Here's the comparison

Weather forecast is fine. Catches win matches. If England can hold theirs, I'll take 2-1 going to Notttingham a week on Thursday.

Tenner a seat Monday. Get on it!

Fingers crossed X. Come on Hughesy.

As the saying goes at Old Trafford: If you can't see the Pennines it's raining.... ..and if you can see the Pennines it about to rain. Nothing changes.

Walking through Great Harwood yesterday, passed a fine pie shop in Town Gate, recommened!

Last nights heavy rain in Lancs has passed. Light drizzle declining now. SE England will see the wet weather this afternoon. Saturday afternoon set to be fine in Lancs and the forecast for next week - crackin' 'flags!

Mods I know this is a football site, but in view of the phenomenal interest in this Ashes series, can we have this thread pinned until the end of the 5th test?

I notice Newcastle have failed to sell all their season tickets, according to BBC Radio 5, for the first time in the Premiership.

Normally an optimist, but I doubt whether Ewood will sell out this season, and the problem is I can't think of a way to do it. BTW Anyone in favour of reinstating the Anglo-Scottish Cup next Summer to revive a bit of interest?

And Hughesy.

Apparently Bakri has fled the country.

What is a proper fan? Before the 90's and the Sky era, the bulk of attendees were low earning males. Many of those regular addicts had been weaned off going through thick and thin long before the title. Yes there are a few hundred women going. Yes there are a few hundred families going. Yes there are a few Asians going. Yes there are a few X5's in the car park. Yes there are a few who have a 3 course meal before the game. Yes it's clean. Yes it's safe. But the tens of thousands of working class males who conceived, played and watched the professional game know that it's become more expensive, boring and sanitised. In the mid 90's the Ewood gate was 'artificially' swelled by casual support, there were even families who had been always been known as Burnley followers holding ST's in the BBE lower! Professional football has sold its soul to Mr Murdoch's Sky.

Come on chaps. England expects.

Good work SS.

Shouldn't be long now Alan. There's a line of stage coaches outside the ticket office right now, with baskets of carrier pigeons for those in far flung areas like Belthorn.

Motorhead by Motorhead should get 'em tapping their feet under their travelling rugs in the JW upper.

This debate is pretty academic. The PA system at Ewood has always seemed quieter to me than most other large grounds I've been to. Anyone at Romers available for comment?

There's plenty of room for disaffected or displaced Mancs down at Ewood Park.

26 seasons. First game was at Ewood in February or March 1980. Too many memories too mention them all. Going to the Isle Of Man in the 80's to watch the Rovers in the Football Festival. Forry got smacked by Newcastle fans on the ferry from Heysham. When we played them in the final at Douglas Bowl one wag shouted as the teams walked out that Beardsley was even uglier in real life - the rest of the Newcastle team were hysterical! It rained so much that Clarky turned black with the dye from his leather jacket. Every away trip with the Valley Blues in the 1980's. Pre match bevvies when Paul and Annie had the Havelock.

Have some faith - the bigger they come , the harder they fall. Every dog has its day!

It's a Bolton song.

The thing is they ain't gonna go whilst the law allows them to stay here. Laws which looked after genuine refugees following WW2 are now clearly being exploited by extremists. Time for some action from the government and lets have some decent border controls put in place while we're at it.

What price Freddie swooping for Steve Bruce this season?