Erithacus

Hail Michegan! The Wolverines are the newly crowned college champions after beating Washington last night (this morning) in Houston, landing them with a glittering 15-0 record. A couple of breakout runs in the first quarter gave the Huskies a mountain they couldn't quite scale. A few ill-timed turnovers from battered QB Peniz Jr. gave Michegan the chance to squeeze the opportunities for a comeback. Seemed quite a refreshing battle this season without most of the usual suspects. Next time the play-offs are going to be expanded, so that will be worth a good watch.

It may not feel much consolation but the Pats are looking like they will undergo a metamorphosis. Once Brady left, it was only going to be a matter of time before Belichick was put under the squeeze. Is the dynasty about to crumble? Will the Jets revive with the AFC East now unclamped?

Think my old man bought me a pair of Gold Cups when I was about big enough for school footy. They were a decent boot with cardboard insoles that soaked up the water and rivetted soles. Made in China - at a time when little was outside of Hong Kong. Later selected Mitres from a shop in Sandy Park or Fairfax House. Eventually graduated to Adidas Liberos - it didn't stop me playing like a cow on a bike though.

Aye, but caused many players to suffer shins with divots. Skinned or took lumps out on a regular basis. #mensgame

Seem to recall Alan Hinton of Derby Co being the first (or the first at pro level) to wear white boots in the early 70s and being on MotD for it. Before that, of course, boots came in one regulation colour - tan! My old man used to wear his new boots and stand in the brook on Hartcliffe Way for half an hour before the kick-off to soften them.

It really has been an unpredictable season - in a league where unpredicability is woven into the fabric. Several teams have had mighty swings in form and their paths to the play-offs have been in like kind. Perhaps this is the fruit of having an extra game season. I can't help thinking the Chiefs are exasperated by their own failings - not that they have had many since Mahomes arrived - and are now tasting some reality. Another team I worry about are the Jags - Lawrence has improved greatly and the results show it, but I still think they have yet to realise full potential and can stumble. He was out this weekend but is reported as being close to return. Love the play-offs, even before they start formally. Some teams have started to open the throttles and the pain grows with every down. Meanwhile, the College season has passed the four-team semi-finals mark, with the big game next weekend. Next season they will expand it to twelve - seems a really good move.

Interesting graphic; nice one, Shahanshahan. It's nice to see but I'll be more content at the end of the season. I also assume this is for league games only, not cup or European stuff. It may eventually point to Ashton Gate being the second home of the Lionesses. Still it does show that playing at the Gate has proved very popular. Also note that the Gate is the highest ranked single venue - almost all the other teams have a choice of two.

It's always been an unwanted tradition amongst football fans: the Boxing Day game, with lots of heavy, booze and sprout-fuelled dinners still fermenting away inside. There ought to be a law that some spectators should have a catalytic converter fitted. I personally have a special pocket in my undergarments for a piece of asbestos.

The Women's team was previously Bristol Academy before the Bristol Sport group swooped to take over. Earps was in goal 2014-15, and kept the score lower than we were really worth. Despite her obvious talent, the team crumbled and were relegated after 2015. No surprise she has proved far better in the following seasons.

Great to see ex-City (Academy) keeper Mary Earps win BBC Sports Personality of the Year tonight. We bask in her glory. Pity she didn't have time to dress and had to appear in her bedroom kit.

The BRI. Broke my arm as a kid and the 23rd and spent Christmas Morning in the wards before being sent home for dinner, arm in a sling. One good memory was that the nurses came around on Christmas Eve singing carols. Those were the days.

A good performance but, undeniably, a loss. With West Ham picking up a late point at Leicester it does have an impact. Yes, we weren't really expected to get anything out of today's game but the table is unforgiving. No need to panic, but it all counts in the end. When you consider how we were at the beginning of the season, it does give me real encouragement that the team has found its feet at the top level, are now up to speed and can give anyone a game. There has been steady progress and hopefully it will carry on all the way. Looking at Chelsea's world all stars it was always going to demand a resolute application of the shape - yes, a 4-5-1 of course. They look like the proverbila well-oiled machine and their interplay showed how much time they must spend on the training field. Keeping the Chelsea midfield at bay proved not impossible but a real test. Amy Rodgers had a strong influence on proceedings but was up against perhaps the best midfield in Europe. She was rock and also tried to start counter-attacks when she tackled opponents. Fran Kirby's ability to fill the Number 10 role, just off the front line, and make herself available at all times was a major headache; Erin Cuthbert's box-to-box coverage and her defensive skills were untouchable; Lauren James glided through the defence on occasions and ex-Robin Sophie Ingle kept a calming assurance to the middle. Jamie-Lee Napier looks to be growing into the role and stopped a number of moves down the left wing at source. She battled well and perhaps could have scored in the first half. It was good to see the girls give as good as they got and had a couple of good chances that, with a little more confidence, could have found the net and changed the game completely - particularly as Chelsea gave the ball away in their own box at times. I thought Nayomi Layzel had a great game and was as solid as anyone in the back line. I suspect that having the experience of Meg Connolly is a real education. Ella Powell did well to keep the wing tight and tried to make a run up the line on the odd occasion when play allowed. In goal, Liv CLark continued her reliable form and was generally a safe pair of hands. The goals were difficult to stop but the head injury at the end is cause for more concern as the goalkeepers depth is now a worry. Although often having to stay on the back foot, Thestrup was largely shackled and had little to really get hold of. Abi Harrison started (once again) as wide left but slid into a more central position, eventually dropping a little deeper and was always looking to find a gap in the defence. Her hard work was not properly rewarded. Ffi Morgan's pace posed a threat but opportunities were limited. Overall, it was a display that will be heartening. Despite the result it shows the team in a much better light and if some players can return during the mid-season break now then it will be all the better. As the next game will be the Liverpool cup game, it should be a platform to move forwards (and up the table) in the New Year.

All round to Spudski's then! I'll bring a bottle...

I won't exacerbate the Yorkies debate but Brussels? Yes please! In our house they were known as bum bullets.

Sadly didn't take the chances that were created and paid for being just the one goal up for most of the game. Side was much changed from the league selection with lots of players with fewer minutes under their belts given the opportunity against a Championship side who were lined up in similar respect. Infrequent first-teamers were generally on top of things, dominating possession and pushing forwards. However, there were a few good chances that should have been sitting in the net but weren't. In the end a rare Reading attack slipped under Haaland's body just before full time. Penalties - we missed one and another was saved. We were already out of the next stage before a ball was kicked, of course. Good to see how the academy is getting some talent emerge, especially Maya Kendell. Bright and tricky on the ball, and keen to take opponents on. Most of the expected starting XI for Sunday's game against Chelsea were kept warm and not used.

Let's hope we're still cheering after tonight's game.

I'll be getting the bus pass before soon too! What I'll do with it is another matter...

Thought Moneyfields was the lowest ranked still in (away to London City); Ks are the lowest local team after beating the Gas Girls. <Rubs hands in expectation> The match is due the week after the men's third round date, so could be a handy double.

I passed my test a year after you, PSR, and also have the 'paper' licence. It still amuses/frustrates me when I have to provide it for the bank or whatever and the spotty clerk is dumbfounded. They don't realise that they don't have a photograph inset and can't work out what else to do. I've lost years off my life trying to get anything sorted at times. Looking at the official Government website it looks like the DVLC at Swansea was set up in 1965 taking over licence issue from county or borough councils. The new green paper format was introduced on 1st March, 1973 (there were about 20 million drivers then).

The Chiefs are slowly starting to fall apart and the cracks are now showing. The glory days are looking a little more distant after the 6-6 Bills put one on them, and after a game where they gave away so many silly penalties. Still they remain top of the AFC West, a game ahead of a fast-emerging Denver. Old Patrick will probably be glad they have to play three more games against teams at the bottom of their divisions. They couldn't, could they...?

Yes the saga of the construction of a Clifton bridge largely encapsulates Bristol's civic story in a way that us modern types will recognise. It's creation was a round of dreams and dashes, starts and stops, funding crises and all manner of delays. No wonder old IKB fell off his perch before it was finally opened. Hawkshaw and Barlow were brought in as fire-fighters to a project that had stalled badly. I may be harsh in saying it but it is a minor miracle that it ever got finished. But thankfully it did and now Bristol has an icon to rank among the best of our nation. Could we imagine what the place would be like if it had been scrapped?

We are out of the Nations League semi-finals, and also have lost a slot in the Olympics too (as TGB), so a double blow for most. No-one has won tonight. Despite the obvious difference in class, we didn't stop trying and knew the Scots would not stay close for the full 90 minutes. Yes, there was a lot of huffing and puffing when a better ball was needed, but the game was running our way. I thought that the second half substitutions didn't really improve anything and we drifted towards the end. Kirby was always looking like she was ten seconds ahead of the rest of the play, yet came off. Toone's introduction didn't spark too much, neither did Russo. Yet when we needed a player to make that extra effort who else but Lucy Bronze? I can't see another English fullback like her; she will be a huge miss when she finally stops. But it's counted for nothing at the finish. The Dutch hit two stoppage time goals to seal it, and I echo RedLionLad's comments. Still, we had plenty of chances to get the job done well before now. No excuses. I too wonder if the 'playing too many games' mentality has taken root here. Interesting to see what happens with this NewCo takeover of the top end of women's football next season. They might be playing many more than they do now - and all for the dollar sign?

In a big crunch the Niners went to Philly and set about the job with both barrels loaded. Tempers were up even during the pre-game warm-ups. But in a probable NFL first, a sideline scuffle broke out and the Eagles chief security man was ejected from the game. He's supposed to have access all areas but getting involved with the 49ers linebacker at close quarters was a mistake. He was escorted out of the stadium by his underling. Niners gave the Eagles a pre-Christmas stuffing too. Only in the NFL...

Punk was a massively exagerated response to the safe and cushy music scene in this country in the early/mid 70s. The music companies were totally in control. They told us what was good, what we should aspire to, what to listen to. We were merely the consumers. The spark initially created in America ignited a different rocket over there but caused a huge explosion over here. It was not only a type of music, it was a whole culture (or counter-culture, if you will). Not only did the style of music change, the whole experience of life for teenagers did. What had been an increasing tension and discontent in the 70s found a release. And what a release. Punk was so full of fury, so full of passion, so full of attitude it could not continue at the same rate. It was too fast to live, too powerful to die. The white heat burned brightly, but not for long. It's true that the shockwaves are still reverberating today, albeit in quieter waves. Could you imagine what our music landscape would sound like today if it wasn't for Punk?

A game of two halves, no? First half was a flat and uncertain effort, with a question over the midfield producing little going forward and not offering much cover for the defence. No-one had a good rating and the lack of positivity was stifling. Lots of players were below par. Second half and the change to a more front-biased formation was key. Mead coming on, with Russo later, gave us a new dimension and the Dutch had to respond by dropping back more. Once England get on the front foot (helped by our attack-heavy squad) we are difficult to deal with. Once we got our foot in and broke up the play, being first to the loose balls like we used to, we turned the match on its head. Wiegman will have to have a good review of this game and re-learn our best football. Scotland won't be a doddle and with our fate in other nations' hands we have to say we have gotten what we deserve.