Remember “Pep”?

onight at 8PM BST we’ll know if Arsenal “goes top” or lags behind “City”. The “protege” of “Pep” (Arteta) had a strong start this season after winning last season and “Pep” is gone, he’s definitely not coming back.

It feels kind of odd, still, walking past the building with the face of “Pep” knowing he’s just some historical face like a long-gone dictator or dead war hero.

We really hope that Enzo will maintain the momentum and win again this coming weekend. The first season or “Pep” at “City” was a disappointment.

Last night I saw Ferguson in the United game (video of course, not in person). He’s alive in spite of lingering health issues (occasional hospitalisation), he looks a lot older than when I last saw him. Unlike “Pep”, he hasn’t got decades left.

Enzo is even younger, he’s about the same age and Carrick and not much older than myself.

“Pissing it down…”

AME or match highlights (10+ minutes) have been published for United’s win and the impact of the very heavy rain here can be seen towards the end. This is rain we’re happy about as it’ll help fill up reservoirs and it helps water plants everywhere. If only it was more equally split across weeks… this year was probably the driest summer since 2018 or maybe even drier than that.

Tomorrow it’ll be more of the same. Arsenal plays at nighttime.

Relief for Carrick.

ive them another 20 minutes, maybe it’ll be more.

Only half an hour after I mentioned this season’s first goal (Bruno Fernandes) United scored 3 more goals in this drizzly local weather.

Who else?

reat to see this season’s first goal from Manchester United, but will there also be a first win? The first match was a very major disappointment and Ipswich should not be difficult to beat at home (Old Trafford).

For the time being, Manchester City still leads the league and the next match (against Coventry) should be straightforward.

ne need not be a “conspiracy buff” to claim there may be imminent threat from Russia because even national broadcasters and mainstream media talk about it [1, 2]. “Russia always attacks,” a friend tells me, “it’s only ever a matter of when…”

The average person here (whatever “average” means) is busy with his/her daily struggles and won’t pay too much attention to world affairs. It’s weekend here, so many people just watch football^*. They cheer for “their team”. Looking further ahead, however, we have various issues like climate collapse and conflict over resources.

Just because it’s rainy again doesn’t mean climate change didn’t destroy crops (agriculture is food). Just because we don’t have direct conflict right now doesn’t mean we don’t spend billions arming Ukraine. This makes everybody poorer.

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^* Top 4 at the moment (PL) is all northwest and northeast England:

Haaland and Cherki both score twice in Man City win at Crystal Palace

oday’s matches will be mostly dull, but on Monday Arsenal has a challenging away game, so within a week or two Manchester City can “go top” not just temporarily.

“Create chances for Haaland and he’ll score – Maresca”

oals were no longer hard to attain in the late Friday match. Previously, many chances were created but not many goals scored.

Enzo now rides a wave of momentum.

The next match, a home match, should be easier. 3 wins in a row are a great way to start a season.