When things happen in the ring, weigh in or press conference of any fighting sport I don't think anyone can be too surprised. When it happens away from there in gate crashing style you have to ask why and wonder it it's just partly a publicity stunt. These guys are fighting men so if they have a serious personal beef there's only one way to sort it and if a pro fight isn't possible then get it on in private for a straightner on the cobbles or something. No money or publicity in that though ............

Wouldn't be surprised if the McGregor nonsense was part set up that's gone wrong and he's gone way over the top, seems the type judging by the Mayweather nonsense which again was part act by both guys but part serious as in the actual fight bit on the night. I'll be amazed if Connor doesn't have problems with the dust though, too many rumours and too much odd behaviour. Rehab for that lad not jail.

Got to agree it is a bit odd when people go all moral about guys who's whole lives revolve around fighting. Never been into UFC etc although I know they are highly trained and skilled but to me it's just fighting like you would outside a pub. McGregor though has never come across as anything more than a coked up publicity junkie, why not settle the dispute in private ? It's either staged or he's just lost the plot trying hard to live up to his 'notorious' tag. A stretch inside will see just how notorious he really is. As for Mike Tyson all the trash stuff came as he career went into decline but in his pomp he didn't really go into it he didn't need to people were happy enough for him to just do the business in the ring. In fact he was notorious as a man of few words in press conferences 'i'm just here to fight' was his usual reply. Made up for it somewhat in later years though

Imagine using the Tickled Trout lol you'd think he would've been a bit more discreet !

He can score 50 every day in training it's what he does or rather doesn't do on the first team pitch that matters and it's not like there isn't other options at the min. Pointless having a guy to do the Graham role if he can't actually do it. By the way there is no chance i'm marking him down as one of the worst ever he isn't he's just not at the races this season. Don't know why he's crept into this thread

I don't know why TM insists on keep giving him chances in and around the team at this vital jucture his confidence is zero and he's useless in front of goal he's never been what you'd call a good finisher anyway. Missing chances like that could be difference between comfortably beating teams and getting promoted or getting caught out late when you don't put it to bed and don't get the three points to stay in the mix. I wouldn't bother with him now unless we are desperate for bods. Move him on in summer or pray that he has a fresh start here.

Yeah the original back pass rule wasn't without it's flaws you got defenders turning it back without looking first just expecting the keeper to be in the middle but their instinct to pick it up drew them across. Amazing how often it happened back in the day.

The hype around it is painful these days but the Hearns deserve a lot of credit for rebranding the sport in typical SKY style but a bit like the Prem the razzamatazz will begin to wear off soon unless you regularly get blockbuster fights to match it.. As someone who attends it's both enthralling and annoying in equal measure because it's a great atmosphere but just about everything is being geared to the tv audience. Last night for example they asked the crowd to boo Wilders name about 3 times until it was satisfactorily loud enough, probably for the edited version of the broadcast. Very sad

No guy in Brownes condition should have been in the ring at that level, quite simply in there for a pay check bringing nothing but a big punch. He should have been saved to be Fury's comeback opponent really. Having said that Whyte boxed really well, probably the best he's performed technically but he just had a huge immobile heavy bag in front of him.

Didn't Jack have the 3 million per year written into his wishes for the club as an ongoing annual donation from the Trust Fund to make up the shortfall between our crowds and full houses ? Smart move so quite why or how they got that stopped who knows and I refuse to believe they couldn't afford to keep doing that with something like a 700 million worth. It certainly hurt the club when it was stopped. Still I suppose it irked some of the already wealthy offspring with their own expanding families and business empires

I agree with Canada Rover that the Champ could end up rather two or three tiered with the massive parachutes and the likes of SKY etc seemingly willing to pump endless TV money god knows how many times per season into the likes of Leeds. That's why the FUP is a fook up as owners should be able to pump in what they want if it's their money not debt to allow clubs to compete with these advantages some clubs have. You look at the Championship and how smaller clubs struggle to stay in there more than a season or two, your Rotherhams, Donny's, Posh etc there is a fair old list and Shrewsbury will probably end up on it if they go up. It shouldn't be that way really but it is.

I have my own thoughts on some of that but looking at it non conspiracy how many managers and coaching teams have been hired and fired in the last couple of years never mind a few directors as well. That's why I struggle to give any gratitude to them underwriting the bills because a huge lump of it was continually created by them, firing GB & co, hiring all that Lambert backroom team as well as him then not backing them, letting them go then hiring that teapot Coyle and his crew. Not to mention some of the crap they foisted on us that had to be paid big wages then paid off in a few cases. Jesus Barry should have had to sell his car collection and pay for all that lot straight out of his own pocket.

It wouldn't have the desired effect

Sustained sensible investment season on season it's what is needed not throwing huge wads at it because i'm still not convinced all snouts are out of the trough so every chance of repeating same mistakes. Holding on to what is worth holding on to and if they want to go or there's ridiculous offers a large part of that money needs reinvesting in direct replacements with similar potential not spreading around the squad on signing on fees for has beens off an agent or twos list let the manager and his people go after good young potential and actually pay for it. Basically follow a plan over a three year period and stick to it where possible both on and off the pitch and see where it leads. People expecting a wild spending spree and an instant challenge for the Prem IF we go up are clutching at straws I think.

Yeah I've been reading some analysts say don't buy the price will drop soon. I hope it doesn't drop in the summer

That's exactly how i'd see it, first and foremost it was supposed to be an advertising tool that probably paid for itself although in the Prem it was something that still needed underpinning with extra cash so they must've known they'd have to throw a few rupees it's way regularly. I think the last few years it's become a handy accounting tool by default but the difference is now with some costs reduced etc and it being run more sensibly a bit of the money put in is being put to good use instead of firing straight through the system. At least it's an improvement on when I and plenty others thought it was one big laundry

A bit of both Everything in that last post is fact and easily checkable apart from the bit about profits going into Rovers to offset against tax, pure assumption on my part but a common practise in some large businesses. If you look at their share price a few years ago it was basically flat lining but over the past 12 months it's shot up again. I don't think it's wild conspiracy to think that might be why their input went down to a trickle and the club had to start cashing it's assets in to keep going but now the input has picked up to healthy levels again on the back of trading going well. Might all be down to something else but there is a pattern there and like any huge business the VH group will be reliant and their banks backing and when times are a bit leaner and money is needed elsewhere you'd think the first tap they'd turn off would be the oversees football club.

Why you ask Sir ?

Their core company share price has gone through the roof in recent times so a nice diversion of some profits and another bit off the tax bill. These days it seems to be being put to good use for maybe the first time in actually building something instead of plugging holes, bills need paying after all and it's only expensive if you can't afford it. Let's not forget the few years minimal investment and the 30 million in sales with no cash buys that lead us to where we are though.

Did a great cameo on Phoenix Nights as well.

Nobody could get away with as many gaffs presenting a tv show as Jim Bowen it was almost like it was scripted that way he handled it so well. Good memories of bullseye and my mam and dad shouting at the telly 'it's a fix' whenever someone won and the little speedboat or ugly caravan got wheeled out yet when they lost 'look at what you could've won' - always a car

They'll never dig because of the domino effect, one dig unearths untoward goings on and all hell breaks loose. Then you get the next club/set of fans wanting an equiry and so on before you know it half the clubs in England are up in arms over one thing or another. Letting sleeping dogs lie and brushing the dirt straight under the carpet is their mantra it's all in their best interests. One day the whole morally corupt sandcastle will come tumbling right down. More likely to be Sky going bust or some other money related thing that will bring it about not some irrelevant in their eyes football club.

Wilder used to box behind his jab and move around quite well but he's seemed to get worse technically fight by fight over the past few years however his power, reach and leverage are absolutely lethal. I think he's so desperate to be take seriously he's abandoned working on his limited skills and just relies on his bombs but that's a dangerous game and you feel a good HW with plenty in the tank will take him out. He's benefitted more than most from the lack of depth of HW talent in this era and although Ortiz has something about him no way is that victory anything like as credible as the AJ or Fury one's over Klitschko, a man who Wilder should have been walking over broken glass to get to before those two did. But you don't do what he's done without being a bit good so fair play to him.

Coming from the Chorley side I've no affinity with Accy like a few Rovers fans but what a fantastic achievement I hope they can keep it up and go all the way. Now that is a club being run and managed properly.

It seems he's had the arm around the shoulder treatment with Mowbray trying to keep him involved and giving him mins here and there sometimes when it might have called for better options.. Now it's kick up the arse time. One thing about TM is he seems to give players more than a fair crap of the whip but after a while if he's getting nothing in return he'll drop them to one side. Strong management, no room for snowflakes here anymore hopefully and hopefully Samuel regroups and comes back stronger on the back of it.