There's a Hollywood Bowl behind the empty end of the Kassam Stadium which didn't seem to mind away fans last time I went. Can't remember if it showed TV footy, but it had a bar plus burgers and chips etc. Other than that there's not much round there.

I hear you Stu, don’t disagree woth any of that.

I’d agree with those saying Bugiel brings us something we don’t have and need. He’s an old school player who gets stuck into the opposition and fights for stuff. He’s also quite quick around the park, has decent awareness, wins a lot of headers. And pretty much anything he doesn’t win is still ball that is just being headed. Without him on the pitch the better teams are just picking where and who to head it to with no real pressure. I have no issue with goals with him because having him on the pitch is how the likes of Browne, Stevens, Hackford and even Maycock end up in a position to score. We need someone like him at this level. We’re not going to be able to get guys who can do all that and score goals.

Indeed Trig. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Blundell Park last season. This time a year ago, I was sitting in a cafe not far from the ground and the award winning fish and chips the night before were excellent.

Dundonald the attendances since relegation put the lie to people claiming the crowds would all leave at that point. Around 8000 people want to watch us play. Not a bad situation for a club like us.

Spit getting to gander green lane is a fucking nightmare. I doubt anyone enjoys getting there unless they can walk it. Badly fucked up road.

6MDM If you don't want to do the college tourist bit, the quieter stretches of the Cam are lovely, probably north side is better for the football. Stay in Horningsea or if feeling really energetic Ely?

If Grimsby win the playoffs that’s a good away day imho.

$6m - Blackbird Leys is a place to explore before Oxford

Yeah Oxford is a poor away day. Cambridge at least has a stadium with character but otherwise disappointing. As it stands Peterborough looking the best away day next season. Lincoln the easy winner this year.

€6m, there's an arboretum about two miles away direction away from Oxford and quite nice by the river at Sandford. Otherwise, go to Oxford and wander round colleges and parks or visit the Ashmolean & Pitt Rivers museums, which are both excellent

CW - I view interesting places to visit, given I like walking and exploring the areas before games (and a bit afterwards when there is daylight), as what is within a few miles of the grounds themselves. Oxford play on the outskirts of Oxford with nothing nearby that I have discovered on previous visits. If you can suggest something then let me know. Ditto Cambridge.

And can I say I have nothing against sponsors and know some of them, but my point is bigger than any individuals, it’s about how we view our club, act and portray us as something we aren’t.

There were also sponsors and directors in there Aideen. I remember when sponsors were seen and not heard from. Now it feels they have to be front and centre of everything. Again that’s fine if we had independent owners and we’re like other clubs - we try to pretend we are not.

I do not advocate a massive churn of playing staff. Indeed I would keep all those on contract for 26-27 season and add a few plus some better loanees

Wox: I've wondered at times whether a management of team of four, plus DoF, is quite a luxury in a very constrained budgetary environment.

Stu the roped off area was for the players and reps from women’s team as Far as I could see. I was on a table at the front but just from sheer luck . But we never seem to get these things right. I hope everyone who wanted ti see the awards got in but I imagine not (not read back) . Think the only fair way to do them is on the pitch , or a ballot held in advance.

Jackson, Skiverton, Deddington and Bayes all had contracts extended in oct25 - AFCW were then in 5th spot

Alan, when I was on dialysis there, I often spotted patients with Oxford shirts ...

Alan iow I was at the beer festival at haven street station yesterday got over 30 beers going fiver a pint still on today and tom pity rain came down great day out and also a pop up bar at pier head station selling gin vodka and rum from mermaid distillery rum was fantastic guy looked like Neil warnock selling the stuff

Could be a decent clear out in the summer. Anyone who isn’t a nailed on starter should be up for an exit unless they’re cheap (McDonnell is probably a bargain keeper and decent back up). Players like Maycock will surely be out the door which will be a shame as he’s generally performed well for us but he’s obviously not a fit for JJ and he’ll probably gamble on someone else. Hopefully we can retain Tilley and Seddon. Then there’s those that we will have to shift to balance the books eg Browne, maybe Smith (I could see another league one team seeing his potential), and maybe Lewis.

Alan IoW - it's basically a squad that needs tearing apart and rebuilding now. And that's fine, because it got us to where we wanted to be.

Watching the league 2 highlights, Salford had an absolute stonewall penalty turned down which would avert given them promotion, wonder what Karl Robinson made of that

Being operated on in Oxford sometime in the next season will be excuse enough to wear my Dons shirts during my stay there. Who better better if there's a win to celebrate at their expense.

CW - true but less so where each of them play, particularly Oxford.