That's no way to talk about LDs wife.

You've met her then?

My Grandad used to race greyhounds as well. It was hopeless, they'd win everytime, they were just too quick for him. Mind you he was 78.

The dog's called Ashanti Prince and he's running in the 8:35 at Belle Vue tonight.

Can't see it winning tonight but will have to back it anyway just in case. For anyone interested in going it's free admission on every race night during the World Cup.

Fair play to the Germans though, they've kept the arena in Nuremburg (albeit in a state of disrepair) where Hitler spoke to thousands as a reminder of the past and how lessons should be learnt.

Bought a greyhound with some friends last month and it's his first race at Belle Vue this Friday. Very much looking forward to it and although we're hardly going to be able to retire off the prize money it is still pretty exciting.

Just wondered if anyone had ever owned (or still does own) one and what their experiences of it were/are.

Gab Marcottin was saying on Talksport yesterday this fellow employed an innovative 3-4-3 formation.

The midfield consisted of 2 holding midfielders and 2 glorified full backs. The 3 forwards were all strikers and were left permanently up penning the opposition defence back all match.

Could be interesting.

Can't see how that could work, their two holding midfielders would leave a huge space for other side's midfield. Keep the four defenders to cope with their three attackers, push the wide midfielders on past their 'glorified' full backs and the defenders are getting pulled all over the place.

He must have had bloody good players to get away with it that's all I can think.

Good shout theno.

To me it's quite obvious that he's angling for a move away after the world cup. The fact that he's put contract talks 'on hold' despite the club trying to tie him down for the last 6 months sets the alarm bells ringing big time.

On a slightly related theme, I played golf at Turton golf club the other week and the course surrounds his house. What a pad that is.

Hissy fit, over-reaction, call it what you will, the comments of Lucas were ill-advised to say the least.

I'm friends with a couple of Millwall fans and their opinion of Lucas is that he's a bit of a legend in his own mind and believes he should be playing for AC Milan never mind Blackburn Rovers.

It's only my opinion but I'd be very surprised if he starts next season at Ewood.

I'm sorry but anyone who can say "I don't care if we're in the doldrums for the next ten years as long as we appoint an English England manager" is a total numpty.

Obviously the three months spent at Turf Moor have had a debillitating effect.

Glad he's gone mainly because he fragmented the play with his constant fouling and appealing for free kicks. Also as has been said before he never linked with another striker, and for all those Pongo haters out there at least he made a good strike partner with Bellamy.

Yes he worked hard and yes he gave 100% effort but for a team striving towards year on year improvement his style of 'ale house football' was never going to be good enough.

What price are City to go down??

Thanks very much to you all. Just thought after three years everybody knows my viewpoint and I'm just basically repeating myself so it's in everyone's interests that someone else has a go.

God knows there's enough people who post on here who would make a decent fist of it.

There's the added bonus that my wife and kids get a husband/dad who will talk to them instead of being stressed over a PC into the early hours of a Tuesday morning.

Drog, not sure about Mr. Cummings lately, he has been particularly scathing towards the powers that be over there. To be honest he should take a leaf out of my book and stand down, he's been doing it far too long now. Maybe there's not enough of the neanderthals who can string a sentence together to take over from him though.

Ah, the board of the Darwen League Thursday night champions 2004/2005.

Makes me go all dewy eyed, lovely stuff.

Did you not get in on a Friday night dillo for 'pint and a fight night'?

Yeah sod em.

I'm past caring if and when the stayaways come back, in fact I'd feel resentment towards them if they did now.

I work with a bloke who reckons he's been a staunch fan for 50 years but this is the worst football he's ever seen so he's stopped going.

How I'm going to enjoy spending the fiver I won off him in a bet as to where we'd finish.

Remember it well, got there early and the pub we got in before the game was just like The Slaughtered Lamb of American Werewolf in London fame.

FLB, there was quite a bit of scuffling post match. Saw one Rovers fan get a bit of a shoeing and the coppers then lift him for his troubles.

Great game though.

We'll bury them 4-0. Bellamy with his first hat-trick as a Rover.

In theory Eddie I'm sure there's over 30,000 Rovers fans who say 'if we qualify I'll go'. In reality when the tickets are out they'll be saying 'why should I spend that when it's live on telly.'

In the words of Bruce Hornsby 'That's just the way it is'.

You're right on your other point though, we may not get turned over so badly, I'm just looking at the worst case scenario.

Although I don't agree with the negative vibes about qualifying for the CL, I can understand it to some extent. We certainly wouldn't fill the ground, regardless of the opposition and there's a good chance we could get dicked.

However, should we qualify and reach the group stages, and there's no reason why we shouldn't, that cash (£10 million or whatever it is) spent wisely would not only safeguard us as a PL team for the near future but could quite possibly turn us into a regular top 8 side.

Bearing in mind that most of us would have been happy with avoiding relegation every year this is an opportunity we can't pass up.

I dont think you read FLB's post properly LDR.

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I think you're right theno.

There's no way on this earth that Stead will be signing for Rovers, Hughes doesn't rate him at all.

My four for the day are :

2:00 Fair Along

2:35 Black Jack Ketchum

3:15 One Knight

4:40 Andreas (fingers crossed Hasta)

Best of luck to you all.

Poor day also, not a carrot at Cheltenham.

Pulled out of the mire by Sir Jimmy Shand at Huntingdon (got my Denman cash back) and Roma and Liverpool double (which put me 20 notes up).

Flying in the face of popular opinion today but I fancy Baracouda in the World Hurdle.

Be lucky.

£100 up yesterday thanks to two substantial wagers on Silsong in the 3:05 at Southwell and Brave Inca in the Champion. Losers for me included Sweet Wake, Alderburn and Foreman.

I'm having two more decent bets today on Denman in the Royal Sun Alliance and Sir Jimmy Shand in the 5:40 at Huntingdon. The latter is a short price but should not be missed. Lump on.

Looks like Boychuk is a non-runner in the opener. Will have to be Sweet Wake then, the Irish have a bit of a monopoly on this race.

Second is a testy little race but I've a sneaky feeling Foreman will go well.

Will stick with Brave Inca for the Champion Hurdle but if it rains Al Eile will go close I'm sure.

Anyway Hasta let's cut to the chase, what's the one you've had a strong word for?

Denman's my banker on Wednesday. Short at 7/4 but shouldn't be opposed.

Had a tip for Boychuk in the first race on Tuesday. 34/1 on Betfair last time I looked but a nice 7/1 for a place might be worth taking.

I can't see past Brave Inca for the Champion Hurdle Hasta and I'll be lumping on a decent wager to try and get an early lead on the bookies.

Gold Cup is wide open though, going to back One Knight each way I think, even though his jumping is suspect. One thing I will say Beef or Salmon will not win, Kingscliff is a far better bet.

Be lucky people.

Regarding the third goal, I thought Gray made a huge mistake in not bringing Lennon down. It's an automatic yellow card, but it prevents a dangerous cross on the counter attack. I'd take my chances at a free kick.

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Bang on fella, they had no problems bringing Reid down when he had half of White Hart Lane to run into.

Sorry Eddie my mistake, I thought that there were two places available through the league anyway didn't realise there was now one for the league and one for each cup.