ant

Boro now so focused on litigation that they didn't feel the need to bother with, say, a shot on target to win the match. ⚖️

Eurgh. Supposed to be at Beer Merchants now, sipping ill-advised pre-match imperial stouts at their Omnipollo takeover. Thankfully managed to get a few online, so today's not entirely fueled by FOMO. Enjoy the sunshine and don't get sucked into doom scrolling, folks. ✌️

It's interesting how much people are gunning for Hull, who themselves have been under a transfer embargo across the entire season. What a grim state football is in.

I don't know how I'm ever meant to sleep again. Buzzzzzzzz.

Can't start a fire without a spark.

Close - it was coins. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/3998485.rupert-lowe-barracked-at-southampton-fcs-plc-agm/ There was a full transcript of that AGM online but I can't find it now.

Cyle's goals per 90 mins is 0.84 in the league, which is best in the Championship for those that have played 800+ mins. Stewart second on the same criteria at 0.73. Simms was 0.72 and Vipotnik 0.7. Not to claim Larin's stats would've definitely extended across a full season. But what an impact.

1st in the division for big chances created (21), and 3rd for assists.

2.06 points per game.

Why consider such a wide-ranging sample, devoid of relevant context? In the past 25 years of English second-tier playoffs, the team finishing 3rd or 4th has won 64% of Playoff Finals. In the past 20 years, it's 75%. In both the last 15 and 10 years it works out as 80%. Last 10 years: 3rd - 30% (3), 4th - 50% (5), 5th - 20% (2), 6th - 0% Last 15 years: 3rd - 40% (6), 4th - 40% (6), 5th - 20% (3), 6th - 0% Last 20 years: 3rd - 45% (9), 4th - 30% (6), 5th - 20% (4), 6th - 5% (1) Last 25 years: 3rd - 40% (10), 4th - 24% (6), 5th - 24% (6), 6th - 12% (3) There's a clear tendency for 3rd/4th to be an advantage, and increasingly so over time.

Based on last night, I'm heartened that our fans seem bang up for it. Will be a crucial factor going into the playoffs - particularly if we end up with a bum kickoff time for the home fixture.

This is magnificent. A must-watch. https://www.instagram.com/p/DXl1Vj0DMHC/?img_index=1&igsh=MTQ3dHhoeWpsMjQ0ZQ== Gerrard incredulous. Our joy infectiously spreading to McCoist. Fletcher's pro use of letting the crowd noise carry the moment.

Posted in the match thread as well, but we were in Hackney Wick beforehand and the Hammers were complimentary about us. City fans weren't enjoying the critique of them outside the ground afterwards, which was amusing. (By which I'm not condoning those that crossed a line - but the chants about their poor support weren't unfair). One Gillingham fan took umbrage to our lot singing on the Jubilee train back down, but I think he was just a bit odd.

By the by, beforehand we were drinking in Beer Merchants in Hackney Wick - which was full of West Ham fans. Lots of well wishes sent our way. Only confirmed my thoughts that I'd prefer Spurs to go down. 🤭

It's this one that gets me. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXkLYa9DPww/?igsh=MXF5M3lya3B5OGcyNg== City end half empty before their players had even left the field, whereas our OWTSGMI was spine-tingling. Then Wembley put that City interview over the PA, so we just sang even louder. Keep trying to work out why I feel so happy despite the defeat, and it's got to be thanks to moments like that.

So many mystery aches and pains today! My legs look like I've been playing without shin pads against a prison team. 😅

Planned for a fun day out with the football to be a fun sideshow. And as it was, we gave a very credible account of ourselves. My fiancée hasn't historically been into football, but I'd challenge any newbie to not pick up the bug from today. Only bad thing about the entire day is that we got on at Waterloo circa 21.15 and 2 hours later have only just reached Fareham. Goodness knows how long left til Central. 😴

If you want Azaz at his on-the-turn long range glory, you take him warts and all. Those that criticise him will lament his loss when he's gone.

Other than the sugar rush and initial aftermath of Gabbiadini's second, I think that's the best we've been at Wembley. Or to reframe it, the best we've been across an entire match rather than in a single moment. You rarely walk away more heartened from a loss than that.

Managed to get straight onto one of the extra/re-routed trains at Central (09.43), only for them to not have a driver ready. 😆 Slow clap, SWR...

Anybody down at Central station yet? Wondering how they've set up the queueing system.

Agreed. It wasn't that long ago that when the team needed picking up in crucial moments, our crowd would identify it and play its part. Whether it was arrogance, as inferred, or a meek acceptance... Too frequently we were outsung by a few hundred Bristolians with nothing to play for.

I left the ground frustrated, but am feeling more pragmatic now. In isolation (and the heat of the moment) this felt a kick in the teeth. But realistically there's been too much to do for the autos for a very long time. Best thing we can do now is to try to remain unbeaten until this squad has nothing left to give.

Going by Opta's predicted table, they have Ipswich something in the region of 60/40 in favour of making the autos. Us and Millwall more like 80/20 in terms of finishing 3rd to 6th. Things have been changing fast though. It wasn't long ago that we were only attributed about a 3% chance of catching 2nd.

Yeah, for the playoff final I walked from Waterloo to Brewdog Seven Dials (RIP), taking in a bit of the cycling event that was on. Then did a mini crawl across Covent Garden. Didn't expect to see so many Saints fans in The Lyric as there was. Given I'd already planned to be in Hackney Wick on Saturday for an event at Beer Merchants I'll probably still go there for a bit before heading back west. All bets are off if we win. Beers until we miss the last train home, probably.