Football

Shitty end of Reading though.

Although, I'm not sure there's a non-shitty end of Reading.

Caversham. They call it Caversham because they'd like to disassociate themselves from Reading, but it's still Reading.

though it’s taken all sorts of dealings and machinations

And fires

I’ve always thought St James’ Park ticks all the boxes.

Villa Park gets close but is let down by its location.

I still miss Elm Park. Reading were fortunate that following the move to the out of town retail park leisurezone, we had an unprecedented 15 years of success far above anything achieved in the club's previous 130 year history. Take that away and it all starts to look a little bit sadder

The new stadium is only a couple of miles away from Maine Road so travel is no big deal, and is easier for many. There are however, no pubs of any note near the new place. The dozen or so pubs close to Maine Road, many closed almost overnight and there are 2 left.

My mate at university told me, so it's got to be true, he once got offered a baby for sale in the beehive on a match day.

For sale? In my day they gave them away for a small bag of smack.

Match Day.

7:45pm. U18 FA Cup Final second leg Arsenal v Chelsea. At the Emirates. Tickets still available for the home end apparently (until 5pm): £4.

Arsenal started well on Friday, soaking up immense Chelsea pressure before breaking and scoring against the run of play. First goal that Chelsea have conceded in the competition. Chelsea maintained the pressure and managed to get three back. All to play for tonight. Away goals do not count double in the event of a draw. Not sure if there is extra time or if it goes straight to penalties.

Some excellent football on Friday. The standard has improved over the past few years. Each year there is one standout player who goes on to be a star. Players like Nathan Ake and Lucas Piazzon have won this Cup in recent years. If Chelsea can squeak through, it will be their 5th win in 5 years. This will equal ManU's record from the era of the Busby Babes 1953-57.

For those of you who prefer their football of the plastic variety, the game is also being shown on ITV4.

http://www.thefa.com/news/2016/nov/02/history-of-the-fa-youth-cup

It’s all about Dulwich Hamlet v Leiston in the Bostik Premier (Isthmian) League playoffs on Thursday night. One-match semi final and the final is on Bank Holiday Monday.
For those not aware (most people, obvs) Hamlet have been completely fucked over by their “owners”, a NY-based property outfit and have been locked out of Champion Hill for the last two months so all home games are at Tooting’s ground for now. Getting promoted is the least they deserve after the shit they’ve been through this season.

I was looking forward to seeing them when I was over last month, devastated to miss the game and see the dire straits they're in...

Predictably enough, it has now been converted into a nursery/childcare centre.

Yeah, I remember you were trying to get to a game. It’s a mess alright but for once the local council are digging their heels in as well. The fans are pretty resolute so all is not lost

It's a front. Like pizzagate or something.

There's been a bit of a rivalry between Clapton FC and DH as long as I've been going to Clapton.

A few weeks ago there was a meeting about the future of Clapton's ground (sign the petition here please ) and quite a few Dulwich fans came up to offer their advice and support. Big respect to them and good luck to Dulwich on Thursday. Shame they couldn't pip Billericay to the top spot.

cheers Tom, signed. Will get some football lovers at work to sign tomorrow too

Yeah, I saw Clapton are in trouble too. Not good. Funnily there used to be a bit of rivalry between Walthamstow Avenue (my local non-leaguers when I was a kid) and Hamlet, but sadly the A’s are long gone now.

5 in a row it is. What’s the consensus on Jody Morris these days? He’s being held in high regard at the club. Time to move him up as part of the first team setup or is he better off in the youth setup?

Chelsea-esque behaviour from the Burnley fans. It looks as though they're adapting well to life in the big boys' league, and just like Leicester at their Champions League away games, reminding people that being underdogs doesn't mean you're not cunts.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43951753?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_match_of_the_day&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=sport

It was a good game last night. Some classy football. Some tension in the crowd until the fourth goal went in and put the result beyond doubt. By then the Arsenal support had pretty much gone home.

Really classy by the FA who held the presentation facing the west stand at the Emirates while all the supporters were in the east stand. The only people in the west stand were the freeloaders in the directors' box, almost all of whom had left to fill their bellies with free drinks. The only possible justification was to have pictures with a crowd behind it but, in reality was a typical FA snub to supporters (and to the players who really enjoyed one of their first experiences of a decent crowd.)

Lovely touch by young George McEachran, younger and more takented brother of Josh, who took the trophy and walked to the Chelsea supporters with a scarf around his neck. When he got just in front of us, he placed the trophy on the ground and took off the scarf. It had "Ray Wilkens" printed on it. He held the scarf over the Cup. The type of sentiment from one so young that one would love to see in older players.

Five in a row equals the record of the Busby Babes in the first five years of the competition. 33 goals for and only one against.

Jody Morris was the last person who I would have expected to oversee such a triumph but he has really come into his own. I used to dislike him as a player, never seemed to fulfill his early promise and was always prone to lead young players astray. For some reason, in those days, the club was very supportive of him. Ken Bates always went out of his way to help him. He came from a very troubled background. The new regime has taken him back and he has shone. A remarkable and brilliant transformation.

That said, one should not overlook the role played by Neil Bath who is the one constant over the past decade of success.

Encouraging. Hopefully some of the kids will make it in football and possibly even at Chelsea.

tl:dr Clive doing a Corney on Chelsea Youth (although based on being at the game rather than a Guardian article)

Chelsea-esque behaviour

Tom. If you seek to assert that racism is the sole preserve of Chelsea supporters you are ignoring the extent of racism elsewhere. Chelsea are no worse than any other side (and no better).

Stupid but not unexpected. A lot of Burnley fans have a bit of a strange love-in with Rodriguez, they were singing his name when he was playing for the opposition the other week. A lot of fans grew up with him and know him and were adamant that he wouldn't make those comments.

The claim is, although many won't be convinced, that this wasn't in reaction to the initial charge but Bong's refusal to let it lie after the FA had found Rodriguez not guilty (his comments in the paper afterwards were along the lines of I know what I heard and I did not mishear). That ties in with stuff I saw on social media from Burnley fans before the match but is obviously a nuance that is pretty difficult to get across with some half-witted booing.

Whether or not that is the case, it was pretty fucking stupid on a day when the attention should have been on Burnley qualifying for Europe next season.

Looks like Buvac will be the next Arsenal manager then.

Based on what?

I’ve heard the board’s preferred candidate is Allegri, but am refraining from getting too excited about that.