Back to the original topic - Big Ron had it right when he stated it's all psychological. Geese are mental, Swans are not. Ok sure Swans have the physical potential to be the dominant birds in this fighting class, but when it comes down to it, it's all about the will to win. Geese want to win - not just for the glory, but because it makes them feel hard. That makes this a non-contest in my opinion - unless the Swan has gone intensive psychological training to get a bit mental itself, then it's a close run thing.

 

Now that is a quality post and you've hit the nail on the head.

Driving back from ASDA today I spotted a solitary swan (no mates you see) on the Leeds Liverpool canal. There it was trying to look all serene and cool while aggravating a couple of ducks just going about their business.

This is a recurring theme and gives an insight into the mindset of the swan. Cowardly, aloof and pretentious. I mean if it wants to prove how superior it is why does it pick on the humble duck. You'll never catch one taking the biggest of an unruly gaggle on.

No bottle swans, in fact I'm sure they're related to jellyfish.

As for geese...well you just said it.

***FISH UPDATE***

The big untalented buffoon is playing Darwen Library Theatre tomorrow and sorry people it's sold out.

There's an interview with him in the Inside Out section of tonight's LET complete with picture.

He's bald as a coot now...but obviously not as hard as one as we all know of the legendary fighting instincts of this fine bird.

I can't believe Fish is playing Darwen Library! It'll end in tears. What will they want with a fat alcoholic Scotsman? I can hear it now "Excuse me, I appreciate that Lavender is indeed blue, but can you keep it down a bit, I'm trying to read"

Yes Bob, but to get over this potential problem he is going there Incommunicado.

That's Goldie isn't it?

What, the Blue Peter dog? You might be right but I remember him/her as having slightly longer hair.

and if it is Nemo Slater_Scott, what on earth is he doing fronting Marillion? Doesn't he know his dad's out looking for him!?

No, its the Jaws toothed Drum and Bass star.

And No, the ever popular big scottish Dick isn't fronting Marillion anymore, thats why his dads looking for him.

***FISH UPDATE****

The fat long haired has been is playing ...wait for it... Darwen Library Theatre in the next few weeks.

Sorry for all you legions of fans out there but I'm unsure of the exact date and ticket prices.

This thread has been an invaluable education for me.

I now know about tiger sharks, shark tigers and even the aggressive qualities of mallards and coots.

Blimey, someone might even tell me that a clown fish is in fact a fish and not the stupid ex lead singer of 80's rock combo Marillion.

LD ROVER u were talking about that lad in Fenny and the duck that shat on his kitchen floor, well he's also my mate and he doesnt have much luck when it comes to things using his house as a public lavatory. A few years ago i stayed at his house after a night in town, slept in his spare room woke up to realise i'd wet my self in his bed, i have to say i didnt hang around, i just strategically placed his cat beside the wet patch and left. By the way as i was leaving i noticed a gaggle of geese across from The Hordens. "Morning Geese" i said to which they cackled back at me-GEESE-respect-SWANS-no time for

We're talking different mates here pal but I'm so glad to hear that you wet his bed!!

Is that gaggle still there? They were an unruly bunch last time I saw them, truly intimidating.

What I always go back to is the attitude. Geese will have a go at anyone/anything regardless and they have my utmost respect for that.

Swans as I said earlier are just mob handed bullies as I experienced in the duck episode.

I'd love to get this fight on but it'd have to be one on one cos the cowardly yellow bellied swan needs his mates to back him up at all times.

I've not a lot of time for swans but ducks I like.

A mate was telling me today (lives near canal at Fenny) that he heard a tapping on his back door (house door!)  and opened it to see a duck. Duck walked in his kitchen, shat on the floor and walked out again bold as brass. True story that.

Quality birds those ducks.

It's always been something that I've wondered.

For what it's worth I think geese get a bad press. I know they can be a bit naughty and sometimes 'have a go' at unsuspecting passers by but lets be fair, they mean no harm.

They're pretty game as well. They'll think nothing of having a go at a human, this contrasts sharply with the common swan. I saw one the other day bullying a load of ducks just to get some food on the ship canal. You'd never catch one having a go at a medium sized bloke though.

I reckon a goose would take a swan...nae bother.

For pure genius combined with absolute energy you can't beat The Wedding Present.

George Best, Bizarro and Seamonsters are three of the finest albums ever made!

Couldn't agree more.

George Best and Bizarro were quality and Anyone Can Make A Mistake is one of my favourite all time songs.

Went to see them 10 times in the late 80's and they were 1 hour of pure energy and noise, mixed with David Gedge's unique humour.

No encores and off home. When asked why he didn't do encores he used to say, 'if Fanny Craddock made a beautiful tasting cake would you ask her to make you another?'.

Totally profound.

Just off to watch the INSPIRAL CARPETS at the Shepherds Bush Empire

moooooooooooo

The Inspirals were brilliant on Friday - as always.

Saw the Levellers on Saturday night, same venue, fairly disappointing.

And they're a scruffy bunch of lefties.

Always found it unfair that when people talk of bands spawned from 'Madchester' that the Inspirals don't get so much coverage.

They had more success than the roses or the mondays but are portrayed as the poor relation. Anyone who's heard Dragging Me Down, Saturn 5 or Move can't fail to be impressed at how good they actually were/are.

By the way, Mani from the roses was on Soccer AM on Saturday and he intimated that he'd love a reunion tour 'before they all get too old'.

Come on lads , you know it makes sense.

Imagine how hard it will be to get those tickets...

For those of you who like The Strokes or similar give Franz Ferdinand a listen, particularly Take Me Out.  One of the best songs I have heard in a while, although it's a bit of a pig to find if you are trying to download it.

Well worth it though, get looking now!

Yes, I can certainly endorse that view.

Take Me Out is a quality offering.

Equally pleasing to my ears at the moment are 'Just Because' - Jane's Adduction and 'Hysteria' - Muse

Yes I know Jane's Addiction is a few months old but it doesn't stop it being damn good.

Heck, Souness cant win can he.

He doesnt criticise Neill or Cole in public, he gets criticised.

He criticises Dunn in public and he gets criticised.

Its called man management, never criticise staff in public or in front of other members of staff, untill it gets to the point where that member of staff is taking liberties that affects your control of the remainder of employees and the image of the company.

Great point Alan. I just think that sometimes he should say things like 'Andy made a mistake and he knows he's let his team mates down but he's passionate blah blah blah'.

Instead we get an Arsene Wenger style 'didn't see the incident'. which I can't accept.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big Souness fan and I really hope things will turn around sooner rather than later but (as you know) it's pretty frustrating at the moment and the recent pieces have reflected this.

Do clubs not discipline players for sendings off these days. Whether it was a hefty fine or the 'hair dryer' treatment from Souness I can't for one moment think that they'll have patted his back and said 'never mind cocker,he shouldn't have been in the way.'

Whichever way you look at it, it was a dangerous tackle, a view held by anyone who sees it again (apart from BlueBoy that is) and the referee punished it accordingly.

The one good thing to come out of it is Lucas's goal and his supposedly man of the match performance today.

I am by no means 'anti Lucas' he's fully committed and always gives 100% even if he's not the most gifted of footballers. The way his team mates speak so highly of him also gives an idea of his value to the team.

Lets hope that today was a taste of what's to come from him for the rest of the season because when he's playing well, he's a huge asset for us.

Best Regards.

The Darkness are only doing what the criminally underrated Terrorvision did a few years back. It just goes to show what an image and a large helping hand from the NME can do for you. That's not to say I don't like them, their songs do rock amd anyone who can sing like Zed off Police Academy has my vote.

A word on The Thrills that I read in a review and I agree with totally 'One Horse Town...one trick pony.'

Best Regards.

sorry bout that.

cont...

mention are those detailed earlier in the thread. It's just an assumption on my part.

3) Haven't a clue why he didn't ask someone who goes to all the games all he said to me when I pointed out I didn't always travel was that he wanted 'a kind of overall view on the Rovers, something along the lines of what Rovers fans in the pub might say about their club.' He also stressed that there is not a pressing need to just talk about the game, I suppose that's Andy Neild's job even though I do find myself prattling on about it (if I've been that is!!)

I hope that covers it sufficiently.

I find it quite funny reading some of the earlier comments. It's like 'if you want to be accepted in to our gang you must do this, this and this.' Not done anything like that since I did a full 'garden creep' down Countess Road to be accepted in the LDDS at the age of 14 !!!!

Best Regards

Thanks for your comments tnr, here are the answers.

1) I was on the 'jury' last year, that's how he knew who I was and I can only assume he liked some of the earlier contributions from there.

2) I haven't a clue why Rev was relieved of his duties and Paul Plunkett certainly never told me. The circumstances I

Sorry, didn't mean to be ambiguous, I wasn't getting at you you're one of the few supportive posters! It was the subsequent post that took your words out of context.

Oh and now I've joined the fray I won't be hiding when/if things turn nasty.

Best Regards.

Firstly, let me introduce myself. I am the infamous Jason Whalley that you have written so 'eloquently' about and having being given a tip off from a friend some time ago felt I should have a right to reply on some of the aforementioned comments.

I am not a friend or relative of Andy Neild or indeed anyone at the LET, I was asked to do the column and I said yes,simple as that. I am sorry things did not work out for regular poster Simon but I wasn't to know the circumstances surrounding his departure. May I wish Simon well, it takes bottle to put your name and face to your views and I give him the utmost respect for that.

I do not go to all away games because I have a young family. I informed Paul Plunkett of this when the offer was made and he was quite happy with this fact. Yes, I could have gone to the Chelsea game and all the others for that matter but I could also be paying child support and seeing my kids only on a Sunday. BTW I wont be at Portsmouth either.

If you don't agree with my opinions, fine, that's the great thing about football, we all have opinions and no-one can always claim to be right but all I can say is that the personal feedback I've had has been good and not just from friends either. That's what made it somewhat sobering to read some of the replies on this thread !!

Good on you coffeeman, you think the last article was 'rubbish'. Yes, I did talk of only ten men, Lucas costing us the game etc., but I also expressed concern about the wider picture regarding Lucas's discipline and also touched on defensive communication possibly not being the best. Then again that's your opinion and you're free to dish it out. If you think the 'slating' of Lucas was bad you should have seen the unedited version.

That's all for now, may you all continue to have your say and at the end of the day let's all remember, we all want the same thing and that's for Rovers to do well. And for anyone who wants to publicly lambast me, I can be found in Uncle Jack's before and after home games and I sit on row 19 seat 130 odd in the Blackburn End.

Best Regards to all.