Anti Euro Smiths Fan

Edited.

Could this possibly indicate a different side to Mr Williams' character to the one which has hitherto been praised to the rafters by other board members? Is it possible that our smooth talking moustachioed Chief Executive has a "friendly face" in public - (The good-natured garrulous fellow that Den encountered when he was invited into his office for tea and biscuits and a cosy chat for an hour and a half) - But this amiable side to his character can be offset by irascible short-tempered outbursts, as Thenodrog has alluded to. It seems to me that the criticisms Revidge had were perfectly legitimate viewpoints that he held about the club. For Mr Williams to allegedly "Go apes*it with the LET editor" indicates an unhealthy sensitivity to criticism on his part.

Edited.

I can exclusively reveal that Jim's "early retirement" hasn't quite gone to plan. He received only a miniscule pay-off, after boss Rupert Murdoch was enraged by one of his articles criticising Aussies. Such was the paltry sum Jim received, that he's now been forced into making an ignominious return to the old career he had prior to becoming a journalist. "I thought my days with a clipboard checking bus tickets were over," Jim complained bitterly last week. "This is a humiliation, and it's all thanks to that barsteward Murdoch. I'm dreading going back to work on those buses again," he said. Yesterday Jim was kitted out in his old uniform, and can be seen back at work in the photo below......

Sorry that you've been given your P45 from the LET, Simon. I used to enjoy your columns and will miss them this season. I know some people on the M/B felt that you were too negative sometimes, but personally I think you were being both honest and perceptive in your assessments. I don't myself think you were being overly negative - Good job that Jim's not doing the column - He'd be much worse, and would be calling for the Manager's head every week!

Jordan - You could try www.1stdublinhotels.com/ Prices though are in Bloody Euros. As Abbey would say - Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Have a good time. Will you be dipping your tight Yorkshire hand into your pocket for a change? :'>

Next, Colin will be coming out and saying he's been a lifelong Thatcherite. I intend visiting a bookshop in the next week or so to purchase "The Wrong Boy". I look forward to reading it. It was reported earlier in the year on a Morrissey fan website, that Willy Russell has received a letter from Mozza who wrote to Willy to say that he enjoyed the book.

The opposition would be terrified of that one. :'>

I can understand your sentiments. It certainly was a hugely disappointing performance to put it mildly. We were outfought in the tackle, too slow, gave possesion away shabilly, and there was no cohesion, or proper shape to the team at all. Strangely enough, I thought that Craig Short, despite his slip for the 1st goal, was one of the few players on the night who I wouldn't want to describe as being a disgrace. Craig did at least give the impression of trying. Sadly many of the other players didn't.

Well, I'd certainly drop Yorke to accomodate Jansen, when Matt becomes fully fit. I thought that Yorke was very poor tonight, in what was an all round bitterly disappointing match. We had all been eagerly looking forward to this match since a fortnight ago, when we outplayed Celtic away from home. But how very different this match was - Such a bitter let down. The eyes of the nation were on Rovers tonight, and the players failed miserably in a pitiful display. All very sad.

Well, I'd probably be pessmistic and go for Celtic to win on away goals - If it wasn't for a curious dream I had a few nights ago, when I dreamt that we won the tie 2-0 at Ewood, winning 2-1 on aggregate. The 2 Rovers goals we scored, I pictured vividly as I slept. I could 'see' not only the goals being scored, but also the reaction of the crowd as well. It was a pleasant dream - Nearly as nice as the one I had a while back - When I dreamt about cuddling up to Rosie!

I believe it will be a closely fought contest with neither side winning the two-legged tie comfortably. Since 1982 there have been five England/Scotland encounters in European Competition - All those five matches were closely fought - with the English sides winning three of them and the Scottish sides two. The English victories were: a) Liverpool beating Celtic narrowly on the away goals rule - 2-2 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup 1997-98. Ron Atkinson's Manchester United winning narrowly 5-4 on aggregate against a spirited display put up by Dundee United in the 3rd round of the UEFA Cup 1984-85. c) Brian Clough's Forest beating Celtic 2-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup 1983-84. The Scottish victories in the last 20 years against English opposition were: a) Rangers beating Leeds in the European Cup 1992-93. Ferguson's Aberdeen beating Ipswich 4-2 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup 1982. The statistics in the last 20 years suggest English and Scottish sides have been evenly matched over two legs. Although if you go back longer than 20 years - English sides have sometimes ran out as very comfortable winners. For example: Spurs beating Aberdeen 5-2 over two legs in the UEFA Cup 1973-74, and Liverpool beating Aberdeen 5-0 on aggregate in the 2nd round of the European Cup in 1980. (I'll put the anorak away for now!) For our encounter with Celtic - I predict an evenly matched two ties - and being positive for a change (as opposed to the pessimism that sometimes creeps into me) I would go for: Ist leg: Celtic 2 Rovers 1 2nd Leg: Rovers 1 Celtic 0 Blackburn to win on the Away goals rule.

I'd feel sorry for anyone who went to Sofia, but was still unable to get a Celtic ticket. Considering the quite generous allocation of tickets for the Darwen End that Rovers have set aside for Celtic fans, it's a shame that Celtic didn't reciprocate the gesture by allowing a few more tickets for Rovers fans at Celtic Park. Former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas has described Blackburn as a "Small town club" and has said that he wished Celtic were playing a bigger, more glamorous English club. Unfortunately that sort of viewpoint seems to have prevailed with the powers that be at Celtic - who have given us our meagre ticket allocation. P.S SteB, I've put your £10 voucher in the post today. Hope your successful with the postal application for tickets.