That's true - the link I posted earlier made it clear that the Polish yobs were after the English in particular . Unfortunately any response to provocation will have the tabloids over here giving our lot undeserved stick. It won't be the first time.....

That's not really the point AESF was making Flopsy . A lot of supporters are increasingly uneasy about the extent of "simulating" going on in the game - I certainly am . Much support is lost through the turnstiles due to the behaviour of many footballers . To see Savage get up to such tricks is predictable but shouldn't be condoned just because he plays for the Rovers , and to see Gerard diving around is disappointing to say the least . If we win the world cup by such tactics then so be it - we can't do a thing about it . But make no mistake , it would still be won by "ungentlemanly conduct" to say the least .

But the innocent fans supporting England in a peaceful manner aren't reaping "what they sow" . I doubt they were the same ones causing aggro 20 years ago . Nor as Eddie says does it always "take two to tango" .

Not too sure myself , Eddie - I only had a quick glance at an old BBC report which said he had tested for Ephedrine . Who to believe -Maradona or the BBC ? Both discredited in recent years I'm afraid ...

Maradona was undoubtedly a cocaine user but in the World Cup he was nabbed for the use of Ephedrine This is a description of the drug which I unashamedly lifted after a quick Google ! "Ephedrine has become one of the most popular 'supplements' used by athletes; ....... it is a rather powerful stimulant which can speed up interval workouts, increase strength, and also assist with weight loss..." I think it's fair enough then to call Maradona a cheat

Are you talking about the Sol Campbell goal , Matt ? Surely you can't claim that as a foul

Aye , next time show a bit of bottle .... Maybe a bit more bottle than just sending a silly personal message

Exactly ! There are a lot of Germans in Germany but I don't think they'll win either ....well hopefully not anyway

Still 17 eh ? I saw him when he was 14 playing for the Yanks under 17 and he was a class above even amongst that lot . Hopefully he'll develop enough to play in the Euro leagues . No doubt many have been keeping an eye on him . Thanks for the update .

What's happened to Adu , American ? Was he nowhere near making the squad ?

There's a large Turkish population in Germany .....but they won't do owt ! Neither will the Japs .

We can win it . Given luck with refereeing decisions - which we've cruelly lacked in recent competitions - anything is possible if we get on a roll . Gerard is more than capable of producing a series of Schillachi like performances and if Lampard and Crouch chip in then who knows . I think Paul is being quite ridiculous in dismissing Owen ; he's a big time man who has never let us down in the past (Owen that is ) . Given the service he will produce the goods . To actually win the damn thing I reckon we would need Rooney . That's why I've predicted 4th (3rd or 4th are the same really) . But we have a fighting chance even without him . Anybody remember Greece ?

Maybe Lineker and Hansen thought better of disagreeing with him . Who knows what the grinning imbecile might do or say if someone has an alternative point of view . Maybe they did right in emulating our own Mr McGarry who , when confronted with someone "different" on the train kept schtum and said sweet buggerall........(other than whinge like a wimp on a messageboard the next day )

Seems like Poland are contenders for the hooligan world crown according to THIS recent article . Our Waggy'll sort 'em out I reckon ...

I bet it's 20 years since I've seen anyone drink a pint of Golden ; lots of people used to though . Kids probably who had yet to take the brave step toward drinking undiluted bitter

Whoops ....I'm not up to date with the up and comers !! Handsome devil isn't he ...

Save your money , Philip . Mild and cans don't agree ....to my knowledge at least . Mild is slowly but surely dying out - my heart grieves to see the youth of today automatically drinking lager as soon as they think they've reached supping age . I can guarantee that the ale served at Ewood will be overpriced and of the "smooth" variety . It's a sad world at times

Let's hope they do a bit more research in the Italian market than they did last time ......

Let's hope you stop 'til the end then , Frosty Boy......

So am I . Hopefully many chose not to spend their money on Tuesday but will jump on the bandwagon on Sunday . Either way I hope we put a strong side out and beat city comfortably before maybe experimenting later in the game . This game is ideal for the legend that is Tugay ; he could make Boris Johnson look good next to him in midfield against a demoralised City.......

So do I and a couple of mates......but we cancelled the match and rearranged it for another night . A good excuse for another night out on the ale ....

Well we both seem to like the historical stuff - particularly the Romans . I'll have to try the Imperial Governor ; if it can top Massie's books it'll be worth taking on holiday . Recently got a book on Agincourt by Michael Jones for my next hols but it's already been devoured . Excellent stuff . Also in the process of re-reading Suetonius' Lives of the Caesars , a solid copy of which I picked up cheap at a book fair recently . If you like that you'll also love the Robert Graves' Claudius books as recommended by Four Lane Blue

......and yet they've kept the cartoon character Motson on , who must be at least twenty years past his sell by date . Looks like ITV for the big games' match commentary with a brief interlude at half time for the Beeb to avoid the adverts .

Quote Manc Blue ...That's not fair, I can't get up to Blackburn that early, any idea why it's been moved from 8 o clock, and why the town centre now?....... ------------------------------------------ Apparently the police have been camped down there for the Condi Rice visit and can't be ar$ed to move back down to Ewood yet again . The fixture will now take place in the Cathederal grounds . All members of the community welcome .....

So maybe you can explain why private clubs where the members have to apply to join are not exempt from smoking bans . Also , as American has pointed out higher up the thread , pubs are in effect the private property of the landlord to whom he allows members of the public to enter . If the place is too smoky they can leave and go elsewhere . Freedom of choice . As I implied before if the issue was purely about health the Government would take the logical step and ban smoking altogether and thus ensure that vulnerable kids at home were not effected . Digressing slightly , I noticed that the Scottish parliament are bringing in measures to ban all smoking on the stage or on TV programmes . No characters must be seen smoking . The Westminster parliament are due to vote on similar measures in a year or so . I used to joke to my mates that fairly soon all depictions of Churchill would be airbrushed of cigars . Now it is becoming reality . Welcome to the Owellian state .