I think that's on their list of things to do right after their "Children's Vaccine Program" Bob so don't worry...just be patient and the Gates will be here to save us all.

Apparently the Gates' were interested in putting some money in but they have decided to spend it on eradicating polio from the world. Have they really got their priorities right?

Bring him back! The more nutters on here the livelier it is!

If I was a pedantic so-and-so I'd say that the league didn't actually start until 1888 and so all teams before then were also non-league cup winners, including our dear old woodbine-smoking, shorts-to-the-ankles three time cup winning Rovers side. Spurs are the only side to win it since there was a league though. However, I'm no pedant and so I'm not going to even mention it - not a even hint at it! Good preview Bellamy11! Prediction - draw. If we don't play Mokoena as a central midfielder in a 4-4-2 and let their midfield walk all over us that is!

Media reports suggested it was well under half that figure.

Who was Stephen Warnock's hero when growing up? David May? The eternal reserve is almost twenty five and has still made less than forty starts for Liverpool yet is still happy as third back-up or whatever. If he has any ambition to be anything more than a bench-warmer then he should be looking for a move away from Anfield. Ewood would see a good bet for him I'd wager. Now would be the perfect time for him to leave...and to come to Rovers. Let's be honest...not like he'd have too much competition for the left-back slot here.

Is this the same Tugay you have been saying is past it for (at least) the last few years?

Can't we get United to reimburse us? At least for the damage inside the ground. Think that is generally the procedure for away fans wrecking stuff.

It's hard not to suspect that there must have been some arguments and maybe some other bickering we don't know of. As dodgy as some signings were and although it's been a poor start it does seem too soon to be sacking a man who they'd only just allowed free rein with the cheque book.

Good post YSB - you don't have to apologise for the idiots you have amongst your support. We have some (though not many thankfully) and realise that isn't the fault of the well-behaved fans if some idiots want to go bricking a bus or whatever because they like a fight after a few beers.

Unless there has been friction behind the scenes then it looks a poor decision. Only one loss in the last five games and not in that poor a state. A win in the next match could see them out of the relegation zone and they have a League Cup quarter final (the furthest they have ever been in that competition) to look forward to. Dowie might have got them into a decent league position, they didn't give him the time to prove it. The Charlton board better hope the club doesn't go down as it will be their fault if they do. Three managers in six months means their reputation is on the line. Not quite Ricky... Jordan slams 'gutless' Addicks I like Jordan - he's a vain, perma-tanned gobby idiot but his Guardian columns are interesting and funny - which is worth a lot considering the number of thick ex-footballers whose comments we are subjected to by the media!

Maybe they're all too busy getting slaughtered in the pub Biddy?

Does anybody remember this game? 87/88 season I think and we had been on a huge unbeaten run that took us near the top of the table. Graham Taylor brought the only side above us, Aston Villa, to Ewood Park and I had never seen the place so packed. There was about 18,000 there that day and as they was no Riverside open that meant that in the Blackburn End, for once, it was absolutely heaving. Villa had been European Champions five or so years before and were big team. However, we had Steve Archibald on loan from Barcelona (even now the thought of having a player on loan from Barca seems strange) and he had put an extra 5,000 on the gates! Literally...his first game after coming saw queues outside the ground that we hadn't seen all season. We also got World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles in on loan from Spurs but Nicky Marker crocked him in his first game. Thanks Nick! The game was a peach, lots of flowing football and we eventually won it 3-2 thanks to an Archibald double. In fact I think he may have injured himself when scoring one, diving in despite the boots flying. Every goal was greeted by a huge push at the front of the Blackburn End, usually you could walk around and get your usual spot five minutes after kick-off but not that day. It looked like we were finally going up and our form meant we were selected as one of the teams to go to Wembley for the centenary celebrations for the Football League. Each game in the tournament was only fifteen minutes per half or something stupid and Villa got their revenge by knocking us straight out on penalties. Interestingly, Archibald was the only one to score a penalty for us. After that we had the usual folding at the end of the season, ended up in the play-offs and...er...that was that for another year. A great time to be a Rovers fan though! Seeing players from Barca and world cup winners lining up with the likes of Windy Miller and Chris Sulley was a sight to behold!

Did we offer them Mickey Gray in his place but they still weren't interested?

How the heck do I get one of those ae type things on? Don't think I have seen one of them since I had to read bloody Beowulf years ago!

People who shout 'PC gone mad' each and every time anything happens they disagree with are just idiots looking for an excuse. No different from those who shout 'racist!' whenever someone dares speak about immigration or multiculturalism not being perfect. As for Newell...it's just another excuse to bully officials to try and palm off any reasons to blame his own tactics. The assistant referee obviously knows the rules, her sex shouldn't need to come into it. All refs get slated for being rubbish, why when it is a women is it only her gender that matters? If she is rubbish then criticise her for that - not for being born without a large Adam's Apple! Mike has apologised - Newell sorry for outburst. Which he should do as his remarks were made when angry and just wishing to make someone else pay for his team's loss. Things are often said in the heat of the moment that aren't fair but it takes a big man to realise when they have been unfair and to make amends. Newell seems one of the nicer guys in football and his stand on corruption in football commanded respect. It was also interesting to note that QPR defender Marcus Bignott immediately disagreed with his original comments. That is fair enough, if they aren't up to it they shouldn't be allowed in. That is different from blocking them (as some on here would seem to like) solely because they don't have a meat and two veg. They shouldn't be denied a chance, if good enough, because of their gender. It's not just sexist; it's just wrong.

This seems a bit of arguing over split milk here, Douglas has gone so that is that. Hughes we know looked at some midfielders over the summer (Malbranque, Halstaed IIRC) and no doubt looked at more. It's just bad luck that Reid and Savage are out. Hughes needs something new as the team we have sent out for the past two games hasn't had much chance of winning as games are often lost in midfield. Despite bemoaning our luck we were the poorer team in the two games. Let's get back to ugly football Sparky! I'd rather not rush Savage back and risk losing him again for a month as well.

Ronaldo might be a sneaky cheat but he is already an excellent player and is just getting better. If we had someone who could take on and beat players like he constantly does he would be a legend. Despite the skill, it's also very funny for some reason to see him getting kicked! Somehow I can't see MGP going on one of those runs like Ronaldo! Should be a much better title race this year, United and Arsenal are both keeping up with Chelsea, whereas in the previous two seasons the league had more or less been won by New Year.

Excellent report unleaded - thanks for that. Any future stars that you think you may have seen on show?

True, we got him at 18 I believe. Although getting them in that age and developing them is just as good as bringing them through the academy in how it rewards us.

No need to drop 'The Axe' if a 4-5-1 was used. Personally I'd like to see Benni as an attacking player just behind the front two. Up front he often seems to drop back for the ball anyway. If Gally is going to play a few games it may as well be in MGP's place while injured. Expect that'll go to Peter though.

Most likely answer is that they aren't and that these "stories" have been fueled by someone with an interest in doing so. It'd explain why no teams other than Liverpool made much of a move for him in the summer and even they didn't wish to pay too much or trade Warnock. Still...we shall see, Neill is a good player after all but no more than that.

BBC - Newell faces FA inquiry on 'sexism' PC gone mad? Or just an oversensitive, as usual, Football Association?

Milan enter Neill hunt Yep, the bizarre Lucas Neill to Milan rumour is back on! Even if it is only ClubCall...oh, and The News of the World as well apparently.

Sorry philip but I really do think we did see different games. There could have been no complaints if we had got a point you believe? Have to say that we were soundly beaten and it is surprising it was only by one goal. Then again, Rooney himself probably cost them more to buy when a teenager than our whole senior squad on show yesterday. Still think until we get a couple of players back that we should go back to packing the midfield and stopping the opposition play. Make sure we are difficult to beat rather than letting teams have space on the ball.