" Actually I think if they had to pull such an unpleasant scam, the NOTW missed a trick here.

It would have been far more interesting if they'd offered to double his salary BEFORE the world cup and see what his reaction was."

You think that they didn't try that !! Of course they bloody did, and a lot more, but he wouldn't bite. It was a set up and he, stupidly, fell for it. But, the things he said were hardly revelations were they ? Can you imagine how hard they tried to get him to say Rio is a cheating lying stupid overpaid shitbag, and the best they can get out of him is - a bit lazy.

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a

" Actually I think if they had to pull such an unpleasant scam, the NOTW missed a trick here.

It would have been far more interesting if they'd offered to double his salary BEFORE the world cup and see what his reaction was."

You think that they didn't try that !! Of course they bloody did, and a lot more, but he wouldn't bite. It was a set up and he, stupidly, fell for it. But, the things he said were hardly revelations were they ? Can you imagine how hard they tried to get him to say Rio is a cheating lying stupid overpaid shitbag, and the best they can get out of him is - a bit lazy.

Souness was lucky in that inherited top-class young players such as Dunn, Duff and Jansen.

Hughes has won nothing yet but he saved Rovers from certain relegation under Souness last season.

Souness has become a rich man by being a managerial failure.

Enough said.

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Absolutely spot on

What are the rules or laws regarding who can and can't be named and by whom and when ?

Ultimately though I don't believe Matteo is the answer to the lb problem though may be the best at the moment. However due to player availability and budget it could be some time before we see a new lb in place.

In the long run I don't think either Matteo or Gray are the answer but in the short term ie this season Gray deserves a good run. He had a great game on Saturday and as others have said added something to the attack. If this is going to work he needs to be supported by MGP in defense. This, he did well on Saturday but has not been apparent previously this season. Could be due to playing 4-4-2 as well. Needing wingers to track back more. If so, another good reason to continue with 4-4-2

Having read a few reports it sounds like Emerton actually had a pretty good game for a change. Anyone else agree ?

The world so hates our imperialist ways that Kuwait has donated $500 million dollars to the relief efforts as their way of saying thanks.

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Now that is just plain silly. If you can't find a better example of a country that loves the good old US of A sit down and shut up on your unbelievabley prickly and defensive back side. It is hardly surprising little old Kuwait is willing to send a couple of bucks now is it.

Had your post stopped after the word "ways" it would make much more sense

First hour was appalling football. However, with Bentley especially and Kuqi, and when Bellamy is fit and playing in a 4 4 2, we could be in for a treat.

If we get a couple of good results starting with the Toon (will Bellamy be fit ?)before we hit that difficult run of fixtures we will be top 6 at Christmas.

Ever the optimist

As I detect a note of sarcasm in an immature yah boo sucks attempt to score cheap points I will ignore your silly question and attempt to answer the question that you should have asked if your manners were as they should be and if your interest is genuine, which is 'why do you think that tnr'? 

Simply that in my opinion parties in political power in modern democracies are often swayed from making decisions which are for the long term good because of the short term fear of unpopularity in the eyes of the electorate which could see them lose forthcoming elections.  The Poll Tax unquestionably got rid of the Thatcher govt so is the Blair govt now wary of following suit?  Can we trust whichever government of the time to make decisions for the good of the country rather than the good of the party? 

Furthermore (and I am generalising wildly here to illustrate my point) but do millions of people in our society deserve or even can be trusted with the responsibility of a vote?  This might raise a few eyebrows but for example should the empty trailer trash participants and viewers of the likes of Big Brother or Gerry Springer deserve the exact same voting status in this country as the more intelligent and deep thinking participants and viewers of Question Time?

I cannot be bothered elaborating further to this but I'm sure that you'll get my drift ES.

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I might have to go for a lie down after this but I tend to agree with you to a certain extent theno. There are many forms of democracy and non are perfect. In fact all are flawed and in all of them that I can think of the administration is overly concerned with re-election or their legacy rather than the best interests of their country. The 2 can coincide of course but often they don't. Rightly or wrongly, this is one of the reasons China will become the next superpower. They are not constrained by democracy and can implement long term plans that they believe will have long term benefits for the country as a whole, but will be deeply unpopular in the short term. Plans that, in a democracy, would see the party booted out of power.

I also have concerns sometimes that some eligible voters aren't always able to make a completely informed and rational decision regarding who should lead the country. However, I'm not sure voter elligibility should be determined by the kind of television programs you watch. As for Elton John fans though........

We were crap and deserved to loose. But if we're going to be that bad I'd rather it be the first game of the season. If that had come on the back of a 6 or 7 game unbeaten run it would be getting passed off as an anomaly, not impending doom and relegation. There is a real need to improve in almost all areas but at least there is plenty of time to do it.

And, has been said before, the only way is up

Well tell em that thats complete and utter bolloox and they are either brainwashed or thick beyond belief for putting their faith in such a primitive and backward religion ... and especially so in these enlightened times.

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OK. Will do. That should solve the problem.

I am in no way defending any of these people but merely stating what I have heard in various media. Islamic suicide bombers do not consider themselves to be committing suicide as this is a grave and unforgivable sin in Islam. They believe they are using self defense and are being martyrs.

I know I'll still probably get slated as defending them but I am not. It is how they justify it to themselves.

No it's not on in Aus Matty, ESPN are showing Sheff Utd V Arsenal.

I thought you could not get Radio Lancs outside the U.K too American, but had no trouble listening live to the game at the turd ?

Must be a different ESPN. Definitely listed as showing it in Asia. I'm getting worried

Also, Nick Cave's new double CD is very good

Nice Cave is bloody brilliant, if you've not got any of his other stuff, i'd reccomend buying the back catalogue.

Quite agree. Him and Polly Harvey are my favourite individual musical people. Murder Ballads is great and and the first born is dead (whcih I've just realised I haven't listened to in years) was my introduction and Tupelo is still one of his best. I am yet to acuire his new one . Nocturama wasn't one ofhis best.

Any of the Mogwai/Sigor Ros/ people into lamb

Laos

Will spell check before posting again

Very good result against a poor team. Therefore I agree with thiose saying don't get carried away but still we won by 3 goals and kept a clean sheet. There can be very little to complain about there. Grenn did have a bad game and should have saved the 3rd easily. However, by the same token he shouln't really have managed to make the double save at the end. These things even themselves out.

I think one of the best things about the game is that we are now pretty close to knowing our best starting 11 and where to play them. Until now I don't think that was the case.

Full backs - Neil and Nissa (Not Neil biggest fan but no one else)

Centre halves - Todd and Nelson - can be very little argument there

Central Mid - Savage and Tugay (presuming Tugay plays like he did Sat)

Wings - MGP and Emerton (Reid) Emerton blows hot and cold and maybe time for Reid to be given a decent run

Strikers - Dikov and ? - Gally seems better coming off the bench. Bothroyd was atroucious last time out. So try Stead again but must score soon.

4 - 5 - 1 against Chelsea is one thing, and it worked just about. SO I can understand Hughes trying it again away to 6th placed Boro. However, second time it didn't work at all and the first half we were terrible. One or two are saying worst we've played this season - was it worse than Charlton ? I was at that one but only saw the Boro match on telly. But at least we won against Charlton.

We have to go back to 4 4 2 with someone other than Johnson up front with Dikov. No disrepsect for Johnson, I rekon he'll be good, but we can't have 2 sub 5 foot centre forwards.

I'd say Thompson has now had enough of a chance in the centre of midfield. Either drop him or put him on the right and drop Emerton for a couple of matches see how that goes.

As for the goal - I'm afraid that should have been an easy save from Brad. It might have been the only mistake he made but when you're a team that can't score to save their bloody lives you can't afford to have your goalie make mistakes like that. Anyone think it might be time for Enkleman to be given a chance or am I to be castigated as a heretic for even suggesting it !

I dig him, he is arrogant but he is killing Ferguson in all departments including this one this year, that's what matters.

When Turdgeson finally retires I will probably hate him, but, for the moment he is giving it to the Mancs

Quite agree. And the thing about being an arrogant git is that you can only get away with while you're at the top which is why Ferguson looks such a tit now. Wouldn't Jose look bloody stupid if Chelsea slip up and give Manure even a sniff of a chance. Not that I think that will happen for a moment

I've always be tempted to become involved in this discussion, but gave up months ago as it is dominated by you metal lovers. Not my cup of tea I have to say, well it was for a phase, but got past that when I was about 14.

Same here Eddie. What are you into. For me you can't beat a good bit of Mogwai or Godspeed You Black Emperor

Ever the optimist - we haven't got a hope in hell. The only way to get anything from this is to borrow the spuds team bus, put it and the rovers team bus and all 11 players across the goal line and hope for the best. If we try to play them at their own game, football, we will be lucky to keep the gap down to less than 5.

Presuming Mark Hughes disagrees with my suggested formation, he should at least get everyone to kick lumps out of them with Savage showing them how, wind them up, start a mass brawl and hope more of theirs get sent off than ours.

Kasabian isn't bad but there is no comparison to Stone Roses first album, or at least there shouldn't be. One of the best albums ever.

I have no big problem with a player going down when there is illegal contact, even if slight, when he is no position to gain an advantage. Then its up to the ref to decide whether the contcat was sufficient to be a foul.

However, when there is absolutely no contact whatsoever and then 2 steps and about 5 yards later the player sticks one leg behind the other to make it appear that he was tripped (as someone else stated - this is something he must have practised) he must be at the very least booked for blatant cheating. If video replays are necessary to achieve this then so be it

That "penalty" has changed my opinion about replays. Something has to be done to stop this happening. The referee was bad but I'm still not blaming him. There has to be a way in this day and age to avoid such a ridiculous decision without suspending play for very long.

Can he be suspended or booked retrospectively by TV replay for diving ? If you can be given a 3 match ban for a sending off offence that was missed by the ref why not for diving

It is fair of you to accuse me of jumping to conclusions. I wasn't there and also haven't seen much of the coverage as I don't live in England. However, you also seem to have jumped to the conclusion that they are innocent.

The point being that under English law there is a presumption of innocence until the state prove otherwise, at least in theory. The two in question have submitted themselves to the police, now it is for the courts to decide. Should they be found guilty I don't think there will be many tears shed for these two numpties, and I would hope (and fully expect) them to receive lifetime bans from Ewood, but until a verdict is returned one way or the other it's a bit early to be heating the tar and plucking the chickens, so to speak.

Innocent until proven guilty of course. However, I also presume the police wouldn't have charged them for nothing.

Then there is the small matter of the massive outcry from all quarters. Call me a cynic but something has to be seen to be done and throwing the book at them (rightly or wrongly) will send a clear message to any others who were thinking of doing something similar to what they are accused of.

I'll probably regret saying this but if they are given the maximum punishment I'm not that bothered about exactly what they have or haven't done. Lawyers will twist and spin the facts so no-one really knows anyway. From what I've read on here from people who had the misfortune of meeting him the Prague scraf wearing prat needs waking up a bit and I have no sympathy. I'm pretty sure somewhere in his miserable existence he has caused unjustified harm or hurt to others. Now its his turn. I hope.