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Reply | Great Football Food (Non QPR Obvs)
at 08:34 3 Apr 2025
Shepherds pie at Kiddy. Size and weight of a brick, easily the best Shepherds pie I've ever had. Crispy on top. 10/10.
The first chicken balti pie I ever had was at Walsall in about 1990. So, so good. You always remember your first time.
A Forest mate took me to this little shop in West Bridgford, that I think only sold pork rolls on match days. Absolutely lush.
Pasties down at Torquay - was battered and hungry, so spent most of the game eating pasties.
Worst thing ever eaten at a game: Scotch pie at Partick Thistle that looked and tasted like it had been in a cupboard since about 1954. Not even brown sauce could make it palatable. Had to give up 1/3rd of the way through. Absolutely minging. |
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Reply | Chelsea owner Tod Boehly
at 10:43 1 Apr 2025
Chelsea have reported a pre-tax profit of £124m in their financial results for the year ending June 2026.
Operating losses for Chelsea FC Holdings of £126m were offset by the sale of season ticket holder, Darren Hopkins (52, Leatherhead) to BlueCo 22 Properties Ltd, a deal between companies under the control of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership.
Without that, Chelsea may have made a significant loss.
At the time of the purchase, BlueCo 22 Properties ownership issued the following statement to investors: "At BlueCo 22 Properties, we are constantly reviewing our portfolios and looking to buy non-profit-making businesses from Chelsea FC for inflated sums. When the opportunity arose to buy Darren Hopkins, a season ticket holder with 22 years experience of attending Chelsea FC matches at the Shed stand, it was a no-brainer. We believe that Darren is an undervalued asset, and at £250m, we consider him to be a great investment opportunity.
Despite now been owned by BlueCo 22 properties, Darren's new role will see him continue to serve as a non-fee-charging season ticket holder at Stamford Bridge, but for accounting purposes, he will now be registered in the Cayman Islands. We are confident that this transaction is in full compliance with the Premier League rules. Let's go Chelsea!" [Post edited 1 Apr 10:44]
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Reply | Liverpool Newcastle Cup Final
at 11:47 17 Mar 2025
Saturday evening. Peter Drury's wife knocks gently on the door of the study, enters the room and places a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits on corner of the desk.
"How's it going?" she asks her husband, "Are you almost there?"
"Yes, I think I'm almost there now. Sorry about missing your birthday lunch earlier" he says, squeezing her hand and offering an apologetic smile.
"That's alright, Peter, I know you have a big day tomorrow. I know I don't know much about football, but would you like to try it out on me?"
"Okay, if you're sure...AND THERE IT IS! SEVENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING! FOR TWO THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX DAYS THEY HAVE PATIENTLY WAITED AT THE CATHEDRAL ON THE HILL, THE CHURCH OF ST JAMES'S, BUT NOW THE GEORDIE NATION FINALLY HAS A NEW KING, KING EDDIE HOWE, KING OF THE GEORDIES! THE BIGG MARKET JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER! FIRE UP THE STOTTIES MAM! WE'RE BRINGING THE CUP HOME! THE TYNE, THAT PROUD RIVER OF COAL, STEEL AND THE BOAT DISCO WILL BE OVERFLOWING WITH GEORDIE TEARS TONIGHT AS KING EDDIE HOWE BRINGS A TROPHY HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LIFETIME! FROM DAN BURN TO OUSEBURN, FROM BYKER GROVE TO WEMBLEY WAY, THE TOON ARMY ARE NO LONGER MARCHING ON EMPTY STOMACHS BECAUSE THIS TEAM, THIS GEORDIE TEAM OF BLACK AND WHITE HISTORY MAKERS HAVE FED THEM A BLACK AND WHITE TROPHY! THE GHOST OF SIR BOBBY ROBSON WILL BE DRINKING BROON ALE UP IN HEAVEN TONIGHT AND RAISING A TOAST WITH SIR JACKIE MILBURN AND SIR KEVIN KEEGAN, ALTHOUGH KEVIN KEEGAN IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE THANK GOD! WOH ME LADS, YE SHUDDA SEEN US GANNING! ALL THE LADS AND LASSES! WELL THEY HAVE NOW! What do you think? Too much?"
"No Peter, I think it's just right. Well done." |
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Reply | Cricket- South Africa
at 07:24 11 Mar 2025
If you do go to Cape Town, then do the Cape Point day trip with this mob: https://www.convoytours.com/cape-point-tour/
I thought the guide/business owner was going to be a bit too wacky for me and that it would be hard work being in a mini-bus with him all day, but he was such a good laugh and a lovely fella. When he dropped us back off at our digs, I was genuinely gutted to think I would never see him again! Really knowledgeable and the day is timetabled to avoid the crowds. |
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Reply | Ten-man Baggies latest to trap QPR in low block ball-ache – Report
at 15:23 10 Mar 2025
I love our coaches to bits, but it is insane. And on the very rare occasion that one of the defenders involved panics and tries to smash it down the pitch, it either goes straight to one of the opposition who is camped on the edge of our box, or lands somewhere between our box and halfway, where we have no players because most of our team are still in our bloody box. I'm getting stressed just thinking about it! |
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Reply | Ten-man Baggies latest to trap QPR in low block ball-ache – Report
at 15:06 10 Mar 2025
I am currently finding it incredibly frustrating watching my son's team doing the pass-it-around-in-the-box bit whenever they get a goal-kick. Usually on a pitch like a ploughed field, and when by the third time they've done it, even the kids on the other side have figured out exactly what is going to happen. We've conceded so many goals this way that you find yourself hoping the ref gives the opposition a corner rather than a goal-kick. Still, trust the process. |
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Reply | Cricket- South Africa
at 10:32 10 Mar 2025
I was chatting about this yesterday with a mate who has just returned from South Africa. He absolutely loved it and did a classic Garden Route trip. We did 18 days there about 15 years ago and thought it was an absolutely incredible place. People from every background were ridiculously friendly and helpful, the scenery is stunning, great wildlife, the food and drink are great, the driving is easy, and it's brilliant value for money.
You do have to keep your wits about you with valuables etc, and South-African friends advised getting taxis pretty much anywhere after dark, as well as limiting driving at night, but we had such a good time there. Highlights of the trip for me were Cape Town, Kynsna, Franschhoek, Montagu (only a small place, but so peaceful and relaxed), and Addo National Park. |
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Reply | Ten-man Baggies latest to trap QPR in low block ball-ache – Report
at 10:02 10 Mar 2025
Time-wasting is just so ridiculous now. Burnley were 1-0 up at Bristol City this season and Trafford went down twice with cramp, spent ages on the deck in the six yard box, whilst the physio slowly made his way across the pitch. There were a couple of "head injuries" where there had been zero contact with the Burnley players head, and the coup de grâce, was the ref holding the game up so that Hannibal could spend so much time tying his laces up, that anyone else could have wandered into town, picked out some new boots, gone for a pint on the way back, and still have taken less time. I think there was something like 6 mins added on, which was an absolute joke.
And it has absolutely filtered down to kids football. My son's team were losing 2-1 the other week, and the opposition's tactic for the last 10 minutes was pretty much just to boot the ball as far out of play as possible even if they were stood on the touchline or byline, whilst their coaches stood on the touchline, shouting, "Yes, Ollie, brilliant!". And when their players weren't doing that, they were asking the ref how long was left every 20 seconds. Fu cking depressing. |
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Reply | March Sky Games
at 17:00 27 Jan 2025
Yeah, but fair play because those tickets are only £100-£105 against Forest, and kids are a bargain at £50-£55. There's a seat near the halfway line in the Johnny Haynes which is only £81 for adults and £57 for kids. Well done, Fulham. |
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Reply | March Sky Games
at 16:34 27 Jan 2025
And tickets in the Riverside were £160! Think they were £80+ for kids. Man Utd at home going to general sale. Tickets in the Riverside eventually sold-out, presumably to tourists. Genius long term strategy from the club. Was a pony game too. 10th v 14th, Man Utd coming to the Cottage and playing a low block at 0-0... I hope the tourists enjoyed themselves.
Sunday night games at £160 for a seat down by the corner flag. It's almost like they hold fans in complete contempt. Seeing Infantino on the Cottage balcony with Alistair Mackintosh, our ars ehole of a CEO, and then seeing that cun t, Ratcliffe... God, I hate modern football at times. |
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Reply | March Sky Games
at 14:34 27 Jan 2025
Bristol City recently sent out an email to season ticket holders who have missed home games, asking whether the absences were due to games being shifted from 3pm on a Saturday. So, presumably some clubs are monitoring the impact. Anecdotally, the Sunday midday games are a nightmare with kids football, depending on whether you prioritise your kid playing or watching their club. City v Swansea has been moved to 12pm on a Sunday, and my son's game has now been moved forward to 09:30, as both teams have loads of City season-ticket holders, but in similar situations last season, the opposition wouldn't budge and we struggled to put out a side/had families pi ssed off to be missing City. Saturday midday games are also a ball ache for people working Saturday mornings and school football.
Throw in shi t atmospheres, presumably reduced sales of drink and food etc, plus a lot of lost good will, and it is definitely something that clubs should think carefully about. It's noticeable how many empty seats there are at City games with early kick-offs/Sunday games.
Planning to take my son to Burnley and Leeds away towards the end of the season, but will have to wait to see what days/times the TV companies settle on... by which point trains will be eye-wateringly expensive. Booked flights up to watch Hibs v Dundee in April, and again, have had to stop up an extra night, in case they move the game to the Sunday. Absolute pain in the ar se. |
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Reply | NZ travel thoughts & ideas
at 07:38 6 Jan 2025
I had 3 months staying with friends and travelling around NZ about 20 years ago and absolutely loved it. Stunning scenery, great food and drink, and incredibly friendly/hospitable locals. The cities are all fine, but nothing special, so if you only have a few weeks, then my advice would be to spend as much time in the outdoors as possible. My favourite of the cities was Wellington, and I thought Auckland at the time was pretty well summed-up with "a bunch of suburbs looking for a city" {albeit with some nice suburbs to hang out in).
Off the top of my head, as others have said, the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Islands are both stunning, and I was blown away by the North Island, but the South Island is absolutely ridiculous. Highlights for me were Skydiving at Lake Wanaka , an overnight stay on a boat in Milford Sound and getting out on the water in a kayak at dawn, walking the Abel Tasman national park, and a couple of great days at vineyards in Martinborough when staying with friends in Wellington.
Also enjoyed whale watching in Kaikoura, Queenstown was a good laugh with white water rafting etc, Napier was a nice stopover for the Art Deco architecture, and I had an interesting time at a Maori cultural event/dinner in Rotorua - obviously very touristy, but I was on my own so spent most of the evening chatting with the organisers . Friends had a holiday home is Punakaiki, which I really liked because the habitat was so different. It's really amazing how varied the geography of NZ is given its relatively small size. Just travelling from A to B is incredible because the backdrop is usually so beautiful. The pies are great too. I was on a 2 cheese and steak pie a day habit by the time I left. Somewhere I could very happily live for part of the year. Have a fantastic trip. |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread
at 08:53 1 Dec 2024
I would be amazed if Argyle don't go down. Saw them at Bristol City yesterday and they were absolute rank. Don't think I've ever seen a league side give the opposition so much time and space, and the number of times City got in behind them was unreal. Not sure if they have a lot of injuries, but they were absolute pony. Should have been 6/7-0. |
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Reply | San Mamés, Bilbao
at 14:18 22 Nov 2024
Guggenheim - great building, but wasn't that fussed about any of the art. We did a week across the two cities. Really liked Bilbao, but loved San Sebastian. The food in both cities is amazing - you can go into the least promising looking place and the pintxos will always be at least really good and often amazing. Friendly locals, Bilbao is probably the closest I've ever seen to Naples where every business seems to have something to do with Athletic hanging on the walls. San Sebastian is in such a beautiful setting with the bay, the food is incredible, and it's a really attractive city too. No recommendations, but every place seems to have it's speciality - we went to one bar which literally just served one type of tomato - place was packed with people coming in for a quick drink, a tomato, and then heading somewhere else. They love their cider there too. Have a great trip. |
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Reply | Where have the goals gone in the Championship?
at 10:06 22 Nov 2024
I saw Sheff Utd at Bristol City the other week, and they kept plugging away playing balls in behind the defence, had loads of width and pace, and got two very late goals to win the game. Didn't sit back after they'd equalised, happy to get a point. Felt very old school in a good way.
Scott Parker and Burnley at City tomorrow with a 12;30 kick-off. Should be mental. |
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Reply | Where have the goals gone in the Championship?
at 09:56 22 Nov 2024
In their last match, Southampton had 72% possession and no shots on target. Russell Martin football at its best.
One of my favourite things over the last few years has been watching an away team go 1-0 up and then as the clock is ticking down, watch the home team’s defence string together 475 passes in their own third, with the away team camped out entirely in their own half with no ambition or need to be drawn out or lose their shape. Who wants to go back to wingers running at defenders or switching it up a bit, when instead everyone can die of boredom waiting for someone to find the perfect opening. I’ve seen games recently where I’ve half expected the ref to blow up 10 minutes early because it was so obvious that the losing team were never going to equalise, and the winning team were never going to cross the halfway line. I watched a game last season where looking around, so few people were watching the match at one point that if all the players had left the pitch, it would have taken a few minutes before anyone noticed. A 12:30 kick-off with two teams playing walking football really doesn’t help the atmosphere either. No wonder so many kids just sit their staring at phones.
The current philosophy: Better to lose and die with the ball at your feet than risk losing possession. Winning the goal battle is less important than winning the possession war.
It’s fed down to the lower divisions and non-league too. It’s particularly great watching not-that-good-at-football kids on a Sunday morning trying to play the ball out from the back on pitches that are either like ploughed fields or swamps. The keeper, playing the ball to either full-back every time, so that after 5 mins, even young kids know what’s going to happen, and pressure the defenders into misplacing/mishitting passes. I’m not suggesting that teams go direct all the time, but the ability to mix it up, to inject some pace and directness, seems to me to be so important in terms of creating some excitement. When someone comes on who will run at defenders, it completely changes the atmosphere in the ground. I must be a philistine because I also found the amazing Spanish team dull as fu ck to watch once I’d seen them a few times, even though I can appreciate they were all brilliant footballers. It’s just all so fu cking sterile these days. |
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Reply | Al Fayed, Fulham, massive points deduction & enforced relegation
at 10:31 27 Sep 2024
I think a lot of us knew that Al Fayed was an unpleasant bloke but being completely honest, most of us chose to overlook that because after years of struggling to stay afloat and at the Cottage, Al Fayed offered us the prospect of staying at a refurbished Cottage and returning to something like our natural historical position (2nd tier with maybe the occasional spell in the top tier). For my lot, the most important thing was the prospect of keeping the ground. We'd just had a brilliant promotion-winning season under Micky Adams, which had gone a long way to restoring some pride to the club and energising the support. I was fine with us bobbing about in the 3rd with the odd tilt at promotion to div 2. That Micky Adams promotion is still my joint favourite season
I was very happy for Al Fayed to spend millions on players and managers that led to us playing football of a quality that I never thought I would see a Fulham side playing. Playing in Europe, getting to a European final, turning over big clubs... that wouldn't have happened without his investment. But I was never one to clap him on his lap of the pitch before games as I wasn't ever comfortable being a peasant clapping a billionaire for throwing us a few coins. .
Just as at Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle, and PSG, a lot of football fans are willing to turn a blind eye if someone is pumping millions/billions into their club. I'm shocked by the scale of the revelations that have emerged but I'm not massively surprised.
It's been pretty depressing to see some Fulham fans questioning why many of these women have only come forward since his death and questioning how any women could "put themselves" in a position where they could be se xually assaulted. As ever, these people don't bother listening to the women themselves explaining the fear/intimidation/sense of shame etc that they experienced. There's a piece in the Guardian today with one of his accusers outlining the surveillance she was under and the level of intimidation. How are you supposed to handle that when you're a young girl/woman?
I hope all the women involved find some sort of catharsis in coming forward, I hope that those people who facilitated it all or knew and turned a blind eye, are exposed for their roles, and that women in similar situations feel empowered to speak out when there is still a chance of bringing predators to justice. |
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Reply | Derby away
at 13:15 24 Sep 2024
I was at Derby with Bristol City a couple of weeks ago and they were asking for proof that people were Derby at the Brunswick. Shame as it's a great pub. Alex just along the way is another great pub though if you like your ales, and away fans are welcome there. Very friendly boozer. Considering Derby isn't the most exciting of cities, it has to be one of the best in the country for old school pubs and ale. |
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Reply | The Modern Football Fan - What went wrong
at 16:35 23 Sep 2024
In 1994, I got a club coach midweek to Bradford to watch Fulham, as we were earning buttons and couldn't afford to do a hotel overnight. I've only done club coaches in emergencies, and there are generally a fair few oddbods, but this coach had a bloke who loudly announced that he was a Chelsea fan who liked Fulham too - going to watch Bradford v Fulham midweek in division 3 - and unsurprisingly, everyone on the coach told him to fu ck-off. He seemed genuinely surprised that everyone else thought Chelsea were a bunch of cu nts. At the services, for some reason he said to me and my mate, "Lads, I'm going to get a porn mag and have a wa nk - see you in a bit". And ten minutes later, we saw him leaving the bogs and putting a jazz mag in a bin. Absolute wrong un. |
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