The queen must have had it on repeat dial. Is horse jumping a sport? You might as well have crown green bowls getting recognition. As I said before, it's always boring. But it just goes to show how poor we are at sport these days that there was no recognition for sportsmen who play sports that anyone gives a damn about.

Unfortunately it seems to be the case that anyone who says something was better in teh past is lampooned as a deluded Daily Mail reader who can't accept change, and can't accept that change is always better.

I knew there was 2, but couldn't remember the other geezer's name! I used to remember getting pathetically excited when we signed a foreign player. "Ooooh, anders Andersson, never heard of him, wonder what he's like?" Those days are long gone.

It's not just wallowing in pointless nostalgia. This is linked to the Academy topic. We are not producing decent-home grown players in sufficient quantities any more. I remember when Ipswich were thought of as being exotic because they had Arnold Muhren.

Is the wall OK? Seriously, sorry to hear that. We really could've done with a draw. No, honestly, have you really broken your arm?

Not quite sure what this has to do with a German player?!

Looking at it another that is only TWO players, one of whom went for a transfer fee comfortably paid for by a Russian billionaire, the other one paid by bernard cribbins on drugs financed by bongo book money. Neither Duff nor Dunn came through the academy system. This is what you are forgetting. We were lucky to get the money we did for those two players, and going on current trends we were lucky to actually get them. Is the academy likely to produce players like Dunn and Duff in the next ten years? It doesn't look like it, does it? God knows how many youth players we've realised, the numbers are mind-boggling.

To echo something Mark Hughes referred to when he was interviewed for a broadsheet (talking about reserve/ academy training pitches). Why should academy players be rewarded before they've even made it? Training at first-class facilities should be something they aspire to, not something they're given as of right. I fear we've been left with a white elephant. But then if we didn't have an academy we couldn't compete with other clubs for young players. Which is the way of the world these days as local players coming up through the system are now a rarity. But then would we notice a difference as we're not bringing anyone through anyway. For the players it's produced (I can't think of any notable academy graduates), the academy has been a rank failure and a sorry waste of money.

Group? Was there a popular beat combo called "The Biscuit Men" (or even Biscuitment) then?

They've got a darts player in there! Bl00dy hell, things have got bad. It's normally pretty boring anyways, but this year it will be as dull as ditch water. Who half those people are I don't know. Typical Christmas fare, a real yawnathon.

Haha! That made me chuckle. If that's the case, then we should try to emulate Leeds. Spend beyond our means and sink to the bottom of the second tier in 3 years or so. Fantastic.

I agree. SuperStella, shove that one up yer bum.

I *did* read what you just wrote. I agree that he is English, but for the purposes of the question presumably he is Irish as otherwise it would be too easy. But then again, I think it is a poorly-defined question. Why is Marlon Broomes ruled out for not being a "regular", when the question doesn't require someone to have played in defence regularly, just that they have played. If that wasn't the case, then it would've been made explicit. Perhaps they mean someone who was a defender who regularly played there? Which rules reid out on both counts. Perhaps if the question made sense it would be relatively easy to answer.

He plays for Ireland which might rule him out. Bit of a strange question.

Real boring draw. Might even go out.

Don't be daft, Dave. This way it's under control. By teh same argument you'd have to let West Sussex Rover have unlimited access to post, rather than be on mod approval.

If only he listened to you, eh? The man's a fool.

If anyone from here was behind me when I chucked my programme (which I'd torn into small squares) over my head then I fully apologise.

I've found it all, weighed it all up, and can tell you, you've been misinformed. I suggest you dig a little deeper yourself. Maybe you need to brush up on your research skills. You're obviously not seeing the whole picture.

Yeah, but we wouldn't have lasted a season in the top flight. Je ne regrette rien, I wouldn't change a thing. Actually no, I would change Blackburn 5 Burnley 0. I would make it more emphatic.

I've now done all my internet research and can tell you that Jack is 100% wrong.

Made you look, made you stare, made you lose your underwear.

"Do some research, think for yourself, can't you be bothered", as proof that man doesn't contribute to global warming, it's first-class, I must say. You are an oaf, sir.

No, I haven't looked. Why should I waste my time on a wild-goose chase. Show me your proof.

Childish. How can I reach incontrovertible proof by "doing a little research". If there's one single paper out there that offers incontrovertible proof that man makes a negligle impact on teh air temperature of the planet, let's have it. However "doing a little research" indicates to me reading around a topic and gaining an appreciation of conflicting views. This can help in forming an opinion, but is not scientific prood in itself and so cannot form incontrovertible fact. If you have a controversial view, expect to be challenged and you should be able to offer proof of what you say.