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It's the difference between owning your own house and renting off the council.

The DW is a great facility, but it isn't, and never will be yours.

These ing contests over the respective stadiums is tedious in the extreme. Ours isn't and they aren't going to be turfed out any time soon.

It'll be interesting to see how the various tax bills that all clubs will have to pay (and I include Wigan in that, I don't see how Dave Whelan would use tax avoidance everywhere else in his empire and not in one individual part) will hit finances. I think I'm siding with McManus on this, we're entering a recession and reliant on tv money (as is every other sizeable sport in the country), the league will end up dropping in size with each club getting an increased share. I already think the talent is being spread a little thin.

Indeed. My dad is most definately harder than your dad.

Back on Topic.

I'd expect the beer takings alone at Saints would keep us propped up. Me and a few mates were really doing our best to sup the place dry on Good Friday Those little cardboards trays they have are like a red rag to a bull, you've just got to fill them up. Plus we must be nearly averaging 15K crowds and I don't see any free tickets being handed out tbh.

That's just so wrong.

Does the magic weekend actually raise any money or does it feel like a waste to everyone else aswell? Im pretty sure it will be the lowest attended derby of the year when we play in Manchester. 18000 at your place 20000 + at ours how many will be on to see us next month and how many will be cut price tickets? 100% of them id say.

Tried it and its failed IMO when its ended up in Manchester, scrap it and get the cup final earlier in the year again.

A retired friend who was a "die hard" at Knowlsey Road popular side made his first visit to the new ground for the Wigan game, has not been able to get a ticket so far this season for any games standing and does not have the money for a season ticket?

But said he does not care if he ever goes again, game spoiled by people constantly through the game asking to pass to go and fill up with supplies of berry in those little cardboard trays!

But then finances with improved crowds does it really matter about "die hards" ????

What's the alternative? Not have a club in existence because you have a crowd of 2000 "die-hards" every week, but at least no-one gets up to go have a pi ss or a drink?

I find it hard to fathom that a die hard would be bothered by people going for beer. Surely if Bruce Willis was put off by Alan Rickman going for a few beers for him and his mercanary mates it surely would have been called die not so hard.

Yep it can be a tad annoying and I've no idea of his personal experience on the day. But I've been asked to stand I think once for someone passing with beer in the 3 or 4 times I've been to LP. If he is counting before kickoff and during half time that's just silly as it's not interupting anything.

You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. If saints lose a dozen old farts on their way to averaging 15k speccies then so be it.

Great way of putting it!

not very die hard is he?
"i'm not going if someone wants to get past me for beer!"

Sounds a bit pathetic to me.