Unused Sub

Pretending to work this morning, but in reality I've spent half an hour copying and pasting football fixtures into spreadsheets.

The top six games seem fairly spread out meaning no month of doom so happy enough with those fixtures. So that’s 8 out the last 9 campaigns have started away! 2019 away Spurs 2018 away Hull 2017 home Hull 2016 away Sheffield Wed 2015 away Bournemouth 2014 away Stoke 2013 away Arsenal 2012 away West Ham 2011 away Fulham One last thing, would Spurs be playing in a chumps league qualifier around the start of the season, or has that been done away with?

A very promising youth player, but has been down the pecking order for some years now. Should have left the club 5/6 years ago. I've put together his career games at all levels just to show how well thought of he was as a goalscoring midfielder. scored lots in the next gen games.

Finding money in the street. The normal protocol I use is: Bronze coins – leave well alone Silver & gold coins – have a quick look around to see if anyone about. If the coast is clear then discreetly pick it up. If not, walk on. However today I clocked a £20 note blowing about in the breeze. Without hesitation I found myself at full stretch like Gordon Banks 1970 world cup style after it. I’m not sure what pleased me the most; finding the money or my new found athletic ability.

Walking through town yesterday past the Trump protesters around Victoria Square. The clearing in the woods confronting people with their phones aloft, videoing the exchanges. Can people just protest without needing to record everything or unsettle other people just passing by.

Thanks Hornso, nice one *notes to add Brighton to the list for next season*

Great work as always BOF. I keep records myself and know it takes some doing to update them! On a side note, last season we had a record number of goalscorers in a single season (18). This season, despite Tammy being the main goal getter, we managed to be one short of that. Also, in regard to Platty - we got to the regional final of the Zenith Data Systems Cup in 1990, so I assume he would have scored plenty in that. That should be the difference in the two figures.

A few minor things: First of all well done to the club regarding the travel arrangements for Wembley; lessons learnt from last year. Breezed through the traffic this year with plenty of time to spare. Just a shame there was no City Centre drop-offs. Following promotion, any plans to reopen a shop in the City Centre. U23/Reserves – whether it’s the website, twitter or programmes, can we have better coverage. Not asking for a lot: just the basics done well (accurately). Can we have some feedback on the Birmingham Senior Cup: was it deemed a successful exercise; will we enter it again this year (I managed to get to a few games & enjoyed them). Any plans for extra copies of the play-off final programme to be made available. I didn’t bother to get one on the day, but if I see one I’d probably buy one now! Following cabbagegate, security has been stepped up by funnelling fans into ‘pens’ before entering the ground. With space inside at a premium, could these areas be used at half-time to help congestion/add temporary wheel on/off food & Drink stalls.

Mine came in the post today! (ordered Thursday) So apologies in advance if you’re using the official travel and you end up sitting next to a fat, sweaty, middle aged bloke.

Ordered mine: block 550. Spoke to the overflow team in Manchester I think. Asked category 1 or 2 - none available, so ended my with category 3. I assume they are holding a lot back or we've shifted tens of thousands already!

After the game, I wondered back to the train station only to find that the next train would be in 45 minutes. So I went back to the ground and stalked the players/officials as they left. Dave Hughes gave me a wave, which was nice. Overheard a conversation that we’ve got Southampton in the play-off on Friday at St Marys.

Was at Bescot last night. Not a dull 0-0, quite a lively game at times. A draw was a fair reflection, both teams not making the most of their chances and good possession. Each team taking their turn to have a good spell, plenty of to-and-fro. As for us, the final pass or cross was not quite good enough. A little bit to slow in moving the ball on at times. When we did go more direct, it was hard work to get the ball to stick. Especially with the way the teams line-up. We were as the 1st team, 4141, with the Albion playing 3cbs & wingbacks. So the team: Goalie: Didn’t have too much to do in terms of shots, but saved/smothered well. Should have hoovered up a few crosses but stayed on his line. Defence: Worked well as a unit. FBs got forward when they could. Bazeley-Graham looked good. CBs did ok apart from one suicide moment; Suliman losing the ball on half way meaning Revan held his man back. Good job the Albion forward stayed on his feet as Revan might have had more than the yellow card he received. Midfield: Once again Clarke was the standout player. Always looks comfortable on ball. Ramsey did ok as did Brunt. Wingers weren’t at their best, lots of balls into the box but very little came from them. Both Indy and Brunt shot wildly from distance. Forward: Pressley had a hard time of it. Against a back 3, was crowded out a lot. Most of his best work came down the channels. Subs: Bridge looked good a CB, Knibbs should have scored late on, and little Bidace-Philogene had a few promising positions but chose to pass instead a shooting. Team: Starkic, Bazeley-Graham, Walker, Suliman (Bridge), Revan, Clarke, Vassilev (Bidace-Philogene), Brunt, Pressley (Knibbs), Ramsey, Archer. Unused Subs: Guy, Lomax

To muddy the waters a bit, check out the 1887-88 season (the season before we invented the football league). 12 wins on the bounce, then followed by 17 wins! we only lost to Notts County because half of the team was away playing a county game (Birmingham vs Lancashire).

As mentioned in this thread, we've won 11 in a row at the end of the 1896-97 to the beginning of the 1897-98 season. However, we've done 11 on the bounce (league and cup) in 1914

Wow. St George’s, now you’re talking. Didn’t know a version of them were still about today. Both them and your other neighbour had stints in the Birmingham League in the late 1890s and thus regularly played our stiffs. One of Grealish’s great grandad’s first goals for the villa’s second string was against St George’s in the Birmingham League back in 1897. St George’s most famous player would be our double winner Baldy Reynolds. He had a brief spell there at the fag end of his career. That concludes todays history lesson! As you were.

Can you imagine @RugeleyVilla having to phone the maintenance guy out: “so how do you get bits of cucumber out of this thing”.

May not be too far off that; Bristol City is more or less sold out, Millwall is on a bank holiday so fingers crossed for a bumper 40k+, Norwich on the last day should be a good crowd aswell if not sold out.

Looks like its the Saints for the title as they have WBA & Sunderland to play in their last two games. Play-offs again for us I think.

By my maths, if we can get 41k for the last 3 games the home league average for the season will creep over 36k for the first time in 5/6 years. Just shows the tide my well be turning in our favour.

I only stand for the national anthem. I remember this thread from many moons ago, its just so bizarre to think folks stand to do this (I mean wiping not the national anthem). It makes no sense to me, as it seems full of danger: 1 Drop kegs. 2 Sit, make deposit. 3 Stand: Try not to fall over/over balance due to trouser around ankles, followed by quashing any dangleberries into cheeks. 4 Wipe: bend down/around to reach bog roll, smear more dangleberries into cheeks. Throw used paper into the bowl; make sure your aim is true or risk marking the rim of the bowl. 5 Pull trousers up: Try not to fall over/over balance or risk bashing one’s derriere on the bog when using your knees to bend. Just stay seated.

Just going back to the Fred Dibnah video. As it was uncomfortable to watch him going up those ladders, how did he get down? That would be even more uncomfortable to watch with the overhang of the ladders, assuming the difficulty in getting his feet on them.

I am a miserable so-and-so, glass half empty etc, but this is the most confident I have felt since we dropped. We are playing some really good stuff and shouldn’t be worried about anyone. However, I feel this is the most difficult fixture of the run in. As a ST holder, Leeds and the 2 Sheffield clubs are the best teams I have seen at VP. I don’t think Bruce has had enough time to coach any football out of them. Fingers crossed for a win, any kind of win will do please.

It said Sam Meek on the teamsheet, so I assume its the same chap. That will knacker the average age a bit! Interesting that in the previous round that we had no GK on the bench.

Its been done many times before: other people having music on their phones when on the train. On loud speaker. Its just a chap talking into a drum machine with a bit of keyboard. I have no desire to listen to it, I'd prefer to travel in silence thank you.

Disappointing result last night. Not a bad game to watch. £8 well spent. Change of formation from the norm (4141) to a 442. Played more direct than the few games I’ve seen this season. The game was played at a fast pace for the most part. Probably explains a number of mis-controls and wayward passes from both sides. Our goal came from an over hit lay-off which Burton crossed from deep, Pressley heading the ball home. Had a couple of really good chances first half notably Archer blazed over after cutting inside from a good run down the left. Went in 1-0 up at H/T. Second half started with us on the back foot. They hit the inside of post with the ball somehow rolling across the goal line and out for a goal kick. The equaliser came from a free kick and a bit of ping-pong in the box. The winner came direct from a corner. Interesting note on corner kicks: we left 3 (of smallest players!) up on the halfway line. They scored when they were well on top, we just struggled to get the ball to stick in their half. Anyway, a breakdown of the team: Goalie: Sarkic did well. Saved a few shots that he was well positioned for. Didn’t think he much of a chance with the goals. Defence: had a tough time of it. At left-back, Bridge was up against the probably their best player. His foul (and booking) brought about the equaliser. Not surprising he was subbed, Walker moving to full back. Within a few a few minutes Walker was in the book for a foul on the same player. Midfield: working really hard. In the middle Clarke/Brunt always happy to receive the ball. Both broke the middle on occasions. Clarke looked good, as did Brunt. On the wing, Walker is always busy. Archer (who looks about 12!) when in full flight looks a handful. Forwards: Pressley has the makings of a good target man, once his frame fills out. Nudged off the ball a bit too easy at times but up against stronger CBs. Wasn’t Mooney’s night but worked hard. Subs: Odutayo caught the eye, looked tricky. Tait worked hard up and down the right. Birch only came on late in the game. Team line up: Sarkic, Burton, Bridge (Odutayo), Bazeley-Graham, Revan, Clarke, Walker, Brunt (Birch), Mooney, Pressley, Archer (Tait). Unused Subs: Farr, Meek(GK) Also, a quick shout out about the programme. Quite a lot content about the reserve’s history (both past & recent). Well worth a read.