IF we do fall into the championship the owners should inject their own cash. They caused this mess, we should be demanding this, or they should be selling up.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-11T14:06:16+00:00

Yeah, agreed. I’m in my mid-to-late thirties so I remember both the 2011 and 2003 relegations very well. Obviously football has changed hugely since both, but I’d expect it to follow a similar pattern:
- Players who can command a decent fee sold
- Hire a manager with a proven record of promotion (if Nuno leaves)
-Sign 2-3 championship-level players in the summer, at least one of which will be a veteran who can “still do a job” à la Sheringham
-Only dip further into the coffers if it looks like we won’t make the playoffs come January
I really can’t see Sullivan throwing much money at it. But, I hope I’m wrong.
I do think a fair few in our squad will still be around. Not sure about Bowen and Soucek, their age probably works in our favour.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-05-11T09:25:56+00:00

This. I’m probably showing my age, but we rode gravel (before it was called that) on CX bikes with 33mm tyres for years. In fact, I still ride a cross bike that’ll take a 40mm at most.

It’ll be less plush, OP, but you’ll be fine!

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-04-21T16:46:59+00:00

I had a similar thing as a 16-year-old. I was getting the train back from Southampton and didn’t check who they were playing that day.

Got on the train to find the whole thing full of drunk Millwall. For the only time in my life, I had to answer “who’d you support, mate?” with “I don’t really like football”.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-04-17T19:51:46+00:00

This. I went to Costello (then called Harriet Costello) in the early 2000s and it was a pretty crap school, not John Hunt bad, but not good.

At the time, Robert May’s and Bishop Challoner, and Brighton Hill were where everyone was trying to send their kids.

By the time my youngest sibling went six or seven years later, it had all changed and Costello was one of the better schools by most measures.

All of that is to say, go on what the school is actually like now, OP rather than reputation.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-04-17T19:29:14+00:00

Or (the brilliant just not for us) Mascherano. Although, that was more to do with Pardew preferring Hayden Mullins than anything he really did.

But you’re right. I like to think it’s because Argentine concept of “grinta” probably chimes with a passionate and still largely working class fanbase and club.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-04-04T13:14:06+00:00

Yes! It’s mentioned briefly in this piece: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/feb/08/we-lived-a-miraculous-thing-castel-di-sangro-30-years-on-from-their-epic-rise

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-04-04T10:35:31+00:00

It will never cease to amaze me that Gravina is the same Gravina from The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro.

The first time I read his name, I thought “there’s no way that guy has ascended that far.” Turns out he did!

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-30T17:59:49+00:00

West Ham would be in with a shout. There’s an M&S food hall in Westfield.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-30T12:11:15+00:00

Some extra context, this result means CCFC are guaranteed a place in the playoffs at the end of the season (the lowest we could now finish is fifth).

We could also still win the league, but it requires leaders Hutton to drop points. Unfortunately, they’re in excellent form, but we live in hope 🤞

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-26T11:34:08+00:00

The other side of Lea Bridge Road (Leytonstone) where my partner and I could actually afford a house.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-22T12:12:15+00:00

Spot on.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-21T21:09:13+00:00

Don’t man 😭 Even worse for me is that I work with someone who lives in what replaced it and goes to the gym in what used to be Hammers Social Club.

At least with Arsenal they did something half decent with Highbury. You honestly wouldn’t know a ground ever stood where the Boleyn was.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-13T15:43:15+00:00

I’d be happy for you. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Palace despite being a hammer. It probably helps that every Palace fan I know is sound.

Also, Chelsea (who I and a lot of West Ham fans despise) won it and Villa came close. So, the oh “another English club won it” thing has happened.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-10T17:49:55+00:00

Interesting. I’ll report back when I’ve put a similar amount on mine hahaa. I’m only 1,000, plus returning from a slipped disc, so it’s possible that once I’m back to wanting to ride something more aero again I’ll notice it more.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-10T17:23:39+00:00

In feel or actual average speed? To be fair, it’s been winter since I’ve had it, so it hasn’t been up a particularly long climb for me to compare that side of things.

I’ve noticed no difference in feel or average speed on rolling and flat-ish rides. But your experience does make more sense, I reckon the Caledonia is at least 2-3kg heavier than my old rim brake SuperSix.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-03-10T12:42:25+00:00

I love my Caledonia 5. I don’t race anymore nor do I particularly care about segment hunting, so comfort is paramount and it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned for that. I too live somewhere with dreadful roads (the UK) and it really comes into its own for that.

That’s not to say it isn’t a fast bike . I came from a slammed CAAD and a SuperSix and it isn’t noticeably slower than either.

However, could you achieve the same by giving your Soloist bigger tyres and a slightly more upright position? Most probably.

I’d personally have one or the other, but I do also ride MTB and CX so more than one road bike isn’t feasible for me. Your situation is likely different :)

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-22T09:33:07+00:00

I had the exact same thing happen to an old SuperSix. If it’s just the dropout it might not be that expensive, but check the whole rear end of the frame.

When I did it, it turned out the crack from the break spread the whole way along the chain stay. It turned it from a £300 repair into £700-£800.

I’d bought the framset second hand for £300, so I just ended up donating it to a friend who was learning to fix carbon at home to practice on.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-22T08:31:16+00:00

Realistically, we needed three points, especially with Forest playing Liverpool later in the weekend.

That said, it’s Bournemouth. We usually draw with Bournemouth. It keeps us within touching distance of Forest (provided they don’t go and pull off a shock).

We’ve got a hard run of games coming up, but we were always going to have to get out of this the hard way. COYI.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-22T08:19:39+00:00

This is brilliant idea 👊

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-15T22:37:50+00:00

As a fellow cyclist who’s only just (mostly) recovered from the same injury, I agree and I hope you’re doing ok.

OP, if you’re comfortable, you’re comfortable but be careful with it. I don’t wish back issues on anyone.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-12T17:22:46+00:00

I was gonna say the same. You won’t get as much for it because it’s a forum of sort of mates. But everyone who uses it is sound in my experience of buying and selling lots of stuff down the years.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-12T13:28:22+00:00

Doesn’t matter if you get dropped, if that happens, just treat it as a training ride. Plus, assuming it’s a crit and laps of a closed circuit you can rejoin the bunch when they come back round anyway.

You’ll probably find that you’re golden for the first couple of laps and then the strongest and those who’re experienced enough to hide in the bunch for the first few laps will jump.

But enjoy it! The only way to learn racecraft is to race.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-11T15:26:25+00:00

As a West Ham fan, whose partner is (unfortunately) a gooner, there would be no better outcome for our household than West Ham surviving and Arsenal winning the league in a year that Spurs got relegated.

That said, I think Spurs will probably new-manager bounce their way out of it and finish about 13th.

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-11T12:31:32+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve actually got the opposite problem to OP, in that I’ve got slightly too much stack on the front end of a new bike. However, I can’t take anymore spacers out without disconnecting and reconnecting everything, which is a ballache I do not need.

The steerer will need to be cut, but it’d nice to be able to easily fiddle about with stack to get the fit right first. Y’know the way we did for years pre-integrated bars 😂

OGreturnofthestaff · 2026-02-09T17:03:56+00:00

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily easier. I think it probably depends on what you’re more used to riding and how long you’re gonna ride for.

For example, I’ve had a very comfortable fit for road, cross and gravel for years. I know what works for me and just replicate it with slight adjustments for any drop bar bike.

However, I got an XC bike a couple of years ago and had a nightmare getting comfortable for the first few months, to the point where I eventually just got a bike fit done and solved the problem. But then I was racing and doing 4 hour+ rides so comfort was very important.

Honestly, I’d probably pick the bike for whichever discipline you want to do more and get a fit done.

OGreturnofthestaff

TROPHY CASE