John Holland
@johnhollandoaktree.bsky.social
Retired Accountant. Father of two grown up sons. Married. Football fan NCFC and non-league. Into music and comedy as well
I hate to say it but two of our winnable games are in that spell. January looks tough, February looks doable and I think the key was to be in touch by the time we reach those matches
November 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I hate to say it but two of our winnable games are in that spell. January looks tough, February looks doable and I think the key was to be in touch by the time we reach those matches
They were on stronger stuff in the 60s which is probably why their music from that decade was more creative and why the creative genius behind them had major issues
November 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
They were on stronger stuff in the 60s which is probably why their music from that decade was more creative and why the creative genius behind them had major issues
I'm not saying we'll win these matches (I'm aware that the self styled 2025 version of the Invincibles lost to Charlton and Oxford) but these are the matches that map out a route out of trouble. My concern was that so many were before we could strengthen the squad
November 30, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I'm not saying we'll win these matches (I'm aware that the self styled 2025 version of the Invincibles lost to Charlton and Oxford) but these are the matches that map out a route out of trouble. My concern was that so many were before we could strengthen the squad
It's still going to be tough because we've lost a lot of winnable matches but 7 home victories - Watford, Charlton, Wednesday, Blackburn, Pompey, Derby & Swansea. 2 away Oxford & Charlton? Draw 5 of the other 7 home matches and we're on 45. Watford and QPR away will indicate where we will finish
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 AM
It's still going to be tough because we've lost a lot of winnable matches but 7 home victories - Watford, Charlton, Wednesday, Blackburn, Pompey, Derby & Swansea. 2 away Oxford & Charlton? Draw 5 of the other 7 home matches and we're on 45. Watford and QPR away will indicate where we will finish
You've previously said that we had the players and I've been unsure that we had that creative player needed but maybe Marcondes is the difference and whatever saw his form drop off is behind him. Still a long slog but win those 2 home matches over Xmas, pick up points elsewhere and we have a chance
November 30, 2025 at 9:15 AM
You've previously said that we had the players and I've been unsure that we had that creative player needed but maybe Marcondes is the difference and whatever saw his form drop off is behind him. Still a long slog but win those 2 home matches over Xmas, pick up points elsewhere and we have a chance
Still a long slog because the improvement needed to start 5 or 6 weeks ago but win 3 matches out of the next 6 or 7 and pick up points elsewhere then we tip the scales in our favour
November 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Still a long slog because the improvement needed to start 5 or 6 weeks ago but win 3 matches out of the next 6 or 7 and pick up points elsewhere then we tip the scales in our favour
Need to win today and 2 home matches over Xmas. We need a minimum of 46 points going by how the others are doing
November 29, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Need to win today and 2 home matches over Xmas. We need a minimum of 46 points going by how the others are doing
Because "don't knows" are not counted, could this be that more non-Reform voters are starting to make up their minds? I felt that Reform vote share was overstated because their supporters decided who to vote for months ago. The 24 to 50 age group appear to be most undecided according to YouGov
November 27, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Because "don't knows" are not counted, could this be that more non-Reform voters are starting to make up their minds? I felt that Reform vote share was overstated because their supporters decided who to vote for months ago. The 24 to 50 age group appear to be most undecided according to YouGov
I believe they were introduced back in the 80s. In 1994 I worked with a man who was part of the IT team that worked for the supermarket that introduced them and this would have been mid to late 80s
November 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I believe they were introduced back in the 80s. In 1994 I worked with a man who was part of the IT team that worked for the supermarket that introduced them and this would have been mid to late 80s
Why do you have someone packing your bag? You've just explained why customers pack their own bags when possible
November 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Why do you have someone packing your bag? You've just explained why customers pack their own bags when possible
Never actually seen that, usually it's "more dates added"
November 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Never actually seen that, usually it's "more dates added"
Late 90s and early 00s were probably much better than today but the last 15 years have been about undoing the good work of the 90s and early 00s. Kwarteng was probably no worse than Lawson but the latter got lucky
November 26, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Late 90s and early 00s were probably much better than today but the last 15 years have been about undoing the good work of the 90s and early 00s. Kwarteng was probably no worse than Lawson but the latter got lucky
Plus a government that hated anyone born after 1960
November 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Plus a government that hated anyone born after 1960
Unusual decade to choose. The OP pointed out that things are worse than 20 years ago and that's generally correct but 20 years ago things were much better than they were in the 80s. Violent crime, high youth unemployment, casual racism all common in the 80s
November 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Unusual decade to choose. The OP pointed out that things are worse than 20 years ago and that's generally correct but 20 years ago things were much better than they were in the 80s. Violent crime, high youth unemployment, casual racism all common in the 80s
I thought the board said number 18 rather than number 10 but that would still have been subbing a sub
November 25, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I thought the board said number 18 rather than number 10 but that would still have been subbing a sub
In those 3 matches the opposition were very poor and we could have got a 0-0 or 1-1 v West Brom and Derby and a 1-1 v Leicester. But those are 3 teams who haven't shown great form all season. I can't see us staying up even if we beat QPR and Watford, we've got too much to do
November 25, 2025 at 10:12 PM
In those 3 matches the opposition were very poor and we could have got a 0-0 or 1-1 v West Brom and Derby and a 1-1 v Leicester. But those are 3 teams who haven't shown great form all season. I can't see us staying up even if we beat QPR and Watford, we've got too much to do
I went public yesterday with a comment on MFW that we would get a scrappy 1-0 win. If we don't beat QPR we could be breaking many records this season
November 25, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I went public yesterday with a comment on MFW that we would get a scrappy 1-0 win. If we don't beat QPR we could be breaking many records this season
We probably deserved draws at Derby and at home to West Brom and Leicester but that's damning with faint praise
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
We probably deserved draws at Derby and at home to West Brom and Leicester but that's damning with faint praise
It looked like a League 1 match. Equals the 2021/22 start but that was PL. 13 without a victory, the only 2 longer in my memory were 71/72 19 matches (top flight and we reached Wembley in the middle of that) and some time in the late 90s at this level but we drew 7 out of 14 rather than 4 out of 13
November 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM
It looked like a League 1 match. Equals the 2021/22 start but that was PL. 13 without a victory, the only 2 longer in my memory were 71/72 19 matches (top flight and we reached Wembley in the middle of that) and some time in the late 90s at this level but we drew 7 out of 14 rather than 4 out of 13
Horror? Even ET?
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Horror? Even ET?
The problem was someone actually signing the certificate and handing it to me. Nothing could happen in terms of the funeral until we registered the death and we couldn't get that until the hospital provided the certificate. It was about a 2 week wait
November 24, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The problem was someone actually signing the certificate and handing it to me. Nothing could happen in terms of the funeral until we registered the death and we couldn't get that until the hospital provided the certificate. It was about a 2 week wait
No it was since Covid but the comment about difficulty in getting a Death Certificate was familiar
November 24, 2025 at 10:05 PM
No it was since Covid but the comment about difficulty in getting a Death Certificate was familiar
Unless there was only a couple of years between weddings I'd assume that there was a size difference
November 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Unless there was only a couple of years between weddings I'd assume that there was a size difference
Actually that was the most difficult task when my Dad died. Getting a Death Certificate. It arrived after the deadline for reporting the death despite the death happening in hospital
November 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Actually that was the most difficult task when my Dad died. Getting a Death Certificate. It arrived after the deadline for reporting the death despite the death happening in hospital
I think it's about people who don't lock them in place or don't retract them quickly. I had one who had taken the whole pavement up with him on one side and his dog on the other. He then gave me a mouthful because I stepped over the lead
November 24, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I think it's about people who don't lock them in place or don't retract them quickly. I had one who had taken the whole pavement up with him on one side and his dog on the other. He then gave me a mouthful because I stepped over the lead