no allies, no one pulling for us at the table. And anything they give us they have to take from someone who does have friends, allies, and people pulling for them.
So of course they will look for any excuse to give us the shaft, because it is in their best interest to do so. Any loss -hell even being undefeated with a lackluster SOS- gives them the excuse they need. Reason is not important; influence is, and we have none.