Well, I don' quite get your complaint. Lehman committed a professional foul and by any interpretation of the rules he should have been sent off. In the rule book I have never seen a clause which says "if a sending off will be detrimental to the spectacle let the player stay on the pitch". The ref had a straight choice as to whether the goal would be an adequate compensation and he decided Barcelona got greater compensation for the foul through the sending off. With players like Deco and Ronaldinho with a free kick just outside the box, and playing a man extra for a vast 72 minutes, it is easy to understand his decision. Sure it was bad for the game to watch, but aren't referees supposed to apply the rules fairly? Oh, and how were Barca lucky? How was two great passes by Larsson and two good finishes by Eto'o and Benetti 'luckier' than shots by Henry and Ljungberg? I wanted Arsenal to win but they lost fair and square, why winge about it? And the biggest cheat in that match was Eboue by a long chalk. The dive for the opening free kick is the sort of thing they should have a panel for to go and punish the player retrospectively.

I don't think thats quite right. Carrick will almost certainly start, I reckon, even if everybody is fit. He gets the number 18 because of the other 4 midfielders senority.

Not sure why everybody was so underwhelmed by Ronaldinho, while not spectacular he still caused Arsenal more problems than Henry did at the other end. The array of talent Barca have is breathtaking, if they get henry as well then that is just taking the wee. If I was Thierry I would be looking at that side and thinking 'I'm not going to be the daddy in that side', rather one of a vertiable collection of footballing superstars. I think Henry likes being the biggest fish. Plus he didn't look like he was too keen on the treatment dealt out by his potential collegues. I can't quite see him in different colours. ps. For England the performances of Campbell and Cole were massively encouraging. Along with Gerrard and Beckham they seem to be hitting form just at the right time...

Your family is not from the former Yuogoslavia is it? But to be fair Greece are European champions I suppose, so anything can happen. Still there are eight or so teams who just have so many more quality players than the other teams in the tournament, so I cannot really see anymore than one of the last four being made up of sides outside that eight.

In the wake of Ballack signing most of the talk I have read on the BBC and elsewhere is that the first choice midfield will be Ballack, Lampard, Makelele and Essien. Apparently few believe Duff, Robben and Wright-Phillips have much of a future and J Cole will have to be content on the bench. After losing his England spot I bet SWP is left a wondering what to do. And there are persistent reports that Robben has fallen out with Mourinho. While Chelsea will obviously want cover for their 4 simultaneous competitions these two could well be off in the summer... Where to? For me they are well out of Rover's reach in terms of salary, but I can see Robben at Liverpool and Peirce somehow scraping together the cash to get SWP loaned back on his current salary.

Right, no two ways about it afte rthe cup final yesterday, this is how the team should start in Germany: I fully expect that to be precisely the team unless Owen or Rooney magically recover. And, to be honest, if Gerrard performs like he did yesterday I think we are not going to miss the Roon too much. oh, I reckon Ashton should have made the squad. Big, powerful, skillful. Actually looks like he could make it as an international forward unlike Crouch and Beattie who seem to be missing parts of their game.

My prediction (1. winner, 2. runner up, 3+4. Losing semi finalists etc.) 1. Argentina 2. Brazil 3. England 4. Spain 5. United States 6. Netherlands 7. Sweden 8. Czech Republic. But I don't really know what I am talking about to be honest as I haven't seen much of the other sides... Ho hum.

Arn't you guys a bit shagged if you play Emerton at full back? At wing back I thought he was okay, but at FB he is generally a liability, to put it mildly! Some good players there, and midfielders who can score goals which is good. But surely to do well it's going to come down to kewell, Cahill and Viduka having stormers? And the two former Leeds lads blow hot and cold to say the least!

I for one will be following the US team with interest after spending a year out here. It is amazing how many 'soccer' fans out here (who nearly all, at least in Seattle, profess their team to be Chelsea, Man Utd or Arsenal. I ask them about MLS but they don't seem to know) don't realise that the US team made it to the quater final last time round. I think they will suprise everyone again and will be my second team after Engerrrrrrland. Obviously.

Good work Philly and Neill! Well done Scotty! Bad luck Phillipl, the old crystal ball not working old china? Looking forward to more of your balanced predictions for the future of Rovers and football in it's entireity...

I'm with you Flopsy! Excellent little piece that. And for those who are giving Hargreaves stick I think it is a little unfair. He has won the double, played good football, and is our only defensive option in midfield if Carrick gets injured. Parker and King are injured/ill so there were no other options for cover (nicky Butt? Don't take the...). We would actually have been a bit shagged if Greavesy wasn't available. Jenas on the other hand does seem a bit pointless, but I guess he is versatile if nothing else. A fifth striker would have been a better choice though.

My guess is even if both Rooney and Owen don't make it then Walcott will still only be on the bench as Crouch and Gerrard/Cole will start up front. And also I would put good money that Defoe will be in the squad as Rooney will pull out.

Garner has not just been transferred to Arsenal for twelve million, been compared to Thierry Henry and rated as the finest young prospect in England since Rooney. It is a bit desperate, but we are in a desperate situation. And if he was Australian he would be on your plane, mainly due to the paucity of quality players at your disposal.

I guess whoever wrote that down on the sign was taking the ######. If we do sign him, which does seem very improbable, the club will announce it.

Well I think Sven has answered his critics superbly. Everybody bangs on "too conservative", "boring", "lack of imagination". He has shown real imagination when we are in a genuine crisis with three of the picks: Walcott, Downing and Lennon. These are unknowns who can cause a real impact in the world cup. As for Rooney I guess if he doesn't make it Defoe will be called up as a replacement. It's all a bit of a gamble, but this is what the public have been asking for. Go on Sven.

Just out of interest, where did Gally play when he came on, up front or out wide? Nice to hear Bert had a good game. But you have to say that when so many first team players were rested or injured (I counted five) and he still did not get a start that things are looking pretty bleak for him. THings are looking so bright for next year! If we can get in a gudjohnsen or a Petrov (or maybe both!) plus a few squad players while hanging on to that crucial backbone of the team (Freidel, Nelsen, Reid/Savage, Bellamy) then we are gping to be serious contenders for fourth next season!

Dillo, you are an extremely good photographer! Is it your profession? What Colin said about putting some of those photographs in the club literature is not too far fetched.

Is Tugay going to get a testemonial after the end of next season. How long do you need to be at the club to qualify? Although he has not been here that long in the greater scheme of things, if anyone deserves to have the rules bent it is him! Genuinely one of the most classy players ever to grace English football. Sounds like a ridiculous overstatement for a Rangers reject, but completely true.

Well I have to say out of the main eight candiates (O'Neil, Hiddink, Scolari, Allardyce, Curbishley and McClaren) he was my last choice. And I would have gone for Jewell, Pearce, Jol or Hughes ahead of him too (although I am obviously glad they didn't take a gander at Mark). I think comparisons with Taylor are unfair however, Taylor was a one dimensional long ball merchant, and Steve seems a little more sophisticated than that. I suppose the one big point of consolaton is that none of the candidates stood out and opinion was so divided that really it was going to be like this to an extent no matter who got the job. Steve, I'm begging you, suprise us!

Wow, I love Jan's proclamations of wealth. It just ooozes classiness don't you think? The squad size thing is a good point. We have used around x players 'happily' (a bit subjective, but i guess the definition is that, generally, we were not too uncomfortable about them starting a game) this season: Friedel Todd Nelsen Zurab Niell Gray Reid Savage Tugay MGP Peter (a bit boarderline) Bentley Bellamy Pongo (a bit boarderline) So thats only really 14 players. The likes of Axe (when playing anywhere but the holding role in a 4 man midfield), Dickov, Emerton, Kuqi, Amo, Matteo, Gresko and Gallagher are all players who can fill gaps but not inspire confidence.... For Europe we need a minimum of 16 players who the manager can be confident can come in and do a good job. I think we will see a revolving door this summer!

King will be going ahead of Brown owing to his versitility. It will be interesting to see if Ferdinand or Campbell even get to start. Carragher might pip them to a place in the side. My Squad: Robinson James Green (Can he believe his luck?) A Cole Neville Terry Carragher King Campbell Ferdinand Bridge (if fit. If not, who? Surely not Kochanski! Mickey Gray ha!) Beckham Gerrard Lampard Cole Carrick Lennon (Just ahead of SWP due to the latters lack of action) Downing (Boro cup runs allow him to oust Richardson as left footed option) Jenas (Just ahead of Hargreaves. I would take neither and bring Nolan but Sven will never do that.) Owen Crouch Defoe D Bent (Just ahead of Ashton. But I would have taken Ashton personally at the expense of either Bent or Defoe as it would be something different) As I think it is likely either Gerrard or Cole will actually start up front I think we will only take four 'proper' strikers. Lots of good players in there, and a nice mix of different types. Truly, even without Rooney, the best lot of players since 1990. ps. Parker is unavailable due to gladular fever. I would have picked him otherwise. And it is A 23 MAN SQUAD! pps. THe most reprented club in the squad is likely to be Spurs! B@astards.

Has Lampard ever played as a supporting striker? I know Gerrard has and done a very good job at it at Liverpool... I think it would be stupid to play Crouch. He is a decent player but of nowhere near the same quality as Owen, Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, J Cole, Beckham. It would be a waste to have him starting. Defoe and Bent have more quality on the ball but are so like Owen that it could mean we lack options. If only Bellamy was English... he is the best British striker, save Rooney, at dropping deep and picking up the ball from midfield.

Bugger! What I would do if I were the Svenster: Subs: James, King, Bridge (if fit?), Lennon, Downing, Crouch, D Bent It's still not a bad side lads!

I feeling confident about this. I can't see Hughes letting the players fade even if mathematically there is not too much for them to play for. And Man City are going to give us acres of space- their season finished about six weeks ago! More out of persoanl interest than anything else I would like to see Peter and Gallagher start. I hope Reid and Nelsen are fit too!

What the hell are you talking about? He was constantly tracking back and covering SWP and Cole, much more so than Bentley did on Duff on the other side. I reckon that he covers more ground in a game than any of our other midfielders bar Savage. Defensively he is excellent for a wide player. Still I would like to see Peter get a start. His performance again today was encouraging. ps. Oh and those giving the ref stick: he didn't give an ovious penalty against Moko and a boarderline one against Neill earlier on. And, inexplicably, he blew for time 45 seconds early. He did, at least in the second half, a favour!