JoeQuince

13 minutes ago, Bill said:

Not going to get into an argument with you Isiaih, to me this is just about professional footballers feeling tired after 3 hours of football a week, these supreme athletes have the best doctors, trainers, diatricians and God know what else, so if they feel tired something is very very wrong.

I’ll hop in to say this: Point taken. You aren’t wrong. But, as MikeO pointed out, the argument doesn’t actually apply here. We are going to put out what is essentially a reserve side, not to rest players for Sunday, but because both Everton and Apollon have already been eliminated from the competition. So, the more apt line of reasoning is to suggest that we (1) won’t want to risk injury to key players ahead of a meaningful match and (2) will want to keep our best 11 focused on preparing for a meaningful match, rather than waste valuable time on a match that has nothing at stake beyond pride, confidence, and comfort within a new tactical system. It’s essentially a mid-season friendly.

50 minutes ago, markjazzbassist said:

top posts joe well said

I just got back from the American Anthropological Association meetings yesterday. It appears as if I’m still in conference mode. Bear with me!

7 hours ago, hafnia said:

I think the issue is black people referring to each other as nigger ... now they fought so long for equal rights etc and they are calling eachotger an offensive word that would see them go mad if a white person called them. Strange.

 

 

There are a few ways of looking at this. First, we could do as you did and say “why would you do that to yourselves, Black people? Have some self respect!” But, I don’t know that putting full responsibility for the continued harmful effects of this term on black people (when the term continues to be used to denigrate and subordinate them) is the most fruitful or empathetic line of reasoning. The next step in this line of reasoning is “Well, Kanye West said it, so I didn’t feel too bad using it” or “If black people say it, then I can say it, too!” Second, we could denounce all use of the word, police it, and punish it accordingly. But, this denies our ability to even engage in discussions like this and denies the importance of context. If we can’t understand and parse our the different uses of the word “nigger,” then were no closer to understanding WHY we shouldn’t be using it. Third, we could see that black people saying “nigger” or “nigga” is a way of playing with and transforming a term of oppression—it often amounts to a term of endearment (“my nigga,” “this nigga over here,” etc.). This recognizes the ability of people to take something that oppresses them and recontextualize it in a way that takes away its power over them. Fourth, we could look at the use of the word “nigga” as a political statement that says “Yes. I am a nigger. Fuck you for making me into one. And, fuck you for telling me that I can’t even have that, because NOW you’re suddenly uncomfortable with it.” And, building off of that, we could say that white anxiety over the use of the term “nigger” or “nigga” by black people is produced by their own discomfort when it comes to recognizing their own legacy as racist oppressors and their reticence when it comes to confronting that history and doing something to actually change it. In other words, white people would rather erase racist history by policing racist words than change a racist present by confronting the racist world they live in and support through their racist practices. 

On 12/2/2017 at 17:41, MikeO said:

It amazes me playing cards online how much Americans use "nigger" or "nigga" (sorry but "the n word" carries much less weight); never hear it over here anymore. Why? Even if the target is from Japan or Russia or wherever when the chances of them being black are minimal it comes out.

It isn’t that the word carries less weight in the US. In fact, it carries a TON of weight. There are two things I’d say are going on in this case. First, of course, American society is extremely racist. Racism doesn’t simply happen at an individual level. Rather, we Americans inhabit (and constantly reproduce) a racist world, even as we deny being personally racist. So, many people use the word “nigger” AS IF it carries no weight. But, the word actually does plenty of violence and supports a culture in which those who are victimized by this word (and the racist ideologies and structures of American society) can easily have their voices and feelings made irrelevant or silenced. Second, context is key. That means, it isn’t just the use of the word “nigger,” but HOW it is employed and to what ends. In a chat room or on XBox live (or the PS network or whatever), often the word is used as a way of asserting one’s dominance or control, even if it seems like a throwaway or filler word. In other words, using the word “nigger” means showing one’s brazenness or non-chalant coolness. On the other hand, it can be used directly, as a way of pointedly putting someone down, even if they aren’t black. The point is that this word is quite often a way of demeaning others and supporting one’s supremacy and control over others (even if they themselves are not white or their target—should they have one—is not black). 

Looking at it again, maybe I read your statement wrong and assumed that you meant you thought “nigger” must carry less weight in the US. I’m thinking you were perhaps stating your amazement that Americans continue to be such gigantic racist douchebags and use the word so frequently. 

This is shit. One more thing that makes me wonder if I’m in a coma and having the worst of nightmares. 

But, all I can do is hope that the big greaseball turns our season around now. 

Walsh has shown nothing but the best judgment with regard to our transfers, so the club should definitely listen to him here.*

*This is sarcasm

10 minutes ago, Finn balor said:

Whatever team we put out is going to be shit and low in confidence. Benni has to play, we are missing McCarthy 

I would 100% take either of these over Schneiderlin, who has been nothing more than a passenger this season. 

I think we need quick players up front, so I’d play Vlasic and Lookman. Maybe play Rooney in the hole and Sandro up front. These are all players who can move the ball around quickly (Rooney sometimes belies that though)

Williams and Keene split again. Fucking shit. 

Please retire, Ashley. Please. 

Great goal by Gylfi. 

Now do more of that!

We’re so fucking soft. 

Can Ashley Williams be forced to retire? 

We’re embarrassing. This season is simply Everton testing my faith. 

Sandro! I’m happy he got his goal. Maybe he takes some confidence from that. 

Watching Klaassen just jog around the pitch, he looks like a little kid “playing” with the adults. What the fuck is he doing?

11 minutes ago, Palfy said:

Can we all be agreed now that Schneiderlin and Gana should never be seen on the pitch together again, I know I've said it hundreds of times it makes us to defensive to negative, drop them both and start with Davies and Besic in their positions and only have one on the bench, then we can reinstall Vlasic to the bench to use when we need a impact player to change a game 

I really don’t think Gana is the problematic part of the equation. Schneiderlin has been ghosting through games and playing like an absolute knob. I also don’t know that Davies is responsible enough to play alongside Gana. He has a lot of loose touches and brain farts. Besic has never shown that he can be relied upon. Gana with Baningame (I know I spelled this wrong) looks like a promising pair, if we are to play with two defensive midfielders. Or Gana with McCarthy, who we know is a strong, responsible player that never stops working .

I would rather see us play with an inverted triangle. Gana at the base, with two more advanced players ahead of him (preferably a healthy Ross Barkley and either Sigurdsson, should he ever get his game back, Vlasic, Lookman, or Klaassen).

Kenny has shown himself capable today, I think. 

Sandro coming on for Lennon

Niasse is my new religion. 

Why are Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson such garbage?

31 minutes ago, Cornish Steve said:

That’s a great story. 

Seconded!

4 minutes ago, Newty82 said:

See Paddocks post regarding Sky, Sky Betting and Fat Sam.

That's exactly what this is.

Oh, I think that's what this is 100%.

12 minutes ago, Wiggytop said:

I'd much rather we aim high for someone like Simione than trawl the depths of dross with fat Sam, hopefully it does show that all the crap about Sam being in the picture is all sky talk and rubbish.

Fat Sam has said he hasn't been contacted by Everton. So, unless he's obfuscating, it's likely rubbish. 

41 minutes ago, markjazzbassist said:

here's how i imagine it went down

kev calls agent "hey mate, who's interested come winter get me outta here, spurs?  chelsea? "

agent "uh kev you can't even start on a team in the relegation zone, not even olympiakos is willing to pony up the cash for you anymore"

kev "turn tail and apologize, gotcha, will do"

There's also the possibility that some disgruntled fans have disingenuously initiated a bit of a witch hunt. 

Let's be honest. We wouldn't doubt Mirallas engaging in the kind of behavior of which the rumor accuses him. And, we aren't surprised by Schneiderlin's possible involvement either, because he's been a chief reason why our midfield has been total shit this season and we're seeking a concrete reason as to why. We want to excise the malignant tumor and MEGA (Make Everton Great Again 😎). 

I'm not saying I know this is a bullshit story. I'm just saying that everyone asked about it has denied it. And, we shouldn't rush to comforting conclusions. We should wait for more information before we know what to think or feel about the situation. Unsworth, for one, should be grilled as to why neither one of them was in the squad against Watford. Let's see what develops before setting fire to Mirallas and Schneiderlin. 

Also, this should go without saying, but I hope I'm 100% wrong.

Come on over, Diego! We need you. We love you!