Three comments from Metropolitan type Ian Brown on Radio 5 Live: "Only 19,000 at Ewood park today, a comment on the interest of the local public here" "£3 million for Jason Roberts a good piece of business for Wigan" "Blatant penalty for Chelsea but justice for the one they were denied in the first half"

“I don’t suppose I’ll have a relationship with Roy again” — Quinn wrote in his book after one Ireland fallout. “There is the possibility that Roy Keane wouldn’t play if I was involved” — Quinn on talk that he could join Peter Reid in an Ireland management team. “They can rot in hell” — Keane on Quinn and Steve Staunton. Funny game football.

To be announced tomorrow. "World-class" manager according to Niall Quinn.

1 SOCCER Blackburn Nightlead EMERTON TO EXTEND EWOOD STAY By Ian Parkes, PA Sport Brett Emerton is poised to become the latest Blackburn player to commit his future to the club. Despite the disappointing departure of Craig Bellamy to Liverpool earlier in the summer for £6.5million, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Steven Reid and Ryan Nelsen have all signed new deals. Now Australian winger Emerton looks set to follow suit, potentially before Rovers start the new Barclays Premiership season against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday. Despite speculation linking Emerton with a move to Middlesbrough, Rovers manager Mark Hughes confirmed: “Brett should commit in the next day or so. “We’ve been talking to him for a number of weeks, and certainly in the last couple of days to try to come to a resolution. “Apart from a few i’s to be dotted and t’s crossed, we’re near to saying Brett will be with us for another two or three seasons. “He’s a player who gives me a lot of options. He is very versatile in that he can play wide, at full-back and he can make breaks from the centre of the park. “He has the ability to carry the ball from one end of the field to the other, and that’s why other teams have coveted him this summer.” The same applied to centre-half Nelsen, with Portsmouth in particular trying to prise the New Zealander away from Ewood Park. Nelsen, who will miss Saturday’s clash on the south coast with a hamstring injury, has signed a four-year extension to ward off predators. “It was important we put that one to bed, and I’m delighted we have been able to tie up Ryan for another four years,” added Hughes, who signed Nelsen on a free transfer from DC United 18 months ago. “He is an important part of what we are trying to do here and that is why we wanted him tied down for a longer period. “It did drag on somewhat, and there was the irritation of Portsmouth in the background, but we were able to see them off. “We made it clear from the outset we weren’t going to let him go, and we gave him a new contract because we felt he deserved it. “Given his circumstances, and the fact he came from America, he was probably on a lesser wage than his talents deserved. “We’ve shown how we feel about him with the level of contract he now has, and I’m looking forward to working with him for the next three, four years “But it shows how far we have come because this time last year nobody wanted my players, now it seems everybody wants them.” Nelsen never had much inclination to quit Rovers for Pompey in any case and added: “I’m delighted to have sorted things out. “Blackburn gave me the opportunity to play in the Premiership in the first place, and it’s a privilege to be here another four years. “I never once thought it was time for a change. For me it’s about ambition and success, and with the manager committing and the new signings, all the news coming out of Blackburn has been positive. “As a player that’s what you want to see, so when I was offered the new deal I never thought twice about it. “Portsmouth were never an option. I’ve been more worried about my hamstring injury.”

Clayton certainly wore 4 for most of his career but Douglas only wore 10 in his latter years when he moved to inside left (attacking midfield in modern parlance). He is better remembered as an outstanding right winger for Rovers and England so his number should be 7.

Did anyone have the foresight to invest in Villa shares four weeks ago ? The day O'Leary was sacked the share price stood at 375p; at the stockmarket's close today they were at a record high of 537p.

Because many people, particularly the elderly, do not like credit cards because they perceive them as buying on the "never never" - on old term for HP - and have no idea how to use them either. Pin numbers are a difficult concept for 80-year-olds who cannot remember their name some days. To ban the use of cheques would be to disenfranchise alot of people.

Twice over the past 20 years I have inadvertently slipped into the red and incurred charges. One polite telephone call (to First Direct) pointing out my previous exemplary record has done the trick and they have refunded the charge. Would thoroughly recommend First Direct by the way. Two developments in the banking world: current accounts without fees even for those always in the black may soon be a thing of the past and using cheques as a means of paying for goods in the shops are on the way out as everyone is forced to use plastic. Cheques are now banned in many stores in the US and Asda and Sainsbury to name two have started to experiment with a ban here.

How did you make it to adulthood ?? I remember the falling sensation quite clearly; nightmares these days usually involve rising interest rates or Souness returning to Ewood.

To be confirmed tomorrow.

Rod Liddle's view on theme parks. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,...2291195,00.html

Derek Dougan, not to read but rather burn and the **** on the embers. Not forgiven him for 1960.

British firms looked at the contract and thought it unworkable, which has proved to be correct by the problems suffered by Multiplex. WNSL, the FA and Multiplex are at loggerheads and the whole sorry mess is destined to end up in court, rumble on for years and cost even more money in lawyers fees.

What about the contractors ? Multiplex have proved to be incompetant.

Yes it does. If I were Lampard I'd be shamed to show my face in public after the embarrassing way he performed in Germany, never mind having the gall to criticise the manager. Even Ferdinand, one of the few to play reasonably, admitted to being nervous venturing out of the house when he returned form the World Cup. Erikkson was an overpaid plonker but so were the so-called world class "stars" he picked.

It's the beginning of the end. HUGHES OUT.

No it wouldn't. This weather's a nightmare. Roll on winter.

Bingo, Bryan. It's about fighting the unseen enemy.

Like Superman Returns, Deliverance is an allegory. You're a grammar school lad who can think "outside the box" (to use horrible modern parlance), so what's the hidden meaning behind Deliverance ?

Reasonable for Kermode to suggest that Superman Returns might be an allegory about the state of anxiety in the US post 9/11. Similarly, only the uneducated might think that Deliverance is about a confrontation between backwoodsmen and city types.

You didn't mention the football which by and large was awful.

I wouldn't hold your breath. Gerrard is a possible future England captain so will not want to upset the FA, ditto Lampard who will be keen to retain his England place while Rooney is unlikely to court controversy in a book at this early stage of his career. The only player who might have "lifted the lid" is Beckham, but he was very much an Eriksson man. Far more likely is that stories similar to Owen's (extremely mild) criticism will emerge via the press over the next few weeks/months.

Unlikely. Most football books "written" by current players are suitable only as bedtime reading for insomniacs. Why should they bite the hands that feed them ?

Revert to 16 teams as the tournament used to be before 1982. Four groups of four, the top two in each qualifying for the quarter-finals. All over in three weeks, the best teams in the world only, not Fifa's all-inclusive holiday. Won't happen though.

The World Cup was a triumph for the coaches but football was the loser. Years ago they killed off wingers and now forwards/strikers are an endangered species. Another tournament decided on penalties because neither coach dared to win. A poor tournament got the poor final it deserved.