Very, very true. At all the games we've attended the players have been excellent. At the OT test Lee and McGrath, stood on the boundary, gave as good as they got to the barrackers in the crowd. You can just see that happening in the PL. The other thing that impressses is the articulate interviews from every player. One might say that's because they have received a privileged education - assuming cricket is no longer main stream sport in state schools - but I gather that all bar one of the England team received a state education.

Like everyone else our house has enjoyed a summer of cricket. We watch Lancashire in the T20 and had a day at the OT test. All this started because my youngest is very keen and so Dad takes him along. I really enjoy the whole thing, which is a complete surprise to me. Over the last two tests the whole family has been gathered round the TV, same again last night. Rushed home from work to see the final moments, tea left on the table getting cold as we all sat round to see England win in the field and what happens...........NOTHING. Cricket didn't do itself any favours last night. The Australians should have stayed at the wicket, surely the captains could have had a quiet chat and just agreed this. The umpires could have shown some commonsense and sent the teams back on to the field. Instead the pinnacle of recent English cricket, the conclusion of possibly the greatest ever test series is ended with the teams in the dressing room and the umpires walking out to remove the bails. This was then followed by an interminable presentation ceremony, it was like a PC school sports day, everyone gets a medal, except Michael Vaughan who Mike Atherton forgot about. The final 40 minutes of the series and the presentations (about 6.05 - 6.50pm) was a real damp squib, somebody needs to have a serious look at this aspect of the rules. Please don't misunderstand this; I've truely enjoyed the summer and I would never have written that 10 weeks ago. I'm not a true cricket fan, just enjoy the sporting moment and the entertainment and I suspect millions of other TV viewers will have been thinking "What? "

Sorry, yes I din't get your meaning properly first time I read the post.

Providing he's fit I'd put money on Warne playing in 2007

Good post EIT. Our cause is not being helped by the national media, which must have an impact on the casual fan's decision to attend or not. The game was live on Five Live and discussed quite a lot of 606 afterwards. I haven't seen anything of the match BUT every item I have heard on the radio has been entirely negative in respect of both Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers. The two main culprits were Alan "I'm just wonderful" Green and Adrian "I'm a super Baggy" Chiles who ran down the clubs, teams and fans in an appalling manner for at least three hours yesterday. Personally I'd like to ensure they need their microphones surgically removing. I can just about take Alan Green but presenters like Chiles who can't broadcast about a trip to the post ofice without mentioning WBA should be shot. To some extent these people have a responsibility to support and promote the game from which they earn a living. Yesterday they did nothing but deride both clubs, criticism is fine but it should not be for its own sake.

This was a major concern

Sorry Chesh I can't agree with that the clubs can and should do something about it. We all know the PL is a cartel, everything is agreed quietly, privately and then goes through on the nod. If Arsenal, Chelsea, Utd, and I suppose Liverpool, don't want to play ball let them go there own way. The remaing clubs simply sit down in a quiet room, agree to slash the outrageous wages, of every player. The players who don't like it can simply leave, where else are the going to work? The big four only need so many players and have already taken everyone they want out of Ewood and the rest of PL clubs. Those players who accept the wage cuts can be paid by performance, attendance, results etc. I haven't even thought of the maths but every time Ewood is full the players get a % etc,etc,

Following on from Alan's excellent post, much of which I fully agree with, I feel the erratic fixture lists also play a significant part in the attendance problem. Most of the summer I was pretty fed up with football, hardly read anything or took any interest in the game. Went to the Fulham game and that was OK, Spurs next and I came out feeling really enthusiastic. Great when's the next game? - 25 days later, nearly a month. Oh right, internationals is it? Who are they playing? I didn't know until someone told me, really interesting stuff. August - 2 games in four days September - 1 game, football when? Oh have we started again? October - 2 games - 3 weeks apart November - 1 game, whoops nearly forgot, football this month December - 4 home games in 4 weeks (including January 2nd) - excuse me everyone is skint at Christmas? - oh and the small matter of Wigan away, so that's 5 games really January - 2 games, every other week, yep that's OK February - 2 games - 24 days apart, yep nearly a month again March - 2 games in 7 days, Oh! best start saving now, that's £200 we have to find in a week April - 3 games - quite well spaced, attractive fixtures, might go to all of those Now I realise we have to accomodate that nice Mr Erikson, who has to "prepare" his team, but the above is ludicrous. I can't compare this with other seasons but surely the brains who run the PL can look at the situation. In the months of September and November we have ONE home match then come December hey, let's really sting them with FOUR - don't worry evrybody is on holiday, they'll be happy to shell out around £500, for a family, on football. Wake up guys, reality time is here. I turned down FREE tickets to the Reebok last night, we had made other plans. Never done that before.

Glenn, thanks for all those links. I've been following them over the last few days. I haven't used things like this before, its been fascinating. I can't make up my mind about these people, they talk of being freedom fighters and use quite militaristic language - Alpha Group etc. Are they ordinary people who are getting a little carried away or something else? Moving on to Bush, who I don't have any real feelings for one way or the other, I was taken aback by one statement he made a few days back in which he indicated, by referring to it immediately, that Iraq is still top of his agenda. I can't recall the exact words but it was on the lines of "We'll defeat the terrorists AND we'll look after the folks at home" - I haven't seen the interview repeated anywhere, unlike his recent stuff. It strikes me this disaster is probably more severe in its long-tem consequences than the tsunami. I realise many more died in the tsunami but I wonder if the recovery programme is in some way "simpler" for those affected. If one lives in a "simple" and relatively poor society the steps back are shorter? The USA is looking at having to rebuild cities and repopulate them, I seriously wonder if this is possible? Please don't shoot me down in flames, it's a thought process I'm trying to work out. Over the last few days we've seen a hidden part of America. I suspect it exists in every country, it would be good to think the TV images would act as a wake-up call for us all. It won't happen, apart from a Panorama Special in 12 months time.

Freddie has been awarded the Freedom of the City by Preston!

BBC internet and radio report New Orleans rocked by massive explosions Without wishing to cause any offence to Americans on the MB or in general it strikes me as quite incredible that the richest country in the world seems unable to cope with this catastrophe. I have no idea of the size of the US armed forces but surely it would have been a simple matter to mobilise the army, airforce and navy far quicker than appears to have happened?

I can't recall what they did have but if it's as you say that would be 5500. Top tier is 3000 and bottom is 5000.

BTW - any sarcasm is not aimed at you theno Have to say I think these statistics on possession etc are utterly pointless, like Rovers last Saturday. They really are nothing more than a bit of TV window dressing. 71% of 2nd half possession, I must cheer that later today, or perhaps we could ask the PL if we could have 71% of the points as we obviously deserve it? I'm sure the BBC are looking to maximise their audience possesion/share. Consequently they will show the 4, 5 or 6 exciting parts of the game and not our 71% possession. I'll take 29% possession and 6 decent chances, one goal, a clean sheet and three points any day of the week. On the Kugi/Stead thing. I was disappointed to see Stead leave even though it does appear he was a sacrifiice to get Bellamy. The probelm with this is we have been left without a single striker with ANY premiership experience through injury (Bellamy, Jansen) and stupidity (Dickov). Kugi doesn't appear to be good enough and we should have kept Stead. Our striking options are: Bellamy - we have to wait and see. Who is going to supply him? Dickov - runs around a lot, rarely scores from open play Kugi - doubtful ability Jansen - hate to say it but he's not the answer anymore It's not exciting or likely to give us 4,5 or 6 chances in a game even if we have 99% possession in the second half.

eeeee..........when I were a lad all you needed was a pair of red tab and that was it

What I find interesting is I know 19 year olds, who certainly enjoy a beer or 10, who no longer go out in the local towns at the weekend because at 19 years of age they find the behaviour of others unacceptable and threatening. There are a lot places I no longer visit because I find the behaviour of young drunks unacceptable. This is probably because I'm old, in body and your eyes, but when 19 year olds are saying the same thing perhaps these chavs, townies or whatever might realise the problems they are causing. I was riding my bike this weekend when a white Nova pulled alongside me and some snotty little chav emptied a two litre bottle of water over me. I frequently encounter this type of behaviour, so when I stereotype Wez and his mate who chose to wear the uniform (and I don't know the subtleties), get drunk and behave appalling as total, worthless low-life you'll have to excuse me. Personally I hope they throw the book at you, I can visualise exactly how you were behaving and it isn't acceptable to me or all the very decent fans on here who enjoy a few beers at a game.

We went to OT on the Friday and had a great day out.

An excellent idea I'd support, which sounds hollow as our only PL away trip last season was to City. The principle is correct; for years the PL have stitched up the fans. Some of us have been preaching Sky and the PL are killing football for 2-3 years, now the majority are beginning to realise they have been taken for mugs. Our household boycotted Bolton the past two seasons after they stiffed us on prices two years ago. This year we'd be looking at £112 plus all the associated costs - I'm going on a charity bike ride instead and not even considering watching the game live. £112 to watch Wanderers v Rovers - frankly they are having a laugh it simply is not worth the money. It's quite likely we won't even see it on Sky - bad news for the advertisers. As JW has said recently, I hope he has known this for years but only chosen to say it now, "football has to understand we are competing with other leisure activities." In my view the perceived value of football is dropping like a stone, it no longer represents value for money. For instance the price of a trip to the Reebok would also buy, and give you change: JJB gym - 3 months membership Next Generation gym - 1 months membership Marineland (Nice) - 14 hours entrance including 5 performances, 45 minutes each Test match at OT - 1.5 visits T20 - 5 matches Cinema - 5 visits Prague - two return tickets Prague - 4 nights dinner, B&B It's simple, the clubs have been found out. If we didn't have STs we would not pay £102 in match day prices to watch Rovers v Newcastle. It is no longer value for money. While Rovers ticket prices may compare well within football they do not compare well with other leisure activities. Personally I feel we have reached the point where £10 is a realistic match day ticket price. Why? - the product is readily available - 90% of the product is relatively poor quality - widely available products have no market value - the quality of the experience is very questionable - nowhere else would I tolerate the treatment I receive at a football match A product can only be sold at high market prices when it is unique or in limted supply. I happily shell out £40 for a major rock concert because it's an annual or less event but £40 for one of hundreds of matches taking place virtually every day? No, it isnt worth more than a tenner. If the clubs don't see the warning signs now the problem will accelerate dramatically next year.

I've been trying to think when was the last time our whole family sat round the telly watching cricket on a Sunday afternoon. Quite astonishing and a real shame it's all going to Sky next year.

Last chance. OK?

Wez and the Invisible Man. I suggest you do the following: 1. Read the guidelines 2. Cease the insults 3. Stop using text speak. I'm not going to spend the evening refereeing you lot.....and yes I'm a boring old 50+ and I'm admin who can get you off this site at any time I chose. Grow up, wise up or go away. Your choice. cheers Paul

......and Kugi has one against Morecombe, as fas as I'm aware?

Seen MOTM properly now......we could have lost 4,5 or 6 nil on the chances Villa had. If Brad is to blame for the Baros goal, surely Tugay was equally culpable as his terrible pass in midfield gifted the ball to Aston Villa who played one pass through to Baros and bang, it's 1-0? Why did Jon Stead go to Sunderland? Against Wigan he was in the right spot, on target and causing problems. Compared with our attack?

I've only seen a couple of minutes on MOTM but the media and fan reports are really worrying. How can we play so well against Spurs and then, apparently, fail to turn up at Villa Park?

Enjoy