I beg to differ. It was mentioned on another thread that the strikers we have been linked with don't have the ability to change a game with a little bit of magic. I think Baros is capable of that. I can't remeber if the link was serious or not but I think a manager with a bit more about it him than O'Dreary (ie Hughes) would be able to get the best out of a player like Baros. As long as the fee is no more than £4m then I think he would be a good signing. Just look at what Hughes got out of Bellamy. Far more than any other manager has in his career so far.

Ha Ha!!!!

Sir Bob bigging up Reidy I think the comparisons to Bobby Charlton are a bit much but he certainly has nothing but praise for him.

Flights to Dusseldorf from Stanstead with Ryanair and accomodation here Dortmund Fan camp

If anyone has 3 spare tickets for the 1st weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon) I'd be interested. Please PM me. Made a schoolboy error earlier - There were quite a few tickets available this morning. Sorted out who was going and who wasn't then went to get them. FIFA website was being tempremental so went and booked flights and accomodation, then the tickets had gone!! Gutted!! To those who have bought tickets recently - is it usual for the site to say that tickets are available and then not to be? Was I unlucky (or stupid) in so much as I left it too late to but tickets. They only seem to have re-sales left now - earlier they had 'normal' availability left for the US v Czech Rep and a few others as well.

I don't know if I was hearing things last night but did anyone else hear Craig Short mention David Dunns name during his HT interview? He was refering to retiring and not wanting to chase the likes of Bellemy, Henry and Rooney round anymore. Then he looked round to the crowd and I'm sure he said oh and David Dunn as well. Like I said I don't know if I miss heard but aren't Dunn, Flitty and SHort all good mates? The way I heard it he was suggesting he was returning...

That is exactly the reason so many Rovers fans are bitter towards him. Twas the summer of '96 and before the Euros he said he wouldn't be leaving Rovers. We even gave up on a late surge for a European place so Big Al could have an op and be fit for Euro 96. As England progressed through the tornament, speculation linking him with a move from Ewood grew stronger and stronger and still he maintained he wasn't interested in leaving Ewood. Eventually all the speculation came to a head and both Man Utd and Newcastle had bids accepted by Rovers after Shearer had turned down Uncles Jack's pleas for him to stay. When he joined Newcastle he stated that they were the only club he would have left Rovers for but it turned out he actually wanted to join Man Utd but Jack wouldn't let him. Hence the reason why so many Rovers are still bitter towards him...

Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS 1 Chelsea 35 17 1 0 44 9 11 3 3 25 11 49 88 2 Man Utd 35 12 4 1 33 8 12 3 3 35 23 37 79 3 Liverpool 35 14 3 1 29 7 8 4 5 20 15 27 73 4 Tottenham 36 11 5 2 30 16 6 6 6 21 20 15 62 5 Arsenal 35 13 3 2 44 11 4 4 9 14 17 30 58 6 Blackburn 35 11 3 3 28 17 5 3 10 18 25 4 54 7 Newcastle 36 10 5 3 27 15 6 1 11 19 27 4 54 8 Bolton 35 10 4 3 27 12 4 6 8 20 27 8 52

It is in our hands. We have played the same games and they are 2 points behind. Even if they win all their games they might not be in Europe. If we win all ours we will. I know which position I'd rather be in.

How? It just means that gate reciepts will become all the more crucial.

????

Interesting to read shillito15's comments about Reid...

For a few weeks now I've been extremely confident that we will finish above both Spurs and Bolton given their respective fixtures and the draw against Wigan has done nothing to change that. What I think that draw has done is made our persuit of 4th place that little bit harder. Given Arsenal's goal difference we need to make up 4 points on them given that they will win their game in hand. Arsenal have only played once away since we beat them so the fantastic form that everyone is talking about could be miss-leading. Throw in a few away defeats and it wouldn't look as good. There is still hope!

Don't think you read the whole of the thread...

If Kuqi was free think who we could could buy for £2!! Then again I think i'd rather have cold hands...

Emerton was absolutely dreadful when he came on in Saturday’s game. He never beat his man once and his crossing was rubbish - either he hit the 1st man or over hit them. Another thing I noticed was that every time he was in space and players were looking to pass to him he kept putting his hand up indicating that he didn't want the ball. This is not good enough, he needs to stand up and be counted. He exhibits all the signs of a player lacking in confidence and when Hughes was appointed I was hopeful he would be able to get the best out of him. Its 18 months since he took charge and there has been no improvement. Its time to cut our losses.

There's is one thing we've got to be thankful to Souness for. Signing Mark Hughes. If he hadn't I doubt very much that we'd have Sparky at the helm right now. For that I'm grateful. Oh and 3 great days/nights at Deepdale, The Millenium Stadium and White Hart Lane.

There's quite a few references to his daughter not being able to drive. Whats all that about?

I think someone posted in WH thread a link ref Nelson being out. I think NZ have a game that weekend and he said he might not be able to play as we might be moving the Sunderland fixture to that date. At the time though I thought that they surely wouldn't move the re-arranged date. Would make sense though.

I don't really understand how anybody can suggest that Zurab isn't up to it! He's proved time and time again that he's a more than capable premiership defender and has been very unfortunate to have been dropped on numerous occasions. The lack of a decent striker has an effect on the whole team - not just our ability to score goals. Kuqi was brought in as a back-up player but is having to play every match. He can't retain possession and on Wednesday every attack broke down when he received the ball. He should be able to provide a long ball alternative for the defenders when they are under pressure. The defenders need an outlet and without Tugay didn't have one today.

Do the rules that stipulate a loaned player can't play against the team that holds his registration in the PL extend to the League Cup? What if, as expected Arsenal go through on Tuesday and he wouldn't be eligible for the final. Can you see Bentley busting a gut at OT to get us through to a final that he can't play in. Just a thought...

Will not be risked!!! This is our best chance of winning something this season - surely its better to risk him in this match than than rest him for the FA CUp match and subsequent league matches. Its time for him to deliver something of importance to us.

No squad on the official site but he's in the squad according to teamtalk...

All excellent points Shaddy. I just don't understand what the point of him staying at Rovers is. Fair enough he's on a pay as you play deal but what is the point if he's never going to play? In the few matches he has played over the last couple of years he seems to have a decent enough goals to games ratio so if he's fit I don't know why he isn't at least on the bench. At the start of the season Hughes said he was looking good - maybe this may have been a ploy to boost his morale - but I don't understand why he hasn't been given a chance. IMO Dickov and Kuqi aren't good enough - decent enough as backup players but not 1st choice material. He must be at the club for a reason. I would just like to know if he is out through injury or not.