The General Football Thread

That very last panel seems more than a little ironic appearing in the guardian.

I have seen posts on football websites recently with people writing in saying that England can’t complain about the human rights issues at the Qatar World Cup because of the British Empire. Most likely a lot of people trolling but it doesn’t seem too far away from the sort of thing the guardian would write (and this is coming from a lefty)

 

"Educate yourself" the Qatar 2022 organising committee's response to criticism needs ridiculing in whatever form. I haven't seen any of the trolling posts that you describe and nothing in the Guardian linking the Empire and the right to highlight Qatari abuses.

 

I had no idea that is what the Qatari response was. That makes more sense now but it still is shockingly lacking self awareness

“Educate yourself” is the dismissive response from people of all persuasions when they are unwilling or unable to backup their positions. The left are just as guilty of using it and so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Qatari’s using it is them trolling.

It is very similar to the response of “do your research” when someone asks for sources. Again used by everyone of all political persuasions. Usually the sources do not exist

Another similar example is “Check your privilege” and derivations of it. And that is definitely a guardian thing should you choose to see it.

You will only have seen the *potentially* trolling posts if you frequent the same football websites as me. I made no claim about it being on here. I also have no idea whether it was trolling or people actually being shockingly ignorant about British people now and those who oversaw and controlled the Empire in it’s height. Honestly it could be either

As to the last point, it may sound pedantic but I did not say it was a guardian article. I said it was the sort of thing they would write. Which is based on how their opinion columns work.

For example crying racism at the dismay most people felt at Will Smith slapping Chris Rock for making a joke. It couldn’t be that most people were appalled at the idea and precedent of physically attacking someone for saying something you don’t like - and not just any “someone” - but a comedian. No they made one black man striking another black man into a way to insult…white people. So it really wasn’t a stretch for me to imagine them taking a self-flagellation position with regards to Britain’s role in international relations

 

Having worked on the designs for two of the stadiums in Doha for this tournament (one being the Lusail Stadium) l can vouch for the poor care of the site workers. When the latter stadium was being constructed, the workers rioted through the construction site. Their reason; their promised overtime payments (which, at that time had yet to start paying after nearly a year on site) were cancelled. The result: once the police and army arrived and quelled the riots, every were shipped home the following day, never to work again in Qatar. Lots l could tell you about Qatar, but to summarise not that nicer place and, generally, a quite repulsive people - massively arrogant and very racist, even for thr Middle East.

 

2 great headers in 2 minutes for Benzema

 

Benzema is incredible.

 

The curse

 

Shocking mistake…..3-1 Real.

 

Real using their vast experience to boss Chelsea!! A final between two Reals is still possible!

 

Mourinho has lost again to Hodor/Grint or whatever that fantasy-themed Norwegian side is called.

 

How to kick a football.

 

Robert Earnshaw. Apparently he is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the Premier League, Championship, Leagues One and Two, the FA and League Cup, and at International level.
Quite a feat.

 

Athletic Bilbao: Inaki and Nico Williams inspiring each other - BBC Sport

Hopefully, Nico will win lots of caps fpr Spain at international level. He is quite capable of destroying many a defender, he just needs to imporve his final product. I like the way Inaki is keeping his brother's attitiude in check. The two are very watchable players as they have speed, elegance and a huge amount of skill.

 

Brilliant from the Hull owner.

Acun Illcali: Hull owner will take 500 fans on holiday to Turkey - BBC Sport

 

Shame we missed out on the China trip under Gao

 

Wuhan in late 2019 would have been good

 

I still remember the Vitesse fans at St Mary’s in our Europa Eagle qualifier. They were fantastic, I can still remember the song they sang throughout the second half