Erithacus

Another WSL game at the Gate, another disappointment. I will accept that there is a good side sat on the treatment tables and today's side is far from first pick all round. However, there also has to be a response that can afford a decent chance of playing against lower-half teams. For too long this afternoon we were uncertain, reserved, stand-offish. Yes, it's inevitable that a makeshift side will struggle but I feel there should have been a little more passion. Starting in a 5-4-1 out is the default formation and designed to prevent being overrun, but it also has the effect of giving players the 'defend first' mindset. It's what we've done all season. The first 10-15 minutes was encouraging but faded into a fall-back around our own half thereafter. It helps to score the first goal but we didn't defend well enough; both goals both preventable (although well taken in truth). Trying to get forward and opening up the flanks proved difficult; Ella Powell did get a couple of runs going but the invariable outcome was a cross into the box for our only forward to get on the end of it. Too often we offered little threat up front. Ffion Morgan was the other fullback, interestingly, and also tried to get going but, once again, was often found out of position when we lost the ball. The midfield was finding Vicki Losada a real handful and the Brighton players looked a step quicker in thinking and moving. As the second half started it looked like there had been a stiff halftime talk. The girls were brighter, quicker and had a much more aggressive attitude. Some progress and goals did come from that but it was a Sisyphean task when the defence could not keep it out of the net. Getting back to 3-4 only brought more weak defending and concessions. Lauren Smith might have been a bit more courageous with the substitutions but they didn't really get much joy. The last quarter of an hour had a sense of a desperate all-out gamble that fell short by some margin. It's not been great watching us this season. There is a clear separation at the foot of the table and it doesn't look like it will be closed yet. We have a decent squad but lack real talent in depth. The girls don't deserve this but the WSL is no place for charity. The champagne from last season's promotion party has dried up, and it's painful seeing hopes and dreams being dashed. The bottom line is we can't defend well enough and can't score enough - plain and simple.

The Bristol Old Vic is famous for the odd arrangement of seating. Many seats have restrictions of view and restrictions of legroom. All makes for an authentic experience and they even have the original benches at the back (for show only).

That might be a question that will be cause the club's hand to be forced by economic constraints. Then again, it will be interesting to see the club's management of season ticket renewal: will they want to see how many will return in the case of relegation and wait on the demand?

Football returns! Time to get moving and get some points today. Really is becoming a necessity that we end the defeats and avoid getting cut adrift now. COYR!

Concerned to hear there has been a serious shooting at the Chiefs' victory parade today. Several injured and one dead. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-68300903

Wow, what a battle! Vegas certainly knows how to keep you on the knife-edge. In a game where neither team really had a firm grip on things and there were plenty of errors - most small, a few bigger - it was a gruelling war of attrition. Looking at the Chiefs it looked like their old woes were back with some errant passes, miscues and low snaps all night. However, they managed to contain the shakes and drive hard when they needed it. Give the Niners a real pat on the back as their Defense was up to Mahomes' game all night until the last plays. They spoiled the Chiefs' rouses at crucial moments, and Purdy found a few receivers when the chips were down. However, with the game grinding to a nail-biting tie in regulation it was then the reigning champions stepped up a gear. With fatigue - mental as well as physical - setting in Kansas City made the plays when it counted. What a game. It also seems, in a roundabout way, that I made the right prediction (not withstanding the overtime). Well waddya know. Now I'm off to bed to digest that pizza. Oh, and did Taylor's Japan gig end without any encores, I wonder...?

Didn't Bengals' NT Tim Krumrie break his leg untouched that game? Ouch! I wish to plead Fifth Ammendment.

The Big Day has arrived! What are your thoughts on Superbowl LVIII? I'm finding it difficult to look past Mahomes and the Chiefs' offensive firepower, now they seem to have repaired the issues of earlier. It means the test will pivot on the 49ers' D, which is a good one but I suspect is not going to apply too much pressure on passing downs. Tight game, but I'll go for Chiefs by 3. Meanwhile, the dough is being left to prove...

Sadly, cidercity1987, I was not at that game so don't have a view. I was at a Western League match and was involved in a rally that evening too so could not go. What I will say is that West Ham's shock win is really making things more difficult for us now, naturally; the draw at Villa now has less aura. I can only hope the girls will pick up and find points like the Hammers and that the clutch of teams now on even terms above us will have one that crumbles as the season draws on. I feel the side is beginning to benefit from returning injuries and that there is potential for better results. Mathematically there are plenty of opportunities, but the winnable games are in short supply. It will be a real test. Also sad to hear about the fan collapsing at Villa. Puts a different perspective on things.

A few changes to the line-up today and it looks like they are up for it. Girls are showing some character and resolve, which will set the tone for the rest of the season. COYR

Nice through ball and a strong, composed finish! But need another now.

Well put, Shahan, and clearly the side has not performed as well as the previous season for those reasons and others. There have been problems in all depatments. If we compare the Championship winning side with this one there are a few significant changes, particularly in midfield. It was almost a new side in September in terms of the playing style. I also think we have resorted to more cautious or defensive mindsets.

Well the Lions didn't change their gameplan much but coach Campbell rolled the dice too often last night. They were off to a flyer at 17 points up but managed to throw the advantage away with some questionable 4th down gambles. It was a brave but ultimately foolish approach that means they will be watching the Big Game at home. But give the 49ers a clap, they didn't buckle or bitch like some other teams might have. Shanahan's years of (often painful) experience gave them the increasing momentum to grab a deserved win and their ticket to Vegas. Whilst both QBs had mixed fortunes, it was the ground game where the big men up front made the difference. So, Chiefs v 49ers then. Must order the pizza and dig up some TayTay songs this week...

The Ravens made a number of critical mental errors at the wrong times. If they had kept their cool and not been so stupid they would be winning. Attitudes cost them a shot at the Superbowl, with Mahomes showing a better application than the Chiefs have shown before. They learned their lessons from earlier in the season and are now favourites, surely?

That may prove to be a heavy nail in this season's coffin, sadly. For all the girls' efforts and application there was a distinct difference between the two teams. It was most noticable when driving forwards: we tended to improvise more and were slower to realise the better ball, whereas West Ham's midfield dropped back as a unit and when they gained possession, surged forwards quicker and with more certainty than us. They expected a pass and move, we needed to look about first and then play. That might apply to the mens' team too, incidentally. So it proved that West Ham were able to create a scoring opportunity and take it when it came to them, having absorbed the pressure and broke - somewhat against the flow of play. Their acccuracy defined the game, and we were chasing for the rest of it. I wonder what the exact state of the players' fitness was pre-game. It seemed that a few were carrying knocks and didn't perform at the maximum. Satara Murray came into the starting line-up after a long time out and didn't last the half. Several probable starters were not on the team-sheet and that may have made all the difference. But given that, it looked a bit of a bold move to have Mari Ward on instead of Ffion Morgan - the latter's introduction for the second half sparked the equaliser. Ward is a young talent and will be the future but didn't get much traction today. Indeed, with Abi Harrison starting at left wing-back, Thestrup was once again isolated; with the Hammers holding a solid 4-4-1-1 all game it was their closing down in packs that stifled most of City's probing attacks. We simply didn't make enough progress going forwards, for all our possession. Their 'keeper had a quiet afternoon in all honesty. Having found the net early in the second half, we should have stepped it up but floundered and left Viviane Asseyi unchallenged for too long; Struck drifted to the middle to double-mark Ueki and left the space. We didn't really deserve it but at this level it is often the moments of uncertainty that count. With time running out, Smith shuffled the top end but left it until the last 10-15 minutes. Shania Hayles immediately looked lively and hungry; Stratigakis didn't really get much change out of the Hammers' defence. All in all it was another frustrating performance in front of a decent crowd of over 6,000. I accept that the team has a number of injuries and the likelihood of new talent arriving before the deadline looks poor, but that makes the rest of the season a long and difficult battle. Yes, we are only just over the halfway stage (with lots of points on offer still) but it's difficult to see where the wins are going to come from now. We will need anoter team to fall apart for our benefit. Ashton Gate has not proved a fortress, indeed it is a happy hunting ground for visitors. We have a home league record of Pld: 6, L: 6; goals: 4-15. It simply won't cut it.

Getting ready for today's game. Although it's only just into the second half of the season (so mathematics are yet to be relevant and I hate to use the term but...) today's game seems like a Must Win. It may well be a crucial point in City's tenure. Hoping the new recruits will be able to lift the team to victory. COYR

So who would you have make way for Evans in the middle? I don't know her so I assume it will be a straight swap for whoever. Will this give Smith more options?

Finished W Ham 3-4 Spurs, in a game that was as wild as the weather. Some strange football here, with weak defending but sharp stuff up front. We need to make sure next week.

Clinton strikes again! Now 3-1 to Spurs - hopefully they can notch a few more and that will put the Hammers below us on GD. Another note is that Cissoko has picked up yet another yellow and is now suspended for next week against us.

Can't claim this is anything but very disappointing. However, still plenty to play for next week. Speaking of which, ex-City striker Grace Clinton has just put Spurs 1-0 up against the Hammers. A defeat for West Ham will be some measure of consolation.

You could rent one from a tool hire company for a while. See if it does what you need before spending big bucks.

Another performance that is more about frustration than disappointment. We seem to be falling into a way of getting the better of the stats except the scoreline. Whilst it is not that concerning for the FA Cup, it does put the rest of the season into sharper focus. I thought the side got to grips with Liverpool from the start and could have made greater gains, but lacked a quality touch at the business end of the pitch. Better creativity or better movement would have been the springboard for scoring. Sadly, we didn't have that touch today; Thestrup was often isolated by a competent defence. Chances were few throughout most of the game, which largely saw both teams canel each other out. For a change, the starting formation departed from the 5-4-1, with Powell and Mustaki able to roam into the wing-half positions. That gave some extra width which was helpful. In the middle, Rogers was at the heart of most of the battles; Symes fizzled at times but found progress difficult. Abi Harrison, starting more right-sided for a change, had a few useful moves but it was disappointing to see her taken off at the half. Defensively, Connolly was commanding and for long stretches of the game Liverpool hardly had a look at goal. Yañez, making her debut, had little to do of note - such was the flow. However, when the opposing player was sent off in the middle of the second half it didn't really make too much difference - Liverpool were already in a resolute mindset and could manage. They even brought on Flint and Van de Sanden and left two up top, with their pace a threat. But the decisive moment occurred just a few minutes before time at a set-piece, when the unequal numbers was less of a factor. You might call it a lucky break but that doesn't stop it counting. Once that went in, the girls pushed forward more energetically but couldn'd find that touch. Also disappointing was the crowd of a 'mere' 2,500. In the past that would have been considered fabulous but, as a measure of progress, it looks a little underwhelming today. Clearly the draw of the FA Cup is faltering in the women's game too. In terms of new recruits in the January window, I don't expect much to happen. With the much smaller talent pool in the women's game, there will be fewer to pick from. I also note that the club as a whole is looking at a deficit of £22 million - there won't be much spare for the girls, probably. In comparison, I see Man City are to build a bespoke women's facility at their training ground - a cool £10 million is going into that: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67943010 . How the other half live...

Will be a Western League game for me today.

The dynasty has finally ended! Belichick has left the Pats after 24 years of unparalleled history. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/67948937

Got a long weekend ahead but I'll be there.