Sour Mash

What they have in Germany isn't, in the main, what we consider 'safe standing'. It's really not too far removed from traditional, old fashioned terracing .

Not sure if its the reason they've been a bit uncompetitive in Europe in previous years, more to do with their attitude to debt compared to some other footballing countries. Overall match day income is huge over there and they're very good at maximising merchandising, food, beer etc.

No Lambert, Shaw or Yoshida either. Puncheon loves his Stone Island hat!

Exactly. People squeeze in with their mates when standing in seated areas, it'd actually be safer for them to do it in a terrace.

I think you're right that *officially* the gradients aren't acceptable for Terracing/standing, but on the basis that people jump around when we score in these areas, I don't see what difference it make in practice.

The Taylor Report was understandably a bit of a knee jerk reaction to a horrific tragedy. Getting rid of terraces across the top two divisions wasn't necessary, such a great pity a large part of our national game's heritage has now gone for good.

I definitely think it is safer, that's the ironic thing.

Cheers. You stuck to your task well there. I knew the board could count on you when it really mattered.

I know that! Just couldn't remember from previous years if they play regular league games at the same time as the League Cup final or if it'll get moved to a lunch-time kick off on that day.

All correct and something we've kept in mind for a while. Not sure if the fact that the League Cup final is on that Sunday afternoon will affect our kick off time or not? Expect not, but never know.

What's your take on the general quality of the French LEague? Watched a bit of Toulouse v Bastia the other night and even taking the terrible quality of pitch into consideration, there wasn't much class on show.

BA from Heathrow were circa £100 the other day, as you say, may as well get the train once you've worked it all out.

You don't want to do that, considering the game will be played Sunday afternoon.

They haven't sold tickets over the phone all season.

But there is nothing in the OP to suggest there is a big rush for Chelsea tickets, just that he is being put in a queue for them and not able to just buy a ticket for Stoke. Terrible system.

Which reliable voices has this come from?

Not really the same is it? Everyone that has seen Lee's last few appearances for the club have been unanimous in their assessment of his performances not being good enough and I think we can be pretty sure Adkins will think the same.

Three pretty uninspiring targets there, can't see them being true, but think the Mail are fairly reliable on our stuff?

How much you think he'd cost? £7-8m?

Make you right on all your points there mate, greatest player of all time. Part of me does think it's a shame we'll never see him play a season or two over here, but that probaably helps us to admire him, rather than he be tainted by all the sh*te that goes with playing for one of the big sides over here.

Because the use of the term "convictions" to describe an opinion on the signing of a footballer is ridiculous. For some reason you chose to pick out a post I made in the middle of pre-season, when we'd signed Clyne, S. Davis and Rodriguez , with you lamenting the lack of quality in those signings. Looking back I thought Rodriguez would offer more than he has and didn't think/know we'd then go on to spend another £3m+ on a striker that was rarely going to play. Hard to make a full judgement on pre-season transfer activity half-way through. Just to clarify, do you think Clyne is a good enough signing for us or not?

Was wondering this. Think he switches flanks a bit?

Convictions? They're thoughts on the abilities of footballers, not "convictions". Clyne has been brilliant, Davis "ok" and Rodriguez a bit of a disappointment, still wouldn't be particularly bothered about having McGregor or Gordon ahead of Davis, so don't think my "convictions" have been too bad thanks. How have yours been getting on? Not great based on all the threads that were dragged up the other week.

What? Of course I can. I'm not paid to run and manage our football club am I.

Exactly, we don't know. All that we do know is we sent £10m+ on two strikers we've hadly used, haven't managed to secure a first class keeper and are probably still in need of another CB - that's all we know, so that's all we can go on. I don't think Rodriguez is an out and out bad player, but can I see him going on to be a real threat in the Prem? No. Hopefully I'm proved wrong.