A definite PR exercise going on, talking about exact amounts of tickets sold when in the past you would hear nothing of actual sales. I mean 250 sold instead of 5, that's some like for like increase! Nevermind closing stands, we'll need a bigger ground if sales carry on at this rate!

There's a certain set of fans I know who would be delighted. Get Dunn in as his assistant and they'll be delirious.

Season 1 and 2 were fairly faithful to the books, since then they have gone off piste to quite a large extent. Personally I think the disjointed, cumbersome tome that is A Feast for Crows is a reason for them diverting heavily away from the books from about season 4 . The first three books were well written, 'Crows is just a mess- page after page of Martin at his rambling worst.

TJ has a point re non Kings Landing/North story lines- I was surprised they went back to the Iron Islands, bit of a borefest, they've made a complete hash of Dorne, not convinced by the Meereen stuff and the Ayra storyline needs to get a move on.

I know Amo is aghast by the divergence from the books, but it looks as if they are trying to merge back in some elements I thought were lost- i.e., Kingsmoot, the Blackfish etc.

Had TMS on, as he came out to the bat they said he came storming on to the pitch like it was the final over of the world cup final. He then proceeded to try and slog every ball, and was promptly bowled. Odd fella is Stuart.

Ha I noticed that, most middle class pitch invasion I'd seen.

Another great win for Lancs. Obviously Jimmy will now depart, but we may see him again as his limited over future for England doesn't seem too rosy. Shame Surrey collapsed and gave Yorks the win. Roses battle for the title?

Looking at the amount of 400/500+ scores must be a lot of flat pitches around.

Isn't Stanley a different club anyway?

Wagner has a knack of picking up wickets, often on pretty flat pitches, so he could really come in handy. Wagner, Jarvis and Anderson is right up there seam attack wise, alas it'll be Jimmy's usual cameo or two.

I've noticed he refers to Morgan as 'The Irishman'.

Difference being that West Ham have a vast fanbase throughout east London, Essex and Kent. They've just sold 50000+ season tickets. The Daggers might as well be a Sunday League team in comparison. We have a tiny catchment area shared with Burnley to the east, Preston to the west and then massive city clubs to the south. Not saying Stanley are a threat, however it doesn't take much of an excuse for semi-detached Rovers fans to not go to Ewood, at a time we are desperate for support.

Sounds like everyone is agreed that Stanley doing so well is great. Not sure myself. Things carry on as they are at Ewood and we'll be in the same league soon enough. Considering that the Hyndburn area is one of our few catchment areas (that we already have to share with the Dingles), not sure how having another club (just 5 miles away) doing well is in our interests? 'It's only little Accy ffs', indeed it is, but they are a club on the up and I can imagine it won't take much for wavering/lapsed Rovers fans to pitch up at Accy. 'Rovers? Bloody s****, proper experience at Stanley and at the end of the day they are my local club, just got me lad into watching them too'

You surely must make a distinction between coming from say New Zealand as a kid- listen to his Cumbrian accent! And say KP coming over as an adult because he couldn't get in the South African Under 19 side (though his mother is English). We have generally seen a big influx of South Africans into the UK over the past 15 years or so, especially middle class families- so it is likely that the kids would carry on the cricket they played in their South African schools. Eoin Morgan? Hmmm might be with you on that one.

Not too sure about that, they were still only getting about1000 home fans on until the last couple of months.

League 1 is going to be very owd Lanky dominated. Accy (possibly), Bolton, Blackpool (possibly), Fleetwood (possibly), Oldham (possibly), Rochdale, Bury, Wigan (probably not) Lets just hope we don't join them!

"someone could have been killed" a woman being interviewed said on the news the day after

Superb performance, unreal the change in England's limited over approach this last 12 months.

That's what I'm clinging too because 'enjoying' a pint of Fosters seems a bit of a stretch...

Maybe it was a different lager but in a Fosters glass...

Indeed, Easter should be for derbies- akin to Rugby League. The ill fated Yeovil game at Ewood another example.

I always want the usual suspects to struggle in Europe, sick of seeing the same clubs year in year out. But I do get behind 'normal' clubs if they can somehow break the cartel and qualify; Fulham, Boro, Leicester next season- reminds me of our great adventures.

Talk to folk from outside the Blackburn/East Lancs area about John Bulls and you get:

Great show that seems to pass under a lot of folk's radar- The Americans. Season 4 starts next month, well worth catching up on if you've not seen it.