It's possible. No one is immune to a coup. Has Russia through its political incarnations....monarchy...communist under the guise of the USSR...whatever it is today, ever had the same smooth transition of power as the UK, USA and other countries since Czar Nicholas II's coronation?

Any time one of the premier dies, it was a power struggle behind the scenes between members of the military and politburo, challengers to the helm spirited away never to be seen or spoken of again. Putin knows his countries own history as well as anyone and try as he might to protect himself from the same fate as others, the word is he's surrounded himself with sycophants and yes men. Always a recipe for disaster.

The war isn't going well. Russia has basically fought most of its wars since WW 2 by proxy (Korean war, Vietnam war, other smaller ones). It's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was the first full scale war it had and they obviously didn't read the histories of Alexander the Great or the British military there. Some historians say that was what imploded their economy. They were already teetering with bread lines going back decades. No healthy economy has continual breadlines. Trying to arm, house and feed about, 200k troops will usually implode any economy. Our stock market was moribund for over a decade from spending in Vietnam.

But I digress. This will not end well for Russia or for Putin. Their last gasp is trying to dislodge the US dollar as the world reserve currency. (Not that I think it should be anyway).

Balogun scores for England U21's levelling game at ht to 1-1

Balogun’s loan has been brilliant so far. He’s only behind the big 3 at PSG for goals in the French league and he’s continually scoring for the Eng U21 side. At the absolute worst case he’s adding plenty of ££ to his transfer value.

If Jesus and Nketiah get injured or are otherwise unavailable at the same time, can Balogun be recalled from his loan?

We shouldn't even be thinking of selling him.
Hopefully he can bang in lots of goals and come back next season and make an impression.
Arteta persuaded him to sign a new contract so hopefully has plans to let him challenge Jesus and Nketiah next season.
We shouldn't be investing in another striker for the forseeable.
Balogun should save us a lot of money in the future.

We’re cursed

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19924094 ... 64205357-1

We’re screwed. God is punishing us. It always turns to *%^@

Take a point at this stage.

Wish I wasn’t going now.

It’s an early kick off so we won’t even get some liquid coverage beforehand

*%^@ the world. Etc etc

6% interest rates next year

Terrific, that’ll help me mortgage. Oh well at least our bananas are all bendy again though… a worthy trade off for having to flog your gaff

On a more positive note.

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/ ... d-25086984

I think you may be right, my dear Watson. There must be a supernatural explanation. "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

Talk about clickbait. Emile Smith Rowe and Elneny are out. Absolutely nothing definitive about the rest.

It’s the paranormal at work or something,

We’ve been kidding ourselves for too long. Might be linked to chemtrails or something.

Absolutely correct dec. Pure unadulterated clickbait.

I had noted some posts recently about the UK governments decision on tax cuts. Until I listened to an explanation of the consequences just on breakfast TV I did not appreciate the potential problems for pension funds, let alone a falling pound and potential for inflation, that everyday people could face. I am concerned.

My problem with governments over here is the waste of money by governments with pet projects that have no underlying justification. I assume it is the same there.

Thanks. one thing I don't want is to start Partey and hope he is okay. This has back-fired before.

It’s pretty much this apart from you couldn’t describe it as a pet project. It’s just a bribe to a certain voting demographic by illogically abolishing the higher rate of tax there’s no underlying strategy

Their ruse and lie is that you pump money into the supply side of the economy and people will use it to invest in their businesses, hire people, increase production, and the economy will be boosted. The problem is that unless they see demand for their goods and services in the UK , business owners aren’t going to do any of those things and many will just spend their tax breaks on personal expenditure. To provide an example

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sport ... -240k.html

There’s no underlying justification. It’s lying, bribing and criminality. Just a final ruse to try and stay in power

If it’s criminality, what law is being broken?

I’m not saying a law isn’t being broken. My youngest daughter is the lawyer in my family, not me. But if your accusation of criminality isn’t hyperbole, I’d be interested to know which law is being broken.

TG the doomsayer, would you Adam and eve it?

Strange how we're the second strongest financial nation as all the G7 Countries are affected by the US boosting rates for God knows why.

TG the MSM and the Remoaners are doing their best to bring down the Government. They got rid of Boris because they hated his positivity and now they want rid of Liz because she did the right thing with the budget. Dawn her optimism let's wreck the Country to prove Btexit was a mistake. Damned ****.

Still a bit worried though as that Sun article shows only the Tea Lady and the Water Boy as being match fit.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/emile-smit ... es-surgery

Emile Smith Rowe has had surgery on his groin. Won't be back in training until december, so we probably won't see him on the pitch until after the world cup

with the Emile Smith Rowe injury news we are going to be relying on Marquinos and Vieira more than Arteta might have planned, especially with Marquinos. There also might need to be games where Nketiah starts with Jesus to give Saka or Martinelli a rest.

9 games in October

Is America fan culture worse than the UK's?

I’d have thought Jesus is the one to rest, at least in some or all of the four cup games.

I'm nervous. I was invited by a few gooners to watch the game at a pub but I want to watch it alone. If things go pear shaped, I don't want to be around spuds fans.

I see plenty of Arsenal/Spurs combined 11's around NLD time, its not as easy as just picking the 11 players. Both teams play very different formations and very different tactics.

I think each set of fans would chose their own GK in their combined 11, but if you play in Arsenal's formation with Arsenal's tactics then it has to be Ramsdale because Lloris is not great with his feet.

Spurs play wing backs, of which Perisic is very decent, but he'd get nowhere near a combined team in a back 4. You could say the same about the CB's. In a back 4 Id pick 2 Arsenal CB, in a back 5 then maybe you find room for Romero - but even then a back 3 of White/Saliba/Gabriel is hard to make a case for any spurs boys

So in Arsenal's formation and tactics
Ramsdale
White/Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Partey, Xhaka (I dont see how Holjberg or Bentancur are anywhere these two)
Saka, Ødegaard, Son
Kane

you could even argue Jesus better suits our high press but it would be a bit too biased to leave out Kane and Son with their goal-scoring record

I thought they got rid of Boris because he told too many porkies?

That goes some way to explaining why we have seen so little of him this season then.

Yes, and unless I missed something it was the Tories who got rid of Johnson, and surely most of them supported Brexit?

The right thing with the budget? Time will tell of course, but right now that would seem debatable at the very least. Optimism won't pay the bills!

Apparently the tea lady is a defensive midfielder with pace.

Arsenal have extended with Adidas until 2030. Good move, the kits have been fantastic. Apparently the away kit outsold the home kit for the first time this season

The black or pink one?

I think the black one is the official away - the pink is the 3rd kit. I read it from last nights fans forum chaired by Vinai. The club were struggling to keep up with demand by all accounts

As long as it stops Adidas from going back to yellow away shirts, any colour is fine by me.

Must admit I’ve only ever bought the home shirt myself. Or I should say requested the home shirt when I’ve been given it for a birthday present. This season’s home shirt has been my favourite in years.

Never seen it but I’ve heard Tony Adams is a contestant in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. Has be been knocked out yet or is he still in it?

Remoaners fault. Classic. And as for your G7 nonsense. Spectacular stuff.

It’s just possible that this version of the Tory party are particularly *%^@ at their jobs.