Rooney

Weirdly I have found this way more instant than Harry’s House. Agree with others it’s not as experimental as maybe promised. But quite clearly there are a lot of influences. I kind of get the impression this album has been curated in line with the tour, which Aperture at the BRITs highlighted. Think the most obvious singles for me are American Girls and Pop.

Definitely many years of investing in the wrong players or just players. I like Simons, there’s definitely a player in there but I think with that type of player you need to build your team around him (like Wirtz and Liverpool).

Just proving what I thought and what usually happens, the new manager bouce has worn off and Man Utd are really struggling playing two games in quick succession. I will say it is noitcable how much it has affected the clubs in Europe this season with the extra added intensity. I think Man Utd should nail the Top 5 from here as they have the advantage with more rest. Bigger question for me though would be where does this leave Carrick? I'm really not convinced he is going to be a good longer term appointment

He's unlikely to be the same player though. An ACL at that age is challenging, will probably take him 12 months to get up to speed. Spurs look absolutely toast at this point! Long way to go yet, but they just look in a rucuss.

Pretty sure as someone who has had to get a repatriation flight before, they’re certainly not free. You pay the pleasure of a commercial price for none of the experience!

Something’s Heavy.

Two absolute stinky ref decisions today - I thought the Cunha "penalty" was ridiculous as the contact was outside the box. Then I've seen Rice elbow the ball away and VAR be like okay nothing to see here. Absolutely dire officiating.

Tuesday 3rd March AFC Bournemouth 2-2 Brentford (19:30) Everton 2-1 Burnley (19:30) Leeds United 1-0 Sunderland (19:30) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Liverpool (20:15) Wednesday 4th March Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea (19:30) Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Arsenal (19:30) Fulham 2-2 West Ham United (19:30) Manchester City 3-1 Nottingham Forest (19:30) Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester United (20:15) Thursday 5th March Tottenham 1-1 Crystal Palace (20:00)

Somewhere that holds large amount of oil.

Yet no-one has come up with a politically workable solution outside of soundbites and three word slogans to capture attention. We are also not in post WW2!

They are already disappearing in the private sector and certainly will increase over the next 18 months with AI. You're looking at a huge workplace transformation over the next two-three years. I don't subscribe to the fact that AI will be as huge as some people are betting on (Copilot still tells me wrong things haha) but it is certainly going to have a huge impact and there will be a lack of jobs for young people, as they will lack the experience needed. The jobs that we will have a need for.. guess what.. there is a major skills gap! You need solutions to these problems either through developing regulation which none of the Tech Bros want or something else. And Steve this is entirely my point with stuff like "tax property". Yes in practice, it sounds great. But we currently have a property market which is largely stagnant, medium-high level interest rates, a council tax system which is wholly unfair. It's going to be politically a disaster to increase any tax on property as you know, people in SW London probably live in modset houses but have seen the increase go up dramatically. I can't see them being happy and they'll argue it's not their fault property value increased dramatically over a short period of time. I agree a great idea in practice, but I just don't see how it is workable. Unfortunateky the dial has moved too far and the ones who should pay more will find a way to avoid it.

We have an aging population, low birth rate and are entering a time when it is highly like a lot of entry level corporate roles will completely disappear or become highly limited. So it's likely unemployment will be on the rise. If you decide to make bringing all private companies under public ownership as a flagship policy, then you have to question where the money is coming from. Just saying daft things like "tax the rich" dosen't cut it and borrowing a whole heap of money isn't good either. We're absolutely crippled by the bond market and need to get a hold of our debt levels, it's the stuff that abolutely nobody wants to hear as it's boring as hell, but it's the truth. And nobody wants to make the difficult decision which is tax rises across the board across our political spectrum, left and right. Part of my problem is Labour have actually delivered loads of actual left wing policies. I totally get the expected vibez are not left wing and there have been a few cock-ups along the the way, but people seem to have lost their minds to populism across the political spectrum. And I do understand why, as it's clear there is a lot of discontent.

But this is part of my point - if it comes down to a general election, are you really going to lend your vote to Greens vs Labour? Like I say, vote Green, Get Reform. They are riding on a wave of discontent and optimism, just like Reform have done. Loads of Polanski's soundbites are great, but he doesn't have the answer to difficult questions and their policies are (just like Reform's were 12 months ago) are just populism, appealing to people who lean left. They are a great idea on paper, but as soon as Polanski gets put under some serious scrutiny, good journalists will tie him in knots on key issues and certainly international politics regarding Russia. I don't think we will ever get to a Labour/Green/Lib Dem coalition, possibly with Lib Dem/Labour but there are far too many key issues the Greens disagree on. Not sure that would be a healthy working relationship and even the Lib Dems might decide not to get in bed with Labour after selling out to the Tories previously.

I don't think they are only complext to me, a lot of our problems are deep rooted societal challenges which are not going to be solved in 5 years. We have to face the facts we have an aging population, a publicly funded health system, adult social care costs only going to spiral and AI likely to increase unemployment. Just saying "tax the rich", "make the 1% pay more", "bring everything under public ownership!" are ignoring inter-connected societal issues. A lot of it is pure populism, and whether you like it or not, unless you completely change the system Brexit style. Fair play - I get it! I understand why people are attracted to it at face value, but don't see a way this starts some form of Green revolution. Perhaps it may make Labour re-think their strategy somewhat, or their messaging/pivot. I wouldn't trust Polanski with my shopping trolley, never mind the economy. I don't want this to feel like I am attacking left wing policies, I am socially very left wing, but certainly far more right on the economy. I think there are some good long term practices that could be done, but the Greens under Polanski is pure left wing populism, much like Farage hooked the right in with populism before he tried to actually get some MPs and realise he's got the worst types of MPs. It would be exactly like the Greens too, probably get a load of people in who helped enable the worst foreign policy of the last 30 years, just like the Reform have done.

People care about the cost of living and the economy. And I dare say this time in 12 months they will decide they need to do something to re-ignite the housing Market. I agree Labour are trying to do too many things at the moment, but Labour has always been a broadhouse of ideas and the best Leaders are the ones who can leep everyone in check. People are fed up so they get tempted by populism - quick wins to problems people want solving - I understand the attraction! I think this idea that the Greens can win anywhere is complete fantasy. Yes, they will have a chance in a lot of consitintuencies but a vote in a council election or a by-election is a completely different prospect verses a general election. It will be "Vote Green, Get Reform". I'm actually surprised at how many people have been bought in by Polanski's populism. He's got great communication skills but at the end of the day he is just a populist. Clearly a decent guy and not like Farage and right-wing populism, but say the things people want to hear and you will get votes and traction. There are too many things they trip up on when pressed by the mainstream media (Nato, Russia, Nuclear Energy) . Many of our problems are extremely complex and the simple solutions proposed are not workable. He's not strong enough to persuade large bands of middle voters (e.g. me) and his economic knowledge is scarilly weak. The fact he refuses (or does not know) to answer simple economic questions is surpising. Oh and never trust someone who goes by a fake name :D

I don't think this tells us much more than we did not already know at this stage. Don't think you can read too much in to anything . Fair play to the Greens, but it's complete fantasy politics at the moment as a protest vote, much like Reform are finding out. Helps they have a good local candidate too. When you actually start to define proper policies and have them scrutinised they either end up being watered down (see Reform) or dropped (see Reform). Then you're just left with a group of Leaders who are all a slightly dodgy who know how to use TikTok. I'm not sure Labour should or need to pivot to the left - I think that just opens the door to Reform. Clearly Starmer is looking really weak here and he probably needs a covid/Ukraine crisis to survive and increase his popularity as he does handle statesman affairs very well. I can't see him leading Labour in the next general election though, especially if Mandelson gets charged. Clearly the May elections are going to be fairly brutal, but I think this just tells us there is no loyalty in politics, people are voting based on vibes and as a country were are very fractured in our political beliefs and makeup!

Can't see it but who knows. People seem to think it will be over in a week, I'm not so sure. All I do know is I hope the UK have learned lessons and we stay the feck out of this one.

Weren't Labour forecast to be completely battered a few weeks ago? It probably shows the Labour vote is not disappearing as much as you would hear, but they are not necessary bleeding votes to Reform or the Greens. Even if Labour lose the seat (which I think they will to the Greens) I'm not sure how much this tells us really. Reform has esentially morphed in the 2019-2023 Tories and their extreme fringe seem have got bored of them now. I think this tells us we're in a bit of a mess, but plenty of time for everyone to get their act together on a national level.

Friday 27th February Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa (20:00) Saturday 28th February AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Sunderland (12:30) Burnley 1-3 Brentford Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United Newcastle United 2-0 Everton Leeds United 1-3 Manchester City (17:30) Sunday 1st March Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Nottingham Forest (14:00) Fulham 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (14:00) Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace (14:00) Arsenal 3-2 Chelsea (16:30)

He didn't even play this on his tour when Olivia Dean wasn't there last summer haha.

Surely this all feels a bit off? All seems very Al Capone/OJ Simpson. Seconded to the fact that the Epstein files seems to be taking down Andrew and Mandleson. Whilst both have undoubtebly abused their power, I just cannot believe that these are the only two people who seem to be facing real heat!

The season is 38 games long, teams can hit form at the wrong end right times. Arsenal just didn’t manage the game, these things happen. I just feel the word “bottlers” is just over used. Arsenal haven’t won anything so they haven’t bottled anything. Quite clearly at the moment they dropped points in a game they should have won, but these things can happen. They let their frustrations boil over at the end when they should have just walked off the pitch. The fans and players are likely feeling the pressure.. this is all about what a title challenge is about. What’s more relevant rather than bottlers, is Arsenal have built a machine which is built upon set piece plays. Their lack of ability to create or score chances in open play is coming back to haunt them at the moment!

They are essentially the social media version of the BNP. In Farage's effort to become electable, they've basically taken all the worst Tories and kind of backed themselves in to a corner now where they have Tory baggage and are trying to be sensible with their foscal policies and make the whole election debate about immigration & wokeness, whilst also saying we will make you richer.. without actually saying it. I'm not surprised they are dropping in the polls. They'll still do really well in the May elections but they are essentially just the Tories under Boris.

I don't think you csn call Arsenal bottlers, nothing is won in January or February. What I will say though is that Man City victory vs Liverpool does look to have had an effect. Still a long way to go, but it's mad that 70 points could win you the league this season.. just goes to show really how loads of the clubs have so many good players now and good coaches. The pressure is back on them now though for sure!

Saturday 21st February Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United Brentford 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Chelsea 3-0 Burnley West Ham United 2-2 AFC Bournemouth (17:30) Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United (20:00) Sunday 22nd February Crystal Palace 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (14:00) Nottingham Forest 1-2 Liverpool (14:00) Sunderland 2-1 Fulham (14:00) Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Arsenal (16:30) Monday 23rd February Everton 1-2 Manchester United (20:00)