Craig Bellamy...what can you say? Like someone else said the first thing that sprung to my mind after watching them goals is Thierry Henry. This guy is the closest thing to him make no doubt about it. Why is 20 million that ridiculous Cocker? Yes we brought him for around £5 mill, but his performances have showed that hes a player clearly above that transfer category. He is perhaps more effective for us than the £17 million Duff man was. As for the game, weve got to be happy with a point after the numerous gilt edged chances that Pompey missed-how did our defence give them so much time to pick and place their shots? We need to improve considerably if were to even get 6th this season and thats an understatement.

Couldnt be bothered to start a new thread so I'll put it here, its with regards to the standard of Italian football. Juventus are walking away with the Italian league this season, yet in four legs (two against L'pool last season and two against Arse) they have mustered one goal. To me, and to all the pundits on there Juve are the most boring one dimensional team to have ever been labelled a 'great side'. Tonight they missed Del Piero, Vieira and a couple others...but what about last year against L'pool? Blimey I know the Italians are famed for their defensive capabilities but they're awful to watch going forward. Take Milan as well, they were extremely fortunate to beat Lyon and haven't looked that comfortable in the competition so far this season, plus they are trailing Juve in Serie A by some margin. Added to this the underachivement of Inter again this term and you can see that the Spanish and English leagues are clearly better in terms of quality and entertainment. The dominance of the Italian game in Europe is well and truly over...I'd take watching Bolton against Everton everytime!

West Hams defeat should mean that if we beat Wigan on Monday then 7th is realistically the lowest that we can finish this season.

It would appear that the fa cup draw may potentially do us over if we finish 7th.

I've watched Spurs alot this season. My housemates at uNi are all spurs fans so whenever they're on TV I get the pleasure of watching them (and it's been week in week out recently). I honestly think that they're a very average side who started the seaosn resaonably well, but scrape through every single match. Bar one or two of their players (Keane/Mido/Lennon/King and maybe Dawson) they are a very average team, and I for one would hate it if they came fourth this season.

Illness aparently Phil.

Whey!!! 3 more points...just a shame all of our rivals won.

Comon!!! Its about time we played well with ten men whilst others struggle against us with ten men...if you get me! comon blues don't let this ref mug us out of 3 points!

Jeff Stelling saying that Bellers is dropped?!...Must've meant Bentley.

I think Spurs have first option on Mido...but you never know we could try and get in there!He'd be awesome with Bellamy.

Not a great fan of this update at all. I agree with the wondergoals issue, and aswell as this I have around 10 players out with 3 month + injuries!! And wait for it, Holland beat Andoraa 18-0, with Van Nistelrooy getting a measly 14 goals...yep that's just the 14.

Mario would be an awesome signing on a free. He looks the only Brum player bar Upson who looks up for the scrap. Perhaps Rovers are bracing themselves for a bid for Lucas, or perhaps, mario right back, Lucas in the centre?

I know its a small media minority who aren't giving Rovers credit after a tremendous performance yesterday, but it blimmin winds me up. Take MOTD2 (Or London clubs 2+United). "The game hinged on 3 big hand ball decisions said the presenter", the two Nelsen hand balls and the Keane hand ball (which im shocked they showed)....guys aren't you missing one? THE HAND BALL BY STALTERI THAT COULD HAVE GOT US BACK TO 3-3!!! All the boys in the sky studio said it was a blatant penalty and that Nelsen's wasn't, so why couldn't they at least show it. Then onto the sun newspaper today: "Rovers' long punts up field looked to be winding Martin Jol up". The same Jol who called us a 'marvellous team' live on sky? It also said that our robust performance had Jol shaking his head. Where do these guys get off? Not one of our players in that paper had an 8, where as Dawson did?! For the neutral who only reads and listens to this garbage it looks as if we were lucky to get away with only a 1 goal difference. As I said I know it's only a small minority of the media, but still an absoloute joke after yesterday's game where we controlled the media darling's and England's elect 11 for 80 minutes.

Emerton was certainly alot more direct with his play today.

Very good point Den. I think it'l be Arsenal if anyone who gets 4th.

Gray wasn't as bad as some are making out, but a new left back in the summer should be on the shopping list. Absoloutely gutted though, I have so many spuds fans as mates and know they'll try to make out they deserved to win. Rovers mullered them for nigh on 80 mins (Albeit without making too many clear cut chances) and deserved to thrash them. I always thought that spurs were overated and Rovers proved how ordinary they are. One other worrying thing....at least five of them players will be in the England sqaud come this summer!

I thought Bentley's been wicked so far. Pongolle apart from his goal has been pretty woeful. Hopefuly Dickov will get a run later. Comon Blues don't let the ref win this one!

May've been posted, but teamtalk now confirming that Hughes has said that gamst will be out for a minimum of two weeks.

In seasons past he may not have (except ewood 2-0 maybe), when they've had the likes of Vieira winning every midfield battle. This season they've been appaling away from home. They won't like coming to places like Ewood Park. It should be Savage/Reid/Tugay licking their lips for this game.

Tugay looked class from the extended highlights I saw on sky. That pass for Reid was world class. Thought that Arca looked pretty good for Sunderland, if he could keep discilpined at left back then he could be a replacement for Gray.

Maybe football manager is right then

I also looked at them figures with some discomfort Exiled Rover. Surely they aren't accurate? Mokoena and Nelsen (the latter would deserve it though) on 25k a week, Sav 48k, Bellers 50k. flitcroft always used to be in the early 20's as did Freidel.

I know weve been very fortunate with keepers, Flowers, Friedel, Filan etc, but you cant help but think what a shocker our management hjad when they let Shay go. Surely they could see how good he was?!

How can we not create 1 decent chance against ten men!? as others have said que a stead goal on weds.

wow, I really didnt see that coming?!