Bedred31

It’s like a monstrous edition of the Masked Singer. Jonathan Ross guesses Taylor Swift or Beyoncé, but it always turns out to be the barmaid from Emmerdale.

Yes it does. I enjoyed Qatar, but some of the stadiums had a longish walk from the bus; I did one 35 min walk in 26 degrees and almost needed an oxygen tent when I got there. In June/ July ( which amazingly was the original FIFA plan) the temperature could have been 40 degrees or more, basically non- survivable for a 50+ European. So expect Nov/Dec.

My first thought was ‘Moyes could have had this for a paltry £25m but bottled it’, in preference for ‘experience’.

Since the ghastly 125th anniversary shirt. And the common thread is….

New manager will have absolutely no latitude or honeymoon period. Fan base is more volatile now that at any time in my 51 years of supporting the club. Even a short run of dodgy results and pressure will mount quickly and massively. SL bringing out his cheque book in Jan will only remind fans that he refused to back Nige. Sort of situation that could unravel quickly.

Our fixtures to Christmas are not too frightening. I think we will do ok. I also think that SL is simply waiting for an opportunity to get shot of NP. Anything below par may well see us entering the new year with a young, bright managerial prospect and a £10m kitty to spend in January. Personally, I’m hoping for a steady, quiet few months.

BBC summariser keeps referring to ‘Weyman’. Not improving my afternoon.

For about 40 years I understood that the line in the Jam’s Eton Rifles was ‘what a clitoris you turned out to be’. Indeed, this became standard abuse among the 5th year boys at Churchill school. A couple of months ago, in conversation with a work colleague who went to Eton (yes, sadly, I have loads of these) it was pointed out to me that the word was ‘catalyst’. Who knew?

Truly sad. Great Englishman who will always be remembered. Closest I got to seeing him was a cameo during Les Bardsley’s testimonial- and glad for that.

Time to cheer ourselves up by checking the cricket score. Oh…

Mine was £45 (cat 3) and I think I must have been sat near Nevertothedarkside. I rather enjoyed it, to be honest. The game was terrible and it was spectacularly wet at times, but as long as you avoid the burgers, the foods ok, and the beers a lot better than it used to be, albeit £7.20 a pint. It’s a habit and the loyalty points are important, but life’s short and I love the fact that I can now look back over hundreds of England games over 40 years. My first Australia game, I think, which was good.

Still think he went too early and to the wrong club. Bournemouth odds on for relegation this year and I can’t see Scott playing that much immediately. He’ll be part of a promotion chasing side next season and receiving a much bigger wage than at City, albeit before crowds half the size of City.But the ‘outstanding Championship prospect’ tag will have gone and instead he’ll be just another promising second string prem player, of which there are many. Kelly hasn’t moved on from Bournemouth or played for England, and I was sure both would follow. Lad should have backed himself and held on a bit longer- sure he could have made a top half prem side in one move if he’d stayed here another season.

Quite, although with Swiss Tony signing the cheques, only a brave man would sign it off as ‘astute’.

Looking at Ipswich, they’ve undoubtedly spent more on incoming players than us(3.5 m declared, 4 signings undeclared), they’ve got loans from Chelsea, Spurs and Man U and they haven’t had to sell their best player. It’s really not a fairy tale.

I almost collided with the Luton team coach yesterday while negotiating a mini roundabout in Bedford. It was being used as part of a Thameslink replacement rail service. (Sunday engineering work etc). This says something but after 24 hours thought I’m still not sure what. Either a refreshing example of a modest, down to earth spirit. Or a pathetic illustration of a hopelessly cheap outfit. Either way, as I said to my neighbour back from Everton, I’m glad I’m a City fan.

Worth noting that Lansdown’s promotion of our academy (coupled with his Channel Island contacts) has completely screwed Southampton’s modus. For years they monopolised West Country talent and traded upwards on the proceeds, but not now.

His time in the game is almost up- he’s not a manager or a coach. He’s made the very best of what he’s got and there must be money in the bank. But Mrs V will probably burn through that quickly and she doesn’t look to me like the kind of girl to stick around when the lights dim and the credit tightens. It’s really never ever going to be as good as this for him and I’d bet that the future could be a bit tricky. So, I’d forget his silliness today, because in a year or three we won’t remember his name.

Love the fact that Pearson’s made us, first and foremost, so hard to beat. Sure, it may compromise a bit of creativity, but I’m loving it, primarily because I can’t recall a moment in the 50 odd years I’ve followed City when this would have been the first thing to mention.

Think David Wagner could be in P45 territory as well.

Ramsdale’s distribution has been terrific. Fancy him over Pickford.

Me too- not least because he has one of the best songs in 40 years of following England.

Impossible to entirely hate an outfit that plays Baccara over the pa at half time.

Combination of McCoist and Dublin is going to kill me.

They’re booing their own anthem. Scotland isn’t a republic.

Too many naughty tackles from Ukraine, frankly.