Sign in

Mark Samuels

@marksamuels.bsky.social
636 followers 200 following 464 posts

Journalist | Senior contributing editor at ZDNET | Words for Computer Weekly, Diginomica, IT Pro, CIO, Guardian, and more Aston Villa fan | Shoegazer who loves ambient and drone | Freelancer | Vegetarian with a geography PhD | Dad to two excellent people

PostsRepliesMedia
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
@soniccathedral.bsky.social Nice to see you tonight, chap - an added bonus. Also, saw this on the way home and though of you…
120
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Not bad, but not great. Some nice play at times, but still a massive work in progress. You can see Emery’s trying to get them to play his usual way. But we desperately miss some quality in the middle (in short, Tielemans). Let’s hope we pick something up in the second half. #AVFC
130
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Disappointing result, but lots to be positive about. Yeah, no shots on target, but Arsenal are so well organised. So many players not up to pace and so many more to come in. Good performances from Cash, Buendia and Hemmings. We go again. Up the Villa! #AVFC
230
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Super Madjo and Hemmings to start every week. What a performance from the kids. Up the Villa! #AVFC
010
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
So Madjo’s first official game is a European final. Crazy. Up the Villa! #AVFC
210
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Impressive first half - really enjoyable. Stand-out performers were Madjo, Hemmings, Cisse, Carrol and Nedeljković. All change for the second 45. #AVFC
120
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
The end credits have rolled… That’s all, folks. Four years until another World Cup. Already counting the days. Nothing beats it. Football forever. #WorldCup #WorldCupFinal
010
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Football 1 vs Argentina 0 #ESPARG #ESP #WorldCup #WorldCupFinal
041
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Well, that was fun. #FRAENG #ENG #WorldCup
260
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
What have we just witnessed? Incredible match. Anyone who says England can’t defend should focus on the last 20 minutes plus what felt like four hours of injury time. Total carnage of a game. Football, eh? Incredible. #ENG #ENGMEX #WorldCup
160
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
This World Cup is all about world-class players turning up. Jude Bellingham, take a bow. What a first-half performance. #ENG #ENGMEX #WorldCup
040
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
WTF does this mean? Is this another dig at the Villa? #AVFC #FRASWE #FRA #WorldCup
000
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Japan need a different approach (or manager). All the skill and close control in the world, but that second-half display was far too defensive. Take a risk and play more expansively. Frustrating. Don’t suck up the Brazil hype, either. This isn’t a 1982-era side. #BRAJPN #JPN #WorldCup
110
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
So far, the final round of group games have been a wash out. The comfort of a potential third-place qualification means too many of the games are being played without risk. The World Cup needs jeopardy at the group stage. #WorldCup
100
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Well, that was fascinating. #ENG #ENGGHA #WorldCup
010
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
I decided to spend the match watching Messi. What was fascinating was his ability to find space. He walked around the pitch and conserved energy. As soon as the ball was near, he was alive. His close control was stupidly good. Used his experience to dominate. Genius. #Messi #ARGAUT #ARG #WorldCup
062
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Well, that was worth staying up for. Brilliant from Cape Verde. Fabulous match. #URUCPV #CPV #WorldCup
030
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Two things from this World Cup. One, it’s the first World Cup where I think ITV’s coverage is much better than BBC’s. Two, Peter Crouch would advertise anything. #WorldCup
100
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Senegal look great. France look awful. #FRASEN #FRA #SEN #WorldCup
100
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Cape Verde were heroic. Spain were hopeless. What a performance by the newcomers. Get in! #WorldCup #ESPCPV #CPV
130
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
I love the Japanese national anthem. Thirty seconds of euphoric sadness. Like something lifted straight from a sad cutscene in Zelda. Wonderful stuff. #WorldCup #NEDJPN #JPN
141
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Now we’ve got the monkey off our back and finally won a major trophy, I think our aim for this season should be simple: beat Palace (and if that’s unreasonable, then not losing by three or four). Well played, Eagles - two trophies in two years. #AVFC #CPFC
170
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Memo to Unai: send the players on a three-day bender before every away day. What a way to end a brilliant season. Up the Unai! Up the Villa! #AVFC
050
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Not good enough Villa. Absolutely livid. (Joke. Who cares?) Europa League Champions! #AVFC
030
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Aston Villa - Europa League Winners 2026. Get in! Class all over the pitch. So pleased for Unai and the lads. Up the Villa! #AVFC
050
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
We liked: Italy, Bulgaria, Australia. #Eurovision
000
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
What. A. Performance. Up the Villa! #AVFC
050
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Diabolical. Unprofessional and pathetic. As bad as anything from the year we went down. #AVFC
010
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
My hometown team Racing Club Warwick have won on penalties to reach the Northern Premier League. What an achievement - up the Racers!
110
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Yay! Chapterhouse playing Whirpool in full in London - with @rachelgoswell.bsky.social on special guest vocals for Pearl. Lovely stuff and a great night out. Happy 35th Birthday, Whirlpool! #Chapterhouse #Shoegazing #Shoegaze #Slowdive
Chapterhouse live in Islington, London.
050
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Only football can do that. From joy to dejection to anger to ecstasy in six minutes. What on earth was that? Completely incredible. Champions League almost secured. Up the Villa! #AVFC
061
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Went to see the Boards of Canada posters/Reddit shrine in Soho, which is a stone’s throw from my old office in Broadwick Street. The past inside the present. #BoardsofCanada #BOC #Warp #Bleep
Boards of Canada posters/Reddit shrine in Soho.Boards of Canada posters/Reddit shrine in Soho.Boards of Canada posters/Reddit shrine in Soho.Boards of Canada posters/Reddit shrine in Soho.
070
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Had a look around the David Bowie archive at the V&A East Storehouse. Well worth a visit. #V&A #Bowie
David Bowie archive at V&A East Storehouse.David Bowie archive at V&A East Storehouse.David Bowie archive at V&A East Storehouse.David Bowie archive at V&A East Storehouse.
140
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Loved the Pet Shops Boys and their Obscure concert in Camden. Some of my favourite b-sides are rare cuts, including Jack The Lad, Always, King’s Cross, and Later Tonight. Great night out. #PetShopBoys #PSB #Obscure
Pet Shop Boys in Camden, London.Pet Shop Boys in Camden, London.Pet Shop Boys in Camden, London.Pet Shop Boys in Camden, London.
090
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
My Bloody Valentine at the Royal Albert Hall. Yay! #MBV #MyBloodyValentine #Shoegaze #Shoegazing
My Bloody Valentine at the Royal Albert Hall.My Bloody Valentine at the Royal Albert Hall.My Bloody Valentine at the Royal Albert Hall.
250
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
If Carlsberg did weekends… Brilliant stuff. Up the Villa! #AVFC
060
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
The definition of professional. Unai is such a game manager. No need to rush it. Let them chase the game and hit them when there’s an opening. He must be delighted - I’m sure that game was exactly how he envisioned it. I thought Watkins and Sancho were great second half. Up the Villa! #AVFC
070
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
I’ve probably got a low bar for quality but I didn’t think we were too bad in the first half. Yes, not enough attempts at goal, but we looked a bit better at times. Rogers looked lively and I thought Bogarde played well. Let’s hope we nab something. #AVFC
110
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
It’s starting to look like a miserable end to a miraculous season, unless something equally miraculous happens again. This team has lost its way. Yes, the injured players are a huge loss. But the players on the pitch must offer more. Just depressing. Fair play to Wolves - they wanted it. #AVFC
030
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Unlucky Britain end up with the silver. But motormouth Steve Cram picks up two golds for mansplaining and STFU. #Curling #Olympics #WinterOlympics
020
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Look Mum No Computer representing the UK at Eurovision has the potential to be weirder than weird. His YouTube channel is an incredible mix of genius invention and full-on electronica and techno. He’s very watchable and often very funny. Take this video, for example.
m.youtube.com
TELETUBBY TIDAL WAVE Build Log Part 1 - Cascading Sound Machine
YouTube video by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER
000
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Err… #Prisencolinensinainciusol #Olympics
040
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Should have just used this slice of genius as the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. m.youtube.com/watch?v=RObu... #Olympics #WinterOlympics #OlympicsOpeningCeremony
m.youtube.com
Adriano Celentano - 'Prisencolinensinainciusol'
YouTube video by John Bow
001
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
No idea how we dug ourselves out of that hole, but however we did it, that was a lot of fun. Up the Euro Villa! #AVFC
020
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
A week ago, we looked jaded and there was concern from lots of people - including me - that the wheels could come off. Never doubt these players; never doubt the manager. To wins and two clean sheets in three days at Fenerbahçe and Newcastle. Incredible stuff. Up the Villa! #AVFC
180
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
We could have played for months and not scored. No excuses, just not good enough. The passing was off all game. Letting Malen go so early in the window looks odd. Villa without McGinn are weak. The midfield looks so hollow. Lots of work to do now to stop all the good work from unraveling. #AVFC
040
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
Oh my. Congratulations to The Silkmen - absolutely brilliant. The biggest FA Cup shock ever. Well done, Macclesfield FC! #FACup #Macclesfield #Macc
010
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
The best cover versions offer a completely different take on a song and highlight the quality of the original songwriting. This accordion-based cover of Boards of Canada’s ‘Dayvan Cowboy’ is the musical equivalent of that definition. Incredibly beautiful. #BOC #NP www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwfe...
youtube.com
Boards of Canada: "Dayvan Cowboy" Reimagined on Folk Accordion
YouTube video by Late Night Accordion Musings (Chauncey Canfield)
010
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Happy New Year… …and Happy Easter from Waitrose.
The Easter products at Waitrose.
340
Mark Samuels @marksamuels.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
I thought we were great in the first half. Breaking up play and causing lots of issues upfront. Wish we’d taken one of our chances. The second half has been a catalogue of errors and some clinical finishing from Arsenal. It’s been a great run. Move on, get some players back, and go again. #AVFC
010