I don't care who comes out the winner in the cost vs quality vs marketing failure vs whatever else arguments...I just hope this prompts the public to hit the turnstiles. A true test to see how the more financially provident really feel about getting to the match. If this turns out to be an overwhelming success how do you locals see it affecting future Cup matches, whether Euro or domestic? You think this is going to have any effect at all?

Gamst Mihaijlovic!

I hope someone on here that is listening to the game can give updates...I cannot open Radio Rovers broadcast for some reason

We are Set-Piece Gods in this game. Why can't we do this in the Prem? Rovers fans are in good voice!!!

Negativity is the fare of the day. Two bad performances from 4 matches. We were thrashed on one and came out with a point in the other. I took the Everton tie hard because it was a late goal, but it WAS a good performance. And if we can turn Man City over, then we will have the same amount of points in the same amount of matches as last year. I'm not ready to send the boys down, but any more performances like the one against Sheff Utd and I'll be VERY disappointed. I don't think anyone's happy that Rovers didn't address the midfield question, and I was one who was really hoping for any one of Petrov, Grav or Steed (in that order). All three however left because of issues outside of our control, ultimately. Fulham got a mid-fielder and cash for Steed who probably would have been our top earner by a fair bit. Gravesen would have been nice but with him and Savage, where would the creativity come from? And with Petrov, sure we made overtures for him earlier and probably could have gotten him but when O'Neill signed with Villa it was over and done with. Disappointed we didn't come away with anything for the mid-field but I'm not damning the club for their "lack of ambition". Hughesy made it work last year and damnit, he'll make it work this year!!!

I'd hate to see Emerton bumped from the RB spot. His play there is what Rovers bought him for and he's always showed his class at RB with the Aussie's (albeit against inferior opponent's mostly). I hope the RightWing experiment can be put to bed finally. As for Lucas, maybe he'll be used to spell everyone along the back-line?

3-2 win for ROVERS. It'll be a 2 all tie into the last ten minutes of time and Roberts muscles one in for the late winner... Balderdash to slow starts! We're taking this one!

This confuses me. Mokoena is obviously a squad player and Hughes wants him solely for filling a gap here and there or to come in as a late minute defensive midfielder. He's shown that he's not up to par for any starting position, at least from last year's performances. The question is, will Mokoena accept his Role Player status or does Hughes see something more for him based on further training and maturation?

I'm just going off of one game here, but of the above mentioned DeVita and Nolan struck me as the ones to really keep an eye on (and Pezzoni as well). However they won't be up this season unless something goes very wrong. But with UEFA and not a huge squad as is, chances might come up that normally wouldn't be there for the lads. De Vita has the goods getting to the box, but finishing's the big question mark I saw. Nolan was a dynamo in the center of the park and that's grand seeing as we have some aging central midfielders in the ranks. I'm intrigued to see how those two Frankfurt purchases pan out. Can't help but think those two lads popped up on the radar due to the game here in Dallas between the two teams' academy sides.

Unless someone comes in with a huge offer, Frei will be heading for Dortmund. I think they've already agreed a fee with Rennes. As for the Mexicans, I can't see any of them being good enough to make the jump to Spain, Germany or even England. As for the French, Dutch, Belgian or even the Portuguese (no offense Oklahoma) leagues, I think they'd perform quite well. My pick for a huge move is Barnetta, as mentioned above.

I'm too p!ssed to comment much more than we made two mistakes, and were punished and we didn't do anything on the offensive side to tie, much less win the game in the second half. Penalty or not, Onyewu should not have been put in that situation by Bocanegra. After the hole we dug ourselves against the Czech's, we were lucky to still be in it on the last day. But we were and we didn't capitalize on the opportunity. Overhaul the system? No, but we sure need a massive shot in the arm because in three games we didn't look like much of a threat at all. Maybe we can lure/kidnap Guus away from Russia....

USA vs. Ghana…How did this game become so hugely, massively, ginormously and utterly important? After last Tuesday when the Czech Republic plastered the States in not only score but performance, us USA fans were sweeping up the pieces of the fallen sky before the final whistle sounded. Then just a few hours later Italy soundly beat Ghana 2-0, and it looked as if Team USA was done and dusted. Ghana even looked like they’d be on the outside looking in after that first game. But then, as the old adage goes, that’s why they play the game. Last Saturday turned Group E into a muddy quagmire throwing not only the Czech Republic, but also the Italians back to the ground thwarting their chances of playing solely for 1st and 2nd in the group and now they are fighting for their lives, well at least the Czech's. Saturday also threw Ghana and the US a lifeline and as fate would have it, the two fighting for their lives are pitted against each other on Thursday. The scenarios for Team USA to advance: A win against Ghana and a loss for the Czech Republic, thus giving the USA 4 points and the Czech’s stay at 3 points. A win against Ghana and a tie by the Czech Republic means that the US has to win by 2 or more, as the head-to-head match-up decidedly goes to the Czech’s. United States preview: For the States, Eddie Pope is out for his red card against Italy as is Pablo Mastroeni. To say these guys are the backbone of the defense is mildly overstating…but only mildly. This will truly test the Americans’ depth as they will have to throw Conrad or Berhalter or Bocanegra in the center of defense to partner Onyewu, and either Albright or even Reyna to be the holding midfielder. In a game where a win is an absolute must, Bruce Arena might even throw more attacking minded players as the wingbacks like O’Brien and Convey. It’s a tough position to play for the win and nothing else, but that is the task that has been set before the Americans. The line-up I’d like to see is to have Bocanegra-Conrad-Onyewu-Cherundolo along the back line with Claudio Reyna playing the more defensive minded midfielder and Landon Donovan playing along-side Reyna, but of course pushing up farther than a central midfielder normally would. Dempsey and Beasley raiding down the sides and McBride and Eddie Johnson pairing up top. This line-up leaves the US back-line exposed, but with a win needed as well as a bump in our goal differential, there’s not much more of an alternative. If Bocanegra and/or Conrad fail to perform, then John O’Brien could be inserted at half-time to add a little punch to the attack. Obviously the Americans have to go absolutely mental or balls to the wall, as the Texas vernacular would have it, to not only win but to increase the 0 goal differential. The scenarios for Ghana to advance: A win against the US and either a tie or a loss for the Czech’s. A tie against the US and a loss for the Czech’s A tie against the US and a tie for the Czech’s means that Ghana’s goal differential would be less than 1 which is Team Ghana’s Preview: Win and advance automatically, or else. Asamoah Gyan, the goal scorer against the Czech’s is out for the game, as well as Muntari, the forgotten man in their midfield. Essien, Appiah, Amoah and Otto/Eric Addo will all be playing and they are the ones to be afraid of. Sorry I don’t have more for you, but it’s all there for you to see for yourself. Their main objective is to play for the win. Only if Italy is up by 4 against the Italians at half time can Ghana play for a tie. It just doesn’t do any good for any side to play for anything but a convincing win. These two sides will be going pell-mell for a win and Keller and Kingston will have some stinging palms and a lot of grass stains by the time the final whistle is blown. By playing these games at the same time, there is no way that either of the 4 teams will be able to sit back on their haunches and play for a safe result. This is great for the tournament but hell for the fan sitting at home. I will now have to get extension cords from the garage and bring in a TV from one room into another thus being able to watch the two games simultaneously which will send me into an epileptic fit if I don’t succumb to a heart attack first. Now of course this is all a exercise in pride as the next foe if the US or Ghana advances is Brazil. And if either of these teams are counted as underdogs to advance from the Group, that is nothing compared to the odds Ladbrooke's will post against either Ghana or the US. But advancing will be a victory in and of itself, whereas failing to advance from the hardest group will be seen as a failure...at least for the Americans. My prediction? 3-1 for the USA and no, I will NOT take off me red, white and blue tinted specs...

Clint plays in your backyard so I can see your affinity towards the guy. I've just seen him in bits and pieces and he is definitely one with promise. I just hope that his bust-up with his team-mate (Franchino?) was just an aberration and not the start of a trend. The US Natl team needs a man with stones, but not an idiot hot-head. I just wonder how much playing time he'll actually get...All of this talk about Clint might just be a moot point if Arena doesn't see fit to play him...

I think Italy has a very good chance and I'm picking them to win it. I think the Czech Republic is getting too old to deal with a tournament. I know their solid perfomance in Euro Cup is just two years ago, but even then you could tell their age was a factor. And because of this and only this I think the US can advance through. I do hate to see everyone overlook Ghana as they look to be the strongest African side in the tourney, and capable of an upset, but because of the group they were drawn into, doubtful they can advance. I can't believe nobody has the Swiss making any noise. I think this team will be a very surprising force in the tournament, possibly even making it into the 3rd place game. The main thing I'm hoping for, other than a great showing from me Yanks, is that England and Germany face each other in Round 2 (with England winning convincingly) and that either Togo defeats France or Angola defeats Portugal....The colonised defeating the coloniser...That is what I'm looking for

I'm really looking for Dempsey to make some noise in this tourney. He's brash, fiery and has the talent to back it up. I think the US Team needs someone to fire it up now and again. The squad as it stands still is a laid back force. Nobody is there to really inject any life into it. They're all still under the impression that they're the underdogs and that they have to go about their business in an unassuming way. And even though they ARE still looked upon as th underdogs, the team should believe they can beat anyone out there. Dempsey is just the sort of hot-head the team needs to get everyone riled up and raring to go.

Barthez over Coupet or even Ulrich Rame from Bordeaux whose a big-time keeper, but very under-rated. This shows that the English team selection is not the only one dictated by the "popular" vote/media...

AC Milan was the team that got me into watching footy. The likes of George Weah, Marco van Basten, Lenoardo, Paolo Maldini, Donadoni and even that dirty cheat Baresi really got me hooked and showed me what class of football existed outside of the United States. This was before the internet, before the MLS, before the fantastic World Cup '94 and I had seen neither hide nor hair of any football other than domestic youth leagues. So when I watched an exchange student friend of mine's tapes of AC Milan that were sent to her weekly during the early '90's I was hooked. With that I've always followed AC Milan, but over the years my distaste has grown for the League itself every year. And while AC Milan hasn't been implicitly charged with any wrong-doings or have gone into financial tailspins like some of their more prominent contemporaries, you'd have to be pretty dense and/or naive to believe that their hands are clean. I'd love it if the club was as squeaky clean as could be, but with Berlusconi, whom I despise even though he's done wonders for the club, I cannot but think there has been underhanded dealings associated with the club. Again, if AC Milan are not charged, or even implicated in any wrong-doing I will be happy, but that seed of doubt will always remain, and that's a shame. The whole league needs a hosing down. The scandals and financial problems have been there for a long time, but unless they want a new black-eye every season, the Italian Football Association needs to make every effort to clean it up and make it respectable again.

I'll take the last USA match and also if nobody's taking one, a Swiss one as well. I cannae wait for June 9th!!!

Ste B, Can you update us upon what games are taken and what games are still free?

For such a crap month, you've made it seem a little less so. Thank goodness April is in our rearview mirror and May has already obliterated any sense of dismay that month was starting to spread... One question though, Bob...are you taking a summer break from the monthly reviews as well?

I'd fancy a match-up with Start Kristiansand. That way we can get a good view of that Haestad kid...if he's still there, of course...or Lyn Oslo to say hello to our old friend Henning... Plus, Bet24 would love either of those match-ups

no cracked version, just the regular version plus the first major patch that was released. So I guess I'm the only one with that problem... But I guess since Verona bought Amoruso off of me, the team had a need for an invisible player to suck a weekly wage out of me...

Does anyone have the problem of buying a player and having them disappear? Meaning I bought Murat Yakin but whenever I go to look at him or put him into a tactic he's nowhere on my team! But if I go to the Swiss National team and select him, it says Murat Yakin-Blackburn. The weirdest thing....

Liverpool: The Red Sh!te, the Red Scum, the Dirty Kopites, the Scouse Barstards. They go by many names, but if asked, they’d prefer Champions of Europe. Of course they would, but who listens to them anyway? The club everyone loves to hate currently sits in 3rd place and are within spitting distance of 2nd, a position they could not even hope to attain last year. Their emphatic win over Everton recently coupled with their 7-0 embarrassing thrashing of Birmingham give them 10 goals in two games and 18 in their last four in all competitions. An impressive number for any club but when before March there was a serious power outage from the numerous strikers that Liverpool have under their employ the number seems all the more impressive. Our last match was one that given a visit from Souey’s ever elusive mistress Lady Luck we might not have lost all three points. This was the match of the controversial Zurab Khizanishvili sending off (was he in the box or out of the box?) to which Ryan Nelsen saw fit to sound off on a few months later when recalling referee Halsey’s propensity to send Rovers off on red cards. For this “Improper Conduct” Ryan was almost brought in front of a tribunal as a result. But I digress, the past match in October saw Rovers defend mightily with 10 men for 42 minutes before Cisse struck a sneaky free kick in past Big Brad who had no chance. Who could say what would have happened if Zurab would have stayed in the game. One of those We’ll Never Know kind of things. At the time Liverpool were 1-4-1 with a whopping total of 4 goals scored. We were 3-2-3 with a total of 7 goals scored with our leading scorer of Gamst with three. For our next game the Red Scum look somewhat formidable with their strikers throwing in goals to finally help the midfield. The one interesting note is that even though they are not on top of our fan favorites list, they do play Bolton before our game. So for that moment, I have to say I will be a Liverpool fan…for that 2 hours only! After that, though, they do not play any of our direct competitors (Arsenal, Wigan, Tottenham) for the rest of the season. This Q&A was taken the day of the Brum thrashing as I just recently moved and wanted to make sure my USUALLY delinquent friends would reply in time. As I soon found out, they had no problem this go ‘round. Regardless, the Q&A from my delusional Liverpool co-worker (whose responses are in red) was pretty much what I expected, so I included a scouse friend of mine (whose responses are in blue) who has been a Toffee from the day he was born for a bit of comic relief, and also a bit of sense. Liverpool's season had taken a turn for the worse, but now seems to be on the up. Can it all be attributed to the lack of legitimate firepower up front or is the fixture list just too packed? I think it is a little bit of both. First, liverpool has played so many games this season because they had to start their Champions League in the middle of july. That with the league, the FA and Carling Cup, it makes a busy schedule. This week alone, they played on sunday, will play tomorrow, tuesday, in the FA cup, and again this weekend. That is crazy. On the other hand, liverpool also need a poachers striker similar to that of michael owen. At the moment no one is doing that for them. But things are looking up, 8 goals in the last 2 matches, so we will see. In an age where footballers are supposed to be bigger, stronger and fitter than they've ever been, all this talk of having too many games is just an excuse. Liverpool have a squad of more than thirty players, surely they can handle ninety minutes of football every week or four days. Liverpool's strike force is the worst I've ever seen. They have a 6'7'' striker who can't head the ball, a multiple European Cup winner in Fernando Morientes who's forgotten how to play since he moved there, Djibril Cisse who spends more time worrying about how to make his hair look stupid than scoring goals (His penalty against Newcastle recently was his first for fifteen games) and Robbie Fowler, who will never be the player he was when he was twenty three. Combined in the league, they have sixteen goals. (Crouch, 6, Cisse, 5, Morientes, 4, Fowler, 1.) With Steven Gerrard top-scoring in the league with eight, I think it's plainly obvious what the issue is. Do you feel that Liverpool's European run hindered their chance at the Premiership I think the amount of games they had to play early in the season hindered their chances in both. But pushing for 2nd is not bad at all. Would that be the European run that they cried their way into? ...and never should have been allowed to compete in? I'm surprised Benfica eliminated them, I'm shocked that they didn't lodge a complaint for re-instatement on the grounds that.. they are the Champions of Europe and should be treated as such. Do you happen to have any memorable Blackburn vs. Liverpool memories? I always just remember from the games I have seen between the two, they are usually entertaining. Both teams, especially Blackburn, get up for the game. Carragher(?) Babbel and Cisse having their twigs snapped at Ewood Park Who on Liverpool should Blackburn be afraid of? The liverpool midfield in general. With stevie g and xabi alonso leading the way, they are one of the most dangerous midfields in the league/europe/world. Blackburn are a team that can be exposed by pace, and almost every time I've watched him this season, Andy Todd has gone to sleep and let someone streak by, so I suppose Djibril Cisse would threaten in that respect; not that he would score a goal, of course.. but if by a miracle he found another player for once, there could be danger there. ...and of course there's always danger in the form of Steven Gerrard, though sometimes the danger is more that he'll cynically break your leg. Who on Blackburn should Liverpool be afraid of? Brad Friedel is a really good goalkeeper and is hard to beat a lot of the time. Bellamy could have his day too... Craig Bellamy. Goals in each of his last three premier league appearances, his pace stretches any defence. He also has great ability and in form is an asset to any team. I also fully expect Morten Gamst Pedersen to turn Steve Finnan inside out. What do you think of Rafa? A bonafide tactical genius or a clueless, plodding plonker? Rafa is a GOD. haha. Seems like he is bringing liverpool back to their glory days. Turned down real madrid to resign with us, which shows hes committed. He has the capability to out coach anyone. Rafael Benitez is a tactical buffoon. Anybody who thinks they can let Kaka wander around a pitch unchecked needs a CAT scan as soon as possible. I thoroughly believe that had Harry Kewell not been injured against Milan, the Italians would have continued their dominance right through to take an easy win. It took him an awfully long time to grasp how to play against lesser English teams in the premier league, it seemed he fully expected them to lay down before the might of Liverpool. The strike force that he has assembled all on his own is a testament to his perception of players, and the fact that Liverpool are worse than Bolton in terms of hoofing the ball from back to front all goes to show that the only reason there is any perception of this man who seems only able to say 'We work berry hard' as a decent football manager.. is that Liverpool are the media's perception of a "big club" and he is their boss. Who is/was your favorite Liverpool player? past: kenny dalglish, present: stevie gerrard of course. I like Brad Friedel a lot because he is american...and good, but liverpool doesn't really need a goalkeeper. All the dead ones. Now that your Euro Cup run is over, will you now please stop calling yourselves the Champions of Europe? We defeated chelsea and ac milan on our way to glory. It was well deserved. I will now say we are 5 time champions of Europe Nobody but their lot believed that anyway... Some interesting head to head facts if you all will indulge me…. The last time the Red Scum was beaten by Blackburn was in the FA Cup in 2000. Interesting that Dominic “Private Pyle” Matteo started and Thommo came on as a sub. Oh yeah and that Blake bloke scored the lone goal… The last time the Red Scum were beaten by Blackburn in a League game was 1996 when Wilcox scored betwixt a Sutton brace. Again Matteo was a kopite starter as was eventual Rovers Bjornebye and McAteer. Since that win our head-to-head record in the League is 0-8-7…ouch… The last time Rovers finished above the Dirty Kopites…Championship year, although in 2002 we finished just below them in the standings. The last time Rovers have swept a season series is 1993-1994 season. If we just looked at our head-to-head history we look a bit out of our class, however, if the boys can get the stigma out of their heads and play as brightly as we all know they are capable of, I think Blackburn can pip the 3 points. I believe that we get up for this match and show them who’s boss with a 2-0 win. Liverpool will be trying to either concrete or gain that second place spot and provide even more ammunition for their defense of being one of the best in England. Pfft, who believes that dross anyway?

I threw my hat in for Stuart Pearce. If Robson was on the poll I would've voted for him. In my view Stuart's handling of the media is secondary to his handling of the players. With that many ego's in one locker room there is an urgent need for some mad man who couldn't give a toss about whether their left back is whinging about this or his strike duo is complaining about that. I'm not going to subscribe 100% to the New Blood Theory, but after the Swedish Wet Fish I think the face of the National Team is almost as important as how it performs on the pitch. There are alot of English citizens whose stomachs are turning at the current team and their performances and a fresh face is needed for marketing and for getting the public's confidence back. The others in the list I'd have reservations about, though, excluding Mr. O'Neill. Stuart is inexperienced, sure, and he might not even be the man for the job long term, but to guide them through the Euro Qualifiers and then the competition I think he is completely capable. After that, then the FA can evaluate and see who they want to run the team into the 2010 World Cup... Just a non-U.K.er's 2 pence...