Idle and Analogue

@ThatEricAlper Kermit the Frog

Which actor or actress played a role so perfectly that nobody else could have done it?

@AndyMitten @DariaSatellite Wouldn't mind Wilcox whipping in crosses for Sesko! Blackburn's fabled number 9 didn't do too bad with Ripley and our Jason on the wings (sorry, forget his name).

@DariaSatellite Because he’s still a player and you can’t rule him out from playing again.

Karl Darlow, 35, signs for Manchester United as a goalkeeper. Experienced GK. Pictured with Jason Wilcox, 55. First MUFC player to sound like Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow.

@ronaldobrownn_ Trying to re-negotiate a lower fee?

Wording doesn’t even make sense 😂😂 Which part of this deal requires United to be “fighting for the deal to happen”, we was at medical stage after transfer agreement. Is Florian an INEOS pawn too or just parroting the other journos?

@Utd__max10 Ferguson introduced wing play?! WING PLAY? Football has always had wing play, the first proper formation was practically 2-3-5. Pep learned from Cruyff. Mourinho adapted Italy's catenaccio. Klopp was an apprentice to Rangnick.

Sir Alex Ferguson introduced wing play and game management. Pep Guardiola introduced tiki-taka. Jürgen Klopp introduced gegenpressing. Jose Mourinho introduced the low block and counter attacking football. Carlo Ancelotti introduced Flexible Tactical System Antonio Conte revolutionized the 3-5-2 / 3-4-3 system. What exactly did Arsene Wenger contribute to football? 😭

@lewis_goodall Just after Trump's "mayor of some town" comments, I was watching a news show and a person was talking about how some council's have replaced council leaders with mayors, clearly confused that Burnham was mayor of Gtr Manchester (10 councils), not just Manchester (1 council).

I do find the condescension towards Burnham from much of the British political establishment both striking and funny. He’s actually one of the most experienced incoming PMs we’ve had, about which much is known. You’d think all he’d ever done was run a parish council.

@Malekai4748 In my first job, I worked with a chap called Eric, who sported a Bobby Charlton comb-over. He'd arrive after a gusty walk and carefully arrange his hair into place. I used to stare at my dad's bald patch and ask why. First sign of a bald patch, I shaved mine off. No regrets.

Shaving your head bald is absolutely an aura loss. The boldest move a man could make is to work with what he's got.

@ammandev The general population had never heard of the metatarsal until Beckham broke his in 2002

Never in my 29 years of living had I ever heard of a ‘part 2’ of a medical being reported on in my life. And then Ederson to Manchester United came along… 😅

EXCL: Ken Barlow close to signing for Manchester United. Ladies' man, 86, will provide support for Senne Lemmens.

@ammandev Ken Barlow?

Karl Darlow? Really? As a backup to Lammens?

@patrickkmaguire I'm fearful of HR departments, always found them to be the worst of the worst

Full text of (long) Burnham email to Labour MPs on the new regime - Cabinet expected to “prioritise PLP engagement” - Whips office as “HR department” - No more legislation presented as “fait accomplit” by ministers and officials (1/2)

@nqatpod He's had some decent goalscoring seasons in Brazil and France plus for under 20 team.

Recording pod on Santos and the rest of the moving parts in a few. More considered thoughts on Santos now I have a moment beyond a five second reaction. Andrey Santos is the bazillionth midfielder linked with United this summer. The interesting bit is not the player on his own but how it fits into a wider strategy. I see him as a pass-heavy 8 who can cover at 6, not a pure 6. Forward passes and duel volume per 90 put Santos in Guimaraes kind of territory. He's not as well rounded, obviously. High pass completion, well above Casemiro, while still playing forward. Takes some risks but picks his moments. High no. forward passes, medium on line-breaking progression. He does well in finding space to receive which I like. Moves nicely, low centre of gravity, punches passes in a way that looks a bit like Licha. Interesting partner for Kobbie in certain phases, a liability perhaps in defensive transitions. Caveats are real though. Not a great long passer. Doesn't drop into his own box like Casemiro to defend. Not going to make up for Casemiro's goal output. Quick over a few yards but not the ground eater that United have missed. Just don't see him as a Casemiro replacement. Honestly, would prefer this deal to the Ederson deal, not alongside him. Third acquisition profile really matters a lot now. What do we have once this is done: a pass-heavy 8/6, a linker, a vertical runner. I don't see a box-defending, ground eating 6 there yet. But he's a good footballer, a good Carrick fit. It's two solid mids so far but neither is elite. Is that purchase in the works, or not? Santos very good as a third signing. Underwhelming as the headline. That really makes a difference between the summer being an 8/10 or a 6/10.

@stan_chow @CountBinface You somehow captured Count Binface's very essence, while at the same time his promise to build one affordable house and the re-positioning of the hand dryer in a pub in Uxbridge.

@shaunconnolly85 @vnknownp @DataMB_ I struggle to understand charts in general (suspect it's my autism). I prefer words.

@vnknownp @DataMB_ They are the literal representation of each player's most recent season. You can not get any more of a meaningful image, unless you choose to ignore statistics.

Pending medicals, and without a third midfield arrival or the possible integration of Tyler Fletcher as a squad option, this is an up-to-date visual of Manchester United’s engine room. [via @DataMB_]

@leftinista Nice work if you can get it 😂 Count Binface for the win

You caress bacon sandwiches for a living

@Be_like_legend Walking on snow is pretty terrible, but thankfully, I'm not Santa Claus (at least yet).

As a Neurodivergent — What sensory sensation is impossible to ignore?

@Jaack Kobbie Mainoo because even Henderson has been given minutes and it would cement Kobbie's name in history.

England fans. Hypothetical question for sure, but if you could PICK the player who scores with the winning goal in the World Cup final for England… who are you picking and why?

@devilsred11 @TouchlineX @warnockofficial 100%! Like Big Sam's England record.

@IdleAndAnalogue @TouchlineX @warnockofficial Like him (not his football) but what was his win % rate ?

🚨🗣️ Carlo Ancelotti: "I've prepared for over 1,400 matches. That may not be enough to understand football, but it's certainly a good amount of experience." "Only one person has prepared more matches than me: Alex Ferguson, who has prepared for over 2,000. I take advice from everyone, but the only one who could really be the right person to give me advice is Alex Ferguson."

@JonyHorrocks @hector_drummond Never been able to pin it down! If off Mainway, even closer than I thought. But certainly walkable from comedian to comedian (although Bernard might struggle).

@IdleAndAnalogue @hector_drummond I don’t I’m afraid, was hoping you might know! I always thought it was pretty near to the Mainway junction

Steve Coogan, betraying his own people for 36 years. This is from 1990.

@UtdHeisenberg_ I like Ralf, United should have stuck to the plan to make him their Sporting Director and hired a coach that aligned with his vision. Apparently, Erik even refused a simple handover meeting that Ralf graciously offered. Vivell may have been brought in sooner too.

Manchester United should never have let Ralf Rangnick walk away. Too many people got the wool pulled over their eyes by Erik ten Hag.