Home, chickens, roost, to, coming. Unjumble

As I passed comment on the Israeli football result, I feel I must pass some words on last night's nitwitted display. First, of all, it was a dreadful incident not unforseen, but if you can't even secure a draw at home against capable but far from outstanding opponents (though in 1974 the Poles went to the World Cup semi-finals and in 1994 the Dutch made the quarters), then you don't deserve to be called a big team or go anywhere special and good. The opponents lost a regional Yugoslav derby when something was riding on it (at least til half-time), but last night, with nothing but pride to play for, easily outclassed their hosts, who were desperate in all senses. There again, pride was something very real to play for, because the national press of the lower order gave the visiting coach's teamtalk for him (as they so often do with other opposing national coaches); though in some ways what was said was true, because not one of the visiting team's players would get in the host's side - the visitors are far better than that, especially in team cohesion. There has been a whole catalogue of errors (sponsored by cliche) since the remainder of Sven-Goran Eriksson's contract was terminated. Overall, 2007 has been a pretty dismal year for sport regarding the nation, from the start until now, occasional highlights unable to prevent ultimate failure. The only two exceptions have been the Great Britain Rugby League team and the Davis Cup tennis success (against a certain Balkan nation).
But it's only sport, a recreation. It pales in comparison with the horrifying news that extensive personal details of 25 million people has been lost by the government. It just gets worse the more one thinks about it and it has been called by leading computer experts a disater waiting to happen. Last year, Private Eye ran an article, headlined "Gordon is a moron" in which the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, slashed the budget available to Customs and Revenue, including in a department for staff redundancies which gathered in more money than the removal of their wages from the bill would accrue. So a minor piece of bad housekeeping is symbolic of the corner-cutting measures involved in this government, that has led to the calamity that has befallen the nation if those two discs don't turn up. Experts are warning identity fraud could dog Britain for years now.