Whitey Grandad

Thanks. The problem today is that sides at the top want constant consistent high-quality performances and can't afford to let the youngsters earn their trade, except in games that have no importance.

The colour of a man's skin is irrelevant and always has been. Eusebius, Pele, Gullit, all great players have earned that greatness because of their skill, and rightly so.

So, someone comes hundreds, even thousands of miles to one or two games a season is a lesser fan than someone who lives a few miles away and goes to four?

A clean sheet would be good for a change.

Not going to happen, alas.

Yes, well done to all concerned.

Why do you assume they're plastics? You could equally apply that description to someone who had only been to four games previously.

Didn't Shearer score a hat-trick against Arsenal on his debut?

True, I was referring to the comparison to Ramirez. It's not straightforward, is it?

Er... cough, Villa?

Those who buy season tickets are less rich than those who cherry-pick their four or five games a season and save their money but not buying the other 14/15 games.

Yes please, if you don't mind. Most season ticket holders miss a few games over the season so financially there's no real advantage to buying one so from the business point of view you have to make their purchase more attractive which usually involves giving some worthwhile privileges, something that is not offered to casual customers.

But Cork is no goal threat.

This is true. Most organisations offer the right to pay to bring along a guest.

That was so last century.

This is nothing like a free sarnie. The tickets have to be paid for, they're not free. To extend your allegory, it's like expecting your mum to get first choice of which extra sarnie to buy for you because at the beginning of the year she has bought a year's worth of shopping.

If he only goes to a few games then how can he be a true supporter? Is anybody really suggesting that someone who goes to four games in a season should have priority over someone who has bought tickets for nineteen?

That's a different argument. The complaint was about the removal of one of the benefits of having a season ticket.

You could apply that argument to any expenditure. There's a limit to everything be it a season ticket or a straw-carrying camel.

Not necessarily we don't.

I know which of the two I would prefer in my team and that's Bale.

Yes, absolutely, the season ticket should always hold priority. There is no greater fan than one who commits himself to a whole season.

Perhaps 4 for me, and I'm nearly 65.

Puncheon hadn't scored in ages and ages.

Talking of hockey sticks: http://capnbob.us/blog/2006/10/24/the-indefensible-hockey-stick/ The problem is that there is so much stuff out there on the Internet that you can find any point of view and any evidence that you choose to like.