From the offical site - "Rovers have agreed to allow Paul Gallagher to stay on at Stoke City, but have changed the terms of the deal so that the young Scottish striker can, if necessary, be recalled after a month." So, we can call him back if need be - but have to give a full month's notice!!! Is Hughes letting Gally out to see him progress or has he just deciding that he is not in his future plans?

17 according to the official site, not 18 until April. Hopefully having kids won't be the only thing that comes naturally to him at an eary age - next stop the first team!

Are achievements at club level all that relevant? Successful international coaches often don't seem to have even managed a club side!

Well done Phil...that will be one heck of a read! Just skimmed it for now and saw... "The really sexy stuff in these numbers is the significant financial restructuring which the club is quietly going through." Blimey...you accoutants can really let your hair down can't you?

No escape clause it seems, even though Boro asked for one....

Wow..things got funny down the tunnel... 'Sparky tells Neville to 'f*** off'' Would like to have seen the moustached ones face when he did that! Hughes said to Neville - "You've always got too much to say for yourself. Why don't you just f*** off?" Well...that's him told!

Anyone would think you're touting for more votes Lee!!

You said on the Man U thread that if we lose again it would reduce our confidence and send ud down the league! Surely winning would help our league position by keeping our good run going and keeping our confidence high? Usually a good cup run helps improve the league form too. It's not so often that cups interfere with league form - at least not just the one cup anyway.

We won at Highbury in yellow!!!...and also we won at er...well...also...er...Highbury I said Highbury!

No way. Let's not treat the greatest domestic cup competition in the world with contempt. The 'red scum' you mentioned did that when they jetted off to Brazil, I hope never to see the day Blackburn Rovers scorn the FA Cup.

It wasn't a foul on Tugay, he was easily dispossesed after fannying about. Fletcher brushed him aside and if we are giving fouls for that then we won't be far from having football as a non-contact sport. Was disappointed with Tugay on that occasion as, before turning back, there were options free for him to pass to. Khizanishvilli was nearby but unfortunately Toogs wasn't looking to play it simple on that occasion and it cost us. Tugay just lay there afterwards sprawled like a tramp on a park bench while Flecther ran off with the ball. Over than that though, Tugay was one of our best players. Without any sort of pace up front though it limits his options. Maybe shoving Reid up front to hassle the defenders may have been an option as a Pedersen/Bentley front two is way too lightweight. Overall though that is four semi finals in five seasons. A record to be proud of especially as the three we lost were to Man U and Arsenal. Something to show just how successful this club continues to be. Kuqi was bad (and yes embarrasing to watch at times) but some of the criticism is a bit over the top. It wasn't as if he was well supported up there and the balls he received weren't great. Our delivery up to the front was poor last night. Think the Kuqi monster is getting it (a bit) too harsh. Having said that...man, we need a new striker ASAP!

Seems a very good idea that one actually. Also...why don't Rovers hire a PR officer? If they already do then sack them and get someone better! There have been too many PR disasters over the last few years to give the club the benefit of the doubt, something needs to be done to address how the club deals with the media and the fans/prospetctive fans.

No, it's run by The Football league. No doubt they'd have been hoping for a Man U-Arsenal final though...

Didn't Brian Kerr have a great record with the Irish youth teams before his appointment? Taylor was a nightmare at Leicester. Ade Akinbadbuy for £5 million! not quite in the same league as Hiddink, Hitzfeld, O'Neill etc

Why would they appoint Hughes? What has he achieved? Not so much so far. Rovers under him is still a work in progress. Allardyce has made Bolton a top six side by spending little money and has them in Europe. Also, he's not widely hated at all, he's just a moaner. Everyone still respects what he has done at Bolton. Curbishley made Charlton a team that resides usually in the top half. Jewell took Bradford up to the Premiership and kept them there before following that up with Wigan's rise. Those three have done, at the very least, as much as Hughes. Plus, they're English. Hughes is doing wonders for us but it is still early days yet and his record at Wales will count against him. Coming close to qualification before whimpering out is not good enough to manage England, which could be the best-paid job in football again for the right manager. Think you are viewing this too much through blue and white specs Philip...

His record wasn't that great with Wales. Although he had a good period it ended woefully, with many fans blaming his negative tactics (one man up front at home) for failing to reach the Euros. Hughes also went 12 matches without a win during his time with Wales which equalled their worst ever run. Hughes is not a serious contender...at least not yet anyway. The likes of Allardyce and Curbishley have acheived more and are also English. Not that I'd want them either but still...Hughes needs to carry on in the same manner so we should be safe (for a while) of him being poached by either Man U or England.

Sir Bobby Robson as caretaker manager makes sense. The Irish FA aren't noted for their wealth and could most likely easily bought off.

That's hopefully ok then. Never minded him since he ignored Sheringham's dive in the last minute at Cardiff in 2002. Let's hopw he ignores some of Van Horse's dives tonight.

Not only that but the penalty given against Henchoz seemed very harsh. As he was running he had no chance whatsoever to get his hand out of the way of Henry's little flick. No way can that have been said to have been deliberate. Bit nervous now in case the ref bottles it in our game. flopsy - we go through if it is 2-2 or better but only after extra time.

Unbelievable. Former Scotland and Nob End boss Craig Brown has put forward a candidate for the England job..........Terry Butcher. "'Terry failed at Coventry and Sunderland but I've been really impressed by what he has done at Motherwell, where he has had to manage on a shoestring." Yes Craig that's who we want managing England...someone who failed at Coventry and Sunderland. Maybe we should give Peter Reid a go too eh? Brown backs Butcher for England job Hiddink's agent is tarting his fella about..."There's been no contact but he would definitely be interested in hearing from the FA,' Van Nieuwenhuizen told BBC Radio Five Live." Hiddink agent signals interest in England Although a good coach, Hiddink is slightly overrated at international level. Taking South Korea to the semis and then helping the Aussies qualify for the first time since the Doomsday Book was being compiled sounds great but they had a fair size of luck to them. No way did South Korea deserve to reach the last four. Both the wins against Spain and Italy contained dubious refereeing decisions. Australia only went through on penalties. Good manager but not quite the messiah. The likes of Hitzfeld, Ferguson and Capello have acheived far more. Personally I'd like O'Neill, who has a consistent track of raising middling or underperforming teams out from mediocrity.

Wonderful post flops...how do you do it?

How do you mean 92er? How much did they pay in one go then?

"you all"? Generalise if you wish Eddie but it'll make you look stupid if you take it too far. Most England fans are rational enough, it's typical that the most fickle seem to tar all the rest.

Actually Sir Alf Ramsey for England - 1966 World Cup - Winners (best ever performance from England) 1968 Euros - 3rd Place (best ever performance from England) 1970 World Cup - Quarter Finals 1972 Euros - Quarter Finals They only failed to reach the 1974 World Cup after an amazing performance form Poland's 'clown' keeper at Wembley and Poland went on to reach the semis, beating Brazil in the third place playoff so were hardly any slouches. If the FA could sack a knight of the realm with a record like that they'd have no problem getting rid of Sven you'd have thought. These are the people who turned down the genius of Brian Clough because they didn't like his manner. Maybe we should nationalise the England team or something...nothing else could do a worse job with it than the FA already does, surely?

Well...the FA sacked the last guy who managed that...