Well...you invited a response so here it is. The title-winning side is different to this one because it was full of goals. We may have played some similarlarly dodgy football at times in 94/95 and were definitely route one (to Shearer and Sutton) at times but it also contained, in Wilcox and Ripley, two wingers who put cross after inviting cross into the box. Three caps between them while at Rovers... We are similarly very solid and defend as a team like the side of 95 but we lack attacking options. Sometimes we annihilated teams under Dalglish but this season we have only managed that against Norwich and we needed a dodgy goalkeeping performance to help us there. MGP shows creativity and the occasional unexpected piece of genius but is still learning about the Premiership and as such will have good games and, like last night, not so good games. The greatest asset Ripley possessed was that he was never afraid to take the full-back on. Sometimes the opposing left back would dispossess him time after time yet Ripley was a battler and it only took him once to be able to beat the left back and create some space to set up the winner on a tee for usually Shearer but also other times for others. On the left we also had Le Saux who, as befitted a former left winger, also provided many chances from that side. Matteo and Johansson have precisely zero attacking ability and are nobodys ideas of left wingers. Solid yes, light-footedly skilfull...no. While we are similarly tough to beat and hard to break down we need more than just a striker to make us into a really good team. We also need more players to get the ball to the frontman/men. Hughes has managed to create a drilled, disiplined eleven. Keeping that while also making us mokre dangerous in attack will be the real test of his next year or so in charge I believe.

caved in... given in... means the same whichever way. It's just different words for the same meaning. Im not trying to twist your words there Capt. I'm sure Rovers will give their opinion on what is best for the fans and wish they could change things but it is up to the FA. If they say noon at Cardiff then noon at Cardiff it is. Besides...they probably get paid a nice hourly wage to attend the meeting. Decent buffet etc... if I was one of those Rovers employees attending I'd ask for some take-out too... The point is this is not down to Rovers. It's the FA Cup and it's the FA who decides. What can Rovers do? Withdraw from the competition if they don't like the time? As for why Rovers fans should go...because they are dying to. Even if we get to the final I can't manage to go and see Rovers this season, mind you I can make the Charity Shield if we got there! Twenty years supporting Rovers and as soon as I leave we get Burnley in the cup and a semi-bloody-final. I'd go if it kicked off at noon. I'd be annoyed just the same as you, damn annoyed...but, the powers that be know that the hardcore of fans (at the very,very least) will be there. Same as always. They'll be there in the coming years as well...shouldering yet more season ticket price hikes. It's an addictive drug is football. Expensive one an' all.

Caved in? Be fair...there is nothing Rovers can do about this. It is the FA Cup and it is ultimately up to the FA where and when it stages the game.

To be fair to the City of Sheffield Speeeeeeedie...they had a precedent before that year. In 1991 Spurs and Arsenal had also played their semi-final at Wembley and it was such a cracking game (Paul Gascoigne scoring probably his most famous club goal with an awesome free-kick) that it lead to other big games being used there in the future. Once the FA had caved in once about playing the semis at Wembley they had to do it again and again....with a grin on their face of course thanks to the extra revenue.

Think he meant to say post-Jack Walker fans Eddie Otherwise it's the first time I have heard Rovers fans before Jack Walker described as having been spoon-fed! Think the chairman Bill Fox had to pawn the club spoons a few times in the eighties

Something like that did apparently happen although I cannot remember the exact details - that kind of intimidation was all too regular during the dictatorship and went back to the Spanish Civil War when the President of Barcelona was murdered by a roadside by soldiers of Franco's Fascist Army. Two books worth reading on the subject (which have the actual details) - Barca by Jimmy Burns and Morbo by Phil Ball The first is a history of Barcalona and the latter a superb insight into the history of Spanish football with its many hatreds and rivalries, not just that of Catalonia and Castile.

Real Madrid - horrible, arse-licking facist club which symbolises (still) exactly what was wrong with Franco's Spain. Even today they toady up to the Spanish government. People who revere their attacking style stupidly miss the point - they are a bloody awful organisation and a million Roberto Carlos howitzer-style free kicks will not change that. Infamous throughout the land for contentious refereeing decisions in their favour for over half a century, they also stole di Stefano from Barcelona by roping in government help. A Man Utd times 100 club. Anyone with soul leans toward Barca or the other Spanish teams. Any ar-soul like Beckham goes to Madrid in a desperate attempt for trophies. Team of the century? My arse... Similarly...Lazio. Awful club, awful fans...Benito's plaything and not very nice at all. Probably letting political viewpoints come into my reasoning there but they damn well started it. Was not particularly fond of the pre-Mo Johnston Rangers transfer policy either. It's good to see how so much hard work was rewarded when an Italian Catholic in the shape of Lorenzo Amoruso went on to captain the 'Gers. Mind you...he did ok for them unlike at Ewood. Hopefully the two mainland clubs mentioned can follow the example of their Glaswegian counterparts and address their off-pitch leanings.

Southampton 1 Arsenal 1. A pretty enjoyable game I thought and I agree with waggy that I think Southampton will stay up, mainly due to their home form. Palace play Birmingham today and Norwich host Man City on Monday. The worst position Rovers can be in is five points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand and a better goal difference than all four teams below and much, much better than Norwich and West Brom. The three promoted sides to go down I think. Maybe a bid for Andy Johnson in the summer?

This is getting a little daft...every company reacts to demand regardless of how "'proactive" they have been. If they did not need to do so there would be a hell of lot more unemployed due to their jobs no longer being needed. Rovers need to update their system their ticket-selling system, no doubt about it, especially as you have to give three pages-worth of personal information just to find out the reserve team score and yet cannot book a ticket. Fair point and correct. The easier for any home fan to book the better. Yet...what do we expect? No queues at all for the most anticpated home game for years??? There has been some dodgy analogies on here but Tesco takes the biscuit somewhat. Can we suddenly compare an annual (if that) ticket rush at Ewood Park to Fred and Edith's friday night stock-up? Let's not get too critical here...rather let us see who has not got tickets? Those who queued have, those who posted have. Those who have phoned have complained yet have not got them yet and there are thousands left. Not exactly board members selling cup final tickets in a 1960 pub now is it... Rovers can improve the way they sell tickets. It's a bit harsh though to wade in on them not serving all-hours regardless of their job (and if my boss ordered me to do something I had no need to do I would refuse to- would you mop the company toilets or whatever just because of a "rush"?), there are plenty of other jobs that need doing. If someone asked you to sweep up outside the buillding to "help the company" would you? Maybe a forced analogy but all the of them are on here. In other words...I see both sides of the argument. To be honest those just blaming the club for everything and those blaming the fans for everything are just as bad. This aint no normal business...it's club and communitty...working together. Some are making valid criticisms which need to be listened to and worked on. Some are just moaning because Lancashire folk are never happy unless they are miserable. There's a difference. I'd be disappointed if Rovers didn't review their ticket policy after this though. It may be a one-off but it can be learned from.

Not like you to swear Jim...I'm quite disappointed to be honest. It is about time season ticket holders can book their own seats online. The technology is there (if not maybe at Ewood yet then it should be) and would at least relieve some of the stress experienced by those trying to get tickets and those trying to process the orders in such a tight timescale. This should be available for all cup games and would be a reason for getting people to buy season tickets. They have all the details...sort it out Rovers. Not too bothered about those others having to queue up as that is just the way it is but the fans who put their hard-earned cash down season after season should be able to book their seat with as little inconvenience as possible. They make the effort to support the club again and again, the club has their details so make it easier for them. It might just stop our season ticket sales from continuing to dwindle...

Just took me 50 minutes on the phone to go from 47 to buying. So ES is about spot on. No wait...that is spot on if there is only one queue but if there is actually telephone queues to each operator that is more like it. If it is only taking a minute or two each customer and they have, say, ten people manning the phones (admittedly unlikely if they only managed to have two windows up for those on feet) then they could really shift some. If they were only selling 640 tickets a day we wouldn't sell out until the next time we played them! Oh no wait...that'll probably be about 2025 or something stupid...we would have sold out way before then! No Nay No Never...at least after next week anyway!

I'm glad to see that the team includes people from every single full decade in the history of Rovers, from the 1880s all the way up to the present day in the figure of the goalkeeper, although admittedly that is including Crompton as manager in the twenties, thirties and forties. It's also good that it didn't turn into a thread of only the most recent players that people have seen. It's all guesswork sure as we have never seen most of these players but that's the good bit about it I thought. Wasn't about who was the most enjoyable player we had personally seen but more a guess on who was the best. It was all based on secondary evidence but as Rovers are this year celebrating their 130th anniversary it has to be. That said, I'm still not sure just how Jimmy Forrest managed to get in the team. Personally I think a greatest manager poll and greatest Rover of all would be a good way to round things off. The greatest person of all who put the club first. The likes of Parkes, Douglas, Garner, Clayton and Crompton sring to mind as having given most of their playing career to Rovers. Good work from den and all others who contributed.

The Mirror has printed anti-Rovers stories for years and I've never understood why. The first time I noticed it for certain was at the end of the 1993/94 season when they printed a two-page artice which ran something like "80 million spent - and nothing to show for it". Glorying in our inability to beat United to the title. Can't remember where they got the 80 million from at that stage but the piece was a general attack on Rovers having the audacity to hope to challenge the aristocratic lords of Old Trafford through such unseemly fiscal measures. Since then The Mirror has been harsh on Rovers so many times I have lost count long ago. Thing is...I have no idea why. They surely have a decent circulation in Blackburn as a Labour stronghold. Why are they usually more harsh on Rovers than other papers?

Gav - In a desperate attempt to get you back in the running how about suggesting what you'd do in return for a ticket to show how much it means to you? The sympathy vote might work if you get it right!

Read 'True Crime' by Jake Arnott recently while travelling and loved it, a nicely crafted gangster story from the author of 'The Long Firm' and 'He kills coppers'. Would recommend both of those as well. While covers the same ground as many a crime tale it is wonderfully polished and an accomplished novel. Give one of Arnott's novels a go and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Apparently Morten is settling in well now he has a place in the team and is no longer "living out of a suitcase". Mentions also that he has a great relationship with the fans. Which is nice. I'M LOVING IT - MORTEN!

Of course not- why would I? We are on course to win this group we are in so why would I possibly want us to play Australia? Wouldn't want to play The Solomon Islands either or Brazil for that matter as there is no need. If you mean do I think England would win then I would say that most likely they would. As much of a waste of space our friendlies are we still haven't lost a qualification game under Erkisson and only France and Brazi have beaten England in 90 minutes in a proper game since he got here. England have the best squad of players at the moment since I can remember with genuine quality in every position except perhaps goalkeeper and left wing. God knows how Sven managed to get them to perform so poorly in Spain and, to a lesser extent, against the Dutch. I'd expect a tough tie but for England to win. This is the first time for years the qualification group has been this easy for England and even then Poland are worthwhile opponents. In qualifying for other tournaments we have had to face Italy, Germany, Sweden, Turkey and so on. European qualifying is still the hardest in the world in the more difficult groups as shown by the Netherlands not reaching the last World Cup. A potential winner not even qualifying. As for the question about your federation; seems the Asian countries don't want to have to face Australia and they won't do as Blatter seems to have gone back on his word about Oceania getting a spot. Now he can't be arsed doing anything. Re-elected so he's all right Jack. pg - regarding Mexico, two wrongs don't make a right. The UK used to have its own qualifying spot a while ago! As an Englishman I wouldn't mind bringing that back! Having seen Scotland recently I would say that is as close to a guaranteed place as you ever likely to see.

It should be the second option because it is obvious that Oceania is not a federation deserving of its own place. Don't see why Australia should be given a free ticket just because of their geography. Going into another region makes sense and would allow Australia a better standard of qualifier in which to improve.

Neekoy - Wow! You seriously have no better way of attracting attention than by attempting to wind people up on various threads by having a go at English sport do you? You haven't wound me up though but I will give you my two penn'orth worth. For the last three world cups you have had to face Argentina, Iran and Uruguay in the play offs. Uruguay have not had a decent side since 1970 and Iran are frankly not very good at all now are they? Which leaves Argentina who England beat at the last World Cup, you know that one you weren't good enough to reach and where that mighty Uruguayan side that kicked your arse couldn't even get out of the group stage? Still, as they are the currently average fifth-placed South American side they may be able to knock you out again. At least then you can say to each other "Well Bruce, they did win the World Cup over half a century ago you know". Why don't you stop being a whinging POHM and wait until your team qualifies for once instead of just blaming everyone else for your failure? Tough qualifying? Tough! Get off your backsides and do it. Dearie me. Emerton - No team deserves to be in the World Cup, except maybe the hosts. Even Brazil have to qualify for this World Cup and they won the last one! I'd say Australia were definitely among the top 32 nations but they have to prove that on the pitch not on the teamsheet. Personally I'd like to see what they can do at a World Cup and I'd really like to see how the nation responded to having a team competing in the finals but let them earn it first.

Probably because he found the official forum and renamed himself/herself as djvice. Think it is cuidado as there is an MGP avatar on show, only posts seemingly about MGP and his signature is Bellamy11's "MGP's v02max-level my arse, his shitness level is off the charts" which cuidado took great exception to on here, despite Bellamy11 not even posting on that site. Seems he did a real number on cuidado!

Maybe not but at least we will qualify for them which is more than your socceroos have managed for over three decades. All you have to do is beat some fifth-rate (literally) South American team and you'd qualify but that has been beyond you so far. Thankfully FIFA still haven't given Australia an undeserved automatic qualifying spot by allowing the winners of the Oceania section a full place. Even if Blatter did make sure he was already safely re-elected by the time of his U-turn... As for "one of the best midfields in the world"...yeah, ok. In your opinion and no one else's. Guess they will have a chance to prove it in your next all-important qualifying match against...er...the Solomon Islands. Tough qualifying schedule that. Maybe some average side like Colombia or Uruguay to lose to in the play-offs perhaps. England may not win the next World Cup but they will almost certainly be there, they are also the only European team to reach the quarter finals of both the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. Not exactly like watching Brazil but a damn sight better than your negative take on one (wow! one) friendly game which included Sven's usual messing about with players and, for a change, tactics this time. Andy Johnson on the right? Good one Sven... Will Australia be there? Go on about friendlies all you like (it's what Welsh fans did a few years ago and look where that got them) but if you don't make the last 32 of the World Cup then you aren't even close to being anything special I'm afraid. There's been a lot of talk about the Australian national team as an emerging footballing power for years now but it's just been hot air so far. The USA reached the quarter finals last time; where were the Aussies? England have an excellent squad and could certainly expect to reach the knockout stages, whether we have a manager capable of taking us any further is another question. "How bad is the English footballing team?" you asked, well we'll see at the next World Cup. Probably quite bad knowing us and Sven's recent dodgy team selections. Your lot gonna pop along as well for once?

Some of the younger lads are playing for the countries tonight as well, or are at least in the squad. Paul Gallagher is in the Scotland squad for the Under-21 game tonight against Northern Ireland in Belfast. John Fitzgerald (defender currently on loan to Bury) will play for the Republic of Ireland in their Under-21 game away to Portugal. and Jonathon Stead has been called into the England Under-21 squad to play Holland at Pride Park tonight.

Excellent post tashor and sums up most of my feelings but I'd like to see Jansen given a go. When he played he looked more like scoring than the other possibilities for partnering Dickov. We really should win but always be prepared for the worst as a Rovers supporter. Don't want to think about a loss though so will go for a draw this time.

At last, he's finally admitted it. Yes I love you too Jimmy. shilito - fair enough you are right that you should be able to vote for whoever you like without being told you have a closed mind so I take anything back from my posts which may have suggested that. The "us younger lot" thing isn't true though as some younger members have voted for players they haven't seen while some of the old giffers won't look past the players of their youth. So it isn't a matter just of age. You're right in that you should be able to vote for who you like without being criticised though.

Rubbish. Football is no more about individual emotions than reading a newspaper on the bloody toilet is. Football is so obviously a communal experience that I can't even be bothered arguing the point. DEFINITELY NOT. Eh? Agree with you, but do you read the newspaper on the loo with other people? Errr...I think I meant if it was individual you would get about the same emotion as reading....in other words you need the rest of the crowd.... Ignore that. I'm talking the same as the thing what you do on the toilet...crap. Anyway football is all about group emotion. err...where's my coat?