Tony Taylor

Judge Andrew Menary KC, who, in describing Joey Barton as "not a man of previous good character" when sentencing him earlier today is this year's undisputed winner of the 'Master of the Understatement Award'.

'I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish'

John Stones should consider growing his hair until he's fit to play five games in a row. He'll be looking like that United lad this time next year.

Haha, quite right!

‘Tis the season to stop funding hate. Boycott Majestic Wine.

In the few days since you posted this, Phil has leapfrogged Keane, Sanchez, Lacazette, Son & Bent into 37th place! Incredible.

The Lovely Eggnog #xmasbands

Yes, he pretended it had nothing to do with him for a while - "a tacky project" according to Pete.

Diggle often claimed 'Harmony in My Head' was Joe Stummer's favourite Buzzcocks song. But as Pete laughed "nobody apart from Steve ever heard him say that!"

Yes, as Pete often said, he tended to 'imagine' quite a lot of stuff! And given Pete's reaction when Diggle started calling Flag of Convenience Buzzcocks FOC, I'm very sceptical about his claim.

Liverpool's decision to give Salah a new contract and the unedifying mess that is playing out now serves to highlight how strong and wise City were with firstly Aguero, then De Bruyne when the time came. Players of that level don't generally react well to becoming bit part figures.

No skin in the game but seeing the kid's kite after his goal was disallowed last week, you'd need a heart of stone not to be pleased for him today. He looked like he just wanted his mum.

Another goal from Ekitike and he'll become the second player this season (after Eze) with a palindromic surname to score a Premier League hat-trick.

What a performance from Cherki today. Another example of Pep turning players into robots and 'stifling individual talent'.

The tragic events at Portsmouth this afternoon (thoughts are with the family and friends of Norman Barker) got me wondering if it's possible to acquire a donor card equivalent to keep in my wallet that states if I cark it at the match and City are winning, then it's fine to just crack on.

It's not football allegiances per se. I just don't see Dalglish as anywhere near as interesting a subject as Maradona, or indeed Amy.

The Maradona film was the only time I've ever been moved to go to the cinema on my own (Mrs T wasn't interested), and superb it was too. Not convinced Kenny Dalglish is the film for me though.

Martin was a very decent table tennis player, England-ranked junior I think, a couple of years above me. Him, Peter Coyle and Paul Da Vinci would make a decent UK musicians Over 60s national team.

Hahaha! That's right that's right, that's right :)

Unimportant things that needlessly irritate me more than they should:
1) Steve Diggle and his mates recording and touring under the name 'Buzzcocks'.

My gig year started with The Belair Lip Bombs at Yes (Manchester) in Jan. Enjoyable though it was, that track would've been a very welcome addition to the set. Great stuff.

Oh dear. Farage's support of the Smiths isn't likely to help Morrissey rebuild his reputation.

First travellers, then 'illegal' migrants (there's no such thing), which leaves me wondering who's next on your list to dehumanise, Toby. Is it the trans community?

There's barely a cigarette paper's difference between you and Lee Anderson.

It's not from Clacton, you'll notice.

Queen, Strangeways, Meat is Murder, Smiths. Only straightforward selection is No.4.

Evergreen.

Farage's bizarre referencing of Bernard Manning as some sort of defence against accusations of racism brings to mind the great Mrs Merton's question during her interview with the vile 'comic': "so who do you vote for now Hitler's dead?"

I'd probably go with Ian Brown.

Ha! Well played, sir.

Spurred into reading this as Carol Morley's own adaptation was recently being filmed literally round the corner from ours. It's flippin' marvellous, and of special interest to someone who's spent a lot of time in and around the Stockport area, and ran into Ms Morley once or twice, back in the day.