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!

Because I am an idiot and I over slept I missed the first half so obviously what I say has to be read in that context. I wa amazed how welll we performed as a defensive unit today, especially considering how makeshift we were. Gray particularly had a great second half (although he shuld of had a shot at the end of that run!) as did Kishi who showed great technique and, suprisingly, Nelsen levels of composure. Reid showed that if Neill does go to AC Milan (Ha!) or Spurs (more likely...) we have a more than capable deputy, although you wpuld have to wonder whether he would be wasted back there! The midfield was a bit strange. Played some decent throughballs but id reallt get their foot on the ball too often. Really most of the damage was done by the full backs overlapping. That said Bentley looked good again (he was, like at Charlton, given a lot of space). Up front I remain a little mystified as to why Pongo is rated so highly. While he is the best option at the moment as a partner to Bellers (although I would like to see Gallagher given a shot), like every other game I have seen him in he plays final ball that are utterly worthless, loses posession under little pressure and never troubles the keeper with shots on goal. If we could get him for very little cash it might just be worth it, but for a substantial fee we should look elsewhere. However: Great performance by the team generally. Next season is going to be exciting! Come on the UEFA cup!

He is behind both Reid and Bentley in the team. He is not considered a decent option for the bench. And a new right winger is a possible purcahase in the summer too. Not looking too good for him! I would be instructing my agent to look at options if i were him. And from Hughes pespective Brett has to be the most saleable player at the club, mainly because he is the only surplus player who we might actually get some money for (Amo, Gresko, Matteo have no future at the club, but who in their right mind would pay anything for them?).

The reserves are playing at the moment, but neither Gallagher nor Peter are turning out for them. Could point to inclusions tomorrow in the sixteen...

That is true. But daft as it sounds I am bored stiff of the same few clubs annihilating everybody else every blimming year. And, if we want to be Machivallian about it, Spurs could disrupt the hegemony and give us a chance to benefit from the infighting. Basically I just don't think Spurs being shafted would be fair, even if it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of fans.

Um, I think they would do rather well actually. Mourinho managed to win the CL with Porto with vastly less resources than the like of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Munich... And Wenger has not, in the grand scheme of things, spent anywhere near the amount of cash that his rivals have if sales are deducted from buys (Anelka, Viera, Petit, Overmars all left for large fees).

Um, i've been mispeling that for over three years. I wouldn't hold your breath...

Well I supose to put this in perspective we would, without Rooney, still have World class players in every position apart from defensive midfield, keeper and supporting striker (and the likes of Carrick and Robinson are not exactly awful). I am not sure any side in the world can claim that kind of consistent quality from front to back. But then you need that special player (unless your Germany who seem to be able to reach finals with teams consisting of average talent). And Rooney is the only one we have who has the flair of a Henry, Totti or Ronaldinho.

Not saying the FA aren't a bunch of clowns or anything, but, honestly, I doubt any of the top PL managers would be interested in managing England. The salary isn't much higher, the personal intrusion far more intense, and there is a lack of the national impulse of pride. Why exactly would Wenger, Ferguson, Benitez or Mourinho want to manage England? I cannot see a single reason except for the large amounts of holidays to be honest. Jol is the highest league placed manager who could be tempted IMHO (mainly due to the salary. Really what else is the attraction?). And guess who would be the next after him...