Erithacus

What a way to celebrate a historic achievement - by destroying almost all credibility in the system. This has rapidly become a pyrrhic victory, but possibly the start of a new beginning. I won't comment on the rights or wrongs of this matter, but it is notable that the new person appointed is a woman. Could this have been a move that was already planned to happen but has been precipitated earlier than expected? Was there an undercurrent at the Spanish offices to move people? It's all beginning to look like a house of cards.

I decided to go too. Decent game, with Weston looking useful going forwards but not so hot at defending set pieces, sadly. Good crowd swelled by 850 from Yeovil. I was a bit surprised that they sell quarts of beer in plastic tankards that have handles!

Spent Friday evening watching Western League football on the Portway. Shirehampton hosted Hengrove at Manor Farm's ground and were neck and neck for much of the game. However, after equalising twice. the home side then hit three in short order to go 5-2 up. Just as the game was reaching the end, Shire were awarded a corner. When they looked at the bottom corner it was washing with water - the tide had risen up over the levels and was flooding the pitch! WIth minutes left the ref had no option but to abandon the match. They don't call it The Creek for nothing!

All rather topical, what with the aero concrete that has 'suddenly' been discovered as being crumbly and schools shutting just before the big return. In fairness, it was made in the 60s to have a life of a mere 30 years, but has been pressed into longer service than was planned. Marvin has big plans to renew this end of the Floating Harbour - did he know this was coming? And if the repairs to the Beacon and Gaol Ferry Bridge is anything to go by, the pot of £50 milllion will be a mere deposit on the final cost. And will the impact on traffic and businesses be accounted for? We might see a rather different and unexpected scene in the future, unless the work is quick and the money doesn't run out.

So the XG is based on historical data, but not an actual game in progress? Seems to be a rough indicator of the game or its aspects. I appreciate the ways stats have been integrated into modern football but I feel the application is far from comprehensive. In short, stats are no predictor of a given moment.

Indeed. There is the thorny question of who 'owns' the Moon, or has the legal rights to it. With a few successful nations looking to take the projects further and colonise, there could well be a serious row back here on Earth. After all, there are no police on the Moon. <Tries to get a Sting reference in, but fails> Yes, we are likely to export our threats and warmongering, our desires and fears to the Moon. And the beat goes on...

I am reminded of a talk I went to recently about the Beagle 2 Mars lander of a few years ago. Remember Kingswood-raised Prof. Colin Pillinger and his team that created a vessel from almost nothing and no budget - getting a crate on board a rocket was a miracle in itself. To actually make a soft landing on Mars beggared impossibilities; sadly the lander didn't quite function properly and no contact was made until after Colin passed away.

Hold on a moment, they're still gentrifying rebuilding it. You'll be fine if you like a student campus on the doorstep. But if you buy wisely you'll be quids in for the future.

There were computer generated videos representing the planned descent, not live streaming. Much more important than feeding your people and providing basic sanitation I suppose. Americans said the same during Apollo in the 60s. Money and politics are favourite topics of debate.

It may seem 'primitive' compared to other systems but this really is a great step forwards for India. Given the nation has a massive population that has massive problems, the space industry has grown from almost nothing to achieving a lunar landing in less time than almost anyone. If you compare their rise to that of America, Russia or even little us, it is remarkable that they have done it at all. Yes, the lander has not brought back 4k stereo images, but it has so far done what it says on the tin. Compare that to the Russian Luna 25 lander that plummeted into the moon a few days earlier - Russia has been in the space race since the 1950s. Of course, the Russian budget has been slashed a lot recently and the money directed towards the Ukraine situation, but their efforts are now becoming retrograde. Engineers were openly pessimistic before launch. Anyway, the Chandrayaan 3 lander is down safely and working thus far. It will hopefully begin to explore and test the lunar landscape at the south pole for frozen water. If it does find useable water, India will have made an important contribution to eventual occupation of the Moon. Even if it was achieved by Nasa, that would be enormously laudable and valuable.

Do we have any confirmed dates to look at? Will there be any clashes or such?

The day o'ercast. What would have been the perfect end to a fabulous tournament turned out to be a disappointment on several fronts. I suspect there will be a large amount of examination of Weigman's starting line-up and formations. The first half did not really provide a source of encouragement, with the Spanish playing a typically Spanish brand of suffocating midfield press. We had little momentum to get forward and use our best weapons. Clearly Vilda had worked thoroughly on keeping pressure on and usually had a player extra in the midfield battles. We didn't really find enough space and time, which should have something we should have reacted to sooner. The first half was the more important in hindsight, bringing with it the only goal on 29 minutes. Weigman made the uncharacteristicly brave move to change the formation by taking off two forward-thinking players at half time and left a bit of a gap in the middle. The pre-tournament worries about the lack of goal scoring resurfaced at the wrong game. It didn't help that quite a few England players were not on their best form: Hemp was stifled, Russo often outnumbered and isolated from linking up, but Bronze had a bit of a stinker. It was her foray into the thickest part of the Spanish midfield that led to the decisive goal. Spain have too much ability: they realised her mistake and picked the ball out to an unguarded flank. A sublime finish and the only place Earps could not reach. But for my money the real problem over formation was about the role Elle Toone had. She did a lot of support work and defending in the number ten spot but it was not the channel we had any success going forwards with. Supply was the real thorn. It won't be obvious here but the Spanish have achieved an amazing triumph; their path to glory was beset with acrimony at all levels, mutinous accusations and a bitter camp. They had a rocky start and initially were not the side they became, but have won despite - not because of - the national set-up. Just like the men's team, it has taken a long time for the dazzling club talent to translate into international trophies. Their younger sides are also growing and the future looks really rosy for the Riojas. So where now? Wiegman has to chew on a second World Cup Final defeat and the calls for her to replace Southgate will dwindle quickly. Now we will have to get back home, review where things went well and where they fell short. It will not be long before England will be back on the trail and memories will have to be selective in places. I feel one or two Lionesses will decide to call it a day; hopefully we will have new blood waiting for their chance. And where now back home? City will have earned a right to play at the top table and look forwards to seeing the Lionesses stars at Ashton Gate. Back to the bread and butter.

That bench could start for many other nations. We have strength and the ability to change our gameplan on the fly. In Sarina we trust. I feel confident that the girls will bring the World Cup back home and remind us all how it's done.

The best balls are based on the 32 panel type. The Bundesliga retro ball looks great but for me there is one outstanding design: The Tango What gets me is the amount of science that goes into the way the ball reacts. The designers have often made intentionally unstable flights and ruined the 'craftmanship' that talented players use.

Also worth a mention, Portugal's Tatiana Pinto was also on CIty's books in 2015-16, making seven appearances and scoring a goal. Now at Levante.

England triumphant! A World Cup Final awaits. A nation awaits. Our midfield put in a better shift tonight and it helped to dictate the game for long periods. Ella Toone finally broke out and hit a great goal - just reward for some less obvious work and effort. This team can really get a grip on a game and with such ability to win posession, keep posession and make advances with a variety of different methods. With a fairly comfortable first half and a lead, we couldn't keep Sam Kerr under control all game and she finished with a typical piece of magic. However, it was only one moment and she had two clear chances later that should have hit the net. We were a tad fortunate to conceed just the one - it could have been a much different narrative. Fine margins. Earps was alert enough to stop the one low, late effort and Carter was first to clear the loose ball. Another good performance by the defence. I thought Lauren Hemp was immense tonight. We all knew she had speed and talent on the ball from her seasons at City but she has added a strength and physical application to her game. She's not the biggest but she can now mix it with most opponents - a Maradona-esque stature if you will. She was a great outlet, a constant threat all across the top line - particularly when in the middle with Russo - but can now close down and trouble the opposition when out of posession. That was how she picked the pocket of the covering defender for her goal, which came at a vital time. She was player of the match by a good margin. So will Weigman keep the same starting eleven? She has the reuptation of not being the Tinkerwoman, but will Lauren James be reprieved? Spain are a tough nut to crack but will be watching us with concern. Get the plans for Sunday sorted immediately!

Aussies don't do that. They are a side, indeed a nation, that gives everything and makes sure they won't have any regrets about the result - just the effort. Not disinclined to a bit of 'media housery' to be sure but they will be more than ready. It is a massive day for women's football in a sports-mad country and important that they do show pride and boost the beautiful game the way our Lionesse have over here. They will approach it as a game where they have nothing to lose. Still think we have the strongest bench of any side, and a coach that can make the right call at the right time. Two teams that have a lot of familiarity especially at WSL level and this will be a tight game, but one that we have the qualities to win.

Call me an old duffer. but something caught my eye - something unusual and old-fashioned. Fratton Park is being rebuilt but it was a refreshing change to see the ground mostly surrounded by advertising boards. Painted boards, not the irritating video screens most have these days. Interestingly, they did have them on the end being rebuilt but nowhere else.

'So the finalists got smashed 4-0 in the group' That was their last group game against Japan - they had won the first two 3-0 and 5-0 and were already qualified. We would do well to study that one but won't rely on it - the Spanish are a rising team but have yet to get to the very top.

A late flurry of goals to finish the semi-final after some pretty cagey sparring. Sweden are more comfortable on the backfoot and were solid enough for so long that they almost lulled themselves into staying that way. Spain have a host of experienced club players with Champions League appearances so were not the rookies some expected. However, these two teams cancelled each other out and did little going forward for long periods. Salma Paralluelo's introduction was the catalyst to open the game up and her speed and width gave Sweden too much to deal with. You might argue that the goals were a touch fortunate but, as the saying goes, if you're not in the area you won't get on the end of anything. All this from a squad that almost mutinied in the run-up to the tournament. Now it's up to us to end the Aussies' dream. Whilst there will be many inter-club battles I believe we will show our talent and nous to meet the Spanish at the big party.

Ramping up the news on the transfer front as the season starts to come into focus, both on and off the pitch. Good to see Loren back - seems apt.

Agree too. Our Euro 22 squad and style have been studied a lot and opponents know us well enough to have worked out the way to stifle us. Press hard, get the midfield pair of Walsh and Stanway to hurry and we are a lot less dangerous. I still think we haven't got that number 10 role sorted enough to link the midfield and attack. We are a good side (probably not as good as last year, nor as sharp up front) but we are still the most capable left. It will take more than the Aussie fans to beat us. The real question is whether Weigman has enough nous to counter the opposition pressing and the players have it in them to implement. She will be the deciding factor.

Perhaps not the greatest display of goalkeeping or defending today, agreed; but compare the performance of Sweden's Zecira Musovic against USA and I think you'll be more impressed. So here we are again, somewhat scrappy but winners. It is the old adage of playing badly and still getting over the line and all that - mark of champions? Results stage of the competition and all that. The good news other than that was we have no (reported) injuries to worry about, the girls took just the ninety minutes to get the job done and the bookings tally is now discarded. Results stage of the competition and all that. It will be sorrow for the Columbians: their players, their fans, the colour and atmosphere enrich a world event in their own style. However, their time is up. They are on the plane home. We are here all week now. I think Weigman will be happier to take on the home crowd and the Matildas than the more technical French, as several will be familiar sights on English soil. Only four games left in the tournament, and with the 'big names' out already it might be our time. Again.

Contrasting first half. Combative Columbia is not a surprise but we need to to be keener to get a foot in when out of possession. Still think we will be getting stronger as the game progresses and have a much better bench. If we score first this half we will see the Columbians start to fragment.

Well you can't say that the women's game isn't exciting. Now we have a semi-final line-up that few would have predicted at the start of the tournament and I suspect the bookies are laughing up their sleeves. Yes we do. I reckon it would be a familiar sort of encounter.