CHOULO19

Apparently 429 attacks in 2015, more than 200 in the first 3 months of the year. I thought it was just graffiti and bacon or something, but just google 'Anti-Muslim attack in France' and you get several bombings of Mosques and many people getting killed on the streets and even in their homes just for being Muslim. Amazing how those don't even get reported. But most attacks are assaults on women wearing hijab because obviously they are the easiest targets. A lot, if not most, of people, particularly young, feel disenfranchised and excluded from society today and we don't even try to find out what we are doing wrong. Sure, poverty is a factor, and that's universal. Here in Lebanon, all of those who joined jihadists in Syria or committed attacks on Lebanese soil are poor and come from extremely impoverished areas. But there's more to it, there's a whole system that's not working. Surprisingly, if you isolate people to get them focused on individualism so they would consume more, they're not going to feel part of a community. This isn't really the same thing, but it's a bit related to the point I'm making: I was reading today some stats about how people view their image in the US and it's just beyond shocking. 66% of underweight 12 year old girls think they are "too fat", 80% of girls aged 18 say they are unhappy with their appearance. Same for boys, 38% of boys between 13 and 18 use protein supplements. That's tragic. That's an epidemic of lack of self-esteem. Just to sell a few 'beauty products.. I think we're in a desperate need to rethink what being part of community means.

To use Frankie Boyle's joke, "they say we're losing the battle for the hearts and minds but whenever I hear about Iraq in the news all I see are hearts and minds splattered all over the place!" I remember reading that in 2015 there was something like 3 attacks per day on average on mosques and Arab/Muslim cultural centers in France alone which is exactly what ISIS and Al Qaeda want. That's not speculation or analysis, they say they clearly that that is what they want in their media: to eliminate the 'grey zones' in Europe and the US where Muslims live peace with Western culture. Just like Bin Laden wrote in his notes that the aim of the 9/11 attacks was to drag Nato into an unwinnable war in Afghanistan. You'd think those would make NATO members take a moment to reconsider their foreign policies in the middle east, but I guess it's true that when you have a hammer in your hand everything looks like a nail.

On a different note, and I know most don't care anymore because it wasn't Muslim extremist terror, but the Munich attack is turning out to be a terrorist attack after all. Apparently the kid was obsessed with Hitler, believed in the supremacy of the Aryan race and aimed his attack particularly against Turks and Muslims whom he hated: http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/1.733723?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Clearly there was a political and ideological motivation behind the attack = Terrorism.

OMFG This:

Not sure why you thought I was comparing the abilities of the two players. My comparison was that Higuain to Napoli is what Henri was for Arsenal. And it's not about buying from a rival, it's about buying despite the rival's desire not to sell.

Of course he isn't worth anything near 90m, but to understand the drive behind this you need to understand the relation between Juve and Napoli. This is like us buying peak Henri against Arsenal's will while they can't do anything about it.

^^ Yeah, he's well past his best and should absolutely be replaced, but let's try to keep it classy, guys.

Yeah, clearly has some mental issues. Apparently, according to the police, he was obsessed with mass shootings and was 'inspired' by Anders Breivik; which would explain why he did the shooting yesterday on the 5th anniversary of Breivik's massacre.

I don't think Moses will play regardless of how he performs this preseason!

No, preseason is to get your fitness levels up. Actual competitive matches is where you prove your worth. Do I really have to remind you of Marco Marin?

It's just preseason, mate.

The fact that he's from Iran is more proof that this has nothing to do with ISIS/Al Qaeda, because it means if he is Muslim, then he is most likely Shia not Sunni. The witness is almost definite wrong. There's also a video of him saying in perfect German accent that he's German. And as I alluded to, there is no way that a Muslim extremist would commit suicide because to them that means going straight to hell.

Erm guys, the Munich incident last night is definitely not an attack by a Muslim extremist group or lone wolf. The suicide alone should have given that much away.

Last season's preseason was an absolute joke and for me remains the main reason for our horrific season. Conte is doing nothing unusual with double sessions. Most teams do that in preseason, including us apart from last season. EDIT: Really shouldn't post before I read all the posts. Barbara pretty much covered this in a manner that puts my half-arsed attempt to shame!

Think you just talked your way into wearing bunny ears and tail in this new dance Don't worry though, I think you are about as likely to have to make this dance as I am to hug a stranger walking down the road

How about a high-five instead?

Get in 3-0! We're going to walk the league! Definitely shouldn't be looking to sign any more players because our team looks 100% ready!! Up the Chels!

I believe the number of civilians killed by US led coalition (mainly US and French airstrikes) since yesterday has exceeded 200 at the very least. And the US defense secretary has the nerve to come out a bit ago and say that they just killed 20 'ISIS members' planning attacks.

Definitely not worse, but I think most would agree definitely not up to the standards of a team like Chelsea.

Are you saying you'd rather seen an unfit Ivanovic start the season at RB for us?! True, but if a fit Ivanovic is disastrous, how bad is an unfit Ivanovic? The thing is we have't got any real other options which the real issue here, not whether or not he starts a friendly match.

On a side note, this is actually being broadcast live on beIN

Why would you want Ivanovic dropped from a preseason friendly? If he isn't in the plans of Conte then we're going to need to buy a new fullback. If he is, then at the very least I want him to be as physically ready as possible for the new season.

They wouldn't pay 30m for Cuadrado. They just paid more than that for Pjanic. In fact they probably wouldn't even pay 20m for Cuadrado and that has to do with how they view him based on his time there: A descent squad player. Good to have on the bench.

I did ask a Juventus fan. In fact, you can say I'm sort of in a 'constant communication' with one, seeing as I'm a Juve fan myself! Yes, they didn't have an option in the loan deal, but had they thought he was 'great' surely they would have approached Chelsea to make the deal permanent. They didn't.

I've missed your posts