Be warned ladies and gentle readers the following is my player by player and manager review of the season. I am a notoriously hard marker so expect some scathing conclusions;
Jurgen Klopp: Perfectly blended our squad into a team to fit his vision and very nearly had the perfect season if you ignore the bits that weren't perfect 10/10.
Roger Fabinho: Decent first season, took time to get used to the league and scored a goal 10/10.
Virgil van Dijk: The boss of our defence, his pass interception has become an iconic part of our play 10/10.
George Windjammer: Had a more impact full year than the previous season 10/10.
James Milner: Best Twitter game on the league 10/10.
Naby Keita: Very good box to box player, good penetration in the box, good defence in our box. Potentially useful in a post match boxing match 10/10.
Roberto Firmino: Very firm and changed his style of play this year, could do with losing a 'O' from his name 10/10.
Sadio Mane: Very good and scored lots of goals 10/10.
Mohamed Salah: Very good follow up to a season defining season which could only be improved by being a bit more like he was last season 10/10.
Joe Gomez: Always good to have a player with a 'Z' in his name for OCD reasons 10/10.
Alisson: A beast between the sticks - our best keeper since Ray Clemence 10/10.
Jordan Henderson: Part of a much improved middle three 10/10.
Daniel Sturridge: Sorry to see him go and he leaves us in a better position than where he found us 10/10.
Alberto Moreno: Rarely played and is now leaving 11/10.
Adam Lallana: An injury ravaged season but had a good advert game 10/10.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Very good season, kept the club doctor and physio team in good humour with good stand up material 10/10.
Simon Mingolet Have 10/10 and lets quietly pass this player by.
Xherdan Shaqiri: A good impact sub 10/10.
Rhian Brewster: One for the future but have a word with the parents as that isn't how you spell Ryan 10/10.
Andrew Robertson: Best fullback in the league 10/10
Divock Origi: Plays football and sounds like a Doctor Who monster from the Tom Baker years 10/10.
Joel Matip: Underrated 10/10.
Nathan Phillips: Gets on the list instead of Dejan Lovren due to an admin error 10/10.
Curtis Jones: Didn't he sing for Motown 10/10.
Ben Woodburn: The future of Wales 20/10.
Caoimhi Kelleher: Buy a cons tenant 10/10.
Rafael Comacho: Keep up the good work 10/10.
Trent Alexander Arnold Reginald Smyth III: Made the position his own and first name on the team sheet due to it having to be written 48 hours before the match due to his long name 10/10.
Saturday, 15 June 2019
Wednesday, 29 May 2019
National Biscuit Day - The Jaffa Cake Debate
Good afternoon ladies and gentle readers, as you may be aware today is national biscuit day. A day I'm for as it gives me an excuse to drink more tea and dunk more biscuits. Although every year there is some debate on weather certain items are biscuits or not, mostly jaffa cakes.
Imagine there is a picture of a jaffa cake right here please.
People I beseech you, lets not bicker about labels and a jaffa cake is or isn't. Lets just be grateful that we live in a world where jaffa cakes exist.
Imagine there is a picture of a jaffa cake right here please.
People I beseech you, lets not bicker about labels and a jaffa cake is or isn't. Lets just be grateful that we live in a world where jaffa cakes exist.
Monday, 27 May 2019
The Big Finish Catch-Up May 2019
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;
First up this month is The Prisoner of Peladon a Companion Chronicle starring David Troughton as King Peladon. This is a very good story with good levels of atmosphere, David is outstanding and carries the story well. Its what you would expect from a Peladon story in terms of characters and alien races. What raises the story is that when The Doctor turns up it goes in a direction that is mostly associated with later Doctors. Its rather unnerving to see this kind of thing done with Jon Pertwees more fluffy Doctor however its effective. It gets a 8/10 from me.
Next up is Nevermore with the 8th Doctor and Tamsin in the Eight Doctor range. Its a weak start to Tamsins start as a companion as the story is dull and lacking the distinctive flair of the range. The crows and the cat are memorable but a week after hearing this story I'm struggling to remember anything about it 4/10.
The final story this month is The Whispering Forest from the main range featuring the team of the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough. This is a proper good done in one nailed to the plot thriller - although the start and end to lead in and from the surrounding stories. I love stories like this that have a good solid plot, start at break neck pace and keep the listener glued for the duration. I must commend the decision to pair up Nyssa and Turlough who are two characters who couldn't be further different from each other. This release is story telling 101, any aspiring writer looking to write for Big Finish should be listening to stories like this. This is a 7/10 story for me and this is the second time I've heard it (its one of the stories I heard in the anniversary year) and it still stands up to that first listen.
First up this month is The Prisoner of Peladon a Companion Chronicle starring David Troughton as King Peladon. This is a very good story with good levels of atmosphere, David is outstanding and carries the story well. Its what you would expect from a Peladon story in terms of characters and alien races. What raises the story is that when The Doctor turns up it goes in a direction that is mostly associated with later Doctors. Its rather unnerving to see this kind of thing done with Jon Pertwees more fluffy Doctor however its effective. It gets a 8/10 from me.
Next up is Nevermore with the 8th Doctor and Tamsin in the Eight Doctor range. Its a weak start to Tamsins start as a companion as the story is dull and lacking the distinctive flair of the range. The crows and the cat are memorable but a week after hearing this story I'm struggling to remember anything about it 4/10.
The final story this month is The Whispering Forest from the main range featuring the team of the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough. This is a proper good done in one nailed to the plot thriller - although the start and end to lead in and from the surrounding stories. I love stories like this that have a good solid plot, start at break neck pace and keep the listener glued for the duration. I must commend the decision to pair up Nyssa and Turlough who are two characters who couldn't be further different from each other. This release is story telling 101, any aspiring writer looking to write for Big Finish should be listening to stories like this. This is a 7/10 story for me and this is the second time I've heard it (its one of the stories I heard in the anniversary year) and it still stands up to that first listen.
Saturday, 11 May 2019
The Big Finish Catch-Up February - April 2019
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;
I've fallen a little bit behind with the reviews so here's some snap reviews of what I listened to between February and April this year...
Theatre of War - A very good, tight adaption of the Virgin New Adventure debut of Justin Richards. Of note is the first appearance of Irving Braxiatel 8.5/10.
Situation Vacant - A fun way of introducing a new companion and the arc of this seasons 8th Doctor Adventures. A brilliant pastiche of The Apprentice 10/10.
The Spirit Trap - Another good fun, spiky engaging episode of Jago and Litefoots first season 9/10.
Domain of the Voord - The start of a new range "the early years" taking over from "the companion chronicles." A very good strong start and a story that adds something to a one off villain from TV 8/10.
Real Time - an oddity, a curates egg, an interesting attempt at doing something in real time. Unsatisfying but worthy 5/10.
The Book of Kells - Very engaging, rollicking break neck speed and fun. The 8th Doctor range is on a roll 10/10.
Fear of the Daleks - A very good companion chronicle with a good performance from Wendy Padbury 7/10.
The Well Mannered War - Some good ideas which may have worked in a book format however its a weak adaption and needed some editing as there is too much going on 6/10.
I've fallen a little bit behind with the reviews so here's some snap reviews of what I listened to between February and April this year...
Theatre of War - A very good, tight adaption of the Virgin New Adventure debut of Justin Richards. Of note is the first appearance of Irving Braxiatel 8.5/10.
Situation Vacant - A fun way of introducing a new companion and the arc of this seasons 8th Doctor Adventures. A brilliant pastiche of The Apprentice 10/10.
The Spirit Trap - Another good fun, spiky engaging episode of Jago and Litefoots first season 9/10.
Domain of the Voord - The start of a new range "the early years" taking over from "the companion chronicles." A very good strong start and a story that adds something to a one off villain from TV 8/10.
Real Time - an oddity, a curates egg, an interesting attempt at doing something in real time. Unsatisfying but worthy 5/10.
The Book of Kells - Very engaging, rollicking break neck speed and fun. The 8th Doctor range is on a roll 10/10.
Fear of the Daleks - A very good companion chronicle with a good performance from Wendy Padbury 7/10.
The Well Mannered War - Some good ideas which may have worked in a book format however its a weak adaption and needed some editing as there is too much going on 6/10.
Friday, 10 May 2019
Detective Pikachu - Review
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Thursday, 25 April 2019
Why Kevin Owens Turned Heel
During this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown Live, honorary New Day member Kevin Owens turned on Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods following the WWE Champion’s win over Shinsuke Nakamura.
Kevin Owens had only joined the world famous five-time tag champs during last week’s episode of Smackdown Live after Big E was put out of action via injury – we still don’t know when E is expected to be back in action.
The reason for Owens’ sudden turn on his new stable mates is down to the currently undisclosed injury suffered by Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35.
According to Dave Meltzer on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, a ‘Mania rematch was supposed to be taking place at the Money In The Bank PPV between Kofi and Bryan, but because the former Champion won’t be back in time for the event, the Owens heel turn was done.
Monday, 25 March 2019
Scott Walker
Scott Walker, one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in rock history, has died at the age of 76.
The US star found fame as a teen idol in The Walker Brothers, scoring hits with The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore and Make It Easy On Yourself.
But his dark baritone hinted at something deeper - and his darker, experimental solo albums tackled the complexities of love, sex and death.
Walker's death was confirmed by his current record label, 4AD.
Born Noel Scott Engel in Ohio, 1943, Walker initially pursued a career as an actor, before hooking up with John Maus and Gary Leeds to form the misleadingly-named Walker Brothers.
After a false start in the US, they relocated to the UK, where they caused a huge sensation, scoring number one hits with Make It Easy On Yourself and The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore.
For a while, the band were as big as the Beatles, greeted by screaming fans everywhere they went.
"Touring in those days was very primitive. It was really a lot of hard work. And you couldn't find anything good to eat. The hours were unbelievable."
At the height of their fame in 1967, when Walker was still considered a heart-throb and a potential superstar, he called time on the band and ran away to a monastery on the Isle of Wight. Not, as rumour had it, because of a nervous breakdown, but to study Gregorian chant.
He remained disillusioned with the industry until his girlfriend introduced him to the music of Jacques Brel, whose literate, passionate torch songs inspired him to embark on a solo career.
Walker's first four solo albums, Scott to Scott 4, juxtaposed lush, orchestral pop with dark existentialism; and his lyrics were frequently scattered with characters from society's margins - prostitutes, transvestites, suicidal thinkers and even Joseph Stalin.
"He took music to a place that it hasn't actually ever been since," said musician Brian Eno who, like Jarvis Cocker and David Bowie, cites Walker as a key influence.
Amid falling sales, Walker staged a brief, largely unsuccessful reunion with the Brothers in the mid-70s; then used a lucrative deal with Virgin Records to pursue some of his most abstract musical ideas on 1984's Climate of Hunter.
The record divided fans and critics - it was reputedly Virgin's lowest-selling album of all time - and Walker bowed out of music and the public eye for almost a decade.
"A friend of mine says I'm not a recluse, I'm just low-key," said the singer about his extended absence.
"Generally if I've got nothing to say, it's pointless to be around."
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