Geee . That's confirmed it - you have turned native .....Already.....

Sounds like you've adapted well to the land of Shwarzenegger and co , USA .....Sad to see the Rovers going the same way

To breed more of them , Skip24....? Maybe Flitcroft could be given a role here....

It's not a question of "exacting revenge" ; it's a question of punishment (for the crime), prevention (ie - stopping the culprit from repeating), and deterrence (of others by imposing a tough sentence .) You could argue that in sex crimes the deterrence factor is very small - I wouldn't necessarily disagree , but a liberal/lenient sentence is worthless as a safety precaution for the public , however small the risk to them is . It's still a risk that could be minimised further by harsher measures. Your comparisons with the "suicide" and the motorist aren't really valid . A suicide simply can't be prevented - what can you threaten him with ? And afterwards punishment is irrelevant . No paedophile commits his crime as a suicide measure ! His main priority is to escape justice and offend again. The motorist who fell asleep is guilty only of an act of stupidity which had tragic consequences . Surely this is not in the same category as the paedo who committed his crime with pre-determined malice. Harsh punishment may be deserved as a deterrent factor , but probably only for that reason . Out of the three cases you present , only the first could be truly prevented - and then only by a justice system that is willing to confront the problem as soon as it presents itself.

As strong a case as Souness made for spending 7 mill on Grabbi , perhaps ? Williams sanctioned that balls up as well . For a man doing so well , why do we have more than a fair chance of joining the likes of Forest , Bradford , Coventry et al - none of whom have a trust fund to rely on ? As Theno pointed out there seems to be a generational split in attitudes to this sacking - let's forget about the "presentational" aspect for now . Put me in the old fogies section of those who will always hold this against JW and the board . God help us support wise if we go down....

What made this club different was that there was once a human element - and TP epitomised it . I see very little of the human element present in JW . A board meeting on Tuesday that decided Parkes' fate and he still hadn't mentioned it by Friday ? What kind of self respecting Chief Executive (or manager come to that )wouldn't think about the possibility of there being a leak in that time ? Williams has apparently promised to speak to Radio Lancs after today's game . Let's hope he doesn't forget .

I doubt that very much , American . I'm absolutely disgusted at the club for not finding a role for the man , and obviously not even approaching the subject with him . Williams has a lot to answer for and has gone even further down in my estimation ; and is Hughes that insecure that he has to get rid totally ? I'm sure that TP has spent 90% of his time at the club in the background and not interfering with past managers so why is Hughes throwing his weight around needlessly and against a target who isn't even on his radar ? And I also doubt very much that J . Walker would approve of all this - and I'm not just talking about the way it's been leaked to the press. This betrayal wouldn't have happened with Walker at the helm . He had more of an affinity with what BRFC is really all about . Willl a move like this bring back the fans ? I doubt it ; if anything it will alienate even more of them.

Highly unlikely indeed ! But this bloke has been getting away with it for 40 years , and despite being captured before will undoubtedly be plying his trade again in a few years time . What a wonderful liberal society we live in ..... (From tonight's Telegraph - Friday) Eight years jail for girls' abuser A PERVERTED pensioner was today starting an eight-year jail term, bringing to an end a 40-year reign of child sex abuse. Grandfather Eric Green, now 66, was first sent to prison in 1964 for molesting under-age girls. His latest victims, three of them now adults, had not earlier complained to police about their ordeals at his hands. Green had carried on his behaviour because he thought he could get away with it, a court was told. Green's wife had called in officers after suspicions over abuse of one of the victims almost 20 years ago. He was brought to justice after he sexually attacked a little girl earlier this year and other complainants then came forward. The defendant protested his innocence to a jury throughout a four-day trial and insisted the complainants' claims were nightmares or lies. He was found guilty at Burnley Crown Court of 10 charges of indecent assault against four victims between 1973 and 2004. Green was also given a two-year extended licence period. He was made the subject of a sex offences prevention order, was placed on the sex offences register for life and was banned from working with children. Sentencing, Judge Stuart Baker told Green he would probably be in custody for the rest of his life. Green, of Colne Road, Burnley, had denied the charges against him. After he was convicted, it was revealed he had been sent to jail when he was 26 for allegations of indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse. The court had been told Green had touched and stroked his victims and made them fondle him. One of his victims, now 25, had fought back tears as she told the jury how she had not told anybody what happened to her until she was 18 when she opened her heart to her mother. She said she had not reported the abuse, which took place when she was eight or nine, to police at that stage as she had felt she wanted to move on with her life and put the past behind her. The woman said she had felt guilty when she heard of the accusations made against Green by the little girl. She continued: "I felt I could have stopped that if I had made a complaint." Giving evidence, Green told the court none of the victims' allegations was true and swore he had done nothing. He said three of the complainants had got their heads together and concocted their evidence and continued: "My liberty is at stake here." The defendant alleged he had been honest with police from the beginning and said the victims' evidence was so graphic it was like something out of a film. After the jury's verdict, John Sawyer, defending, said Green was supported by his wife and was proud of his family and what they had achieved. He would have to cope with his time behind bars.

What did Shearer say about there being no loyalty in football ? Well today proved that Rovers have come down to the level of the Rupert Lowes of this world . Another nail in the coffin of the notion that Rovers is a family club . It may have been once.... Well done John Williams - you couldn't even handle in a gentlemanly way the exit of a man who has given his all for the club for 30 odd years . What a joke . Learning from the Sun of his fate ? Why not a dignified one on one after the decision between yourself and Hughes had been made ? Was that too much to ask FFS ? And how much money has this bold move saved ? A tiny , tiny fraction in a year that some of the stars earn in a week ? Not so bloody far off , I bet ! A total disgrace . Hughes at least has had the decency to express his regret at the way it's turned out . Has Williams spoken yet ? I know what I'd like to hear him say .....

Burberry is still very much part of GUS - owned by the Barclay Brothers , who I'm sure are intent on world domination...

Theno, altough I agree with most of what you have said, I can't help thinking that this example of insidious self loathing is the root cause of a lot of the problem attitudes discussed in this thread. Constantly send out the message to kids that they live in a sh1thole and they will eventually treat it as one. Conversely , if you praise the Blackburn With Darwen Council to high heaven then the kids will think they live in paradise ? Nah ...it doesn't like that either (Sorry for mentioning heaven and paradise ES )

Just as Ferguson is beginning to justify his huge fee , it would be surprising if he threw his hand in and admitted to being not quite able to mix it in the premiership . I reckon he'll stay in the prem .

Totally agree , Abs . Once they've committed the crime - whether its' against members of their own family doesn't matter one jot - then they should forfeit the right to live in society for a very , very long time . Anyone who offends again should be executed . Society's first priority is to look after its own law abiding citizens.

Such nonsense talk only perpetuates the problem , Matt . For all the "experts" we have and for all the so called advances in psychiatry and councelling , the number of such offenders always seem to increase . It's time to dispense with the soft approach , stop treating these people as medically sick and treat them instead with new tougher laws that will keep them off the streets . Permanently . The only thing that is preventing real justice today is this obsessional belief by similarly deluded "experts" that only a "liberal" approach to crime can work.

As a law student you should know the answer to that one , Matt - it's because the legal system hasn't sufficient power or will to deal with such people. The liberal elite who run this country in a manner that is an affront to democracy now wholly determine the criminal justice agenda . They will never accept that the policies they have pursued for decades have resulted in utter failure and have resulted in situation were whole swathes of society are virtually imprisoned in their own homes. Unfortunately the real scum who chose not to use their power for the benefit of the innocent , and who are as guilty in their own way as this paedophile , dominate all the main parties . Vote for Labour , Tories or Liberals and you vote for the status quo.

Child beating drum eh...? Now there's an idea .

Funnily enough that's exactly what I did when I went on the ground tour about seven or eight years ago . The answer was typically modest , extolling Pele's virtues rather than his own. Similarly , the great man mentioned what a great honour and privilege it was for himself to be still involved at Ewood on a daily basis - and to be paid for it . A pity that attitude isn't more widespread in the game at large. Clayton even gave a telling off to my young lad for not having a firm enough handshake !

This game doesn't appear to be on any of the satellite channels , so Richard Dinnis will have to suffice Excellent preview from my good friend AESF - I believe the paperback version is out shortly (complete with illustrations ) Norwich 1 - Rovers 1

I resent that Flopsy ! (the last bit that is )

Just as well Beckham doesn't post on here then....

This is getting confusing , Frosty . Sort it out ! Either way , he'll only last about 5 minutes the next/first/last time he gets on the pitch

That's true ; the run up to Xmas however is (after L/pool) Norwich (A), City(A) , Brum (H) , Fulham (A), Spurs(H) , Palace (A)and Everton(H) . All games which we could , in theory , pick something up other than a damn good thrashing Serious points need to be taken from these games , otherwise the transfer window might be too late for any good it might do , and this daft thread might have to be resurrected

Keeping the team together ? Have you been tested for drugs recently? If Fergy has been our best performing player it doesn't necessarily mean that he's been anything other than drearily average . (Oh , and your 600th post wasn't much better ! Viera and Keane ?)

Well said Krislu - the two goals you mentioned were both simple failures of our defenders failing to look across the line and knowing where the opposition strikers were . If they (Neil and Matteo) don't know that now then they never will . Maybe Gray could have stopped goalside to play on the safe side but there we have it - no communication or understanding . As for spending money in January ; depending on how many points we have - or don't have - it may be better to save it for next season ! You know what they say about teams who are bottom at Xmas

We'll make you most welcome , Jim.....