PHILINFRANCE

I assume you are referring to La Ville Rose, a lovely city.

Sometimes, it's the thought that counts ?.

Your little digs are not exactly subtle, are they?

Yep, I think that is the same incident. It certainly seemed to me that he spat - in Kyle Walker's direction, hence he (KW) was being held back from reacting further.

I'm not sure whether or not you were serious, but, if we are referring to the same incident, it was not a head butt - Vrsaljko spat at Kyle Walker!

Firstly, I was being facetious with my comment about Short Leg. Secondly, but far more importantly, I endorse entirely your comments about increased female involvement, both as players and spectators. I was a very avid follower of the recent World Cup (and the previous one, which England won), and watched the final against Australia from start to finish, although I regretted it later, as much because of the lack of sleep as the result. The quality and standard of play, much like football, has a long way to go before it matches the men’s game, but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable to watch.

It has been suggested frequently over the years that we want to be a Premier League club, and I think that is a fair and reasonable suggestion. I am not sure, however, that many ‘serious’ commentators or posters claim that we are ‘a sleeping giant’.

I have seen this question raised before, but can’t recall ever seeing a credible answer, save for the oft-mentioned suggestion it was simply a paper transaction for FFP purposes. Which, of course, begs the question, if true, as to why MM is the owner.

I have no problems with Gloucestershire’s decision, but, for me, Sir Viv Richards will always remain one of my favourite batsmen. How long will Short Leg or Silly whatever close fielding position remain?

Definitely my best ever. Daily Quordle 79 quordle.com ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ????? ????? ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????

Wow, this was an intriguing one today. Wordle 298 4/6 ?? ????? Ten different letters in the first two lines, including four vowels, and all wrong!

I believe Mansfield once borrowed Rovers' away kit ?. On the subject of yellow goalkeepers' shirts, I seem to recall the late, great Gary Sprake, who played for Leeds and threw the ball in to his own net against Liverpool, used to wear a yellow shirt when playing for Wales.

With all due respect to and empathy with Derby's fans, I think this would be my preferred outcome. Derby would still exist, but in another form - think Rangers or Wimbledon - but, more importantly, the main cause of the problem, Mel Morris, would be left with the white elephant that is Pride Park Stadium, and still in hock to MSD.

Perhaps he was being rested so that he can travel with the first team for Friday's match.

That is what I was trying to say, although it would seem I didn't make myself sufficiently clear. I wrote that 'The Law states that HMRC are first in line as preferential creditors, although, in effect, the EFL are saying their internal rules override the Law and HMRC's published practice'. What I was trying to indicate was that, in effect, the EFL are saying their creditors are more important than HMRC and, if Derby wish to remain in the EFL, they must be settled, regardless of what payments, if any, are made to HMRC. Be that as it may, my understanding is that HMRC consider (rightly, in my opinion) that their debt takes preference over EFL's football creditors, regardless of what the EFL might think. Hence my belief that, once it is made clear HMRC's debt must be settled in full, over several years if necessary, as must the EFL's football creditors (if Derby wish to remain in the EFL), CK will pull out and liquidation will follow.

So, if I understand the situation correctly, the law has indeed changed, as I suggested in my earlier post. The Law states that HMRC are first in line as preferential creditors, although, in effect, the EFL are saying their internal rules overide the Law and HMRC's published practice. If my understanding is correct, and I am sure somebody more knowledgeable than me will be able to advise, some interesting times lie in wait. I still foresee CK pulling out when/if he realises HMRC won't budge from their stated position, and either Mike Ashley stepping in at the last minute to 'save' the club out of goodwill ? or liquidation.

I may be wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that the law changed fairly recently so that, quite rightly in my opinion, HMRC’s claim now takes preference over football creditors.

You obviously led an innocent childhood ?.

In order to avoid spoiling the puzzle, I won't go in to too much detail, but I well remember my mother using the word when I was a young boy, at an age when I certainly had no idea what the other meaning referred to! As you say, the American wordings are often frustrating, especially the lack of 'U's

Very interesting, especially the bottom right hand corner. I had two lines left, with only the second letter missing, and chose a smelly American animal as my last but one choice. I hesitated for what seemed an eternity before completing my final guess, thinking surely not, but it was the only possibilty left.

I would not try to dispute what you are saying, as you both watched the match live, whereas I watched it online where, as we all know, it is not possible to see off the ball movement - assuming there is any ?. What does intrigue me, however, is which players you consider weren’t trying, were poor or showed a lack of passion or effort. I always used to get very frustrated with our own, homegrown Joe Bryan, who, having lost the ball on one of his many adventurous forward forays, would always seem to be simply jogging back casually in some halfhearted attempt to recover it. Nevertheless, Fulham (and Aston Villa), both better judges than me, were prepared to pay £millions to sign him.

Interesting that you refer to Rohan Kanhai as a spinner; I remember him more as a batsman, especially in one day cricket, for both WI and Warwickshire.

It was a wonderful read. I just hope I don’t read in a few days time that it was all a great spoof; a very good one if that turns out to be the case, but it would just spoil all the images I have formed in my mind.

Very amusing, even if it does show your age. Actually, he was one of my favourite cricketers back in the 1960s; indeed, for me, he was one of the sporting stars of 1966. Who could forget CM batting (and scoring a Century) against the frightening West Indies bowling attack of Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith, Lance Gibbs and, of course, the great Sir Garfield Sobers; Henry Cooper fighting against Cassius Clay and, last, but not least, England's wonderful World Cup victory. As I am sure you are aware, whilst he was, in my young eyes, a flamboyant Northants batsman, he was actually a Geordie by birth - just like that great Glos batsman Tom Graveney ?, who you probably remember also - another star of that 1966 West Indies series.

On the subject of VP wings in prisons, there was an amusing story about Benjamin Mendy, the Manchester City player charged with various sexual assault offences. When he was remanded in custody for breaching his bail conditions, he was informed he was to be sent to a VP wing. On arrival at the prison, he apparently went mad as he had convinced himself that, due to his status as a wealthy, international footballer, he was being assigned a VIP wing. Poor man ?.