More recent reader, but quality read.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Trust you will soon return to being an International Lover and Playboy. Something clearly has to give, so suggest easing up on the Global Moderation gig. Seems precious little of that in the World right now anyway

Hope to see you posting soon-take care

Phil

Completely agree. As a side note, it always bugs me when people refer to Jewish influence on the US Govt. It is not the religion of influence that is important, but the Politics. Hence Jewish people who dare to disagree with the current regime in Israel are being told they are not Jewish.

Just to use Saudi as an example-which is 1 of the wealthiest and West-friendly countries in the Region. No elections since 2015. Their Parliament is only allowed to give advisory comments to the Speaker, who is appointed by the King, and is invariably related. No legislative power. Political Parties are all banned. Minimum Wage is about $1,000 a month-no limit on hours for that, and does not apply to people not born there. Women first allowed to vote in 2015 and not allowed to hold the vast majority of jobs. Progress is being made-women have been allowed to drive for nearly 10 years now.

There is more than 1 type of Muslim Fundamentalist Rule. We appear to have no issue with the ones that let in expats...

The orange man-baby has pronounced that the War is won v Iran.

I appreciate that he has no actual experience of Conflict, having been too cowardly to fight for his Country in Vietnam. I also appreciate that a morbidly obese 80-year-old man may have a different perspective on how long the future lasts. But someone really needs to learn from history, and learn that winning Battles is totally different from winning Wars. Or, indeed, winning the Peace afterwards.

The Middle East has been a Battleground for thousands of years. Long before the West felt so Guilty about its appalling persecution of Jews via the Holocaust that it felt the need to give someone else's land away to say sorry.

Much is made of the likely "regime change" in Iran. Here are 2 alternative "regime changes" that are equally likely:-

1. Various Gulf States now have 3 classes of Citizen. A tiny number of Billionaires. A small number of foreigners, treating a Country as a playground. And the desperately poor 95%. Wondering why the massive wealth never goes anywhere near them. Wondering why their Muslim leaders are assisting the traditional enemies of the US and Israel slaughtering Muslims. If you are part of the Majority in 1 of those states, regime change, even the chance to have a Democratic vote, might sound mighty tempting

2. Israel. There will be a new general election later this year. Where the Left, who were in Power less than 4 years ago, are going to Stand for Election, comparing and contrasting the lives of Israeli citizens before and after 2022. Back to the days ot a 2 State solution

PS. For the most part, I admire people of Faith. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. What I do not admire are Religious Fundamentalists. And that is equally true for the current leadership of Iran and Israel

Spurs just look awful at the minute.

Some of it can be semi-explained by bad luck. For example the injuries, and the surprising abject failure that was Frank.

But it is equally true to say some parts are, or at least should be, blindingly obvious. To give 2 examples:

1. We had a similarly bad run with injuries last year. So-for example-why could we not have had recall options for players out on loan. 1 Defender, 1 nidfielder, 1 attacker. So-for example-if players would be in the starting 11 for us due to injuries, they could be recalled. Right now, Vuskovic should be playing CB and Mikey Moore on the Wing.

2. What exactly is the point of Igor Tudor? Brought in without being able to sign players. Told he is only a short-term appointment. Says he needs to boost confidence, and then proceeds to say half the players are unfit, and half lack fight. And that this is his hardest ever job. And says all this publicly. That's going to really help restore confidence. Can see why he hasn't lasted at 10 clubs in the last 13 years, and only won the Croatian Cup in all that time. His zero knowledge of the English game is exemplified by his pronouncements about referees. And don't even start me about subs. Porro was having 1 if his better games. His creativity is always there, and sometimes he was in the same Postcode as the opposition Winger. Gray having his best game in Midfield for Spurs. So-switch him back into Porro's position in Defence?

Arsenal? I think you will win the League. You are not playing well. But because you are playing OK, and none of the chasers look to be playing well enough to catch up. Still believe if you had stuck with Unai Emery, you would not have gone 22 years without winning the League.

The Bobby Moore bracelet thing.
The Banks wonder save, and the extraordinary sportsmanship from Pele afterwards
The mystery of why Banks missed the Quarters, and the unfair treatment of Bonetti and Ramsey
Jairzinho. Carlos Alberto. Inspired a lifetime love of Sport

Scargill always believed he was the opposite side of the same coin as Thatcher. He was. Similar strengths. And similar weaknesses

Knock, knock
Who's there?
OJ
OJ who?
You can be on the Jury

These are the 3 News stories that immediately spring to mind. Not the definitive 3 "biggest"-but ones that stick in my mind. In date order:-

1. The 1970 World Cup. It had pretty much everything. Quite possibly the best English team ever. In Brazil, quite possibly the best team ever. Great football, scandal...

2. The Miners Strike. The impact on our economy cannot be underestimated. From the Unions, to the abandonment of Heavy Industry and whole Communities, to the posturing of 2 rather similar people in Thatcher and Scargill

3. 9/11. Just got home with my Wife and new-born 2nd child. Went upstairs, turned on the Computer, and watched with a mixture of fascination and horror

Must be tricky for you lot. All that hope, almost all season, just to bottle it at the end. Every. Single. Year.

Easier for us Spuds. Our hope only lasts until the end of August. Every. Single. Year. I'm 63. League Titles in those 63 Seasons? 0. Times we finished 2nd? 2. And 1 of those was in 1963

And at least we are now bring "entertained" by a new Manager who, in addition to being clueless about English Football, seems to be slightly unhinged

Good luck-on the Blood Pressure. Not the Football, obvs

PS. That Ref in the Arse v Chelsea game was hopeless (whereas we just didn't get the rub of the green with ours, despite the ravings of our Manager). Takes a lot for me to agree with Arteta...

.

Sometimes I really despair at how rubbish our NHS can be.

Here's the highlights of my conversation with the Practice Diabetic Nurse 2 days ago-

ME-Why have I still not been referred (for 2 years) for my 1st Annual Diabetic Eye Test? My Optician says I now have cataracts and possible optic nerve damage
Nurse. Because you are not Diabetic. Your last reading was 41-that's pre-diabetic
Me: No, it's not. My reading before was 100, and I have been on Metformin, prescribed by you, for the last 2 years
Nurse. Sorry, that's my mistake. I'll sort it. I can see from your notes that you had a reading from a blood test supplied via us in 2024 of 100. Tell me-why did you never action the diagnosis of diabetes via a Reading of 92 from your last GP Practice in 2017?
Me: I'm guessing that is because, before today, nobody has ever told me about that 2017 diagnosis/result? For 9 years! Or told me I was Diabetic for 7 years
Nurse: Oh, dear...

Good job I haven't got high blood pressure

Likewise, agree with nearly all that.

The Defender was, of course, Gray. Quite why it is the ones that look like they'll snap in a breeze that actually stay fit is a mystery. Not blaming Gray, bless him. I remember another youngster who would play anywhere to get a game some years back. Sol Campbell, I think his name was. No idea what happened to him when we let him go on a free

Could Arsenal with the League? I fear they can. You're not playing well, but you just might be playing well enough.

Not sure that was the right game to judge Gyokeres.

We didn't have a Back 3. We had a Back 5. Why? Cos we have been outworked in Midfield by pretty much everyone this year, and Ar5e were always going to do that.

That would be a Back 5 with 1 top quality Defender, Van de Ven. A half-decent RB playing LB, 2 midfielders playing RB/CB, and Dragusin, who is clearly not suited to English football. While we have a CB out on loan in Germany who everyone is after. Hope he is as forgiving as Saliba once was.

Basically Gyokeres would ask players to run at Van de Ven, and then have fun.

Arsenal did not play well (although they were better than other games recently). Sadly, they didn't need to. Thought the scoreline flattered you. But the better side won.

Here's my thoughts on the late Queen in relation to all this.

I'm certainly no fan of the Monarchy. Even so, probably better than some elected figurehead.

We live in a strange World where people are portrayed as heroes and villains. In reality, people are more rounded. Not just "saints" and "sinners". The late Queen is not some sort of flawless Saint.

The bits about Andrew would come as no surprise. The Press don't report facts if they don't fit their narrative. In 2011, the late Queen was in a better position than anyone else in relation to this:-

1. She was funding Andrew's lifestyle, and paying most of his expenses as Trade envoy;
2. She was presented with the facts as to why she should no longer support him in that position (currently believed to be in relation to Epstein), and agreed to his removal
3. It was her that was presented with the facts presented by Mrs Giuffre, and decided to spend £12 million of her own money to protect her son

She resonated with the people, for all sorts of reasons. But (unlike her eldest boy) she was not a "people pleaser". She would not have allowed the Monarchy to be dragged through the current media frenzy. And indeed avoided it. For more than a Decade.

Just 1 more thing that occurs to me.

When Andrew was arrested, he was taken to Aylsham.

I don't know if anyone knows Aylsham. It is about an hour away from Sandringham, and in the middle of nowhere. You would have to spend a day or 2 getting the right people in position to question him. And it would take some considerable time to get proper legal representation to be present for the suspect.

Once upon a time, I used to be a pretty decent Solicitor. And I wouldn't have had the first clue of how to properly represent him. Because this particular charge is as rare as rocking horse poo. And, back in the day when I was relevant, there were very few people who would. And I would bet that all of them are both rather busy, and are based quite a long way from Aylsham. There are lots of sound financial reasons why this sort of stuff is normally done by Appointment. So people don't have to wait around for hours for no good reason.

Far be it for me to suggest that someone was already waiting, having been instructed in advance by someone who had not been briefed...

All kinds of possibilities there. Again, I assume you are referring to possible misconduct in Public Office. Because a lot of the other stuff is not Criminal

The most fundamental problems go to the very heart of Govt in this Country (and many others).

Govt Ministers (and Diplomats) are often unofficially told to divulge "secrets" as some sort of trade-off.
Mandelson (unlike Andrew) is an astute politician, who may well have, shall we say, inconvenient recollections and/or proof
He may have a supportive Family, who are not actively seeking to stab him in the back
It may be that (as is usual in such matters) things proceed outside the public glare, to see if he should be tried in a proper Court, rather than the "Court" of Public Opinion. And receive a proper Sentence, rather than lurid Headlines which, in reality, probably make it more difficult to prosecute, not less.