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.

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

1 hour ago, JamesBCFC said:

In their best ever season they finished above Bristol Rovers, Southampton and one of the teams that became Bristol City, only behind Swindon Town. However, that was about 120 years ago and while the Western Premier was a reasonable division back in the 1890s, it's now the 9th tier and they struggle in it, if they're even in it at all.

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.

1 hour ago, blandy said:

Ah the shiny new 2019 Rocket Polisher. Beaut isn't she? Aerodynamic, stylish, good ride quality....wait. only one cup holder? and it's only small and it's got what in it?  

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

2 minutes ago, BOF said:

Well if you're looking for a number to hang your hat on ... 40,781 per game is the magic number   I think we'd be doing well to get that.  We've only done it 3 times this season and we need to do it 3 times in a row.

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.

On ‎25‎/‎02‎/‎2019 at 17:33, BOF said:

And our average is way up on last season despite almost going up in 17/18 and not looking like it this year.  32,097 versus 34,849.  That's an increase of nearly 9%.  Impressive.

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.

37 minutes ago, BOF said:

Just a question, @Unused Sub, I notice 'Meek' on the bench.  Is that Sam Meek ?  As in our goalkeeping coach Sam Meek?

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.