thenodrog

Don't know any details yet but Talksport are reporting vast tracts of empty seating at the Riverside. Yet another small town club from a depressed area suffering from having too few hard core supporters.

sorry bellamy I was slow there........... I'll blame it on the morning after the night before.

That was merely a comment on the great Stan Matthews rip-off and not intended as a prediction for Alan Shearer's chances of a knighthood Bellamy. But as for predictions re: Billy Big Time becoming a knght of the realm it may be of relevence that Tony Bliars constituency is up there.

He's had a decent send off from Ewood already......last season when as far as I'm concerned he retired proper! Who does he think he is Frank Sinatra? Gotta say in a perverse sort of way I have a certain sympathy for the Geordie nation (not much mind), cos the poor deluded bstards will never know just how good he really was before injuries took 20% of his game. Oh well never mind eh? Ekeing another season out reminds me of the Stanley Matthews debacle when after filling so many grounds around the country with fans eager to see his last game at their ground the loudspeaker announced just before kick off "We regret to inform you that due to injury Stanley Matthews is unable to play". I recall as a small child my Dad took me especially to see Stan play his last game at Ewood, and I even rem him saying before the game to his mates 'Its all a con I bet he doesn't play'. They gave him a knighthood after that!

I thought he was from the Midlands. 345850[/snapback] .............and the midlands is in which direction from London 92er?

No its neither Sven nor the players fault..... ultimately its the cupid stunts at the FA for giving him a stupidly long contract and carte blanche to do what he wants! As for Sven all he has ever done is pick media friendly teams! He is the most pc manager I have ever known. Heskey is not international class but then again neither was he at Liverpool! He goes to Brum ends up playing far better than at Liverpool and may as well have gone to Timbuctoo for all the chance he has of ever playing again. The players know this full well, they also know that come hell or high water the billy big-times will NEVER be dropped too! Hardly condusive for running ones bollax off or running through brick walls I would suggest. This is taken from a link on here and supports my feelings exactly..... And Allardyce's former right-hand man at Bolton, Derby boss Phil Brown, also backed his claims to succeed Eriksson. He said: "There would be no better man to replace Eriksson. Sam would have no problems dropping big-name players. "He has proved he can handle the superstars. He has worked with some of the best at Bolton, like Jay-Jay Okocha, Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo. He has left them all out at some time. "Sam was always ahead of his time. He was using technology long before other managers and could give you the lowdown on every team in the league and every individual player." I bet he'd do it for a quarter of what Sven son too! Problem is (and its a big un) .......... 'eees a bladdy norvenor innee!

Well imo it's a thoroughly modern disease like ME and Stress. Like them it must be caused by TV or playstations or calpol or disposable nappies or something similarly modern cos I cannot honestly remember even one sufferer of dyslexia in my day. btw what sort of sadistic @#/? thought up the word 'dyslexia' anyway?

I thank you scotty....... although its taken a performance like this to convince you. Brazil did it for me. btw Daft silly beggar Hanson got it diametrically wrong too. He said he must find a system for the players at his disposal. Baollox! Thats exactly where SGE is going wrong! What he actually needs is to find the players who can play to the system of his choice (and never mind reputations) a la Sir Alf!

Oh ffs Don! Dr Bonnie Beaver !!!!!!!!???????????? Somebody's taking the p1ss ......right? Or in true Frank Drebble style "Hmmm Bonnie Beaver"

Extra mod features?! You mean just to win an argument Flopsy quickly dons a porkpie hat, parka, brogues and rides a Lambretta Li 150 ....... with suitable backrest, chrome wagon hub and knicker mirrors?

Not mentioned as yet but the current trend of working 4x12 hour days on and 4 days off must be having some effect. I've 2 brothers-in-law who have chosen not to renew their ST's because of having to miss matches. They both intend to go to the home games that they can but history tells us that when the team is playing badly these supporters soon drop away. And the only thing that gets em back is the presence of an Uncle Jack............ and we only get one of those every hundred years or so.

For the row behind Wes and his mates were they Paul?

Bet you hated Sherwood too Roy!

From aol news London Bomber's Message From the Grave London suicide bomber Mohammad Sidique Khan blamed the British public for the July 7 atrocity in a chilling terrorist video and warned: "We are at war''. He was shown in a film broadcast by Arab television channel al Jazeera in which al Qaida made a direct claim to have been behind the bombings. The video, recorded as a final message before his suicide attack, saw the father-of-one teaching assistant tell the public they would be targeted again in future. Speaking in a slow, calm tone and with a distinct Yorkshire accent, Khan warned: "Until we feel security, you will be our target. Until you stop the bombing, gassing, imprisonment and torture of my people, we will not stop this fight. "We are at war and I am a soldier. Now you too will taste the reality of this situation.'' He added: "Our words are dead until we give them life with our blood.''........ .......The suicide bomber, who killed six people on a Circle Line train at Edgware Road, can be seen fiddling with a pen and glancing at notes. Khan, 30, who lived in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, claimed bombings in London and in Madrid in 2004 were the fault of Western citizens. "Your democratically elected governments continuously perpetuate atrocities against my people and your support of them makes you directly responsible, just as I am directly responsible for protecting and avenging my Muslim brothers and sisters,'' What adjectives can be used to describe these revelations from a citizen of this country? Revelations that clearly put religion before nationality, that also put the doctrines of a backward and cruel religion way above democracy. Chilling? Yes, Shocking? Yes, Sickening? Definitely, Worrying? Definitely, Suprising? Not in the slightest! 'Entirely predicatable' would be most accurate definition imo. Unfortunately this was not the (almost forgivable) solitary action of a madman was it? This was a co-ordinated, fanatical and murderous action of many individuals. Undoubtedly there are many people residing still in this country who had prior knowledge of this atrocity and many more who will condone it. I take no satisfaction from having my predictions of the past proven accurate but I still struggle to understand the mind set of individuals who chose to ridicule and criticise to the point of stupidity and obstinancy, whilst totally refusing to acknowledge or perceive any threat or problem from the fanatical followers that Islam breeds in this country. Individuals who think the answer to all our problems is to pander and appease every whim of a section of society. So you can cry 'racist' or 'bigot' all you like guys, you can carry on shoving your heads as far up your own asres as you like but neither action is likely to resolve this situation in our country. Problem is that I see no ready solution either.

Am I being churlish in wondering just how many collecting tins are rattling, pop concerts and cricket matches being organised and govt pledges being made all across Asia as the disaster unfolds?

Not often I side with the 'complete pr!ck' but I am doing this time Tris. Other than keeping a dignified silence over the Welsh thing I've few problems with Savage. If he had a yard of pace extra and was 3 years younger he would not be here anyway. His attitude on the pitch is exemplory and an example to the rest of the team, with the only problem being his tendency to pick up cheap and often unecessary bookings as against West Ham and Spurs..... better challenging too strongly rather than not challenging at all though -- like a certain right winger. Sav may not have the vision of Cantona or the touch of Zidane but he's our 'water carrier' or the Didier Deschamps which every club needs in midfield. One thing that I have noticed, and maybe it's something to do with hairstyles, but some people have simply made their mind up to dislike him from the start and will resolutely refuse to change their minds. The attitude to Sav is just like that held toward Tim Sherwood who similarly gave his all on the pitch, who was even presented with the piggin Prem Trophy on our behalf, who similarly was short of pace but who was hardly ever injured AND who was imo vastly underrated as both a player and as a captain of the club too. As the saying goes 'if your face does not fit.......'

Best laugh I've had for some time..........Paul Plunkett in the LET is quoting the following opinion from a Newcastle Fan site. "Signing Michael Owen for Newcastle is like putting lipstick on a pig!"

Traipsing! Hassle! You bet mate. Last month I drove 190 miles to Higher Wycombe in 2hrs 45 mins picked up my lad there and completed the final 70 mile journey around the M25 car park to the Boleyn Ground in 2 hrs 30 mins ffs! Took piggin ages to park and then found I was sat BELOW pitch level in the rain.......... watched the team go through the motions by performing with not the slightest bit of passion or desire (for themselves, their manager or most regrettably the extremely good away following that day) and the rest is history as they say. It was horrible! Bloody awful away trip! Shyte! In fact the last long distance one that I will be making for some time! I dont mind them losing all that much but losing to a poorer team because of lack of effort / commitment and without seeming to care is unforgivable in my book. Kin glad I wasn't at Villa Park too for that 1st half display alone. (Odd how they manage to pull it all together at home eh? My comments on effort and commitment ring true eh?). Anyway stuff the present personel who cannot be bothered turning up for awaydays, the Rovers are in my blood and thats why I suggest watching from the Blues bar as the club needs long term funding rather more than this team needs an away following. I should have listened to my mate whose opinion is 'bol lax to watching Rovers anymore......... They don't come to see me whem I'm badly do they'?

Well I've got to admit to enjoying watching the likes of Sheringham, Keane, Defoe, Malbranque and best of all (but too limited a time on the pitch) Davids plying their trade against our small town club........ especially when we win of course. The above are only players seen after 4 games btw! Compare this to endless years in the lower divisions when I couldn't even stick a name on an opposition player, let alone admire their international class ability. It's a priviledge that many of our so-called supporters currently neither appreciate nor deserve. Thank you Jack Walker.

........... before finally being resurrected as a 'Grumpy Old Git' which incidentally I read just after somebody bought it for me for Christmas. Quite a funny and enjoyable read ........cant think why I have so little time and patience for Jim.

Watching it in the Blues bar would also benefit BRFC far more than traipsing halfway around the country.

I don't even know what one of those is.........am I missing out?

I think Philips ignoring you BP. ........Maybe 'Not worth coming over from Malta for' should have been one of the choices in the poll at the top of this page.