Red-Robbo

The OP is using stats like a drunk uses a lamp post: For support rather than illumination.

I think that's an example of a "backronym" - someone taking a word and then building a back story around it as a way of explaining it. Other examples include people claiming posh stood for 'port out, starboard home' (it didn't) and pom meant 'prisoner of her majesty' (it also never did). Any cockney geezer will tell you n*n** is just short for a 'nonsense': a prison term for those interested sexually in children.

He may be a buffoon, but I don't think we can blame him for the shit way the government privatised the railways, the shit way major planning applications are dealt with and can be almost indefinitely delayed or the actions of North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils. Part of the problem I think is that Bristol is defined as a wealthy city, so it gets less cash for these sort of projects than other cities Oop North or in Wales etc. I'd quite like to see the argument that suggests a Newcastle-style underground is the way to go, rather than a tram system like Manchester or a light-railway network like Leeds.

I was under the impression that GWR runs the area's franchise and Network Rail runs the infrastructure and the vast majority of that line runs through North Somerset Council's area and its re-opening is being piloted by the West of England Combined Authority. I also thought the recent delays were caused by environmental groups protesting about impact which led the government to put granting of consent on hold for 6 months.

Happy I wasn't there. We aren't getting our money's worth. I mean us as punters, not just the club.

My vintage programme collection. ?

I told my kids they'll be disinherited if they support anyone other than City.

Except N.O.N.C_ means "paedophile", not "homosexual". (You can't write the word on this forum)

The scientific basis for saying "this squad is capable of X, Y or Z" is about as sound as getting your weather forecast from a bit of seaweed. The fact is, Pearson inherited a disinterested and demoralised squad and has started to rebuild, but is stymied by high-wage underperformers he is stuck with this season. I'm as disappointed in the last few years of City performances as you, but he's only halfway to getting the sort of squad he might be able to work with here. Next season, he'll hopefully have more ducks in a line and we can accurately judge how he's working out. I don't think Pearson is beyond criticism and for sure I've seen him make mistakes. I'd like to give him that extra window to see what he can do though. Financial considerations are hardly a "smokescreen" though. There is a reason why the two runaway leaders of this division are where they are. Including the club that beat us by one (offside) goal yesterday.

It isn't just about lack of parachute payments. It's about the financial precipice City stand on, thanks to the profligacy of the past management. Put both together, Pearson's hands are tied. We've known all season we cannot compete with the best in this division. Yesterday at least showed we can worry them by scoring on the break.

Got a freebie for this year.

Those Lamborghini Urus won't pay for themselves!

Which it still is, if you've had the misfortune of venturing into the suburb surrounding the stadium...

It might at least indicate that the bus exists. In Street, you have nothing to let you know if the service has been cancelled so you end up standing there like a nondy.

It's why I've started using the bus. Bit of a fag. I have to drive to get to a suitable bus stop, and First Group aren't the most reliable, nor do they seem to think us country dwellers deserve the live-time information boards you get in Bristol, HOWEVER the petrol saving and lack of parking hassles are the clincher. Oh plus I'm being "green", getting a bit of a walk and can enjoy more post-match drinks if I want to

It is, but in his film the bits shot in Staines make it look rather drabber and suburban than it actually is.

Desired association with Richmond-upon-Thames, I expect. Funnily enough, I read that the football club was leading local opposition to the move.

I stayed in Staines once. It was quite pleasant, leafy and middle-class. Nice walks along the riverbank. Not what you'd expect from Ali G etc. It's now Staines-upon-Thames having changed its name in 2012 to sound more posh.

Re: Orient. There are a lot of league clubs that have in the past been named after things that aren't where they are based: our, ahem, "friends" The Black Arabs for instance. Forest Green, although a tiny area of a tiny town, is a place. It's Scotland where you get loads of clubs not named after the place they are based. If you can name them all "they'll be dancing on the streets of Raith tonight!"

This is correct. However I didn't count it in the same way as Woolwich Arsenal, as Port vale were founded as Port Vale, changed to Burslem Port Vale then dropped the geographic reference 20 years later. Ironically, when they were known as Burslem Port Vale they didn't play in Burslem, but now that they are just Port Vale they DO play in Burslem. If you wonder how I know all this shite, it's because I have a Stokie mate.

Everton is an area of Liverpool, Queen's Park is an area of north-west London (although QPR aren't based there). There isn't part of Stoke-on-Trent called Port Vale however.

Also, of course, the only English league club not named after a geographical location. You can add Arsenal now, but of course they had Woolwich in their name until 1914.

As a classic letter to Viz pointed out, Carlsberg Special has a crest on the front saying it is "made by appointment to the Royal Danish Court". We think some of our Royals are bad, but at least they don't hang about in parks having fights with imaginary opponents and shitting themselves.

@Calculus worked out the right area, without quite finding the right answer. It would have to be a current L2 side to have played newbies Sutton United and Harrogate, plus it had to be a team that was more successful in the past to have played the big Prem clubs.

Gettin' blunted wiv the Backwell Mandem, brah.