Ben Ray
@benray78.bsky.social
Books, films, gardens, sport, FS, AI and technology (order to be determined…)
Somewhere Ronnie Rosenthal is smiling
January 18, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Somewhere Ronnie Rosenthal is smiling
That is fucking tremendous
January 18, 2026 at 9:16 PM
That is fucking tremendous
The moral high ground has just been forfeited
January 18, 2026 at 9:05 PM
The moral high ground has just been forfeited
Brahim Diaz is a massive cheat
January 18, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Brahim Diaz is a massive cheat
Maybe the real Premier League trophy will be all of the overreactions we had along the way
January 18, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Maybe the real Premier League trophy will be all of the overreactions we had along the way
Reposted by Ben Ray
As a one-off gesture in the name of transparency and to perhaps help some City fans see what their club have done, I've un-paywalled this article. Skip to the point where you can download and read a set of documents that tell you what happened.
sportingintelligence832.substack.com/publish/post...
sportingintelligence832.substack.com/publish/post...
As "disruptors" Man City try to dismantle PL rules, NEW details of financial chicanery
The Premier League's 20 clubs meet in London to vote on sponsorship rules. And we publish documents and contracts that throw new light on some of City's APT deals.
sportingintelligence832.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:41 PM
As a one-off gesture in the name of transparency and to perhaps help some City fans see what their club have done, I've un-paywalled this article. Skip to the point where you can download and read a set of documents that tell you what happened.
sportingintelligence832.substack.com/publish/post...
sportingintelligence832.substack.com/publish/post...
Reposted by Ben Ray
Fancy a lunchtime read? Here’s the latest addition to my Diary of a Season. It’s something I’ve been working on for a while….since the NLD actually!
Moments - Life, Anxiety and The Arsenal.
Reposts much appreciated!
open.substack.com/pub/proudtos...
Moments - Life, Anxiety and The Arsenal.
Reposts much appreciated!
open.substack.com/pub/proudtos...
January 14, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Fancy a lunchtime read? Here’s the latest addition to my Diary of a Season. It’s something I’ve been working on for a while….since the NLD actually!
Moments - Life, Anxiety and The Arsenal.
Reposts much appreciated!
open.substack.com/pub/proudtos...
Moments - Life, Anxiety and The Arsenal.
Reposts much appreciated!
open.substack.com/pub/proudtos...
Never thought I would find myself defending the use of VAR (and the 6 minutes it took is poor), but that looks like the right decision on second viewing. Haaland is offside and leaning into Thiaw to push him out of the area where the ball ends up.
January 13, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Never thought I would find myself defending the use of VAR (and the 6 minutes it took is poor), but that looks like the right decision on second viewing. Haaland is offside and leaning into Thiaw to push him out of the area where the ball ends up.
Reposted by Ben Ray
The Arsenal boys, we’re on a bender, Thomas Frank is a silver member
January 11, 2026 at 5:37 PM
The Arsenal boys, we’re on a bender, Thomas Frank is a silver member
The commentators trying to talk this up as if it has been a tighter game than the scoreline. Not easy when Arsenal have missed a penalty and an open goal and lead 1-4. Portsmouth have had a few set pieces but otherwise nothing. Stroll.
January 11, 2026 at 3:41 PM
The commentators trying to talk this up as if it has been a tighter game than the scoreline. Not easy when Arsenal have missed a penalty and an open goal and lead 1-4. Portsmouth have had a few set pieces but otherwise nothing. Stroll.
Disagree with a lot of the negative takes on that half- overall I think we’ve been pretty good. Coming away to a place like Fratton Park in the Cup on a fierce January day is not easy and yet with a second string team we’ve fashioned enough clear chances to be 3 goals ahead
January 11, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Disagree with a lot of the negative takes on that half- overall I think we’ve been pretty good. Coming away to a place like Fratton Park in the Cup on a fierce January day is not easy and yet with a second string team we’ve fashioned enough clear chances to be 3 goals ahead
MLS showing his knowledge of Arsenal history with this Gus Caesar tribute act
January 11, 2026 at 2:47 PM
MLS showing his knowledge of Arsenal history with this Gus Caesar tribute act
You hate to do it to him, but MLS needs to come off for White and Timber needs to play LB. This is an absolute mismatch.
January 8, 2026 at 9:35 PM
You hate to do it to him, but MLS needs to come off for White and Timber needs to play LB. This is an absolute mismatch.
We are playing like almighty cunts here
January 8, 2026 at 9:30 PM
We are playing like almighty cunts here
Reposted by Ben Ray
Reposted by Ben Ray
The two great English footballing novels that we've been deprived of are, 1) Mourinho's second stint at Chelsea in the style of Heart of Darkness, and 2) Man Utd's post-Fergie years as an unfurling Faustian horror.
I am willing to commission these works (payment on publication, conditions apply).
I am willing to commission these works (payment on publication, conditions apply).
January 6, 2026 at 10:10 AM
The two great English footballing novels that we've been deprived of are, 1) Mourinho's second stint at Chelsea in the style of Heart of Darkness, and 2) Man Utd's post-Fergie years as an unfurling Faustian horror.
I am willing to commission these works (payment on publication, conditions apply).
I am willing to commission these works (payment on publication, conditions apply).
Mistake by Ayden Heaven. Shame.
January 4, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Mistake by Ayden Heaven. Shame.
I’d gladly never see that time wasting short corner routine again for the rest of my fucking life
January 3, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I’d gladly never see that time wasting short corner routine again for the rest of my fucking life
Truly an abysmal referee
January 3, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Truly an abysmal referee
The number of unforced errors per minute here must be comfortably the highest of the season
January 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
The number of unforced errors per minute here must be comfortably the highest of the season
If it wasn’t for all the snide little things he does, you’d never notice Enzo Fernandez was playing
December 27, 2025 at 7:06 PM
If it wasn’t for all the snide little things he does, you’d never notice Enzo Fernandez was playing
I’m sure there is a sound tactical and analytical reason why we do it, but that clipped ball by Odegaard to the back post that we run so often just doesn’t do it for me. And seems a stable of our slow play run every move through MØ8 game model.
December 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I’m sure there is a sound tactical and analytical reason why we do it, but that clipped ball by Odegaard to the back post that we run so often just doesn’t do it for me. And seems a stable of our slow play run every move through MØ8 game model.