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Crooks and Keys have this view of people like Kenwright as the good old English gent chairman, the local-boy-made-good, blue-blood-in-his-veins, dying-out-because-of-the-foreigners and regardless of whether their decisions have actually been any good, see it as a kind of betrayal from the fanbase that they could ever dare to even remotely criticize. See Keys really attack the people who flew the banner - it wasn't personally abusive, it simply expressed the opinion of whoever paid for it regarding Everton's future. I read Keys' blog (they can often be utterly hilarious at the sheer stupidity) and he has an utter pathological hatred and loathing of Benitez that goes way beyond personal and is obsessive and creepy. He works himself into a rage about what he's doing when he's out of the game, in China etc. I mean, Benitez deserved full criticism for his role at Everton, he did a bad job but Keys suggesting Kenwright should have come out publicly the day Benitez was hired and said he disagreed with it is laughable. He wasn't the right appointment but arguing that to undermine the new manager on his first day at the club by the chairman saying "I don't want him" is good for the club is embarrassing. I think he's bitter regarding Everton, despite claiming to love them, because his mate Gray is not particularly popular there despite being an Everton "legend". Although an Everton fan would know more about that than me. I get a bad feeling the club are going to fold to what Kia wants. I genuinely think they are in danger if Newcastle get in a couple of players they can easily afford in the last week and Hodgson (whom it looks like is coming in at Watford) can do his usual steadying of the ship.

When @Rick and I are being pessimists it’s actually good luck

There’s a thought process that prior to Trump and Brexit that we essentially lived in a progressive neoliberal society. It would seem at odds with each other as neoliberal is £££ and progressive is not really capitalist. But essentially we’ve lived within a wildly capitalist society whilst also socially leaning towards progressive tendencies such as LGBTQ+ rights, trans rights, BLM. What has happened is that the neoliberal side has left behind a solid chunk of white working class voters by outsourcing manufacturing jobs, relying on migration to pay staff cheaper wages and then the progressive side is that the white working classes are more likely to grow up around outright racism, homophobia etc and so are shunned by politicians and society in general. They felt completely unrepresented and so became this silent majority that we’re completely ignored politically. Then comes Donald Trump in the states, Nigel Farage over here and they force through two of the biggest election mandates in either countries political history. Well specifically more so in Britain, but Trump in himself is one of the most important Presidents of all time. What both Farage and Trump lack though is foresight, they were simply there to take advantage of unrest. Eventually in the States you had the insurrection and inability to accept democracy, and over here you have Brexit. There is nothing more really for people like that to gain in the UK, Brexit has happened, overt nationalism is here, and now pleasing those voters has become ten times as hard because you actually have to deliver specific, individual successes, not just a generic “Brexit means Brexit”. I think we’re on the slide from people like Johnson and Farage. Farage’s career has been reduced to nothing other than a soundbite for anti-immigration rhetoric, but no actual giant mandate that can unite voters. Johnson is failing miserably and really the ball is now in Labour’s court to do what they wish because Dominic Cumming’s has absolutely demolished not just Johnson, but the party as a whole.

Just wrapped up Mr Robot. Man what a series. This is definitely one of the top couple series ive seen in recent years. I love the unpredictability of it all and the end reveal is just chef's kiss. Highly, highly recommend. Rami Malek is so, so good.

It looks freaky.

I have no idea myself why I quoted you. But it does indeed look interesting

There’s no chance in hell that we win the Quadruple this season

My understanding is that what Sue Gray has found while she's "establishing the facts" has led her to refer the crimes to the police. Some good info on Twitter I was reading at lunch time. It means that her report won't drop this week and finish Johnson off but instead could result in criminal charges which takes longer but is even worse for them.

Wtf. It's properly confusing. Duels? What is this, fencing?...

Orbital insertion burn is complete! JWST has successfully arrived

Ironically, Koeman came across as more like this than Ancelotti despite Ancelotti being a genuine world class manager, admittedly with his best years probably behind him, and Koeman being a poor manager with a very mixed track record. Didn't really get the stepping stone vibes from Silva when he was here. While he was quite understated in his manner, he was never accused of being less than fully committed to the club. I liked Marco Silva a lot to be honest, felt as though the combination of him and Brands in the Director of Football role had a nice balance to it. He ended up in the same downward spiral as every other Everton manager though through a mixture of bad judgement and bad luck. Groundhog Day.

How about that Quali format though?