This is the point. Sky pushed and exploited the rules right to the edge meaning they may not have broken them technically but certainly appeared to go against the spirit of what most of us would understand by […]

Hmm, not sure – there are plenty of recent Olympians who are pretty well known aren’t there? In the pool, Tom Daley for one. The difference back in the day is of course that GB hardly won anything. 3 golds in t […]

A couple of recommendations for classical music podcasts, both of which manage to work for both newcomers to the music wanting to know more about it, and those who are already immersed in it.

Aria Code explores […]

I love the Olympics – yes the athletics especially but I generally get wrapped up in obscure sports that I have absolutely no interest in at any other time. I love seeing people who are great at what they’re d […]

I think he’s plain wrong but He’s as entitled to his ridiculous opinion as anyone else. Interestingly he has left himself plenty of get out room by saying he won’t play any venue which requires people to be vacci […]

Seriously Steve, read the speech. He dresses his argument in reasoned tones and in anecdotes about his ordinary honest citizen constituents but it’s out and out racism, stoking fears that the black immigrants w […]

In the fridge

Beer ( but never bitter)
White wine
A nice light French red in the summer
Tonic for the gin.

What?

Yes. See me later.

Thwack….

Great analysis and pretty much spot on, I think. Southgate’s great strength but also his weakness is his thorough planning and systematic approach. As soon as the goal went in I found myself fearing that it was t […]

I hate the thugs who caused such mayhem in London yesterday. I hate the racists who have been abusing Rashford. Saka and Sancho. I hate the bastards who sing about Munich to Manchester United fans, and make gas […]

I can’t imagine being a fan of a team that wins stuff all the time either. I’m a Spurs fan…..

Wow, that sounds grim. Powerful writing from a very dark place.

By the way, that France team in the 1982 World Cup was possibly my favourite ever. The midfield of Tigana, Platini and Giresse was unbelievable. And of course there was that heartbreaking semi final against […]

Fabulous, fabulous post.

I haven’t played football in years but I remember so many of the matches I played as a kid. I remember two a side matches going on for hours; similar sessions with three of us playing t […]

That spell of possession was absolutely superb. Admittedly Denmark were knackered, but still, it was as calm and comfortable as we expect from Spain not England.

You’ve missed the people who were still bleating ‘why doesn’t he pick Grealish?’ after they’d reached the semi finals with as commanding a performance as anyone has offered all tournament. The answer being, be […]

I agree with the OP analysis of the Italy performance last night. For most of the match it was magnificent and thrilling – the best performance I have seen in the tournament, from the team that looks most likely […]

I think several, like Hayes, Scott, Aluko, and Izzy Christiansen on 5 Live give the impression of having actually put some work in to prepare unlike certain male pundits who seem to think it’s good enough to just turn up.

I don’t particularly like players running into the corner but it’s perfectly legitimate within the rules of the game, and not really very different from, say, a rugby team running down the clock with endless sin […]

It’s brilliant isn’t it. What a day. Loving Aly McCoist’s comments and enthusiasm as well. I suspect France, like Spain, will pull through in the end. (He says as Switzerland force a corner….)