Winter News

You're on a comedic roll his week Sensible. Have you started on the Christmas Spirit(s) early?

 

Well if he has, he hasn't updated his Twitter account


Does the incessant use of the phrase "Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle" have anything to do with the Mystery New Investor?

 

This is the latest from the club on the weather:

Fans' Guide | Oxford United (H)
Amber Weather Warning
An Amber Weather Warning for high winds has been issued across the South West for Saturday, 7 December.

We ask supporters to allow extra time to make the journey to Home Park for the match - and to check before you travel, in case of any issues on your route, while considering your own personal safety.

The club are carrying out risk assessments and putting in place the relevant measures to ensure the safety of all supporters at Home Park.

Regular updates will be provided if there is any chance of the fixture not going ahead.

Please check the Plymouth City Council website for updates on roads and footpaths.

The wind will be coming from the north west which is better than coming right into the Sound from the south west..

I wouldn't fancy travelling from Oxford by train though. It doesn't take much to knock out the rail network does it? A short period of drizzle, or as Beaufort described a "light air" - Wind direction shown by smoke drift but not by wind vanes. That's definitely enough to put paid to trains through Dawlish.

 

Pasoti obviously got the story right about Pete Shuttlesworth's departure but the club have appointed a very well known successor, Mike Phelan, 1st Team Coach under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and then his Assistant Manager for 5 years until Ferguson retired.

https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/phelan-joins-shuttleworth-departs

 

Well nobody can accuse the club of not making an effort. Quite a surprise appointment but not too shabby either.

 

Pasoti also writ in the possibility of Mike Phelan being mentioned as a replacement.....a double Man U connection now.....he's done it all and got the T-shirt...might start to make a difference in the on field organisation......couldn't be worse than it is now.

 

Couldn't help but notice some of the womens results today.

14-0
0-13
1-24

More like rugby scores.

 

It's disappointing that news of these personnel changes leak before a formal announcement. Due to the influence of agents and perhaps different attitudes in the "selling" and the "buying" clubs perhaps it's difficult to stop it with players, but it's different with staff.

It's particularly disappointing that Pete Shuttlesworth's departure leaked as it was due to "personal circumstances". That covers a lot of territory form being to allergic to pasties upwards but it's not something you'd want bandied about before the details were settled.

 

I can't say how or why I know this but Argyle are one of no less than 15 Championship teams who've won either a single away match from their last 6 aways, or none at all.

Swansea are NOT in that group, having won 2, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their last 6 aways.

 

See prediction league for more info on this subject.

 

2034 WORLD CUP.

Saudi Arabia have finally been confirmed as hosts of the 2034 World Cup.after FIFA's bidding process turned into a farce

The Gulf state.was the only bidding nation for the tournament.....despite huge concerns over another winter World Cup........human rights and major fears for the safety of construction workers.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino asked its 211 member nations to clap in an online meeting th show their support for Saudi Arabia.....with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco also confirmed as joint host for 2030.

FA chair Debbie Hewitt could be seen on a giant video screen looking bemused by the whole affair.

Part of a Daily Express article on the 12/12/2024.

PS......So look forward to another disrupted football season in 2034.......it might not be a problem for me I'd be 95 if I live that long,

 

Further news on the 2034 World Cup.

FIFA bosses face a backlash from football fans and human rights groups after choosing Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 World Cup.

Footballs international governing body announced the decision during its virtual congress in Zurich after the bid ran unopposed.

But fan groups claim Fifa rigged the vote by changing the bidding rules.....Its 211 member nations are supposed to select one host in a single vote...usually with multiple contenders.

Instead they voted for two tournaments at once.....in 2030 hosted by Spain, Portugal,and Morocco with some games in South America......and 2034....But fifa was accused of "sports-washing" by failing to consider the Gulf state's record over migrant workers, freedom of speech and the treatment of women and gay people.

Human Rights Watch has said it is using the World Cup to "wash away its poor human rights reputation".

Saudi Arabia has promised a futuristic cliff-top venue built 1,000ft above ground along with a further 14 stadiums.....Bid leader Hammad Albalawi said..."We are a young nation seizing this opportunity." A fifa report on the bid said the rights risk was "medium" while it concluded that "hosting the competition could help contribute to positive human rights impacts".

Steve Cockburn...at human rights group Amnesty...said: "Fans will face discrimination , Migrant workers will face exploitation and many will die".

The English FA said it was given assurances on human rights....In a statement it said "We asked them to commit to ensuring all fans would be safe and welcomed to Saudi Arabia in 2034 including LGBTQ+ fans....Our commitment to diversity and inclusion means being respecful of all....including all religions and cultures. We also believe that hosting the World Cups can be a catalyst for positive change".

Saudi Arabia faced controversy six years ago following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by men allegedly close to the government.

Also...at least 198 people have been executed in the country this year.....the highest number since 1990.

Yesterday fans spoke of their anger....One..Adam Salisbury said "The whole world has blood on its hands supporting Saudi's World Cup Bid".

Daily Express...Thursday...12/12/2024.

 

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

 

I doubt I will still be here to witness 2034 so to be honest I don't care. By then nobody else will care as football will have disappeared into oblivion destroyed by the weight of cash that was floating about in it.

 

Only floating about in parts of it.

 

Yes the parts that influence the World Cup. There is enough sloshing about in the Championship these days though.

 

I checked on Argyles' league position at the end of last year.

2023/24.....P25...28pts.....minus 2 goals.

So far this season.....P19.....17pts....minus 21 goals.

So we're in a worse position at the moment.....we did do better before the new year last year.

This year our goal difference is worth easily minus a point.

 

We haven't played 23 games we have played 19. You may need to check your checker.

 

I put down end of December by mistake.

 

Postponed Oxford game will now be played on Tuesday January 14th at 7-45.