His limited game time is equal parts baffling and maddening.

Nope - not just you. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ah great - I had a feeling you’d like it. I’ve only heard their stuff recently - a couple of newer tracks - so I sought out the album and loved it. Will dig out the other stuff you mention too.

It'd be like that episode of Match of the Day when the commentators downed tools because Gary Lineker had been suspended - they just showed the highlights with no voices over the top. Odd and a bit eerie, but there'd be an audience for it.

I picked up a handful of Tri Yann LPs from a house clearance recently - haven't had chance to listen to them yet; do you know much about them? (I know nowt.)

I had one of the best coffees I've ever tasted, a few weeks ago in Seville. It cost me less than a Euro.

But none of that FOREIGN poppers.

I'm afraid that's one that I still haven't learned to love - and believe me, it's not for the lack of trying.

I'd love to know how some albums just click with some listeners after a while, where others remain impenetrable.

I've had exactly the same experience with this album, Robin. Found it almost unlistenable when I first tried, but have grown to love it in no time at all.

If she's anything like my neighbour, she's trained herself to tune out of the feral racket so it's just everyone else in earshot that has to suffer.

Got this playing in my head now, thanks James. open.spotify.com/track/6jp5iz...

It's an excellent show - enjoy.

Yep, the flipside of this is that TAA will end up being paid - over his contract - what Real would have paid for him. But do none of these players stop to question why Real's desire to sign them never translates to a decent transfer fee?

Aside from missing out on any transfer fee (which imo will forever reflect badly on the player), the baffling thing about these deals is players going so weak-kneed for Real.

'We really want you - you're our big target, it's all about you...

(but not so much that we'll pay your club for you).'