"Lancashire All-stars" anyone?

I thumbed through someone else's copy on the train (no, really) and apparently Rovers are one of 6 or so clubs that charge supporters full whack, which is no more than what Chelskov are doing. Whether this is true or not, and whether it's right or not I don't know, but I'm not surprised with our attendances! I think football may well end up disappearing up its own bum. It's like a Mexican stand-off, no-one wants to break the illusory scenario that the financial fantasyland they inhabit is profitable, it's like an involuntary cartel, arranging to pay parasites and footballers far beyond their worth from an ever-shrinking pot of money. There was something in the 'paper this week about a very big blot on the horizon ... the EU may force Sky to only show 50% of live fixtures as it has a monopoly. Result? Man Utd etc auction their own rights off individually, Blackburn et al see a big reduction in their TV revenues (will anyone actually bother showing their games), and suddenly an even-bigger hole appears in the finances. With players on lucrative contracts which must either be honoured or paid-up, how the hell does the hole get plugged as expenditure will stay the same? Or will Rovers attract gates of 5,000 paying £100 each?

On the contrary, I'm well-chuffed that we won. I just think it's over-the-top. There's no "one extra day", we've milked it for one day, full stop. It's the opposite side of the coin to recreational grief ("Princess Di syndrome"), people feel they have to be seen to be celebrating, and the more of a celebration they can make of it, the better. It comes around every 18 months for gawd's sakes!

Would have to agree. I know it's been 18 years, but this sort of malarkey is not in keeping with cricket, leave it to the footballers, cricket doesn't need hype. Playing Jerusalem as we go onto the pitch as well, what the hell is that all about? Should we have fireworks go off every time a wicket falls. Village greens, stale beer, the Sun setting on the British Empire, the sound of willow on leather. That's cricket. Leave the razzamatazz to the Yanks. Or will we have an open-bus tour in 18 months time if we retain them?

Agreed. Despite all the years of pain, if you can't be a good sport, don't bother. Trust a Murdoch employee to pander to the basest tribal instincts. Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and co, you're great players (though McGrath's not always a good sport, is he? ), and it's a bit poor not to recognise the quality of the other side and devalue things with boorish chants. Let's hope the next series is as fun. How it could possibly live up to this standard I don't know. But jeez, this one's been good.

Chew on that, Terry Alderman, swivel on your Aluminium bat, Dennis Lillee, and look up to the skies and have a good blink Allan Border, because England got you beat, B'WANAS! To paraphrase Darth Vader: What a ###### fantastic day. It's seen the end of Kenobi and will soon see the end of the Aussie rebellion.

Sounds about right Den. At least then they'll know what they're facing. Easier to take English wickets than try to build a large lead in these conditions, and with limited time.

Unbelievable really that Newcastle, with all their star players could lose at home to Fulham. Should be an interesting 2nd half.

Nothing to do with Cooley, then?

Show me a man who laughs at defeat and I'm show you a Jamaican chiropodist with a sense of humour!

Just guess, but "lexia" probably comes from the same word stem as "lexicographer", so probably means "words", and "dys" means "not" (I think, as in dysfunctional). "Dyspraxia" is someone who's bleeding clumsy.

You could always send the link?

Didn't even bother watching it.

He ain't half embarrassing. Toshack drops him from the squad originally, which to me would've been a clear sign that he wasn't welcome. He takes the hint, so "retires" with a lot of bitchy comments in the press, slagging off Toshack's fondness for fried bananas etc, giving the overall impression that it's no skin off his nose. Now he thinks he might've been a bit hasty, and suddenly it is important for him to play for his country, so is conducting a campaign via the media to get himself re-instated, which if he had zero chance of a recall before, he's got even less now. You can tell he used to play for Birmingham, must've learned a few tricks from Brucie!

Not sure whether I should respond or not, but shall have a go! Would I have had a go at Bush if Katrina hadn't done any damage to a major city? No, of course I wouldn't. But the problems New Orleans is facing (and no, I don't claim any in-depth knowledge, I just read the 'papers) have been exacerbated by a president who has committed his country to an almighty cock-up in Iraq, which has drained it of resources that might've in part prevented (funds for improved flood defences turned down because they were required for war budget) and alleviated (30% of Louisiana National Guard is currently in Iraq, with equipment that could've been used in the US). I do wish the people of New Orleans well, you can take that for granted. I'm not pursuing a hidden agenda to criticise Bush no matter what happens, I just think he should carry a lot of the blame. Maybe when a few more facts emerge I might modify my opinion, but from my limited knowledge of the situation, I stand by what I said. Perhaps we should drop you into Louisiana and get you to stop its residents slagging off Bush, and start baling the state out with buckets? Because it ain't just me who's slagging him off. He's even getting stick for taking too long to appear on TV and make a speech (such that it was). Hope you have calmed down now.

It looks like the US has turned into some sort of Banana Republic! Perhaps Bush should rule with a military junta, because about the only thing he knows how to do is wage war. I get the feeling that by the end of his term, he'll be one of the most reviled presidents in recent history. How many people will have died because 30% of teh National Guard is in Iraq. It just beggars belief. Nauseating to watch.

So, if someone voices their disapproval of other people's boorish, self-indulgent, *unfunny*, moronic behaviour, *they* are inconsiderate? Thanks for clearing that up. What a bunch og joke-meisters these guys are. I wouldn't mind half as much if they actually came up with some amusing chants. "We're not really here ..." - what the flip is this about? "£2/ hour", presumably it's £2 and not more because that would be dangerously close to your own income? ... and as for the song about Graeme Souness, well, that's terrible. In very poor taste, and makes Blackburn fans look like complete to$$ers. Sad, really really sad.

Bluddy hell, I'm away for a few days and look what happens. Everyone seems to have missed an obvious fact ... "Wez" can't be a hooligan ... ... he wears a *cardigan*! Could you imagine Alan Partridge dishing it out with a stanley? "Knowing me, knowing you ... a-ha! <Thud>"

Brilliant! Not a fuddy-duddy myself, but I can assure you thaat as far as experience of life goes you are very much a kid. Would agree with what glenn and speedie said, particularly the bit about coming a cropper one day when no-onee's there to run to. It's ssaad, but football sseems to be aan outlet for this sort of behaviour, you don't get it elsewhere. not that I'm perfect, or ever have been, been in my share of scrapes, maybe it's just something you have to go through ...

Bit simplistic that, Alan. You can go to a football match not wishing to get clobbered, but it can happen. Just look at the woman who got belted at Leicester vs Spurs, Worthy Cup final. Different scenario I know, but still ...

Right ... Eurostar and hotel booked. Let me know if you want to meet up for a beer after the race Eddie.

I'm not sure if you do mate! I shall have to have a party if we win them back. Not that we ever let you have them in the first place! Unfortunately, I've missed a lot of the play and had to follow it on the internet (been working like a dog recently), but one of the things that's really pleased me (other than us being very competitive, natch), is the sporting spirit in which the series has been played. When we won at Edgbaston, the England management etc, muted their celebrations as the Aussies were sat right next to them. Only disappointing thing is the reports of the crowd going over the top in their remarks to Aussie fielders. But all in all, happy days!

Fulham are one of teh poorest teams in teh division, their biggest signing was a fitness coach who has the subs warming up on static bikes during the game. So don't get too excited.

That's teh way the Kuqi crumbles, sadly.

AESF not had a rant yet? Excellent article, really, and sums up the way I feel. The bit about players' perceptions of fans was a bit hard to stomach! There's nothing wrong with the sport, it's the money that ruins it. I just don't have the same passion any more, it all seems a bit of a waste of time. But if you pumped as much money into any other sport, it would ruin it, too. That's when you start getting people just turning up for teh dough. Idle good-for-nothing wasters like Rio Ferdinand (Gopd, I really hate that guy). Anyone heard the story about Kieron Dyer? He walked past this lad playing keepy-uppy with a can or something. Lad says: "bet you can't do this"; so Kieron Dyer takes out a £50 note burns it in front of him and say: "bet you can't do that". John terry is another one who likes burning notes, allegedly. Wnakers.