FC Cincinnati announce Jaap Stam as manager with photo of someone else. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52767875

...and the disparity in Tv money shows what a load of unworkable nonsense FUP is.

Yeah Rigger. That's what they look like now. Nothing says "we mean business" lining up like a bunch of schoolkids and shaking hands.

Commenting more on the type of music that could be used. Something like this would be great for regular use. Not too mainstream, great lyrics (a little unrational!) football clubs need to play more stuff like this instead of trying to be "watered down Disney". It would certainly fit an "inner city" Championship club.

Which is why I'm an advocate of not signing players with a wife and kids. It could tie into my marketing proposals discussed lately. The type of person who just wants to "settle down with a wife and kids" isn't edgy.

What about the financial sense in radical marketing approach? With FUP it makes sense to be "the most different" even if it's sometimes unconventional. What's the worst that could happen? Another year in L1 if the owners foot the bill? Who's to say those older players would have to be on big wages either. Young players who are prospects would probably have to be on big money for a period. You can sign players from abroad too they don't have to be from EPL or English. Also if you win promotion with an aging squad (who might be past it or only peak Championship standard) just replace most of them straight away. Radical but possible. The club could still sign younger players but insist on having them sign "iron clad" contracts. Players couldn't be found under such conditions? Look harder. Of course that might contradict the "personality marketing" but allowing players more freedom (big personality or not) could be an attraction. Fazackerley and Parkes were here for years and the club stayed competitive (albeit in lower divisions) and if you find players like that with added marketing value it might just be the start of something bigger and different. "To dare is to do" but unlike Tottenham don't just claim it...do it. We know what the club wants though and it's all the current marketing staff know hoe to be. To be this "sell on and develop" club with the boring family marketing rather than anything more edgy and daring. Even Millwall seem to take that approach given they have received "family club" awards lately as well. Now they could get away from that "bunch of thugs" image and still come up with something contemporary, urban and different. They are certainly more "inner city" which is an advantage though obviously the "working class white male" stereotype might not like it. Demographics change though including places like Bermondsey (they don't actually play in Millwall) so they might have to change with it but retain an edgier feel.

So are most people on here willing to have players that could potentially move to Boring Name FC (under current circumstances) than risk an aging squad? As you point out scraping promotion would likely be the problem following season. That's why it would be easier to have a "no stepping stone" policy as a midtable EPL club. People would say well where's the ambition to move higher? It's been stolen by those lowlifes in Zurich that's where it is. The club never had a great run in the Europa League so perhaps that's still "uncharted territory" but the CL? Leicester proved nothing is impossible but it's hardly a realistic aim is it? Radical marketing is the way to grow the club now and the same applies across the Championship.

I thought about that possibility as well. Are people not terrified by the prospect of him joining and helping them to a 14th place finish? Surely that's a reason to sign players between 28-33 for their marketing value and to an extent playing value. I believe you can still be competitive in the Championship under those restrictions and the right recruitment. They might not have much of a sell on value but they might not cost a great deal to begin with. Many on here are of a mindset that holds the club back anyway so I don't know why they would be against a "no stepping stone" policy. Especially if it's not the "retirement home policy" either.

If they allow a reduced number of fans in the stadium (even if it was a couple of hundred) you might have a better chance of getting in than most because of all the youth/EDS games you attend. Didn't the commentator say there were a small number of fans at the Dortmund/Schalke game or were they all family/friends/employees?

I said they seem certain because of the remarks about the girl and her family being well respected in the community. They aren't quoted as if the first statement made was "it's not her family". Getting a bit conspiratorial if you think there's some community wide cover up.

Occurred to me as well (though I wouldn't say it's written all over it) but the refugee charity mentioned seem certain her family aren't responsible. K-Hod should probably clean up this speculation really. Granted I said it may not be random but didn't claim it's her family either. Can you edit anything before this sentence (including the quote) rather than remove the whole post? More here. She was Muslim. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/18457184.law-student-named-locally-victim-fatal-blackburn-shooting/

Recently I proposed some radical ideas including letting fans in for free or close enough. I searched on google for any similar proposals/suggestions (they do come up) and see who's mentioned here! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-438731/Let-fans-free-says-Mowbray.html

More details here. I'm not entirely sure it's random (if it was we could have been looking at a Hungerford, Dunblane, White District scenario) but the victim was a young law student. Could it be because she was Muslim? Maybe. Without wanting to sound like someone on another forum blaming immigration in the area you could speculate on racial motivation for any random killing. Apparently nobody has been shot dead in Blackburn for over 25 years so it's a bit early to blame "the state of the town" isn't it? The majority of people in Blackburn (non criminals for example) have no reason to feel unsafe as far as I'm concerned. Well apart from what's going on everywhere right now! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-52678348

Do I have to try and justify everything on here? I'm making an effort not to be argumentative!

Celtic's lead isn't insurmountable. Name anyone who's ever thrown away a league title in Liverpool's position. City could have won every game and wouldn't come close.

It was an obvious reference to Harford preferring Shearer/Newell and the 95-96 league performance.

I think if the Walker family were gonna try and sue anyone (other than that lawsuit with their trustees) they would have by now! I never asked anyone to outright name employees (so I'm not sure why you brought his family up) either.

Indeed but Jack had more animosity towards Man United than Liverpool.

Rangers will fight this all the way. Hopefully win as well. Rangers over Celtic all day long.

Jack said that he wanted to "make Manchester United look cheap". That's not reinventing history it's the truth. Dalglish gets on with Ferguson now. Jack and Ferguson never got along. Petty Vendettas? I've seen other football forums where people do nothing but rage at the press, media, etc and have countless grudges. Compared to some of them I'm actually quite reserved!

All accounts? There's several people who loved working for Walkersteel. Said it was never the same after Jack left (and not in a good way) I don't know if he was always a Tory voter. Jack Straw was granted a honorary position it seems like Jack approved of the "new labour direction". I imagine he wasn't the greatest fan of unions especially when people who didn't even work for him tried to disrupt his business.

Rubbish. Sutton criticised Harford in his autobiography.

I understand what his point was. I just don't think the timing was necessary or merited. I'm sure you were "taking it in" just fine without a typical Blackburnian comment. At the time there's no doubt who was the best striker in country. Dalglish you could have argued was the top manager in country at that point. Presumably your Dad didn't know he had quit. The money that Jack spent between 95-99 was definitely enough to win the Championship again. It just wasn't used correctly. I know Harford's remembered more for his good points but really he did an awful job as manager. He split up the Sutton/Shearer partnership for one thing. Newcastle almost won league in 95-96 and you could argue that Rovers were better than them and that Leeds 1992 side. Hendry, Berg and Le Saux were better than any defenders Newcastle had. I can't believe they finished 2nd with Darren Peacock as a regular. I know people say teams finish where they deserve in the league but there are clear anomalies.

Who did people want as manager when Mackay was sacked? I know most of you didn't think Dalglish was possible so which name was coming up most? Some directors apparently suggested Steve Coppell (seen as an up and comer at the time) but what about anyone else linked? I suppose some fans suggested Parkes completely overlooking why Mackay was sacked. I've seen press cuttings from the day Jack took over and even then the ambition was evident. Peter White knew then it's almost as if the fans only woke up to it (and even then not fully) when the offer for Lineker was made. Ferguson was Jack's biggest enemy in football. Nobody else came close. That's the reason for comparison.

Shooting on King Street. Nobody has been arrested yet. Armed police monitoring the area.