WELCOME

The start of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign has been bleak for Manchester United, squeezing out tight wins against relegation candidates such as Luton and Sheffield United as if it’s the last bit of toothpaste in the tube.

Unsurprisingly, considering their scintillating 2022-3 season and the eyewatering £180m spent this summer, fans and pundits alike are disheartened by Erik ten Hag’s team. Nevertheless, the gloom and disappointment surrounding Old Trafford, may be misplaced.

Despite underwhelming performances, there has been a plague of injuries including England’s starting left back, Luke Shaw and World Cup winning centre half, Lisandro ‘Martinez, key contributors toward their success last season. Ten Hag has been forced into switching formations and players’ positions to accommodate a distinct lack of squad depth. However, United have persevered and now sit on twenty-one points from their first twelve games, just seven points behind top of the table and current treble holders, ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City.

Additionally, end of the injury crisis is in sight. After several months out, Martinez and Shaw are back training alongside the first team. United should soon have the potential to recreate that brick wall of a defence which kept last year’s nineteen clean sheets.  So, wondering whether the Reds will rise to stardom once again or slide down a  sinkhole of mediocrity, FFT dropped in to the Theatre of Dreams for an exclusive interview with  the United manager, Eric ten Hag.  Enjoy the mag.   

Finn

Spotify Have It All Wrapped Up For Christmas

By Finn Turton : December 9th 2023

Ho ho ho, here we go! It’s that time of year again and we’re not talking about minced pies and Christmas carols, we’re talking Spotify Wrapped. That’s right people, ‘tis the season to judge family and friends over their choice of music throughout the last 365 days. Finally, after months of endlessly listening to our favourite artists and genres, we’re almost there.

This year we’ve seen many new artists climb up the ranks with their latest albums, a particular favourite of ours being  NME’s album of the year, Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS.

The Spotify Gods have blessed us with a new feature for 2023, whereby you’ll be given a location based on your choice of artists throughout the year. Whether you’re enchanted by the world of pop, consider yourself a connoisseur of hip-hop or prefer something a little more alternative, all will be revealed in just a few days.

So happy Christmas from your favourite algorithm. We just can’t wait for the annual chaos and social media meltdown that comes with it.

YEAR IN REVIEW

The 100 Best Songs of 2023

Lana, Drake, Miley, Tyler, and many more

1   Zach Bryan feat. Noah Kahan ‘Sarah’s Place’

Despite being around the country scene since 2019, Zach Bryan’s debut album “DeAnn”, firmly swerved his potential to be tagged ‘Just another Country artist’. With his latest release, he is well set to become one of music’s Top Dogs. “Sarah’s Place” recalls his enchantment with a past lover who moved out abruptly leaving Bryan heartbroken. “There ain’t been no sun in L.A, since you moved out of Sarah’s place”. Singing alongside the scintillating Noah Kahan, Bryan reminisces about the good times whilst recalling the tiniest details he’s heard since his lover moved away, “You scored a job in the east village”. Whilst the tune is centred around an innately sorrowful topic, the upbeat instrumentals suggest Bryan is not remorseful but rather determined to sift through the positives of his short-lasting love. “You’ll always be a peace of mind, peace of mind”, encapsulating his contented reflections about a far-gone summer fling. (FT)

The quality of Commons debate about foodbank users and their issues is remarkably shallow.

“We’d much rather not be here but the statutory safety net has too many holes in it.”

20/11/2023

Finn Turton

On Wednesday March 18th, the House of Commons Library published a report entitled “Foodbanks in the UK.” Offering a wealth of information compiled from a range of sources including the anti-poverty group Trussel Trust organisation, the report presents a compelling range of data to suggest that not only are foodbanks very much needed but that this need is increasing in a most alarming way. However, although Commons Library reports are primarily commissioned to help MPs and their staff look closely at legislation and consider policy developments, the quality of debate about foodbank users and their issues seems remarkably shallow.

Consider the now infamous contribution made by Ashfield’s Conservative MP, Lee Anderson claiming that foodbanks exist because users don’t really know how to cook or budget. Whilst his provocative comments generated a political and media furore, the response of SNP MP Joanna Cherry who followed him in the debate, seems equally unhelpful. Her statement, “we have poverty in this country at a scale that should shame his government,” did little more than polarise the discussion, transforming the plight of foodbank users into a social hand grenade hurled across the Commons floor simply to score political points.

My only direct experience of food banks was last Christmas Eve  when a friend’s mum, Liz asked if I would help with the Fallowfield and Withington food bank in South Manchester. That day there were surprisingly few clients. Apart from helping Liz to pack up a three-day emergency Halal food parcel for an Asian family of five who seemed genuinely delighted that she had sourced a bottle of cooking oil and a small pack of wheat flour, I spent most of the session weighing in donations and date marking cans whilst chatting to a small group of volunteers. What I learned was enlightening. They all emphasised that the food bank was usually stretched to breaking point but nodded in agreement with Anne (67) who pointed out the sad truth which seems to leave foodbank users trapped in a cycle of ever diminishing returns. “We’d much rather not be here but the statutory safety net has too many holes in it. Foodbanks are unsustainable but until there’s a more enlightened understanding of poverty and social issues, it looks like we’re here to stay.”

Shortly before we began to pack up, a mid-fifties food bank regular (Chris) bounced into the kitchen at the far side of the hall where Liz welcomed him with a mug of tea and custard creams. Twenty minutes later, he   left with a festive wave and several carefully filled plastic bags. Aaron, the foodbank manager, tried to explain the situation. “He’s here at least two or three times a month. It’s usually social services who make the referrals, but I think that’s because they’re out of ideas and his situation is so complex.”

I had the impression that no-one really knew what might help Chris to break his escalating foodbank dependence.  But I am certain solutions won’t be found by telling him to blame the government or join a cooking class so he can whip up a last-minute bowl of figgy pudding.

Crashing for Caleb

Who will hit rock bottom to claim USC’s prized gunslinger?

By Finn Turton October 29th 2023

It’s only week eight but this year’s wacky race between franchises positioned on the grid of mid-season mediocrity is underway. At the finishing line, clutching a chequered flag, stands generational QB, Caleb Williams. His elite arm strength, speed and record-breaking pass accuracy provide a field stretching combination which makes him a lock for the number one spot in next year’s NFL draft.

Those teams seemingly set to crash for Caleb are becoming increasingly apparent, squandering points, and making deadline trades that should be considered ludicrous. Favoured pacesetters, the Washington Commanders (3-5), have traded Pro Bowl pass rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat for a meagre second and third round pick. Placed alongside, despite forking out a staggering $200 million pre-season contract for the permanently injured Daniel Jones, it’s the New York Giants (2-6). They have balanced a string of uninspiring defeats against the enticing crash value of shipping star defensive end, Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks for even less. 

In pursuit of this hapless pair, the Arizona Cardinals (1-7) who, possibly envisioning a bleak road ahead, released top ten wideout De’Andre Hopkins before the season commenced. That said, many trackside commentators believe the Cardinals will retain faith in currently injured playmaker Kyler Murray, drafted first overall in 2019, choosing instead to   exchange any top podium spot for a tank full of additional picks.

And so, race fans, as they rush towards the abyss of NFL obscurity, we can only wonder who is destined to hit rock bottom and claim USC’s prized gunslinger.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my writing portfolio.

I’m pursuing an ambition which first emerged as an eleven-year-old avidly devouring football statistics to inform the Manchester United match reports I wrote in my journal. I’m always keen to learn more about the world of journalism, television, media broadcasting, digital technologies, and visual storytelling and am currently in my second year of a sports journalism course at Liverpool John Moores University..

I have a deep interest in many sports but am particularly enthusiastic about the growing popularity of American football in the UK and would welcome  any opportunity to develop my journalistic understanding and practical abilities through specialising more extensively in this area.

What ever the story, I believe that careful research, a fresh perspective and an engaging style are the essentials for success.