SecretSam

I don't particularly like Lampard, although he was a very fine player (FWIW). But I find it hard to dislike Everton, having met a few of their lot in my time. Always pretty respectful, no big time Charlies. Oddly enough, same goes for 'real' (i.e. Scouse) Liverpool fans. The plastic ones are another matter...

I think that's Brum, BTW. When I lived there, the locals would quote that (tongue in cheek). As luck would have it, I actually went to Venice at that time - if you've ever been there, it's TINY ?, so having 'more canals' isn't much of an achievement!

Without the dodgy knees, one assumes - Bayern rather than ManUre version Still, he's got the weird hybrid accent sorted - French Bristolian!

I remember one of my all-time favourites - David Batty - was invisible most of the time. But I remember one game he had for Engerlund, away somewhere in Eastern Europe, and he literally intercepted and tackled everything - he was utterly outstanding. Similarly, Owen Hargreaves for England back in the '06 WC finals was the only player to come away with his reputation enhanced. Personally, I think a good DMF is worth their weight in gold. And as pace isn't that important, they can play quite late into their careers - see Pirlo as an example (not a true DMF, but you know what I mean).

He's entitled to his opinion. Probably makes you grumpy, having to work in a dump like Stoke.

Who was having a go at veggies, or FGR for being vegan? I don't really have a beef with FGR.

Just emailed you

Watford, MK Dons, Oxford, Wycombe...all a short journey away!

I'm really tempted to go to a non-league game this weekend...trouble is, I live in Bucks and don't give a monkey's about the local teams!

FC Parachute Payments back in the Prem? Swapping places with another Yoyo team. What a farce. Well done to teams like Brentford, breaking the cycle.

Heaven forbid we appoint people with high level experience of turning a profit in football. How utterly ghastly.

Me, for one (St George)

Why would you not think Gould was doing a good job? His reputation in cricket is absolutely golden.

DM me, some old programmes from '80s sat in a cupboard. Happy to give them to a good home.

RE-Cisse and Pack: as others have said, you only notice this sort of player when they aren't there. Remember when Makelele left Real for Chelski, same time as Beckham came in, Zidane said "We've bought a new coat of gold paint for the Bentley, but sold the engine" Cisse in particular never did anything spectacular, but was a real 100% player. Physical, not especially gifted, but worked like a Trojan, doing all the unglamorous stuff. Pack could play a bit more, but also was a very disciplined player who read the game well.

As a father of twins, I can't imagine the pain. My heart goes out to them.

None of the current crop, game's moved on. But, from the distant past, Steve Galliers and Joe Jordan have rightly been mentioned. But what about Bobby Hutchinson - you wouldn't mess, methinks. More recently, Ivan Sproule struck me as someone with...a temper.

Yup. I cycled to the game, rode along the river, crossed a bridge to be confronted by the Plod escorting hundreds of Millwall fans from Temple Meads. I have never ridden so fast in my life.

Cotts came into a pretty good squad, the likes of JET, Pack, Flint all signed by SOD. He improved it, no doubt. Then, having got us promoted...didn't.

Why bother posting, then?

I was referring to the coppers, not the fans! I was too young for the '70s, went a couple of times but in the schoolboy enclosure ?

Visit by Millwall around '84/5 sticks in my mind ? Games against the Sags could be pretty rum affairs, e.g. Devon White (IIRC) getting bananas chucked at him ? Going to watch us at the IKEA stadium for an evening game was quite something when you're 15...!

The Walshy shuffle...Biff creaming them in from 30 yards...memories. Massive racism, awful facilities, appalling pitches, ever-present threat of violence...not-so-great-memories.

Perhaps we should try and use the overpaid dross? If you're in a hole, then sometimes you have to use what's available, not moan about what you can't have?

With fewer fingers per hand.