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I parked at the Saffron Lane athletics track a couple of years' ago for the FA Cup game and it was OK. 15 mins to the ground but avoided traffic leaving.
Not got to many film this year yet - loads going on.
I rewatched Kinives Out the other day because ATRM had done it and it's still brilliant.
I went to see the Bride! I really did wonder wtf I was watching and ended up going back and watching it again a couple of days later. It's a real Frankenstein of a film with Maggie Gyllenhall chucking everything at the screen - Bonny and Clyde, 20s musical, film noir to name 3. It's bananas but on second viewing realised it was entertaining, if only for Jesse Buckley who is awesome.
I also saw Dolly the other day - pretty formulaic 80's style gore and grindcore. Not worth your attention.
He's schlepping up to Birmingham on Wednesday, and we're both going to Leicester on Saturday. We'll have fun in the pub, and on the way back, both dates ruined by the appearance of a QPR loss midway through the day.
That's the deal isn't it. You build a good day around it and then spend the rest of it processing a defeat. At least at 25 he knows what he's signed up for - your son could so easily lose interest if he doesn't experience some positivity and relies on the TV version of QPR.
I wandered into ER yesterday expecting us to get beaten at least 3-0. I saw the team, saw the depth (!) on the bench and knew we'd be losing. Was it enjoyable? Not really, but spending time with my younger son is always good, so I won't bemoan that.
The frustration is that, as I mentioned in the 7/8 playoff thread, we're moving to a different place with football now. It's entertainment, not sport. It's social media output, the LOLz and bantz.
It's hot takes, ref explainers, VAR breakdowns and interactive player ratings.
Outrage cycles that last 48 hours and then reset.
Managers say nothing in press conferences, which get clipped and posted as if they meant something.
Ninety minutes of preamble about nothing before 15th play 4th.
Goals that only exist as YouTube Shorts, taken in as vertical video.
Tunnel cams – only when we win you notice.
Behind-the-scenes access to nothing.
Stats that can prove whatever point you already had.
None of it is about the football. All of it is the product.
You're spot on Clive - decisions are being made by a small number of people for financial reasons, with no meaningful consultation. None of it is designed for the person who got on the tube yesterday, paid to get in, and watched us lose 4-0. We're the atmosphere, not the customer.
The bit I can't shake is that going with my son was the point of it. The result was bad; the football was grim, but that part was fine. That's the thing they can't package and sell, and probably the only reason most of us are still showing up.
And, in impeccable timing, as the club realise it looks really shítty for a player to be crowdfunding for her recovery, they put out a piece about how supportive they're being.
Good things: Commercial revenue – more teams in with a shout for playoffs should lead to bigger crowds at competing teams Fan engagement – the socials and 'noise' will, arguably, be a good thing. For Sky, there's loads more tension they can ramp up and televised games with better audiences.
Bad things: The Championship is the most financially distorted league in the world, and expanding from 4 to 6 teams will intensify the incentive to overspend to get to the Prem. Parachute payments won't improve, and it arguably extends the two-tier system down the table. Teams finishing eighth can be 15 points behind third. Should a one-off playoff game destroy a club's season because of Sky's shíts and giggles? The comparison to the National League is spurious – the financial stakes, squad depth differentials, and promotion consequences at that level are not comparable.
If you think the Championship is 'entertainment', you'll be happy. If the Championship is primarily a sporting competition, you'll be disappointed.
I contacted QPR to ask whether their safety team's assessment actually covered the specific issues I raised in my complaint. Their response is significant.
QPR have confirmed that: No formal assessment of the operation was made in an official capacity - their staff were just present to observe The positive comments related specifically to searching (there were LOTS of drugs) and accessibility assistance inside the away end, not to external crowd management or turnstile ingress The comments were made in private conversation on the night, not as a public statement
This matters because Charlton's response to my complaint used the QPR officers' commendation as a counter-argument, presenting it as though it was an independent evaluation that addressed my specific concerns about conditions at Entrance 4 between 19:30 and 20:00. QPR have now clarified it was informal observation about completely different aspects of the operation.
I have forwarded QPR's email to Charlton and asked that it be included in the evidence shared with the Met, SGSA, and SAG. It removes one of their key deflections and puts the record straight before the external reviews take place.
The SGSA ground assessment is still the main focus - that happens before the May SAG meeting and carries more weight than an internal review.
I am an excellent complainer – Mrs E17 got a PCN the other day, and they're tying themselves in knots trying to justify it when they are, quite clearly, in the wrong.
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