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Now that would be funny.

So his no1 keeper will be a kid. L1 is going to be a brutal wake up call.

Similar to Frank I did it in the mid-80s as a young man and "met" plenty of Dutch & Danish girls in France around Biarritz & La Rochelle & plenty of Finnish & Swedish girls in Greece. A very happy, carefree & educational summer!

It's when the streets get narrow that I find myself almost breathing in in the hope of making the car thinner!

Expect the traffic to be very heavy on the 18th. Leave VERY early.

If you're going to Venice from Calais or Dunkirk then the Germany route is the best IMHO.

If your Doris is into her shopping then the Prada outlet & The Mall discount designer village are on the way to Rome. Been to both as I'm a clothes whore Prada Località Levanella; Montevarchi; 055 91 901; Mon-Sat 9.30-7, Sun 2-9. Prada's outlet is the hardest to find but most rewarding as it has far more stock in a greater range of sizes than we found at any of the other factory stores. The huge shop sells shoes, bags, sunglasses and above all lots of clothes by Miu Miu, Helmut Lang and Jil Sander as well as Prada. Get there when it opens as they don't restock during the day and queues form at the entrance from mid-morning. Best buys when we visited included Miu Miu trousers for £45, a Prada Sport wool skirt for £60 and winter coats by Helmut Lang, Miu Miu and Prada starting at around £200. The Mall Via Europa 8, Leccio Reggello; 055 865 7775; Mon-Sat 10-7, Sun 3-7. The Mall is just that - a small strip of shops - in an unlikely location on the edge of a country road. Gucci, Armani, Sergio Rossi and Yves Saint Laurent are next to one another with Bottega Veneta and a café in a neighbouring building. When we visited, Gucci had a fantastic selection of bags, silk scarves (from £50) and belts (from £20) but only a very limited range of clothes and shoes. The best bargains were at Armani, where an immaculate Giorgio Armani menswear winter coat was selling for £265. Getting there Although it is possible to reach the outlets by public transport (taking a train to Montevarchi for Prada or Incisa for The Mall and continuing by taxi), it's much easier to drive there. If the prospect of negotiating Florence's narrow streets fills you with dread, hire a car from Europcar (Via del Gelsomino 11; 055 230 6777), who have an office in the southern suburbs of the city close to where you join the motorway. For the Prada outlet, head south out of Florence on the A1 motorway and exit at Valdarno. Turn right after the toll onto the SS69 and follow directions for Arezzo and Montevarchi. Drive through the centre of Montevarchi till you reach the suburb of Levanelle, past an AGIP petrol station on the right. Shortly after the petrol station, where an overhead sign indicates the end of Montevarchi, turn left at a traffic light and drive round the back of a large, single-storey grey warehouse with a jagged roof, and you're there. For The Mall, head south out of Florence on the A1 (as above) but exit earlier at Incisa. After the toll, turn right and head towards Pontassieve. The Mall is indicated all the way.

Yep, it can be a 'mare. Mad the mistake once going on holiday when the drive from Bologna to Ascoli took 2.5 times longer and once when going on a business shopping expedition to the old Stone Island factory shop in Cravelcore. The drive from Bergamo, despite landing at 09.00, was a nightmare. Now we never go during Ferragosto!

Basically across Belgium towards Cologne, down towards Stuggart, cross through Austria, down through Trento to Verona, down to Modena & then down towards Rome on the A1. As I've said, traffic on a Saturday can be utterly and totally beyond cr.ap so head off early & I mean early!

The route you have planned, at that time of the year, especially as you'll be heading down through the peninsula on a Saturday, may not be the quickest despite what any online site says. The German route comes in at around 1hr longer on paper but you save all the tolls, cost of going across Switzerland and tunnel fees.

Why the obsession with the France/Switzerland route?

I've driven 1000s of miles in Italy over the years and I've always found it less of an issue than driving on the M6 or in Brum! That said, the advice about not driving in Naples is sound, same as for Rome. Next trip down we are going the German route as it saves a fortune on the tolls. Traffic wise, if you're unlucky, you could hit *insert Italian name which I've forgotten* holiday, which is like the old factory fortnights which means the traffic can be murder. More than once on a August Saturday I've crawled along the A4, down the A22 & the A1! As for stuff required, I keep my hi-vis etc in the glovebox and despite doing stacks of trips, only been stopped once, outside Ascoli, and once the rozzer knew I was English (despite my best Italian), he just wanted to talk football!

Guilty I reckon

Would be an excellent signing but just can't see it.

The latter ones are sandwiched.

Why?

It's not a case of blaming anyone, it's a simple fact. Average gates went up as soon as he went, even though we were going down! Plenty stayed away, including myself and the other 6 season tickets holders I go with. Even when we started in L1 on -10 our gates were up on the pre-Lowe departure average. The recent success & sensible has brought in a new generation of fans which will help us grow. It is certainly noticeable at away games.

Wife drive a C4 Grand Picasso and loves it. We've taken 2 + 3 to the South of France and back in absolute comfort & ease. Was very good value as well.

Not really representative IMHO due to the Lowe issue. 22k hardcore I'd suggest is a pretty good estimate.

Depends on Liverpool, Newcastle & Spurs all being in the group stage, which Spurs will be, and goes up to the QFs. These games will be changed to Sunday's Spurs (H) Newcastle (H) Newcastle (A) Liverpool (H)

Perhaps I should have just said they are guaranteed their dosh! Didn't know the law regarding insolvency so again this thread proves educational.

He's simply playing to the gallery.

Of the 3 I'd take Phillips.

As I've said, £6m gets us a seat at the table for Jarvis but Stoke REALLY want him and will out pay us by a very significant amount. The ace in the pack maybe that he (or his missus) wants a move back south.

The administrators are classed as FC's and are therefore secured. Explains a lot in itself I reckon.