bazza

Makes me uncomfortable to watch this, but it's a must. Watch it right to the end. PS Don't try this at home. http://www.jokeroo.com/bin/player.swf?5f9f_f369

I am reliably informed that Rochina is pronounced roh-chee-nah with the emphasis on "chee". Ruben has the emphasis on "ben".

It talks about Roque quoting Kean as saying "He trained with the medical staff......." I expected the sentence to continue, "and they lasted longer than he did." I will be disappointed not to see Ruben and Mauro soon.

I've just seen "The King's Speech" and have to agree with Paul, Colin and others what a good film it is; well above my expectations. However, my reason for posting is that the actor, David Bamber, who has a cameo role as the theatre director (when Logue goes for an audition) is the spitting image of Bill Eckersley. I've seen him before and thought the same. He has the same shaped head, eyes, ears. It would be interesting to know if others, who've seen them both, agree with me.

Thanks RVR and Neil Weaver. I hope Judge stays with us. Or has he not progressed as was expected? Hollowsr or anyone?

What is Matt doing these days? Is he still on loan to Brum? If so, why is he not playing? Personally, I'd like him back. Can anyone tell me what has happened to these players. And where can I keep track of Rovers' current players and ex-players if not by asking you lot? Elrio Van Heerden Zurab Khizanishvili Aaron Doran Alan Judge It's OK. I've found a Wikipedia page for the players but any report re the above would be welcomed.

Yes. The high terraced area between the Riverside and the Darwen End usually had very few people on it. (A bit like the Darwen End side of the Jack Walker Stand now). That is why I decided to go there for the FA Cup 6th round replay against Burnley in 1960. I left it too late to get into the ground and saw very little of the match because I just couldn't push my way into the sardine tin at that point. There were 52,000 on. With regards to the 1929 crowd of just less than 62,000 I should imagine that a few hundred (or thousand) people never saw much of the game. Don't forget that all the steps or terracing from top to bottom at the Blackburn End facing the pitch had an almost equal number of steps down away from the pitch facing what's now the club shop and Jack's statue (can't remember the name of the street). Come to think of it, those steps were probably only at each side and not all the way round the back.

I was very sad to hear of Ronnie Clayton's death. He was only nine years older than me. I have never had a tour around Ewood Park and regret not going on the ones Ron used to do. I started watching Rovers around 1950/51 when Jackie Campbell was right half. A young Ronnie Clayton soon took over from him and became one of the greatest Rovers players I have ever seen. He was not only captain of the Rovers but also captain of England, taking over from Billy Wright of Wolves. The England captaincy passed on to West Ham's Bobby Moore whilst Ronnie still played for England. My dad told me the story that he was at Ewood watching Ronnie being given a trial and playing in front of David Gray. Gray was shouting instructions to him too much when my dad shouted "Let the lad play his own game, David." A man standing behind my dad said, "Thanks for that. I'm Ronnie's father." There wouldn't have been many spectators on the terraces at that game. A true, true Rovers legend. RIP Ronnie. Condolences to the family.

Steve Agnew takes temporary charge of Middlesbrough after Strachan has left. I remember when Don Mackay bought him, the Barnsley captain.

Just a thought........ Back in early May, Mac said he went to Thyme at the Sirloin in Hoghton. I wonder if he checked out the pool room of the ground floor bar where there are photos and memorabilia of local footy teams; i.e. Bolton Wanderers, North End, Rovers and the mancs and scousers clubs as well. Well worth a look before you have an excellent meal.

The question was "Is England still in the World?" Which is correct English. My answer is "I ruddy hope so. I am fairly sure the country where I live hasn't been blasted off the face of the Earth".

Seconded

It is April 1st, you know.

Glad some of you disapprove. Leaves more room for me and my friends.

Eagle and Child in Leyland is under new management. Beer is good. All day breakfast (2 eggs, 2 sausages, tomato, bacon, beans & chips) for £2.50 is excellent. It's closing for one week for refurbishment soon. I'm not sure when.

Parched peas and treacle toffee were expected standard fair around the bonfire on Nov 5th, always made by the local women, i.e. my mum and my mates' mums. The cockle man would come into the pubs in the 1970s with basket on arm selling cockles, prawns, mussels. I once bought a bag of mushrooms from him. The first time I ate raw mushrooms; delicious.

Michael Winner is, and has always been, to me an absolute t**t. He makes my flesh creep. He's like the PC brigade; totally obnoxious yet commands some sort of power. Big 'eaded tit. How come we cannot get rid of these types of people and stop them from interfering in our lives?

Even at Murrayfield?

They'd have been better off waiting for Phil Brown to be sacked.

I noticed a player for Germany's women's football team named Peter and checked out Sergio on Wikipedia. No wonder Rovers got rid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Peter The last paragraphs are thus:- It was revealed by Blackburn Rovers on 2 January 2009 that Sergio was expected to sign for Sparta Prague within 24 hours.[1] and the move was completed that very same day.[2] Sergio failed to make impression in his first months spent with Sparta and now he only plays for the reserves. The team assistant manager Martin Hasek said that the main problem is Sergio's poor fitness condition. Till the end of April, he just appeared in one game, being substituted after just 45 minutes. In summer 2009, Sparta Prague released Sergio Peter for his unprofessionality. [edit]

Yes, Jim. When Ferguson was with us he thought our big rivalry was with Bolton and was disappointed when there was a poor derby atmosphere.

I hope Barry is looking forward to the intense rivalry and unbelievable atmosphere of Brum's local derby against er Stoke? Wolves? Oh no. It's Coventry and they are in a different division.

I've just finished Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. It was a paperback hanging round the house so I thought I'd better read it in case I ever get on "Who wants to be a millionaire" or become a member of a team challenging the "Eggheads". I've never seen a TV series or a film but had heard of Heathcliff and Cathy. The narrator is a Mr Lockwood but for most of the book he gives the narration of Nellie Dean who at one point gives a narration to him of Isabella. Confused? If you are feeling cheerful don't read this as you will finish up miserable and if you are feeling down don't read this because you'll become suicidal. I feel sorry for the schoolchildren who are forced to read such stuff.

That's precisely what I'm getting at. "He has to send the player off". This should not be the case. Referees should NOT have to go by the letter of the law.

Watched both games which I enjoyed. Arsenal were the poor side and the other three were superb. I just get frustrated that the beautiful game has been damaged by silly interfering instructions given by the powers that be to the officials. For example, Fletcher's tackle last night. The ref should have given a penalty (as he saw it) but NO card. Yellow cards should be for persistent fouling or a one-off bad challenge (in old fashioned terms "a caution") and a red card for violent conduct or a really cynical foul. Refs are not allowed to use their own judgement. And they should give EVERY foul they see, such as shirt pulling, arms around an opponent etc. It's time we had goal-line technology, video replay by the fourth official, and time-keeping taken away from the ref. Chelsea should have scored a second tonight to make sure and should have been awarded a penalty instead of a free kick in the first half. All other penalty shouts were dubious. However, all credit to Barca. They remind me of Man Utd with their never-say-die attitude. It'll be a great final to watch in Rome (on the telly, of course).