Was a long job, took until day 4 to get last Saturdays beer out of the system! Good effort Lancs.

The reason I'm not bothering is because I'm not willing to enter into an Allardyce debate, pointless exercise. What I or anyone else thought of him was irrelevant, we influenced nothing, so you or anyone else who 'Told and better told' (what exactly?) me was simply wasting oxygen, I didn't sack him, I didn't stab him in the back and I didn't bring **** into the club either. Having read through some of the thread from back then I was pretty balanced as always Thats called balance Jim. I was happy he'd been sacked, but I couldn't understand why, nobody could.

Just been taken over I think, saw an article in the Telegraph a few weeks back. Glad it was good.

Take a trip to The Royal Oak Riley Green Mercer, top quality pub grub and great beer. Beers a bit pricey, but food great and very reasonable.

That looks great Paul, I'll have a listen later.

Off to Old Trafford next week to watch the ODI against the Aussies, I'd much rather have seen a test match but seems we're being priced out of those for the time being

Courteeners tickets for Apollo in December, always a great venue.

Congratulations Lancs, great win.

Once in 2 1/2 yrs Not a bad record really is it WYR

Bowyer doesn't lose 3 games on the bounce, that could keep us up.Appointing a less experienced, cheap alternative would be worse if he can't get to grip with things quickly and start winning games with this poor squad we've assembled. With less experience he's going to struggle.

Absolutely As for Rotherham, they gave a footballing lesson away last season, so I'm not sure they're worse than us either. Regardless, its going to be a long hard season.

My favourite Brum pub is The old joint stock on Temple Row, up the hill from New Street, won't have footy on though. But you'll not struggle for great places to eat and drink, with footy on everywhere.

Its interesting listening to Boycott on TMS, he's always talking about batting for time, which he did very well during his career, some would say to well it became a bore. But these days we don't really see players occupying the crease, its about making shots, Butler being a prime example of someone who simply cannot leave the ball alone. Is it 20:20 influenced?

Yes done that obviously, but the staff are watched like Hawks, they hand the money in or face the sack.

Service charges are completely different. TIPS are for good service from the staff, as they're not the best paid positions, and I'm more than happy to tip, but not when the restaurant trousers the cash!

Restaurants taking staff tips, disgusting in my opinion: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11816186/Cote-Restaurant-takes-all-its-service-staffs-tips.html I know of a well established Chinese restaurant in the Darwen/Bolton area that takes the tips, the staff never see a penny.

BT sport is free with BT broadband currently, I wonder if it'll remain free after shelling out for the ashes.

Good effort bob.

The Ashes are won, they've been taking it easy for the past 7 days so this performance isn't a surprise really. As for the T20 finals, tickets sold out.....so it's TV for is sadly.

You stick to that American sh1te with no words, no tune and lots of leather.

Great venue, saw them a few years ago at the the Apollo and they rocked the place.

What do you hate about it? can't be the food I'd wager.

San Carlos in Manchester is an absolutely superb Italian restaurant, been many times and never had a bad meal, it does exactly what it says on the tin. We went to Akbars in Birmingham last night which was superb, thanks Imy They have a branch in Manchester and the originals in Bradford, superb food, packed to the rafters and full of Asian diners which speaks volumes. They're well know for the size of their nans, they come on a metal spike and in some cases are the size of the table. 2 poppadoms, 2 starters and 2 mains, glass of win and a cobra £34, bargain.

I went about 18 months ago, it was very poor indeed, not an Italian in site, just loud Blackburn waiting on staff discussing what they did at the weekend. Maybe its improved now, changed its name even.

Interesting that Kate Hollern is calling for councils to step up enforcement, does she not realise that trading standard departments have been decimated by the Tory cuts, if she doesn't she should!