Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Such sad news about former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has died aged 76. (Metro, Tue). He always came across as utterly dignified – and not only as a football manager.
The way Sven conducted himself knowing he was going to die is a lesson for us all. He delivered a farewell message in an Amazon Prime documentary released this month, telling fans: ‘Don’t be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything – coaches, players, crowds, it’s been fantastic.’
Thank you, Sven, for all the happy memories you gave us. Joe, London
Thanks for all the amazing times watching England with you as their boss, Sven. I’ll never, ever forget that amazing 5-1 defeat of Germany in Munich in 2001! Helen, Stockport
I can sympathise with Martin (MetroTalk, Thu) who said his mobile phone theft was not investigated by the police.
I had my phone stolen in 2020 in full view of multiple CCTV cameras just to be given a crime number – there was no follow-up.
In 2022, I was physically assaulted while getting on a bus – there was plentiful CCTV and witnesses but nothing was done.
And just over a week ago, I was threatened and verbally abused after legally parking my car on a public street. Despite having the full address of the perpetrator, the police closed the case without talking to the culprit.
Common folk, seemingly, are not important enough – unless the crime is committed in virtual space. Lina, by email
Martin says he never sees a police officer on the beat nowadays. Of course he doesn’t, because if he could see them, so could the criminals, who would therefore avoid them.
The police have finally realised they can catch more criminals by being out and about in plain clothes and unmarked cars.
So don’t worry, Martin – the police are still out there looking out for you… just more discreetly than before. Owen, London
I’m a pensioner and I freely admit that the winter fuel allowances were a bonus, not a necessity! Now chancellor Rachel Reeves is scrapping them for ten million of us.
I always felt slightly guilty about getting the allowance and usually frittered it away.
Giving it to so many people was a ridiculous waste of taxpayers’ money and I’m glad about Labour’s move. Christine Stockwell, Norwich
I am sick to death of turning on the news every morning and listening to a succession of Labour ministers complaining that they are having to deal with a £22billion deficit bequeathed to them by the previous Conservative government.
While I have little respect for the way in which the Conservatives behaved during the last couple of years they were in power, I find it the height of hypocrisy for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer et al to use the budget deficit as an excuse for targeting the least well-off in our society. Bob Readman, Sevenoaks
Brilliant news that Oasis are getting back together and performing a whole set of gigs across the UK and elsewhere (Metro.co.uk, Tue).
They are undoubtedly the best live band I’ve ever seen and I hope to get tickets for these new concerts.
The two brothers – Liam and Noel Gallagher – are no longer looking back in anger at one another and instead rolling with it. Let’s hope they live for ever! Jane, Darlington
Regarding the correspondence about mishearings etc, for years I thought the line in The Sound Of Music song Do-Re-Mi went ‘Tea, a drink with German bread’. I only discovered via the subtitles on a televised Proms performance of the song that it is actually ‘Tea, a drink with jam and bread’. Both sound equally silly, but I prefer my version! Jennifer Lamport, South Croydon
You know Vivaldi’s Gloria? It has ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ in it but when I hear it I have only one thought in my mind: ‘Gloria’s inexpensive mayo’. Bob, Walsall
