SecretSam

According to NP's latest press conference, he is going along nicely.

It's a media derby, nothing more. Sure, there's needle, but compared to a Bristol derby, it's a village fête

I actually think he's pretty good. A million times better than Wright, for example.

Bear in mind that I don't think the pray-offs existed then, either.

Anyone who was in the Enclosure (West End), did you find my keys?

Mebbe they'll take a look at events leading up to it, including Sykes getting stood on

Mind you, that pitch...and I recall the game being in better definition when I was there.

Ditto, went utterly nuts when we scored the winner, lost my keys!

+1

On another note, what if you're coming from the East of Bristol (seriously, that's where my family are)? Or the M32? I used to just park by the river, but that's hopeless now.

Yeah, true, Amersham is mebbe 30 mins to Marylebone...dunno about Wycombe (don't use that line) but the advantage it has is that it's on the same line as Wembley. Mind you, Wycombe's a dump, whereas Amersham's quite nice. PS Amersham also on the tube, although it takes about 3 years to get there.

The comments underneath the article are pretty unpleasant, too

This. Anywhere on the Chiltern Line, from Wycombe or Amersham down, get a hotel there and a short trip into the smoke. Wycombe branch linked to Wembley.

Every time I've seen him play, he's given 100%. And by all accounts, his attitude in training is excellent, and he's mentored the likes of TC. I think he's been unlucky and now deserves his chance. A really, really fine goal last night, movement and finish excellent.

It was a red all day. Sykes clearly lost his head and went full red mist. No argument from me. Imagine if it had been the other way round? AG would have gone mental.

From the replays, looks like Freeman has a nibble at him when they're in the sandwich. No excuse, tho', Sykes clearly lost his head. Definite red, silly lad. Luckily it didn't matter.

OMG Walsh's left peg with Smith's speed - wow

Smith was quicker than that. Like Roadrunner on amphetamines. Replaced the legendary Alan "Shuffle" Walsh on the left, similar build but totally different player. Possibly the quickest City player I've ever seen - although Keith Curle pre-injury was seriously rapid - but his all round game was nothing like Walsh's. Half of Smith's crosses ended up catching a bus over the back of the stand. Mind you, on his day he was unplayable.

Deffo two, that I remember seeing: the Tinman penalty one (I'd just yelled at Alexander that he should hurry up and get sent off...I kid you not). The other was after about 15 mins, first he cleaned out Smith a couple of times - literally put him into orbit - got booked, clattered him again, ref gave a FK and Alexander picked up the ball and literally hoofed it 60 yards down the pitch. The ref looked at him like he was taking the p155...and sent him off.

[Irish accent] Oh, get over yourself, or go home to your Mammy. [/Irish accent]

My sense is there's more 'cohesion' around the team and squad just now, although maybe the actual players aren't as good as they used to be. An important note is that there's a lot of very good youngsters and home produced players now, which we simply didn't have before - Scott, Semenyo, Conway - and there's a clear path to the first team for our young players. We are also adapting to a new financial climate, both inside the club and globally in football. It's a very challenging and dynamic time, and frankly any expectations other than staying in the Championship need to be put on hold. The contract situation for the remaining high earners (Wells, Bentley, Kalas) will be resolved one way or another by the end of the season. Then we go again. Look at how long it took other teams without Parachute money to rebuild - the Florists, for example, took years.

Wilson's getting used to the Championship level (and may still be getting over injury) and Tanner was bought as one for the future, and is also coming back from long-term injury. Plus, Sykes has done really well at RWB.

I can remember Rodwell being talked about as a certainty for a long England career. But like so many others, he just couldn't stay fit - but still, I'm sure £70k a week for 4 years was some compensation. Certainly more than was earned by many similarly injury-plagued players, such as the likes of Christian Ribeiro (ex-City, retired at 28 IIRC). Grauniad article about Jack Rodwell

£12m? Assuming there's a sell-on, take it.

No-one is going to buy Kalas when he's on huge wages when they can get him for nothing (and no doubt a lower wage) in less than 12 months; anyway, he's injured. Same could be said for HNM and Bents, to some extent.