Babb'sBurstNad

Hope we get merseybeat.

If Phil Babb hadn't crushed his nuts on the post.

Not a fan, the dual Umbro badges look like cubist nipples.

You're all jealous because Klopp hugs Lallana extra tight and whispers sweet nothings in his ear.

Finally got around to reading Altered Carbon. Good stuff, but I feel I might rate it a little lower than some. I'd have preferred it stayed a bit more futuristic noir and grounded for the climax. The first 200 pages are some of the best sci-fi thriller I've ever read, but the final chapters go a touch gung-ho and generic, as it seems between the protagonist and the AI hotel they can do just about anything imaginable. Sort of undermines the build up of tension that precedes it. I want to get onto Ready Player One now, before the film opens.

I think collectively so, yes. Ndidi isn't just a sideways passer and Keita is a solid box-to-box player with a great eye for a pass. Add in Ox's improvement and Mané's tentative steps into spending more time centrally and I dare say we're shaping the side to do without a specialist Coutinho / Erikson type player and are sharing out the responsibility. I was deeply concerned that we'd look bereft of creativity without Coutinho, but our front three have adapted and proved they aren't forwards who need to be fed through assists like Kane, they work off each other and often occupy midfield positions themselves, hence Firmino so often being referred to as a nine and a half. In terms of creativity, I don't think we can just look at the midfield three as a means to create for the forwards any more. Klopp seems to be favouring players ending up in that hole that a creative number ten would occupy, rather than having someone there to start with, which I think will suit Keita driving from midfield and Mané drifting inside more now Robertson's made the left flank his.

For some reason, every time I skim read a headline with "Cambridge Analytica", my brain reads it as "Captain America". That is all I have to add to the discussion.

It's a big fat yes from me for Ndidi. Him, Keita and one of Henderson, Wij or Ox would have a nice dynamic to it.

Anyone who uses the phrase "thinking outside the box", particularly those who use it in reference to themselves.

I loved that show. I used to have my own little ritual for it, I'd always have a cuppa and three chocolate hobnobs all ready to go just as the opening credits started; a bomb could've gone off outside and I wouldn't budge. The era that gave us Gamesmaster and Bottom, ah halcyon days.

Last Friday, so I could pick up the dog shit in the garden before it snowed again.

I'd certainly cast my pearls before swine.

I've always thought she was a bit hammy.

Good Super Mario outfit there too Tony.

I think it's hard for outsiders to grasp just how much the concept of America and the existing culture is ingrained into the population, to the point where questioning the status quo is to be considered unpatriotic. I remember having a discussion during a sociology class one day, where it was put forward that Americanism, to its population, could be considered a recent religion. I scoffed, yet the arguments put forward were all pretty valid: an overwhelming belief in exceptionalism, founding scribes who put down the word of law that overrides all modernity, ubiquitous symbology, veneration for inanimate objects etc. Little episodes give you an insight into the mindset and why change is so hard, such as when a US athlete lets a flag drag on the ground and they're criticised for it. In most other countries no one would even notice. I'm reasonably hopeful change will happen on gun laws eventually, but steering a nation founded on puritanical fervour around will take some time. I still find it odd that at a constitutional level it's a secular country, however a belief in god is standard for all politicians to profess; yet Blighty has the head of state and head of church intrinsically linked (well, it's the same person), however offering similar sentiments to their US counterparts would render an MP pretty much unelectable.

Pics or GTFO.

I've been impressed with his play when he's drifted into a central position. His first touch isn't good enough in tight areas to just turn someone tightly marking him - so he's no Coutinho replacement - but he can pick a pass and his sheer dynamism works wonders when he's moving across the field in between the lines of the opposition's defence and midfield, akin to what Ox does on occasion. It helps that he's forming a decent partnership with Robertson on the left flank. Robertson's looking so solid that Mané coming central doesn't even leave a hole.

Photos would indeed be crass. I'd settle for some MS Paint doodles though.

Browsing the local paper, there's a fella whose middle name is "Greatest". I can't help but feel it might be a bit much to live up to.

Salah Robertson Mané

Given your youthful looks, I might question the legality of pulling anyone half your age.

Not sure it really fits in with the Hollywood tradition of using good looking actors for ugly real life people. I'd go with Matt Damon in a fat suit.

Finally got around to starting Horizon: Zero Dawn recently. It's great thus far, but I've a feeling I'll take ages with it. It feels a bit like a Ubisoft collectathon type game, and I keep getting sidetracked by the little map markers. I think I may have to turn them off as they get a bit distracting, detracting somewhat from the immersion and atmosphere. It really is a stunner though, the HDR makes sunsets absolutely gorgeous.

Maybe that's part of my plan to lure unsuspecting victims to their demise.

No problem, forget it mate, maybe I'm being a div.