Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is a depressingly realistic film (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)
Sam Rockwell playing an eccentric time traveller from the future on a righteous crusade to save us all from AI slop and the nonsense of social media is a strong premise for a film.
But the film seems to let its ambitions to take down the evils of technology in one fell cinematic swoop slightly get the better of it, resulting in a sprawling story with uneven characters and a lack of focus.
I did, however, have fun with some of the stand-out story arcs and Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’s wilder swings – even if its doom-and-gloom (yet entirely unfanciful) predictions for the future bummed me out.
The film kicks off with Rockwell making a dramatic entrance to a diner as his unnamed man from the future, warning all the patrons of what will happen – as he can attest to, not that we get much detail – if they continue to allow social media to ‘rob people of their dignity’.
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Sam Rockwell is compelling as always in his role as a man from the future determined to save humanity from itself (Picture: Briarcliff Entertainment via AP)
Ranting and raving that ‘humanity can be saved’ from the dangers of AI if people join his mission right now, while scraggily bearded and rigged up with a homemade bomb vest, is an entertaining premise that Rockwell makes the most of.
As he explains, this is his 117th time delivering this rousing call to arms in the hopes of finding the right combination of people to help him save humanity. Here, Rockwell is able to unleash his charisma as a performer: he shows off his prior knowledge of the patrons – their names, the fact one couple is on a first date, and he even kisses one woman.
He’s compelling as always, but it’s the type of role Rockwell could do in his sleep – and he’s has had better material to work with before.
With a lot of wrangling – there aren’t many volunteers – his future man ends up with a motley crew of recruits, including married teachers Mark and Janet (Michael Peña and Zazie Beetz), grieving mum Susan (Juno Temple), Uber driver Scott (Asim Chaudhry, struggling to sound – I think – American) and Haley Lu Richardson’s Ingrid, a professional party princess who’s allergic to Wi-Fi and electronic devices.
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Juno Temple is another stand -out as a mother who cloned her son (Picture: Briarcliff Entertainment via AP)
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die: Key details
Director
Gore Verbinski
Writer
Matthew Robinson
Cast
Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Juno Temple, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, Riccardo Drayton
Age rating
15
Run time
2hr 14m
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Release date
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on Friday, February 20.
The film is a rage against the AI machine, although it struggles with consistency and focus (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)
From here the film flits between vignettes for the people on the team, sharing their experience with tech and how it’s ruined their lives, and the mission they’ve been yanked in for.
Some are much stronger than others, with Temple’s Susan (a heartbreakingly nuanced performance) given a scenario that could have been an entire movie by itself as she’s invited to make a clone of her son with AI after he’s killed in a school mass shooting.
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Not only is she able to customise his temperament for the 2.0 version but she even meets parents at an event who are several clones in on their daughter as she keeps being gunned down. In a twisted way of managing their trauma, they’ve decided to make the latest version of their child ‘freakishly tall’ and ‘a little bit racist’ while she’s here.
Richardson’s segment is the other with most promise as Ingrid battles her natural sensitivity while her partner (Tom Taylor) sinks under the insidious influence of a VR headset.
Some of the vignettes of characters recruited in Verbinski’s movie could have formed the basis for a separate film altogether (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)
Asim Chaudhry, Zazie Beetz, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Pena and Temple as the supporting cast in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)
Meanwhile their mission with Rockwell’s character continues, encompassing baddies in pig masks, an army of phone-addicted youths and a creepy mound of wires. And this is before I even mention the giant cat-horse creature with a long neck that pees and spews glitter, which is sinister enough before you even discover its cannibalistic tendencies.
At two and a quarter hours Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is too long and becomes convoluted as it struggles with which direction to take.
The muddled final act also prevents it sticking the landing – with further developments harking back too closely to Terminator 2 again.
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Verdict
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is not the revolutionary film I was ready for it to be. While there are parts to admire, including the performances of Rockwell and Temple, this movie doesn’t make a satisfying and cohesive whole.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is in cinemas from today.
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Currently, the service only runs from East to West Belfast, with a link to the Titanic Quarter. It first began operating in September 2018, with Translink saying the eco-hybrid ‘tram on wheels’ makes city centre travel more convenient and hassle-free.
On February 25, 2025, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced the next steps for the Belfast Rapid Transit 2 project, which included scaling the service back to omit stops beyond Cairnshill Park and Ride to Carryduff and not extending the service to Glengormley, deeming this “not economically viable.”
This week, the minister confirmed it’s not expected the project will be completed until 2033, subject to securing additional funding required. It has been previously reported the cost of the project is expected to be £148m.
In response to a written question from the SDLP’s Matthew O’Toole, Minister Kimmins revealed funding secured so far for extending the Glider service is £76m short of the £124.5m required. So far, £35m has been allocated for the Glider from the Belfast Region City Deal, while the Department for Infrastructure has committed £13m, which the minister said “will enable the commencement of a phased delivery.”
SDLP leader of the opposition, Matthew O’Toole MLA, said: “If the minister is serious about delivering this crucial project then both she and the finance minister should put the money where their mouth is to fund this crucial upgrade to Belfast’s transport infrastructure.”
In a statement a spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure said “there has been no delay to the Belfast Rapid Transport 2 project.” They said they are on course to be on the ground later this year, with the intention for full construction starting in 2027, in line with the timeline set out in February 2025. They added: “It has always been anticipated that the BRT2 route would take 6 years to become fully operational from the start of construction. Since her announcement in February 2025 regarding the next steps for BRT2, the Minister has always been clear that delivery of the project in full would be subject to the availability of additional funding. There is currently a £100million shortfall and the Minister will consider this in the multi-year budget.”
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“Great quality. Clear instructions. No missing parts. All fixings provided. Easier to put together than IKEA, kit as the drawers are pre fixed.”
Nina Crighton Senior Fashion and Beauty Affiliates Writer and Nadia Breen
07:33, 20 Feb 2026
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Dunelm customers needing a new chest of drawers may want to have a look at an option currently available in the retailer’s sale. The Aldo 3 Drawer Chest in Light Oak has a high 4.7 out of 5 star rating and has been slashed by 50%, dropping from £349 to £174.50.
This chest features a solid oak effect finish with spacious drawers equipped with metal runners for durability. The unit is completed with a Scandi-style cut-out design showcasing natural grain running throughout.
The Aldo chest arrives flat-packed requiring full assembly, though numerous customers have praised how straightforward the process is. One satisfied customer left a five-star review stating: “Great quality. Clear instructions. No missing parts. All fixings provided. Easier to put together than IKEA, kit as the drawers are pre fixed.”
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They added: “Two of us did it first time in 1.5 hours. Looks great, very similar to a designer style. Was 50% off on sale so excellent value.”
Another shopper added: “This is a stunning piece of furniture. Really easy to put together, very heavy once assembled! Really impressed with the quality and a bargain at half price!” reports the Liverpool Echo.
A third buyer said: “Brilliant chest of drawers. This is a great bit of furniture. Solid, robust, looks great. I did need an extra pair of hands to mount the drawers on the runners, but otherwise straightforward and easy for one person to complete.”
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Some customers have mentioned finding the assembly instructions somewhat challenging to navigate, so it’s important to bear in mind that not everyone will find it straightforward. One review highlights this point: “nice but not for someone who isn’t proficient in the art of self assembly.”
Dunelm currently has an extensive clearance sale running online, featuring reductions of up to 75% across all homeware ranges. Additional bargains include the Fulton Small Sideboard in Black Oak, slashed from £199 to £99.50, alongside the Brynn Supersoft Faux Fur Accent Chair, cut from £199 to £139.50.
Wayfair is also promoting an offer on the 118cm W 7 – Drawer Chest of Drawers by Union Rustic, which comes with seven drawers. The sand oak version has dropped from £206.99 to £173.99, whilst the greige oak option has been reduced from £219.99 to £169.99.
Meanwhile at Debenhams, this Catania 3+3 Drawer Chest has been reduced from £199 to £159. Shoppers can choose from walnut or light oak.
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Monarchy must be more transparent in future, Davey says
Political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Ed Davey has said parliament should ensure the monarchy is more transparent going forward in order to avoid a future crisis.
Asked if parliament should take action following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, the Liberal Democrat leader said: “I think it’s very important the police allowed to do their work…separate from parliament.
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“I think more broadly going forward, we do need to see more transparency, and parliament has a really important role to play.
“I think we need to help the monarchy get over this, it’s really important part of our of our country. And the way that that we will go forward, is having more transparency over how they operate.”
Dan Haygarth20 February 2026 07:54
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Trump calls Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest ‘so bad for the royal family’
Dan Haygarth20 February 2026 07:45
Former police chief explains procedure Andrew would have underwent
A former police chief has given some insight into how Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have been treated on Thursday following his arrest.
Andy Trotter, former deputy chief constable at British Transport Police, said Thames Valley Police would have been “absolutely clear” that he will be treated the same as anybody else.
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“No better, no worse than anyone else,” he told Sky News.
“He would come through the exact same procedure as search, photographs, DNA, fingerprints, etc and obviously [offered a] lawyer, if they wanted to, to attend for any interview that might follow.
“I think the more unusual the case, the more what you’ve got to stick to the regular procedures so that there’s no difference from the way this person has been treated from any other.”
Athena Stavrou20 February 2026 07:36
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor seen returning after leaving police custody
(Getty Images)
A car carrying Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrives at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on Thursday evening (Mathilde Grandjean/PA) (PA Wire)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 February 2026 07:30
Cabinet Office could hand over documents related to Andrew, The Times reports
The Times reports that officials in Whitehall could look through government records for documents related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as a trade envoy as part of the ongoing police investigation.
Sources told The Times that Whitehall would “fully cooperate” with detectives investigating.
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Dan Haygarth20 February 2026 07:25
US officials say now is the time to act on Epstein investigation
Jane Dalton20 February 2026 07:00
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Police continue searches after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released
Detectives will continue their searches of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home in Berkshire following his release from custody after he was arrested on suspicion of alleged misconduct in public office.
He was held on Thursday morning following allegations made against him after the release of files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested, was held in custody for around 11 hours before being released under investigation by Thames Valley Police.
Thames Valley Police said searches at a property in Norfolk – Andrew’s home on the Sandringham Estate – have now concluded.But the force said that the operation they were carrying out at a Berkshire address, his former residence, Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, will continue.
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Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 February 2026 06:30
Opinion: Scandal disgrace will rattle royal family as never before
The King is calculating that however bad the details might be, placing the former prince in the category of outcast will insulate him and his heirs from the fallout and allow the succession to continue, writes Anne McElvoy:
Jane Dalton20 February 2026 06:00
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Virginia Giuffre’s family ‘celebrated’ after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest
Virginia Giuffre’s family ‘celebrated’ after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar20 February 2026 05:57
Trump says Andrew’s arrest ‘very sad’
US president Donald Trump has weighed in on the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, hours after the King’s brother was detained under suspicion of alleged misconduct in public office.
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“I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad. I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad. To me, it’s a very sad thing,” Mr Trump said.
Andrew, who used to be known as “Prince” before having his royal titles stripped, was arrested after police launched an investigation into claims that he allegedly shared sensitive information while on official visits as the UK as the country’s trade envoy with Jeffrey Epstein.
The claims emerged as part of the Epstein file’s that were recently released by Trump’s Department of Justice.
The Whites were playing the famous Stanley Matthews’ Stoke City in the sixth round of the FA Cup on that fateful day, with fans turning out in their droves.
But by 2.40pm, officials took the decision to close the railway embankment gates, with 15,000 fans waiting to get in.
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Many of the fans found alternate ways into the ground. It had been predicted that 55,000 people would watch the game, and the official attendance would register 65,419. Unofficially it was thought to be 85,000.
DISASTER: A photograph taken in the aftermath of the tragedy
The former duke has been pictured leaving Aylsham police station in north Norfolk following his arrest.
He has been released under investigation following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Thames Valley Police said.
He was arrested around 8am this morning (Image: Chris Bishop)
Plain-clothed officers arrived at his home in Sandringham at around 8am today (Thursday, February 19) and arrested him.
The arrest comes on his 66th birthday following allegations made against the former prince after the release of millions of pages of files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
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Officers have been conducting searches of properties in both Norfolk and Berkshire.
He was seen leaving Aylsham police station following his arrest (Image: Colin Finch)
Following his day in custody, a black Range Rover arrived at Aylsham police investigation centre at approximately 6.50pm this evening.
It has been reported that it tried to get in via an electronic gate but was unable to do so as the gate was broken.
He was arrested on his 66th birthday (Image: PA)
It went in via another gate after waiting 10 minutes.
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Five minutes later, a large garage door in the building opened, and two cars could be seen, including the Range Rover.
It drove past the waiting reporters and a photographer was able to take a picture of the former royal trying to lie down on the back seat.
Members of the media at the Sandringham Estate (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Media)
King Charles III made a statement while his brother was in custody.
A full statement reads: “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.
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“What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.
Officers at Wood Farm in Sandringham (Image: Chris Bishop)
“In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.
“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.
“As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.
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“Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
A FESTIVAL celebrating Yorkshire’s ‘special crop’ kicks off today in honour of all things rhubarb.
The Rhubarb Festival celebrating Wakefield’s heritage crop will deliver a weekend of food, drink, family activity and discovery across the city to honour the pink vegetable.
Yes, it’s a veg not fruit. The delicate pink spears push up through the rich soil inside dark forcing sheds within the rhubarb triangle in West Yorkshire. The sweet, tender stems are harvested by candlelight in near pitch black in February.
At the heart of the festivities is the Food & Drink Market of 50 traders, in chalet-lined streets selling speciality cheese, jams and gins to brownies, beer and chocolate.
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Photo of the popular Rhubarb Festival
Many of the regional and local produce come with a rhubarb twist.
Watch chef demos where the professionals reveal how to make delicious recipes with the vegetable.
Local musicians will play live in the Rhu-Bar, while Ruby Rhubarb and the Rhubarb Fairy perform street entertainment.
In partnership with Wakefield BID, the Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail returns with local bars, restaurants and cafés serving limited-edition rhubarb delights.
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Pink and perfect – rhubarb is a jewel in Yorkshire’s foodie crown
Traders include North Chocolate, Forever Fudge, Livs Bakes n Cakes, preserves from A Sticky Situation and Cherry Tree Yorkshire, Rhucello for liqueurs, spirits from Hawkin’s Distillery, Prohibition Distillery and Forged Spirits, and beer from Bier Huis. Stop by E Oldroyds & Sons and pick up pies, crumbles, jams, chutneys and fresh forced rhubarb.
Discover more about the heritage of this prized Yorkshire crop and why it’s important to local history at Wakefield Museum at a hands-on workshop, and sow rhubarb seeds on Friday, February 20 with sessions at 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm.
The Rhubarb Festival is organised by Wakefield Council with events taking place across the city from February 20-22.
More at: experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/rhubarb-festival
You want a secure fit, waterproof or sweatproof capability and assurance they won’t bounce out of your ear, says Arj Thiruchelvam, performance coach at Performance Physique. He also looks for Bluetooth 5, which provides the best connection to wireless devices, ensuring a run isn’t interrupted by music or a podcast dropping out.
Having a decent microphone to take calls is a bonus, and he recommends going into the shops rather than buying online. “It’s pretty difficult to test every aspect when shopping online but, if you can get your hands on the headphones, pop them in and jump around a bit. Running is basically a series of jumps, so have a quick bounce around the store,” he says.
“Beats, Bose, Airpods and Shokz all have their claims to the top position” in terms of the best types of headphones for running, Thiruchelvam says. He favours the Shokz Air bone conduction headphones, but has clients from his personal trainer business who swear by Bose, claiming they boost their exercise performance.
At the start of January, the couple were involved in the Corriedale crash. They were both rushed to hospital afterwards but there was a greater concern for Shona, who was pregnant with little Harper.
Fortunately, Shona, David and Harper were fine. Shona was transferred back to Weatherfield General, where she gave birth to her daughter.
Harper has been in hospital ever since as the baby needed a blood transfusion, and an operation on her neck shortly after being born.
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It’s meant David and Shona have been juggling life at home, and visiting Harper in hospital. It’s a stressful ordeal, but another layer of chaos was added when Shona’s sister Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown) re-entered her life.
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Jodie has already told lies to Shona (Picture: ITV)
As far as Shona’s concerned, reconnecting with Jodie at a time when her life is already busy isn’t a problem. This might be down to the fact she feel guilty for leaving the family home when she became a teen mum, which subsequently left Jodie alone with their troubled parents.
While Shona has worked hard to get to know Jodie again, she remains unaware her sister is busy plotting revenge because of what happened when Shona upped sticks and left all those years ago.
Her plan so far has seen Jodie lie about an abusive relationship she had, and she’s also decided to try and get David to cheat on Shona with her.
In upcoming episodes, Jodie’s hatred towards Shona is further fuelled as she has to listen to Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) and Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) chat about how they think Shona and David are the perfect couple.
She decides to cause trouble by once again attempting to get close to David. When he returns home and finds Jodie with her arm down the back of a chair, she says that she thinks she can feel Shona’s wedding ring. Jodie notes that it’s just out of reach and needs David’s help. He crouches down next to her, and Jodie very much enjoys the close proximity between them.
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Jodie wants to destroy Shona’s life (Picture: ITV)
Towards the end of the week, Jodie tries to cause friction by setting David up and claiming that he hasn’t done any house chores.
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Later, Shona opens up to Bethany and says that it feels like she hardly sees David at the moment as they’re always so busy.
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Bethany has an idea, but will Jodie stick her nose in and ruin it?
‘She’s a really interesting character. She’s a bit of a troublemaker, she’s got a bit of mischief in her eyes. All is not what it seems with Jodie and there’s a lot of layers to her. I think the audience are going to have a lot of fun unravelling who this person is, who Jodie is as a character and what she wants as well.
‘Keep an eye on her because there’s lots of secrets to explode and she’s going to bring an awful lot of drama to the Platt household.’
Igor Tudor’s appointment as Tottenham manager can be considered a risk, but it has at least brought with it the promise of a fresh start.
Spurs currently sit 16th in the Premier League table and are just five points above the relegation zone following the dismissal of Thomas Frank last week.
The north London club are precariously close to the drop, and Tudor needs to make a fast start if he is to quieten talk of Spurs becoming embroiled in a relegation scrap.
Instant results are the Croatian’s speciality, though, and while he has not hung around for too long at any one club, he has garnered a reputation for making an immediate impact.
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Part of Tudor’s success stems from getting buy-in from players with a no-nonsense approach, and he will need to lean on that part of his personality to earn the support of Spurs’ squad, which became increasingly disillusioned under Frank.
Here are three players Standard Sport thinks could be set for starring roles under Tudor…
Randal Kolo Muani worked under Igor Tudor at Juve
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Kolo Muani to rediscover his best form
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Randal Kolo Muani arrived at Spurs last summer with a spring in his step, having revitalised his career on loan at Juventus in the second half of the 2024-25 season.
It was hoped that after a tricky spell at French champions Paris Saint-Germain, Kolo Muani had rediscovered his best form and was beginning to mature as a player heading into his prime years.
The 27-year-old’s time in England, though, has been anything but straightforward. Aside from a couple of promising displays in the Champions League, he has yet to showcase why PSG parted with upwards of £76million to sign him from Eintracht Frankfurt just two and a half years ago.
Kolo Muani’s hopes of making France’s World Cup squad are growing increasingly distant, but he will hope that the arrival of Tudor, who managed him while at Juventus, can provide him with the opportunities he needs to impress Didier Deschamps.
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Kolo Muani is an awkward fit in Tudor’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, with the incumbent Spurs boss unlikely to start him ahead of Dominic Solanke as Spurs’ lone striker.
However, with the trust of a manager who, only a year previously, got him playing some of the best football of his career, Kolo Muani will surely relish the opportunity to make a fresh start at Spurs.
Conor Gallagher has struggled since arriving
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Gallagher to lead the press
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Throughout his career, Conor Gallagher has quickly endeared himself to whichever manager he has worked under, impressing with his energy, application and versatility.
This should be no different under the hard-nosed Tudor, who will appreciate Gallagher’s work rate on the pitch and ability to drive standards on the training ground.
Gallagher’s signing midway through the January transfer window was recommended by sporting director Johan Lange, with Frank agreeing to the move after initial reservations.
His arrival, while signed off by Frank, was a club decision, with Spurs knowing that the 26-year-old would be malleable enough both as a player and a personality to be of continued importance should Frank depart.
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Tudor’s high-pressing style suits Gallagher perfectly, and his ability not only to win the ball high but to regularly convert those opportunities into attacking situations will be crucial to getting Spurs playing forward.
A versatile option, Gallagher will likely be deployed as one of the two anchoring midfielders in Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 formation.
However, his late runs off the ball mean he could just as easily be used as one of the two central No10s, with Tudor looking to defend from the front to maintain pressure on the opposition.
Xavi Simons will be the main man
AFP via Getty Images
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Simons to thrive as the creative hub
Xavi Simons has started to come into his own after a slow start to life at Spurs.
The Dutchman has had to work hard to get up to speed with the pace and physicality of the Premier League following his arrival from RB Leipzig last summer, but is now beginning to find his feet.
The 22-year-old is capable of dictating games like few others in the Spurs squad, and there is now an increasing assuredness to his performances that complements his undoubted talent.
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Frank’s shift to a three-man defence in the final weeks of his reign had begun to bring the best out of Simons, and so Tudor’s arrival will have been met with a sigh of relief by the La Masia graduate.
Tudor has used a three-man defence in 120 of his 124 league matches in Europe’s top five leagues, and while he has admitted he will need to be adaptable to the strengths of his squad, it is clear where his preference lies.
Simons has looked so much more effective when deployed in central areas, and if Tudor sticks with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, Simons will undoubtedly be one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Long-term injuries to Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison mean Simons will be entrusted with carrying the creative load for Spurs as they seek to steer clear of the relegation zone.
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That responsibility, though, is beginning to weigh less heavily on Simons than it once did, and he looks ready to shoulder the pressure of Spurs’ league position heading into the final months of the season.
Spencer Benjamin was said to have links to the notorious Cali Cartel
A drug trafficker who was brought down after a meeting at Pizza Hut has been found dead in Dubai. Spencer Benjamin was jailed for 10 years for his role in an international drug conspiracy, after meeting with a Venezuelan drug lord who was said to be acting on behalf of the notorious Cali Cartel.
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Undercover police spotted Benjamin meeting Ivan di Giorgio at a Pizza Hut in central London. The feared Cali Cartel controlled more than 80 per cent of the world’s cocaine market in the mid-1990s.
Benjamin was described as the ‘organiser for the Liverpool end of the operation’ by a senior officer who led the investigation. It has been reported that Benjamin was found dead in a hotel room in Dubai, the Liverpool Echo reports.
It’s understood that Benjamin, formerly of Toxteth and later Halewood, was aged 53 or 54. A spokesperson for the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We have assisted the family of a British man who has died in Dubai.”
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Benjamin was under the watch of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in 1999 when he was seen to meet di Giorgio. On one occasion, Benjamin was seen handing over a satchel to the South American, while at a second pizza parlour meeting a Wade Smith bag was passed to di Giorgio.
Police suspected cash was being handed over in return for drugs. When police finally raided di Giorgio’s London home, he jumped out of a first floor window in a doomed attempt to escape. When he appeared in court he needed a walking frame.
Benjamin went into hiding but undercover officers observed him spending thousands of pounds kitting out a flat above a Lodge Lane shop as a “safe house”. When arrested he told officers: “I’m innocent. I have got no involvement in drugs and I am not saying any more. I have no involvement in anything.”
Benjamin claimed to be legitimately employed as an “area manager” but the court heard he was the Liverpool end of an international drugs chain. He lived in a £120,000 house on a new estate in Halewood, holidayed in Mexico and wore a £10k Rolex Ebel watch. His unemployed girlfriend cruised around Liverpool in a Honda Jeep.
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Detective Superintendent John Kerruish, of Merseyside’s major crime unit which co-ordinated the inquiry, said at the time: “The problem that we faced was that at this stage we had not fully identified exactly who di Giorgio was but it was becoming apparent that he was working for the Cali Cartel.
“As far as we are concerned, Benjamin was the organiser for the Liverpool end of the operation. We regard his conviction along with that of di Giorgio’s as particularly significant in the on-going fight to stem the tide of class ‘A’ drugs coming into Merseyside.”
The Cali Cartel was founded in the mid-1970s and broke away from Pablo Escobar and his Medellin associates by 1988. The organisation was a multi-billion dollar empire and was one of the most powerful criminal fraternities in the world. Its illicit activities were globally recognised following the hit Netflix show “Narcos”.
Benjamin was an associate of drugs kingpin “Cocky” Warren during the 1990s, reported the Daily Mail. Warren is a former Interpol Target One and was one listed on The Sunday Times’ rich list because of the profits he made through the trafficking and supply of class A drugs.
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Warren was arrested in the early 1990s after he and an associate sailed across the Atlantic to Venezuela, where a deal with the Cali Cartel to smuggle cocaine in steel boxes, concealed in lead ingots, was hatched. The scheme to import £250m of the cocaine into the UK resulted in Warren being arrested.
But it emerged one of Warren’s associates who joined him in the dock, Brian Charrington, was a police informant and the case collapsed. After his release Warren returned to Liverpool but later moved to Europe due to the ferocity of an armed gang war in the south-end of the city.
Warren has since served prison sentences in Europe, Jersey and the UK after investigators found him to have been involved in multiple drug conspiracies. He was released from prison in November 2022 and was sentenced to a suspended term in 2024 for breaches of his serious crime prevention order.