That’s exactly what it is. A political wedge issue. For example the issue of trans women “dominating” sports because they were born male is now a super hot button topic, even though the NCAA actually dealt with this issue in 2011 and laid out a very reasonable policy which functioned fine for many years and did not result in any level of trans women “dominance” of women’s sports.

Surprise surprise, it’s because in the U.S. the liberals won gay marriage and the conservatives “won” abortion, and now the conservative outrage factory needs a new angle to keep single-issue voters in line. It’s hilarious how the right always accuses the left of playing identity politics when they’re the ones that conjure up issues out of nothing.

What I find confounding is how Europe continues to import our political issues. These countries, especially the right wing, are always so derisive of American politics, but always seem to end up fighting the same stupid fights we do here. The rise of fascism seemed to also get kicked into high gear after Trump. Aren’t y’all supposed to be proud to be better than us? Stop copying the worst of us.

I’m glad this is winning. Shows that at the very least we’re not emotionally blinded to quality. RVP is one of the most gifted technical players we’ve ever seen in the Emirates era. Were it not for early career injury issues he may have been nothing short of talismanic. Sad to think what could’ve been if Arsenal was allowed to have full, healthy careers of Cesc, RVP, Diaby, and Wilshere.

As it was, he peaked late, left early, and will go down as one of our clubs great recent villains.

Obligatory fuck him.

Honestly Bergkamp might even be better than Henry here. Henry was obviously a total complete package, but if you have RVP you might want to bring Bergkamp instead because the two of them together will have an unstoppable level of technical ability and Bergkamp has a proven record as a second striker who can play others into legend.

I think you may want to go Henry instead of Bergkamp if you want a more physical style of play reliant on individual brilliance up top.

Taking Bergkamp does allow you to take Saka instead of Odegaard as well, and have them play up top with Bergkamp as a 10. Not sure if that’s better or not though.

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the $2, and as long as you take Henry/Bergkamp and RVP you’re in with a shout.

I just don’t think Sanchez and Auba have the ceiling to be unlocked by Henry/Bergkamp. They put the team on their backs in difficult times, but sorry to say they’re just not at the level RVP was on talent.

Interesting that Nasir seems to be the biggest moving piece in people’s responses

That’s not how anything works. Lots of legal cases are dismissed or lost on pure procedure and not the actual objective truth.

Process is a part of justice as well.

I think a Holding comparison is a bit of a disservice. Mustafi was one of the weird contradictions that was generally a very good defender that was confoundingly prone to errors in the premier league. Holding has been generally a consistent performer not prone to massive mental lapses but his ceiling is just not high enough and he gets bullied by better front lines.

I think Senderos yes, but in my memory Djourous best performances was him not being an absolute liability whereas I remember thinking Senderos actually had some solid matches.