can he lend bobby g three million quid ?

Where do you suggest they go and get 4 million quid from - by doing a job on the cash machine outside McDonalds ?? Raiding Bargain Booze ?? As Paul says if there's no money there's no money. The last thing we want them doing is spending money that doesn't exist and putting the future of the club in danger.

You'd best tell Smurf ... she'll be well annoyed if she finds out you've moved and she can only see you at half time for all home games ... ... actually ... ... ... ... ... ............

I can't believe this thread has mushroomed to 3 pages. Thorpe played a great innings, and although I had some sentimental pangs for Cairns making his international farewell at the wonderful Trent Bridge England fully deserved a 3-0 whitewash. As for Zidane, well, if he had to face an Ashley Giles wrong'un he'd be wearing his bald patch at the other end of the evolutionary spectrum to be fair. We (England) 'll still win the thing ... plan A has been sabotaged in the most horrible way .. plan B is up and running. Plan C is ready and waiting. Just keep the faith people.

You been out in the Maltese afternoon sun Philipl ?

Tear gas eh ?? Tut tut tut. What sort of barbaric nation allows that to be sold on the high street ? Wouldn't happen in dear old blighty.

I think what you both mean is that he constantly drifted out of position (into the centre) and so kept having to use his right foot. The Spanish defenders presumably having done their homework rather well. His team mates, fans and all residents of Russia will probably wish he'd only use his left, or preferably just stay on the bench.

What a daft post, really. If we can't afford the expensive option what do you suggest Rovers do ? Curl up and die ? Play Dwight Yorke at centre half ?

I think we'll forget all the threads and just do that anyway, even if we're bottom of the league and haven't scored a single goal. If that's OK. You still got off the bus in Huddersfield.

I work with 4 Rangers fans, 2 of them season ticket holders All four of them would welcome Amo back tomorrow

Bloody ell, there's nothing like visiting this place to take the shine off looking forward to the weekend is there ? Euro Championships starting, long summer evenings, beer gardens and all that ? No ? Bah humbug, I'm off to take some more Prozac Boo, let's sign David May and Conan the Barbarian

PPS why the hell are you bringing the Duff thing up again ? Can't you get over the fact that HE wanted to LEAVE, WILLIAMS and SOUNESS wanted hin to STAY, HE ran out of Manchester airport, HE invoked HIS release clause, and he's happy now kissing his Chelsea shirt. For ****'s sake it's 11 months ago, give it a rest !!!

Rev, Andy Cole himself, the great maestro, was quoted in the LET towards the end of last season something along the lines of - i'm here to play football not set an example to young players who would do better to look elsewhere rather than to me I've tried the LET archive search but it's not very good PS what's Dickov done wrong off the pitch ? Do you have information the Spanish judge didn't have ?

England will beat France and will then drop 3 gears and scrape through with tight results against the two poorer sides in the group. By this time there will have been enough trouble attributed to England followers that UEFA will be discussing kicking us out of the tournament anld allowing one of Croatia or Switzerland through. This won't happen for two reasons. The rich English game - way beyond the rest of Europe - and the huge presence of England fans pumping money into the Portuguese economy are far too important for UEFA to consider the final drastic option. Besides which, if that option were taken I'm quite sure that even normally placid travelling England fans would seperate Portugal from Spain and tow it into the Atlantic Ocean. So we'll probably meet the hosts or Spain in the quarters, and as usual faced with meaningful opponents outside the safety of the group structure, we'll capitulate - probably on penalties.

don't - for ONE MINUTE - imagine that he's joking

Dickov will probably turn out to be the bargain striker of this close season. Also I would question that he is "from the bottom of the market" - the stats this season suggest that in fact he's from the top end of the market. Look at the players who out-scored him this season - we couldn't dream of any of them playing in blue and white either because of price tag or because they just wouldn't come to us. Interesting stat time - Dickov's goals per game ratio whilst at Leicester = 0.33. Andy Cole's whilst at Rovers = 0.33. Are all those who have slagged off this signing going to finally turn on hero Cole for failing to be better than Dickov ? Dickov appears to have a better attitude and workrate on the pitch (unlike the hands on hips whinger) and cost 1/50th what Cole did. So in the circumstances this is a fantastic buy.

As I posted several weeks ago, I think this is a sensible signing. It's almost worth describing it as a signing we couldn't afford not to make simply because of the release clause and therefore the fee, which makes it almost a free signing. If Dickov is coming to provide strength in depth, then it's of a rare quality (proven) and better off at Ewood than on the bench of one of 8 direct rival teams (I'm assuming the top 5 weren't in for Dickov). I think he'll be more than a bench warmer, because he'll make it impossible for Souness to leave him out. Who drops out remains to be seen - Stead because he's a half-season wonder, Cole because he reverts to type (lazy whinger), Gallagher (not there yet and much to learn on and off the pitch) ... ... whatever happens, freshening things up in the striker department is a must - everyone can see that. If we get the bargain of the season in that department then the limited funds we have available can buy better talent in other areas.

Gareth the Claret was a bit before my time, but I remember Westwood - who ran-off a couple of months after I joined the site. A little trip down memory lane for you Ste B... .. etc Once again this is outstanding research. I'd like to see AESFs status changed to reflect his contributions. I'm sure there will be many suggestions better than this, but something along the lines of Board Boffin (or maybe even Bored Board Boffin) can start the ball rolling.

Apparently last year folk went in there no problem. I do think we should play carefully though - a few Rovers fans drinking quietly in the corner is one thing, hordes of us carrying large items of blow up fruit might be slightly different.

<< and some more here ...... >>

IMPORTANT INFO FOR YOU LOT STAYING AT TOWER HILL ! There are no tube services at all this weekend from Tower Hill station http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/content/pressreleas...4/towerhill.pdf Liverpool St is about a 15 minute walk from the hotel, or there's buses 42 78 or 100 from by Tower Gateway DLR station.

BTW ignore the above travel instructions if coming from Euston or Kings Cross / St Pancras. From there, take the Victoria Line north to Seven Sisters and brave the walk, get a bus, or take one of the above overland trains to White Hart Lane station. From Seven Sisters they leave at -12, -25, -42 and -55 past the hour and it's 4 mins journey.

Would seem to be the best plan immediately pre-match ... For those travelling from Central London there are trains from Liverpool Street Station at -10, -25, -40 and -55 past the hour to White Hart Lane station and take 20 minutes. This is probably a better bet than by tube to Seven Sisters which is miles from the ground and even further from this pub. It's in Zone 3 so you need a Zones 1-4 Travelcard. May well have a couple of warm up shandies near Liverpool Street - quieter / fewer Spurs fans - at around middday and head to the Gilpin at about half one. EDIT probably << HERE >> The only other games in London on Saturday are Leyton Orient v Cambridge and Brentford v Bournemouth so there shouldn't be too many other big groups of fans knocking about the public transport system.

Get it as p!ssed as your other Smurf was the other day and it'll float in all on it's own, straight off cloud 9 ...

The morning after the night before. I've woken up with a slight headache, 3 Rovers beach balls, and 10 inflatable Rovers crests, all purchased at closing time at Rover the Moon last night. Nils Eric was also there - with his mum and dad - very pleasant folk - but they didn't appear to have got any beach balls. If anyone is short of an inflatable for next Saturday - I'm yer man.