The Big Finish Catch Up: July 2015

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

We start off this month in the main range with the 8th Doctor, Charley and C'rizz. I quite enjoy the trope of characters landing in a prison they have no knowledge of and as such this story is quite enjoyable. However so much of this story is sloppy and needs more work. I'm pretty sure the narrative doesn't quite make sense unless time passes slower outside of the cube, there isn't enough story to justify the length, Charley virtually does nothing the entire play, there is a section of dialogue near the end which should have been edited out as it contrasts the end of the scene, I'm pretty sure the stories finale goes against something that happens minutes earlier and all in all the story is brought down by moments where I thought to myself "I think they've made a mistake there." In saying that it is a tight atmospheric little thriller which I do tend to like. I think something major plot wise might have happened near the end and I do like the pointers to C'rizz hidden nature which have cropped up over the last five stories (I think The Doctor may finally have noticed something but I'm not sure). I'd have to rate this story 5/10 but I think it may be a very generous score when compared with others.

We nip six years into the future with this months other story, 'The Burning Prince' starring Peter Davisons 5th Doctor. A quick reminder, I'm short of funds right now and stories I get on discount are being put into the 'listen to' pile earlier. On the other hand this is a story where the production, writing and cast come together to create a sterling story. This story plays out like a disaster story, The Doctor steps out of the TARDIS onto a spaceship in peril and things steadily get worse as the story progresses. I really like the 5th Doctor when he becomes put upon, is poorly treated by the rest of the cast and is given a hard time. This happens here as his arrival is timed to make him look as best very suspicious by the rest of the cast. Speaking of the cast all of them perform very well and it was nice to hear Caroline Langrishe best known for the tail end of Lovejoy all though I was kicking myself for not recognising Clive Mantle especially after he popped up recently in 'The Settling.' Checking the case after I'd finished I recognised John Dorneys named from 'The Elite' which makes two good stories I've heard from him now and I'll look forward to his name cropping up again. To some up a rip roaring adventure, good plot, fantastic performances and possibly in the top couple of stories I've heard this calender year, 9/10. 

A Confession

It can't have failed to escape your attention ladies and gentle readers that last week 'The Great British Bake Off' returned to our screens. Since last week flour has been bought from Tesco by the trolley load, twitter is full of cake and the country is full of a rather doughy smell. I feel compelled to get something off my chest dear readers;

I HATE CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel so relieved to get that off my chest as its been impossible to escape from cake and baking this week. As a main dish if it doesn't come with chips and can't be drowned in tomato sauce I wont touch it. My dessert of choice is ice cream or instant whip. Nothing against cake and all those who hold it dear, I just can't stand the stuff. I hope you enjoy Mary Berry and her hirsute sidekick tonight but I'll be sticking to my ice cream.

Ten things I wan't from Liverpool this season

Good morning ladies and gentle readers, as I type its currently half past midday and fifteen minutes to the start of the 2015/16 Premiership season. A time to put the past behind us and focus on the coming season and in that vein here's ten things I want to see from Liverpool football club this year;

1. A fit striker.

Last season we had Daniel Sturridge falling to bits, Lambert with no pace, Borini's ego preventing an exit and Mario Bolotelli - lord knows what was wrong with him. We resorted to three dinky midfielders upfront and it sometimes worked sometimes didn't. Thankfully this time we have a fit Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and Divock Origi to choose from with the treatment room brigade backing them up.

2. Scary and Angry Mignolet.

Last season due to poor form Simon Mignolet lost his place only to get it back through injury. But during his time out something happened - he lost his temper. When he came back he was commanding his defence blocking shots he'd normally let in and went on to have his best period with us to date. This Mignolet must stay, the old timid librarian can do one we need the Mignolet whose mad, bad and dangerous to know.

3. Plan B.

One thing I criticise about Brendan Rodgers tenure is lack of tactics, we seem to pick one tactic and throw ourselves into it even when it stops working. See Mario playing upfront last season when he blatantly wasn't fit, the three dinky midfielders up front which was inconsistent at best and rigid formations. To put it bluntly we need to be more fluid in our tactics.

4. Skrtel dropped.

Martin Skrtel has been an area of chaos and calamity in our defence for the best part of a decade. Manager after manager have failed to drop him, he causes cock up after cock up and is the last remaining undroppable. As far as I'm concerned he's cost us four champions league spots and a Premiership title. He constantly wonders out of position and exposes those around us, he can't trap a ball, can't read a game and the only positive thing I can say about him is he's a very good tackler. However he's not a premiership level defender, he should have been shipped out years ago so either get rid or bench him.

5. A midfield expressing itself.

Over the last few years our midfield  has spent most of its time covering for an ageing Gerrard, covering for Skrtels mishaps and trying to pick up the slack from the strikers (or in some case playing up front as strikers). Lets do this 'death by football' we hear so much about. Let out midfield dominate a game and let our midfielders be midfielders.

6. Goals.

Give us loads of goals and give us sexy goals, last season with our strikers falling to bits, being out of form and playing dinky midfielders up front it was all a struggle. Lets put last season behind us and get back to heavy scoring games.

7. A dominant ball winning midfielder.

I think something we're missing is a dominant ball willing midfielder, god bless him I like Lucas (the world loves a trier) but he isn't it. I think Emre Can could be it but if Rodgers wants to play him in defence we need someone else for the position.

8. Less crap from Brendan during press conferences.

Seriously this can be said about a lot of football managers but Brendan is not a public speaker. Instead of putting him in front of journalists like a sheep into the lions den. Put whoever is in charge of PR or marketing in there, theres just no need for him to be there - especially when he comes out with so much crap. Either start issuing press releases instead of having press conferences or put someone who can talk in them.

9. A defence that can defend.

I think it speaks for itself, over the last few years (and you can guess who I blame) our defence has been ruddy awful. I cheered when Glen Johnson buggered off but drop Skrtel and sort the rest of our defenders out.

10. A better crowd at Anfield.

By and large last year the atmosphere at Anfield was poor and personally I don't think the crowd got behind the team enough. For most of last season we didn't have our 12th man, having a sing song in the build up to kick off is all well and good but during 90 minutes get behind your team!