Stability breeds success in football

The football managerial merry go round seems to be in full swing. Since the end of the season (18/5), David Moyes has left West Ham, being replaced by former Wolves manager, Julen Loptegui. Mauricio Pochettino has departed from Chelsea. He has been replaced by manager of promoted Leicester City, Enzo Marescu. Manager of relegated Burnley, Vincent Kompany has gone onto bigger and better things, taking charge at Bayern Munich. There will no doubt be more changes before the new season starts in August. Many of these changes, though, are difficult to understand. Over five seasons, Moyes has saved West Ham twice from relegation. The club finished sixth and seventh in the Premier League (PL). They have got into European competition for the past three seasons, winning the Europa Conference League in the season 2022/23. In the last season, West Ham got to the quarter final of the Europa League and finished ninth in the PL. Arguably, they would have done even better, if he had been financially backed and so much effort had not gone into undermining him. The new manager will expect better support and the financial backing that was notably lacking for Moyes Pochettino picked up a chaotic club, obsessed with buying success. He managed to achieve sixth place in the PL, qualifying for the Europa League next season. Chelsea also got to the final of the League Cup and the semi finals of the FA Cup - a good return by most people's estimates but not those who run Chelsea apparently. Kompany bucked the trend, seemingly elevated to a bigger club on the basis of getting a smaller one relegated. It is difficult to understand how the football business operates. The successful clubs are those who get a good manager and back them over a sustained period. Generally, constant change is a menu for failure. Moyes seems to have become a victim of social media. Several outlets seemed to devote themselves to getting him sacked. The pressure was relentless, whether this reflected supporters views is debatable. Supporters were said to not like the style of football.But this could prove to be a case of be careful what you wish for. Managers also seem to only be in partial control of the playing side of clubs. Most are overseen by directors of football, who are responsible for signing players and managers. The relationship between manager and the director of football needs to be harmonious. At West Ham it deteriorated to the extent that director of football, Tim Steidfen, was reportedly banned from the dressing room by manger, Moyes, in the latter stages of the season. It is also odd how clubs sign players seemingly independent of the team manager. The way some players who were out come in when a new manager arrives and via versa is surely testimony to the need for a predominant input from the guy working direct with the team. It is all very odd. Football seems to remain as popular as ever, yet the business model of so many seems doomed to failure. The club's that succeed in the long term are those who make the right choices and stick by them. Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool are good examples in the present era. Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United over 20 odd years provides testimony from a past era. Arsenal had a similar approach with Arsene Wenger and now appear to be doing the same with Mikel Arteta. The other clubs need to look and learn from these examples, if they too want success.

Boys from the Blackstuff by James Graham (adapted from Alan Bleasdale's original drama)

National Theatre This excellent adaptation of Alan Bleasdale's 1980s epic drama has great resonance for the insecure working environment of today. The play about five men struggling to find work in Thatcher's 1980s Britain brings out the desperation of the time but not without a little humour. James Graham's skillful adaptation compacts what was a five-part serial TV drama into just two and a half hours. In the first half the scene is set moving from workplace to workplace, with the men, pursued by a particularly virulent benefits investigator (Jamie Peacock). The second half focuses more on the individual stories of the central characters. Barry Sloane playing Yosser Hughes dominates much of the plot, as ofcourse Bernard Hill did in the original drama. Sloane does a great job, playing the iconic role, made so famous by Hill. The slow unravelling and destruction of a character, who just wants better, but is continually thwarted by an unjust and unfair system. The famous "give us a job" line is liberally deployed, with Hughes making the request of literally everyone he meets, with the exception of the police who arrest him and the Catholic priest who hears his confession. The latter scene brings forth some of the bubbling humour of the production, when the priest says to call him Dan, not father, Hughes replies; "I'm desperate Dan." The character of George Malone is also central. Originally based on Alan Bleasdale's uncle, George (Philip Whitchurch) represents socialist values and community. The time before Thatcher. George's dying words are a cry to stand up for the working class. His funeral proves a highlight of the play, bringing the workers together. There are other excellent performances from Nathan McMullen as Chrissie, Jamie Peacock as the benefits inspector, Lauren O'Neill as Angie and a high pitched benefits clerk and Mark Womack as Dixie. Director Kate Wasserberg keeps the whole show moving quickly between tragic and lighter moments. The production skilfully avoids plumbing too far the depths of morbidity, which would have been an easy trap to fall into. The set designed by Amy Jane Cook nicely captures the atmosphere of working class Liverpool in the 1980s. The Mersey backdrop,with the ramshackle buildings to the fore. Set a year after the Toxteth riots, there is a montage of film from the time, including Thatcher, to help set the scene. This excellent production, that started life at the Royal Court in Liverpool, leaves the audience wanting more. Maybe a trilogy, made up of a dramatisation of the Ragged Trousered Philanthropist before and the gig economy of today after. This production certainly leaves the audience with plenty to reflect on and wanting more. * Boys from the Blackstuff runs till 8 June at the National Theatre, then transfers to the Garrick Theatre crom 13 June to 3 August

How effective are public inquiries?

How effective are public inquiries? There always seems to be a public inquiry into some scandal going on but how effective are they and what is achieved? At present, there are three major inquiries ongoing. The Infected Blood inquiry has just reported, providing a damning judgement on the treatment of people, who contracted HIV and hepatitis C as a result of receiving contaminated blood products during the 1970s and 80s. Some 30,000 people have been infected, with 2,900 already dead. Then, there is the ongoing inquiry into the Post Office, looking at the implementation of the failings of the Horizon IT system. Described as the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history, the malfunctions saw innocent postmasters and post mistresses sent to jail. Some committed suicide. Finally, there is the Grenfell Inquiry, begun in 2017, following the terrible fire that led to the deaths of 72 people. The first phase of this inquiry reported in October 2019, with 15 recommendations, 11 of which are said to be implemented so far. The government has brought in the Building Safety Act. There have, though, yet to be any prosecutions. The final report on Grenfell is due in September. What is for sure is that public inquiries take time and cost a lot of money. The Infected Blood and Grenfell inquiries began in 2017. The Post Office inquiry began in 2020. The inquiry, though, follows a court case ruling in favour of the sub-postmasters and mistresses. The whole scandal goes back more than 25 years. Another important element with the Post Office inquiry has been the explosive effect of ITV's drama at the start of the year, Mr Bates versus the Post Office. The drama really brought public pressure on government to act, which it has, quashing convictions and awarding compensation. The response to the drama also helped give greater news value to Sir Wyn Williams inquiry. On the positives, public inquiries do get to the truth of what has happened, give victims a say and bring some accountability. There can also be policy change. On the downside, they take a long time, the recommendations are not always implemented in full and prosecutions get delayed. So the public inquiry very much has it's pros and cons. What is for sure is that the many inquiries that have taken place over recent years have exposed a lot of reckless behaviour from public bodies, causing untold suffering to many people. It must be hoped that the public inquiries together with other arenas of justice help avoid such injustices recurring in the future.

Policing is not easy, with often too much being asked relating to crime

The BBC series, Blue Lights, about the police in Belfast is a truly gripping drama. The best drama on TV for some time The writing is brilliant, conveying the daily lives of the police against the backdrop of the legacy of the Troubles. The way in which the tension is retained throughout is amazing. That is coming from someone who is routinely turned off cop based TV drama, generally, due to their predominance ie there must be something other than the police to do good drama about. But Blue Lights really is something else. This drama is also authentic showing what the world of policing is all about. The very different challenges arising from the tragedies of daily life. It shows the police picking up the pieces of the daily social discord, playing the role of social dust men and women. And this is essentially the role of the police in an increasingly divided society. The police are not the answer to crime. It is always irritating to listen to the banal political debates about crime, suggesting that more police is the solution. Yes, the police have been run down and resourcing does need to be restored. There needs to be more put into community policing. The present police service is constantly being asked to do more with less, then criticised for failing to deliver. There are ofcourse many problems with the police, which have been well documented recently. There needs to be radical reform but let's not forget it is not an easy job. Most police serve selflessly, serving the community on a daily basis - often putting their own personal safety at risk. There have been a number of recent examples of this heroism. But the police are not the answer to crime, just as locking people up - out of sight and out of mind - is not a solution. The problems lie deeper in a selfish, unequal society, where many structures have broken down, not least the family. It is these deep underlying problems that need addressing to tackle crime, not just focusing on those charged with picking up the pieces. The first two series of Blue Lights is available on BBC i- player

Bullying culture fuels mental illness

Farming is not necessarily an area that many would immediately link to mental illness. But it is a growing problem in the sector. People work for long periods alone, with often only their anxieties to dwell upon. The pressures have grown over recent years, as making a living has become more difficult. Suicides among farmers have been on the increase. A recent BBC Countryfile program for Mental Health Awareness Week highlighted the problem. One cause of stress was the arrival of inspectors at a farm to check different things. The anxiety that can arise in the build up, then the devastating effect if problems are found. It became clear that stress and anxiety could be eased if the inspectors acted in a more helpful, consensual way. Not delivering brutal news in a punitive, condemnatory way. Mental health is an increasing challenge in our world today. Many are still recovering from the ravages of the COVID years, which did terrible damage. The growing isolation for many today helps fuel mental health problems. Indeed, it can be argued there is almost a drive towards isolationism in many of the ways in which society is developing. Returning to the farm inspection example, it does seem that there is an increasingly bullying culture in our society. The role of Ofsted inspectors in schools has been highlighted as another area of bullying. Stress levels and anxiety of staff increase around these regular rituals. There have been suicides linked directly to this process These inspections have value but again they need to be carried out in more sensitive and supportive manner. The bullying culture is often so embedded that those involved in the process don't recognise it. The celebration of the culture is seen amongst political leaders, who constantly talk in macho terms of being strong and tough. The political sphere ofcourse is another area where the bullying culture is rife. On TV, there are programs like the Apprentice, which appears to be a celebration of bullying management styles. Things maybe changing but the bullying culture really does need addressing wherever it is found. There are huge mental health and other problems flowing from this brutal way of operating. Mental health generally needs far more attention and resources directed towards it. The present government seems to have real problems recognising there is such a thing as mental illness, let alone remedying it. The attitude is pile on the pressure till people break- the survival of the fittest. The problems of mental health are huge and growing. There is the challenge of how society deals with those who have mental illness but also the causes of that condition. We need to become a more caring, supportive society, which means changing many of the structures that help cause the triggers for mental illness. A society that cares, rather than walks by on the other side.

Restoration of ancient woodland and temperate rainforest is essential to counter biodiversity crisis

The biodiversity crisis often seems to be overshadowed by the climate one. Both threaten the future of the planet. Indeed, they are interlinked, with the depletion of biodiversity resulting in more carbon being pumped into the atmosphere, causing climate change. The biodiversity crisis is very real, amounting to the disintegration of the web of life on which we all depend. We are amidst the sixth mass extinction of species. In the last 50 years, the number of farmland birds have reduced by half, woodland edge butterflies by 40% and insects by huge numbers. One area of devastation that has helped accelerate the crisis is the loss of ancient woodland. This process has gone on over centuries, as humanities means of living has changed. In the 20th century, there as been the clearance of tropical rainforests, making way for more cattle to feed hungry human carnivores. The UK is home to many temperate rain forests, mostly down the western side of the country plus Scotland. These areas have high rainfalls. The temperate rainforests boast lichens, moss and liverworts - they are great carbon sinks, as well as fostering biodiversity and human well being. Birds like pied wagtail and redstarts live in these habitats. Unfortunately, these rainforests have been reduced to a fraction of their former selves. Previously, they covered 20% of the UK landmass. Today, they cover less than one per cent. Just 13% of the UK is covered by trees. Writer and campaigner, Guy Shrubsole has called for the saving of existing forests and restoration of much of what has been lost. He makes a powerful case in his book, The Lost Rainforests of Britain. In many ways the best way to restore lost ancient woodland is to leave alone what is already there. Some 30% of Britain's ancient woodlands were cut down from 1950 to 1980, being replaced by quick growing conifers. This variety of tree provides commercially saleable timber more quickly but it has less biodiversity value. Shrubsole argues that protecting and encouraging existing temperate rainforests will help re-establish them into the future. Much of the devastation to trees has been caused by sheep, deer and rhododendrons. So reducing all three will help ancient woodland re-establish. A rewilding advocate, Shrubsole would like to see some of the predators of deer reintroduced - these include wolf and lynx. The spread of pine martins would control grey squirrel numbers. Squirrels also cause tree damage. Farmers have a key role to play. Working with nature to achieve sustainable farming is the way forward. The government's new Environmental Land Management Scheme, which rewards landowners for using land in a way that enhances rather than diminishes nature, can prove a powerful tool in forest restoration. So there is plenty that can be done to restore ancient woodlands and amongst that the temperate rainforests. One of the encouraging things is that much of what has gone wrong in the past can be put right by simply leaving what is there alone, let it regenerate in a natural way. Enhancements like controlling the deer and sheep population and eliminating rhododendron will help but nature is a great healer of itself. Let's hope in the coming years that our ancient woodlands and temperate rainforests revive. It will be for the betterment of all creatures living on this earth - including the human being

Why the obsession with defence

The recent macho posturing on defence spending reveals an increasingly desperate Tory government. Public services are in disarray but apparently, spending money on defence takes priority. £75 billion has been conjured up out of nowhere as the magic figure that will bring the UK spending up to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But what is the obsession with defence - or should that be offence? The conflict in Northern Ireland absorbed huge amounts of money for years. When that and the Cold War ended, new wars had to be found. Following 9/11, along came the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, there is Ukraine and Gaza. This is about increasing the amount of arms that are put into theatres of war, thereby fuelling conflict. Every pound spend on defence means less for health, education, housing and addressing climate change. It is always useful to recall the words of former US President Dwight Eisenhower, who warned, in 1961, of the malign effect of the military industrial complex. He saw it deflecting from the cause of peace and flourishing of humanity. Earlier in his presidency, he had spoken of "humanity hanging from a cross of iron" in relation to military spending. His words were not heeded, the military industrial complex has continued to grow. In this country, there is a revolving door between the arms industry and the Ministry of Defence. Those earning from war do not want peace. Their dividends come from constant conflict. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak might also want to reflect on the impact that military spending has on other parts of his agenda. Desperate people are coming across the channel often fleeing wars. Wars that the UK has been a key part of fuelling - Afghanistan, Iraq etc. Inflation has been stoked by the impact of war in Ukraine. The burgeoning conflict in the middle east is having increasing impact here in terms of rising prices. Surely, it would be much better to invest in peace making initiatives around the world. Increase the aid budget and don't siphoning off funding into other areas. Take a more peace promoting stance on conflicts like Gaza. A more peaceful world will be better for the common good. It won't be beneficial to the arms industry but for everyone else things will be much better.