George Barker

Absconded Smethwegian

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@FabrizioRomano Pride and humility? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

So, basically, they simply exercised discretion, of a kind that no one has ever exercised before, and they chose to do so, entirely independently, right after Trump asked them to, and just before he boasted about getting the ban suspended. What do you take us for, @FIFAcom ?

[FIFA Media @fifamedia]

Statement from the Chairperson of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee - 6 July 2026

🗞️🔗➡️ https://t.co/KqNfqBJZoT

#FIFAWorldCup

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@Number10cat Also worth pointing out that, even if you accept the view expressed by Hannan's friend, it constitutes quite a strong argument in favour of immigration, since the immigrants in question seem to have made France a whole lot better.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@AVFCStatto But Trez left the year before Youri arrived, didn't he?

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@FrankleyMan No: the answer is that they are designed by motorists for motorists. Most don't make cycling easier or safer. Many do the opposite.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@FrankleyMan Mostly dull: format changes have removed jeopardy. More important to not lose than to win. But some okay. S Korea good (but can't defend aerial set pieces). Brazil-Morocco entertaining (but technically flawed). NL-Japan good 2nd half. US good (but most EN fans wanted US to lose).

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@xGPhilosophy So, if you are very efficient at converting chances, that's down to luck?

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@IanTaylor7 Don't be silly, Ian. You can't get a red if you're wearing red.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@StanCollymore "Europa League ticket gives FREE public transport across Istanbul."
Stan, do you know if that's just on the day of the game, or more generally?

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@holland_tom Surely time for a Chatham-High-Street-style episode on Constantinople/Istanbul?

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@LUKEatAVFC When the flights have doubled in cost, probably.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@henrywinter Not just corners! Every 'relief' ball out of defence/midfield to a target man with his back to goal becomes a wrestling match for possession of the bit of turf where the ball's going to land. I reckon it's directly related to virtually outlawing tackling.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@DougieCritchley To be fair, Doug, no one I know criticised UE for rotating. Everyone I know criticised the stand-ins for not trying. But, who knows, maybe even that was part of the plan.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@FabrizioRomano Either Atlético president Cerezo can't count, or the translator didn't think that through to the end.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@TotalVilla_ Positional sense and ball skills looked good, but he seemed totally unready for the intensity and physicality of first-team football. Maybe he can learn to cope, but Villa can't afford to carry a passenger while he's learning. A loan is probably the best thing for him.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@BBCMOTD Disagree. Bigger total squads & matchday squads make it easier for £££ clubs to monopolise talent (everyone gets a game) & cope w injuries, form dips & transfer mistakes. Bigger squads = bigger inequalities. MA wants what's best for Arsenal now, not best for football long term.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@TheVillaPolls Over the 90 minutes, it was either Martinez or Mings (yes, he made one huge blunder, but was imperious the rest of the time). Cameos: Cash, Young and Jimoh. But Jimoh just about edges it for me. Really good attitude, looking for the goal every time he got the ball.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@TheVillaPolls Seriously? I mean, he was busy, he did some good things, certainly, but he gave the ball away more times than I can remember and showed poor awareness of the game situation in terms of when to play safe and when to try something on. A very mixed performance.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@jmcginn7 Use the time off to do some upper body work in the gym. You'll be needing to lift some big trophies in May.

[George Barker @CheepRemarks]

@5liveSport @PatNevin @BBCSounds Pat is in a small minority. Most fans, certainly stadium fans *hate* VAR and would gladly accept a few bad decisions to get the spontaneity and atmosphere back. Especially given that idiotic decisions seem to be just as common with VAR as without.