Philip, I`d like to think that somewhere along the line, someone said "Any money is a bonus, why not consider the fans here and give them a chance to see a premiership team for tenner(or so)" What about the Bournemouth game you may ask. Only 7,000 odd turned up? Yea well thats 7,000 odd who got to see a premiership team,ahem, for a tenner each. Good Pr, despite the result in the end. I doubt wether any budgets for the year took into account any FA cup income from the gate, so it`s all bunce. Just a thought.

`Ahhh up Pompeii, up Pompeii`, the cry rang out across the seething masses. No it’s not a football match at Fratton Park, but a scene from the Frankie Howerd Oscar winning titter fest, based slightly on loads of people being killed by a volcano. You see it was here that the now famous cry of, ermm, “ Up Pompey, Up Pompey” was first heard. It occurred during the infamous `Volcano Derby` match between Pompeii and Etna, a vital relegation grudge match in Serie A. Howard made a small fortune out of the film, mocking the locals by portraying them as sex obsessed hedonists. But the Pompeian’s had the last laugh as Howerd himself died later that year whilst filming the now notorious epic `Carry On Dying` with Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Sid James. So, as a tribute, the Burgers of Portsmouth, Howerd’s home town, decided to twin themselves with the now pile of ashes that used to be Pompeii. So now whenever the local football, or `Calcio` team play, the fans are made to sing the old song by the council at least ten times a match. And a fat bird has to ring a bell as well. Ironically, next Saturday Portsmouth play against Blackburn, a town named after a small village near Etna which also burned under the boiling lava, called Burnblack, which brings me very poorly to the preview. I have a couple of memories of away trips to Portsmouth. The first time I went was for a league division 2 match, around the mid 1980s. You had to have a travel membership card those days, and we went on train from Chorley. We set off around 2am I think on a Saturday morning and the journey took what seemed to be 10 hours. On arriving at Portsmouth station we all walked along the main road, and I could hardly tell a word the locals were saying. All I can remember is they wore lots of long sleeve paisley shirts, in purple and orange. I wasn’t even sure if I was even still in England! Arriving at the ground it looked OK(times have changed) and there was some sort of half timbered pub building near the entrance, which I think is still there. A look around Fratton Park Oh look, there it is.! Anyway the match started and Rovers were getting paggered. Two down after 15-20 minutes and I was getting angry. Then one of the goalscorers Mick Channon, gets subbed. I let fly a volley of abuse, some of which was industrial and next thing I know a copper is pulling me out of the ground and throwing me out. All that way for a 20 minute two goal defeat. Then I had to wait at the station till after the game on my own, which was not a pleasant experience. The other trip I remember was for an FA Cup 3rd round match. Traveling down on the official coach this time, in freezing cold snow and ice. All I remember about this tie was it ended 0-0, with Chris Thompson missing three open goals at our end. Recent games have been OK for us, last season winning two-one and a decent draw in the league cup. I think that game was the one were Aaron Flahavan passed out and Blakey stopped playing and helped him. I also seem to remember a second division match down there where we were two down at half time and ended up winning four two? Garner getting at least three of them? Anyway, come Saturday all is forgotten and Rovers should look to gain three points against a fragile team, whose main threat for me is pace. And skill, also long range shots. But who cares about them? Look what we have got: FREIDEL-Last seasons leading goalscorer. NEILL- One of only two Aussies in the world to be crap at sport NISSA-Loads of hair, blocks attackers view TODD- Hunter, Smith, Case, Harris, Souness-he would waste them all. MATTEO-Sounds like an Italian,plays like a pizza TUGAY-Never has a passer of the ball been more aptly named. EMERTON-See NEILL FERGUSON-Cultured, sophisticated, great passer-Cannot be Scottish! REID-Souness got the wrong Reid, and then lost the receipt DICKOV-If he were a dog, he’d be one of them little yappy ankle biters, that do really sticky sh*ts. STEAD- On day release from Nicky Clarke hairdressers. If this lot turns it on on Saturday, god help anyone who stands in their way. Could this our first double of the season? As to the managers, both bosses are relatively inexperienced in their current positions. Some would say Hughes achieved more as a player than Joe Jordan. They would of course be right. But big Joe, was always a favorite of mine in the olden days, simply because he was the first footballer to have no front teeth. He was also the BIG FEE MAN for Leeds on the football cards I used to collect. Sparky, (he used to be an electrician) has won virtually everything in the game and played under the main man himself, Sir RFW. His pedigree alone should be enough to motivate and organize better than Joe. So all in all I predict 3-1 to the Rovers, and this to flatter Portsmouth. Will I win £5? We shall see. PS Is it me or does Gordon McQueen look like OddBodd, the monster out of Carry On Screaming?

£24!!!!! Get Bent! I was hoping a £5 all round, get 20K in, get a good atmosphere and support the team. They could have made loads of money on pie, ale and chips money to compensate. But no, £24. They really are taking the p!ss. Gutted absolutely gutted. I CAN afford th pay it, but thats not the point. Loads of people can`t, and this was an ideal opportunity to get some new fans in and re-build a customer base thats been dwindling for 2 years. PR and business disaster.

I remember a fruit winning goal of the season at Anfield once.

Why all fuss? It`s only like a ref missing an obvious handball and not giving the penalty? No to technology, let the humans make their mistakes.

Theres a song in this. `Toddy take a, Toddy take a bow, Boot the grime of this world in the crotch dear, And dont go out tonight, Go out and find the one that you love and who loves you,` With apologies to Mozza. And AESF.

For those who are travelling to Cardiff and haven`t visited Ninian Park before, brace yourselves. It`s an experience, and take a crash helmet. Cardiff is a great city, as most of us will remember, but playing away at Cardiff is a different thing altogether. Think we`ll win though.

GLC, You knows it!

I predict a goal fest with two knackered teams commiting a string of basic errors leading to some comical defending and slapstick, Harold Lloyd style marking, featuring Ben Turpin goalkeeping mistakes. 0-0, and it flatters Charlton. Do the players get double time for working a bank holiday? And do I win £5?

So what EXACT time do you reckon he will sign for us at tomorrow?

Dicky has scored as many prem goals this season as Anelka, Gudjonson and Scoles. And more than Andy Cole.

The players celebrated like the had won a cup final after the game! Nice that they all came over to us and clapped.

Looking at the title of this thread, I`d say GOOD DEAL! £150K for a likely 12-15 goals is a good deal.

Can`t wait for tomorrows game, few pints and a bit of a dink dank doo! All travelling fans must be in full voice for the boys for the whole 90 minutes. Sing your hearts out for the lads!

You couldn`t play worse the Matteo did in the first half, even if you really trried to. A bit better though in 2nd half. The wonderful `Toon Army` seemed more interested than jumping around and baiting us in the Darwen End than watching the match. Reid, Ferguson and NEJ played really well, as did Todd. The big lad at the back, Taylor ? played well for them, as did Milner I thought. Amusing chant-on Uriah Rennies entrance to the game-"The referees a black belt!".

You say whay now 1864, but come 5 o`clock I have a feeling you wish it had been called off!!!

For a pint in Chorley, which is well endowed with a D-Cup full of good pubs, near the station is, as already mentioned the Malt n Hops. Or for the financially challenged amongst us, try Sams Bar, just over the road. £1.60 for a pint of lager, £1.20 for hand pulled bitter and the worlds biggest telly with sport on.

Mr Souness, your made of timber. Or is it mahogonay. Or do you celebrate mahogmanay in Newcastle. And Edinburgh. Either way, your thick. As a brick. Fancy that???

Don`t sing, or stand up, or be positive in any way Alan and you`ll fit right in. BTW, a very good chance of heavy snow in the north west this weekend, maybe the game will be postponed??? Imagine 5000 geordies roaming round town on boxing day with nowt to do??

If Shearer can`t play, then get him to do the draw at half time with Beamo, that way he gets a proper thanks and good-bye. I would hope for no repeat of the boxing day nightmare that was Sunderland a year or two back, and think it will be a good entertaining game. Rovers to win, 3-1 and that flatters Newcastle.

Mr Hopps travelled from North Yorkshire, with the brother of my step-father, who parked some way up LBR, opposite the former Rocket garage.

How dare you.How dare you. The straw that broke the camels back, Mr K.

I usually sit in the Darwen end, but I sat in the BE yesterday. I got to the ground at 2.45pm, only for the barcode ticket not to work. It just kept giving a red light. The steward told me to try another turnstile, which I did, which again failed to let me in. The next steward, and his mate, told me to go to the ticket office for a replacement, even though I had a perfectly valid ticket, cost £28 in my hand. At the TO< when I asked what to do if the new one didn`t work, I was told it would do and stop wasting time and go away. Needless to say, after queueing up for 20 minutes to swap my 1st ticket for an identical second, and missing 13 minutes of the game, I was not too happy. Then the `fun` began. I have never seen so many miserable, fickle and , to be blunt , crap supporters. e.g. 15 seconds after coming on as a sub, Gally fails to beat the land speed record and beat Stubbs to another over hit pass. Result? `come on Gally, thats sh*te, get into the game `etc... It made me ashamed to be a Rovers fan. Then the final blow on an already bizmark afternoon. Bothroyd, (Yes ONE o not two, NOT BOOTHROYD), fails to make any real effort in jumping for a high ball. Cue Dickov giving him some, ahem, encourgement and instruction shall we say. Quote from guy sat behind me " You`re wasting your time Dickov, he`s a thick black @#/?" On Thursday morning, I rang the TO for my seats at three matches, Everton, Newcastle and Bolton. Price £85. After 25 years of following Rovers,I am now seriously considering not going anymore.

According to TO, there were approx 500 tickets left this morning fro open sale. I advise prompt action for anyone wishing to purchase.

Easy peasy win. 3-1 to Rovers, and it flatters Everton. I`m in a good mood, and we will lick the toffeemen.