my little brother works at the FA. They have a pool of free tickets for each FA game he has got first dibs on Rovers tickets for me.

Thanks for that Biddy i was wondering about parking at Newport. Think I might park up at the hotel and then get a cab to the station. I tell you, this had better be worth it - costing me over £300 so far and I got my tickets for free!

maybe his a dirty player, but he's OUR dirty player.

but I thought the train was running fine from Newport?

the problem with dickov is that his link up play is atrocious and with a lone striker you need two things: 1. A striker who can hold up the ball and bring others into the game 2. Midfielders who can get forward and take chances. Dickov is absolutely terrible at No. 1 and Reid, Emerton and Thompson don't take anywhere near enough of their chances (I'll let MGP off on this one). At least Stead and Gallagher use the ball well and can bring others into it but the midfielders need to start taking chances. Look at Chelsea, most of their goals come from Duff, Robben, Lampard & Cole. Or if we're being more realistic lets look at Everton who get most of their goals form midfield as well with Bent playing the lone forward role brilliantly (but not scoring much). As for the Semi I'm actually quietly confident about that one. I think the problem with Arsenal this season has been how complacent their big time players have become. I actually think we'll have more joy against Viera & Co. than we had against the hungrier fringe players yesterday. Mokoena will kick Viera off the park, we will defend so deep that Henry's pace won't be an issue and if MGP can rediscover his great free-kick/corner delivery from a few weeks ago then we have every chance of nicking a goal from a set-piece.

it was the Police's decision. FA and the Beeb would both prefer 5:15 kick off for obvious reasons. Police don't want 140,000 fans leaving/arriving Cardiff on Saturday night.

what I don't understand is why the police treat all fans like they are swansea or milwall. How much agro is there between these 4 clubs? None of these fans are known for trouble and whilst there's a bit of niggle between Manure and the Arse on the pitch I don't remember it ever kicking off between the fans? I would suggest that 70,000 sleep-deprived and over-emotional fans who will start drinking at 3pm presents more of a problem to the police than a 5pm kick-off!

Apparently the reason for the 12.15 is not to stop people drinking beforehand but because the alternative time of 5.15 would mean that if it goes to penalties etc then you have 70,000 people trying to get home at past 8 or 9pm. Now I look at it, it doesn't make much sense but that comes from someone who was at the meeting to decide (and yes I have given him an earful!)

we should play an attacking 1-4-5 for this one, lose 13-6 then reap the benefits in the semi-final when we revert to 4-5-1 it's a cunning plan.

apparently last night was the first time the crowd have chanted his name. He's a good manager as we well know. We wouldn't have been in a position to give Mark Hughes a job if he hadn't done the business for the first 2 years of his regime. For whatever reason it went wrong at the end, he left, we got the best young manager in the country. Everyone's a winner! That said, I would love a Blackburn Newcastle final.

when January came I and others were a bit worried that Hughes had no experience of the transfer market. Savage, Nelson and Mokoena must rank as the best bits of business we have done since Kenny was here. Nelson and Mokoena look absolutely world class. I can't think of a single player from any club in the last few seasons who matches them as value for money signings except maybe Yakubu. If you told me back at the start of the season that we would have one of the most feared defences in the league I would have wet myself. It's a long road ahead but for the first time in a long time I'm excited to be a Rovers fan (even if noone else will come down the pub to watch our games any more).

from what I know we are 95% likely to be playing on the Saturday. What isn't certain is whether it will be lunch-time or early evening kick off. My brother is involved in the decision and I will post on here as soon as he tells me what the decision is. However I've tried booking hotels already and most of the good places are full - had to book a room about 30 minutes away near Newport.

no way they will move from Cardiff. acc to my brother at the FA the Milennium stadium owe the FA money which is why they are doing the semi's there on the cheap.

think we stood a chance against anyone in the draw but I have to say that I was hoping for Newcastle. Henry going one on one with Lucas Neill scares me a bit - hopefully Moko, Savage & Todd can kick Arsenal out of it early doors - they are no good once theyve lost their rag. If we go a goal down early it could get messy though...

Nelson, Todd and Mokoena were all excellent yesterday. Mokoena Vs Keane/Viera should be fun to watch. So we've got the defensive side sorted. The problem is if we play 1 up (as we probably have to) then Dickov scares the hell out of me. We're only going to get 2 or 3 chances inthe semi and we need a striker that might take 2 of them. All Dickov did yesterday apart from attempt to hit the keeper with his penalty was to fall over and moan, again and again. Let's hope Stead can get a hat-trick against the scoucers and keep him out.

Amen! Based on Nelson and Mokoena I have huge faith in Hughes' network. Also that is the only way for clubs like us to progress we need to find a Yakubu out there somewhere. Who wants to come to Africa with me?

couldn't agree more - When Emo was playing well earlier in the season I could see why Reid wasn't getting in but when he's come on he's been quality every time I've seen him play; big, strong, quick and as he proved with the pass today he can play a bit. He's not the finished article yet but I think if hughes decides what position to play him in he will only get better.

Nelsen looks class, although his hair is much too big or is it his head? - he looks like one of those plastic collectable figures Mokoena also looks like a quality signing to me - he could end up doing the Flitty role in midfield very well. This bodes well for the summer - Hughes clearly has a great scouting network - or does Souey deserve the credit for that?

Not sure about the 'living memory' bit, my Gran distinctly remembers the victory parade for the '28 cup win and I seem to remember a cup final in Cardiff a few years ago...

Thanks for that Paul, I have posted negatively about the Burnley fans behaviour on this MB before but then I was sat in with the Longsiders. If the behaviour the other side of the ground was better then fine and to hear stories of vandalism and coin throwing from our side is depressing. The problem lies with the minority on both sides but but we have to keep speaking up about it or it won't go away. There is such a difference between banter and hatred - there was far too much of the latter and not enough of the former at the last game even if there wasn't much violence.

not sure who's putting in the tackles in that midfield but I can't argue with the results (although I wish I could think of a better left-back than le Saux) Here's an idea, rather doing a greatest ever player poll why don't we do a 'Mr Blackburn Rovers' Poll that way we can debate Garner Vs Parkes Vs Compton Vs Clayton etc. might be a bit more fun.

why does everyone give such a damn about selling all the tickets? Apart from affecting the atmosphere we seem to spend far too much time acting like accountants on this MB. If Rovers went the way of Accy it wouldn't change a thing for me - let's concetrate on the football and let JW worry about the P & L

Fantastic news!! Semi-final against Souness here we come...

sorry!