Rather hoping this won't be the " kiss of death ", but I hope the Dutch rack up a few goals today to humiliate these dreadful, corrupt, untrustworthy hosts ....

“It’s a Lada vs a Ferrari.” - Stan Ternent 😉 Stan was always good value for a quote ... " A blind man on a galloping horse could see that was a penalty " .. " I got a letter from a fan, complaining about me smoking in the dug-out, he said I was setting a bad example to young supporters .. I wrote back, on Club notepaper " Dear Sir, P**s off, Regards, Stan " ...

1) " I never comment on a Referee's performance, Brian, and I'm not breaking my rule for that incompetent Pratt " ( Ron Atkinson ) 2) " Of course there are better Centre-halves than you, Jack, but you possess the qualities I need in the system I wish to employ " ( Alf Ramsey to Jack Charlton 1966 ) 3) Italian Journalist to Bob Paisley, pre-match before the 1977 European Cup Final, " Have you been to Rome before, Mr Paisley ? ", " Aye, just the once ", " A scouting mission ? " .... " No, 1944, on the back of a Sherman tank ! " 4) Post match interviewer, " Can I have a quick word ? ", Manager " Velocity ! " ( Martin Buchan/Gordon Strachan ) 5) " I wouldn't say I'm the best manager in the Country, but I'm definitely in the top 1 " ( Brian Clough ) 6) " I'm sorry Gentlemen, It's my day off " ( Alf Ramsey to the assembled Press, at his home the day after England's world Cup win ) 7) " Kevin Keegan's a great player, but I wouldn't fancy his chances knee deep in dust ! " ( Bill Shankly, on hearing of a proposal to allow fans to have their ashes scattered on the Anfield pitch ) 😎 " Tom Finney on the right wing, but I'd have to think about the rest " ( Tommy Doherty, on being asked to name an all-time British XI ) 9) " We try to equalise before the opposition score ! " ( Danny Blanchflower to a bemused European Press, asking about Northern Ireland's tactics at the 1958 World Cup ) Some old chestnuts here, can anyone suggest some additions ?

Am I the only one to be slightly amused to see that the German team is managed by Herr Flick ?

Jack Hixon ( 1921 -2009 ) worked as Burnley's scout in the North East for many years, before cost cutting led to him moving on, eventually to Southampton. Apart from the others mentioned, he also recommended Stan Ternent to Burnley. His final connection to Burnley was Steve Davis, who went to Southampton initially but played for Burnley over 3 spells between 1989 & 2003 making 327 appearances.

Many thanks to you and others for the good wishes, I visited him yesterday in his care facility in Clitheroe ... He recalled his army number and could recite Latin quotes, but couldn't remember Mum's visit the previous day. He has a wonderful attitude to his condition ... he suffered a bad heart attack 27 years ago on holiday in Boston, resulting in a six-way bypass. His view then was that his natural life was over, and every day since has been a bonus. Since then, he's seen both his daughters marry, had 4 more Grandchildren and seen our Granddaughter, his great Granddaughter come into this world. He considers himself a lucky man ! As for the baby grow, mine should have been black & white, as he's a Nottingham lad who supports Notts County. We moved to Clitheroe in 1975, when I was 11, and I chose Burnley ( apologies for that ! ). I did however turn out for Blackburn Rugby Club for 15 years, if that's any help .... 😎

Dad was a Grammar school lad, grew up on a Council estate, lost his Dad ( lorry driver ) when he was 7 during the war ... but he reckons he was recommended for a Commission because he'd been made Head Boy at school. I suspect he didn't have the arrogance ( or confidence, depending on your view ) of the " Public School types " ... He went on to Cambridge on a choral scholarship, first in his family to go to University, and spent his whole career running factories producing Greetings Cards, and specialist glass. He's 87 next month, been married to Mum for 63 years but now suffers from vascular dementia. I got a golden ticket in life's lottery when I was born to those two people ...

I wouldn't disagree with any of that ... When my Dad did his National Service between 1954-56, he was fortunate to gain a commission, and was a 19 year old 2nd Lieutenant serving in Egypt and Cyprus, commanding a Royal Signals section. He said the best advice he got was from the Regimental Colonel, " your Sergeant and his Corporal are both WW2 veterans, they know more about the job than you ever will, use the phrase " Carry on Sergeant " often, and things will run fine ". If only the Venkys had heeded that advice, taken a back seat, let John Williams and Allardyce crack on with things, and write the occasional large cheque, then how different things could have been. They could have become legends in the town, be lauded as " model owners " and enjoy popping over from India to be feted at every turn ... It would probably have cost them considerably less in financial terms as well ...

Crikey, I hope you're not referring to this post from May 2019 ... which was my attempt at a " wind up ", in my early days posting on here ... " The Football Association and the Football League have backed a proposal from The National Association of Football Statisticians to downgrade the first 22 years of the FA Cup, to the equivilant of the FA Amateur Cup which commenced in 1893-94, and ran until the 1973-74 season. The years affected run from 1872 to 1893, and the winners of the Cup for those years will not be permitted to claim these successes as FA Cup wins on their official Club websites or publications. Explaining the reasoning, N.A.F.S. Secretary, Dr John Hickson said " Any objective analysis of the early years of the " FA Cup " reveals a large number of " byes ", " walkovers " and hugely one-sided results, and in the modern age, we no longer feel it appropriate that these early incarnations of the greatest Club knockout Cup should be classed as true F.A. Cup Competitions ". He added, " The dominance of Public School Old Boys and Military Clubs in the early years, as well as mis-matches with the early Professional Clubs coming up against "true amateur " sides, does not sit well in the modern professional age ". An FA spokesman endorsed the decision, which is expected to be passed unopposed at next month's FA Council meeting, where the renaming of the Football Association, as the " English Football Association " is also expected to gain approval . Some of the affected downgrading concern Clubs no longer in existance, such as Wanderers, Royal Engineers and Clapton Rovers. David Singleton, West Bromwich Albion's head of media relations said, " We accept this decision with some reluctance, but understand the reasoning behind it " . West Bromwich Albion will no longer be able to claim their 1888 & 1892 victories on their official " Roll of Honour" . Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Preston North End are also affected losing one victory each, but the Club most affected is Championship side Blackburn Rovers who will have 5 of their FA Cup wins effectively deleted from the history books. No one at Blackburn Rovers was available for comment, although a source inside the Club said " they were studying the implications of the decision closely, and a statement is expected to be issued in due course "

I'm sorry, but that's tosh .... At the time of the " April Fools day " massacre, we were virtually broke, having suffered the ITV digital fiasco, whilst Rovers had both parachute payments and Walker Trust funding ... Rovers had their metaphorical foot on Burnley necks and never let up, nor would we have expected them to. I'm sure when Craig Hignett slammed the 5th goal past Nik Michopoulos on 1st April 2001, you were sitting there shaking your head muttering, " Sorry lads, I cannot join in with this jubilation, it's like beating up a cancer patient " ! 🙄

Enough said .....

That's kind of you, J*B .... don't know if longsiders is local but I'd enjoy that ! Blackburn Rugby Club might be an option on a Saturday afternoon ...

In peace as ever ... I, for one, deliberately didn't post yesterday ... having seen a few winters and having been on the other side of the equation a few times, the last thing one needs is some b***end from the opposite camp rubbing your nose in it ! Having spent Remembrance Sunday morning saluting with my six-fingered hand, and pointing in wonderment at planes, the game was strange. It was as if JDT had not seen or learnt anything from our rout at Bramall Lane. " Derby " day defeats aren't easy to take at the best of times, but there seemed to be no cohesion, fight or passion from the Blues, and that's another matter ... I can quite understand your frustrations ... I wish Tella had not made that gesture to the Rovers player, these things have a habit of coming back to haunt you. One early mistimed tackle at Ewood, a red card, a vociferous home crowd, Brereton-Diaz having a stormer and things could easily be reversed next time round .. Having said all that, if you'd have offered both sets of fans the current League table on 1st August, we'd have all taken it ...

Morning all, I see the usual insults have started, good to see ... Many thanks for all of your good wishes for yesterday's " Promise Party ". People were kind enough to say that my temporary elevation to the Clergy went well, and the " Bride & Groom " had a fabulous day. Although he has severe learning disabilities, the lad we look after made his own little speech about how he felt about his " girl " .... not a dry eye in the house !! Thanks again, and enjoy the game .... but not too much ! 😎

Right lads, What you don't know about me, I suspect, is that " Mrs Sympathetic Claret " and me are " Shared Lives " carers, we have two brothers with severe learning disabilities, aged 41/40, who've lived with us for the last 10 years, for whom we support and care. We became " empty nesters ", and wanted to give something back to society. One of them has a long term lady-friend, and today they are having a " Promise Party ", ( in effect a mock wedding ), and it has fallen to me to be the " Vicar " ... the girl's mother is in poor health, and I think she just wants to see her daughter to have her " big day ". I'm quite nervous, written what I hope will be suitable and I'm setting off shortly ... Enjoy/endure tomorrow's game, and many thanks for the ( mainly ) thoughtful & tolerant replies, and to J*B, and his fellow " dictators " for allowing this Dingle interloper to kick off your preview .... Wish me luck for today, and keep safe and well all !! 😉

I doubt we'll see the spectacle of " Buzzes " being " buzzed " by drones or missiles, even though we Clarets do have an advantage as " Bomb Aimers ", because of the extra finger .... 🙄

Possibly, but only if a) he starts, and b) you get much possession ..... 😎 Mind you, Crawley led 0-1 last night, at a time when the possession stats were 84 - 16 !!

Vivid dreams came to me when prescribed tramadol for pain management, prior to a hip replacement .... actually played for England at Twickenham, belted out the National Anthem like anything, Mrs " Sympathetic Claret " & parents beaming down from the stands ... lovely ! My GP, an old mate, rang to see how I was getting on, and I duly reported this apparently common side effect ... " Do you want me to try you with an alternative painkiller ? " " No thanks, Doc, I'm waiting for my three in a bed session with Cheryl Ladd & Catherine Bach ( Daisy Duke ), once I've had that dream, I'll get back to you ! " 😉

Edam'd if he does, Edam'd if he doesn't ....

I've had similar dreams in reverse .... can I suggest laying off the cheese before bedtime ? 😎

In my defence, I just added my " twopenneth " to an existing thread, it was your Moderators who decided my scribblings were worthy of top-billing .... 😁 Oh, and I concur ... 1-1 !

In peace as ever .... After our bruising loss as Bramhall Lane, followed by an afternoon at Blackburn Rugby Club, with old friends, supping Hen Harrier and watching them battle out a 26-13 win over Rossendale, here is my preview ... Sunday sees the 103rd renewal of one of the oldest " derbies " in World professional football, when Blackburn Rovers travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley. The first meeting, 134 years ago ago, ended in a 1-7 away win for t'Rovers, a repeat of which would suit most of those reading my scribbling just fine ! Both Clubs have illustrious histories. Blackburn who dominated the early years of the FA Cup and have had their more recent success, under the " Jack Walker " regime, winning the Premier League and a League Cup. Burnley won both the FA Cup & League Championship either side of the " Great War ", and another League title in 1959-60. The " Head to Head " is virtually tied, with Burnley having 42 wins, Blackburn 41 wins with 19 draws. With all that said this game is about the present. I suspect both sets of fans will be pleasantly surprised by their current League standings, with Burnley atop the table with Blackburn two points behind. Rovers have tended to be either feast or famine with 12 wins & 8 defeats, whereas Burnley have picked up 8 draws to add to their 10 wins and only two reversals. I can't help but think that Rovers will have learnt from the frailties exposed by Sheffield United. Burnley's two full backs lack height at set-pieces, and frankly, Dracula reacts better to crosses than Muric ! His place must be in question now, with Northern Irish goalkeeper, Bailey Peacock-Farrell waiting in the wings. Those of a Claret persuasion will hope that Josh Brownhill, Jack Cork and local boy, Jay Rodrigues will return for Sunday. From our point of view, the enigma that is Bradley Dack is one to be feared, as is Brereton Diaz. Young Bradley will be remembered on the Clarets' forum for one of the better thread titles, after his court appearance some time ago, " Dick Dack in Dock ! " 😎 Whatever happens, one set of fans will have a rather cheerier World Cup break than the other, as this is the last game until fixtures restart on 10th December ... unless or course, it's a draw, which I think would be the Chief Constable of Lancashire's favoured outcome. Hope you've enjoyed this, and enjoy/endure the game, wherever you may be watching !!

How sweet of you all to notice ... From our point of view, it is to be hoped that one of our defenders does not misplace a back pass straight to Mr Brereton-Diaz with just the keeper to beat, as happened this evening !! 🙄

Dad's team probably, you don't generally pick Burnley if you're a " glory hunter " !! Hate is an ugly word, in my humble view, it should be reserved for murderous dictators, paedophiles, bullies of any description, BMW drivers who don't indicate and any form of peas, mushy, petit pois or garden !! Hate has no place in a sporting rivalry, we've all got the same disease, just a different strain of it !! 😁

He's definitely quality on the ball and does his primary job well .... you do know that me saying that will probably mean he'll make a horrendous error on 13th November and gift you the spoils .... 🙄