not a bad effort boys! 1 Brownie point each, and think yourselves lucky.

Well folks, now it's my turn to "do a Den" and complain that nobody has commented on my "solution" to the Old Gate Debate. ( near the bottom of page 107 if you are interested). Also, since I wrote it initially as a "tongue in cheek" proposal. I have thought about it and now think that if it was ever taken up (fat chance) it actually would work and provide the solution to the missing millions.

I find it helps to wear shades when reading Abbey's posts. Preferably completely black ones that you use for looking at a total eclipse of the sun!

You have nicely summed up my position on Dunny's return there Oz. I freely admit I was one of the most vociferous posters against us re-signing him. But all the time my arguments were based on how I saw it from a common sense view, and not how I nostalgically wished it to be. When i heard that Notlob were in for him and that he had passed a strict medical with them, my heart took over my head and I wanted us to go for him, and when we actually got him, I have to admit I was over the moon, because that meant he had also satisfied MH and our strict requirements. There is still a nagging doubt about his ability to stay fit and injury free, but I really do hope he has taken on board all the lessons of his unhappy Brum experience and now sees this as a golden opporunity to prove to us all that he has grown up and wants to make the most of his second chance. All the very best Dunny! Go out there and show us all what you can do, and keep on doing it!

Well I don't know about Lucas enjoying it, but I certainly did. That was one of the best matches I have seen for some time. Very high tempo, good passing and movement from both sides, and a couple of cracking goals as well. 'Pools second from Crouch was a beauty. Then Wham got back in to the match with a goal from their Sub (Kepa?) with his first touch ever in Wham colours. This was followed by a second in stoppage time, but too late to change the result. Great entertainment! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the performance of the officials. Mr. Bennet had an excellent game as did his two assistants. Just about spot on with every decision IMO. What a difference it makes when you are watching purely as a neutral!

How do you get a tune out of a drum? A rythm, yes! but a tune????????

Sorry Den I had not even seen your posts when I got my idea. I was reading Waggy's qotation of Brian Clough at the time when I decided to short cut to the end of the thread and put my idea forward. Incidentally now I have read your idea, I have to point out that it is virtually identical to the discussion and argument I used around two years ago when I was expounding on all the causes of people losing interest in football. When I suggested then a return to all clubs having a maximum wage and thus a level playing field it was unaminously kicked out because of human rights etc etc. However I do agree with your slant on it (obviously).

Well lads and lassies this thread has gone to 107 pages and so far nobody has come up with a suitable solution. So how about this one! Bear with me. We all know that the TV exposure has both increased prices and also made a huge amount of money for TV companies, players and their agents, and of course the clubs; in fact everybody except the people that pay to get in and watch. And now we have the latest big money hand down from the TV companies to continue this farce. OK, so here's the deal: Just as film companies require extras for crowd scenes etc and are willing to pay for their services, so do the TV companies. They dont want to have their cameras showing vast areas of empty seats all round the grounds. So instead of paying all those millions to the clubs, why not set some of it aside to provide a package for each fan that turns up at the game? Something along the lines of: For each fan that attends they will get free travel to and from the match, free admission, plus a free pie and a pint, or equivalent (their choice). That would apply to all attendees. In addition for each fan that the TV shows in close-up, they would be paid a fiver in cash. There now thats the attendance problem solved! And it's a lot better than Lancashire United! Copyright Fife Rover 2007.

Sorry Paul, have to disagree with you there. For me, ALL the teams in the PL are worth watching, and anyway just seeing the Rovers is enough reason for me to want to attend. The thing that stops me is the OVERALL cost of attendance. If ever the day comes that England takes a leaf out of Scotland's book and gives pensioners free bus travel throughout the UK, I will have a season ticket again. Until that happens it will have to stay at about 4 visits a year. From the posts you make afterwards Jordan, I am surprised it only takes 3 pints!

Absolutely right Oz! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmm....... I know what you mean, but unfortunately if they DO clash I see the opposite outcome. Shefki is too much of a gentleman, and it will probably finish up with Lucas breaking Shefki's leg!

That's a damned good idea Jan. Put their photo's up on here as well, then we can all see what they look like, and whoever wants to can tell them what they think of them.

And what had RFW done prior to joining Manure? Played for Dunfermline and Rangers. Then he managed Aberdeen and made them into a good side by Scottish standards. Next stop: Old Trafford!!

I'm now wishing you had stuck with your original intention and not posted. I feel quite deflated and sadenned by that little item of info. Completely spoilt my image of the man. :ph34r:

What were Duff and Dunn then?

Just one thing wrong in your logic there Theno; Jones was signed by Rovers from another 3rd div side (Bornemouth? from memory) He was an Englandunder 23 cap at the time as well. I do however agree with you that Brad is probably a better all-round keeper, but I would argue that there is/was not much in it.

To be honest I can't be sure of the actual match details, but Roger was certainly playing in goal for Stoke, and it was his first return to Ewood after leaving. I also seem to feel that it was a fair bit after he left us to go to Newcastle, but could be wrong about that. It sure was an emotional occasion though!

Yes Roger Jones! The entire ground sang his name Roger Jones! Roger Jones! for a large part of the match although he was playing for the opposition. That is how much he meant to us! Great keeper and a great guy.

Just heard on SSN that lucas has finally tied up his deal with WHam.

That looks like an ideal song for the opposition fans to sing! Are you trying to flog it round the rest of the Prem?

Oh dear! Yes, I'm afraid I do struggle a little with the contemporary sense of humour.

Oh come on Theno! Surely YOU dont think that Pearce was talking about Neill when he delivered his little homily about the Ferrari and the England Cap??

So in answer to my previous question and assuming Philipl is correct, this can only have one meaning; that MH actually as things stand has NO MONEY AT ALL to spend and he needs more than WHam are offering for Neill just to get a replacement for him. Either that or a player in exchange which MH finds acceptable. This in spite of the availability of Nesmachniy for around £1.2m!! Very sad state of affairs! Makes you begin to think that Vinjay might just have a point. And before anybody gets any ideas: NO! I am NOT Vinjay.

What is going on here? Why is MH claiming that cash is no good to him "because he can't spend it"?

How about the Beano? Nah! on second thoughts that is a far more informative and intellectual newspaper than the Sun.