Red-Robbo

Oh, I agree. But also changed the shape of the defence to protect our goal! That game was one of the ultimate "game of two halves". That doesn't mean Towler has been written off. As I said on the Semenyo thread, young players all develop at a different pace and Ryley has only just turned 20. Plenty of time to improve and learn.

Unfortunately Ryley had something of a 'mare in the Millwall match and had to be subbed at half-time. I imagine that would set back his first team aspirations here for a while.

It's a moot point who was the first King of England. At various points, various Anglo-Saxon warlords held sway over the vast majority of what is now England (and southern Scotland) holding the other kings in fealty as sub-kings. In turns, Kent, East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, Mercia again, then Wessex was the dominant Kingdom, but when the Danes (Vikings actually) invaded they installed stooge kings who were subservient to them. Alfred didn't kick the Vikings out, he merely delayed their takeover. As early as 642, King Oswiu of Northumbria was styling himself "King of the English". Aethelstan does have one notable first though: he obtained fealty from the Scottish and Welsh rulers and therefore can be considered the first King of Britain - a Bretwelda in the contemporary usage.

To be strictly accurate, St George - if he existed, there is no contemporaneous record of him - would be Greek, or at least Greek-speaking. Turks didn't live in the Middle East until 900 years after St George's martyrdom (if indeed it happened) while Arabs (and hence "Syrians" and "Palestinians") still lived mainly in what is now Saudi Arabia until 400 years after his death. Anyway, I hope everyone's having a good ??????? Day. I shall go out now and celebrate my nationality by sinking a few pints of best English ale.

I'll put my hand up and say I was sceptical about whether he'd develop to be good enough because the cameos we saw from him before this season were usually not that impressive. We know from experience that some young players can seem very promising, but never kick on to quite make it at second tier level. Antoine looked OK at hold-up play and had some nice touches, but in front of goal he was like a rabbit-in-headlights. But I wasn't slagging him off. The point is unless you coached him day in, day out and knew the young man well you probably didn't know his full potential and it's also very true that some young players who can seem a bit lost in their debut First XI appearances can mature, develop, learn and end up bloody good. You're a fool if you write youth teamers off when they are still developing their game. It's bloody brilliant how Antoine has come on leaps and bounds this season to be one of our most exciting young players for years.

The bill from having to fumigate the stadium would be enormous.

Precisely. I'd be rather surprised if any side that isn't promoted or demoted got rid of more than half of their existing squad.

I reckon you already have!

I'd argue that Benarous already has and is now a squad player, albeit not a regular starter. Conway seems the most promising of the others you've mentioned, but there are younger players pushing for chances too - which is good. ?

I think the Tindle Group ran mainly weekly or monthly papers in rural areas. The Chew Valley Gazette was one of theirs and they had similar papers in Cornwall, Devon and elsewhere.

Exactly. I think there is a Stroud FC, but they only play in the Gloucestershire local leagues. A long way down the pyramid. I'm thinking Stroud must be getting on for the same size as Yeovil, who've had a team that has flirted with the football league. In L1, Fleetwood, Accrington and Morecambe are hardly vast metropolises.

I've always assumed FGR are more or less by default the club that represents Stroud. Nailsworth is no distance from the town.

I suggest a non-executive director, not a club employee. A part-time basically advisory role that might hopefully temper farragoes like the Holden appointment. Others have suggested having an ex-player in that role but I think - with a few very notable exceptions - ex-players have made poor directors at lots of clubs. I think you need commercial nous, contacts and a knowledge of the game's realities. Being a genuine fan helps too. I don't see any reason why we would need to replace Richard Gould at all, but if we did there is no reason why Scudamore couldn't do it - there is no set career ladder for a football club's CEO - but why would he want to do it? He's in his early 60s, made so much money he doesn't need a f/t job, particularly one that is such a ball-ache as running City must be.

Might've been a shareholder, but Bristol United Press was an independent company until Northcliffe (of Daily Mail infamy) bought it and ruined it.

People are talking about him joining as a non-exec. Not "running the club". What he knows about football is more than the Lansdowns, which is why it would be good to have such a voice on the board. Let's remember Richard Gould was a tank commander before he worked here in a commercial role for 4 years and then worked in cricket for 16 years, where the everyday challenges are quite different.

I, for one, look forward to FGR's progress: Condemning, as it does, the Gas to being the third best team in Gloucestershire. (For carnivores mysteriously annoyed by the presence of vegetarians in the world, you can eat elsewhere you know. Buying a pie at football isn't compulsory. I've never eaten at the Gate)

For a hell of a lot of their history they were a second or third tier club. Crap support for a London club: And do we actually want another club from London cluttering the PL?

He certainly was. Used to play in the Crown in Welton. Think that pub's gone now.

They should prosecute the sad **** who posted that.

Knock 5,000 missing SC holders off that total and you'll get nearer to the true figure.

Very sad, although I understand he had early onset dementia of late. I remember Mike, long after his prime days, coming into our village pub and just thrashing everyone at 301, round-the-clock and cricket etc, but not being in the slightest bit flash or arrogant about it. It was a rare evening that one, and I was happy to buy him a pint.

Was quite common before the 70s. My dad did the same, though he was so City he once turned down a company car because it was blue! Even the great Adge Cutler sang "If the City don't win Saturday, p'raps the Rovers will" *. I think the scheming Gas antics in '82 and other general unpleasantness has permanently poisoned matters for genuine supporters. I can't imagine any real City fan wanting to watch those fleabags nowadays. * Virue Et Industrial (1967)

Looking at that table, it strikes me Ipswich should play their U23 squad in L1 for the remaining games of the season. Might pick up more points.

Benarous has had a busy couple of days.

Would be a very decent non-executive director IMO. The board would be enhanced by his experience and as @TomF says, he knows the money men and has major contacts in the big clubs - both here and abroad.