If they play for a draw, they are effectively giving up any chance of winning the league. So if it does look like they're playing for a draw, it means they've given up on the championship and are only concerned about securing second place. It will be interesting to see how they approach the game.

Personally I think they have to play to win. The difference between winning the title and coming second is massive. But the difference between finishing second and finishing third is essentially meaningless.

Australia have certainly handled this really badly. But the issue is that legally, he had to either be vaccinated or have a genuine medical reason why he couldn't get vaccinated. He had neither of those things, and knew it. Australia were stupid to grant him a visa, they should have anticipated the problems it would cause when he arrived. But equally, despite getting the visa, Djokovic was surely well aware that he didn't meet the criteria. He's far from blameless in this.

From previous posts, it sounds like you have a commendably healthy lifestyle. But a data point of one single individual person cannot be used to identify a pattern.
We would expect people who live healthily to be less susceptible to serious Covid symptoms than those who live less healthily, but that certainly doesn't mean that everyone who lives healthily will not get severe symptoms.

I am a person.
I woke up at 6AM this morning.
Therefore all people woke up at 6AM this morning?

Newcastle are desperate to get anyone they think will help them avoid the drop. Paying £25m for Wood is as much about weakening a competitor as it is strengthening their own squad.

I think even if they do manage to bring in a load of expensive new players this month, it's going to be very difficult to turn a bunch of new individuals into a cohesive footballing team in time to avoid relegation. And players who Newcastle bid for will know that. I can't see why top players would want to join them.

I think City will win. Yes they are somewhat weakened, but they've been winning every match for a while now, and as you say, they're at home, too.

There are very few matches where you'd even consider the possibility of City losing points... and yes, playing a weakened team against Chelsea is one of them... but even so I think City would have to be strong favourites for the match.

I don't think an appeal would work, the AO starts on Monday, it seems very unlikely he'd get a hearing before then. And even if he did, I don't see how he'd win the case.

As for the 3 year ban thing, I don't think that will apply, they can just waive it so he can try again next year.

He's tried to lie his way in, and then lied to cover it all up.

It does lend weight to the theory that whenever he appears to get "injured" at critical moments in a match, and throws his opponent's concentration out, and then miraculously makes an instant 100% recovery moments later, that it's all an act. More lies and deception, just to get what he wants.

He's one of the greatest tennis players ever, arguably the greatest... he shouldn't have to stoop to these tricks to get into a country, and he shouldn't have to do the same in matches, either.


It is, yes, but it's also aligned with the law. Popular opinion was against him because he's seen to have tried to bypass the law.


... I suppose the next question is: what happens when it's time for the French Open? The French president said just the other day that he wanted to make things difficult for the unvaccinated. This story may continue in another country.

Breaking news... Australia have cancelled Djokovic's visa again!

I think this is the right decision. He should never have got a visa in the first place as he didn't meet the criteria, he tried to cheat and lie his way to getting one. His apology or explanation (or whatever it was) the other day really sealed it for me, and removed any empathy I might have felt for his situation. It was so obviously manipulative, and the way he tried to cast himself as a well-meaning innocent and throw all the blame on one of his team was just pathetic.

The whole thing doesn't reflect well on Djokovic, and the way it's been handled doesn't reflect well on Australia. But it's the right decision.

... is there time for another legal appeal before the tournament starts?

It does seem a good price, and 29 is not so old, he can easily have another 5 years at the very top.
It might not seem good business by Everton, but Digne's spat with Benitez left them with no choice really, they had to sell him and everyone knew it, which probably reduced the price somewhat. Mykolenko coming in may be a bit of a gamble, but again, they needed someone quickly, and you can only buy the players who are available - always difficult in the January window.

I take the point that everything came together for her in the US in terms of the way the draw opened up. And as I'm from the UK I may be somewhat biased here, but she's been seen as the next big hope for British tennis for quite a long time now, and whilst it was a surprise to see her breaking through so early, it was always a question of when, not if. And remember the US Open was actually her second slam. Her first was at Wimbledon last summer, where she made the last 16 before retiring due to breathing difficulties.  Yes her results since the US haven't been great, but her game has everything, and all she really needs is time. But I agree the media should not pressure her (although, of course, they will).

 

I was not a fan of the way he tried to force his way into the country despite obviously not having a real medical excuse. But about the Covid test, I think I said a couple of pages back I wasn't willing to condemn him until the picture became clearer. I think it's now pretty clear, and his statement just makes it worse... it reads exactly like the sort of crap that politicians always come out with, blame the "error" on a mistake by some expendable underling. And the way he's trying to frame his moving about between countries, and attending public engagements despite testing positive, and claiming he's doing so because he doesn't want to let the journalist down... absolute garbage. I really don't like his arrogance and utter contempt he's showing not just for Australians but for any fans who he expects to swallow these lies. I hope he gets heckled by the fans and gets knocked out in the first round.

It seems unlikely. They are right on the limits of FFP. They were only able to register Torres by offering Umtiti (who they don't want) a new longer contract in return for slightly reduced wages, so they could comply with FFP: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jan/10/barcelona-register-ferran-torres-samuel-umtiti-agrees-new-deal

They are a huge club and so will always be associated with the biggest name players, but I can't see how they can afford to bring big names in.

I think some of it can be ascribed to her having Covid over Christmas. She has recovered now, but she pulled out of last week's Melbourne tournament because she wasn't yet ready to play. So the match against Rybakina was her first of the year, and her first after Covid.

You mean flip-flop as in tailoring your position according to the available data? Rather than, say, starting at one ideological position when no data are available, and then resolutely sticking to it come what may, facts and evidence be damned, because the absolute best decision you can ever make is to never ever respond to evidence?

"Flip-flopping" is what science is built upon. Anything else is mindless zealotry.

When I saw the thread title, I thought this was a neat parallel to the UK becoming a total cesspool as a result of Brexit.



If you ever want to escape the UK, my advice is don't escape into the water. There be dragons*.







* Sorry, euphemism. There be faeces.



This one appears to have come to life. Must be off the coast of Sellafield.

The latest data suggest quite strongly that masks are vital in reducing the spread. Airborne transmission is almost exclusively over a short distance over a short timeframe. If you can't socially distance, then masks are hugely protective.

Your Reagan image is probably from some dumb movie.
Whereas your Biden image shows him literally getting his ass in the boat and doing something.

BTW putting a donkey in a boat and setting it adrift on the ocean is as close as you can get to delivering the Kraken a ready-meal. But still he won't surface. Perhaps... the Kraken doesn't exist?

Whereas teachers who are employed by private companies would of course be utterly impartial, and motivated to provide the best education possible, rather than being motivated to maximise profit by supplying the minimum possible level of education they can legally get away with to meet contractual requirements. 

Some professions fit well with the private sector. Teaching isn't one of them.

I suppose it's less harmful than other "remedies", such as drinking bleach or exposing your internal organs to happy sunshine therapy.
The #UrineIdiot hashtag is quite good. 

I don't ever bet on Djokovic to win, as everyone knows he will beat almost everyone, almost all of the time. Even if he is 2 sets down in a first to 3 set match, it is likely that he will come out the winner.
I'm sure the immigration visa issue will have unsettled him, and if he does play in the AO then the fans will surely be hugely against him... but even with all that, I think I still wouldn't bet on him to lose, as he probably has the mental strength to fight through it.

Basically I just don't bet on Djokovic matches.