Phileas Fogg

Would you pick Rashford? He seems to be a real Southgate favourite - but, imo, hasn't justified being anywhere near consideration.

My favourite grounds aesthetically are Ibrox, Anfield and Villa Park. I also really liked Maine Road, very unique looking ground. I also like The Valley. My least favourite type of stadium is that lower league bowl style - somewhere like Doncaster

Yeah - I don't think it's been planned brilliantly in terms of generating atmosphere - and the concourse areas feel unfinished - but it's pretty good. I remember the bizarre "bus stop" proposals for the new ground when that was on the table - at least we didn't end up with that.

I think generally people class a good ground as somewhere with history, status and tradition (Fratton Park, Villa Park, Anfield, Ibrox etc) or an exceptional modern ground that has world class facilities (Spurs new ground for example). What you don't want is to go from a traditional ground with character and tradition into a disappointing new ground/rebuild - (Man City, Coventry, Southampton, West Ham) that loses all character and tradition but isn't necessarily a massive upgrade. I think we've done relatively well with the AG rebuild in balancing both, it's not perfect but given the limitations I think it's pretty good.

I think the comments on this thread are ok really - so it shouldn't be disappointing that people don't hold the same opinion.

It’s likely a metaphoric goal about getting back to his best - makes sense to aim as high as possible.

This isn’t the middle ages - people don’t stay in one place anymore so I don’t know why you keep posting this. The general consensus from ‘chirpy cockneys’ West Ham about loudest set of fans to visit them this season? Us

I’d quite like them to let Jon Lansdown off the leash and use his creative genius honed at fever pitch to devise the most hated kit possible. Onyego as sponsor, Robin badge in LGBT colours, made by O’Neills, font in comic sans.. would really like to see what he’d come up with

…….

It’s all relative though - with their league position and wage budget - you’d expect automatic promotion fairly stress free.

Vardy’s finishing was odd - I appreciate he’s getting on a bit now, but you’d expect him to bury at least 2 of the chances he had. It felt like one of those football manager games they throw in sometimes where you’re doing too well so guaranteed to lose regardless.

Agreed - win Monday and I think I’ll be more open minded. I appreciate we’ve had lots of injuries - but I just feel so uninspired by it all. I was fairly ambivalent whether we won or lost today.

I thought we played well - but I had the nagging feeling we won essentially due to Leicester being on poor form. I doubt they’d have missed the chances they did if they were on form. Our game plan worked though, Manning got that right. Lots of managers would’ve subbed Mehmeti off before his goal - good to see Manning stick with him and it paying off. I’m far from convinced but he deserves credit for today - he got it right.

They aren’t clever enough I don’t think - it’s just a textbook JL blunder

Oh come on Tim. You know there any outrage, people are having a nuanced discussion about what is actually a macro issue about awareness and decision making. There is no need to dumb it down so much with a straw man.

People aren’t fussed about the clothing range itself - it’s the lack of awareness from the decision makers which obviously will bleed into meaningful decisions they need to make.

Agreed. Without wanting to turn this into a criticism of Manning, I don’t think this would’ve happened under Pearson. Actually I think most of our previous managers - perhaps Holden aside - would’ve had objections. How they failed to anticipate the response this would’ve received is beyond me.

Interestingly, Vyner hasn’t shared anything about it on social media. If this was his initiative - he surely would’ve done. Wonder what on earth he thinks of it.

Exactly - it’s not about the clothing range, it’s precisely what you’ve written above.

It feels a bit like they’re trying to adopt a similar marketing strategy to an NBA team. Stunts like this, the (royalty free) drill music instrumentals for the team getting off the coach video. The social media team also have favourite players - usually ones who you can tell they deem as ‘cool’ - notice how much attention they give Mehmeti, Vyner and even Mebude relative to others. I’ve complained about the media side of the club for years - whilst flashier now, we lost real understanding of the support when Adam Baker left. It’s almost as if it’s done for them and what they like rather than us.

Look at the range of textures on that! Amazing really when he has the money to wear whatever he likes.

What is quite telling is that this is almost definitely a JL project. He knows, or at least he should know, that fans aren’t happy. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to do yet another thing that will no doubt get disapproval and even ridicule. Whilst this (the clothing range) is obviously fairly insignificant - it does worry me how little he seems to understand the support. If they did something like this after a real high point people wouldn’t care. It’s just about the worst possible time to choose, especially as it’s been an international break without much City news to discuss.

Very bizarre - surely if Vyner wanted to release his own clothing range he could do it off his own steam. Bristol Sport (Fever Pitch) have hardly shown themselves to be marketing savvy. Just a bit confused by it really.

I like that he’s got a bit of an edge to him. He’s got that win at all costs mentality and given his ban, the tournament may well come when he’s at peak game readiness.

Must be tough knowing that 2016 is as good as it’ll likely ever get following Wales. Glad them not qualifying means we don’t have to have inordinate coverage about them during the tournament.