stevegrant

I like the like-for-like result comparison, but the "projection" is meaningless.

No.

Always replayed, I believe. IIRC, a game between Swindon and Tranmere was abandoned with only a few minutes to go because of a floodlight failure and it still had to be replayed in full.

One of the main problems with having opted for something so big is that when there's a big crowd (i.e. pretty much every PL game), it makes it a logistical (and health and safety) nightmare, even if you just want to do a quick pass over peoples' heads. At Wembley, the FA have brought in a big England crest flag for pre-match, and there's a team of around 8-10 specially employed stewards to oversee the whole operation, and that flag's tiny in comparison to the Liebherr one.

One of the main problems with having opted for something so big is that when there's a big crowd (i.e. pretty much every PL game), it makes it a logistical (and health and safety) nightmare, even if you just want to do a quick pass over peoples' heads. At Wembley, the FA have brought in a big England crest flag for pre-match, and there's a team of around 8-10 specially employed stewards to oversee the whole operation, and that flag's tiny in comparison to the Liebherr one.

Fulham used to have a particularly bad reputation among the smaller academies in the area for failing to bring their own players through, preferring to nick the top players from the likes of Wimbledon, Aldershot, Brentford, etc instead of being a bit more thorough when scouting players at a younger age. As yet, I think the only player they've brought through in recent years is Matthew Briggs. He played a lot in Europe a few years ago, but hasn't kicked on at all. Went on loan to Watford last season where he was largely dreadful, according to a Watford-supporting friend of mine. The only other young players have been bought in, e.g. Kacaniklic, Kasami, etc. Meanwhile, Jol persists in preferring to sign players who are 30+, the likes of Sidwell, Parker, Karagounis, Bent, etc, so even if the youngsters were any good, they're not getting any sort of an opportunity.

I find it difficult to believe that they thought this would go any way other than badly

The last part is almost certainly true, but a significant reason for that is his absolute cluster**** of a transfer policy. Rather than shore up a defence that was crap in the Championship, he decided to spunk a load of money on wingers and strikers, and proceed to not pick most of them. I'd seriously contest that he's "done great" for them - he got the better of Brighton and Watford in the playoffs, but they were only in the playoffs as a result of an 88th-minute winner against Peterborough. They were top after his first game in charge, and won only one of their last ten league games.

Players' tunnel Potentially expensive clean-up operation there...

Match abandoned

Wycombe 1-0 up in their cup final

I'm more concerned that you were watching the One Show

You might be able to get a ticket in the home end, the Cat B/C games do sometimes make general sale after their various levels of membership have had their chance.

Impossible to tell, but as we took and sold it last season, I would expect that'll justify them taking it again this time around.

It seems this game is where they disregard last season's away attendances and only use this season's to judge eligibility. Seems fair enough, we've had 4 league games and one cup game - they're actually counting the Barnsley game in the criteria, but not Stoke as it won't have been played when tickets go on sale. Tuesday 29th October: STHs with 3 aways Thursday 31st October: STHs with 2 aways Monday 4th November: STHs with 1 away Wednesday 6th November: All STHs Friday 8th November: General Sale (yeah, right ) Adults £25.50 Over-65s £11 Under-16s £10

I assume their response to that would either be silence (as has been the current trend) or "that's for Premier League games only".

To be fair, as much as I like to put the boot in on the absolute cluster**** that is our ticket office operations - and they certainly give us enough ammunition - the blame for this one can't be laid at their door. Take your pick from Sunderland AFC, Northumberland Constabulary or the Football League.

Pretty much. I think David Stockdale (now back on the bench after Stekelenburg returned from injury last night) has made the most saves out of any keeper so far this season. On a complete tangent, I was amused to read that Marouane Chamakh has an impressive shots-to-goals conversion rate of 100% in the 8 PL games he's played this season. Unfortunately for him and Palace, he's only taken one shot in that time

Fulham have returned 1000 tickets so block 43 is now open for home fans.

3 games organised by the end of March. Plenty of time.

No argument needed, he's by far their best player.

Got battered 10-1 - they were a very good side to be fair to them, much younger and fitter as well. 6 of our 11 were over 30. Thought we played some decent stuff in patches, created a few chances especially in the second half when their defence switched off a bit. I don't think City are able to get a side down to us for that game, unfortunately, as they've all organised a trip to Munich the week before to watch them get their arses handed to them on a plate by Bayern again.

Yep, I'll be there for about 10:30ish. Rich, messaged you on Facebook, let me know what size boots you need and I'll ask around.

Assuming they don't get drawn into a "group of death", Belgium will go further than both Italy and Netherlands. I'm willing to put decent money on it. Don't forget, the Dutch didn't get a single point in the Euros. Switzerland were the only team to beat Spain in the last World Cup and haven't lost a competitive game for more than two years (and only 4 competitive defeats in more than 5 years). It's rather rich of you to accuse someone else of defending a viewpoint, especially when I've actually got statistical data to back up my opinion unlike your usual reactionary gibberish.

As the loan came from a public body, would information on this sort of thing be available through a Freedom of Information Act request?