“We’re gonna do it anyway. We’re gonna do it anyway. We’re gonna do it anyway. We’re gonna do it anyway.”

As a meme for our times, the crescendo of Barry from EastEnders’ version of Labi Siffre’s (Something Inside) So Strong at the 2014 World Indoor Bowls Championships remains unsurpassed. People of influence and power will carry on with their power and influence regardless of the dissent of the commoner and the reasoning of so-called experts and Fifa is no different in this regard, with Don Gianni Infantino set to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

That the expected winning bid for 2030 takes in three continents, six nations and yet more air miles means that Saudi Arabia, as sole bidder, is nailed on for 2034. Unlike that day in 2010 when Russia and Qatar were handed the Ethics and Human Rights World Cups in a glitzy Swiss ballroom, this ceremony will be online only. Infantino will hide away from scrutiny behind a screen with the winning bids accompanied by “applause”, rather than votes, boos or anything less palatable. Perhaps Infantino, the big showman, will use a clap-o-meter in the style of Hughie Green on Opportunity Knocks.

Does anyone fancy stopping this? Well, the Norwegian FA has at least broken ranks to declare it will vote against the awarding of hosting rights for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups by acclamation, adding that it has written a letter to Fifa criticising the process. English FA officials, meanwhile, are ‘mindful of concerns’ over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. However, some are also wary of suggestions of hypocrisy if the FA declines to endorse the tournament, but then participates in it. Heaven forbid anyone in football ends up looking like a hypocrite.

Sir Keir Starmer was pressing the flesh of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) just last weekend, hoping for a return visit where “the leaders would be able to watch a game of football in between meetings if he took up the offer”. The chances of MBS and Starmer heading down to watch Leyton Orient together are about as remote as this email can imagine. Though perhaps still not as unlikely as football suits and governing bodies truly embracing the human rights concerns attached to a Saudi World Cup.

A Big Website investigation earlier this year found “evidence of high numbers of unexplained deaths in Saudi Arabia of migrant workers from Bangladesh, with at least 13,685 dying in the country between 2008 and 2022. More than 1,500 Bangladeshis died in 2022 alone – a rate of more than four a day.” Lessons learned from the first Human Rights World Cup? Not many. More from Big Website: “A long-awaited Fifa report on whether it should compensate migrant workers who suffered severe labour abuses on projects linked to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Despite a recommendation from its own subcommittee on human rights and social responsibility that it do so, Fifa’s answer was, in effect, a resounding no.”

Join John Brewin at 5.45pm (GMT) for updates from Girona 0-2 Liverpool, while Luke McLaughlin will be on hand with a Bigger Cup clockwatch at 8pm.

Learning to walk again has been an incredible challenge. My appreciation of support from family, friends, colleagues, supporters, and medical professionals has been profound. I’ve been able to cycle in the Peak District, and swing golf clubs at the driving range, although my follow through needs some work (I’ve not fallen over yet!). Although my prognosis is still uncertain, believe me that positivity and laughter can prove the best medicine as I experienced with old friends from school on a canal narrow boat on my birthday. There is always light somewhere ahead – new possibilities, new challenges” – Nigel Pearson reveals how his life has been affected by a “neurological situation” in the past 13 months and speaks of his gratitude for those who have helped him on his journey.

A propos your comments about the extortionately high ticket prices at MUFC (yesterday’s Football Daily), this may be the exact moment to refresh the fact that nearly 20 years ago, in May 2005, 6,000 Manchester United supporters walked away from top-flight football and formed FC United of Manchester. Our new club serves as the biggest consistent weekly protest against the Glazers, the debt burden unfairly placed on United, and the extraordinary amount of money that has ruined the top-flight game. It’s been a rollercoaster ride since then, but our ethos of low matchday ticket prices still persists, with tickets at £13 for adults and juniors are £3. Season tickets are priced on a ‘pay what you can afford’ basis. Here’s a wonderful video (there are loads similar out there on YouTube) summarising the club’s reason for existing. We’ve a Christmas home game coming up on 26 December and could really do with the publicity to encourage all the many disaffected ‘Big United’ fans to roll up and try us out” – Jonathan Kendal.

With Spursy all but guaranteed to grace the Oxford English Dictionary by 2025, it seems only fair to speculate which other football-inspired adjectives might follow. Surely Fulhamy deserves a nod – perfect for describing someone who never does anything remotely exciting, much like Fulham’s fixture list often seemingly comprised entirely of mid-table opposition. Then there’s Bournemouthy (no relation to ‘born mouthy’), ideal for those who somehow thrive just when you’ve written them off entirely. As for Arsenaly and Unitedy, perhaps we should let the season play out a little longer before committing to definitions. After all, it’s only fair to give Arsenal time to implode spectacularly or United time to convince us they’ve finally turned a corner … again” – Phil Hearn.

Send letters to [email protected]. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is … Jonathan Kendal, who wins a copy of the new David Squires book, Chaos in the Box. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.

It’s David Squires on … Big Sir Jim’s attempts to make Santa’s grotto more efficient.

And David’s latest tome is out now, now, now! You can order your copy of Chaos in the Box at a £3 discount here. Need any further persuading? We’ve got an exclusive extract for you to get a taste, too.

David Coote has had his contract as a Premier League referee terminated after an investigation by PGMOL into his off-field behaviour.

On an emotional night at the London Stadium, West Ham beat Wolves to leave Gary O’Neil on the brink, while Julen Lopetegui, himself barely hanging on, rhapsodised “special person” Michail Antonio.

Cristian Romero has been blabbing to Spanish hacks with the gist being the age-old refrain that Tottenham need to spend more to become less, er, Spursy. “Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn’t do well, strengthens again, and now they’re seeing results,” he blathered. “You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they [the board] realise it.”

Naby Keïta will escape his Werder Bremen exile to join Ferencvaros on loan in January. “We are pleased to have found a solution, together with Naby and his [Mr 20%],” cheered a Werder suit. “For us, it was clear that Naby would not play for Werder again.”

Nuri Sahin is the latest manager to stick the boot into the authorities for working footballers to the bone. “The burden is almost unbearable,” roared the Borussia Dortmund head coach, who has 10 players knacked before their Bigger Cup match against Barça. “We planned the season with the Club World Cup [in June-July] and I don’t know when Greg [Kobel, his goalkeeper] will go on holiday. Ten or 15 years ago the game was different with fewer sprints, less running. Now you have to go completely to your limit in every game.”

And finally, Mackenzie Kinsella, an Everton fan who flew over from flamin’ Australia for the Merseyside derby, received a second gift following the fixture’s postponement. Not only did he escape the match, but he was then invited to the club’s training ground to meet the players. Honk!

7 December: “People have to get their head out of the clouds and realise we’ve done well to achieve what we’ve achieved so far and how tough it is for us as a group … You miss Romain [Esse], you miss Japhet [Tanganga] and you miss Jake Cooper. Three players that probably get in anybody’s Championship team. So just a reminder to people, the thickos, that when you take the three best players out of the team that this is Millwall Football Club” – Lions boss Neil Harris offers a reality check after their 1-0 home defeat to Coventry in the Championship.

12 December: “Today I am announcing that I will be leaving Millwall Football Club after Saturday’s game against Middlesbrough. I always said when I returned that I would leave when the time felt right, and now is that time” – Harris confirms he’ll be stepping down at the Den for a second time this weekend.

In an era of commentary that is either drab or Drurian, Pien Meulensteen offers a rare ray of light and balance. She gets her chat on with Tom Garry.

The riveting new Bigger Cup format is serving up an unusual quantity of kickings. Nick Ames wonders why that might be.

Never one for joy even at his peak, Steven Gerrard is exploring new frontiers of unhappiness at Al-Ettifaq, writes Jonathan Liew.

It’s Atalanta’s turn in the Gentlemen Ultra’s series on nostalgic Serie A five-a-side teams – and my oh my is there some wonderful hair on display.

Jamie Jackson picks through part 540,986 of football’s most compelling tragi-farce.

But Manchester United fans can, though, console themselves with the realisation that however bad things get, at least they’re not Tottenham. David Hytner ponders the latest humiliating disaster to afflict the denizens of N17.

Summer 1978: Having won the World Cup with Argentina, Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Villa arrive at Tottenham, kipper ties and all, Villa having apparently refrained from sleep for several years previously.