im gonna go for 2-0 to Rovers...Nonda and Gallagher to get the goals

i think our whole campaign is going to hinge on who we play away from home.

The top ranked teams are not going to look forward to coming to ewood, and i'd be confident of getting something out of the game against pretty much any team in the draw at home....

But if we can get a kind draw for the away legs then we could be in with a real shout of progressing especially with the top three teams going through

Id go for any of the four eastern European teams out of pot 3 and any out of pot 5

who are the other teams that could be in our gorup should we get through? Do we know? or is there another draw to determine that?

Anyway i'm going for 2-0

Nonda and Benni Mac to do the business!

Does anyone know why Robbie took his kit off yesterday, i was at the game and couldn`t understand why, i thought there might be an explaination on MOTD or SSN, as anyone a clue??

He busted his nose and got blood all over his kit...hence the striptease!

Not really happy about the draw, Chelsea will field a reasonable side for the cup game.

On the positives, we can beat them, its at home, its penalties after extra time and we should get some television money from this.

C'MON ROVERS!

The 3rd round draw

Wycombe v Doncaster

Sheffield United v Birmingham

Leicester v Aston Villa

Watford v Hull

Leeds v Southend

Chesterfield v West Ham

Notts County v Southampton

Newcastle v Portsmouth

Charlton v Bolton

Liverpool v Reading

West Brom v Arsenal

Port Vale v Norwich

Everton v Luton

MK Dons v Tottenham

Crewe v Manchester United

Blackburn v Chelsea

IMO the games; Newcastle V Pompey, Rovers V Chelsea and Leicester V Aston Villa will be the games shown on TV.

Are there usually three games on tv in the carling cup? Would it not be just two? one on the tuesday and one on the wednesday? Doesnt matter because i think we will be on anyway

1-1 McCarthy

1-0 jeffers

Edited to say that is my prediction..not the actual score!

Mokoena favoured over Todd as the defensive option on the bench...doesnt bode well for Toddy this!!

Am i right in thinking that if we win we go into a group with the other 4 winners? or are groups drawn again?

Doesnt really matter as im sure were going to lose

Rovers 1 - 0 Chelsea

McCarthy

If Jeffers does get his first start then surely there is no better game for it...

All the pessimism on here makes me think we'll win...

2-0

Jeffers

McCarthy

i think Rovers will find it difficult to score on Saturday....according to 'arry, Pompey will have the best keeper in the country in net!!!

And yes he is talking about David James!!

Link

Nice if predictable review from ESPN then in the last sentence:

If Hughes wins their first silverware since 1995, they'll make him a Saint. (hmm, why go to Southampton?)

I beleive that the Worthington cup is made of Stainless Steel...

The only prediction i am going to make is that Newcastle will not finsh inside the top 8

A typical condescending Southern Pillocks view of "poor little Blackburn's much above their station" performance and prospects. At least we are real people, unlike Essex Man and his "peeounds"!!!

I liked that preview.

not as bad as it could've been...very complimentary about the ground, and didnt even mention the Sh!te attendances!!

'best manager blackburn have had since Kenny Dalgliesh'

If we finish top six again this season he will be better in my eyes...and therefore the best rovers manager i can remember

When was the last time we lost at Pompey? Im confident we always do well there and this will continue:

Pompey 0 Rovers 2

Pompey 0 - 2 Rovers

McCarthy x2

Also someone from both sides to see red in a bad tempered affair....do i get any bonus points if that happens Mr Gull?

Scotty, those three points are extremely encouraging for the forthcoming campaign and have really raised my spirits. Aachen did well in the UEFA Cup last season (qualified from their Group stage) so it was a decent challenge for Rovers.

Good luck and keep safe in Rottedam!

Eh?

Are you sure? I thought they just got promoted this season? maybe your thinking of AZ Alkmar

Now I've no doubt that some people will disagree with me here but Reids all action end to end attitude coincides imo not only with the arrival of Hughes and his team but more particularly from the arrival of and example shown by Robbie Savage.

I'd agree with that...but it also coincides with him having a more settled position in the team...which is of course down to Hughes.

Sav might not be the prettiest player to watch but he does have a massive influence on the rest of the squad.

If Reid has another good season next time i reckon we'll be receiving some more bids for him...maybe a tad higher than £2m though!

bloody hell!!

Good goalkeeping by Brad!

Edited: Twice in 2 minutes!!

do we even look like scoring

no

On a brighter note, I've just managed to finish the four-suite game on Spider solitaire for the first time ever!!!

Not relevant, but hey- you have to take good things where they happen!!!

Quite an acheivement!!

Roberts is now on...did i see Tugay aswell?!

bentley is 16.

they're keeper is about 50! saw him play for panath...@ man u. he let 4 in in the 1st half hour.

hope he repeats that here!

Well we've already had nearly an hour...so i'd doubt he'll be repeating that!!!

Douglas should've scored

she's a bit old for me!

Pleasure what are you saying?? She looked to be in her late teens at most!!