Rob Minto

Manchester Utd 2 down at home at half time, 4 yellows, have run 3km less, and got 0.23 xG vs 1.45. To Bournemouth. This could get really messy.

There's nothing more grating than a strand of journalism where someone who moves "for a better life (or taxes)" writes a pity-me story when their new country blows up. (See Dubai). The latest is in the Times, where Alix O'Neill is upset about the riots / protests in France. Let's dive in.

Her French friend who taught in Toulouse says: "They were unable to think critically," she said. "French schools teach you to defer to authority at all times" Uprising? Or deference to authority? IT CAN'T BE BOTH! Some other incoherent anecdata follow.

Sod it, here's the piece. See for yourself. Don't move for a better life and then moan about it when it turns sour. Move again! It worked before. But stop complaining, because at some point you need to engage with the system and try to make it better, rather than trying to parachute your way out.

The next weird thing to note is that O'Neill is, for someone who lives in France, using some pretty crass generalisations. She was 'sold' on France from a young age reading Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence. Oh Please. She's still amazed that the French 'down tools' for lunch.

But her observations about French schooling are the most interesting. Firstly: "From an early age French children are taught that uprising is necessary to defend hard-won freedoms. If you're not happy, take to the streets!" Man the barricades! But then...

thetimes.comWe moved to France for our children’s education — is it time to leave?At school in Belfast, I saw buses burning. My young sons are seeing France on fire

Here's the piece. www.thetimes.com/life-style/l... No-one wants their kids to feel unsafe. Weirdly, considering the headline, they get little mention - not until par 18, where they apparently "know what's going down" but seem to enjoy a game called "Where's Macron's tiny penis?". Hmm ok.

Classic letting-Reform-off-the-hook alert Robert Jenrick said on the Today programme that "[Farage has] probably done more than almost anybody else to stand against racism... over the course of my lifetime". www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... - go to 1:38:35

The Guardian led on it - www.theguardian.com/politics/202... The BBC missed the follow up question - HOW? How has Farage stood up to racism? Because occasionally kicking the odd revealed racist out of your party isn't doing that, it's just a bit of performative house cleaning.

Both the BBC and Guardian have let Jenrick's utterly unsubstantiated claim just hang in the air. I get that Jenrick said a lot of b.s. pretty quickly, but he and Farage have been let off the hook there.

Rob Minto reposted

Emma Monk

@monkemma.bsky.social

So they're at it again 🙄 Torturing valid HMRC data to create wildly misleading headlines, designed to invoke fear and anger about immigrants. Same old, same old... (and you'll see just how old shortly!) 🧵1/28

Rob Minto reposted

Emma Monk

@monkemma.bsky.social

OK, there is something very, very weird going on in the press right now. It certainly appears, from the outside, as if certain people are being very much protected in a way that was not afforded to certain other people! Let's start with the facts around Lola Salem... 🧵1/

bbc.co.ukBurnham had two hospitality dinners with Man City chairman, deleted records showThe prime minister has been under growing pressure since the club was found guilty of Premier League rule breaches.

it would be kind of weird if the mayor of a major city DIDN'T have the occasional dinner or meeting with massive investors in their region, wherever they are from. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

skysports.comGianni Infantino: FIFA president received payment of £1.3m from World Cup companyFIFA president Gianni Infantino has been under pressure to resign after trying to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors; he has confirmed he will stand for re-election in March 2027 as ...

I’d have been more surprised if he wasn’t. www.skysports.com/football/new...

bbc.co.ukKing Charles warns malicious online actors are evolving their tacticsThe King spoke of "threats to our international order" in a letter marking the 10th anniversary of the National Cyber Security Centre.

This is ludicrous. He doesn't even know how to work a mobile phone. Seriously. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

theguardian.comHegseth says execution of Fort Hood shooter will be a public eventOfficials clarified execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, army psychiatrist who killed 13 people, will be livestreamed

File another headline that should be from The Onion. This is dystopian. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

bbc.co.ukPep Guardiola: Former Man City manager to attend PSG Champions League tiePep Guardiola managed Manchester City for a decade, leaving in the summer, and has backed the club's owners since the verdict.

Again with this. The BBC present Pep as a neutral party. He isn’t. He stands to lose trophies, reputation. But most importantly and NOT mentioned is that he is employed as a Man City Global Ambassador!! He’s still in the payroll ffs. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Stop it. He’s big-headed enough as it is

theguardian.comTory shadow minister claims Luton has ‘no-go zones’ where ‘white people won’t go’Blake Stephenson tells fringe meeting at Tory conference that the town is ‘a very dangerous place’ with ‘ghettoes’

Simple new rule. Any politician (or anyone using a public platform) should have to spell out the EXACT no-go areas. Street by street. That will shut down this bullshit. And unless they are able to do that on the record, the media should not report it. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Some Man City fans / ex-players are so incredibly naive. "I've got no reason not to trust Khaldoon. What he said is enough for me." - Joe Hart. (BBC). www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba... "I have faith in what Ferran Soriano says." - Will Greenwood (Telegraph). www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

The media are doing a not-great job of pointing out who is defending Manchester City and whether they are being paid by the club. Some examples:

theguardian.com‘I am here more than ever’: Guardiola backs Manchester City owners over guilty verdictsPep Guardiola has thrown his support behind Manchester City after the club were found guilty of all charges of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period

The Guardian mentions that Pep is an ambassador for the club, but only in the 5th paragraph. Better than nothing, though. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

I can't be bothered to do other paywalled sites, but you get the picture. Note to editors - when Shaun Wright-Phillips is out of Strictly and starts to defend Man City (if, if etc) - he is also employed as a City ambassador. As is Steph Houghton - said nothing yet so far.

The media are doing a not-great job of pointing out who is defending Manchester City and whether they are being paid by the club. Some examples:

news.sky.comPep Guardiola pledges support after Manchester City found guilty of Premier League chargesIn a social media post, Guardiola said he "always will be behind my club" after the Premier League confirmed Man City were found guilty of all alleged breaches of its financial rules.

Pep enters the chat. He's obviously the ex-manager, as the piece says. But AT NO POINT does Sky say that he is STILL on the City Football Group payroll as their 'Global Ambassador'. Come on. news.sky.com/story/pep-gu...

bbc.co.ukPep Guardiola: Man City backed by former manager after guilty verdictsFormer Man City boss Pep Guardiola says he will "always" be behind the club after they were found guilty of financial charges.

Ditto the BBC: Pep is just the former manager. He's STILL on the payroll guys! Come ON. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

The media are doing a not-great job of pointing out who is defending Manchester City and whether they are being paid by the club. Some examples:

observer.co.ukBurnham’s former deputy says Manchester City ‘will prove ...The former deputy mayor of Manchester criticises the Premier League investigation into the football club’s finances, after it was found guilty of numerous breaches

HEADLINE: Burnham's former deputy... But read the piece and this guy Richard Leese is... "the honorary president of Manchester City". Ugh. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

The £100k childcare rule is weird - Theoretically, a couple both earning 99k (total 198k) would get free childcare while a couple where the split is 100k & 20k get nothing. That's definitely not sensible. How many people it affects, and how much childcare should cost are separate things.

theguardian.comIt's true: this is my final column. You have exactly 24 hours to complain before my inbox self-destructs | Marina HydeYes, after 25 years I’m signing off, and I’ve cherished every moment – especially storming the French embassy with a (toy) AK-47, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

I'm gutted it's Marina Hyde's last column. Many's the time I've seen crazy shit, and thought - I can't wait to read Marina's take on this. Unlike 99.99% (*) of columnists, we will actually miss her awesome takes. * the other is Lucy Kellaway www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

“I said to them: ‘If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and I will not be your friend any more.' This begs the question, what didn't they lie to him about? www.theguardian.com/football/202...

bbc.co.ukRAF Fairford: 'Quantity of petrol' but no explosives found in three vehiclesPolice say the decision to release five men on bail is one "grounded in experience and strategy".

The CIA tracks… petrol thieves? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It’s 2042, the World Cup has been expanded to 128 teams, and still Italy don’t qualify.

bbc.co.ukMan City ruling: Joe Harts trusts club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak's claims they are innocent of breaking Premier League's financial rulesFormer Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak's claims they are innocent of breaking the Premier League's financial rules.

This will age badly. "If Man City are found guilty, which I don't think they are because of what Khaldoon said, then there's conversations to be had." Fool me once... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

bbc.co.ukManchester City charges: Roberto Mancini says Premier League rule breaches 'not my concern'Roberto Mancini says an alleged "double contract" during his time as Manchester City manager is "not my concern".

This isn't going to age well. Mancini: "Found guilty of what? .... I don't think they were found guilty." www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

The guy in the lighter clothes looks like he's about to do a voice over at the start of a comedy series. "I'm MIchael. You're probably wondering how I ended up on the front line of a religious protest in Northern Ireland. Well, so am I..."

theguardian.comManchester City chair Al Mubarak insists ‘nothing has changed’ after guilty verdictManchester City’s chair Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has attempted to dismiss the club’s guilty verdict as ‘noise’

Nothing has changed… In the sense that they were always financial cheats and will remain so? www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The ramifications of Man City going down a division or three could be massive. Doom loop scenario: Star players leave, esp if they have division break-clause. Academy youngsters leave. AbuD decide it's not worth the reputational damage and sell club.

As City are found guilty of 114 out of 115 charges, I expect the one they were acquitted of is “caring TOO much”.

theguardian.comManchester City found guilty of breaking Premier League’s financial fair play rulesManchester City face substantial sanctions from the Premier League after an independent panel found they had broken rules over financial fair play

What odds can you get on both Spurs *and* Man City starting next season in the Championship? That would be very funny. (Although FTR I’d prefer spurs to stay up. City can FRO). www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Important stuff this. So much right wing bs gets unchallenged.

Emma Monk@monkemma.bsky.social

🧵 As front-page headlines go, this has to be one of the most misleading I've seen in a long time It's an out-and-out lie But notice the trick they use to get away with it...👀 *They're* not lying - they're just quoting someone else who is👍🏻 In this case, the leader of the opposition🙄 1/33

bbc.co.ukTories would prevent long-term jobless spending benefits on alcohol and cigarettesThe proposals would also see benefits cut for people who are able to work but have failed to hold down a job.

This is extraordinary. For a party that used to bemoan the 'nanny state' at EVERY opportunity, Tories would restrict cash withdrawals and spending on 'sin' items for some in society. It's a total restriction on personal freedom. Very un-Conservative. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

theguardian.comAndy Burnham signals he may lift ban on alcohol in football standsPrime minister says measure is discriminatory when fans of other sports are not similarly restricted

Three thoughts on football drinking www.theguardian.com/football/202... 1) Most football fans are having a drink. The ban in the stands means they 'tank up' before, and neck another at half time if they can get served in time. Allowing fans to drink less frenetically is a good idea

2) Violent 'fans' are going to get drunk and be violent any which way. Having a drink or two at your seat isn't going to change that. And drink is only half the issue - cocaine is just as much a problem.

3) BUT.... The biggest downside will be getting covered in beer as fans celebrate a goal. Those scenes in fanzones and bars when it's raining lager? Imagine that but in a massive stadium. Not so keen now, are you?

bbc.co.ukChris Mason: From inside the room, how Burnham survived first Trump meetingBurnham seemed nervous at first, knowing how explosive these encounters with Trump can be, writes BBC political editor Chris Mason.

I think this is the worst piece of reportage by Chris Mason ever. And he's reliably terrible in any case. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Details...

Plus breathless crap like: "I filled the brief silence with a question. Was the prime minister a man you can do business with, I asked the president, given your political differences?" Boom! What a forensic line of questioning, ranking just above "Do you have a message for the nation today, sir?"

Trump is always taking about “doing business” with people - even Iran, for fuck sake. He loves talking “business”. This is probably the most useless question. Ever.

I think this is the worst piece of reportage by Chris Mason ever. And he's reliably terrible in any case. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Details...

He has stupid one-sentence paragraphs like this: "It is rollercoaster without a harness stuff." "Ah, interesting."

theguardian.comPolice believe they have foiled ‘imminent’ attack on Manchester’s Jewish communityCounter-terrorism police say ‘long-running investigation’ disrupted alleged plot days after two men arrested on eve of the holy day Yom Kippur

This is good from the police. But at the same time, they can't stop a fascist live-streaming himself trying to drown people in the Channel? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...