Voll Blau

This is one of the many, many holes in the ECB's plan that was obvious from the start. They were banking on the rest of the world getting on board with the idea of yet another new form of the game. They've since just lied and bullshitted their way to the position we're at now and, yet again, all of English cricket is going to suffer in the long term.

Yeah, I never used to be that keen on the place but it's grown on me recently. The cathedral's obviously stunning too.

A bottle of Moongazer Stubblestack. Lager but definitely had a Norfolk twist on it. Must be the barley?

Should have reported Viktoria Köln v Preußen Münster two weeks ago. Finished 3-5 after Preußen had been 3-1 down! Was in the away end as I've got a soft spot for them, so great atmosphere as you'd expect - especially as they've been chasing a double promotion. Proper "Bierdusches" for the fourth and fifth. Weird ground set in pleasant parkland in the east of Cologne, so worth a visit. Away end was an open terrace the length of the pitch with a standard lower league German main stand opposite. Home end was a temporary open terrace that only ran half way behind the goal, with a beer tent taking up the other half. The other end was another temporary structure, a double decker of executive boxes, to compete the Subbuteo ground aesthetic. Gaffel Kölsch was refreshing enough as the beer of choice.

Absolutely fantastic pub. Have you been tonthe Duke of York too?

Shock. https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/county-cricket-premium/the_hundred_hosts_warning_shot_smaller_counties_splinter_english_cricket.html?t=638506777490474418

Never quite put my finger on why Northants produces so many world champions (relatively speaking).

And that "somewhere" should be in LE postcode areas. You have the ability to create lifelong loyalty so, so easily to a potential fanbase of a million people there. Taylor Swift fans will stop watching or caring about Kansas City the second she stops going to games. It's unsustainable in the extreme for a middling English football club in a working-class city to chance its arm trying to gain short-term popularity and ignore its local population in the manner LCFC does. Plus, it's really fvcking depressing.

They've tried and failed for the past decade, despite all the success we've had. Focus on local kids and families, who, if we're being properly business-minded, are going to give you long-term repeat custom whatever happens on the pitch. Basing your strategy of brand-building solely around capitalising on occasional success is really fvcking stupid for a club like ours.

In a weird way, I think it's less beneficial for Wilson to have won a frame like that at the end of the night, rather than midway through a session. Like a cricketer on a big score overnight. Everybody starts again the next day and you can't always capitalise properly on the momentum.

Fvcking mental that people *still* think shite like this is gonna make us big in Thailand. If it didn't happen when we pulled off one of the biggest miracles in the history of sport, then it never will. How about we all focus on making sure every child in Leicestershire actually supports - and can easily attend games of - their local club? That's of far more value, both societally and (long-term) financially to our club than people, wherever they're from, only interested in basking in reflected glory when it comes.

Enjoying this mini-comeback.

In England? No, you have groups at Palace, Middlesbrough, Ipswich etc who also do fan-made and funded stuff. Sadly, in a lot of other places you have "groups" who basically just crowdfund and then pay way over the odds to get stuff printed. The designs are always crap too.

That hurricane of confetti at the trophy lift was definitely eco-friendly too.

People having it repeatedly explained to them who it's for and they still won't shift their mindset. Crackers.

Never ceases to amaze me how many lads involved report getting ridiculous abuse from some "participants" every time.

The reality is that our club have lied to us and attempted to extort £25 extra from us all. That this is now changed to an enforced charity donation (interested to see the Charities Commission's stance on that, by the way...) is proof of that.

That's not a real response, surely? Who's briefing the poor bloke?

Both fair enough points. I just find it a bit out of order, personally.

He was literally front and centre in the changing room.

Enjoying it plenty, loved seeing all of my mates, fellow fans and players having a great time last night. Just not sure why people feel the need to make this his achievement when it isn't.

Alright, I'll be the one to say it. Him basking in the reflected glory of players who are bailing out his poor management ain't the one. Takes the piss that he's putting himself front and centre of celebrations (yet again) despite having been largely absent while the going's got tough.

Just shows up all the excuses we've had in recent years. Our fans do know all the songs and can turn up. Long may it continue.

Great pots from Higgins in the circumstances.

Who's got the bottle here then...