Gerald O'Reilly

[Subversive Force @SubversiveForce]

Ayoub Khan MP will, of course, be getting straight on to West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council to demand PSG fans be banned if they play Aston Villa in the Champions League next season.

[Match of the Day @BBCMOTD]

Arsenal have set the record for the lowest possession percentage for a team playing in a Champions League final (since records began in 2003-04).

The previous lowest record was also Arsenal, set in the 2006 Champions League final, which they played 72 minutes with 10 men.

[Simon Schama @simon_schama]

I grew up in Golders Green in the 50s and early 60s. It was a perfect place to be happily and unproblematically Jewish and British. Now we need leaders of British Muslim communities to be vocal in their abhorrence at these violent acts - verbal as well as physical

[Bahar Akhavan @AkhavanBahar]

This week was tough. I had dinner with my intelligent friends from European countries, people who have spent half their lives working within the United Nations. We were having a good time until the conversation turned to Donald Trump and Iran. Everyone, without exception, spoke badly of Trump: that he causes problems for everyone, that war is terrible, that it is illegal, and so on.

I stayed silent. When everyone finally became quiet, I asked only one question: who is actually going to collect and remove those more than 400 kilograms of uranium?

My French friend said: Trump is no better than the regime. On top of that, he has started an illegal war, and many countries have nuclear power plants why shouldn’t Iran have them too?

I exploded inside, but I remained silent at first. When I finally broke my silence, I said: was it illegal when the United States helped the French during the Second World War? Was it unnecessary?

Then silence returned.

I kept thinking about how to express everything happening inside me; how to explain the regime to a European-someone surrounded by left-wing ideology, enclosed within indirect forms of censorship, and always ready to say that war is terrible, yet surprised when I say many Iranians wanted it.

How do you explain to people who live in safety that some nations sometimes see outside pressure as the only remaining path when every internal path has been closed? How do you explain that they do not even speak in geopolitical terms, but judge only from a position of moral comfort, while others are speaking about survival?

Europeans who, despite democracy and free internet, still do not know what happened in Iran on January 8–9. Europeans who believe every conflict can be understood through the same moral template. Europeans who condemn all violence in theory, but have never had to live under a Islamic system where violence is part of everyday life.

And I sat there with the feeling that the distance between our realities was greater than the table around which we were sitting…

[The Bobby Moore Stand @thebmstand]

As someone on Spirit of Shankly pointed out, this is just the original concept for the Premier League being delivered. The vision was to move football up a couple of social classes, which to me means price out the less wealthy and encourage a "better" class of clientele with more disposable income.

They focused only on the vast riches the PL would bring and they were right. However that model only works long term with regeneration of new fans. It works if you are never gonna get relegated because the group of die hards whose loyalty and love for the club could not be quantified on a balance sheet, have already left and they are now doing something else with their match days.

Most of them likely realise that it's quite useful getting the time back and similar to when you break up with an ex, there is rarely any going back.

Without the diehards, who indoctrinated the next generation into being obsessed with the team, where does the next generation of fans come from?

Good luck convincing a young person to spend what little they have left after paying their rent and other increasing costs, to allocate a big chunk of what's left for an overpriced season ticket. Not happening, football is not high on the importance scale when you can watch every game on telly.

As for the "better" clientele they attracted, they will abandon ship as quickly as they arrived come any form of hard times.

What the clubs are doing right now with ticket price rises is simply ensuring that they have no loyal die hard fanbase left in 10-15 years. These changes will be forever.

No more capacity crowds for just playing in the PL, owners will be forced to try and actually win stuff. If they don't, goodbye fans. If they do, those fans will demand they do it again.

I'm from an era that did not place expectation on clubs, we just handed over our money and went to football, because that is the way it was. I'm still clinging on but with next year being my 50th watching West Ham and having been banned this season for breaching health and safety, I'm pretty sure it will be my last one.

Unless the owners who fucked my club up completely, finally get the message and fuck off back to their mansions.

The people who own clubs know the square root of fuck all about the generations of fans who helped build that club to be the thing it was before they demolished everything they inherited. They do not comprehend love or loyalty because in their world, those things are cash transactions.

Football as we knew it is on life support, but the owners won't realise until one day they look around that vast stadium and see a handful of fans watching the
latest pile of average they decided to serve up.

#BSOUT

[Return of the Shelf @ROTS1882]

It’s properly shit right now isn’t it 😂 but please don’t let it get to you. A few weeks back after Forest, I caught myself getting properly down, even snapping at family. Embarrassing. I had to have a word with myself. It’s not worth it.

We’re all powerless. We’ve watched from afar while the owners and leadership have fucked it up over and over again, and there is nothing we could’ve done about it, nothing would have changed anything. They never listened to fans, Levy despised us. Vinai ignored us, We are a nuisance.

I couldn’t give a shit about the other clubs, the fans banter and all that, fuck ‘em. Let them laugh if they can’t see this for what it is. We and this club has been fucked over by greed, it’s disgusting, it’s not banter, it’s a clear sign of owners and leaders who care for nothing apart from their own pockets. We are constantly told that Levy was a business genius, was he fuck, that Vinai is the best in the business, is he bollocks, greed, incompetence, arrogance and the biggest failure in the history of the league.

That’s on them, not us.

No matter what happens, Tottenham will still exist, we will just be playing different teams. I’ll still be in Tottenham with my mates, so will you, a few beers, having a laugh, watching the football. It’s as simple as that.

Cheer up. It ain’t over yet, we will still get behind them and hope they click, but don’t let it drag you down.

Up the Spurs!

[Natalie Lisbona @NatalieLisbona]

All these men are due to be hanged by the Iranian regime and some are just 18 years old. Where is the outcry? Our piece in today’s Daily Mail- Online link: https://t.co/lQy0DXIX9i @AndyJehring and @IHRights

[Kosher @koshercockney]

This is a must listen and a must share.

Seriously. The BBC at its very worst.

And this isn’t even @DouglasKMurray at his very best, yet he’s utterly brilliant.

[Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib @afalkhatib]

When I became a citizen of the United States in 2014, on the basis of political asylum from the Gaza Strip and escaping Jihadi Islamism, I sincerely and seriously never thought that pro-Jihad, pro-Hamas, pro-terror, fascist, pro-Iran, pro-Hezbollah, anti-civilizational dark forces would become a mainstream staple in American politics and discourse. Having a group of ignorant domestic terrorists with Hamas and Palestinian flags, hiding their faces and taking over public space outside the City Hall of Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, is not only a grotesque sight, but it also demonstrates so much that has gone wrong.

It is a condemnation of our country's higher education institutes, which have normalized violence, anti-Western ideologies, and embarrassing “post-colonial” narratives. This is a condemnation of a failed revisionist, neo-liberal immigration approach in which assimilation is frowned upon and viewed as bad and negative, coddling people with truly horrendous beliefs, ideologies, cultures, and backgrounds, instead of seeking to uplift and elevate them and their status. This is a condemnation of failed parenting, nonexistent community infrastructure to educate young people, failed leftist discourses, and moral bankruptcy.

Remember that this has nothing to do with Palestine, for these “activists” ruined the “pro-Palestine” cause and are now seeking to latch on to any and every remaining filth that can vector their anti-human, anti-America, anti-Western, and anti-decent discourse and value system that can produce anything of meaning. Burning the American flag, while exercising your right to free speech, is the ultimate irony that only the United States of America affords to literal domestic terrorists, who are engaged in a subversive act against the very country and patriotic values that they seek to “dismantle.”

Still, freedom of choice does not equal freedom from consequences. This cannot be normalized, as it unfortunately has been over the past two and a half years since Hamas’s October 7th attack. This is a domestic battle for our country’s values and future – it’s time to choose the direction you want this country to head in.

[Adam Blackman @ajb_79]

Sheringham is doing what all of the other supposed legends of the club should be doing and using his voice. Would be good if the others followed suit and called the club out for the shambles it is #thfc

[Allison Pearson @AllisonPearson]

Watch this 👇💥
Here is the brilliant economist Liam Halligan laying waste to the idiots currently running our country.
One day, Liam will help guide our economy and our poor country will be rescued from Socialism and be back in business. 🙏

[Zachariah Loney @LoneyZachariah]

We just confirmed the weekly breakout for the 6 month consolidation on $hg. Now both $hgraf and $hg are primed. Expect fireworks over the next few weeks, 25-50 CAD. The charts are telling us something big is coming (which we sorta already know anyway!)

Great week everyone, hope you all have a fantastic weekend 🍻

[Evelina Hahne @EvelinaHahne]

https://t.co/OloO4v8gvC

[Omid Djalili @omid9]

One thing the situation in Iran has made crystal clear is that whichever country, regime, group or political ideology, no matter how vile, disgusting or repressive, however many people are massacred or exterminated, as long as they are anti-West, specifically anti-US (and by extension anti-Israel), they will have the unquestioning support of the majority of the liberal left and the entertainment world.

The same “progressive left” who happily live in the west, profit from its relative freedoms, yet turn their activism on and off like a switch, or in some cases, even make a living out of it.

It is disappointing and exhausting.

But grateful to all those who have spoken out. Especially in the comedy community. It takes a lot of guts to do so when everyone around you is looking the other way.

[Daniel Schatz @drdanielschatz]

The pro-Palestinian movement in Sweden is now openly demonstrating for Iran, Cuba and Venezuela — the very same weeks the ayatolla regime massacred up to 50,000 of its own people.

For two years they’ve harassed Jews. This week they crossed another line: physically attacking Iranians demonstrating for democracy in Sweden.

It was only a matter of time. And honestly — I’m glad it’s finally out in the open. Because this proves what many of us already knew: this was never about human rights.

It was always about human wrongs.

They don’t stand with victims. They side with dictators, terrorists and executioners. They don’t oppose oppression — they cheer for it, as long as the “right” people are being crushed.

The good news? This only exposes their ignorance. In the end, freedom will prevail.

[John Quakes @quakes99]

📝Here are my top 10 #Uranium #stocks picks for 2026.👇🏆 IMHO, these are the premium, highest quality names listed in the US & Canada💎⚛️⛏️ that form a strong foundation for my overall portfolio.💪📁 As well, here's their Year-to-Date performance so far in 2026.📈 Cheers!🍻🤠🐂

[Arin Karapet @ArinKarapet]

Det pågår en revolution i Iran 💚🤍❤️

Det här är en bild på min mamma. En bild som säger mer än tusen ord.

På bilden till vänster ler hon. Den är tagen före den islamiska revolutionen i Iran, 1978-1979. På bilden till höger är hennes blick sorgsen. Den är tagen efter revolutionen.

Vi är etniska armenier och tillhör en av Irans kristna minoriteter, med en lång historia i landet.

Min mamma, liksom miljontals andra kvinnor, berövades sina rättigheter. Inte av tiden – utan av ett system.
I dag, när miljontals iranier går ut på gatorna och riskerar sina liv för att befria sig från islamisterna, är stora delar av den svenska vänstern – som till vardags kallar sig stolta feminister – märkligt tysta. Samtidigt relativiserar delar av etablerad svensk media det iranska folkets längtan efter förändring genom att reducera den till en fråga om kronprinsen Reza Pahlavi och hans roll i en möjlig övergång.

Likt miljontals andra iranska män längtar jag efter den dag då jag kan krama om min mamma i ett fritt Iran –
ett Iran där vinden inte längre är förbjuden,
där den får röra vid hennes hår.

[Omid Djalili @omid9]

As events unfold in Iran the courage of the people is staggering. It’s basically a civil war and the people are winning. Yet very little is covered in the mainstream press. And if anything is covered the chosen narrative is reflected from the position of the Islamic regime.

If the regime falls in the next few days it would possibly be the most massive international news short of earth making contact with aliens, and the global impact arguably more seismic than Russia/Ukraine and Venezuela combined.

So it needs to be said emphatically: these protests are not “Israeli-led”. Of course Israel opposes the regime in Iran. How could it not when the constitution of the IRGC is “to destroy Israel and kill all Jews everywhere”.

But this is not a binary choice. You can support Palestinian rights AND OPPOSE the regime in Iran. The bottom line is if you support a regime that murders its own people in broad daylight, kills, maims and shoots women in eyes, you have a problem with your moral clarity.

Thank you for your attention on this matter.

#IranProtests2026

[MichaelRapaport @MichaelRapaport]

Where the fuck is everybody on Iran?

I’ve seen endless protests for Gaza. Screaming. Chanting. Blocking streets. Harassing people. Destroying careers. People willing to risk everything — jobs, reputations, safety — supposedly in the name of the “oppressed.”

But Iran?
Crickets.

Where’s the outrage for the Iranian people living under a brutal theocratic regime?
Where’s the rage for women who don’t have basic rights?
For girls beaten, jailed, or killed for not wearing a hijab “correctly”?
For journalists, artists, LGBTQ people, dissidents — silenced, tortured, disappeared?

Nothing. No marches. No tents. No screaming into megaphones. No viral chants.

[CTO Larsson @ctoLarsson]

When I was born, Sweden was the richest country in the world.

Today I can’t live there.

Back then, Sweden was also the safest country in the world.
And we had the lowest child mortality.
It was a trust and honor based society.
Little enforcement was needed. I’ve never been tricked or scammed by a native Swede.

High tax yes, but with free healthcare, free school and free universities, all world class. Whether your dad was rich or poor, you had the same opportunity, same access to the best universities. Only real merit mattered for admission.

We had the most global companies in the world per person.
We dominated many global industries.
We even produced some of the best music and dominated several sports.
Quite a feat for a nation of then 8 million people.

Today I can’t realistically even live in Sweden - unless I want my house raided and my family assaulted by criminal gangs operating out of no-go zones in the suburbs of Stockholm.

Everyone’s home address is public, a remnant from the trust based era.

In one generation, the country has been destroyed, largely by one bad policy decision.

I’m not against immigration. I’ve lived in 10 countries. I’m the foreigner now. Immigration is not the problem.

Just look at the epic success of Singapore or Dubai. They literally made their success through immigration - merit based.

Or look at the CEOs of companies in Silicon Valley - many immigrants.

Sweden’s mistake is not doing *merit based* immigration, which means to qualify each person individually. It’s the opposite of racism.
- Doctor? Yes.
- Engineer? Yes.
- Pirate? No.
- Lost your police clearance in a boating accident? Also no.

Instead in Sweden we did the other way around.
- Qualified with all papers? Super difficult to get in.
- No papers at all? Awww.. Poor you. Let’s bring 100,000 of those, based on ethnicity.

But what about the human aspect? The compassion. Still makes no sense because with the money it costs to bring one failed integration case to Sweden, you can help 100 people in their home country through development projects. Helping 100 people is better than helping 1.

So what to do now? It’s difficult.

The criminals need to be locked up or thrown out. Every last one. Singapore and Dubai tolerate no crime. In El Salvador, Bukele sent 2,000 soldiers to arrest 2 people. What happens then? Suddenly the next criminal discovers a sudden passion for a new line of work.

In Sweden the police is filling out a form and adding it to the pile marked “no resources”.

Unfortunately I think Sweden needs to hit rock bottom before politicians are ready to embark on an El Salvador style clean-up.

It needs to become safe and attractive to be an entrepreneur in Sweden. Today it is not.
We need incentives attracting entrepreneurs, not pushing them away.

Sweden was a poor and rather miserable country in the 1800s. Many emigrated to Minnesota and other places for their children to not starve to death.

Then Sweden became a wealthy global mega success in the 1900s, thanks to great leadership and brave entrepreneurs.

Sweden can do that journey again but it will take real leadership - a Bukele moment of real change.

Good luck.