It would, however, have quite a big effect on our position in the table. We could advance quite a way or fall back again. However, I think the most likely result is a draw which would probably see us move very little, although the table is so tightly packed one never knows.
The Bluebirds, like many teams that play in blue (Millwall, Birmingham City, Manchester City) have a reputation for having unwelcoming fans. Of course, their main rivals are down the road in Abertawe. I was there in the spring for the first time in many years and I was interested in how much Cymraeg was being spoken, particularly by younger people. One reason, I am told, is that, having learnt it in school, they can talk about topics in Welsh without their parents understanding what they are saying or planning.
There isn't much Cymraeg spoken in Cardiff, even though it is the home of the Welsh Assembly Government, the Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru. Nevertheless, the sense of Welshness is strong, even if it is focused on egg chasing. And it has to be admitted that the Millennium Stadium is an iconic building, better than Wembley in many respects. Quite where Cardiff City are in their plans to move out of Ninian Park, or their relationship with football finance wizard Peter Ridsdale, is something I am not fully up to speed on.
Certainly, Wales has never been part of Alex Salmond's famous 'arc of prosperity', even before the bubble burst in Iceland and the Celtic tiger of Ireland ran into very serious trouble.
My lack of facility in Cymraeg has given me a problem in the last week. In the new year, I am expecting to spend some time on secondment in government. This will be mainly in London, but will also include a devolved administration and I am told that there will be a warm welcome for me in Belfast.
All this has little to do with the match and, indeed, we will not be sampling Welsh hospitality, but heading to a small village in Derbyshire called Glapwell which has somehow managed to sustain a Unibond team which was only formed in 1985. The Brakes face them in the FA Trophy. Although Leamington have won all their matches in the league so far this season, their record in cups has been less good.
Jason Cadden: every match won in the BGB Business League Midlands Division this season
Supremo Jason Cadden may not put out his strongest side. He faces Romulus at the New Windmill Ground on Tuesday and the fixture against them is always one of the most challenging in the season, even leaving aside their small handful of rather obnoxious fans. I suppose one saving grace is that they don't turn up dressed as legionnaires. In any event, we expect to be the only Charlton blog covering the game at Glapwell.
Very reasonably Charlton cannot make any comment on the progress of the negotiations while due diligence is taking place. Some sources think there will be an early conclusion, others that it may take longer. In the interim, I find it quite difficult to focus on the football until I know what sort of future the club has.
7 comments:
Stoke city !! Play in blue !!
Red & White stripes surely?
You seem knowlegdeable about all things governmental. Do you agree that in the interest of Democracy, it's time England had it's own Parliament too?
D'oh! I was thinking of Manchester City.
It's a bit odd having a Parliament representing some 85 per cent of the population, but clearly there is a problem about MPs from the devolved areas voting on purely English issues. But the 'West Lothian' question is about as intractable as the Schleswig-Holstein question which, of those who knew about it, one had forgotten what it was and the other was driven mad by thinking about it. Hopefully, we will hear less from Alex Salmond for a while, although I see that he was demanding an extra £1bn on top of what is provided by the Barnett formula on the grounds that it was 'his' money anyway.
I think it's a 'bit odd' that 15% of the population have their own Parliament/Assembly. Are experiencing better services than England, and often have the casting vote on legislation that does not apply to their country!
Oh! and the government far from recognising England's existence, wants to chop us into nine Euro-regions. Not the Scots or Welsh though!
It's certainly unusual, but given there's no popular support for regions within England, even in Geordieland, one can't have a federal system. It certainly offers Scotland a good financial deal, even if they deny it. But when it comes to football ...
Yorkshire - a Euro region? Don't be so patronising. It was an independent kingdom before the English tipped up.
Perhaps you can help Wyn. My aunt and uncle live in North Yorkshire and are constantly harping on about how "everything gets given to down south".
I'm convinced that as a Londoner,the money I pay in taxes is not equal to the amount that is spent on me by the government. I'm sure that in the provinces they get back much more than they put in.
It must be even more so when the small populations of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Cornwall etc are thought about and all the services that need to be provided.
Any facts or stats so that I can stick it to my perenially moaning uncle ?
It's my fault for turning this into a discussion of regional finances which is a very complex subject - perhaps we should be debating why Moutaoukil never gets a look in. Payments to Wales, Scotland (and I think) Northern Ireland are governed by the Barnett formula dating from the 1970s which I think gives those regions a good deal - it's why Scotland can up services without increasing taxes. It is certainly the case that London and the South-East generates a disproportional share of GDP (although quite a lot of that is in financial services), hence in priniple people and businesses there pay a greater share of tax. There is inevitably some redistribution elsewhere, particularly with the existence of regional development agencies. I could go on, but that's enough for now.
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