20.10.12 X-Factor

Well, we've said goodbye to Carolynne, who actually sang so much better in the sing-off than Rylan.  But whatever the views anyone has on the hapless Louis Walsh and his inability to make a decision that he'll stick to, the public clearly didn't think much of Carolynne, who'd already let herself down with the unappealing 'country' version of a Nicki Minaj 'song' (the most dreadful mix of two things one could possibly imagine).  Louis is made of paper (70g/sqare metre) and easily folds, as we all saw.

The departure of the woman who sang in the Bodyform adverts was no great loss.  I am sure she's lovely, but the one note that she insisted on belting out in every song will not be missed by me.  So, to this week's bollocks - here goes . . .


Christopher Maloney

Oh dear, oh fucking dear . . . . how to murder a song but fail to hide the evidence.  Come back, Wagner, all is forgiven!  This is the bloke who played us all with stories of nerves, and 'juddering' to try and prove he has them.  I saw in the papers this week that he has performed for ages on ships, and that former acquaintances can't understand how he can make claims like this.  Tulisa - 'cheesy' is right, but you should have added that the cheese has gone off.  As for TTT Barlow [Thomas The Tank] he has lost the plot, and would gain some respect if he conceded that Mr Maloney was 'baloney'.

MK1

Last week they were shit; the sad fact is that they cannot sing, and just because the chosen style is 'rapping' doesn't mean this fact can remain hidden.  What does 'Urban' mean?  I suspect it's a euphemism for 'shit'. 

Oh here we go again this week - well out of tune, luv!  This song is so awful that it makes the latest release by Robbie Williams seem fantastic rather than a nursery rhyme!  Tulisa - "perfect song choice" is NOT true.  TTT - you narrated with nausea.  Nicole - you lost the plot and described it as "amazing", forgetting two syllables - "ly shit".  Louis said they looked like they were having fun.  Well, that's of course the most important thing (apparently) in every competition on every channel.  Fuck entertainment, as long as the hopefuls/hopeless are "having fun".  Yawn.

Jahmene Douglas

Nicole - sitting in a recording studio talking to him, wearing a stupid hat?  Jahmene - what a wobbly start to the song!  Too much wavering and extra notes made this too messy.  He's got a fantastic voice, but the output was disappointing, and all over the place.  The judges bickered for England, unnecessarily.

Jade Ellis

The Gabrielle sound-a-like had some issues with her build-up to tonight's show.  It was middle of the road, but I suppose with such a bad throat and no proper practice, it was no surprise it was not spot on.  However, Louis managed no sympathy at all with his unnecessary criticism.

James Arthur

His voice is clearly strong, unique and interesting.  A surefire finalist.

Union J

The group with the worst name managed to improve last week - this was the only option, because the previous week (week one) they were the worst of all the performers, and should have gone home!  Tonight they served us a typical boyband rendition, with some weak harmonisation, whilst appealing to 12-year-old females (who all have mobile phones) so I suppose they'll be here next week.  Blimey, Gary's just mentioned the harmonies, and now Nicole as well; maybe I know what I'm talking about. 

Rylan Clark

What can I say?  Awful singing, but he's the novelty act of the competition.  I make a point of avoiding TOWIE, but have to watch Rylan, so I am still poisoned.  He'll be around for as long as people who bother to vote decide to keep him in the running, and annoy TTT.

Lucy Spraggan

Still quirky, still original, still clever and enigmatic, still entertaining.

Kye Sones

I didn't like it, and don't much warm to him either.  I was bored by this performance, even though it was technically okay (and not the horror story that was the case last week).  Nicole said she wanted it to be "epic" and that "it was".  No, no, no, luv - it was okay.  Elf, it wasn't "amazing".  Tulisa, the "Chris Martin" comparison was OTT. 

District 3

Here is another group which relies on Louis for guidance (ha!) but the three kids were awful last week, and sang like they'd been kicked in the nuts.  The trailer is suggesting they are going to "have fun" and "show some energy".  I'd be happy if they actually sing properly.

Oh fuck, this is cunting bollocks.  On this basis, the scores need to be revised:  MK 1, District Nil

Bottom two, if there's any justice, although the nine-year-olds may have the casting votes that keep them in.  Tulisa, you idiot.  Unfortunately they did indeed show more confidence, but they DID NOT SING WELL!  TTT !?!?  "The revelation of the night?"  Bollocks, Thomas, because they sounded terrible.  Am I the only one watching who thinks it was awful?  Nicole, it was not "solid".

Ella Henderson

Fair play for singing a non-ballad, even though it was not massively inspiring.  Nevertheless, with a voice like that, what could possibly go wrong?  A surefire finalist.

"I want to find something to critique you on, but I can't."  Nicole Scherzinger, avoiding the word 'criticise', thinking that she is being clever.  TTT - find a siding to sleep in for the night, or I'll set the Fat Controller on to you.

*************************

What a drag it was tonight; only James, Ella and Lucy were worth listening to.  I see that this series, the organisers pestering us constantly to enter the 'competition' have decided not even to ask a pointless question, but simply to enter ('waste money') for the chance to win £20,000 and some shit add-ons.  I bought my lottery tickets this afternoon, thanks.

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20.10.12 Strictly Come Dancing

What a tired, lame, pathetic level of entertainment offered by Bruce Forsythe.  Can the audience not offer an ounce of honesty and tell him to fucking retire (disgracefully) before the brain cells of the UK are proven to be disappearing faster than a greyhound on speed?  Tess Daly is no better - and does herself a disservice in playing along with Bruce's painful drivel.

As for Craig's 'Tin Man' rubbish, how puerile can the programme be?  Simply awful - as bad as Bruce's dancing.

Fern Britton?  Sorry, I simply cannot warm to her at all - in fact, watching her is an affront to entertainment.  With pun intended, I cannot stomach her.  Anyone with the nerve to hoodwink viewers by claiming weightloss through her own efforts and forgetting about the gastric band is someone whom I cannot respect at all.

Victoria Pendleton?  "You are a little bit unstable," said Len.  Hmmm . . . more to that than the dancing, eh?  However, it's hard not to like her. 

Michael Vaughan?  Contrived shit on the trailer was further evidence of the pathetic nature of the 'humour' and 'interest' that is supposedly included in the padding before any dancing gets underway.  "You were landing on the count of two like a felled tree, darling," said Craig.  "Last week was Borehamwood, this week was Hollywood," said Len.  No, mate - this week was Dead Wood.

Jerry Hall?  Her drawling voice is a right pain in the arse/ear.  She thinks she's better than others, and lives off her preposterous reputation.  A nine-year-old doing country dancing at primary school would have out-performed her this week.  "Downstairs you're quite neat and tidy," said Len.  "The whole thing would have been better behind the screen, quite frankly," said Craig - and well said!  Total shit - but Bruce still felt obliged to say it was "better than last week" for no good reason at all.  Will the kid who told the emperor he wasn't wearing any clothes please stand up and tell everyone that Jerry Hall is not a glamourous and wonderful performer!

Sid Owen?  So NOT ballroom dancing - more like a spoof.  Quite rightly, he was panned because it was shit.  "Judges' comments aside, how did it feel to be a rock God?" asked Tess.  Casting aside the judges' comments is hardly a reasonable basis to discuss fucking anything, considering they are supposed to be dancing for the highest score!  It was their worst performance and score so far.  Neither could even claim to have "had fun" which must be a first.

Kimberley Walsh?  Very good. 

Denise Van Outen?  The dancing was okay, but the song was shit, as was the 'school play' theatrical approach to doing a fucking waltz. 

Colin Salmon?  Bruce told a joke that was more lame than a legless donkey.  How was it a good use of licence-payers' money to send a film crew to Canada to follow Colin, who had to go there for some filming during the week?  Good dancing, although she did most of the work, not him.  I really didn't watch this thinking it was a tango. 

Richard Arnold?  I made a wish that was not advantageous to Bruce's continued breathing, after his crappy joke.  The quickstep showed Richard to be a prancing filly, not helped by the attire. 

Dani Harmer?  Sorry, luv, but you weren't comfortable doing that.  It was reasonable, but even I could see she was not finishing her moves properly, or extending limbs.  As I typed this, Craig has just commented that she needed to extend, and the pointless Darcey said the same.  [NB: Lucky her first name isn't 'Self']

Lisa Riley?  Defied comment, in my opinion.  "A great big bundle of joy," said Len; what's that got to do with a comment on the dancing?  I maintain that they are all scared of being seen as rude, and pointing out that she wobbled quickly, and flung her arms about.

Nicky Byrne?  Having energy and having fun is not a good endorsement, Darcey. 

Louis Smith?  Blimey - fucking good!

...

18.10.12 Bread & Water

Half a Loaf

I was living in cloud cuckoo land until a week or so ago, when my previous appreciation of the cost of bread was sadly lacking.  I'd been of the opinion that bread was overpriced, and in the range of 45p - £1.70 for a normal loaf - 800g.  Clearly the 45p versions are the supermarkets' own versions - cardboard - and the more expensive loaves tend to be 'Farmhouse' or 'Seeded' or supposedly wholesome.  Somewhere in the middle are the "2 for £2" versions, or about £1.30 each.  All this was my perception of the bread market.

I was very aware of the 'half loaf' development.  I have never actually bought a half-loaf, but I have bought a small loaf that weighs half of a normal one.  There is something utterly wrong about buying proper sized bread in a bag that looks half used.  It is rather common for me to find that a half-loaf has to be chucked away.  Why on earth, then, would I be psychologically comfortable in purchasing what is actually a remnant?

So, half the number of proper slices in a bag that looks 'used' is not an attractive commodity, and it is made all the more unattractive by the ludicrous pricing policies that go with such product lines.    A 'small loaf', however, is a different matter.  I am much more able to consider the purchase of a small loaf.  The presentation of the 400g of bread is more pleasing; I feel I am buying a complete product, not 'dregs'. 

I am no expert on the number of slices contained within any loaf - and with so many variations of thickness for a slice these days, the number in a loaf can no doubt vary considerably.  I have not (yet) gone to the trouble of comparing surface area of a normal slice against the area of a slice from a small loaf.  It could be that if a normal loaf is 16 slices, then a small loaf is 12 with an area two-thirds the size (assuming similar thickness).  That would work out perfectly.  The mathematics also provide a solution that could mean (if the normal loaf had 18 slices) 12 slices at three-quarters of the surface area (again, assuming equal thickness).  Whatever the maths, it is a fact that to have a small loaf with a crust at each end, and a reduced but appropriate quantity of bread, is eminently more agreeable than a half loaf.

All of this is somewhat tangential to the content of the opening paragraph, in which I revealed my increased awareness of the cost of bread.  Contrary to the argument in favour of small loaves over half loaves, I recently decided that a small loaf on sale in Asda was a complete piss-take.  The small loaf (there was no half loaf option) of 400g was available at a price of £2.68.  That's right, you are not misreading at all - the price was that fucking high.  What could possibly warrant such a charge.  Apparently some cunt removing the wheat and gluten from it.  Yes, for those with intolerance (the latest word for allergy) there's a pathetic effort to cater for a dietary need that requires avoidance of these things.  The small loaf was nestled [notNestlé'd] on a shelf near some organic shit, and I was bemused by the audacity of manufacturers.  At a rate of £5.36 for a fucking loaf of bread, this must surely be the most expensive supermarket bread in the UK (?)

Eau Dear

The price of water at Asda last week was the cause of some concern.  I went to the multipacks of still spring water, and saw what should have been (and was) a pack of 12 x 500ml bottles.  The going rate for these in recent weeks has been £2, although I think this has been some sort of offer.  Nevertheless, this was a 'benchmark' for me in assessing which bottles to buy.  Nestlé bottles were the ones I bought last time, so I expected to see a pack that would do the job.  I noticed a pack of bottles that was indeed 12x500ml, although it was on its own, on the wrong shelf, and unpriced.  Just along from it were a number of multipacks that at first glance seemed to be what I was after, and the standard fare from Nestlé.  However, closer inspection revealed a perfect example of supermarket cuntishness.  The packs were indeed £2, but contained just ten bottles - and each was 330ml.  WHAT?  I put the 12x500ml in the trolley and was prepared to dump them at the checkout if the price was too high.

As an aside, when I was a small kid, Nestlé ['Ness-lay'] was pronounced rather differently - it was Nestles [as in a child nestles against its mother] and the Milky Bar song proves that completely.  These days, we are forced to adopt the accent.  I am reminded of my first encounter with a car called Renault, which my dad pronounced as though it rhymed with 'fault' rather than the French for 'water'.  Anyway, back to the plot, although first, who cannot recall the weirdness of the Renault 12?  What a strange car, and proof that the strangeness of French cars is surpassed only by those of Soviet-bloc nations, with their fondness for outlandish farm machinery and vehicles that look like they were supposed to be doing something other than transporting people.

The price at the checkout turned out to be £2.29 for 12x500, and I was accepting of a 29p premium on the previously purchased water.  Comparing this to the revised sales pitch at Asda for rip-off bottles, I was lucky to have escaped being utterly and wholeheartedly ripped off!  10x330ml for £2 is the new deal, so just 3.3 litres.  For just 29p more, I got 6 litres.  The fuckers are screwing us on the sly [just like the 4-packs of Snickers and Mars I saw in a petrol station but the weight of each bar was about 40g, not 58g.  What size is that - Snack?  Fun?  Cunt?

So, in summary, water is now overpriced at Asda, and the 'creative' marketing is fucking people over.  Alongside that, we have bread that's reached a new level of value, if things are removed from it.  The fact that the Co-op looks cheap in comparison completely proves the point of an overcharge.

Be warned, folks - bread and water may not be the poor man's diet, or a menu that shows you're a pauper!  The above photo could represent £1.10 spent!

...

17.10.12 September Quotes of the Month

1  -  "Don't do that or I'll come and leave a log on your pillow."  [Nicky]
2  -  "Ooo, I do like a good ride."  [Jess - referring to a rollercoaster]
3  -  "I've got some running to do now - but I will be back."  [Charlie - age 3]
4  -  "Ooo, look at you in your shirt."  [Faye - age 23 - to TMWSC, who was wearing a shirt]
5  -  "I've got a girthy neck."  [Liam]
6  -  "They never have it off for more than half an hour."  [James, ref the Spanish water supply]
7  -  "I've been nowhere to walk into nothing."  [Derek]
8  -  "A hairy man's a happy man, a hairy wife's a witch."  [Derek]
9  -  "It burns the nostrils in your nose."  [Derek]
10 - "Shut up!  Get a bit more global!"  [Sue]
11 - "He doesn't even make a good bad character."  [Sue, ref an Emmerdale actor]
12 - "What about Golden Balls?"  [Sue, referring to the programme, not Derek]
13 - "If you were a bird, you'd be a Zebra Finch."  [Liam, to TMWSC]
14 - "I had Ikea Thumb."  [TMWSC, confirming his ailment resulting from using a small allen key]
15 - "We come to the tear-sodden, juddering climax."  [Boris Johnson]
16 - "He permanently had an 'I've just been swimming' look about him."  [TMWSC, commenting on a boy at school]

Grammar Cock-ups and Complete Nonsense

1  -  "Each and every one of you are . . . . ."  [Nicole Scherzinger]
2  -  "The ECB has to ensure that every i and t is crossed."  [Radio 4 News]
3  -  "He was charged with mass murder and threw into jail."  [ITV News reporter]
4  -  "Everyone's talking about it, but only Avon have it."  [TV Advert]
5  -  "They'd rather implicate an innocent people."  [Interviewee on ITV News]
6  -  "He discovered the 18 bodies that were systematically killed."  [ITV News reporter]

...

14.10.12 Martina Cole - Hard Girls

I suspect that my recent experience of being 'bookless' is one that many will relate to.  I was abroad, and managed to finish the book I'd taken with me.  I was not in a location that allowed me to peruse the titles of books in a shop, and so had to settle for pretty much anything that was going, in the English language.  Whilst I was (on that score) unknowingly stretching a point in selecting 'Hard Girls', I was at the time relatively pleased to lay my hands on a doorstep of a book that would fill a need.  It was indeed a doorstep, and a check of the last page noted '583'.  I considered this page count reasonable, and decided that Martina Cole would help me get to sleep, with her waffle about the police, villains and working girls - the things that represent the sum total of her knowledge.

I finished this tosh during the second week of my visit abroad.  I would like to take this opportunity to warn anyone considering reading this rubbish that it will seriously be a waste of your time, challenge you less that lighting a cigarette with a Zippo on a calm day, and put in jeopardy your wellbeing.  I have no recollection of ever having read such a pathetic story, delivered in such a repetitive, patronising and babyish way.  The reading age of the book is five years and 6 months.  The style of the story telling was to 'spoon feed' the reader with little steps forward in a crappy story, and eeking out the whole thing beyond credibility.  The repetition was horrendous, and the whole book was a sorry, lazy excuse for a novel.  The author has exercised self-indulgence to a criminal degree.

Let me, for a moment, digress from the content, and comment instead on the pathetic layout of the text, together with Martina Cole's unbelievable views on what is worthy of a chapter.  To set the scene, here are some numbers for you.

The story starts on page 3 and ends on page 583.  So, 581 pages - no small number.  What's amazing, though, is that this was apparently worth splitting into 143 chapters, plus an epilogue!  A check of the layout shows that just over four pages per chapter is in fact overly generous, because the first page in every chapter consists of only 60% of it having type - the rest is just wasted space and the chapter number.  Then there are the numerous pages wasted where the last line of any chapter falls, say, a quarter of the way down a page, and the next chapter requires a new page.  This mess, together with some completely empty pages allocated to separating the pretentious splitting of the novel into three books/sections means that empty space accounts for 132 of the 581 pages.

The maths confirm, then, that the pages per chapter = (581 - 132) / 144.  That's 3.118 pages on average!

How the fuck can someone write 144 chapters, each with (on average) just 3.118 pages ???

Chapter 77 contains 0.9 pages of actual type.  It basic terms, the content was: Margaret was waiting for Kate in the car park.  It was raining.  Margaret had something to tell Kate and suggested getting a coffee.  Kate was intrigued and suggested they get a real drink.

This crap hardly warranted being mentioned, let along being allocated a whole chapter to itself.  One fucking paragraph would have done!  However, I was to be further amazed when I came to chapter 98, which was a paltry 164 words.  Yes, 0.6 pages of type, 164 words, and a travesty of publishing.

I was annoyed at various stages of the book by mistakes that proved good grammar from an author is an optional extra when being judged worthy of a book deal.  Eg. "The forensic team were cordening off . . ." and a whole load of other low level oversights.  Spelling "smidgen" incorrectly seemed completely pathetic (smidgeon).

Finally, the quality of the prose was simply awful.  To finish, here's an excerpt from Chapter 68 - see if you can find it in your heart to congratulate Martina.

"Flora O'Brien was a transient from Newcastle on Tyne [I think Martina meant Newcastle Upon Tyne] and she came from a family where her mother was a lunatic who had systematically fallen for men who impregnated her and consequently left her quick smart, and her brothers were both off the scale where mental ability was concerned.  Flora had left as soon as she was able.  Both her brothers were like their mother, small-minded, mentally incapable, and without the sense to get away from their mother's overbearing and lying nature."  This was part of the 1.5 pages of type/drivel that comprised Chapter 68.

...

11.10.12 Football - The State of Play

What a complete fucking mess the game is in - where to start ???

As reported in some detail in the last week, the findings of the FA condemn John Terry, and confirm everything we already knew about him.  He is a thoroughly horrible individual, without integrity, honesty and morals - how else could he be viewed?  It is quite clear that he insulted Anton Ferdinand, calling him a 'black cunt', or 'b**** ****' as the newspapers have so often reported.  To contrive some sort of pathetic story to explain his actions and outburst was simply a further display of why he's unfit to play for England, let alone be Captain - so thank heavens he's retired.  As for his role at Chelsea, I've no doubt that the club will continue to defend him.  That makes Chelsea as unattractive as Terry.  When will a football club ever be honest and not follow the stupid path of standing by its man despite evidence that this cannot be the right thing to do?

Then we have Ashley Cole, another overpaid idiot, who seems to have been guilty of trying to support his mate, and trying to muddy the waters regarding what John Terry did and said, and what Anton Ferdinand said.  Again, the FA highlighted what a dubious load of shite the input was from Cole, Terry and the club Secretary, David Barnard.  He represented Chelsea FC and was exposed as someone no better than Terry or Cole, what with his 'manipulations' and efforts to spin the whole affair by amending statements.

Summary - Chelsea is tainted and an institution that is a long way short of decent.  Terry is (still) tainted, and separate from all the latest stuff over the QPR dealings, he's a thug of a player anyway.  Cole is tainted, because when he's not shooting someone with a rifle (because he "didn't realise it was loaded") or texting/tweeting inappropriately, or cheating on his partner, he's concocting stories to serve as evidence and support for a mate, and showing himself to be without integrity let alone intelligence.  Sadly, Prince William visits the new centre for football that's been officially opened this week (costing £105m !!) and shakes hands with the giggling Cole, to newspaper headlines that 'chuckle' about his recent 'transgressions'. 

Suarez is a cheat.  When he's not handballing on his goal line in a world cup and cheering when the opposition miss the resultant penalty in the last World Cup, he's diving when no cunt has even touched him, in the hope of conning the referee and getting a penalty.  Then of course, we have the other racism scandal between him and the arse known as Patrice Evra.  Suarez is thoroughly horrible; just because he has footballing talent, it does NOT excuse unsporting behaviour and/or cheating.  Sadly, and I suppose it's no great surprise, the latest Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, has complained about Suarez being picked on and that he's attracted unfair attention, over and above others who deserve some attention.  Where's his own integrity gone, all of a sudden?  At Swansea, he was successful and seemed a nice chap, an honourable chap.  Now, he's sidestepping the issue in the way politicians sidestep everything contentious.  I'd be impressed with him if he admitted Suarez's efforts to win penalties and get players booked were out of order.  So, Rodgers and Suarez are tainted.  As for Gerard, the captain whose career is now in decline, I think we're all aware of past issues and court appearances for alleged thuggery when he's been in fights.

Joey Barton?  What can I say?  Complete thug; nasty, unbalanced and dangerous.

Mario Balotelli?  Stroppy, sulky, overpaid, spoilt brat, with an appalling attitude and prone to stamp or elbow on a whim.

Wayne Rooney is trying to present himself as some sort of born-again-Christian.  Hopefully he will henceforth be rather more controlled, because it may serve to replace my memory of him being thuggish, and a couple of seasons ago elbowing an opponent in the face, off the ball.  This is something that was replicated last weekend by Robin van Persie, a player who'd have us believe he's whiter than white, but whose actions prove otherwise.  These players know what they are doing, and claim innocence afterwards - in the process showing themselves to be pathetic.  Marouane Fellaini is not averse to waving his arms and elbows haphazardly, knowing full well there's a good chance he'll whack someone - he managed this again last weekend. 

This reminds me of Alan Shearer's playing style, in years gone by.  Every week, he'd hustle and push and elbow his way through the defenders towards the goal, fouling continually.  Apparently he was commended for being 'strong' and 'physical' and a 'handful' rather than being a serial fouler.

Still, there are worse forces at play than Alan Shearer of old.  These days, whole teams are able to push the limits and toy with ethics of sportsmanship.  Take Stoke FC, whose collective approach seems to be more akin to a display of wrestling each week rather than stylish football. 

What's annoying is that so many professionals are rewarded, very well rewarded, for being the opposite of a good role model.  Why is Cole in the England team?  I am sick of him; just because he is a pretty good player does not mean I'll endure his shit in all other areas of his life.  Someone who's a right dick and a walking disaster when he's not playing football for 90 minutes is someone who I'd rather not have to deal with.  Leighton Baines is as good a player, and has no baggage at all, or any reason for people to view him disparagingly.  As for Ryan Giggs, well, what a role model.  He gets rewarded for his efforts in bed with his sister-in-law and the massive scandal that rocked the country for months, and leads the Olympic team out !!! WTF?

Roy Keane was one of the most vicious players around, when it suited him to 'have a go'.  His mean approach/nature, and horrendous tackles are now serving as proof that he's a 'hard man' and we're all supposed to be in awe of him.  Well, his managerial qualities are clearly flawed because he's had no success in that area.  If I were in his team, I'd look at him expecting to be head-butted.  Never mind, because ITV will keep paying him loads of money to sit in the studio and tell us the blindingly obvious, with an Irish accent. 

Equally annoying is the bumbling and boring Gary Lineker.  Why is the BBC paying him millions to sit and be a smart alec, and be shit?

Meanwhile, on the pitch, the offside rule is continually shown to be a mess, goal line technology continues to be avoided for no good reason, goalkeepers continue to subscribe to the philosophy of "never catching anything, but pushing the ball away instead".  They also come off their lines to supposedly 'narrow the angle' in way too many situations.  There are numerous examples of how staying on the line would have allowed a save rather than suicide.

It will all carry on, and even get worse - there's even more money pouring into the game from Sky now.  Finally, we have the recent news that the new sponsor of Newcastle United FC is . . . . . Wonga.  Yes, the mercenary company with the APR at well over 4000% is now to be associated with football. 

The game is fucked.

...