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craigawalt · 11 days

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This bank tested 90 uses for AI before choosing the top 2—and they benefit customer service and productivity

Citizens Financial Group has explored more than 90 different use cases for generative artificial intelligence. Only two have gone into production thus far.

“We really work to make sure we have the appropriate guardrails and security in place for our general use cases,” says Michael Ruttledge, chief information officer at Citizens Financial.

The Rhode Island–based bank says it has taken a thoughtful approach to generative AI, including the creation of a steering committee to ensure employees aren’t going rogue and developing their own projects. The two generative AI use cases that Citizens Financial says will go live this year include an enterprise search tool that helps customer service representatives answer questions and a GitHub Copilot, developed by Microsoft and OpenAI, to help improve the productivity of the company’s software engineers.

A vast majority of bank organizations are either in production or have gone live with generative AI use cases, often focused on client engagement, risk and compliance, information technology, and other support functions.

“Financial services is a technology-led business,” says Neil Pardasani, a managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group. And while financial services starts ahead of many other sectors, he says the industry can also be “a bit more cautious in terms of really making sure you get it right and the use cases that go into the market always have got a human in the loop.”

Many early wins for the industry have been in adopting generative AI tools to assist customer service. “It is an easy place to make the business case work, because of the power of the tools,” says Pardasani.

At Citizens Financial, the new generative AI tool that’s helping customer representatives doesn’t directly reach clients, as the bank wants to continue to test the responses that are given and is still keeping an eye out for hallucinations, which are responses that an AI model can produce that are misleading or outright false. “We are going through those guardrails, but for now, we don’t feel that we’re ready to go out directly to a customer,” says Ruttledge.

With major players like Google and Amazon launching AI solutions, as well as thousands of startups, Citizens Financial says it took a safe bet by leveraging the company’s existing relationships with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, the cloud providers the company works with as part of Citizens’ hybrid strategy that also includes Amazon Web Services. “We were able to build upon that as we already had a lot of the infrastructure installed,” says Ruttledge.

North America banks are leading in AI innovation, according to a recent report published by Evident Insights, which says JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, and Royal Bank of Canada are at the forefront of AI innovation. Banks on the continent were responsible for more than 80% of all AI research published by the sector last year, while Capital One and Bank of America dominated the AI patent landscape and were responsible for two-thirds of all patents filed in the 12-month period ending in June 2022.

“There’s a lot of scaffolding for us to build on,” says Prem Natarajan, chief scientist and head of enterprise data and AI at Capital One. “We are in a great position to build on that history. But let us be humble and recognize that this is now a new technology which, appropriately given its power, deserves its own respect in terms of first taking a test-and-learn approach.”

In March, Capital One announced a partnership with Columbia University and committed $3 million to invest in an AI innovation center that aimed to accelerate research, but do so responsibly. “This transformation is going to be so big and the benefits are going to be so large,” says Natarajan. “That’s okay. They’re going to be around for a while. So let’s take our time figuring this out and do it right.”

Natarajan says Capital One’s approach is to first understand the various use cases the company can explore with generative AI, then determine what data it can control that goes into the models. From there, Capital One figures out what it can construct to test and learn, as well as mitigate any unforeseen outcomes.

“We want very deliberately to do a human-in-the-loop kind of approach to start with, so that you’re never actually quite exposing things outside,” says Natarajan.

Visa recently unveiled three new AI-powered risk and fraud prevention tools meant for the payments company’s business customers. The company blocked $40 billion in fraud activity last year, nearly double from the year prior.

The new products are launching in the first half of 2024, Visa says, with tools including Visa Deep Authorization, which is a new risk-scoring solution aimed to better manage payments that are made when a physical card isn’t present.

“We’re applying deep AI learning models, and we’ve literally trained that model with millions and billions of transactions,” says Anthony Cahill, global head of value-added services at Visa. “We’ll give an informed view of a good payment or, actually, is it a payment that needs closer inspection?”

Last year, Visa announced a $100 million venture fund for generative AI startups, with chief product and strategy officer Jack Forestell saying that while much of generative AI “so far has been focused on tasks and content creation, this technology will soon not only reshape how we live and work, but it will also meaningfully change commerce in ways we need to understand.”

Mastercard also has invested deeply in fraud prevention, spending $7 billion on cybersecurity over the past five years, including the acquisition of new technologies and developing AI tools that make it easier to identify fraud. Mastercard has also invested in around 20 different startups to get a first look at emerging security tools that the company may want to use to support future readiness in combating fraud.

“Security pervades our business, from protecting the systems themselves to new capabilities that we’re bringing out for our customers,” says Ed McLaughlin, chief technology officer at Mastercard.

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ng25fj · 2 years

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— November was a good month for Forest. After the drubbing by Arsenal, who continue their fine form this season, Forest picked up a good result against Brentford. They battled in to injury time for the 2-2 draw. It was good to see Morgan Gibbs-White get on the score sheet. The next game was against Spurs in the League Cup. They put out a strong side but Forest were more than equal to it. Putting in a great performance winning 2-0 with a corker from Lodi and Jesse Lingard finally looking like a decent player that we all hoped he’d be at the club. This win was followed up by a 1-0 win in the league against a good Palace side. The team finally looks like they are starting to get used to one another. People were worried that the World Cup break might interfere with this form but a League Cup game against Blackburn in the first match back and Forest smashed them 4-1. That made it 3 wins on the bounce. The next game however, was against Man Utd and they waltzed to a pretty easy 3-0 win... Back to everybody getting on at the players for not being good enough. To be fair there is something lacking in our away performances but even still, I think expecting a result at Old Trafford is a bit hopeful. They aren’t the dominant force they once were but you'd swap with what they have wouldn’t you? I think perspective is needed from fans for this season. Forest have changed pretty much their entire squad (because they had to). This squad, even after spending 150M, is still only a quarter of the cost of the bigger clubs who have had pretty much the last 20 odd years to create a generation of wealth for themselves that we are only just seeing now. The more I think about this season the more grateful I am Forest are in the Prem. It's going to be horrible viewing at times but look at where Huddersfield are right now. Last seasons beaten play off finalists are bottom of the Championship. They lost their manager and players that helped them finish 3rd. (To compound their misery Forest have 2 of their outstanding performers from last season). I’m convinced Forest would be in a similar situation if they didn’t get promoted. We’d have lost a load of players and probably the manager too as well. This season we don’t have to be better than the top 6, we don’t have to be better than the top 10 or 15 even. We just have to be better than the bottom 3 at the end. Looking at Southampton, Everton, Wolves, West Ham, Leics and Bournemouth I think we can be better than 3 of them. I can guarantee that the fans of those clubs are saying the exact same thing about their players not being good enough. The difference is their players have been together for a while and Bournemouth apart have had the benefit of many years in the Premier League. Given a bit more time I believe these Forest players are not as bad as everybody thinks. For the last two seasons fans were giving Ryan Yates so much shit. This season, in the Prem, he’s really kicked on. Sure he’s not Roy Keane... But then again who is?

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stephspurs · 3 years

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A Family Affair | Euro 2020 Football Fanfiction

Life is beautiful and life is cruel. A window into the souls of the victorious and the vanquished. In a way, football did come home during the summer of 2021. Follow along Amelia’s journey, navigating the football world as a tactical analyst for the italian football team, with a brother and father part of the three lions. Will Amelia leave Italy and come back to England? Will she leave the Serie A for the Prem? Will she set aside the bianconeri stripes for new colours, leaving behind friendship for love? Maybe she can have both...

EEEEEEK here's part two!!! Part two sees more of Amelia's beautiful brain, the love she has for her team, and her brother, & her friendship with Kyle Walker. Hope you guys love it as much as i do - please let me know what you think - i'd love to hear from you all!

Love always,

Steph xx

UPDATE as of 31/07: I've made some additional editing changes due to some feedback about the confusion between ben white (her brother) and ben chilwell (not her brother LOL). Nothing has been added to the story, just the addition of either surname has been added where i think it could be more straightforward - for future readers!

Part 2. | seconda parte

warnings; none - just a whole lot of feels.

word count; 1469

writing tools; third person until dashed line, first person thereafter.

next update; Wednesday 28/07 5pm AEST. Updates are twice weekly (Sunday & Wednesday)!

Tags (as requested by users); @footballffbarbiex

link to fic masterlist here

11 July 2021 | The Final Match.

The players for both national teams lined up side by side down the tunnel. Chiellini & Kane, both confident in their teams ability, captaining with great authority and mentorship for the ten men stood behind them. Amelia stood at the back of the tunnel, watching the scene ahead of her. Her dad, walking up the centre aisle between the two teams, shaking the hands of his players, confident in his preparation. A gentle hand to her brother's shoulder, saying everything it needs to say. It was the same hand that rubbed the back of her neck as he walked past, communicating the same thing. Go your hardest, you’re ready for this.

It was her turn, she started at the back of the line, and in true Italian style, a kiss was placed to both cheeks of every player up the line. When she reached Jorginho, a player she came to appreciate for his technical mindset and intellectual approach to the game, she kissed his cheek and turned to the player opposite him - her brother, who was trying his hardest to face forward and pay his little sister no mind. She knew what he was doing, but she wasn’t as heartless as the rest of the England squad probably perceived her to be. Reaching out, she rubbed her hand along the back of his neck, just as her father did to her, leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek, before continuing down the line of her players to the front. Shaking hands with Gareth Southgate, who no doubt had come to realise who the girl was in relation to his team, and a kiss to both cheeks of Mr Mancini, she walked out and took her place on the bench, ready for the game of her life.

120 minutes of football later.

Life is both beautiful and cruel. Whilst she hadn’t anticipated the early goal from Shaw, Amelia had predicted every play by the english and made sure her team was there waiting for them to turn and run. They knew to never let Harry Kane have the space to move the ball, to make sure Mason Mount was marked at all times and to pay attention to the silky smooth skills of Raheem Sterling. They knew that every player on the english side had the talent and skill to shoot and score, no matter if they're a striker or full back. In the end, the endless taunts from the british crowd and constant reminder of “it’s coming home” only fuelled the Italians further and pushed them harder, to their limits. Eventually both sides met with equal force and completed extra time at a draw, leading to penalties. All of Amelia’s preparation with Gianluigi Donnarumma would present itself now. She went over the preferred sides of the penalty takers she presumed would be stepping up for their country, and reminded him of all he has achieved & what there is still left to be done. After all, they are the masters of their own fate.

Donnarumma’s block of Bukayo Saka’s penalty rattled her bones and sent a chill down her spine. They had done it. The boys had finally brought football back to Rome for the first time since 1968, and while she can’t take all of the credit, she knows she single handedly played a part in this victory. As soon as happiness filled her body, guilt and sadness flooded her heart. She had been part of the problem that caused her brother so much pain. Her dad knew how to handle rejection, this wasn't his first rodeo, and could see with an open mind just how they had managed to achieve greatness. But her brother had truly believed they had it, that football was coming home to England.

After being surrounded by her boys, cheering and hugging her, screaming in relief that they had done it, Amelia took a step back and took a deep breath in. Looking over to the players in white consoling each other with looks of understanding and pats on the back, hugging those with the unfortunate fate of missing their penalties, she found her brother.

_____________________________________________________________

Squatting down with his elbows resting on his knees and hands covering part of his face, his eyes showing disbelief that the moment had escaped them. Jordan Henderson, the figurative big brother to my big brother, leaning down whispering what one can only assume is words of encouragement and strength to him. A voice to my right startles me, not because I wasn't used to the noise, but because it was a voice I haven't heard directed at me with anything other than venom in a very long time.

“He wants you to be there for him, don’t ever think for a second that he doesn’t want you around.” Kyle Walker speaks into the open, whilst looking around at the fans still in the stadium. The fans behind us right now would be watching with speculation, wondering why the english player is talking to an italian so soon after defeat.

“I don’t think he doesn’t want me around, i just don’t think he wants me around right now” I spoke back, trying to reason with myself and Kyle as to why i haven't gone up and offered my condolences to my brother.

“I think the only thing that can pull him out of this is you. He was beating himself up last night after your argument, and while he turned it into motivation for today, it's still weighing on his conscience. He’s happy for you, we aren't that mean so as to deny him the pleasure of being proud of his little sister...even if she is working for the enemy”

“You’ve always been one to be the voice of reason, whilst still being the clown I grew up to know and love”

“Does this mean we’re friends again? I’m sorry about last night” Kyle admitted.

“Last night wasn’t what ended our friendship...we stopped being friends the day you left Spurs.” I joked back to Kyle. I turned to look at his over-expressed shocked face and walked backwards a few steps while giggling, before turning and sauntering over to my brother who was now surrounded by some more teammates. Upon seeing me and noticing my solemn expression, finding comfort in the fact that I wasn't there to rub my win in their faces, the boys left my brother to himself.

I stood there, staring into the eyes of my brother, who after a few minutes reached out and pulled me into him as though I was a life raft and he was stranded in the ocean. We stood there, hugging, saying everything we needed to say through the way we were gripping to the backs of each other's team colours.

“I am so proud of you, you put up one hell of a fight Ben. Certainly made my job harder” I spoke into his shirt. He was the taller of the two, but I wasn't that short. Almost immediately after, I felt him push more weight onto me and sink a bit lower so he was in my neck, shedding a few tears he didn't want seen by those around us. Not even 5 seconds later, he stood up straight, wiping his eyes and offering me a smile.

“God, I wish you weren’t better at your job than I am at mine” he joked back to me. I smiled up at him, shaking my head.

“I would say you’re wrong but the medal that's about to be around my neck would say otherwise” i joke back with him. I was not about to dull my sparkle for someone else's sun to shine, whether he is my brother or not.

“We have to talk about everything that went down last night but i’ll let you enjoy your night with your team” Ben says as we turn and begin to walk toward the stage being set up for the ceremony.

“Thanks Ben, family dinner on Sunday? Tell your friends to come, you and i both know mum will have enough food to feed everyone without even trying”

“Of course, I'll put it in the lads chat & see who’s still around. Kyle will see it in our family chat - who even put him in there anyway!?”

“Honestly...I think it was mum. You know she loves her son, Kyle.”

As I walk back to my team, and into the arms of Fede and Jorginho who wrap me up in an Italian flag and start jumping around, I can't help but smile and laugh at my amazing life. Who knows what the future has to hold, but for tonight, the azzurri are the champions of europe and the trophy is coming home, to Rome.

Part 3. | parte terza

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coachtfd · 2 years

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Nunez Will Be Fine, Here’s Why

I’ve been loving the panic and criticism that’s been directed at Darwin Nunez since his big-money move to Liverpool. “Why hasn’t he scored yet? Did we get a dud? He’s overrated. He can’t play in the Prem.” First of all, and I’ve said it before, let go of the snobbery. I’ve been tracking this kid for the last two years and I’m gonna break down why I was never worried about him.

Primeira, Premier...They’re Actually Not That Different

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Portuguese manager played in a low-block, very defensive, parked the bus, defended for 90 minutes and hoped to nick a goal on the counter. Yeah, just like 75% of the teams in almighty Premier League, by the way. Portugal has a very tactical top tier and wins by multiple goals aren’t always easy to come by; mighty Porto had 10 games last season settled by a single goal or ended in a draw. Now realize that Nunez faced teams that played this way every week for the last couple of years and, under Bruno Lage, he learned how to create space for himself and break though those defenses (see Benfica vs Liverpool, Champions League 2021-2022). He’s not going to see anything in the Premier League he hasn’t seen before.

Nunez Will Adapt Faster Than Haaland

True confession: I was more concerned about Nunez adapting to Klopp and Liverpool than to the Premier League, and even then, not really concerned. Klopp’s system is built for mobile forwards and Nunez is a mobile forward. Benfica conceded more goals than Sporting or Porto because Lage likes to attack a little more and prioritized movement up top over organization at the back (and why they actually reached the Quarterfinals, unlike the other two). Haaland, on the other hand, was given WAY more time and space in Germany than he’d see in Portugal or England and I think he’s going to struggle more than some expected. Plus, he’s playing in a Guardiola system where he won’t always be the primary option in the attack and he has to adapt to that too.

Both are solid players and I don’t agree with trying to paint them as overrated while they’re still getting used to their new surroundings. I promise you, they’ll score more goals than some strikers who’ve been in the league for years and shall remain nameless. ⚽

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goldcrush · 4 years

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Right now i understand its all to do with the controversy with ole in Norway and not football matters 🤔 the experience thing is nonsense plenty of ex players went straight into management and did well ! So that's not a problem the same players are doing the same things under ole that they did under jose what happened to maguire has messed him up pogba again saying he wanted to leave 🐍🤬 caused stress greenwood being a muppet and twat Ed being completely incompetent to run a club and deal with the transfer market and undermine ole in that is where the problem is! Having a policeman as your dad should let you see things from a correct view not based on other contexts

No you did not understand me at all. First and foremost my issue with Ole is that he IS NO WAY COMPETENT enough to manage a football club the stage Manchester United are on. He is clearly out of this depth but you refuse to see it or acknowledge it, simple as that. You are hanging onto Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the player, the super sub, the one who has won it in 1999, the club legend and it's clouding your judgement of him. If he wasn't either of those would you still defend his disasterclasses tooth and nails? Would you? No.

You are going on about how it's the players are to blame for everything but do you even realize we have a better squad than every prem side save for Liverpool, City and Chelsea? Do you realize? Yet we are sitting proudly at 15th (with a game in hand) and our football is utter shit and totally unwatchable. These players aren't coached properly or at all for fuck's sake!! What's not clicking about that? We have so many quality players or players with considerable potential but they aren't managed the way they should be. We have no game plan, Ole knows next to no tactics that would actually work and he can't even use his subs smartly! His lineups? Let's not talk about that either cause it's ridiculous what he is doing most of the time.

If our players are such crap then do you seriously think Leicester City, Spurs, Arsenal, Wolves, Aston Villa, Everton, Southampton, Leeds, Crystal Palace, Newcastle and West Ham United have a better squad than us??? No, they are just managed way better, all of them, at the moment. We on the other hand are clueless as hell and so is your hero Solskjaer.. he is counting on a spark of genius from Rashford, Martial or Greenwood to win games for us but that's it. Heaven forbid we concede cause sure as fuck we can't come back from that, he doesn't know how to achieve that. Like how we defended that 2-1 yesterday.. pathetically. So yes, lack of experience is proving to be a HUGE fucking issue and it's laughable that you think it's not. In this moment of time Ole does NOT have what it takes to be Manchester United's permanent manager and appointing him on such basis was a mistake. Oh yes he went straight into management and had fantastic success with Molde in the Elitserien and of course I did not forget that he got promoted with Cardiff City.. then relegated them right away and almost sent them to the third tier... Anyway, like I said he has great achievements in the Norwegian league but with all due respect to Molde and the Elitserien that absolutely cannot be compared to the United job which is an entirely different stage. You refuse to see it cause you can't view him objectively. If he wasn't Ole Gunnar Solskjaer United legend but simply Ole Solskjaer from Kristiansund you would not overlook his shortcomings and fuckups like the way you do.

As for Woodward we ALL know he should have nothing to do with the football part and the transfers but you straight up act like Ole is somehow getting a worse treatment than the previous managers..which IS NOT TRUE. Moyes didn't last one season ffs, he was sacked with 4 games to go which was a bit disgraceful on our part tbh. He was bad but he didn't deserve that in my humble opinion. LvG got more time sure but not much more support when it came to transfers and especially the players he asked for. He managed to win an FA cup though as a parting gift. And José.. he didn't get nowhere near that backing that he needed to succeed and at the same time his ego alone was bigger than the whole club itself and created a very toxic environment in the end. He wasn't it for us either but it wasn't because of his competence. So Ole isn't some special snowflake who has it worst.. all of our managers got the short end of the stick from Woodward and the board and they had to deal with that. Solskjaer can't even put together a decent lineup or manage that squad he has at hand.. what does it say about him? He didn't get the players he asked for but if he can't even coach those he has then it's pointless to complain about that.

Controversy in Norway??? Please you did not just say that to me. Controversy? Your hero supported and played and coddled and captained a player who raped at least 5 women. He decided to just turn a blind eye to that, to excuse that because football and his personal success was more important to him than exposing and excluding Babacar Sarr from his team!!! What context or perspective am I supposed to see this from??? You are one of the very few people on here who know what was done to me and you are still implying I should just excuse that? Solskjaer supporting a rapist? I can't and I won't. You better accept he is very much morally questionable and is no way a saint and I don't fucking care that "he has won it".

#answered

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blackdogpanopticon · 4 years

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Oh football!

So, I realise for people who aren’t into football this will clearly be quite bookish. However, I have recently been reading “The Promised Land” by Anthony Clavane. Its basically about the history of Leeds United post World War 2 and also semi-autobiographical in respect of his life as a Jewish Leeds United fan and the city as a whole. It’s brilliant. I’ve just got to the part where the Premier League starts (1992/1993) and Leeds sell Cantona to Man United for £1.3 million; a transfer described by Clavane as “the worst transfer decision in the history of football.

This got me thinking; there is loads about football history (specifically English) that I don’t know about (obviously) purely because I either wasn’t born, I was too young to be aware of the information or that its been consigned to the annals of time because it’s considered generally too boring or not relevant to recall by fans and media outlets alike. Therefore, when I was looking for something to do last night I noticed MOTD Top 10 FA Cup moments was on BBC1; in lieu of any real football due to the COVID. Oh how I miss football...

Anyway, I thought I would give this a go because I hoped it might fill in some of my gaps in knowledge and at the very least entertain me. Oh how wrong I was. I’m being over dramatic. The goals and clips were all fabulous clearly; however between the 50 year period they seemed to cover and Alan Shearer’s dull commentary (sorry Alan, you’re a Magpie Legend/Martyr but you are extremely dull) the programme just lacked any cohesion, sense of narrative or general bite or Va Va Voom (”Thiery, woah oh!”).

Yes Ian Wrights commentary on his own career is always extremely interesting because of the character that he is and the adversity that he had to overcome; but Gary Linekar? I am sorry but it is time that smug bastard got off TV and gave some one else a go. And I am sorry, but there was literally no discussion of the on going COVID preparations for the Prem’s mooted behind closed doors return. How about discussing and commenting on this rather than relying on the fact that the presenters are using Zoom, to create any semblance of relevance to anything at the moment?

That got me thinking. With, the Bundesliga (an un-competitive league at the best of times) behind closed doors looking like a series of bad training games gone wrong, and the Championship and Prem not coming back for at least another month (?); I still need to fill my football fix. Enter the above video. I have watched Premier League Season reviews before; and they are un-ashamedly great! I think I am going to try and watch every season up till the current one when I have nothing to!

I tried to start from the first season of the Premier League 1992/1993, where Man United win the league for the first time under Fergie from the afore mentioned Leeds United; who the year before won the last season of the Old Division 1 proper in 1991/1992 with the infamous French man (his last season for the club and ironically the last time Leeds conquered the English Football Pyramid). Alas, there was no review available on YouTube (?). So I had to start here at 1993/1994.

Whilst the review is in 3 parts and its not the most exhilarating season (the commentary provided throughout does its best to reduce any excitement anyway), it’s worth a watch for some of the highlights I have detailed below! And bringing me back to my earlier point, there are loads of interesting snippets and forgotten pieces of trivia that have been lost to the football fan trivia annuls of time (or at least that a late 80′s lad such as myself won’t necessarily know anyway!). So without further a do, here are some of the more interesting highlights (and low lights!) i picked out incase you are too busy getting pissed on the semi-locked down bank holiday (!):

Part 1

The review begins with a blatant double footed tackle that would have easily been deemed a red in the modern game!

Roy Keane signing for Man United.

Old shots of Old Trafford looking tiny!

Glen Hoddle (a Chelsea Legend and eventual bigoted hate monger) becoming player manager of Spurs!

Aston Villa with an Opera Singer in the dressing as they are presumably getting ready for a match?! (Who knows?!).

Advertising boards with “Street Fighter” and “Sega” on them!

John Fasanu brazenly assaulting the Spurs captain Gary Mabbutt (breaking his face) and the English FA running an “anti-elbow” campaign!

Peter Reid being sacked as Man City Player/Manager (in his first managerial role!) after 6 days (!) and Man City fans rioting in front of Maine Road and the Rozzers turning up on horse back to control said riot! Oh English football!

The emergence of 2 icons in football; Andy Cole (who goes on to have a 41 goal season; 34 in the Prem) and Ian Wright on his way to becoming an Arsenal legend.

Part 2

Tony Adams heading it into his own net! Never gets old!

A young Alan Shearer being interviewed after a Blackburn game and still managing to bore the pants off you.

The death of Sir Matt Busby during January of 1994; the man credited for putting Man United on the map.

Various Matt Le Tissier and Ryan Giggs pingers!

Souness resigning from Liverpool with the Reds 5th in the table and 23 points off first; oh how times have changed these days!

Oldham, Sheff United and Swindon in the Premier League! Spoiler alert - it doesn’t last long.

Blackburn Rovers playing in their AC Milan-esque away kit! Classic.

Paul Ince showing his class at Man United before he goes on to betray the club.

Part 3

Peter Beardsley scoring for his beloved Newcastle. I am sorry but any time any one mentions him these days I just instantly think of Bob Mortimer’s imagined impressions of him every week on Athletico Mince. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqwLFGMHiy4

Mark Hughes scoring for Man U and being recorded in the music studio singing a Man United song I have been unable to find (?!).

Cantona being sent off twice and banned for 5 games and being criticised by Alan Hansen in the MOTD studio in his very 90′s suit.

Vinnie Jones and the crazy gang beating Man U (eventual winners) and Blackburn (2nd place and next seasons winners).

Steve Bruce leading out Man United (to defeat!) in the top of table clash vs Blackburn.

An Eric Cantona homage and montage to the tune of “Isn’t she lovely” by Stevie Wonder!! Yes this actually happens!! Big WTF from me there.

The last season of standing and terraces on the Kop at Anfield.

22 teams in the Prem.

Man U lifting the trophy and saying goodbye to Bryan Robson after 13 years.

So there you have it, if you are missing football and want to fill in some of your gaps in knowledge of the English Game/obtain a load of useless facts; season reviews are my recommendations! For now anyway!

#premier league #football #1993/1994 #covid19

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thanatsarans · 7 years

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home is where the heart is [artkong]

Summary: After Arthit’s graduation, getting used to their mismatched schedules, and missing each other, Arthit asks Kongphob to find a new place with him.

#artkong #kongart #my fanfic #sotus the series

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salmankhanholics · 7 years

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★ INTERVIEW: Salman Khan On Ghosts Of His Past, Attempts Of Image Rehabilitation, And Why Critics Don't Matter !

In an exclusive interview, Khan opens up like never before.

15/06/2017 | Ankur Pathak

It's no secret that Salman Khan has a rather whimsical equation with the press. Whenever I have seen him at events and press conferences, the actor either appears distracted and zoned out or the opposite: funny, attentive, and in the mood to have a baller time.

On Wednesday evening at Bandra's Taj Lands End, Salman is busy gorging on keema pao, straight from the containers of the buffet spread. At the same time, he's also talking to a journalist, calling Pritam, the music composer, 'lethargic and lazy.'

While I worry he'll be his usual inattentive self, Salman, dressed in a black tee and a black denim, takes a smoke break. His film, Tubelight, is days away from release and the pressure is palpable. Khan's eyes look droopy, his gait, tired. He is not only acting in the film but also producing and distributing it.

After waiting for over two hours (that'd come at the cost of standing up a date), Khan sits with me for a chat. Excerpts:

Kabir Khan's Tubelight once again portrays you as a sincere, innocuous, do-gooder who's just too nice to do any wrong -- a trend that started with Bajrangi Bhaijaan and was seen in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo too. What draws you to these characters?

Like you said, the niceness of it. But with Tubelight, my agenda is different -- after the film, I want brothers, who may not have spoken to one another in months and years, to call each other up and forget the differences, if they had any. I want them to be so emotionally overcome that they just let past differences aside and say, "Hey man, let's party." Many times, in our families, we end up cutting ourselves away from our siblings. Sometimes the issues are trivial, sometimes serious. But why let it affect you? I hope Tubelight can achieve that. It touches on those emotions. This film is beautifully shot. It's also styled very well by Lepakshi Ellawadi, who did Sultan and is doing Tiger Zinda Hai.

But Salman, do you actually believe films can end family feuds and change people's lives?

Absolutely. I've seen films that have changed my life. And trust me, if a film can change me, out of all people, a film can change anyone. It is the only medium that has such a huge influence on your psyche. When you sit in that dark room and see a character, you are also internally absorbing its ideas and traits.

When you see nobility being projected by a hero, you are inspired to emulate it. This is one of the reasons why I haven't ever played a negative character. Negativity in a character doesn't impress me. Say if you have a character who earns a living through corrupt means, man, that puts me off. I will never play a dark character. Underdogs impress me. Those who make it against all odds impress me. I want to tell their stories.

But doesn't that limit you as an actor? A lot of great performances in cinema have come from actors who've played dark, twisted, villainous roles.

Well, I don't know. From the stuff I do, a Dabangg is a character that is sort of, somewhere-in-between. His intentions are good, actions aren't all that good. So you try and balance that off. My next, Tiger Zinda Hai, also veers in the grey area. I am also doing a crazy dance film. So while I do wanna portray characters which are inherently nice, I don't want them to be one-dimensional. It has to have style and swag and some depth.

While your popularity in the country is undeniably huge, I believe there is a certain section in the audience who aren't your fans and perhaps, they'll never be. While some don't want to be seen endorsing your brand of cinema, some will find hard to appreciate even a good film only because you are in it. A lot, I think, has to do with the notoriety of your past.

Well, I don't know. I move around and meet all sorts of people but funnily, I have never been told that. Neither have I noticed that. But if you say so, all I can say is that I will probably have to work that much harder to win them over. I know it won't happen overnight but I can only hope that some day they'll warm up to me as an artist.

Do you feel you are unfairly judged by your critics?

I genuinely, honestly don't care. I believe that they've no right to take anybody's hard work down. The fans will decide that, in any case. The box-office will prove it one way or the other. What have you done to earn the right to rip a film apart? On Day 1 of the release, you write some rubbish crap. It destroys films and a lot of hard work that went behind making it. With me, of course, it doesn't make any difference. And I think they know it all too well. My films are critic-proof. I am telling them now: go give my film minus 100 stars, why just zero. Let's see how that pans out. My fans will anyway watch my film and that's my reward. It only makes them look like a bunch of idiots.

My films are critic-proof. I am telling them now: go give my film minus 100 stars, why just zero. Let's see how that pans out. My fans will anyway watch my film and that's my reward. It only makes them look like a bunch of idiots.

I am pretty sure that our critics aren't under the delusion that they can influence the market of a Salman Khan film. What I want to know is -- what is your analysis? Why do you think they are so insanely crazy about Salman? I cannot even send a negative tweet about you without getting massively trolled by this insane sub-culture of bhaifans.

I don't know. Maybe they think I'm one of them. Maybe they think I am just a regular dude who's chill and approachable and has no airs of being a superstar. And I have remained like that right from the start. I lived in Indore in a boarding school until the age of 16. That really grounded me. I hung around on the streets, went to the farms. There's nothing fancy about my life. I like cycling around the city, I hop into an auto-rickshaw now and then. I don't drive a big car -- I hate big cars. Maybe that, along with the kind of films I do, make them think I'm, I don't know, accessible in a way?

I don't drive a big car -- I hate big cars.

Perhaps. It's hard to decode stardom.

It is. I just think I am a guy who lucked out. Mostly because of the family I was born in. I am immensely fortunate to have the kind of family and friends and the fans I have. Some people come to me and tell me that their children are yet to talk but if they see a Salman Khan song, they jump, react, laugh. They can recall me by my name. Earlier it used to be Prem and Chulbul but now it's Salman.

I don't get it. There are children and youngsters who idolize you and have deified you. They look up to you, want to emulate you, carry your style. But I believe you're obviously a very flawed person to idolize. You've had some very serious court cases against you. Why should anybody just forget and forgive and move on to your next blockbuster?

Everybody has a past. Does that make you a bad person for life? In my case, there is deliberate malice. When people go after you for something you have not done, it's bad. Next thing you know you are running around courts and people are judging you.

For 20 years. 20 years is a long time, man. It's a lot of years. It takes a toll on you and your family. The financial toll on our family because of the cases has been huge.

When I was a nobody I had nothing. (Pauses) When I become somebody, I got the magistrate court. When I become slightly bigger, I got the High Court, then. And now when I am in this position, I have the Supreme Court.

Well, something awful did happen. It's not going to leave you.

It will leave me. It's God's way of anchoring me down. If these things didn't happen, I would have lost the plot by now. That's how I see it. It's my journey and whatever it takes, I will go through it. Thankfully, I have family and friends who've stood by me and pointed out whatever happened wasn't correct.

How do you deal with these ghosts of the past, Salman?

I don't have any ghosts. These ghosts have been created by people who are running businesses on them. There are so many incidents like mine that happened and nobody ever talks about them. Whenever there's a hit-and-run that happens anywhere, they drag me into it all over again. I mean, what the hell, come on, man. How much will you go on and on...

Whenever there's a hit-and-run that happens anywhere, they drag me into it all over again.

That's because some do think you got away with it quite easily.

...well, the High Court looked into it and they came up with a verdict which says that nothing of that sort ever happened. Ye sab galat hi hai. The courts said it. But what about the 20 years? What about it? Mere toh wo gaye na? And there's nothing to compensate for that. Nothing at all. And during all this, when I am seen doing a comedy show, or romancing beautiful women, or just laughing, they go like, "Look at this brat. He doesn't care. He is indifferent to what happened." And I am like, dude. It's my bloody job. I have to do it no matter what. I have to do it to sustain myself and pay my lawyers. If I don't do it, where is the money going to come from?

The idea still lingers around that you got away with it because you are a powerful movie star.

Which is not at all true. It's not true. It's all nautanki (mischief). Even now there are 5 out of job people who'll show up on television to debate my case. Some for, some against. It's ridiculous. None of them would have happened if I wasn't a star. None of it.

There's an argument that your Being Human charitable trust has been cleverly designed to rehabilitate your image. That, along with your Mr. Good Boy roles, carves a certain perspective that glosses over your moral transgressions.

Do you have any idea of the amount of work we do at Being Human? We do s***loads of work on a daily basis. I haven't even put my name there, man. It's Being Human. I am not even on the Board or any of the trustees. The idea is that years from now, people should forget who even started the foundation. You have no idea, man. Do one thing: Come and live my life for one day.

(Gets up and walks away)

Huffington Post India

#salman khan #tubelight interview #interview #text interview #tubelight promotion #huffington post india #tubelight #salmankhanfilms #skf #kabir khan's next 2

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yankeesabralimey · 8 years

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10 Thoughts from a VC on Enterprise Tech in 2017

With 2016 solidly in the rear-view mirror and 2017 stretching out ahead, I thought I’d join the ranks of VCs taking a stab at some predictions for the future. My focus has always been on investing in early-stage enterprise tech companies, and so I’m going to focus this post on some thoughts on enterprise software going forward, including a few themes and trends I’ll be watching for.

Here goes:

AI everywhere / AI inside. Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) have been the dominant buzzwords in the venture world for at least the past twelve months. I expect the significance of this technology to increase even further 2017. I expect we’ll see the confluence of three major sub-trends here:

Everyone is going to say it. First, all manner of startups will continue to use these terms to dress up their product offerings in the hope of attracting venture capital interest and even customer adoption. Despite the hype, in many cases, these terms are being used to describe fairly simplistic rule-based or statistical engines.

Nearly everyone is going to be able to do it. Second, the core set of algorithms that enable AI, ML, and deep learning are going to be increasingly commoditized and are not going to represent meaningful barriers to entry for startups nor are they — in and of themselves — going to be sufficient to drive customer adoption of new products.

The transformative power of deep learning is best understood as a force multiplier. AI (and deep learning in particular) are going to bring massive value to a subset of startups (and to their customers and VCs), but this value isn’t going to come from algorithms alone. It’s going to come from how those algorithms are packaged into powerful enterprise applications that are easy to buy, deploy, and understand. Deep learning has changed the applicative power of data, but it has not changed the fundamental physics of enterprise software. Deep domain expertise is still going to be required to deliver truly valuable applications. In a world where any startup can leverage powerful compute capabilities and deep neural networks, it’s going to increasingly be domain expertise, product management skill, and sales that will separate the winners from the pack.

Conversational interfaces. Another major shift in the enterprise is going to be the emergence of conversational interfaces in true enterprise-grade, customer-facing applications. In both voice and text settings, this will become the easiest way for humans (customers and employees) to engage with computers. We’re already seeing a range of startups providing both the building blocks and the applications that will drive adoption of this technology by the enterprise. My portfolio company ServiceFriend is hard at work in this space.

New data sources. As mentioned above, the transformative power of analytics and deep learning will not be a function of commoditized algorithms but of other factors. One of the most important is data — and the definition of “data” is rapidly expanding. We’ve lived through one massive transformation in the addition of “unstructured” data thanks to distributed databases and technologies like Hadoop, ElasticSearch, and MongoDB, but that was just the prelude. We are already in the early phases of an explosion in the amount of useful data available to software. This is driven by three factors: First, we are deploying more sensors than ever before. This includes mobile devices in the hands of customers and employees, but it also includes the world of IoT which will generate masses of (often continuous) useful data. Second, advances in audio and image processes are transforming masses of audio and visual information into useful sources of data. My portfolio company Chorus.ai, for example, is running advanced analytics on voice sales calls. Third, the availability of virtually unlimited computational power on the cloud (together with very powerful edge devices) is redefining the parameters of “parsable” data. Datasets that, ten years ago, would have been too massive to be useful (hundreds of temperature readings per millisecond, for example) are increasingly trivial to analyze. This opens up a world of possibility for software.

Penetration of old industries. Of the top five verticals in terms of growth in the number of deals financed in Europe/Israel in 2016, three were “old” industries: automotive, agtech, and general industrial. This trend is driven the availability of new data sets described above, by the arrival of a new generation of industrial operators eager to bring the benefits of software to traditional industries, and by sheer pressure to drive operational efficiency. I expect this trend to intensity into 2017 and beyond, creating tremendous opportunities for startups. This is going to drive further SaaS verticalization as highlighted as early as 2012 by Gordon Ritter of Emergence (see also these great pieces by Nic Poulos at Bowery and Tomasz Tunguz at Redpoint). The broader point is that new software delivery models (SaaS), new untapped data sources, and a new generation of IT buyers are going to make the enterprise software world much bigger than ever before — and that’s going to be mean a ton of opportunity for verticalized SaaS players in both verticals that are already well-served by horizontal players and in brand new verticals. For example, my portfolio company Imubit is still in stealth but is busy bringing the power of deep neural networks to some very old industries — with surprisingly powerful results.

Security remains the perennial problem and opportunity. I’m not going to touch the US election with a ten foot pole (see this previous post for thoughts…), but if nothing else, the election and other events throughout the year further highlighted the importance of information security. As long as there is technology, there are going to be vulnerabilities that will require new solutions to address them. That’s never going to be a core competency for any enterprise, and so there will always be demand for new security products and approaches. The challenge for investors is to identify security-related opportunities that might be large enough to define new categories and entrepreneurial teams talented enough to execute in this very challenging market. My portfolio company Snyk is addressing the challenge of code security with a developer-first approach (the dominant logic is that if software is eating the world, developers will eat pen-testing and infosec audits). A second portfolio company, Siemplify, is addressing the challenges that overwhelming amounts of data are posing to human security operations teams and -you guessed it — applying machine learning to help reduce the work-load at enterprise SOCs. There are other very compelling opportunities in automotive security, IoT security more generally, and security for new containerized/microservice infrastructure.

On the infrastructure side, APIs, microservices, and containerization drive flexibility, innovation, and competition. I’ll no doubt be doing a lot of thinking about IT infrastructure in 2017. We seem to be in the early innings of a massive shift in the way software is written and deployed. Software is being broken down into smaller components (microservices), deployed in highly flexible, HW-agnostic infrastructure units (containers), and communicating internally and externally with robust protocols (APIs) that enable tight application integration regardless of infrastructure, both within and outside the firewall. This creates a ton of opportunity for smart emergent infrastructure players to solve some new pain points (security, orchestration, deployment, debugging). It also creates an opportunity for other startups to start to attack newly vulnerable infrastructure stacks. I’m spending a lot of time with a company, for example, that is working on a microservices-driven application infrastructure stack specific to the healthcare world. I’m still gathering my thoughts here — but there is clearly a revolution underway with massive opportunities for both application and infrastructure players.

Data portability. In the past, data would get generated where the compute power was located, and analytics would take place where the data was located. So if your transactional systems were on-premises, the data would get generated on-prem, and you’d set up your OLAP cubes on-prem as well. With centralized cloud compute, data gets generated on the cloud, lives on the cloud, and gets analyzed by cloud-based tools. I’m not sure this model is going to hold going forward. Data is getting generated on the edge (mobiles, IoT, drones, etc.) and edge compute is becoming increasingly powerful, which may draw application software towards the edge, even if the bulk of data lives on the cloud. Finally, distributed applications would benefit from truly distributed databases. Today’s databases aren’t really built to deal with the challenge of data that needs to live in multiple locations, and needs to be consumed both on the edges and the core of the network. Data and databases remain one of the last obstacles to application integration and infrastructure flexibility, and I think we’ll see some interesting companies emerge to address this problem.

Open source get put into perspective. Open source has transformed over the past decade from taboo to core. With software eating the world, developers are eating the enterprise — and they are winning increased freedom to deploy whatever solution they prefer. In many cases, open source is a critical driver of enterprise adoption because it limits lock-in and prevents over-dependence. That said, driving profit growth from the open source model seems to be increasingly challenging for many startups. The days of software entrepreneurs blinding rushing to go fully open source in order to drive massive adoption and then “make it up on volume” later (or turn into glorified services organizations for their biggest users) are over. I think we’ll continue to see a proliferation of high-quality open source tooling (software does “want” to be free), but the challenge for entrepreneurs (and VCs) is going to be less about how to make money from open source software and increasingly about how to build a valuable product that the enterprise will pay for in an environment of open source competition. Open source is, I suspect, going to be best understood as part of a strategy but not a strategy in and of itself.

Development tools are going to look a lot more “enterprisey” and less “dev tooly.” As the lines between business and software blur, the lines between “developer tools” and “enterprise software” are going to get increasingly blurry. I’ve argued above that open source is both increasingly core and increasingly problematic as a business model. But the other major shift is that development teams are increasingly strategic to the enterprise and therefore increasingly in control of significant budget for tools that have a meaningful impact on the ability of the enterprise to achieve agility. I suspect that in 2017 and beyond, the most interesting dev tooling companies are going to possess some serious enterprise-grade chops — more emphasis on sales quotas than on Github stars.

Drones, VR, and IoT. I’m a huge believer in the value of VR/IoT/drones for the enterprise. Companies like Dronomy, AiRobotics and many others are beginning the prove this out. Similarly, companies like Mindesk are exploring enterprise-grade CAD applications for VR. Companies like Resin.io (a portfolio company) are building the infrastructure that enterprises need to deploy IoT at scale. I’m looking forward to more such opportunities to invest in the intersection of the enterprise and the physical world.

So that’s some of what I think I’ll be looking out for this year. If you’re building something for the enterprise in Europe or Israel, or you think I should be thinking about any of this differently (or about something else entirely), ping me. Let’s talk.

My AngelList syndicate to back the best in European & Israeli enterprise companies is now one of the largest syndicates based outside the US. We are now at well over $1M in backing per deal.

The syndicate has made five investments so far: all oversubscribed and all with quality co-investors. I’d be honored if you’d consider backing the syndicate – you’ll be in pretty good company and there are quite a few awesome companies in the pipeline…

If you like this sort of post, please consider subscribing to this blog.

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babbleuk · 5 years

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Data Center ARM-ification is Around the Corner

Nowadays, ARM CPUs are the predominant choice for everything outside the data center. Even some PCs are now based on this type of CPU. Several reasons for this exist, low power consumption, good-enough computing power, System-on-Chip (SoC) designs, ecosystem, ARM licensing model, and more. On the other hand, Intel lost this battle a long time ago, but X86 CPUs won hands down in the data center. Things are changing though, and ARM is becoming more attractive for data center workloads as well.

Workloads and Applications Are Changing

Intel CPUs are simply unbeatable for some workloads. Single thread tasks run faster and better in x86 cores. These CPUs have huge memory caches, are good for several workloads, and give very predictable results. The way we design and develop new applications is changing though, micros-services and small containers are highly parallel, very small, and require minimal resources to run. Having multiple small tasks running in CPUs with few cores, albeit fast cores, is not very efficient, the memory cache is less important and context switching is a toll to pay, no matter the efficiency of the CPU.

Smaller CPUs, with many cores, can run multiple tasks concurrently and efficiently. Maybe, some of you remember Sun SPARC T CPUs. This CPU was ahead of its time and particularly awful at running a single task, but for highly multithreaded code, they were a killer. Unfortunately, at that time, multithreaded code and microservices were still a utopia.

Hardware is Changing

General-purpose CPUs are OK at everything but, let’s be honest here, they aren’t good at anything. In recent years we saw many new specialized processors (often called accelerators) getting traction in the data centers:

GPUs for intensive graphic, media transcoding, and AI/ML

FPGAs for signal processing, voice recognition, cryptography, networking, some AI tasks

Tensor CPUs: specialized accelerators for AI and ML

And even ASICs are back for certain tasks

When servers are equipped with these accelerators and run the workloads for which they are designed, the CPUs power is less relevant to improve the total execution time of a task. At this point having a good-enough and power-efficient CPU is better than a power-hungry one.

Furthermore, hyper-scalers started to design their own hardware a long time ago. They have specialized hardware now, designed for their specific needs. More efficient, serviceable, resilient, and less expensive than standard rack servers. With better control over the entire design, including the CPU, they can get these characteristics up another level. Even more so, smaller servers also means smaller failure domains and better service availability.

It’s not only hyper-scalers that are looking at ARM CPUs, also tier-2 service providers are active in this regard. Packet, for example, always had some ARM instances and several PaaS and SaaS providers are investigating the potential of this option.

Are Enterprises Changing?

Short answer? Not so much. Enterprises are still forced to use X86-based hardware and standard servers. They do not have the numbers and honestly the interest to move to ARM.

Traditional enterprise applications are not ready, and even though we talk every day about Kubernetes, it will take a long time to have a critical mass of container-based applications to think about switching to new hardware architectures. Honestly, at that time, it is highly likely that on-prem IT will be only a component of a larger hybrid environment with applications floating between the public cloud and on-premises infrastructures, and I don’t know if somebody will still bother to look too much into something that won’t really make a big difference in terms of TCO.

Edge computing could be another story. If Kubernetes will become a prevalent system to deploy and manage applications in remote sites, power efficiency and other benefits of ARM architectures could play an important role, leading to a major change in how edge infrastructures are designed. And it is not only Kubernetes, VMware is on the same wavelength with its ESXi for ARM.

Key Takeaways

Cloud and service providers are designing their data centers for the best efficiency. They are big hardware spenders and every improvement they are able to make can easily result in big savings. Hyperscalers such as Microsoft and Amazon are already working hard in this direction and many others, even smaller ones, are doing the same.

Startups like Bamboo Systems, for example, are working to make efficient ARM servers available to a wider audience, and the number of standard ARM-based designs are growing as well.

Looks like specialized CPUs and accelerators have more potential than in the past to win the data center. Intel needs new ideas, new CPU designs, and new products, to fight competitors like AMD with Epyc, NVIDIA GPUs, and ARM. They already did it in the past, will they be able to do it again?

from Gigaom https://gigaom.com/2019/12/06/data-center-arm-ification-is-around-the-corner/

#Gigaom

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tellytantra · 6 years

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(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Episode starts with Kartik saying maybe Dadi got scared by the bad omen, she is already upset with Akhilesh. He asks Naira not to think about it, else it will be trouble for him. He jokes. She says I feel like shooting you with this arrow right now. He holds her close and says you have already shot me. She smiles and gets away. She holds a bow and shoots towards him. He picks the arrow and acts that it has struck his heart. He also shoots an arrow. He catches the arrow and breaks it. Piyaa Baawri….plays… They shoot at the hanging cloth bag and shower petals/poppers/colors on each other. They dance. They get under a red curtain. Kartik gets close to her. They hug. They hear some people talking and go to check. Manish says I know whats bothering you, it happened many years ago, no use to recall that. Kartik sees Manish and Dadi. Manish says if you worry much, people will doubt, how will we hide it, even Akhilesh, Suwarna and Surekha don’t know it, what will we answer Akhilesh, what happened when he was at the hostel. Kartik says please be quiet. The man says sorry. Kartik sees Manish gone. Naira says Dadi looked worried. Kartik says we will ask them at home. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Someone looks on. Raavan heads are seen. Naksh asks Kirti to keep medicines and kada for Naira, I bought for next month in advance. Kirti asks why, Kartik will take care of this. He says he stays busy. She says everyone is busy, but you take care of me well, everyone fulfills responsibility. He says no, just in case, I wanted to ask if staff looks after Naira’s needs, I will hire a nurse for her. She says you aren’t doing right, don’t intervene between a couple. He says you also don’t intervene between siblings, come, we are getting late. Kartik thinks kids are worried by the family issues. He signs Naira. They do makeup to Lav and Kush and try to cheer the kids. Naira asks should I convince them. Kartik says yes, we have less time, we have to do Ramleela. Naira says fights between brothers keep happening, but family doesn’t break, whoever needs help asks for it, when elders become young ones, the kids must grow up, because we make the family together. Kartik says yes, being modern doesn’t mean getting selfish. Naira says its our decision, how we deal with problems. Kartik says we will convince Akhilesh. Naira says yes, you can’t back down. Kartik says today’s generation is one who fixes broken relations, drive away misunderstandings and brings hearts closer. Naira says I have faith in my Lav and Kush. She calls them cute monkeys. Kartik says you must only smile in real life. They hug Lav and Kush. Manish and Suwarna greet guests. Singhanias come. Manish hugs Kirti. Akhilesh and Surekha ignore Singhanias. Manish and Dadi sadly cry. Reporters greet Akhilesh and thank for inviting them. Akhilesh answers their questions and smiles. Manish says he looks so good, happy and confident. Suwarna says this is overconfidence. Manish asks what are you saying. Suwarna says you will just hide your feelings. Manish says I can’t upset Akhilesh, I can’t take the risk. She says you are falling weak. He says he is my brother, he is like my child, don’t say anything against him. A man pushes chair and goes. Suwarna holds Manish. Reporters see Manish and go to him. Akhilesh gets angry. Someone pays the man for pushing the chair. He laughs. Kartik and Naira make an announcement. Everyone smiles and claps. Kartik says forget your anger, sorrow and pain, forget the differences and enjoy the function. Naira says its Dussehra today, the day when good wins over evil, so applaud and mesmerize everyone. Manish and Akhilesh clap. Bhabhimaa says Manish is still the same, he loves children, but Akhilesh is different. Kartik and Naira dance on Prem leela….. Kirti holds Naksh’s hand. Kartik and Naira tie everyone with the garlands. Akhilesh sees Manish and goes. Someone looks on. Suwarna says Akhilesh doesn’t feel any bonding for Kartik and Naira, I m shocked to see this. Manish gets quiet. Akhilesh gets shocked seeing the stage wooden support shaking. Precap:Kartik burns the Raavan idol. Someone says burn as many Raavan as you can, but there is one Raavan whom you can never burn, and that’s me. Update Credit to: Amena

http://cattybilli.blogspot.com/2018/10/yeh-rishta-kya-kehlata-hai-29th-october.html

#SEO #Local SEO training Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 29th October 2018 Episode Written Update http://c

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nabilfekir · 7 years

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its so funny the way you hate spurs!! i kinda feel sorry for them tho. they try hard to win but they fail everytime... but do you support team based on how many trophies they won?

listen…i dont HATE spurs. the slight dislike is bc of the hype and in some cases their fans who are just sometimes annoying but that goes for all fans of all teams and especially the premier league tbh so its all the same i dislike all the prem top 6 anyway

lmao tbh i was just super angry yesterday abt lucas it felt like the end of an era n it kinda hurt to see him in their kit sksdnsdkdn spurs aren’t all bad but ngl i dont want him to do well there. i may have overreacted yesterday skdsnsddsm but i don’t like seeing both serge AND lucas there…..it gives me the heebie jeebies

and no i dont support a team based on trophies lmao who does that???? yes psg win things but that isn’t why i love and support them and if they stopped winning things i’d still be here yelling ici c’est paris. schalke haven’t won anything of value in a while lmao and i LOVE them to bits like trophies has nothing to do with it??????

#anon #asks

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flauntpage · 7 years

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A Pro/Rel Column – Why American Soccer Can Exist Without It

I’ll start by saying that I don’t hate promotion and relegation. I can’t dislike a system that rewards success, punishes failure, and provides opportunity. Stripped down to the simplest of explanations, it sounds very American.

My stance has always been that domestic soccer has unique challenges and considerations that aren’t necessarily fixed by structural changes to the pyramid. There’s no magic bullet here, as some would have you think.

What we get is a noxious clash of ideas with a lot of shouting and idiocy on both sides. Pro/rel advocates froth and whine on social media while those of us on the other end of the spectrum, or somewhere in the middle, are guilty of engaging in the pissing contest instead of ignoring the trolls and seeking out rational thought instead. Just like Capitol Hill, moderate voices and measured takes are often drowned out.

So I think the premise of the column is this –

American soccer doesn’t necessarily need promotion and relegation. I think we can be successful in our current setup, with a closed league, steady growth, and a soft salary cap that promotes pseudo-parity in lieu of top-heavy foreign-framed systems. Let’s fix MLS before tearing the whole thing down and starting over.

The main pro/rel argument basically suggests that opening the pyramid will provide opportunities for smaller teams and result in widespread investment at lower levels due to the removal of the ceiling that limits those clubs. Would-be owners who can’t buy in to Major League Soccer can start a lower division team that has unlimited potential for upward growth. Lesser division one teams, like your Philadelphia Union, can’t be cheap and lazy, or else they go down.

Sounds good in theory, right? Fresh blood and motivation. Jay Sugarman, one of the worst sports owners on this side of the Atlantic, would be punished for his thriftiness with D2 relegation, which would have happened in 2015 after the Union finished with 37 points and a 10-17-7 record. Down goes boring Philly, up comes the exciting New York Cosmos. We punish the underachiever and reward success.

Nothing wrong with that on paper. My stance has always been predicated on four things:

1. There are organic ways to remove owners and executives in a closed system

During that 2015 Union season, the Sons of Ben marched to the gates of PPL Park carrying a coffin with an image of CEO Nick Sakiewicz inside. Painted on the casket were the words “serial franchise killer,” a reference to Sakiewicz’s time with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and New York Red Bulls, the former of which folded in 2001 and the latter which found little on-field success.

This was a grassroots protest from the same fan body that lobbied for an MLS franchise in the first place, starting with a group that gathered in McGillin’s Olde Ale House to discuss ways to generate interest in Philadelphia soccer. In a way, that 2015 protest was a natural extension of the process that started the Union, which was organic and fan-generated. Sakiewicz was removed at the end of the season and Earnie Stewart was installed as the club’s first Sporting Director.

Two years later, Union fans have come to realize that the failures were not entirely Sakiewicz’s fault, as the team continues to struggle after his departure. But the takeaway here is that fans were able to influence the front office even in a closed system with no built-in punishment for under-performance. And if they’re fed up with the team in 2018, they can simply stop showing up, stop buying tickets, and stop buying merchandise. The consumer always has the power, whether he or she realizes it or not.

Another point is that relegation doesn’t automatically mean that ownership and front office problems are solved. Take Hull City, for instance, who are currently in 19th place in the English Championship. Owner Assem Allam bought the team in 2010, saw it promoted twice and relegated twice, and tried to change the name at the same time, angering the entirety of his fan base with one weird decision. Here’s a team on its fifth manager in two years and now trying to stay afloat in the second division after seven seasons of turbulence.

How about Francesco Becchetti, who took Leyton Orient from the verge of the Championship to division five?

Or Ellis Short, the guy who oversaw Sunderland’s descent into irrelevance? What about Mike Ashley and Karl Oyston?

Relegation isn’t an auto-fix for ownership issues. There’s no guarantee that Jay Sugarman or Stan Kroenke would leave town if their clubs took the drop. They can drag it down even further into the mud.

As it stands, their franchises continue to increase in value with the addition of new MLS expansion teams, so they can simply sit on their rear ends and watch their investment grow. Sugarman paid $20-30 million in an expansion fee back in 2010 and that fee is now up to $150 million. I don’t know how much that value drops if Philly takes the fall. If anything, the asking price probably remains relatively high in a system where that franchise can potentially go back up. I think it’s a wash.

What the league can do is guide ownership from within. MLS can certainly pressure cheaper owners to add new partners or increase their financial profile, or run them out entirely ala Chivas USA. You can tweak cap and roster rules to price them out. Look for MLS to start turning the screws a bit once expansion finishes.

Trust me on that one, per sources that have been spot on in the past. I’ve spoken to numerous people who say MLS HQ isn’t exactly thrilled with Union ownership right now. Sugarman sits on the expansion committee and, theoretically, the value of his club should level off at least somewhat when we get to 28 teams.

2. Pro/rel creates top heavy leagues and alternative boardroom objectives

Look at the Premier League table right now, where Manchester City is 13 points clear with a +49 goal differential after 20 games. Might as well hand them the trophy.

They’ve been a pleasure to watch, a team with 18 straight wins and 0 losses this entire campaign. They’re having historic success this season.

Next up is the clump of Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Arsenal, who are sort of jockeying for Champion’s League positions. Going into this season, I think those were the six clubs that really had a chance to win anything in the Premier League, which is usually the case every year.

What, then, are squads like Stoke and Watford playing for? 10th place? Moral victories?

The problem with a pro/rel setup that doesn’t have a salary cap* is that only a handful of teams can really achieve anything, while the mid-table clump is irrelevant and the bottom feeders are just trying to stay afloat. That creates auxiliary goals for smaller clubs who aren’t even necessarily trying to win, they’re just trying to remain in the division. And maybe that’s a success for a small team like Huddersfield, which is trying to make progressive forward steps after years in the lower divisions.

But the nice thing about American sports is that everybody, theoretically, is pulling a Herm Edwards. You play to win the game. Sure, teams like Toronto and Seattle are obviously going to be favored to beat New England and Colorado, but at least the lesser MLS teams still have a chance at the playoffs in September and October. This doesn’t turn into a two-team race between Barcelona and Real Madrid seven games in.

For starters, eight different clubs have won MLS Cup in the last 10 years. La Liga has three different winners in that time frame. Same thing in Italy, where Juventus has won six Scudettos in a row. Same thing in… Germany, too, where Bayern Munich has won the last five. In Turkey, only one non-Istanbul club has won the Super Lig dating back to 1984.

1984!

In the prem, it’s United, City, Chelsea, and… Leicester!

We love Leicester. What a story, right? It’s the prime example pro/rel advocates use when explaining why their system makes more sense than what we currently have.

Problem is, a story like Leicester only comes around once in a blue moon. Chapecoense doesn’t happen often enough. There’s a big gap between Eibar and the Spanish top-five. Go around the world and you’ll find that these “small club” success stories are too often drowned out in top-heavy leagues with oil sheikh and Russian oligarch owners. It results in some high quality football at the expense of table slots 5 through 20, which are ultimately pointless unless you care about the Europa League. What we’re trying to build here is not a three-team snooze-fest, but a league with parity and competition.

Let’s take a look at the last nine years of Ukrainian football:

See a pattern there?

I enjoy the MLS system, where every season 10-12 teams can win a trophy. Our league has plenty of ridiculous issues, which requires a separate column, but I like the idea that squads are playing to win hardware, or at least make the playoffs, as opposed to “just staying up” or being satisfied with a mid-table finish.

Let’s check in with the Crystal Palace boardroom:

“Well lads, we finished in 14th place and fired our manager, but at least we didn’t go down! Hooray!”

I don’t like the direction the Philadelphia Union are going in, but I can appreciate the fact that they don’t need to bring in Sam Allardyce to save themselves from the drop. They’re at least committed to a young manager and not going to bail after four months to bring in a “relegation specialist.” Say whatever you want about Jim Curtin, who isn’t the best example for this story, but we can’t be canning coaches at the rate of Swansea City. Caleb Porter went from 1st place in the west, all the way down to 6th, then won a title. Bob Bradley will have a chance to build something at LAFC, not get run out of town at a shit club after 11 games.

Honestly, a lot of this just boils down to preference. Do you like open leagues with unrestricted spending that results in three to four clubs having a real title-winning shot? Or do you like a closed league with restrictions that close the gap from one to 22? MLS, of course, is not the best product out there, but it’s certainly more competitive and interesting, and at least I know that there’s something to play for in October, November, and December. Truthfully, I’m just bored with the Premier League and Serie A and La Liga, where it’s the same shit year after year after year, save for one enjoyable season of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. I watch the games and enjoy them in a vacuum, but the title-races leave a lot to be desired.

Now, does pro/rel automatically come with the removal of the salary cap? No, I don’t think so. But are we going to open the pyramid and then tell Miami FC that they can’t spend more than Jacksonville? You can’t cap teams while asking them to be ambitious investors at the same time. The MLS salary cap is waaaaaay too low right now and that has to change. We haven’t even scratched the surface, and we have to get rid of at least 50% of the absurd MLS roster building rules if we’re going to keep moving forward. Again, another article entirely, but I can’t get behind pro/rel entirely until I feel like we do everything in our control to maximize what we currently have. It’s like tearing down a building that’s only half-way finished.

(*I put the asterisk there because, yea, you can go above the MLS cap with a couple of designated player signings. That’s why it’s a soft cap with pseudo-parity instead of a true cap like the NFL or NBA.)

3. We’re not financially stable, yet

Let’s say the Philadelphia Union take the drop. Say it happened in 2015.

Now you’ve got a division two team playing in a half-full, eight-year-old stadium in one of Pennsylvania’s poorest cities. Chester is under a state-mandated recovery program (Act 47) and already pulling from other revenue sources to cover for the $275,000 annual shortfall in county bond payments. The stadium lease doesn’t expire until 2040. The pending litigation over waterfront property (and its valuation) takes a turn. How many people are driving down there to watch the Union play the Richmond Kickers? Every painfully small step to improve that area goes straight into the toilet if Philly goes down.

In a perfect world of Capitalism, you let it fail, right? Just let the market do its thing, which is what our economy is predicated on. That sounds good in theory, but the cost is just too much here. People lose their jobs. The city loses money. Fans stop showing up. The Philadelphia Inquirer pulls Jon Tannenwald off the Union beat to go do high school football instead. 2,000 season ticket holders decide not to renew and the front office lays off 10 sellers. Academy investment is cut back and Bethlehem Steel hemorrhages more money in year number three. It’s like a devastating backwards version of Reaganomics, where nothing is really trickling in either direction.

We don’t have 75 years of history to create a diehard core of supporters who will stick with the club through something like that. If the Eagles go down, no problem. If the Union go down, I don’t know if they survive. This is a 10-year old team and long-term project that already faces incredible struggles, some of which are self-inflicted and some that aren’t, namely the construction of a soccer-specific stadium in a less-than-desirable area during the worst part of the economic recession. Good job by Ed Rendell on that one.

Furthermore, potential buyers know they’re going to take a short term loss on an investment that might not even pan out if the Union never make it back to D1. Sure, they’d probably slap around Charleston and Pittsburgh and remain in the top-half of the table, but there’s never any guarantee here. Portsmouth and Blackburn are where right down? League One? Where’s Charlton?

Here they are:

PROGRESS |

2013: Charlton finish 9th in @SkyBetChamp.

2014: Duchatelet buys Charlton.

2016: Championship relegation.

2017: 13th place finish in League 1.

December 17: Promotion campaign starts to falter, #cafc can’t fill the substitutes bench for a league fixture. http://pic.twitter.com/QqECqGFMeN

— Charlton Athletic {…} FC (@ParodyCharlton) December 26, 2017

People always talk about the rise of new clubs but ignore the fall of once-great clubs. Charlton has been around for more than 100 years and now languishes in the third division while their fans suffer:

“Next on 60 Minutes, it’s the side of pro/rel that they don’t want you to see. I’m Lesley Stahl and I’ll take you to Southeast London, where one of England’s historic clubs is now total shite.”

Is there enough money out there to provide a parachute payment that would sustain an MLS drop? I don’t know, but that same infusion is basically labeled as allocation money within our closed system. It’s all coming from the same source, I just don’t know how much you would need to keep these clubs afloat.

If Wall Street banks were “too big to fail,” then MLS clubs are too fragile to fail, at least the one that plays here. You’re trying to make inroads in the country’s fourth largest television market, not risk the entire thing falling apart. We’ve already taken major backward steps from 2011 until now, with local TV ratings dropping below 1.0 and a slight dip in attendance. The Union have become more and more irrelevant and demoting them to D2 ain’t gonna help.

For years, Major League Soccer’s success was built on the process of slow growth and steady expansion. Seattle came in. Toronto came in. Vancouver and Montreal came in. One or two teams every year or every other year. These are nascent and vulnerable clubs. The fallacy here is that every division one team is some established juggernaut, which is certainly not true. Philly is a venture. The club didn’t even have practice fields or a training complex until two years ago. They used to drive to a public park to train. Now we’re pulling the rug out and jeopardizing a decade of (slow) development in a difficult soccer market just so division five Traverse City can get a shot? Do we want Capitalism or Socialism? What exactly are we looking for here?

Overall MLS attendance has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. TV ratings aren’t amazing, but they’re better than they were. This league has grown by leaps and bounds, but don’t let the success of Atlanta and Portland fool you. There are a ton of challenges for numerous “big market” teams, especially on the eastern seaboard. Revenue needs to increase, our TV deals need to be stronger, we have to do a better job of attracting casual fans, and we have to keep improving the product and create some stability before we risk it with structural changes. 1,500 fans might work in Utica, but it’s not gonna work in Philly. We can’t start turning our attention to smaller auxiliary markets until we gain a foothold in places like Boston, Dallas, New York, Washington, and Chicago. That’s how we negotiate better broadcasting deals and get more eyeballs on the product. As someone who worked in television for nine years, I can tell you that division one Shreveport does nothing at the bargaining table. But if the Chicago market, with 3.4 million TV homes, tunes in to a Sunday afternoon Fire game against Seattle, then partners are willing to sign off on bigger and better deals.

On the bottom end, we need to get teams like Harrisburg (now Penn FC) out of baseball parks and into stable situations. We need to stop sharing college stadiums and we need to continue building on the positives at the USL level. A lot of lower level teams simply do not have the infrastructure and business setup to be viable at division one. MLS is only 22 years old, yet lower division teams that have played less than five seasons are ready for promotion? The cart is way out in front of the horse here.

We’re only just starting to find our feet.

4. You are not entitled to anything

You know what’s more American than a free market economy? Earning your spot at the table.

Sorry, but you don’t deserve a shot to play with the big boys simply because you started a division nine soccer team that plays in a borrowed middle school stadium.

“We want the shit we don’t have and we want it for free!”

It doesn’t work that way. I worked graveyard shift producing the 5 a.m. news in Augusta, Georgia before I earned the opportunity to work at a bigger television station and make more money. I didn’t come out of college demanding $55,000 and a nine to five gig at Action News.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some apologist for the GOP or the “one-percent,” but there has to be a modicum of respect for the owners that took a leap on Major League Soccer back in 1996 and got us to where we are today. Yes, that includes Bob Kraft, who is terribly absent in 2017 but played an enormous role back in the day. That includes Phil Anschutz and Lamar Hunt and everybody else who got this thing off the ground.

If you don’t like it, you work against it. NASL pushed MLS but ultimately blew it. Cross-league jockeying creates competition that forces rivals to up their game. That’s how our economy works. Don’t like Verizon? Go to Comcast. Don’t like Comcast’s horrendous customer service? Cut the cord and stream the game on your Chrome Book. Don’t like your Chrome Book? Buy a Mac.

That’s America. It’s not about free handouts, it’s about making a product that’s bigger and better and more desirable than the other person’s product. And when you fail, sue the shit out of someone! Minnesota and Montreal went to MLS because it meant financial and competitive stability. Carolina, Tampa, and Ottawa saw a path forward in a smarter and less bombastic USL. The NASL shot itself in the foot with a lack of focus and poor expansion strategies (among many other things), then pointed the finger at the USSF instead of looking in the mirror.

And if we want to go down the road of, “well, the U.S. Soccer is a corrupt monopoly that favors MLS,” then go out and lobby for one of the candidates currently running for USSF President. Go be a part of the democratic process and make your case. There are pro/rel candidates out there who can change the game if they win the job. This is your opportunity make your voice heard. We’re still a pay-to-play sport that caters to suburban white kids with money. We need a national team coach. The women’s team isn’t being treated the same as the men’s team. U.S. Soccer has a million problems, but not all of them are directly tied to whether or not we have pro/rel at the professional level.

Just don’t suggest that the American soccer media, which is basically a rag tag group of part-timers, is “in the bag” for MLS or U.S. Soccer. I made less than $25,000 in eight years of writing about soccer ($3,125 annually) and never received a paycheck from MLS headquarters. I think I speak for most writers when I say that my motives were to put something on the resume and do a bit to hopefully grow the game in this country. I didn’t spend Saturday nights in Chester to pad my bank account, I was down there to hopefully play a small role in pushing the Union in a market that traditionally only watches the “four major North American sports.” I’d be flattered to receive bung offers but they just haven’t come. There’s no secret conspiracy going on here, so enough with the accusations of “collusion” and “tyranny” and all of the conspiratorial melodrama.

People with truly productive pro/rel opinions are being done a disservice by the tinfoil Twitter personalities. These guys claim to speak for the movement but they’re really just faux guerrillas fighting a contrarian war against the “establishment.” It’s like Occupy Wall Street, which started out as a protest against, well, Wall Street, then slowly morphed into a catch-all demonstration for the grievance of the day.

Walk away from these people and you’ll see the conversation open up. You can’t make outrageous accusations and then act surprised when the vitriol is reciprocated by myself and others.

Can it ever work?

Sure, pro/rel could work here, but it’s a monumental project. You’re talking about 100+ clubs spread out over a massive geographic region that includes two countries. Are we doing single-table or playoffs? Spring and Fall seasons? FIFA calendar? Is Canada on board? MLS is already on a seven-month, 34 game schedule built to accommodate weather, travel, and the existence of competing sports.

With the partnership between USL and MLS, people talk about doing a controlled, two-division pro/rel system after expansion is completed. I think that’s a start, but the problem there is that a lot of USL clubs are farm teams for MLS squads. Bethlehem Steel exists solely to provide minutes for academy kids and future Union signings, not to win trophies and make money. The team plays in a borrowed college stadium that has no lights. It’s funded entirely by Keystone Sports and Entertainment.

Now, compare that to teams like Charleston and Cincinnati, who have no affiliate and are not owned by a parent club? What now?

If you’re going to do pro/rel, I think you start with these four clumps:

Major League Soccer clubs

independent USL clubs

NASL leftovers and folded teams

USL clubs owned by MLS teams (Steel, NYRB 2, etc)

I don’t know what you do with the fourth grouping. Bring back the MLS reserve league? No idea. I like the idea of playing double-headers where, for example, Bethlehem Steel can get a 90 minute run out against Orlando City B after the senior teams finish their game. That might be a solution.

Then, if you take the first two groupings there, throw #3 a bone, and split the country in half, you’d get something like this:

West

East

It’s arbitrary. I’m just flying by the seat my pants here. But you get the idea, right?

I like four divisions split into two halves of the country, because it cuts down on travel and creates more meaningful games in smaller geographic regions. You’d play a 30 game schedule from March to September, with two teams relegated and two teams promoted every season. You could hand out a trophy for winning your regular season, then do a four to eight team playoff in October between eastern and western teams and award another trophy there. This all coexists with the U.S. Open Cup and Canadian Championship, so it’s basically placing more value on the regular season while still throwing out two more trophies to claim.

Maybe NPSL clubs or new franchises fill the slots that say “team.” There’s room here to add more, but I don’t know where a squad like Reading United fits in. They play at Exeter High School and are an incredibly small operation. Even if that team is promoted to D2 or even D1, that market doesn’t move the needle. Are we closing this off at four divisions in two regions or going further down the pyramid? I don’t know, but I think we need 8 to 10 more years of stability before traveling down this road.

It’s a start, though. I think something like this could work. More rivalry games, easier road trips for fans and media, and single tables that could still theoretically operate with a salary cap. You’ve got possible expansion from 16 teams per bracket, to 18, then up to 20, with room for new blood in ownership. Existing owners will never sign up for anything that could harm their investment, so they give them a five-year window to cash out before we install the new system.

The biggest struggle I have with pro/rel is that I feel like there has to be bridge here to involve investors who want to play a role, people dissimilar from Riccardo Silva and Dennis Crowley, who just want a piece of the pie that they didn’t bake.

That’s the important thing here, we’re selling ourselves short by excluding people who have good intentions and something tangible to provide. I joke about 500 fans showing up to a division four soccer game in Altoona, but we want these people on our side. We have enough obstacles trying to attract the Philly tough guy who could give a shit about the Union but walks around wearing a Chelsea kit. It’s counter-intuitive to divide soccer fans in this country when we already face an uphill climb against NFL and MLB traditionalists.

Right now I think we have four competing factions:

MLS fans

pro/rel NASL types

white Americans who watch foreign soccer but not MLS

1st/2nd generation immigrants who watch foreign soccer, but not MLS (think Mexican-Americans and Liga MX fans)

It’s ridiculous that soccer in this country features multiple groups of fans with contrasting opinions and interests, and that’s the priority here. We need to pull these groups together and find some common ground before we start working on the 65-year-old Phillies fan. He or she is probably a lost cause anyway, but we’re trying to grow the game here with soccer people on entirely different pages.

I don’t like going to bat for folks like Bob Kraft, but I do respect what they did for MLS in the late nineties. And I don’t want to dismiss investors at lower level clubs with good intentions, I just want to weed out the leeches who want a free spot at someone else’s table. I think pro/rel provides opportunity and forces lazy owners to spend, but I also don’t like top-heavy leagues with a lack of true competition. I appreciate stories like Leicester City while also being concerned about the future of a Bolton or Blackpool.

Each system has its own merits, and a lot of this, as I said before, just comes down to preference. Right now, I think we can be successful by improving what we currently have and building on a competitive and interesting league, instead of taking a huge risk by tearing down 22 years of progress and starting from scratch.

A Pro/Rel Column – Why American Soccer Can Exist Without It published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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walkonwalkonwithhopeinyourheart · 7 years

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Almost Liverpool's Naby Keita Update #2- Mönchengladbach via /r/LiverpoolFC

Almost Liverpool's Naby Keita Update #2- Mönchengladbach

Welcome to the 2nd edition of the Naby Keita update. Sorry for the tardiness. I was away for work this weekend and could barely watch the Liverpool match, much less Leipzig's (although I did sneak away from a seminar to see both goals in the Liverpool game while sitting fully clothed on a toilet.)

*I'm still learning this whole gif-creation thing, if any of you are knowledgeable about that type of thing and can give me advice about making good-quality GIFs that aren't massive file-sizes, that'd be helpful for me. (I use gifox if that matters) * it was hard to find a full-match replay, but I finally just splurged on Fox Soccer Match pass for $20 a month so I can keep doing these. (If 200 of you want to donate .10 a month to a broke young-man, feel free)

Here we go!

Match: RB Leipzig - Borussia Mönchengladbach

Competition: BUNDESLIGA

Date: SEP 16, 2017

Pre-Match

Naby is starting on the right today

I'm curious to see how that develops. He has the physical and technical tools to play on the right, it seems, but the massive amounts of other qualities he has, makes it seem like he'd be more influential centrally, but I'm not a professional manager.

-First time that I've seen Forsberg, Werner, and Naby all on the pitch together. Looks like a dangerous team.

First Half

1": Someone in the Bundesliga graphics department is an idiot. There Naby is, patrolling the middle of the pitch. I don't know why I believed that "on the right" nonsense to begin with.

5: Naby not terribly involved early on. Although, unrelated to Liverpool, Werner is such an impressive player, really easy on the eye. Forsberg electric as well.

6: Naby lays a ball off and bursts forward but his touch let's him down and he gives away a goal kick.

7 Naby never really goes up to win headers unless the ball is straight at him, which is kind of frustrating, and he hasn't seemed to put himself in a position to win the second ball from headers either, but I'll keep my eye on that.

8: Naby turns out of pressure easily. this is admittedly not a good example. But I was unable to capture his ability to do that in the previous post, imagine a third defender being on his back, he would have made that turn and made it look just a care-free.

8: Naby receives the ball in the opposition half and immediately drives forward, as per usual.

9: Maybe he is playing in a little different role, or maybe he's just amazing at covering ground. Naby tracks all the way to the touchline to win the ball and play it smoothly back to his teammate, the immediately avails himself for the ball, and quick pass to his fullback who can see the whole field.

11: Naby recieves it in his own half, runs at Gladbach, and slides a nice ball forward.

13: Keita recieves on the left, and barrells through bodies somehow, and plays forward.

14: Keita wins the ball back well. but is whistled for a questionable foul.

15: Keita receives the ball, waits for his attackers get get forward, and attempts an ambitious through ball from deep that doesn't come off.

16: The ball drops to Keita outside the box after a Leipzig attack, he then walks past 2 defenders like they are standing still, and plays a ball across the face of goal.

17-25: Naby had a really good ten minutes. He played it simple, just playing one & two touch football for a while, things that don't require GIFS. But he doesn't lose the ball at all and doesn't make mistakes defensively.

27: Keita tries to bomb through Gladbach defenders again, but this time loses out.

29: NABY ASSIST Keita receives the ball at the half, turns, bursts into a little space, and plays a beautiful ball that his striker turns onto unbelievably well to make it 2-1.

32: Off he goes again, like a Red Bull in a China Shop (wow that was so bad, I'm so sorry) seems like Gladbach are at the point where they're just going to grab him as soon as he touches the ball, because they're going to end up having to foul him anyway.

38: Wins the tackle well, makes strong push forward, and plays a good ball through.

39: One of the first time's i've seen Keita lose possession in a remotely dangerous area, tries a nutmeg that fails.

40: I might not be able to watch this game anymore, boys. Gladbach's manager looks too much like my ex-landlord. Every time they cut to him, I imagine him yelling "YOU BETTER GET THAT STRAWBERRY JAM STAIN OFF THE REFRIDGERATOR OR YOU WONT BE GETTING THAT DEPOSIT BACK."

42: WEE-WOO, WEE-WOO SOUND THE ALARM. Naby went up for a header! He lost it, of course, but at least he left the ground!

43: He expended so much energy trying to win that header, and prove me wrong, that Naby needed a quick nap.

44: Naby intercepts in his own box, bursts into space, and plays a tasty looking ball forward, but just misses.

SECOND HALF

47: Gets the ball. And guess what? You'll never guess, dribbles forward like his shoes are on fire.

49: Comes in hard in a challenge, but complains about being called for a clear foul, a man after my own heart.

59: Knocks off for a team-mate, makes a wide run into space, get's it back, take a couple dribbles, plays Werner in, who hits it well, but right at the keeper.

62: Keita and a teammate both try to win the ball at the same time, ball bounces to a Gladbach player, who immediately equalise with a long-range effort

66: Keita a little higher so far in the 2nd half, receives, turns, plays a little reverse ball for Werner, and continues his run into the box, Werner plays a little behind Keita, who can't create a chance for himself.

68: Really open game developing here, Leipzig look to break quickly with Keita all alone near the center circle, Keita receives and turns up, looking to play Werner in, who's offside.

70: Keita continues to receive the ball in spaces more advanced than against Wolfsburg. Receives again, tries to dribble through 60% of the Gladbach team, but loses out.

72: Keita wins the ball initially, but disregards the pride and health of the Gladbach midfielder on his way to the ball, foul.

75: The ball somehow bobbles it's way to Keita in his attacking third again. Keita tries to be dangerous, plays a ball to runners in the box, but it's intercepted.

77: First long range effort of the day, scuffs wide.

82: You don't put your face where it doesn't belong. You wouldn't but your face in front of John Mayer's guitar on-stage at Madison Square Garden, you wouldn't put your face between Claude Monet and a bouquet of pastel flowers. You definitely shouldn't put your face between Naby Keita's feet and the football.

83: Keita see's red simply because the Gladbach player was interuppting an artist at work, a crime, no doubt, but a reality we must embrace.

84: For the second Almost Liverpool's Naby Keita update in a row, Keita walks off the pitch a few minutes early. This time, a little more comfortably, but a little angrier. Come back soon Naby, we're all already counting the days.

Overall thoughts*

-Certainly a different role from last time. Against Wolfsburg, Keita made good runs, but runs that started behind the ball, playing more of a supporting midfielder role. Today, Naby started higher, looked to find pockets of space, and a few times, started forward runs ahead of the ball.

-Still covered a ton of space side to side, but looked a little bit in no man's land defensively. Just kind of following the play backwards instead of being active in defending the space. Probably more due to his role in the team than anything, although didn't look as quick today, maybe because of his injury.

-Commentators said that he was a doubt all week before the game. Comes in a runs the game again. What a player.

-He just loves to turn and dribble. So much that I was picking out spots where his teammates didn't turn and dribble and thought to myself, "Naby would've dribbled into that space and made a nuisance of himself there"

-He'll deal with the physicality of the Prem just fine. Loves a nice, firm, challenge.

Thanks for reading this far! Any notes or feedback is welcome! Hopefully there will be an update past 85 on the next edition.

Submitted September 18, 2017 at 07:57PM by tribecalledflex via reddit http://ift.tt/2ya2PEi

#IFTTT #reddit #liverpoolfc #liverpool fc #lfc #ynwa

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