The Squad List (2023/24 Edition)

[Bogus Dave]

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12187675/League-One-footballer-pillow-students-mouth-raped-court-hears.html

https://www.saunders.co.uk/news/virtually-all-rape-victims-are-denied-justice-here-is-the-roadmap-to-failure/#:~:text=Since%202016%2D2017%2C%20the%20number,rate%20in%202022%20was%2062%25.

“ Since 2016-2017, the number of rapes reported has increased by 67% from 42,059 up to 70,330. In 2021-2022, only 3.2 % of those were prosecuted (2,223). For those prosecuted, the conviction rate in 2022 was 62%. No statistic can provide a perfect, complete picture. The total reports include ‘historical’ allegations which are usually harder to prove. But the broad indication is that, during 2021-2022, of the 70,330 rapes reported to police only 1,378 led to a conviction. This is a conviction rate of less than 2%.”

[Mooneyraker]

Our entire legal system and society is based on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

A Daily Mail article reporting one side of the story doesn’t mean the judge/jury were wrong.

I guess you either believe in the overarching principle or not but I’m not sure that this “no smoke without fire” approach that so many seem to take now is a recipe for success.

[Batch]

point taken Dave but where do you draw the line of innocence.

or should the club steer clear of controversy in such cases?

we've already employed a drunken child killer

[Bogus Dave]

2% of rapes being convicted is a pretty clear indication that the court process doesn’t bring justice

In that case, I think court of public opinion holds more weight

[Nomoreheroes]

‘80% Bollocks’ shows that we aren’t experts on many things.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

2% of rapes being convicted is a pretty clear indication that the court process doesn’t bring justice

In that case, I think court of public opinion holds more weight

Fucking slippery slope attitude that. Bring back ducking pools, eh.

[Mooneyraker]

2% of rapes being convicted is a pretty clear indication that the court process doesn’t bring justice

In that case, I think court of public opinion holds more weight

I'm signing off from the World at that point. Convicted by a cacophony on Twitter... no thanks.

[joeydubya]

2% of rapes being convicted is a pretty clear indication that the court process doesn’t bring justice

In that case, I think court of public opinion holds more weight

Footballers may well be 'allowed' to work, and many fans seem to think that any acquittal is evidence of some kind of vendetta against professional players - but they and the clubs that employ them are not immune to public opinion. If there's a backlash, that's on them.

Regardless of your view, recruiting someone who's missed half a season facing these sorts of allegations (in November!) speaks to the already apparent paucity of a 'healthy budget'

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

Maybe paying off Morris/Brand has had an impact on the budgie - finished now thank goodness.

[Mooneyraker]

Regardless of anything else, I think we can agree that this signing is straight out of the middle aisle in Aldi.

We haven’t got a pot to piss in.

[ThreeDrawsMentality]

Flynn refuted only a number of days ago that there will be no new signings and has banged that drum a lot in the past few weeks and bemoaned that they would now be unfit players with a lack of match fitness. Feels incredibly strange to bang that drum for so long, to then flip reverse it and make a polarising signing. Speaks volumes to the finances we are dealing with.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

Apparently he’s been training with us for a while so should be fit - if not match fit.

[Bob's Orange]

Our entire legal system and society is based on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

A Daily Mail article reporting one side of the story doesn’t mean the judge/jury were wrong.

I guess you either believe in the overarching principle or not but I’m not sure that this “no smoke without fire” approach that so many seem to take now is a recipe for success.

It's a fucking tough one right? Basically if a rape case gets to court, by the letter of the law if there isn't sufficient evidence then the accused is almost always going to be found not guilty. The jury will hear both sides of the story, but unless there is video or audio evidence how can you as a juror, by the letter of the law convict?

Which also begs the question, what evidence did the CPS have in order to get the case to court in the first place.

[DiV]

Maybe paying off Morris/Brand has had an impact on the budgie - finished now thank goodness.

If that is the case - it was money well spent to get rid of that fraudster.
I assume Brand just went back to Chelsea like he never left…

[Nemo]

The Scottish legal system has a middle verdict of not proven, where the evidence doesn't mean the beyond reasonable doubt threshold, but the defendant doesn't get to walk away saying that they're innocent of all charges.

This whole area is an absolute minefield, but I don't think many would deny that a large percentage of rapists (even more so than other criminals) escape any punishment whatsoever, which is grim. Not judging this particular case in any way, but it certainly doesn't feel great.