Patterson could be like looking at you in your 70s!

Maybe he knows something about the manager that we don't?

Just seen Bond. Whoa!

This is it. Most people haven't been to the cinema in 2 years 🤣

@m1st not me 😛

People with similar wealth to Venkys. People with similar wealth to Jack Walker. People somewhere inbetween. I know of at least 3 parties with an active interest, but while the club isn't for sale, nothing to be done.

Courtesy of m1st! Introduction: This game's always a strange one for me. I was born in Blackpool to parents who moved there from Blackburn just before World War 2. Even though I lived there till I was about 25, there was, therefore, never any danger that I would grow up one of the tangerine persuasion. However, while I don't have any strong anti-Blackpool feelings, they are, kind-of, my 'Burnley', if you know what I mean. And if you don't, you surely will by the end of the next section of this preview! Their history: Mike Jackman's History of the Rovers referred to a game played between the two clubs in 1880/81 season, but the present Blackpool club traces its origins to July 1887, when they were founded by a breakaway group from St. John's FC at a meeting chaired by a man called Samuel Bancroft. [Sorry; I haven't had the time to check whether he was related to William Bancroft, Chairman of this Great Club Of Ours in the last quarter of the last Century!] In due course, most of the players from the St. John's team re-joined the breakaways and the new Blackpool team took shape from 1887 onwards, joining the Lancashire League. They spent most of the next few seasons near the top of that League and were eventually admitted to Division 2 of the Football League in 1896. After only three seasons of League Football, they weren't re-elected to Division 2 after the 1898/99 season, which they spent back in the Lancashire League. The following season the club merged with South Shore FC, who had been giant-killers, knocking out Notts County in the 1885/86 season - the one when we won the F.A Cup for the third consecutive season; just saying! The merged club was elected to join the Football League, Division 2 in 1900 but remained in that Division for another 29 seasons - including of course, the two when we won the League title. In the season after we won the F.A. Cup for the then-record sixth time - yeah, that's right; just saying again! - and powered by some epic goalscoring by Jimmy Hampson, they finally joined us in Division One. Pool's first experience of Division One was precarious; and after two seasons of finishing one place above the relegated teams, they slipped back down to Division Two at the end of the 1932/33 season. One season later, they were back in the top Division and indeed for the first time finished above us in the League table. Two seasons after that, 1935-36, Rovers and Aston Villa became the last two of the original founder-members of the Football League to be relegated from the top division. Rovers' first season in Division 2 proved to be Blackpool's last in that Division as they were promoted to Division 1 as runners-up to Leicester City. Both teams finished in the middle of their respective tables at the end of the 1936-37 season while the following season was also a fairly mediocre one both for the Rovers and the 'Pool in their different Divisions. However, as the shadows of World War 2 lengthened, the 1938-39 season ended with Rovers as Champions of Division 2, looking forward to returning to what we on this Board would see as out rightful home! War was declared the morning after the third game of that season and the table after those games showed Blackpool top of the League while Rovers were just above the relegation zone. There were Wartime competitions until the 1945-46 season began after the hostilities had ended. Blackpool usually did fairly well in these leagues which I remember my Dad - a man born with blue eyes! - explaining to me in the 1950s was only because so many footballers were billeted near the Fylde Coast! When League football resumed in the 1946-47 season, both teams were still in the First Division, but our paths diverged at the end of the following season when Rovers were relegated back to Division Two for ten seasons until 'Carey's chicks',as some of the media of the day called them, returned to the top Division. Meanwhile, Blackpool had a golden era with three F.A. Cup Finals from 1947/48, culminating, of course, the famous 1953 Final in which Blackpool beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3 in the last minutes of the game. They also had four players in the England team which Hungary won 6-3 later in 1953. They were definitely THE Lancashire team in the 1950s. So it wasn't good being a Rovers fan at school in Blackpool in this era! 'Pool were comfortable in Division One between the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s and finished in the top-6 in four separate seasons but never finished as Champions. Their best effort was to finish second to Manchester United in 1955/56. The following season Stanley Matthews had been named the first-ever winner of the Ballon d'Or. We returned to Division One in 1958 and the two teams played each other in Division One until 1965/66 when we were relegated. 'Pool joined us the following season but adapted better to Division Two than we did and after three seasons at that level, returned to the top Division in 1969. They only lasted one season at that level and in 1971 returned to Division Two to fill the vacancy our relegation to Division Three had created. They remained in Division Two until they, too, were relegated to Division Three at the end of the 1977/78 season. Our paths diverged three seasons later when 'Pool went down to Division Four while Howard Kendall's Blue and White Army were consolidating the place back in Division Two which we'd won the previous season. 'Pool remained in Division Four for four seasons before returning to Divsion Three in the mid-1980s. As the 1990s dawned, they were owned by the infamous Owen Oyston and had sunk back into Division Four. They were promoted from "the old Division Four" to Division Two of the English Football League - Division Three-really! - in 1992/93, as we became one of three clubs to be founder-members of both the Football League and the Premier League. Yes that's right, Just saying! 'Pool settled in the EFL's Division Two - which is now known as League One - and, with the exception of the 2000/01 season which they spent in the EFL Division Three (now rebranded as League Two) they remained there until 2007/08 season when they won promotion to the EFL Championship. Two seasons later, they won promotion to the Premier League. They couldn't maintain their promising start to the 2010/11 season and slipped back to the Championship at the end of that season. Two relegations in successive seasons saw Pool spend just the 2016/17 season in League Two before winning promotion from there to League One. Under new ownership and management, they won promotion to the Championship via the play-offs at the end of last season. Opponents' Opinion. I've a number of friends who are of a similar age to myself who, if they aren't season ticket-holders at Bloomfield Road, certainly used to be when we were younger. I asked one of these 'lads' the following three questions: Q1. Neil Critchley definitely cut the mustard as a League One boss last season, but can he hack it at the Championship level? A. "His philosophy is to play football from the back, which is a refreshing change from previous managers. "This approach has led to higher presses with players sometimes getting caught in possession. That said, he sticks by his principles. He's a track-suit hands-on manager, known from his Liverpool Youth team days, who targets younger recruits in whom he sees potential. "So it's still early days, but confidence remains that he can get us moving in the right direction." Q2. How do you think you're settling into the Championship? A. "It's been a tough start all right, but Critchley doesn't panic and this conveys itself to the players. "There have been some tough games so far but the effort the team's put in hasn't been reflected in the results and no-one's outplayed us. We've a team which has a mentality of keeping going to the end, so beware! "There were some good transfer deadline deals which were especially needed as we've suffered with injuries. "The reinforcements at the back look good, although we're perhaps missing some midfield flair. The forward line's good and we're expecting further improvements as players adjust to their new environment." Q3. Who should we watch out for danger men among your squad? A. "Up front, Jerry Yates. He's a tireless and ever so confident striker alongside recently-signed N. Ireland international, Shayne Lavery, who's quickly adapting to life in the EFL. "Watch out also for Josh Bowler and C.J. Hamilton who are both wide midfield creators." League Form: It's difficult to offer a prediction on the result, and not just because, until these last two games, neither team had met the same opponent yet this season. Pool's steadily-improving home record from a sluggish start is 2-0-3, while our away record is 1-3-0. Given that we're away, you'd expect us to go for a draw. However, we're also playing a team which is below us, so you'd hope we'd go for a win. Preferably one of Cardiff proportions!

You couldn't be wider from the mark (not necessarily the person mentioned, mind).

Ah apologies, I misread it thinking you meant mods by 'through this site'.

Guys, you can post any rumours you believe to be true! You all know the difference between a troll and someone more genuine by now, surely?

None of us mods or admin have received an email, so we've not a clue what you're on about. How have we replied to something we've not been sent?

Funny how these appointments went with no fanfare, don't the club normally shout about new appts from the rooftops? I'd rather hear about these guys than John Park.

I'm more pissed off with Waggott than I ever have been with Mowbray. I think it's Waggott that's hitting Kean territory of 'just f*** off' rather than Mowbray (even though I'd like him gone too). Have we ever had chants for getting rid of a CEO before? I'm hoping it starts next game for this absolute shyster.

Green Green Grass is underrated too.

Lowest attendance in the league in 30 years, with over decade at this level and lower for comparison. Slowly worn down Rovers crowds with his stupid tax, shit food, no marketing whatsoever in opportune moments, compounded by poor pricing and no direction at all. Fuck off Waggott. Fuck off Mowbray. Fuck off Venus.

What I wouldn't give for a group of people who have the club's interest at heart. I'm not necessarily talking about Williams, Goodman, Finn returning (as great as that would be). Hell I don't even think it needs to be fans. Just a group of local, successful people who know how Rovers fans tick and how to steer the club correctly.

It's a very difficult decision. I'd be hoping Poulter doesn't qualify, but then taking him anyway as a mascot or something. He's infectious.

Could easily be that he failed the medical?Hardly unheard of.

WWE needs the McMahon of the mid-90s, and I believe that HHH could easily be that person. Trouble is the old McMahon won't let go.

Ditto. I always will. Even Mrs. E will tell you that Tugay was my first love.

Anyone for Luton or Hull?

Further to what I said to Miller, I've no problem with stacking talent if it can be used properly and is all quality. All Out 2021 felt like a real showcase with clear positions on the card, yet I cared about every match, and every wrestler was fantastic imo. Up there with some of the better WM cards imo.

I feel as if Bryan and Cole being debuted in the same angle has perhaps sent AEW way over the top in my mind now. On top of Punk, it's a hell of a roster. @Miller11 I think the appeal of AEW is that the 'star players' will be rotated with other promotions, which (ideally) will mean the midcard will be used well without 'doing a WWE'. HOPEFULLY.

'Listening' to a YouTube channel/series called TheGreatWar which originally released an episode each week from 2014-2018 about the events that week exactly 100 years prior. Even now it's a fascinating in-depth history lesson in enjoyable bitesize chunks.

No matter how hard I try, I've never been able to give my wife the same experience that AEW gave me last night.