Hasta

In the past people have rather laid the blame on England managers than at the lack of ability of the players ............ and I'm going to do it again. First half we were OK and unlucky to be behind. Second half we needed a goal and knew France would just sit back , so we end up with Gareth Barry and Owen Hargreaves in the centre of midfield. Every time they got the ball, unless there was 15 yards of clear space infront of them, they would go sideways. Is it any wonder we had no possession around the French box. One day, when he's about 36, someone will realise that Joe Cole will make a far better attacking central midfielder than a winger. At least if you play the ball to his feet there would be a chance of him turning to face goalwards. Stick him in midfield and Ashley young on the left.

Derbyshire only on the bench for the Under 21's. That removes any interest for the first half tonight.

Fabulous two days. Still got shakes from the Guinness but recovered enough to type !!! Thanks to Albertas Run and BallyFity I didnt lose too much betting wise. Had my final horse gone in the Yankee mentioned above I'd have been pulling several grand on the Friday. However it wasn't to be and finished 3rd. Denman was exceptional. I thought Kauto would win but in the end backed Denman as he was 5/2 on the tote and I just thought that was value. Only had a small bet just for the sake of it though as i felt it would be rude to go and watch the gold Cup and not have a bet on it. Got to wait 12 months again now though.

Well today was a fun day. First I was on holiday today and no Cheltenham, To make it worse I get a phone call saying there's a good chance I'll be made redundant on Friday. Great stuff. However I set off at 6am tomorrow to Cheltenham for what is now 19 races spread over Thursday and Friday so it's not all bad news. Looks like I'll have good reason to drink and gamble more! Anyway tomorrows selections for the race I haven't already given are:- 1.40 Barbers Shop , Arturio 2.55 Racing Demon (EW) 4.05 Dont Push it 4.40 Ballyfitz and Counting House (both EW) 5.15 Burnt Oak Boy and Ma Yahaab Nothing I really fancy though. Still waiting for Albertas Run and The Tother One for the two of my main Yankee and Antepost bets. Good luck all those who are having a go over the next two days! Just hope this bloody weather behaves!

Wash your mouth out Not a bad first day. Should pay for day two at least. Katchit also means I've got 1 out of 2 in the Yankee up so far ! Had a look for tomorrow and I think I'll be backing. Aigle D'Or Albertas Run Peacock & Mendo E/W (Probably only have a very small bet in the others. At the moment I can't split Ornais/Over The Creek and maybe Apt Approach in the last.) Anyone care to give a selection for the Champion Chase as I keep jumping between all four market leaders.

Here goes. I'll put Tuesdays selections up now as I'll probably not get on here tomorrow morning. Muirhead (although the trainer says the beast hasn't been eating well since it came over from Ireland. Can't be a good thing!) Moon Over Miami E/W Katchit E/W (maybe a small bit on Straw Bear) L'Ami E/W River Laine (and a bit on Mr Crystal at 140's on BF!)

I've put Katchit in a Yankee with Moon Over Miami, Albertas Run and The Tother One so I'm with you there. Straw Bear is a good shout and could have a squeak, especially with this rain. Think I'll print Tuesdays cards off later today and go through them tonight. I think should win the Gold Cup but I think I'll be watching rather than betting.

Let's get this thread back up to the top in anticipation of next week. The ideal Gold Cup scenario is set for Friday with Kauto Star, Denman and not forgetting Exotic Dancer all lining up. I've got two Ante Post bets on so far - Moon Over Miami EW on Tuesday and The Tother One EW on Friday. Biggest worry at the moment is whether the gale-force winds coming tomorrow cause any havoc to the rest of the week.

These could be some of the same Arsenal fans that have previously sung about gassing jews when playing Tottenham wouldn't it. It's not right but the reaction of Arsenal fans on the radio and on the Internet to the chants on Saturday was so hypocritical that Wenger would have been proud. Is singing about a guy breaking his leg worse than singing about a certain high profile former Real madrid footballers' wife partaking in sodomy, cos that has been heard sung at Ewood in the past. Chants like that are not nice and ideally shouldn't happen but it's not really worth one of your infamous rants. The Munich and Hillsboro drivel that you still hear sung by certain clubs are much worse.

I agree his defensive qualities aren't great. The only thing he does do in that respect, which I think the manager must like, is to keep the general 'shape' of the team. Not sure how that justifies a starting spot all season but it has done. I've been an MGP baiter for most of the seaosn (although not quite in your league Jan ). However you'll have to take my word for it that he was refreshingly decent on Sunday. I'm not saying he was anywhere near MOM, he just contributed which is all we ask. Whether it continues or not I don't know. You don't get many fullbacks as bad as that bald guy Bolton had. However that can't detract from his best performance for months IMO.

Quick word about MGP's rare good game yesterday. He's been heavily criticised by many including me, and I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one to point out that one swallow doesnt make a summer, but... The difference today was something I've touched on before. When he was well regarded MGP's game was always about scoring goals from midfield. His general play was always just OK but his strikes made him look better than he was. Quite a number of his goals (both headers and volleys) were a result of him arriving late at the back post. These runs seemed to dry up the minute he missed 'that' header against Chelsea at OT. This season he has very rarely ventured into the danger area, instead lingering either too wide or too deep when the ball is on the opposite wing. It has looked almost as though he is 'not interested' or 'scared' to make the run incase the ball does come to him. It was interesting today that a number of times in the first half he was coming infield at the back post. His much-needed goal was also as a result of him arriving late. Maybe during the break the coaching staff have had a quiet word and we'll see more of him doing this. It remains to be seen whether he can continue for the remaining games. I'd guess at no.

Doubt that will happen. At Ewood we now know he's not very good. However his reputation on the continent is probably still quite high. He'd move abroad before dropping to Championship level.

Not a new film and I'm sure its discussed before but I just watched Deja Vu which is premiering on Sky for the next 7 days. I can imagine alot of people just saying "I don't get it" or "impossible" after watching it. I know it got mixed reviews on release but I liked it. If you actually think about it and work it out at the end it becomes far more intriguing than at first glance. Anyone recommend any other films that make you think a bit like this. I like stuff like Donnie Darko, Butterfly Effect, Jacobs ladder. The only thing I've seen that was too wierd was Pi Faith in Chaos.

lol, lets post an unrelated news story about Lucas to revive the thread then slag him off for something completely different. Probably the same sections of fans that booed him whilst still playing for us and still giving his all when we thought he was going Liverpool. At that time his only crime was to be honest to the club and the supporters over his intentions to want to leave Blackburn and not try and pull the wool over their eyes.

It's funy that because Collina also robbed Everton the season they did finish 4th to make the champions league.Every time his name is mentioned at work, my Everton supporting mate scoffs at his 'best ref' tag. They got knocked out of the qualifier by Villareal. In injury time in the 2nd leg someone (Ferguson?) scored a great header which would have sent Everton through and earned them however many millions of pounds. Collina disallowed it because of a foul on the keeper when he'd never been touched.

Bentley does his best to stay on his feet. Sometimes people should take the blinkers off when looking at their own club.

Leeds & Notts Forest double. Rio De Janeiro ew 28/1 sandown

The locals aren't very impressed with either Todd or Savage in their ratings here.

The problem isn't the money he's on or that he went to Chelsea to get more of it Eddie. The problem is that the prat wrote it for everyone to know in a book in a manner where he expected everyone to feel sorry for him for 'not getting what he's worth'.

Your second point is somewhat true in my eyes. I can't think of anyone else. However I also understand that it's a fact of life people will go places for money. It happens in most industries, it also happens in football. As for your first point everyone knew from the previous summer that he was letting his contract run down and wanted to move. It was Rovers who kept sending out signals that they thought they could get him to stay, not Neill or his agent. it's a good job we weren't on the end of Savage's exit when he left Brum to Rovers - now that was out of order.

If Lucas is booed and reviled by people now because he lied about his reasons for going to West Ham, how come he was getting booed whilst still playing for us when we didn't know where he was going to??? At the time we all thought it would be Liverpool.

Apologies if posted before. Bush & Blair - Gay Bar

The title of this thread is now a bit misleading. No-one is calling for Hughes Out or questioning what an outstanding job he has done since he arrived. Some people are asking why we've gone from playing like outside bets for the top 4 to playing like stiffs in the space of 7 weeks. Hughes has to shoulder a lot of the responsibility for that.

Be interesting to watch his performances in the African Nation cup (which I presume will be on the box somewhere). Maybe we'll find out he's a tough tackling box to box inspirational playmaker who's being stiffled by our tactics. But I doubt it

We haven't any right and in the future we may well not do. That's why Rovers need to make the most of it now whilst we do have a very good team and squad. We can't afford to let seasons slip by and 'wait till next year'.