#meanwhile. the struggler.

[comradekatara]

oh book 1 gaang....... my silly rabbits <333

#id in alt text #avatar the last airbender #atla #katara #aang #sokka #art #mart #spent way too many hours drawing this yesterday #and then i looked at it today and was like. okay something is wrong with this. #and then i realized. that sokka was smiling. sokka smiling???? in my book 1?????? #so i just went back and changed it lol #katara and aang being sooooo cute sillygoofy precious angel babies #meanwhile. the struggler. #and i love them all so dearly <3

[joesalw]

Now the Swifties say that Taylor got Joe jobs. Mmh... Taylor who acted in Cats and Amsterdam.... even she couldn't get herself good roles and she was going to get them for Joe lol. I think swifties think Taylor is very relevant to cine even when actors and directors think her directing career sucks and iconic actors don't even listen to her music.

this is hilarious because they think the CATs and Amsterdam actress will give joe a career. If she was relevant enough in the film industry, her own brother wouldn’t be a failed actor and struggler lmao. Meanwhile Joe is working in Yorgos' movies, that speaks a lot for itself.

#joe alwyn #anti taylor swift

[3t22]

The magnitude of the destruction of Palestinian life and infrastructure in Gaza is unfathomable: schools, supermarkets, malls, bakeries, churches, mosques, entire family lineages, and whole neighbourhoods have been eviscerated by Israeli airstrikes, which are backed by the United States and Canada. These airstrikes have included the dropping of widely condemned and illegal white phosphorus munitions, which were also used by the U.S. on Iraqis in 2004 and by the IOF on Gaza in 2008/2009. In North America, grassroots organizations are demanding a ceasefire, a permanent halt to U.S. aid (particularly military aid) for the Zionist occupation of Palestine and an end to the siege on Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza have drafted a list of demands including an immediate end to the brutal bombing, the opening of an humanitarian corridor to allow the entry of aid and the restoration of water, electricity, and fuel access in the Strip. Hamas and other resistance groups, importantly, have released communiqués stating that when the indiscriminate bombing ends and “appropriate security conditions are met,” they’re willing to release hostages and negotiate a ceasefire, while also emphasizing that Israeli airstrikes have already killed approximately 50 of them.

An immediate ceasefire is the only way to prevent thousands more Palestinians from being maimed, dismembered and slaughtered by Zionist airstrikes, but the fight for Palestine does not and should not end there. Since the start of the siege and air, land, and sea blockade on Gaza in 2006, countless ceasefires have been negotiated, brokered, and signed, only to be violated by Zionist forces. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza have had to endure life in an open-air prison, with a collapsing healthcare system, frequently-destroyed infrastructure and deliberate underdevelopment.  In North America, liberal and left-leaning groups and politicians are demanding that Canada and the U.S. urge the Israeli state to enact a ceasefire. Some Liberal MPs in Canada are supporting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s call for a “humanitarian pause,” while Democratic Socialist Congresswoman Cori Bush in the U.S. is at the forefront of legislative calls for a ceasefire. 

But none of these calls from within the belly of the beast align with Gaza’s demands and needs beyond this immediate moment — such as lifting the genocidal siege and liberating Palestinian prisoners — because they’d undermine the long-term interests of the Imperial Core. When we call on states materially invested in Zionist settler colonialism to broker or facilitate a “pause” or yet another temporary ceasefire, we allow a quiet return to the status quo of colonial violence.   The role of the Palestinian diaspora and co-strugglers is to follow the urgent demands of the people of Gaza. But, like Palestinians on the ground, we must also remember that true decolonization includes lifting the siege, halting military aid and weapons trade, and ending the occupation of Palestinian land and liberation from Zionist settler colonialism and imperialism in Palestine and the region at large. This goal will not be achieved through legislative lobbying and American- or Canadian-mediated negotiations. 

#palestine #free palestine #canada #canadian politics #canadian news #reads

[dailyrugbytoday]

Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders vs Chiefs kicking off February 24 in Christchurch

New Post has been published on https://thedailyrugby.com/super-rugby-cru-vs-chiefs-kick-off-24th-feb/

The Daily Rugby

https://thedailyrugby.com/super-rugby-cru-vs-chiefs-kick-off-24th-feb/

Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders vs Chiefs kicking off February 24 in Christchurch

Super Rugby Pacific is set to return at the end of the month with the Crusaders and Chiefs kicking off the proceedings on February 24 in Christchurch.

The commencing fit is a repeat of final yr’s semi-final, at the same time as the top two Australian sides, the Brumbies and Waratahs, will square off later that evening.

Five RugbyPass writers, Ben Smith, Finn Morton, Hamish Bidwell, Nick Turnbull and Tom Vinicombe, have run their eyes over the new squads and the imminent schedule and have dusted off their brains after a long off-season to answer some of the maximum vital questions for the 12 months beforehand.

Which may be the quality and worst New Zealand groups?

The first-class New Zealand group may be the Blues, with the most enviable depth. The Crusaders Super Rugby growing old All Blacks will see a whole lot of sideline time meaning their younger developing gamers will take a much larger load in 2023. The protecting champs received’t be the worst, but they received’t be the first-rate.

The worst New Zealand group may be the Highlanders who do now not have the roster to compete with the alternative four. Across the board, they lack fine and two of their three 10s are Freddie Burns and Marty Banks. Signing old, skilled first fives has never labored out well in Super Rugby.

FM: There are some of All Blacks who name Christchurch home in the course of the Super Rugby season, and there’s a motive for that.

The Crusaders, just like the All Blacks, are expected to win whenever they take the sphere. The adorned history of the franchise expects excellence from every participant, and infrequently do they disappoint. This year can be no exclusive.

Led by using outstanding coach Scott Robertson, the Crusaders are welcoming lower back a familiar-looking squad this season. They’ll also be boosted by the return of the formerly injured Ethan Blackadder.

New Zealand rugby enthusiasts are in for a deal with this 12 months. After a Super Rugby campaign dominated with the aid of the Blues and Crusaders ultimate year, there’s every danger that it’ll more aggressive across the board in 2023.

NSW Waratahs Vs Brumbies Super Rugby pre-season 2023 February 04

But, they could’t all be winners. Someone has to return ultimate out of the New Zealand groups, and this 12 months that’ll be the Highlanders. The Highlanders boast a few superb skills in their ahead p.C., however their lack of intensity in the halves and midfield may also task them this year. With no Folau Fakatava as a backup 9, Aaron Smith will play an even larger function for his liked ‘Landers this season. As for his or her shares at the beginning 5, the signing of Freddie Burns looks like a chunk of a cry for help.

Meanwhile, groups like the Hurricanes are constructing properly – with a number of their gamers coming off a successful Bunnings NPC campaign with the Wellington Lions.

Who will finish Super Rugby Pacific in pole position for New Zealand and Australia? And who will be the competition strugglers? #SuperRugbyPacifichttps://t.co/YOuEMcb9yM

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 2, 2023

The Crusaders can be high-quality and worst, I suspect, might be the Highlanders.

I don’t really want to belabour the motives why, due to the fact they’re not totally of the Highlanders’ making.

The Blues were an utter embarrassment to New Zealand Rugby (NZR) for goodbye, that the governing body basically took over the going for walks of the joint and syphoned gamers of their course.

The Highlanders – to their absolute credit – play near or at their ability maximum weeks. It’s just that they don’t possess the skills of the alternative teams. For the existence of me, I don’t see – as an example – how NZR can permit someone like Manaaki Selby-Rickit to transfer to a Chiefs squad that already has 3 All Blacks locks in it. It’s as though they want the Highlanders to fail.

NT: For me the Crusaders could be the high-quality of the New Zealand sides and could in the end win every other title. The Crusaders do have some gaps to fill with the departures of Pablo Matera, Bryn Hall and George Bridge however appear to have completed a task via signing former Crusaders and English worldwide Willie Heinz, whose previous Super Rugby enjoy and thirteen Test caps may be invaluable. Add the previous Super Rugby and European experience of Melani Nanai to the outside backs and anything weakness left via the departures of Bridge and Hall appear mitigated.

On the opposite stop of the dimensions, I expect the Hurricanes will warfare in assessment to the others New Zealand sides. For me, their tight 5 isn’t one which indicators dominance and I worry the fine in their set-piece ownership could be examined greater regularly than now not. Furthermore, the Hurricanes have had eleven players leave the enterprise (admittedly some bit-part players), the highest turnover of the New Zealand sides, which carry their real sport brotherly love as a unit into question. It can be a difficult yr for the men from the NZ capital.

TV: Enforced rest weeks will restrict the Crusaders extra than other aspects in the opposition however even in years long gone with the aid of, their second- and 0.33-string players have stepped up to the mark. If something, the Crusaders look higher placed to cover any absences throughout the season than in years gone by way of, and that means they’ll be difficult to prevent.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Highlanders won’t lose too many gamers during the season to relaxation weeks, in an effort to be amazing for his or her continuity, and their longer term of accidents over latest seasons has helped them expand a few wonderful intensity. Consistency could be the name of the game for the Highlanders in 2023 but alas, they nevertheless fall short of the other NZ teams in terms of their normal capability (apart from Moana Pasifika). They’ll in all likelihood nonetheless do better than ultimate 12 months – a pinnacle six finish must be the minimum anticipated of Clarke Dermody’s guys – but won’t quite measure as much as their Kiwi opponents.

[ultrafox1963]

Balance of football power shifts in the East Midlands

Today, for the first time in the 21st century, Nottingham Forest will host neighbours Leicester City in a Premier League fixture on virtually equal terms.

It is a scenario which, less than a year ago, appeared beyond the wildest fantasies of even the most fervent of trees.

While the Foxes were revelling in their second European tour in as many seasons, Forest languished in the middle reaches of the Championship, as they had done so often throughout the previous two decades.

But last February's FA Cup clash between the sides proved to be a catalyst for a remarkable transformation.

As Cup holders, fielding a host of experienced internationals, City expected to progress with some comfort against spirited but limited opposition.

Such complacency, though, was ruthlessly dispelled as the hosts, amid frenzied scenes not witnessed in West Bridgford in many years, swept to a 4-1 victory in front of the BBC cameras.

This success gave Steve Cooper's side confidence and belief which would serve them for the rest of the season and beyond.

With the ever-nostalgic fanbase convinced that a return to past glories was imminent, Forest embarked on a run that not only saw them reach the promotion playoffs, but also - albeit with some highly benevolent refereeing decisions - prevail in them.

The club's owner, controversial Greek billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, embarked on a lavish summer spending spree, buying more than TWENTY players at a cost of over £150m in order to ensure his side made a positive impact in Forest's first Premier season since 1999.

Hopes within the fanbase that the trees would take the league by storm proved to be ill-founded, as Forest endured a series of hidings on visits to Manchester City, Arsenal and Leicester.

On their home turf, though, they have been a different proposition, with victories over West Ham and Liverpool helping to lift them out of the relegation zone.

In addition, Cooper has guided them to the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Meanwhile, the Foxes' tribulations have continued since last season's surrender of their much-coveted trophy.

Brendan Rodgers' side - once feared by the strongest teams in the land - went through the whole of 2022 without a single victory against a side in the league's top half.

A brief resurgence before the World Cup was halted by a heavy home defeat by Newcastle, since which further losses have left several fellow strugglers looming large in the rear view mirror.

Defeat today will plunge City into a relegation dogfight for which the club, in its present state of turmoil, does not appear - mentally, physically or financially - capable of withstanding.

And such an outcome would provide further evidence that the status of regional powerhouse - held with such distinction by City during the past decade - is now moving back northwards along the A46.

#Football #Premier League #Leicester City #Nottingham Forest #Brendan Rodgers #Steve Cooper

[midnight-in-town]

Do you know if we've been able to find the limits of Griffith's powers so far? Silat says at one point "We can't predict everything. We are not Gods." So there's some hope that maybe Guts will be able to find a loophole in Griffith's abilities, right?

Hello! Hmm, sorry but no Anon, unless I misunderstood your question, I don’t think that the point is to eventually defeat Griffith/Femto in a showdown of supernatural powers, because it would make absolute no sense?

I mean, look at Guts (who’s the one meant to defeat Griffith/Femto) who has 0 inherent supernatural power and who doesn’t want any. 

On the contrary, what he has is pure raw strength, a gigantic sword Dragonslayer that’s infused with the remnants of all the Apostles and co that he defeated so far, and the cursed Berserker’s armor. 

Meanwhile, it’s true that Griffith as Femto has immense strength and (limitless?) supernatural powers:

So my personal take is more that Guts will find a way to defeat Femto with his own strength, that he’s been constantly building up considering all that happened to him, as well as with the friends he made along the way. 

In my opinion, that’s precisely the irony of their fateful conflict with Griffith who was reborn as Femto, while Guts is the Struggler: the one who’s bound by the laws of causality, despite how powerful he is, may end up defeated by the one who’s escaped his fate times and times again.

Of course, we’re not there yet, but look at Guts’ last fight against Slan:

He did better against her than the last time he faced all of them, in the very first arc. :)

Honestly, I discussed this before, but if I had to name one possible weakness of Griffith as Femto, something that might trigger his downfall, I think it’s not inherent to himself as a Godhand or as the man he once was, but rather it’s his vessel: because apparently he can’t control the transformation during the full moon + he can be affected by the boy’s feelings for his parents.

I think this is for now (or it’s going to be) a bigger thorn in his back than magic-wielders trying to find a flaw in his powers that indeed do appear limitless. 

My opinion. :) Feel free to disagree! Have a nice day Anon!

Hello Anon! Sorry, but I don’t think Zuko’s character arc can be compared with Guts’? 

It’s not a topic I like to discuss about, since the characters don’t have the same backstory and their universe are way too different. I would have understood implying a comparison as far as Ozai and Gambino are concerned, but with the matter of the Eclipse, their trauma are on very different scales.

Please do not send me this kind of asks, I was very explicit about this several times before: it’s not something I know how to answer because character arcs are inherently linked to a story’s plot and a universe’s worldbuilding.   

Thank you for understanding, have a nice weekend!

#berserk #guts #griffith #femto #berserk theory #anon #answers

[nowgoalbola]

Match Time: 7/11/2020 04:00 Saturday（GMT+8）

Spanish La Liga -- Real Madrid VS Alaves

Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips| Asian Handicap Odds|Line-ups& H2H Stats

-----------------------------------

Real Madrid will be looking to continue their charge towards the La Liga title when they welcome lowly Alaves to the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Friday night.  Los Blancos currently sit four points clear of second-placed Barcelona at the top of the table, while Alaves occupy 16th, six points clear of the relegation zone with four games left.  

Match preview  

It is very much advantage Madrid at this stage of the campaign, with Zinedine Zidane's side sitting four points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who have dipped since returning to action after the lockdown period.   Barca will have the chance to move to within a point of their bitter rivals when they face Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Wednesday night, although the gap will again be four if Madrid were to overcome Alaves in this match.  Four points with three games left would be a huge advantage; Zidane's team do have potentially tricky games against Granada, Villarreal and Leganes to come, although it would be a surprise if they did not manage to pick up enough points in those fixtures to finish at the top of the pile.  Madrid have now won their last seven in the league, including their last three 1-0, which is title-winning form; their performances have not always been pretty since returning to action last month, but a run of four straight clean sheets is an indication of their improvement in that area of the field.  Only once since the 2011-12 season have Los Blancos managed to win La Liga, and they will be determined to pick up all three points on Friday to move a step closer to lifting the trophy.  

Barcelona will be hoping that Alaves can do them a huge favour in this match, but the omens are not exactly terrific for the Basque side, who are currently 16th in the table.  Indeed, Los Babazorros have lost each of their last five in the league, scoring just once in the process, which led to Asier Garitano being sacked as head coach at the weekend.   Juan Muniz, who last managed Malaga in 2019, has been placed in charge of the club until the end of the season, and the 51-year-old's first assignment could not be much more difficult.  Alaves are enjoying their fourth season at this level of football, and it would be a surprise if they were relegated despite their poor form, which has seen them slide down the table.  A total of 35 points from 34 matches has left them in 16th position, six points clear of 18th-placed Mallorca, which is a healthy advantage at this late stage of the campaign.  

Real Madrid La Liga form: WWWWWW  

Alaves La Liga form: WLLLLL

Team News  

Madrid will be far from at full strength on Friday, with key defenders Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal both suspended due to the bookings that they picked up against Athletic last time out.  Eden Hazard is also expected to remain on the sidelines with an ankle problem, meaning that Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio could join Karim Benzema in the final third of the field.  Nacho's ongoing absence with a thigh problem means that Zidane has decisions to make in defence; Raphael Varane should be back from a head injury, having already returned to training, and the Frenchman could be joined at centre-back by Eder Militao.  Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy are options for the right-back spot, meanwhile, and the latter could get the nod, allowing Marcelo to come into the side at left-back.  Alaves, meanwhile, have lost defender Ruben Duarte for the remainder of the season due to a foot injury, while goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco remains on the sidelines with a muscular problem.  The strugglers are otherwise in good shape when it comes to injuries, though, and it will be very interesting to see how Muniz approaches this game in terms of formation.  Joselu could return to the attack alongside Lucas Perez, while Pere Pons is also in line for a recall, meaning that Scotland international Oliver Burke could drop back down to the bench.  

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Mendy, Militao, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Vinicius, Benzema, Asensio  

Alaves possible starting lineup: Jimenez; Aguirregabiria, Laguardia, Magellan, Marin; Pons, Fejsa, Pina, Mendez; Joselu, Perez  

Odd analysis:

Even with Madrid's injury and suspension problems, it is difficult to imagine Alaves picking up something from this match. Los Blancos could only be a point clear at the summit by the time that they take to the field, but we expect Zidane's side to put another hugely important three points on the board.

Real Madrid VS Alaves

Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves

#alaves #real madrid #spanish la liga #match prediction #tips #asian handicap odds #line-ups #H2H Stats #sports #soccer #football #win #lose

[tomk4e]

Premier League Week 14 Review

Week 14 of the Premier League kicks off the holiday schedule and the busiest period in the league. This weekend was the first of seven games that each team plays in December. By the end of all this fixture congestion there should be a clearer picture for the title race and relegation battle. And it might seem cliché, but teams either sink or swim during this part of the year.

At the top of the table, Liverpool and Leicester City both won 2-1. Meanwhile, Chelsea lost 1-0 to West Ham, and Manchester City drew 2-2 at Newcastle United. There were also two exciting 2-2 draws on Sunday. Arsenal and Norwich City played to a stalemate at Carrow Road (more on that later). Then Aston Villa earned an important point at Old Trafford against Manchester United. But here are the more enticing headlines to come out of this weekend’s games.

Dele Alli looks revitalized under Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourninho has won his first two Premier League games since replacing Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham manager. Even though it is a small sample size, Tottenham’s attack looks re-energized since Mourinho’s appointment. Spurs have scored three goals in each of their two wins under Mourinho already. And the player who looks most impressive for Tottenham since the change in manger is attacking midfielder Dele Alli.

The England international has two goals and one assist in his two matches since Mourinho arrived. Perhaps the most important for Alli since the arrival of Mourinho is where he’s been playing. Under former manager Pochettino, Alli was deployed out wide as a left-midfielder or in a deeper position as part of a midfield trio.

However, under Mourinho, Alli is playing in his preferred position as an attacking midfielder right behind the striker. This is important because Alli doesn’t have blistering speed, nor is he an exquisite dribbler. But what he does have is an excellent understanding of space and timing. And what makes an effective attacking midfielder is their ability to manipulate the space in between deeper midfielder, and wingers and striker.  

The timing aspect of Alli’s game can be seen in his second goal against Bournemouth. For this goal Alli identifies Bournemouth’s defensive weakness; the space in behind, and then times his run perfectly so that he doesn't have to waste any extra movement to latch onto Toby Alderweireld’s pass.

Meanwhile Alli’s understanding of space can be seen in his assist for Heung-Min Son’s opening goal last week against West Ham. For this goal, Alli occupies a pocket of space in between West Ham’s defense and midfield. After receiving the pass, Alli plays a simple pass to Son who finishes the chance.  

Due to the positional change, Alli has doubled his goal total and contributed his first assist in the Premier League after just two games. If Tottenham want to return to the top four they need Alli to continue to perform and take some of the pressure off fellow attackers Son and Harry Kane.

Managerial change for Arsenal and Watford

Both Arsenal and Watford fired their managers over the weekend. Arsenal parted ways with Unai Emery before their Sunday match against Norwich City. Meanwhile, Watford dismissed their manager Quique Sanchez Florez just 85 days into his second stint as the Hornets’ boss.

Both sackings also came off the back of poor results. For Emery it was a 2-1 loss last Thursday against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League, while Flores lost to fellow relegation strugglers Southampton 2-1 on Saturday in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s interim replacement for Emery is former player and Arsenal U23 coach Freddie Ljungberg. The Swede made 326 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal from 1998 to 2007. However, his first appearance as manager for Arsenal didn’t go as planned. The Gunners drew 2-2 at Norwich, and showed the same defensive frailties that they had under Emery. If Norwich was more clinical with their scoring chances, then it could have easily been a loss.

However, it’s still too early to judge Arsenal and Ljungberg after just one game. And remarkably Arsenal remain just one point behind 5th place Tottenham. This season would be a success if Arsenal come anywhere near qualifying for the Europa League.  

Watford meanwhile have yet to find a replacement, but of the two jobs, it is clearly the worst. The Hornets have one win out of 14 games and a total of eight points. There might be just a six-point gap between them and 17th place, but Watford have a brutal next four games. The face 2nd place Leicester City this Wednesday before travelling to 1st place Liverpool, and then host Manchester United on Dec. 23. The only game that seems manageable is at home against 11th place Crystal Palace on Dec. 7, but the way Watford have been playing, they’ll be lucky to get a point.  

Goal of the week: Kevin De Bruyne vs. Newcastle United

There were a couple of options just from this game alone to pick for goal of the week. Jetro Willems’s goal in the first half finished off a slick one-two passing move for Newcastle. Jonjo Shelvey’s equalizer late in the second half for Newcastle was an excellent finish on the end of a clever free kick routine. Then there was even Jack Grealish’s curling goal against Manchester United on Sunday. However, the goal of the match and, consequently of the week, belongs to Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian midfielder fired a volley from outside the box after a deft first touch from a poor Newcastle clearance. Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka managed to get his fingertips to the striker but nothing was going to stop De Bruyne’s effort. Absolute rocket.

#Barclays Premier League #football #soccer #tottenahm hotspur #Arsenal #Watford #Manchester City #dele alli #kevin de bruyne

[mossmanuk-blog]

Football Manager 2019 Swansong

I’m almost 100% sure that this is going to be my last FM19 game. By that I mean the last new game I will start. I’m already balls deep into two games that are getting very interesting. On Football Manager on the PC I am on the brink of qualifying for the Champions Cup will Kilmarnock, however title dreams seem so far away. That’s the challenge in the SPL... Knocking Celtic off their m’fu’ing perch! Oh and Rangers are there or thereabouts as well...

It is a classic unemployment challenge! After guiding Albion Rovers to the Scottish Championship I was engulfed in a season of struggle and Premier League strugglers Kilmarnock came calling. Yeah they were bottom half but with only 5 points separating them from the top half and a host of young promising players, I gladly took the challenge! Those of you who know the struggle, Man City quite like one of my young attackers, so you know what’s to come as we sit on the brink of the top club competition in the world...

Meanwhile on FM19 Touch on the switch, same deal. Unemployed and build up my reputation and coaching badges along the way. Had to wait till November in the first year for a job, what a chance though. Chester City came calling and boy for that level they have money! Sponsorship deals to blow any team out of the water. Still... it took 5 years to get into the Football League. The club had to go professional to take the final push. With foundations set though by year 7 we made it to the Championship and boy what a struggle, just as we looked like we were about to bow out of the division Leeds United sacked their manager for failing to get promotion to the Premier League. With the team they have, sorry Chester but off I went!

Now Elland road is 60,000 seats and Liverpool are a mid table team. Times do change but the Manchester teams are still godly! Leeds are in the mix in the Premier Division and in Europe and have a host of top young world talent, it’s been a while since the 2001 Champions Cup run and the First Division title of the early 90′s.

This brings me to now then and as good as touch is, I crave the full experience that only the regular Football Manager can give. Last game before Football Manager 2020 comes out? My beloved Liverpool!

[worldticketsandhospitality]

Uruguay Football World Cup: Uruguay vs Chile - prediction, team news

Uruguay will look to record their first win of the Copa America campaign when they take on Chile in Cuiaba. Oscar Tabarez's men agonized a defeat to Argentina in their only game of the competition so far, while Chile have together four points from two matches, with a win sealing their place in the quarter-finals

Fans from all over the world are called to book Football world Cup tickets from our online platforms WorldWideTicketsandHospitality.com. Football World Cup fans can book Uruguay Football World Cup Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

                        Uruguay kicked off their campaign with a main clash against Argentina, and they were barely defeated in Brasilia. Guido Rodriguez opened the scoring after 13 minutes, and Tabarez's men were incompetent to level the game, recurring empty-handed as a result. That was their fourth conventional game without a win in all competitions, before being held to unsatisfactory goalless draws by both Paraguay and Venezuela in Football World Cup Qualifiers at the beginning.

Having come into the tournament as one of the favorites to go far, La Celeste will be anxious to put their first points on the board to rapidly cement themselves at the top end of group B, as they look to book their residence in the final eight with wins from their final three group matches. For more details about FIFA World Cup Tickets click here.

Against come into the game having had a strong start to the group stage, and they can confirm their qualification to the knockout stage with a win. In their opening group game, Chile picked up an admirable point as they drew 1-1 with group favorites Argentina.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring for them against with a stunning free-kick, but Chile equalized on the hour mark as Eduardo Vargas smashed in the recover after Emiliano Martinez saved Arturo Vidal's penalty, sealing an inspiring point to start their campaign. They then noted their first win of the tournament last time out, as Ben Brereton obtained the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over strugglers Bolivia.

As a result, Martin Lasarte's men find themselves on the edge of qualifying alongside Argentina, and they will be hopeful of obtaining another win to not only confirm their spot in the quarter-finals but also to help attain a high finish to gain a more favorable draw in the first knockout round.

Team News

The Uruguay line should be controlled by the potent pair of Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani and Atletico Madrid talisman Luis Suarez, with the duo having acquired a combined 114 goals on the international stage. They will be maintained by the threat of Nicolas De la Cruz, while Tabarez may look to take in another winger after setting up protectively to take on Argentina, with Brian Ocampo likely getting the nod on the right flank.

The change of method could see midfielder Lucas Torreira sacrificed, with La Celeste potentially favoring a pairing of Real Madrid prospect Federico Valverde and Juventus man Rodrigo Bentancur in the middle. At the back, former Atletico Madrid pair Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez should continue to partner up at the heart of the back four, having made a collective 205 Uruguay presences.

Having only recently acknowledged for Chile, Blackburn Rovers attacker Ben Brereton is making his first international presence at this year's Copa America, and he acquired his first goal in his first start to fire them to a 1-0 win last time out, helping him cement an initial spot.

They boast a solid collection of abilities across the pitch, with Brereton leading the line alongside Eduardo Vargas, while the midfield is toured by the impressive trio of Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz, and Erick Pulgar. For more to know about Football World Cup packages click here.

Meanwhile, center-backs Gary Medel and Guillermo Maripan have both overwhelmed with assured performances in their opening two group games and will line up collected in front of Claudio Bravo again. They boast a solid collection of abilities across the pitch, with Brereton leading the line alongside Eduardo Vargas, while the midfield is toured by the impressive trio of Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz, and Erick Pulgar.

Meanwhile, center-backs Gary Medel and Guillermo Maripan have both overwhelmed with assured performances in their opening two group games and will line up collected in front of Claudio Bravo again.

We are offering tickets for Qatar Football World Cup 2022 admirers can get Qatar Football World Cup 2022 Tickets through our trusted online ticketing marketplace. Worldwideticketsandhospitality.com is the most reliable source to book Qatar Football World Cup Hospitality tickets and Football World Cup Packages.

#UruguayFootballWorldCupTickets #QatarFootballWorldCup #FootballWorldCupHospitalityPackages #FootballWorldCupHospitalityTickets #FootballWorldCupPackages

[frontlinefever]

Lens vs Strasbourg prediction, preview, team news and more

Lens vs Strasbourg prediction, preview, team news and more

Action continues in France’s Ligue 1 this weekend, with eighth-placed Lens taking on strugglers Strasbourg at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday. Lens will be hoping to climb towards the top six with a victory. Strasbourg, meanwhile, will be aiming to follow a strong win over Nimes with three more valuable points. Lens vs Strasbourg Head-to-Head Lens have had an up-and-down campaign so far…

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[profjoelblog]

Liverpool sent Jose Mourinho and Tottenham title warning

Liverpool sent Jose Mourinho and Tottenham title warning

Liverpool have been warned not to write off Jose Mourinho and Tottenham in the Premier League title race. The Reds head into the New Year top of the table but have seen their lead narrowed after draws with strugglers West Brom and Newcastle in recent matches. Meanwhile, Spurs have struggled for form in December after seemingly putting themselves in title contention with a run of results that…

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[tomk4e]

Premier League Week 16 Review

This is what makes the Premier League great. Whereas some leagues like the Bundesliga in Germany and La Liga in Spain are preparing for their winter break, the Premier League marches on. Just a few days removed from the Merseyside Derby, fans were rewarded with the Manchester Derby and a London Derby, along with a host of other games to choose from. And the best part is that the Premier League delivered once again. Here are some of the major headlines to come out of an exciting week 16 of the Premier League.

Big Dunc gets his first win

Duncan Ferguson’s first match as Everton manager sure was a good one. The Toffees beat Chelsea 3-1 at Goodison Park. The win dragged Everton out of the relegation zone and into 14th place.

This was also Everton’s first match since their dismal 5-2 defeat to in-City rivals Liverpool, which promoted the Merseyside club to fire it’s manager Marco Silva after the club dropped them down to 18th place and into the relegation zone.

So how did Ferguson manage to have such an immediate impact on a squad that lacked desire? Well the answer was to simplify the game. Under Silva, Everton switched between the 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 formations. However, Ferguson opted to line his team up in a simple 4-4-2.

The game plan against Chelsea was also simple. In attack Everton would spread the ball out to their wide midfielders Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi, who were then supported with overlapping runs from their fullbacks. From there, Everton would cross the ball into the box for their strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to attack. Everton’s first goal is a prime example of this style of attack.

Then in defense, Everton’s game plan was just as simple. Whenever Chelsea tried to pass the ball around in their defense, press them and force errors. Aside from that, when Chelsea had the ball in midfield or in attack, Everton would sit back, clog passing lanes and absorb any pressure that Chelsea tried to exert in attack. The press on Chelsea’s defenders worked so well, that two of Everton’s goals came as a direct result of this game plan.

Now this is just one game, but it is a promising start for Everton. Big Dunc and the Toffees will have another test on Dec. 15 when they travel to face an in-form Manchester United.

Manchester is red… for now

The headliner in the Premier League on Saturday was the 179th Manchester Derby between Manchester City and Manchester United. And the first meeting of the season went to Man United after they beat their noisy neighbors 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

And it was an open game with plenty of chances for both teams. However, Man United took advantage of their chances in front of goal and even capitalized on a favorable VAR decision which led to Marcus Rashford’s opening goal. Man City had a late fleury of scoring chances in the second half, but were unable to salvage a point. This win solidified Man United’s claim to challenge the top-four and earn an all-important Champions League bid.

This is the first time Man United have won back-to-back games in the Premier League this season, who now sit in 5th place, just five points behind Chelsea. The two wins have also come against top-four challengers Tottenham and Man City.

And on paper, Man United have some easier games coming up. Three of their next four games are all against teams in the bottom half of the table. The Red Devils could solidify their top-four challenge with some positive results against this lesser opposition by the end of the holiday period.

Meanwhile, Man City have already lost four games this season. They lost just six all of last season on their way to the title. Manager Pep Guardiola and company need to find a way to turn this season around if they want to remain in the title race. Because as of now Man City is 14 points behind Liverpool and in 3rd place.

Leicester City continues to roll

With Liverpool continuing to win, and Manchester City losing to Manchester United this weekend, the only team that seems like they want to challenge the league leaders is Leicester City. The Foxes beat Aston Villa 4-1 on Sunday, retaining their 2nd place position in the league, eight points behind Liverpool.

Led by striker Jamie Vardy, Leicester has one of the most potent attacks in the league. As a team they’ve scored 39 goals, which is third best in the Premier League. Vardy has a league leading 16 goals, and after the game against Villa, he’s scored in eight consecutive Premier League matches. The last time Vardy scored one that many consecutive games was in the 2015-16 season when he scored in 11 consecutive games, and Leicester won the title.

However, Leicester also have a defense to match their prolific attack. The Foxes have a league best seven clean sheets, and on the season they’ve only conceded 10 goals. The last time that Leicester conceded more than one goal in a game was the last time they lost when they played Liverpool on Oct. 5. Since that 2-1 defeat, Leicester has conceded just three goals and kept five clean sheets.

Leicester’s form has been so impressive that they’ve extended manager Brendan Rodgers’s contract to 2025. The Foxes will try to win their ninth game in a row when they host relegation strugglers Norwich City on Dec. 14.

Goal of the week: Son Heung-min vs. Burnley

Solo goals are always a treat. So feast your eyes on Tottenham’s Son Heung-min and his 90-yard run, as he sliced his way through a helpless Burnley defense. Son received the ball inside his own half, turned around, and thought to himself, “I’m going to embarrass someone today.” Well he embarrassed a whole team and scored what could be goal of the season.

#Barclays Premier League #soccer #football #Everton #duncan ferguson #manchester derby #Manchester City #manchester united #Leicester City #son heung min

[khalilhumam]

The Curse of Falling Expectations

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/the-curse-of-falling-expectations/

The Curse of Falling Expectations

This blog post originally appeared as an op-ed on Project Syndicate. When a society goes from broadly shared growth to a state of malaise or decline, the ensuing pain is not just economic but psychological. Now that tens of millions of people in developing countries are suffering precisely such a reversal of fortune, the political fallout is sure to be tumultuous. Washington, DC - Until COVID-19, many people in the developing world felt good about their futures. Overall, developing countries had recovered quickly from the 2009-10 Great Recession, and many – especially in Africa and Latin America – were enjoying the benefits of China’s ever-growing demand for oil, minerals, and agricultural commodities. Expectations were rising. Not so in the US, where the benefits of economic growth since the 1980s have been funneled to the already rich, with the middle class and the poor increasingly falling behind. Many analysts attribute the rise of the populist right and US President Donald Trump’s election in 2016 to these trends. While the middle class has shrunk, a growing cohort of working-class white people has fallen into despair. Many are angry and frustrated over globalization-induced job loss, government neglect in the face of an opioid epidemic, underfunded social programs, and even profit-driven capitalism itself. (The interesting exception to working-class malaise is among black and Hispanic people, who have become more optimistic about the future as they close the gap with working-class whites.) The end of rising expectations in America came slowly, over the course of many decades following the post-war boom, during which longstanding political institutions and established norms made the US liberal-democratic system relatively resilient. But in the current century, social cohesion (at least for whites) and a shared sense of moral progress began to decay, leaving the body politic increasingly vulnerable to the appeal of illiberal populism (and worse). This experience holds lessons for developing countries. Dashed expectations are bad not only for individuals’ health and wellbeing, but also for a society’s ability to build and sustain democratic norms and institutions. Economic growth in the developing world has generally been stronger and steadier than in the US for more for than a generation. China and India took off in the 1990s, and most other developing regions followed suit by the early 2000s, including – most dramatically – Sub-Saharan Africa. This growth has been inclusive enough to lift tens of millions of people out of extreme poverty ($1.90 per day), yet it has not necessarily secured their place in the middle class. Instead, there is a massive new class of “strugglers” whose families get by on $4-10 per day per person. Though strugglers are better off than the poor, they lack regular paychecks and social insurance, and are thus vulnerable to household shocks such as a health crisis or a sudden loss of employment. Most are self-employed or informal workers in the food, transportation (ride-hail drivers), and retail sectors within expanding urban centers. Comprising more than three billion people in developing countries, they are both ambitious in pursuing a better future and anxious about the constant risk of falling back into poverty. Over time, economic growth has lifted some strugglers (most likely those with some secondary education) into a large and fast-growing middle class, with daily incomes of $10-50 per person. Still, working-class struggler households predominate in the developing world, making up about 60% of people, with middle-class households constituting another 20%, and the extremely poor and the rich accounting for about 12% and 8%, respectively. Among these, it is the struggler and new-middle-class households that face the greatest risk from the pandemic-induced macroeconomic shocks that developing countries are experiencing. Andy Sumner of King’s College London and his co-authors estimate that a COVID-19-induced contraction in developing countries of 10% of 2020 GDP would push about 180 million people below the $1.90/day extreme poverty threshold. And while the World Bank has based its own estimates on smaller, country-specific GDP contractions averaging 5%, it still warns that 70-100 million people could fall into extreme poverty. Meanwhile, the poorest of the pre-pandemic strugglers may suddenly find themselves among the “extreme poor,” and an even larger number of the remaining strugglers – almost 400 million, based on World Bank estimates – are vulnerable to sharp income declines during the current recession. Add another 50 million people in middle-class households who are likely to become strugglers, and as many as 450 million people –more than the entire US population – are at risk. What does it mean for millions of people suddenly to find themselves worse off than they had expected, through no fault of their own? Latin America’s experience shows that when a vocal and demanding citizenry suffers a sharp reversal of expectations, the result is US-style social tension and political polarization. In 2014-15, growth across the region began to flag badly, averaging below 1% per year, which implies negative per capita growth. As a result, conditions that were tolerable when the economic pie was growing suddenly became less so. In the five years since, huge protests have erupted in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador, most of them over official corruption and the insider privileges enjoyed by political and corporate elites. Only in relatively well-off Chile were protesters successful in achieving progressive change. In the shadow of COVID-19, the developing world is experiencing severe political and financial pressures. Without their own tradable currencies, these countries cannot borrow from future citizens (as the United States and the European Union can) to meet their immediate needs. Given the risks of fraying social cohesion, political instability, and recrudescent autocracy and populism, the International Monetary Fund and multilateral banks need to offer far larger lending programs for middle-income countries. These should be simple and straightforward, designed to finance immediate cash transfers to ensure that children in poor and struggling households do not go hungry and abandon school permanently. Such investments are necessary to reap the returns in future human capital upon which development ultimately depends. The COVID crisis is a moment when liberal democrats in the US must not only resist authoritarianism at home, but also lobby for additional support to developing countries. When people who believed their prospects were rising no longer do, politics can become messy – with collateral damage to freedom and civil liberties – very quickly.