spudski

I watched the game and certain things stood out for me with Scott...body language. It spoke volumes tonight, it was like he was a changed person. Almost an attitude. I dismissed it and thought maybe I'd read it wrong. Now after NPs comments perhaps my eyes didn't receive me. It was weird.because it was so noticeable in my eyes. As for Conway...no attitude, but just looked off the pace. I don't mean disrespect to Scott...as he's been humble and brilliant for us. But there was definitely a different attitude tonight.

I've posted about this before...crossing perse, creates the least amount of goals in football. It's the least affective way of trying to score a goal. From stats... The average cross from open play creates a goal just 1.3 per cent of the time, so once in roughly 76 crosses.

So frustrating watching us dominate game and lose. Imo...it's a mental thing and part coached. We play composed measured football into the final third...then become headless chickens. Rushed, poor touch, poor decisions, poor delivery. Literally no composure. I watch, and it's obvious to me that we are trying to play fast one touch passes and crosses into the final third to try and catch out the opposition. In trying to do so , it's rushed and unmeasured. No composure. Trying to push the percentages. Sheff Utd rode their luck, but when they got the chance it was composed and accurate and played with precision. It's what we are lacking of late imo.

...I'd love this to happen.

Animal Rising renamed itself recently from Animal Rebellion. As they wanted to move away from the Extinction rebellion movement. There are approximately 20 to 30 people that work full time organising protests. They are funded mainly by an unnamed donator based in the States. They also receive donations from others in the public and the likes of people like Dale Vince. Organisations that can profit from change. When you look at the background of the organisers, they've had their fingers in many pies. Vegan, Vegetarian, Animal rights, Stop oil, Fracking, minority justice, strikes etc etc etc...basically anti establishment...you get the picture. Mainly white middle to upper class educated people. Looking to change the world as it is. Here's one founder. Links and people associated. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dan-kidby-a81317216 Here's a link to their website. https://www.animalrising.org/ It's interesting that they state in there info about how they achieve change...that it's done with ' actions from the heart'. Which is all well and good in principle, but you have to use your head to get things done properly and to be taken seriously. Their aim is change...by getting media attention and the public talking about it. Sadly the attention and talk strays from the main subject that wish to discuss. Because of the way they go about things. They end up looking like dumb uneducated anarchists, intent on destruction and negatively affecting the general publics lives. They do harm than good to their cause and ethos. I'd have a lot more sympathy to their causes if they went about things differently. And I'm sure many others would too. I agree with many of their desires for change. Not how they go about it.

Weston looking more League 1 than the Gas ?? decent crowd and atmosphere.

A stereotype only becomes one, when it's become a common theme. I agree...there are many that go to the Cheltenham festival or Grand National that don't have a clue about horse racing. They go because it's become trendy. However...they aren't the ones protesting or trying to stop horse racing. If you are going to try to stop something...at least know your subject and offer a solution. This is the point I've tried to make. These protest groups come across as pretty dumb imo. When interviewed they often don't have solutions or know the subject well. They want the public to know about their causes...yet go about protesting in a way that angers the general public. They disrupt, spoil, destroy often making the general publics life a misery, and often with financial consequences. It leaves a bad impression in the public's memory. For all the good intentions, they are misplaced and do more harm than good to their causes.

This is exactly the type of example I spoke about earlier...where protestors have no idea about the industry and can't offer a solution when asked a straightforward question. It happens all the time.

RR...if it's 0.2% and you want measures to be taken to be as ' near zero as possible'...then there is only another 0.1% to go. So things are heading in the right direction, wouldn't you agree.

Here is the list. It's grim reading in black and white. https://www.horsedeathwatch.com/index.php

:laugh:...I've got him on ignore, so missed that quip. A bit like the bloke in the pub everyone ignores, and trys to avoid, but they don't get the hint. ???

I totally agree, there are some terrible conditions on the planet, where animals have no life and housed and slaughtered in humanly for our consumption. However, there are many people throughout the world that care for their animals, give them freedom to roam, feed them well, and slaughter in a human and painless way as possible. Either in sustainable small holdings or on very large open farms. It's not all evil. I look at the bigger picture. As I said on an earlier post, we are all animals on this planet. Take away what us humans have put in place, in the way we live, take it back to basics. The animal kingdom consists of Herbivores, Carnivores and Omnivores. Each goes about its way of consuming food. The Latter two kill other animals to eat the meat. Often in a barbaric way and eaten alive. It's the way of the animal kingdom that we are part of. We consider ourselves the higher educated and knowledgeable species...something that we've labelled ourselves. But are we? We are just judging the animal kingdom on our views. In the natural world we are one of the most incapable species at surviving in the wild. We've used our brains in a different way to keep ourselves warm and a food supply etc. I wonder what an Octopus, Dolphin or Whale would say about us! Yes it's an alternate way of looking at life...but in the simplistic way of us all living together on the planet as one, that's what it boils down to.

Yes...I agree, it is a strange when you think about it. Imo, in this country we are one of the most caring nations in the world, when it comes to animals. We love animals, care for them and dislike them being mistreated or hurt on purpose. Yet...the majority eat meat. And even those that try vegetarianism, 80 odd% give up and return to eating meat. I find it odd that vegetarians eat meat substitutes, that are formed into the shape of meat cuts, and made to taste similar to meat. And as I've pointed out...there are many animals being used in the production and transportation of plant food that vegetarians eat, that are tortured, abused, die, not cared for, beaten, whipped daily to provide for the consumption of mankind. Do Vegetarians stop eating those products supplied in such a way? It's easy to turn a blind eye when we live in a country that supplies us everything. It's a lot different for many parts of the world who aren't so fortunate or unfortunate, depending how you view life. I guess many humans have a switch that they can use. Farmers often look after their animals, care for them, develop relationships with them...yet slaughter them. It's a complicated business.

Max O'Leary? ??

I've just tagged Scott Davidson into the tweet, so he'll now be aware of it. ?

I haven't a clue who owns it. It was on twitter. I'll have another look though.

In 1908 the average wage in the UK was £70 a year. So in today's terms... I'd say closer to £15 K

I agree to an extent...but so many don't even have an answer. There are a huge amount of people who follow the protests, and protest for the sake of it.

Your point resonates in this thread. I got accused of ' going off on a tangent'...however the points I made are valid in the bigger picture of animal welfare. Yet are ignored because they don't fit the narrative. Approx 8500 races last year across UK and Ireland. Of which the average amount of horses in a race on flat or jumps was 8. Less than 1% of horses die in racing each year. The horses get 5 star treatment and welfare throughout their racing lives. And are found good homes afterwards to retire. People are up in arms, protesting about deaths in racing. And their belief that the horses are mistreated. Yet look at the number of deaths, injury and treatment to horses and animals away from horse racing. As I posted in a link...67000 deaths a year in UK to pet dogs. Is anyone protesting about that? Across the world animals are used in transportation and production in manufacture, food, farming, military, tourist attractions. The welfare, injury and death rate to those animals are far removed from the horse racing fraternity. It's a misguided concern in the bigger picture. Some good info on here https://petkeen.com/how-many-horses-are-there-uk-statistics/

When they are interviewed at the protest...the protesters are often clueless and have no answers or resolution when questioned why they are there.

It's a valid point. However a trainer wouldn't let his horse race if it was 100% a problem. They tried to calm the animal and took a calculated judgement. Sadly he fell. If you protest about something, at least no something about the subject you're protesting about. That's common sense. Sadly...a lot of these protestors, many are all over every protest. Regardless. For protest sake.

Thanks for the honest answer. Animal welfare charities work with the horse racing industry. It's one of the most regulated sports industries in the world. Constant dialogue goes on, adjustments made, whip use has been reduced recently and height of jumps lowered. But as Rob pointed out...they then run faster into the jumps. Whips are used to guide horses...not just to whip them. Put to the side etc...placed. I have no problem with changes being made. Dialogue and knowledge from both sides is essential. My problem is the protestors and people calling for change...who have literally no knowledge of the industry and the welfare given to the horses. Who refuse to engage, and refuse to educate themselves. They do harm than good. If those protesters knew anything about race horses, they would have known that protesting when they did, would cause harm to the horses. And as that trainer pointed out, his horse was worked up so much, that it was most likely that that caused him to fall. Hadn't fallen before, no history, nothing in its way. An error of judgement by a stressed out horse. Like I say...the protestors did more damage than good...through being uneducated. It's the same with other protests going on with other causes. Often uneducated on the subject, blinkered in wanting to be educated, heart ruling head, and offer no solutions that are practical. Not a dig at you...but it's a common theme with protestors.

When you engage with an industry, they will show you how it works, the pros and cons. By engaging the protestors can give their point of view. Offer different solutions and try to find common ground. Refusing to engage just shows ignorance. How can anyone be taken seriously, if they want to change something, but haven't a clue about the thing they want to change or even offer a solution? You say I deflect ( I see it as opening up the debate), yet all you are doing is assuming the industry won't listen. Or more likely...' You don't want to listen to them, because you won't like the answers given' . Like most protests...all done in good faith, but often ignorant to the subject, offer no solutions, and end up doing more harm than good.

Whether people agree with it or not, the words from the trainer, who's horse died, regarding the ignorance of the protestors on how their actions would cause more harm than good proves my point. If they knew anything about horse behaviour they wouldn't have protested just before the race started. Worth a read... https://news.sky.com/story/grand-national-trainer-of-horse-that-suffered-fatal-fall-blames-ignorant-animal-rising-protesters-for-death-12859159

He joined Southern League Bedminster in 1899, which a year later merged to become Bristol City, playing Southern League football for two further seasons before they joined the Second Division of the Football League in 1901. He was a regular in their teams that finished fourth three seasons in a row before winning the Second Division Championship with City in 1905-06, the season in which he also played in an England trial. Having scored 10 goals in 176 appearances for Bristol City (ex his appearances for Bedminster) he joined Southern League Swindon Town in July 1907, but by the time of their 1910-11 Southern League Championship season Chambers was a fringe player, playing only 2 games that season, and he wasn’t part of their 1911 FA Charity Shield team beaten by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. He was however Club Captain during their 1912 FA Cup run that saw them reach the semi final only to be knocked out by eventual winners Barnsley in a replay at Meadow Lane. He retired from professional football later that year after a single goal in 96 appearances for Swindon