Let's talk players under 30 (just using my best guess, not positive on all, but I'm sure most are well under 30) Encks LB-None Nissa McEveley Neil Trying to sign Pederson, not an older player Ferguson Thompson Emerton Stead Gallagher (Note that 4 (5 if Pederson) have been bought in the last year or so.) Looks like a pretty good future to me. Take those players and play them as a starting team, might not stay up. Sprinkle in our experienced older players and you have bare minimum a team that is upper-mid table with a bright future (if healthy). I look at the future of Rovers and am quite happy, especially considering we have one of the stronger youth programs in the world. If you brought them all up at the same time, we'd be in trouble, but by sprinkling them in with the veterans you give them experience and cover.

Point taken, BUT, it isn't like Microsoft runs Hotmail to give us a free product. They run Hotmail to plug their other products they want us to buy, and to sell advertising on their site and in their EMails.

I'd love to be there when your kid asks why the sky is blue...

Not quite sure what you're saying here. You may only have one guy with any sort of keeper skill (I think I had one poor keeper and that was it when I started). Your best bet is probably to pull a keeper from your youth squad or buy an inadequate for $1000 on the market. You should find quite a few of them that are nice and cheap. Found a java based software HERE that tells you what position each player is best suited for. My best player who was a forward had been defaulted as a defender in Hattrick, so I'd recommend using this to help with your lineup. (I ended up selling him for over 300,000 to finance my youth buys.) Pulled a youth keeper then found a 62,000 rated one for 10,000 when my top guy got injured for a couple weeks.

They had the American Idol judges, including Simon, on the Radio (Howard Stern). They had several aspiring singers come in and sing a song, and the judges would tell them what they thought. They had the singer from Nickleback come in and perform one of his songs and Simon said he was not good enough to make it (not knowing who he was, of course). "Good Charlotte? More like mediocre Green Day." - Chris Rock at the MTV VMAs

"If my aunt were a man she'd be my uncle" is another fitting one. Kinda says a lot about Waggy's friend if they won't renew a season ticket because we added some depth for 100,000. Suprised they didn't throw their book on the pitch when we signed Encks. Bet they were ###### about the signing of Gray too. Shocked they still even have a season ticket after we signed Brad, even though he wasn't needed and had failed in the Prem.

Great line on the front page of f365: "Rafael Benitez broke down in tears as he announced that he would be leaving Valencia. Will he cry again when he arrives at Liverpool and sees Igor Biscan and Bruno Cheyrou in training?"

They didn't listen to the fans, they watched the first leg of the semi-final.

Listened to a Jeff Buckley concert on the radio this morning. Now I finally see what all the hype is about. Just a shame the accolades came after his death.

go for it EURO 2004 FANTASY HOME PAGE League name is: BRFCS, password is: brfcs

Sam, I can't get on at work, but challenge me. I'll even come visit!

Match Info Were I to talk smack now, I'd be quite like the black knight in Holy Grail.... Patience is a virtue

And showing that he truly "cares" about his club, he signed with their rivals, refusing to even listen to offers from other Prem clubs. Oh, and thanks FLB, now I have an image of Phil jumping out of bed, picking up his jersey and kissing the badge.

In a way I agree with what you are saying, how many "world class" midfielders can you have? A year or so from now, no way would a Parker whine his way from a top 10 club onto Chelski, once they see what has happened with those before. That being said - I don't think the fans are terribly upset with a second place finish and a semi-final spot in the champs league (which would have been a final spot had it not been for one of the worst managed big matches in the history of the sport).

Big friendly tonight. I believe I'm hosting Cookie Monster. Coming off of a big 4-0 loss, so you'd better watch out!!!

Good post, but MAN, you have too much spare time...

Rumor is he's a bit miffed that Roman won't let him spend less on players who would help him actually win. I was reading he wanted a few players from Porto to come with him, but Roman didn't want them. Guess the fact that they won the UEFA Cup and are in the finals of the Champs League wasn't good enough for him - they weren't "name" enough.

Kafka is one of the few I was forced to read that I liked. But I wouldn't quite consider him to be "summer/beach reading."

Back on topic... I know Portsmouth had problems with getting Donovan because the MLS has a different set of transfer windows than Europe. Would this be the case with Norway as well? I'd think we wouldn't be able to get him at the end of their season because the FA's transfer window would be shut at that point. If we had to wait until August, would the Norwegian transfer window still be open?

There is a decent one on F365, too. I was thinking of starting a BRFCS league if enough people are interested.

Don't worry, most English people are ashamed you're English, too...

I consider this to be bad news. Liverpool might get someone in who knows what they are doing... At least it should be more exciting football to watch the 25 times they are on TV over here next season (of course, anything is more exciting than they have been).

With a full strength squad next year, Tugay is perfect to have around as a sub to bring some energy into the team in the later stages, and as a spot starter when someone is injured/needs rest. Too inconsistent to play as much as he did this season, but still brings enough to the table to make sure he is a part of the squad.

At the start you'll probably lose money, so I'd leave some money in your account, don't spend it all at once. Remember young guys train fastest so the younger the better for your defenders. American Not quite sure what you're saying here. You may only have one guy with any sort of keeper skill (I think I had one poor keeper and that was it when I started). Your best bet is probably to pull a keeper from your youth squad or buy an inadequate for $1000 on the market. You should find quite a few of them that are nice and cheap. A- Thanks, I'll promote. Sam - I inherited a bunch of muppets, too, but they seem to be improving a bit. Played terrible according to the reports from the friendly, no one over 2 stars, but I still won 3-1. Lost my first league match 0-5, though.

I'm doing playmaking, lost my first match, but winning my friendly. Want to set one up for next week Sam? My ID is 222528. Also, how do you know what position your bench players play? I'm trying to figure out who my backup keeper is.