buying Usmanov's shares. This tweet caught my eye as being particularly remarkable. I checked, and the author is an adult - we assume capable of earning enough of a living to buy a computer or smartphone...

"This man has money to buy Usmanovs shares but won't put in the £150m we need to take us to a higher level. Stan Kroenke you are the worst thing that ever happened to our club. KROENKE OUT"

Imagine falling into conversation with someone in a bar who said this. Where would you start? Would you try reasoning, or would that provoke spittle-flecked invective? Perhaps the best thing would be to just edge quietly away and go and drink in the snug with the old ladies and their bottles of Mackesons.*

*It's a while since I've been to a pub.