Gloucester Saint

Red brick university educated, how about you? BT worked as a privatisation, railways, energy and water failed spectacularly so it’s case by case clearly to anyone. I take it you’ve read those state organisations from France and the Netherlands who own much of our infrastructure you cite as failures actually fund the pension schemes of their teachers and civil servants from the profits they cream off us for rubbish services under the shells of UK utility firms they bought? And the UK sold those firms to them. Ever used state run trains in Germany? Japan’s trains are private but there are specific reasons why they are successful, principally because it isn’t relying on share capital and leveraged buyouts https://worksinprogress.co/issue/why-japan-has-such-good-railways/

The infrastructure is the same! Same with the energy firms, they’re just buying from the wholesale market. It’s why public v private comparisons are best left to rent-a-Henry dinlos in the Telegraph. Some sectors do things better than others and nothing wrong with a mixed economy.

Yeah, because the privatised water companies are working out really swell (if the swell is faeces or toxic). I could really rub your nose in it and highlight facts and figures about our energy companies and the tens of thousands piled up in US Republican states through Covid by their healthcare system but I’ll save that treat for a future occasion. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68701486

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2xp7gv09lo ‘Hi Marc, Jack Stephens here. Before you fly out to Madrid, could I drive up to London and have one last pull of your hair, just for old time’s sake?’

Good point, not much better that we did it with Blackstock, McGoldrick etc although at least left it to 16 or 17.

Only Rodriguez who went to Lyon really. Rest are lower leagues at best (Doyle, Morgan) and most out of the game altogether. I can see the temptation if they’re a parent that’s not had any sort of decent career themselves of hitting the jackpot but the tiny odds of making it professionally diminish to 0.00001% at the likes of City and Chelsea so you’re selling your son in essence. At very, very, very best you might end up in Champ or L1 at Pompey (John Swift) or Reading and even that’s a very long shot, sub-5%.

Not just him, or one promising 14 year old either, Charlton have had 4 alone and Everton had one as well https://www.instagram.com/thetalenthunter/p/DZimV_kOAfM/ Greedy parents are the problem. Top 6 and specifically a couple of those clubs trying to get around the compensation system (they won’t be able to thankfully). Each situation will have nuances but parents are so greedy now they’ll want Chelsea or City to put a nice wedge of cash their way, not for their kids. Sod what’s best for their lad’s development.

Does this count as a strike? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9lel2wz93o

Politically it’s a hot potato at the moment because most of the tabloids - Mail, Telegraph, Express - (Sun tends to be a more mixed demographic) - are almost exclusively read by that generation. That’s why Jeremy Hunt in opposition openly says in a regular basis that it’s unsustainable but couldn’t do so as serving CoE. It’s unreasonable that they have that much media firepower - also see winter fuel allowance which the government made of a right pig’s ear of politically but the hysterical reaction from those outlets was completely OTT. Which is why it’s great that the vote goes to 16+ by the next GE because it helps switch the policy focus away slightly more from that demographic. Or it would if Labour had a backbone….

Considering he was out of contract at the end of that season and wouldn’t be fit until autumn 2023 realistically at best (ha!) it was a serious overpay from the club. Sunderland reinvested rather effectively too. Thank goodness Che’s move to Wolves fell through for 2023/24… Ross is a good striker as he showed in the second half of last season but half a season out of three wasn’t worth a gamble on the three year contract his agent probably wanted. Nothing against the lad and good luck other than against us, but I genuinely didn’t think we should extend on the terms likely to be asked for.

Probably administratively simpler and possibly less costly to collect - although I’d defer to others in that aspect. The positive with NI is that you know what it’s going on - NIF and NHS.

Agree although Downs rather than Downes…

Quite. If they’re going to be counted in the figures then at least there should be some proper acknowledgement that they are a significant net contributor and they are funding large numbers of domestic jobs for UK people who then pay tax on that.

It represents 40% of the benefits bill.

Oh heck, I’m getting older, I just agreed with Piers Morgan. He does a number on grifter Lalia Cunningham

The same Bradford where the Muslim households of Manningham neighbouring Valley Parade opened their doors en masse to help supporters fleeing the fire disaster in 1985 including access to their telephones pre mobile phones and comfort.

And shouldn’t be in the net migration figures in the first place.

Old El Paso at dinner time in the White House 🌮

Decent little player but a touch of Darren Anderton.

Some goal music never to be used at St Mary’s

Aka Mr and Mrs Bazunu.

It has the potential to unravel very quickly.

Don’t want him to string the club along though.

Agree, and after what @Turkish posted about the new guy’s track record it seems a big risk. They could go up with 100 points and it could be a Adkins/Pochettino gamble that works but equally could be a Southampton 2005/6. Whereas I’m fairly certain Edward’s would have had them top 6 minimum.

The water companies are a disaster. Thames is bad enough but South West Water is another level of criminal. The water bills are eyewatering in Devon and Cornwall for supposedly keeping the beaches clean. And there was the Brixham poisoning incident. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d8krmgj9o