The solution I am about to suggest would have legitimized the goal yesterday, so I don't expect positive feedback. Instead of many areas of interpretation, reduce the rule to a single (actually a couple of) interpretation that already exists. That of a player impeding his opponent (and of whether a player has touched the ball). Perhaps the best way to go would be to legitimize the actions of a player in an off-side position, as long as they neither touch the ball, or impede a defender from intercepting it. That means they could even dummy a pass, which was what Cisse effectively did yesterday. The term active in relation to off-side infringements would need to be killed, because you would be allowed to be active. Just not a direct recepient of a pass. I don't think the rule needs to be popular. It just needs to be clear cut. Of course, this does nothing to stop referee assistants from badly judging the off-sidedness of active players. Only video referees might solve that problem (but of course, how?).

I really, really didn't expect this... after saying the bet is gone, I have to retract. The attendance against Liverpool was a whopping 29,142. The only question now is if the (seemingly) lost Champions League cause will affect the attendance for the rest of the home games.

Nick Barmby?

You can never win against insurance companies. It gets more ridiculous as time passes.

Tris, I live next door to The Freedom on Rue de Berri (off Champs Elysees). They normally have all the footy channels, and if you like, I can pop down and ask about Grays Exeter. Only problem is that it's a pricey place A pint of Kronenbourg is the cheapest at 6 euros.

Was Dunn injured or dropped?

I like your "always smiling" criteria dillo dillo

All credit for your perseverance Cletus... bit this bets long been a goner.

Not saying that the increased income doesn't cover it, but I do want to highlight what is missed when you look at a situation from a pre-judged perspective. One thing the improved league performance does do is: 1. Kicks in performance related bonus clauses. 2. Necessitate upgrades for players who are nearing the end of their contracts (and funnily enough, I recall Lee mentioning at the start of the season that we had an abnormally large no. of contracts up at the end... although we've off loaded a few of those already). Because the players are performing well, in a side that is doing well, it improves their marketability from the agents perspective. Unfortunately, we are inevitably going to see this in off season transfer strife (player X wanting big money move, etc). To me, player contracts are the riskiest part of a football clubs business. You will get cycles where "deadwood" is sponging up a good portion of the wages. EDIT. Forgot to ask... isn't the difference in "placing" income only worked out from whatever Rovers budgetted on finishing? I thought this time round, it was 10th position. Unless you already had calculated as such? Edit again... you couldn't have could you (I not with stupid... someone is with me )

I get the feeling the postponed Sunderland game has screwed the club of any upper-hand you might expect the home team to have had in this situation

oops. wrong thread

What happens if 15th April happens to fall on a Champions League finals night in the future?

Are you smoking while doing it?

In fairness, and although he made some mistakes, I thought the referee against Spurs was quite alright. He let the game flow as well. But he's got to be more careful about those crucial decisions leading to goals.

As evil as Dean Saunders that Bob F is.

Does anyone think that there should be a "sin-bin" (not using that term, as it would make a connection with Rugby League and put people off) in Football? Couple with video review, it could be used to determine whether a send off should be effected or not.

But surely the ticket office (theno said club, but I understand it to mean the TO) can't make or overrule commercial decisions. Contacting someone who can, as Theno appears to be doing now, seems to be the right way to go. And my gut feeling is that something will be sorted out... because Rovers seem to be a unique club in this regard. But I suspect it is under-appreciated.

Not having a go or anything, but I am suprised that you are suprised by that. If they did that, where would it end? At a splitting off the pass on just the last game? Who would pay the regular ticket price on the last day, if they could get a fractioned half-season pass? What you are looking for is Rovers to go one step further and provide a quarter season pass... perhaps they should. I really don't know.

Wouldn't a business decision be to sue for unfair competition?

Flopsy... you mean well... but why even mention the Rugby? Who cares man! We just beat Arsenal and are up to 5th

He won't come back from this. Unfortunately he's not good enough. I've never felt he was, even before he joined Rovers. At this level, you need to have a good football brain, not just athleticism.

One thing that irritates me is how people can never find middle ground on issues. Suddenly every fall is a dive, and an attempt on cheating. Come on! Many on the messageboard play football often enough. You should know that it is not difficult to be bundled over. And how many have then suffered the indignity of being accused of diving? I know I have, and I don't dive. I am not meaning to excuse the divers. And if anything, divers can still be blamed for this counter-culture, because they've made defenders too highly strung on the issue. It is just possible that attackers with genuine intent are falling under the strength of the tackles, in my opinion, *most of the time*. From being in a partisan crowd watching a match, the amount of jeering accusations of play acting don't reflect that.

Actually, I think it is expected that a football player will have injuries that carry through after football. Arthiritis must be the main one, I'd expect.

It is at the same time sad, as well as reason for optimism that this has happened not too long after a thread on this mb about a Scottish league player (forward) who has had some success with no vision in one eye. I'll try and dig up that thread, but I hope Sosoko's injury heals sufficiently not to need that encouragement. unfortunately, the reports seem to indicate a best case of a 20% loss in vision

If the name of the player described their performances, we would have a Messi at Rovers. Shefki Messi