Bilic does have a law degree. Dowie has a masters in rocket science.

Domestically I can think of Graeme Le Saux, Niall Quinn, Casey Keller, Tony Adams (no seriously), Gavin Peacock, Steve McManaman, Iain Dowie... Any others?

Rooney's interviews are excruciating. For such a snarling, aggressive and 'vocal' player he comes across as both timid and downright terrified in interviews. Still his people skills aren't the reason United pay hism the big bucks.

Absolute daylight robbery, a brilliant bit of business by Rovers.

Rooney and Gerrard aside, what other players in this 'host' would French supporters crave over their own pretty useful performers?

God knows. My sister knows more about the offside rule than big Titus.

I went to Palace a couple of years ago. It's one of the most depressing places I've ever been to. The whole area is just grey.

I bought John Mayer's new album Continuum the other day. The first four tracks are astoundingly good. It does slip slightly from thereon but is saved by a great cover of Hendrix's All Is Love.

Brilliant.

Any defection by Neill to Newcastle would be a serious insult. Liverpool is one thing but the circus up at St. James's Park has nothing to offer him other than more money. Perhaps we could get Carr in exchange.

Tevez and Mascherano are owned by some dodgy sports agency. Pirlo is not. This would also happen to be the same sports agency that was looking to buy...West Ham.

Nah he's way out of our league. I like the look of that Kaka' fella though. Sergio Aguero or Lionel Messi would be good signings but they lack experience...

Pirlo. Arguably the best playmaker in the world, one of Milan's highest paid players, a World and European Cup winner... Quality.

Me too. Very much. V for Vendetta is good but not a patch on The Matrix.

What a surprise, we concede to yet another player going through a barren patch. And it had to Bellamy. A bit ###### off to be honest.

It's good. Though don't expect much action. It's nothing like The Matrix in spite of the obvious connections.

There's another good article in The Guardian.

He's only echoing the sentiments of that BBC article... I think you'll find that 'talk' and 'hype' were not in any way attributed to England's loss. It is a problem when a team talks a better game than it actually plays.

I disagree. Rooney is an absolutely superb footballer and would grace any international side. Gerrard is also a supremely gifted player who would have no trouble getting into any nation's midfield-I have no doubt that the would fit into the engine rooms of Brazil, Italy, France, Germany and Argentina without any hesitation.

The contrast between the atmosphere now (post-Macedonia and Croatia) and then (post-big wins in McClaren's first couple of games) is stark. No doubt many fans will be on top of the world again when England beat Israel in their next game. With the players England have they should be challenging against teams like Croatia. In spite of the underwhelming performance, credit must go to Bilic's side. The Croatians have always been a very good team, and with a radical young manager at the helm, they are clearly going in the right direction. There's no real shame in losing to a side of at least equal ability to yourselves.

Shearer-an awesome force of nature and the greatest player in the top division for at least twenty years. All while in a Rovers shirt. Nice.

Gangs of New York was so bad that it hurt. The Aviator was good but this is something else entirely.

Saw The Departed earlier. It's absolutely pulse-pounding stuff, Scorcese at his very best. If no Oscars spring from it then I'll be very surprised. The best line belongs to the superb Alec Baldwin: "Patriot Act! Patriot Act! I love it!"

A new and improved trailer for 300 can be seen here. Frankly, it looks awesome.

And they're pricks. They don't have much going for them.