I wouldn't feel too sorry for Alladyce, like the above post says, he's got the players to work with, but he's trying to fit them into the Bolton style of play which isn't working. Plus if he does get sacked, he effectively won't have to work again with £2-3m in his pocket!!

Burnley away 2000 - still maybe the best Rovers game i've been to. Thank god McAteer cleared the ball off the line in the 1st half... then scored!

If it wasn't for Lucas going we wouldn't have super Bret and Stevie W at RB/LB, so in the long term it's done us a favour.

On Joe Garner - my mate at work is a Carlisle fan and he was talking about Garner being a bit dirty when he was on loan last year. Having never seen him play I couldn't comment, but my mate says he always gets into scraps with the opposition centre-halves. Maybe like Dickov then, which is not neccessarily a critism (where's the spell checker when you need it!) I think that Gally is one of the most naturally talented footballers at Rovers, his finishing is as good as anyone and he has been creative when brought on in the late stages of games. The pity is that when we play 4-4-2 its difficult to fit a flair player into the midfield. Ironically, since he went to Preston, we've played with the new formation which he would fit into as the man behind the front two.

I think he'll play on sunday vs Pompey. Remember he went through spells last season of looking off-the-pace and yet he popped up with 25 goals.

If we are forced into selling MGP, then Duff could be an option. Otherwise I doubt we'd look to spend on another high profile left winger.

Its a load of nonsense that table. What did Ballack/Martins/Isacson/Rosicky/Mascherano do to be included?? Surely someone like Carrick should be included - I know he cost MU a lot of money but they did win the league.

Even if Bentley has upset McClaren enough to freeze him out - its unlikely that McClaren will be in his job for any longer than 12 months anyway and Stuart Pearce will leave as soon as anyone will take him.

It reminds me a bit of when Chris Sutton pulled out of the B-team- although this is a different case in that DB has done it because he is tired. I wouldn't be surprised if he is a little disillusioned with the England set-up: - McL still picks Jenas/Dyer/Downing ahead of him in the main squad - He hasn't exactly always been a regular in the u21s, he has been unexplicably dropped by them a few times - He's got nothing more to prove in the u21s Its unfortunate for Pearce if he has one less player, but he should've communicated better with DB/McL/Hughsie before picking the squad.

Good team performance by England, but Estonia are a weak team (bit like Chelsea playing a div 2 team), I still don't get the manager's substitutions - Downing and Jenas should be nowhere near an England team

Dyer at RB? Why not jsut put Rooney in goal. More seriously, why not play Beckham at RB with Bentley ahead of him. Beckham has played there for Madrid and Bentley is used to having a midfielder as a righ side partner (Bert).

I didn't hear the booing, I thought there were a lot of cheers. Plus people were shouting "shoot!" at every free kick.

I think Bentley is a better player than Jenas and Downing, and he's more consistent than Dyer. Also agree that Warnock must surely be given a chance if shorey gets a game (don't think he will though)

That story is just based on the same quotes from monday/last week. No new news. I can see what Benni is saying, but as always its hard to take at Rovers because we don't need to sell anyone - unlike some clubs.

Was good to read today Hughsie saying that there was no release clause in Benny's contract.

I don't see the point in England B games if he's going to include Phil Neville, Lennon, Dyer, Robinson,Downing etc - what exactly is he going to find out about them that he didn't already know??? Very strange. Good that Bentley is in - hope he gets a good chance to impress

I agree that players should be given a chance where possible - see the long lists above. But for all those players that came good, there's an equal amount that don't. If we keep him, I hope its less than 2m and he comes good - but I can't get some of the missed chances out of my head - eg vs Charlton in the last minute simple chance it hit the McDonalds kids enclosure in the BB end!

As was the signing of Zurab K

Legend.

I think I read that it would cost £2.5m to sack McClaren (not bad for doing a rubbish job) and the loss in revenue from not qualifying would be £100m+ so on the money front it's no contest. On a separate topic, there has been a lot of critisism for England, but if you look at the other qualifying groups some of the other big teams are doing equally as bad - France 3rd, Italy 4th,Spain 3rd, Norway 4th, Denmark 4th - so I suppose it's not just England players underperforming.

I agree that anyone getting 2/3/4 goals against lower opposition doesn't mean they should be a regular eg Johnson tonight. But international teams do have to play a large % of games against 'poorer' quality teams, I think maybe there is space for certain players like Crouch who have a good record against the lower quality teams. Maybe their game is more suited to a more basic style of play?

Some people seem to be complaining about Derbyshire's finishing, pace and control - I'd say it's difficult to judge him from 10 or so games this season. Look at Shevchenko this season / Drogba last season - they were poor but I doubt anyone would argue they're not 'world class'. Give Derbs a chance he may just surprise a few people.

I would also add Downing to that. He is left footed - however that hasn't mattered to McLaren much...

I think Charlie Nicholls (scottish guy)on Soccer Saturday always gives rovers a fair shout, he is a big fan of hughsie.

He would've had a few more if he hadn't missed a few games through injury / been able to put away ALL penalties. (worked for Andy Johnson)