive training, a gun and legally allowed to use lethal force on the citizenry to still employ and deploy a 'few bad apples' among the good ones?

The NYC police department union boss made this 'bad apples' assertion. The city paid out over nearly a quarter billion in settlements https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-stringer-report-nypd-payout-settlement-lawsuits-20190415-2zzm2zkhpna63dtlcr2zks6eoq-story.html . Doesn't sound like a few bad apples. Youtube has many videos of those 'few bad apples'. Many. Sounds more endemic than a 'few bad apples'.

No job that has life and death implications should be allowed to have a 'few bad apples' employed. We don't even allow it for jobs where there are no life and death implications. No parent would allow their small child to go a to a kindergarten or primary school that has a 'few bad apples' teaching there. But we allow it for the police? I'm not the brightest so I will need to be spoken to slowly and carefully for that explanation to make sense.

The police were given military equipment since the 90s. Excess weaponry and materials from years of cold war buildup as well as the too many to recall foreign conflicts we Americans seem to find ourselves in at least once a decade. We have militarized the police against its own citizens.

Finally, and this is an uncomfortable truth in America, we only hear the 'few bad apples' argument when the victims are black. I've never heard it when it was any other. I've seen instances of police abuse issues involving a wide variety of people in NYC:
white college students, Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn, Asian or two, handicapped believe it or not and even Latinos the 2nd most targeted group, and the 'few bad apples' mantra isn't trotted out.

The current movement to defund police departments in certain urban areas sounds scary as hell to me. I'd have to see what will replace it or what is proposed before I sign that petition..lol. But the police departments of NYC and other major cities facing this would not even have this posed if they were doing their jobs properly. That suburban town I went to HS hasn't spoken of defunding at all nor is it even a question. The local police do their jobs. There are fairly large urban areas in America where the police department is not seen as the enemy. It's possible.

I've encountered the police in major cities globally and have seen the stark differences to America. I've been to Istanbul and Barcelona after terrorist bombings in a heightened atmosphere and still didn't see the same antagonistic attitude of the police in cities like Los Angeles.

Why is it that when Arsenal players are linked with a move away the fee quoted is so low in comparison to other deals. The media pretty much pluck a number out of thin air but I read this morning that Inter Milan want to sign Bellerin for £27m. Compare that to Chelsea/City rumoured chase of Ben Chilwell for £75m. Bellerin is only 2 years older at 25.

The forums has lost it's mojo ............;....fifty fivw buillion f^^%%%$##$(((*&*&&*B AMerican dickstop posts

Old Man , Long time , Warrior ......;.......simper dot com .......

We never seem to get full value on deals do we? And way too many players let go for free or close to it.

I thought the club stated that losing experienced players for nothing will stop. That’s why if Aubameyang doesn’t extend his contract this summer, I fully expect him to be sold. Saka might be kept as he isn’t experienced and isn’t worth as much. The only reason we’ll keep Özil is if nobody will take him off our hands, by which I mean pay him enough to move. Otherwise we’re stuck with him until the end of his contract.

With football coming back in England, I was looking at the games left. Top 4 is likely out of reach. I went over to the FA Cup fixtures and too many big clubs are still in it to leave me with much hope. So, for the rest of the season I'd be happy if we defended better, started playing Arteta's system better and we bring in some quality players and get rid of the dead weight, which is self evident who these players are.

Apparently it is still preferred to use VAR, as the integrity of the competition would be compromised. FIFA is giving clubs an option not to. It's to be voted on this week.

Sorry what’s pathetic?

Ramsey didn't make the Juve squad tonight for the Copa Italia semi v Milan. Is he injured? I heard Juve were putting him up for sale as they count the cost of his £400k a week contract.

Many have thought over the years Juve have been the kings of the free transfer, they have made some very sought after signings, but the free transfer does mean these players have huge wages, if they aren't performing that is a big weight around the clubs neck - as we know all too well.

My sincere apologies to the three simperers '' especially Warrior who does the tireless yards ...totally out of order .

I got so smashed on gin last night it is a wonder I could type , read , breathe .

Watched rugby . played chess , rock n roll music till about 3 am ....wife not saying much .

The most consistent rumours I’ve heard of Ramsey’s season in Italy is that he’s struggled for form and fitness. He’s apparently played 24 games in all competitions with four goals and one assist. Not bad but for an attacking midfielder not that great either.

I can understand any decision by Juventus to sell him for what will presumably be a more than decent fee. They’ll make a decent profit on signing him. When I think of his time at Arsenal he had one outstanding season but was otherwise often good but not great, and sometimes worse than good. Maybe a modern day equivalent of David Platt? Alright, but fairly underwhelming a lot of the time.

If I was to list every Arsenal midfielder I’ve ever seen Ramsey would probably get somewhere in the top half but nowhere near the very top group with the likes of Vieira, Petit, Brady, Pires, Rocastle, Ball and various others. I’d definitely put Ramsey lower than Ray Parlour, Steve Williams, Paul Davis and Michael Thomas too.

When he left, from memory weren’t some saying what bad news it was? Financially, I’d go with that. To lose him for nothing was a big shame. But on the basis of Ramsey’s footballing contribution to the team, I was shrugging my shoulders and thinking ‘oh well, worse things happen at sea so nothing to feel that bothered about’.

Interesting point about the business of free transfers. Ramsey and Wilshere are a couple great 'what ifs'. Both talented and had they stayed healthy, probably would have had very good Arsenal careers. Ramsey especially. I understand why he left but I think he would have thrived under Arteta...assuming he stayed healthy. I was very sorry to see him leave. He had a few cracking goals and was never shy about taking shots in a game that most players would only attempt on a training pitch. Enough of them scored for it to be on a few video compilations.

i wish him well. Always liked him personally. And a personal fave with him being Welsh.

New sponsor named for English FA Cup final
This season's FA Cup final will be dedicated to mental health campaign Heads Up.

http://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/more-spo ... ocid=ientp

Next time invite us over !

Thanks Hodd

Agreed, but signing a player for £0 and paying them £400k per week on a 5 year deal (£104m total investment) and then they don't perform makes it very difficult to move the player on if the player digs his heels in. Who else will pay those wages.
Alternatively you could pay £50m a transfer fee and £200k a week on the same 5 years deal (£102m total investment) and you'd be much more likely to shift the player on and cut your losses as more clubs can afford those wages

https://mobile.twitter.com/BBCSport/sta ... 7624510477

This is an absolute disgrace.

And why would you think that?

Football should be apolitical. FIFA stopped England wearing poppies as no symbols or political messages were allowed on a Jersey. Correct call. This sets a precedent.

Prior to each game as well, players will be taking the knee and a minute of silence for C19 victims and solidarity for BLM.

I'm flying to England to protect Mustafi's statue.

The one thing with football I've seen over the last decade is it makes an attempt to be morally responsible. Its a global sport and the league is extremely diverse.
It would be interesting to find out how many nations are represented in the league.

Apparently you weren't aware of the Spanish police violent clashes with protesters over the Catalan referendum over the last 2 years in Barcelona and other regional cities.

That's fair enough if that's the reason. We have to remember though that a lot of our players are BAME and they probably want to show solidarity with the BLM movement.

Agree with Gunfire.

You are right about the clashes Zed. Other countries have experienced event-specific clashes with the police. However, the police in many cities in America are abusive regularly, arbitrarily. It's endemic, no matter how peaceful the public is.

I really hope this comes to fruition.

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/06/13/ill-lose-my-freaking-mind-if-this-is-true-some-arsenal-fans-really-excited-by-35m-transfer-update/
According to Tuttosport, Arsenal are ahead of AC Milan and leading the race to sign Dayot Upamecano.

Nothing stopping them doing that just not with our clubs jersey. Also one would have to question why the club distanced themselves from Özil's stance on the Uighurs while embracing BLM. It looks like some lives matter more than others.

Supporting Özil's stance would no doubt have lost the club income in China. So, as with most things it comes down to money.

Seen reports today that Juventus will offer Ramsey to both Tottenham and Manchester United. If it’s true, which like most transfer rumours it probably isn’t, perhaps Juventus fancy players at those two English clubs?

I’m cooking rack of lamb - with a bit of a crust - for me and the old trout. I’ve no doubt i’ll overcook the lamb but then we are at different ends of the spectrum - rare for me but that’s not popular.

Cheeky Californian Pinot noir. I can see Bern’s lip curling.

I must admit pinot noir isn’t my favourite grape variety. The wines are a bit too light for my liking. I prefer meatier, heavier and more robust red wines with a greater depth of flavour than the thin, watery and weedy wines you often get with pinot noir.

You can find nice pinot noir wines. Burgundy is the traditional home of them. But even then, boy do you have to pay a lot of money to get a good Burgundy. I my view, significantly more than you have to pay for a good Rhône wine, or even Bordeaux.

You had a Californian example tonight. You do get good pinot noir wines at better prices than you can from Burgundy. But I would say exactly the same of new world shiraz (the same grape variety is called syrah in the Rhône Valley), as well as the traditional Bordeaux varieties cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

Another in a long list of transfer rumors. The Iranian Messi. Azmoun.

https://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-closing-in-on-signature-of-iranian-lionel-messi/248344

I've only seen fan sites suggest the player for us to buy. Nothing as far as I have seen of rumors that the club was interested. I would love his addition to the squad.

Article in The Athletic shows the stats for using Aubamayang on the left wing, and shows he scores more from that position.
So much to sort out with this team. Central defence and central midfield are still to most critical areas to fix, it feels like they have been for a decade or longer now.
Depending on the futures of our 2 main strikers we could face a re-build there, although I'm more confident we have some young talent coming through in those positions.
Also, depending on how Arteta starts to shape the team we could be looking for a central creative player, or Arteta may get rid of the No. 10 position and go with the double 8 as City do with De Bruyne and Silva. Or he may look at the liverpool route and try to get more creativity from the full back positions and a potent front 3.

Happy that football is back but we must remember Arteta has still had precious little time with the players. We really do need some sort of European football for next season (even Europa fills the coffers with £40m odd), but it is still a tall ask, particularly when you look at the fixtures and the fixtures of some of our rivals. Man U have a very easy run in. Although who knows what state each team will be in when football returns

Serie A clubs, Newcastle, W. Ham, Frankfurt and Lyon are also interested.

Well said, Marcus Rashford.