Nobody since Clough? Bobby Robson and Terry Venables did cracking jobs. If we'd just kept El Tel for France '98...

Good job it’s on ITV then!

Really? Most ST holders I know have mentioned it, hasn’t stopped them renewing, but it’s still a noticeable increase.

Would be interested to know the take up on 1875 membership this season. I haven't bothered signing up myself this time, as yet. Last year was unique in many ways - loads of new grounds, loads of derbies, there was a local away game with a tiny allocation, top of the league, cheap. This season, I can't think of a single game where demand will outstrip supply - as even the local games provide massive allocations, not new grounds etc etc.

I’m not being an apologist for it, merely pointing out that it isn’t a Waggott initiative. Ste B sits near me, he partakes in the scheme and I’ve not seen him in a second half for about a decade. I’d never seen it advertised until this summer though.

Yes random as it was being made out that the pre match charge was going up from £1 to £2.60, as far as I can see it isn’t. Theres two different charges. £1 entry pre match £60 per season with half time and second half entry (£2.60 per game).

Thought so. £1 to a random figure of £2.60 to go in pre game seemed a very strange increase. As zee says the option to watch the game in Blues has been available for years.

Yet Man United fans have consistently wrecked pubs in Blackburn and Darwen. They have smashed up toilets, seats etc on the ground... So why was the cup tie not at 12pm, TV or not, safety is safety, no?

You can blame Waggott for part of it, because it’s the club that want 7,000 sales.

Purely financial JH. Wagott obviously thinks 7,000 Leeds and PNE fans will come regardless of KO time. If the ‘Safety Advisory Committee’ or whatever they’re called have said 12pm or no 7,000 allocation, he’s obviously worked out that our own walk-ons will be minimal at £28 and most of them will still come at 12 anyway, the rest? Bugger ‘em

What apologists? Every post is in agreement with what a load of nonsense it is.

End of the day if it is down to ‘supporter safety/public order’ on police advice we just have to live with it - though we had no issue for twenty odd years. However, why do safety/public order worries go out the window if TV want to show it?

They also confirmed NYD, Good Friday and Easter Monday as 3pm too. Think they are just saying that though they aren’t Saturdays, they are 3pm KOs. Doesnt mean Sky won’t move them nearer to the time - Leeds being the prime candidate.

Leeds may still bring it if they've had a decent start under their new manager. If PNE are going for promotion then they may have a decent stab at it, otherwise by the time March comes around, they ain't bringing close to 7k for a 12pm dead rubber at nearly £30. As always though, the rules are made up as they go along. Man Utd cup tie was fine to kick off at 4pm with a full Darwen End... TV got involved. Rovers and Burnley can't play at the same time... until TV get involved.

England have consistently put teams at Tunisia and Panama's level to the sword in qualifying for years. Yes, we played with a bit more attacking flair and Southgate's been great at getting the press eating out of his hands, but Colombia will be the first decent test he's had.

Dodged a bullet there, was about to book a train to Bristol yesterday but didn't get round to it. According to Bristol City's website, it has been moved to 'alleviate fixture congestion'. That makes zero sense, as; a. they don't have a midweek fixture before it (well possible League Cup that they'd play their reserves in anyway) and b. its only the start of bloody September!

Maradona was on ephedrine. A banned stimulant that helps weight loss. So, not ‘recreational’ drugs.

I used to go to the gym built into the away end at PNE, what I noticed was how there was always folk touching up the ground - jet washing, painting etc. Just regular, low level maintenance that doesn’t cost much in the grand scheme of things, but the state of Ewood shows you they haven’t even bothered with that for years.

It was.

Looking through those prices, looks as if they’ve frozen them. Good to see, as I was expecting a rise, considering the £50 increase on STs.

Won’t be at touching £40 a ticket...

Through the red button, I think.

Only about 3 years older than the rest of the ground (foundations aside). Still remember John Motson calling it our ‘new grandstand’ when we played Liverpool in the Atkins OG cup tie.

Sure I read that it was the clubs themselves that lobbied for midweek games to be largely against teams from afar, due to wanting to maximise away followings on a Saturday.

If we'd had, say one derby early on, one around Christmas, one in the run in, we'd have seen massive followings for all three (well maybe not Bolton at £35), alas we'll be lucky to take 2,000 to Wigan.