Robert Taylor

Writing "Tears for England" took me three years, from conceiving of the idea in the dark days of December 2022 to sending off the manuscript to the fantastic @PitchPublishing in October 2025. And now, incredibly, we're just a couple of weeks away from launch, with the book

"Donald Trump [@POTUS] seems to be someone who abandons Ukraine and other European countries, especially in Eastern Europe," says Jarosław Gugała, a journalist for Polsat Television, in the latest episode of Press Talks, adding that it's even worse, as Trump is trying to convert this conflict into a business opportunity. "This is a war, not a business."

@realmrsthatcher How right she was. And how much more power has the state grabbed in the 14 years since her death.

Freedom can also be lost little by little, by what the Fabians call the doctrine of gradualness. A little more taxation here, a little more government expenditure there, year after year until the people are no longer the masters of the state but its servants. There are always, it seems, good reasons advanced for the state to have more power. But rarely for the state to divest itself of power. Each new problem becomes an excuse for more government intervention and less individual responsibility.

@WeAreWST GOAT. As if we needed reminding

A decider clearance for the ages. #WorldOpen

bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… Starmer finally come out top. Poor guy. #keirstarmer @Keir_Starmer

@talkSPORT Deserved

Man United star nears new deal as Kobbie Mainoo set for eye-watering pay rise #Echobox=1774033872" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">talksport.com/football/41285…

@talkSPORT Agreed. Tuchel must have his own reasons, but I don't see them myself

😱 "I'm stunned that Trent isn't in there!" ❌ "I think it's the wrong call!" Jason Cundy disagreed with Thomas Tuchel's decision to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the England squad! 👀

@England A huge few months ahead for City and England. I reckon he's going to rise to the challenge.

Wishing Nico O'Reilly a very happy birthday! 🎂

@PitchPublishing Great to be part of this. Thanks Pitch!

🔥 GIVEAWAY TIME! 🔥 We’re giving YOU the chance to win all 5 of these incredible World Cup books 📚⚽ 🏆 To enter: ➡️ Follow our page ✅ Like this post 💬 Comment with your favourite World Cup moment 👥 Fell free to tag someone who’d love to win this too 🏆 Winner announced Easter weekend Good luck everyone! 🍀

All of these are fantastic reads. Delighted that my "Tears for England", with its fabulously designed cover, is part of this line up. Thanks @PitchPublishing @TheSixtySixHQ

The HIGHEST EVER BREAK 🤯 A 153 by... you guessed it... @ronnieo147 👏 👇 Watch full break 👇 #WorldOpen

@henrywinter Well, if he’s fit I reckon Bellingham has to start. Rogers has done so well, but Jude, when fit, is a class above imo.

Long way to go, form and fitness can change things … but has Thomas Tuchel given an early indication of his first-choice XI at the World Cup? Pickford; James (if fit), Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Rogers, Gordon; Kane. All outfield been involved in Europe this season so sensible by Tuchel to give them a breather for the Wembley friendly against Uruguay on March 27 (James out anyway with hamstring issue). Tuchel’s “core” (with Dean Henderson) report for March 31 Japan friendly. A camp of two halves. So, that possible World Cup XI... GOALKEEPER: Jordan Pickford obviously No 1 (Dean Henderson No 2). RIGHT-BACK: James out with a hamstring but clearly first choice; played 6 of 8 qualifiers under Tuchel. Trent Alexander-Arnold clearly not part of Tuchel’s plans. Wrong playing “profile”, apparently. Tuchel: “It's a sportive decision that we stick with Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento and Djed Spence who can play for us at right-back. The right-backs (mentioned) offer slightly different profiles (to Alexander-Arnold). The evidence is we were good in September-November (when James played) than anything from Trent.” Crazy. CENTRE-BACK: Konsa-Guehi is Tuchel’s first-choice pairing. Dan Burn remains amongst Tuchel favourites, and one of those rested for Uruguay game. Burn clearly goes to World Cup, despite concerns over his vulnerability to pace. LEFT-BACK: Nico O’Reilly listed amongst defenders in Tuchel’s squad, even though his preferred position is midfield. Started last two games for Tuchel at left-back. Lewis Hall has to prove himself against Uruguay to get ahead of O’Reilly, who looks first choice. MIDFIELD: familiar faces. Elliot Anderson the 6 to Declan Rice’s 8. Great blend. England’s best midfield combination. 10: so many contenders. Morgan Rogers the man in possession. A Tuchel favourite. Involved in all his 10 games, ahead of Jude Bellingham in the race to start at 10. Bellingham, a world-class talent, has a minor muscle injury but reports. Tuchel: “I wanted Jude to be in camp, Jude wanted to be in camp and Real Madrid were happy for him to come to camp. The best case scenario is that he gets some minutes against Japan.” Appears a Palmer v Foden shootout against Uruguay for the third No 10 slot (Gibbs-White’s World Cup dream seems over, not in squad). Incredible to think that Foden might not go to the World Cup. (Tuchel spoke well of Eze and his versatility, wide and 10.) WINGERS: Anthony Gordon is ahead of Marcus Rashford on the left. Bukayo Saka clearly first choice on the right. 9: record-breaking talisman and captain fantastic Harry Kane a golden shoe-in. No Ollie Watkins – omitted for “sportive” reasons, basically Tuchel doesn’t seem to rate him. Bit harsh. Has dug England out of holes before. The duel to be Kane’s back-up (unless you include Rashford/Gordon as strikers as well as wingers) now between Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke. Tuchel: “The competition is on. They will compete for minutes against Uruguay. Calvert-Lewin has had a good season with Leeds and is very decisive. Both are good penalty-takers, by the way. I want to see what they're capable of and if they can fill the gap.” Beyond Alexander-Arnold’s ridiculous omission, there is plenty good about Tuchel’s squad. Makes sense to have a training keeper. Jason Steele, the 35-year-old Brighton man, goes to the World Cup as effectively the 27th player, unregistered, the training keeper as then popular Tom Heaton did at Euro 2024. Tuchel refused to say Steele was on the plane. Did say: “We have identified him as a very good candidate for this (training keeper) role.” Very sensible by Tuchel to give his first choices (Euro players) a break. “All of these guys have played 3,500+ minutes, some of them have 4,000.” Great to see Everton’s in-form, versatile James Garner get a first call. Tuchel: “I’ve been impressed watching him live by his work-rate and physicality. He’s a bit of an under-rated player.” On the centre-backs, especially good to see Harry Maguire back in squad. Playing well for Manchester United, a leader, and takes a pen. (Maguire’s lawyers have emphasised there would be no issue for a US visa if he were selected for the World Cup despite his travails in Greece). On Fikayo Tomori, Tuchel: “He is fast, aggressive, strong in duels.” Quansah ahead, plus offers cover at right-back. Tuchel on good form at Wembley today, his usual upbeat self, and you can see why players warm to him. Tuchel's also fortunate that he has such depth of options to select from. If England’s World Cup starting XI looks increasingly clear, those playing against Uruguay still have so much to play for. Tuchel: “It is our last camp, the last opportunity to impress, to compete for their ticket.” #ENG

This is terrifying.

@lfchistorical @PitchPublishing Congratualtions Kieran.

Well, there it is. After almost 18 months of solid research the manuscript has been sent to the publisher. Everything from Edwardian football legislation to match day drinks @PitchPublishing #lfc #efc

@iamAlexHowell Great that Mainoo is back in. Deserved.

A 35 man England squad from Thomas Tuchel. Calvert-Lewin, Mainoo, Maguire and Tomori in. Bellingham in after injury and no Alexander-Arnold

@henrywinter Particularly since James is now injured and ins't guaranteed to make it.

Trent Alexander-Arnold plays right-back for Real Madrid. Started home and away against Manchester City. He won the Premier League and Champions League at right-back with Liverpool. He’s used to dealing with pressure. He’s taken a decisive tournament penalty. He’s played in the World Cup before. He has occasional defensive deficiencies but he brings a long-range passing skill that few possess. Are England that blessed at right-back that they don’t need Alexander-Arnold? That he isn’t amongst the best 30 outfield players available to Thomas Tuchel?

@henrywinter I'd have all three in there.

No Watkins, Trent, Shaw. Maguire, Mainoo, Calvert-Lewin, Solanke, Tomori return. Steele, Garner called up. Very significant squad, 35 names, World Cup 26 comes from this. #ENG

@SamiMokbel_BBC How about John Stones? If fit, he has to be in the starting 11.

Luke Shaw not expected to be called up despite improved form at Manchester United. Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall is in line for a call-up. bbc.co.uk/sport/football…

153!!! 😮 Ronnie O'Sullivan Makes Highest Break EVER! | World Open 2026 youtu.be/vM3QucWQygg?si… via @YouTube

Ronnie O'Sullivan has created history with a world record break for a professional snooker match at the World Open on Friday #DailyExpress #Echobox=1773990925" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">express.co.uk/sport/otherspo…