Good idea - I reckon the good Dr Rich should personally visit every potential member and give them all a big welcoming hug....

LOL - you're in the real world now ; well as real as it can be for a lawyer

It all makes our troubles seem rather trivial . Now to break the news to my Leeds supporting drinking partner...

That's a bit strong Tashor , my friend . Those (criminally) negligent authorities who genuinely made errors of judgement and have admitted as such are to be pitied more than anything - authority can bring awesome responsibility at times. However , those who knowingly leaked lies of the most repugnant nature in order to avoid responsibility , and those who printed those lies for purely senstionalist reasons without checking the facts ; and all those who have avoided culpability since , are to be condemned in the strongest possible terms . No sympathy for them. As for Scousers accepting responsibility ? For what ? Going to a football match ? There is no evidence for any excessive drinking or fighting or anything other than an eagerness to get into the ground - unless the lies printed at the time are still having an effect on some people... I said earlier in the thread that most "working class" people are too intelligent to believe the tabloid papers - now I'm not so sure. Maybe Goebbell's principle of the big lie is true after all !

It's hardly surprising. Why would such a base, right-wing rag issue a sincere apology when instead it could go off on some paranoid diatribe about one of its rivals? A "right wing" rag that supported the Labour Party in the last election - some would argue it's not that right wing then ...! Welcome back Matt BTW . Roversmum - I admire you for sticking up for your fellow Clayton Brook resident but maybe a quiet word in his ear would have been more appropiate.....

I noticed this week that the author Anthony Buckeridge has passed away . The great man was responsible for the Jennings books of which I was an avid fan at a younger age . A sad loss.

I know the kind of people you're talking about Pabby - the ones who feel the ground and facilities are all too sanitised these days . But the game as a "day out " has changed out of all recognition post Sky and post Hillsbrough , and for every one of the "old type" fans we've lost I'm sure we've picked up a couple from the "family" element - I've been down to Ewood with three generations of my family (females and all !) . That just wouldn't have happened even 15 years ago. I reckon , therefore , that if we're more in to the entertainment business , then that's exactly what the new breed of punter wants - entertainment ; not a bunch of overpaid posers prancing around in front of punters who know they're not getting their moneys worth . ( Up to a hundred quid can go a long way for someone with a couple of kids to entertain ) .These days loyalty doesn't mean as much , the culture's changed . For a town our size it's depressing fro the future .

Actually , Alan , you're right - it does seem a bit underhand....but not surprising , I'm afraid .

That's a very "superior" of viewing the situation , Joey ! The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of tabloid readers aren't stupid - they know exactly what they're reading and how seriously to take the contents . However , if you've only 5 minutes break at work , you don't feel like getting out the Times and doing the crossword , you want a bit of light reading. However , 15 years ago the Sun didn't just put a bit of a spin on a story or stretch the truth a little to make a point ; it deliberately and maliciously printed lies that accused fellow Brits of being complicit in this most tragic of accidents - the fact that they are "scousers" is absolutely irrelevant , they may well have been Scots , Geordies or whatever . Only the completely stupid (and unfortunately we have a few of those on here) make any distinction. For treating good , honest fellow citizens like that , the Sun must pay - for as long as memories remain of that day . It must pay as much as possible in lost revenues for as long as possible , if only for the sole reason to deter the other rags from even contemplating treating our people in such a callous manner ever again .

Flitters upset about a lack of honesty and finding out disturbing truths through the press..........? Now he knows how his wife felt ....

Ah , Big Fat Sam - I'm getting there

BFS ? YD ? . If this post is aimed at me , you'll have to elaberate a bit 1864.....

If this summer has taught us anything , it is that players should be judged on how they perform NOW not in the past . It should be interesting whether or not Dickov manages to oust Cole this season or helps to improve him. A hardworking Dickov can only be a massive improvement on Yorke either way.

Which brings us back to the motivational skills of Souness . There can be no denying that many fans have the feeling that we are at the crossroads with this man and this season it's a case of wait and see . Maybe he'll surprise us but many wouldn't bet on it - nor fork out 100's of pounds on the off chance. Contrast this with Allardyce who is on the up and gets the most out of his players . I've spoken to more than one person who would like to see him replace the discredited Ericson as England boss. No point going over the other factors of the small population and lack of money - they can't be helped nor , to my belief , can any more attendants be squeezed out of the town . What we rely on now is bloody good management both in the transfer market and on the field of play by improved tactics and strategy . I'm going to join Neil now for a good cry......

.......the Swisscum ref would still have found a reason for disallowing it ! (I'm only half joking....!)

100% guaranteed eh ? How many games did you attend last season then ?

If thats a hook to hook onto then i'll gladly grab it What a load of crap. It must just be me then Tom ! Put it this way - if UTD scored a goal like that against the Rovers I would have no complaints at all if the ref allowed it . (1% of know nothings might complain . Maybe you'd be among them......?)

If it had been the other way around , Matt , 99% of our fans would have agreed that the goal should have counted - the English are like that !

Yes , but the door is open if you're not happy about it , FLB.... see you in August Personally I think that 99% of all referees are ba£tard$ and the motivation of this Kraut type in not giving an obvious goal owes more to massaging his ego than any sense of fair play . That's why he's a ref....

In the meantime , Hughsie , you can start saving up for a season ticket for the car parks . At the rate it goes up every year , by the time you learn to drive , it'll cost more than the footy season ticket...!

That's good ranting , Abbey - but you're still lagging behind a bit..

Was it a good day out...?

Rovers is like a long term relationship that can drag a bit at times , get on your nerves but is steady and always there . England is like a fresh and spicy bit of stuff that excites a lot more - but never lasts as long ..!

That's the way , Lofty - divide and rule . PS - I reckon you'd make a good mod ......

His name was Steven Smith, he was a Wolves supporter, 28 years old and loved football. He was living his dream to travel around the world. His parents have done a press comment about what a great son he was and how he was doing what he always wanted to do. They are grieving for their son and so is a lot of Portugal and most of the England supporters. He died because of...........oh.....sod it........RIP Steven Smith. And you Phil just want to make a comment about illegal immigrants. Well done. Happy now? Proved a point? Nothing wrong with my comments Col , my super smug mate! Maybe it's you who's trying to make the point about how superior and moral you are ..... Did you know him personally ?