I agree, we’d have to take that. Not that we’d see any of it !

Just a shame they couldn’t both lose.

It’d be nice watching them play for more than half a season though.

Nice polo shirt. I see all the usual brands ( Lacoste, Gant, Fred Perry, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein etc etc. ) on sale in most places but I can’t recall seeing a “ Brooks Brothers “ polo shirt on sale. As you can imagine I have quite an extensive collection of polo shirts. I like them a lot. They’re smart/casual and very comfortable. Speaking of shoes, year ago I spotted a pair of Roberto Cavalli champagne suede Chelsea boots, the ones with the elasticated sides. A mere snip at £75, down from about £300. They were perfect apart from a small biro mark about 10mm long near the sole on one boot. That’s why they were in TKMaxx. When I got them home I could get them on ok but I couldn’t get them off again. They fitted so well and with the elastic being new I wasn’t strong enough. Mrs Shoelaces had to drag them off for me ! Now any time I go out wearing them I have to be sure she’ll be home when I get back so she can help me off with them !

On reflection, maybe you’re right about the length of Weller’s trousers. I need to get with the times.

I’m fuming. Players like that come along every 10 years at clubs like ours, and that’s if you’re lucky. Phil Jones, Damien Duff etc.

Just as an aside, in last weeks Sunday Observer fans review of last season the Brighton fan writing it gave the best player award to JP Van Hecke

I keep forgetting you’re not in the UK. Everybody should have an M-65 jacket. I have a Vietnam style “ Tiger Stripe “ one that I ordered especially from a company in the USA 35 years ago. It has the removable lining and it’s still going strong. I also had the usual field green one that I wore for working outside, that probably came from the same shop in Manchester that you mentioned. I also got one of those USAF short green nylon pilots jackets ( Top Gun ? ) at the same time from the same place in California. I don’t know the number, the writing on the label has worn off. They are both genuine and were brand new at the time. I’ve looked high and low on the internet and I can’t see another one like the pilots jacket. There are loads that are similar but none exactly like mine. It must be worth a few quid by now, Another must to have over here is a duffle coat. I picked up a nice dark blue Italian one years ago in TKMaxx for about £100. Weller would approve, it’s not a “ Gloverall “ but it’s a bit more stylish.

Double post.

Towards the end of last season he didn’t ever look like scoring a goal. He wasn’t even missing chances, he wasn’t getting on the end of them. I’ve rarely seen a striker with so little goal poaching instincts, he always seems to go where the ball isn’t going.

The man’s a charlatan.

He was our Talisman, when things weren’t working out our only hope was “ get it to Sammi “ , and he rarely let us down.

Who’s going to pay a fee for him ? Ipswich won’t be interested again now they’ve been promoted. He was only an insurance policy for them, like Travis was.

I know, madness. I’ll have a bet now that Wharton goes further in the game than that keeper ever does.

Weller’s obviously flavour of the month. There’s a full page spread of him on the front page of today’s “ Observer “ magazine. One for “ Oldjamfan’s “ bedroom wall no doubt. Nicely turned out as usual. Black “ Brooks Brothers “ polo shirt, black slacks and some nice black leather slip on shoes. He needs a word with his tailor though, the slacks are about 2” too short. The Four Tops circa 1965 style. He dresses like me only I could give him a stone or two unfortunately ! He’s obviously looked after himself.

One more for our centre half collection.

The minute he’s played a handful of games and even looks half decent he’ll be gone. See Phillips. The way the game has developed over the last few years most Premier League clubs can afford to risk low number £millions on a gamble.

What’s that old saying ? “ A fool and his money are soon parted “. They must be mad. A player who was dropped by a team cruising to relegation for not being good enough is worth £20 million ? The game’s really gone. I think I’ll go back to bed.

Gene Allison - You Can Make It If You Try

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Thanks for your kind words, she wasn’t short changed in her life. She lived it to the full.

10/10. Prostate cancer got him and it had a go at me. Take the PSA test lads. Talking of tailors I know a very good one in Rochdale if you ever need any high class alterations.

Thanks, I would normally be watching the Cup Final with her today in The Flying Horse. It’s times like this that is the hardest.

There’s no way the Chicken Chokers would sack him in October. They’d wait whilst the spring at least.

If we can’t do better than Ruddy we really do have a problem. He used to be ok but time has caught up with him.