let's face it , we can never play him because the fans won't have it .

I don't agree with this at all!!!

Certainly the fans aren't happy with Baby Barry, not should they be. But with all the complaining on here about the club not caring about the fans (ticket prices, crowd size, ticket promotions, etc...) what makes you think all the sudden that the club cares about what the fans think???

If Hughes comes out and says, "right now Barry's part of the team, and he give us the best chance to beat Cardiff and Bolton>" and puts him in the squad, what's gonna happen. He's got 2 options:

1) He plays... So he has to deal with the crowd telling him to **** off. Okay he deserves it, but if Blackburn gets his usual performance, no loss to Blackburn, still we can sell him to Gers, at an increased price, because obviosuly you don't NEED to sell....

2) He refuses to play, Blackburn refuses to pay him, send him packing (again at a decent price cause you don't NEED to sell) and no loss to Blackburn.

Surely I'm wrong on this, but I still don't think we are in the dire position to take a massive loss on this transfer as some people seem to think.

Great news!

Think about the middle of the pitch in our matches now.... Todd, Mokoena, Savage, Thommo (as CM), and Dickov...... No opponent can have the ball anywhere in the center for more than a split second before there's a nip at your heels or worse. (and we wonder why we've got out spot in the dicipline table)

I feel this move makes us even more hard to beat, well done to Hughes...

Now lets find a striker, and apparently he needs to be an international captain... any thoughts?

Okay, I understand the idea of not wanting a keeper as capt. to ensure you have a player in the middle of the field to organize, but its been commented that even when Baby Barry had the armbanmd recently that Todd and Flitty were more vocal.

With Nelsen, Mokoena,Todd, Flitty, and likely Savage all with outfield Capitan experience, is it really needed for this group to have the armband out there, I don't see where rewarding Brad for his service would be so catastrophic to the side??

But then again, maybe that's why I'm so easy to laugh at!

What about Emerton?

Go with a young guy who is an up and coming star, make a statement that the team is ready to move forward! He's a regular in the team at all times. You are showing commitment to a guy who could be considered one of our most valuable assets...

That being said, I'd give it to Todd or Friedel, but I think Emo would be worht a thought

Unfortunately I don't really have the cash (training program hasn't had time to start producing yet!). I'm going to wait until just before the deadline to place my order for the increase (still working on the 7000K starter stadium, which I've almost sold out in my last home game in teh rain!) The arena cost will bring me right to about $0 in the bank... sigh.... But I'll have about a 17K stadium next season. no signing new players over the off season, and hope for some leaps and bounds in the trainees to get some cash in the coffers...

although It looks like I shoudl easily be able to finish 2nd next year, and the #1 team has autopromoated, the relegated team is a bot I think, and I think I'm better than the teams in 4th and 5th from this season...

I'm waiting for the results from tonight, but I'm looking at finishing thrid, when only taking the team over in week 11. I was hoping to sell a few trainees first, but since they are upping the staduim costs, I'm going to have to splah into debt a bit now to save the increased costs later....

but the winger trainees should be up to snuff for sale sometime about mid next season.

Good luck to all!

I think I rate Barry a lot higher than others on here, and I'd hate to see him leave. One stat is his favor I'd point to is our possession. I seem to recall we do very well in that regard (except compared to the chelski, manure, arse clubs). Do you think that Nissa or Flitty or Tugay is responsible for that??? So he's not ggod because he can't possess the ball and score? obviously the best players don't need 10 others around them.

I think all these comments of, "let him go cause he doesn't want to be here" are just from sheer frustration. Anything directly attributed to Barry has said nothing about his so-called desire to leave, in fact his quotes (from before this all started I admit) make it appear that he wants to stay to me. I agree it'd be nice for him to say it again that he wants to stay, but really, his agent is probably telling him he doesn't have to at this point!(can you tell I hate agents!)

The only person saying he wants to leave is his agent. Obviously the agent wants him to leave, if he plays for Blackburn from now till the end of his career, the agent makes pennies on the new contract(s)... if Barry switches clubs 5 times, the agent makes cash hand over fist each time on the transfers.

Barry to Stay!

I have a question...

I had some good luck with the results this week, so I now sit in 3rd, no chance for 2nd, and 1 pt ahead of 4th (who plays the bottom team, when I play the 5th place team that I tied 0-0 in my first friendly). Staying in 3rd is worth a $10K US bonus more than 4th. I'm thinking about MOTS for the final match to ensure the win, and the $10K. I don't know all the risks/rewards, having never MOTS before.... TS is currently compsed.

American and I played a friendly at his house.... ended 1-1 tie, I played a fair squad in the middle, with my winger trainees... Not sure how American felt about his squad, looking forward to a rematch, and then travelling to Oklahoma's pitch in the offseason!

great game! thanks for helping me find it!

Human pyramid in the net, with Brad in front?

Surely hard to score on....

lets see, 38 games, 38 draws, 38 points....

is that enough to stay in the PL?

ice hockey, men on ice with knives strapped to their feet, great fun!

Also, as Tris worries with the video technology in football, the technology for goal lines in hockey changes based on the level.

At the college level and below, there is only a goal line official, sits in a cage directly behind the net with two buttons, green=no goal red=goal, and they signal this at every whistle or stoppage of play) only in the NHL, (not sure about the AHL) do they have video replay, but they still have the goal official. Video still has to be used because... well, in a scrum on the ice in front of that teeny net, its easy for the view from behind to be obstructed.

Goal officials wouldn't be a bad idea in football, low-tech, keeps the "human element" involved, no real slow down to the game, manure loses a point... wait, it can't happen

My new team was in fourth when I took over (last division in US, so relegation isn't an issue). Unless the team behind me beats the top team, I'll be set in at least fourth, one 1 pt behind 3rd (the extra cash might be nice).

Looking forward to a friendly against American this week, although I'll be playing trainee wingers and wing backs, so I'll likely get mauled.

P.S. - speaking of bad youth pulls, what's the best way to get them off the roster, pay the fee to list them as a transfer and hope they sell, or fire them? and if they get fired right away, I read there is a TS penalty? Is it significant?

First transfer listed:

Germán Carreón (50385208)

28 years, weak form, healthy

Nationality: USA

Total Skill Index (TSI): 930

Wage: 700 US$/week

Owner: Wilderness Wanderers FC

Warnings: 0

Stamina: weak Goaltending: wretched

Playmaking: weak Passing: passable

Winger: weak Defending: solid

Scoring: wretched Set Pieces: poor

I asked for a minimum bid of $50K US

Think I'll get it?

Thanks Oklahoma,

Just got assigned a team,

Wilderness Wanderers FC (223701)

in VI.227 of USA

No chance of promotion this year, so starting to train for next year and sell off the older dead wood.

Got a team with decent winger skill to start, so I'll be training wingers, when I start to sell, I'll let ya know...

good luck

Hi all, just signed up for hattrick, very excited!

I read the entire thread.. well skimmed, so I thanks you for all the past advice. I'll post my team info when I see it!

Is this the third or fourth time he's been linked with a move back to Rangers.

Either way it's just getting boring now...

Actually was asking about a new injury report, don't think there's a lick of truth to Rangers getting him back....

Anyways, back to the match discussion...

I read a report on soccernet that Ferguson is going to miss the Scotland Friendly due to injury, which is probably a good thing for Rovers, but any word if this is going to rule him out for any Rovers games, or is it just a nagging injury he's been dealing with?

Reviving and older thread, maybe not the right place.....

soccernet is reporting that Barry won't be playing for Scotland due to injury... nay other news? will this sit him down for Rovers??

here's to hoping not.

Wow...

Does this mean I can't vote since I've only followed Rovers for 2 years, and I've never seen any of these players play?

As much as I agree that only voting for players one has seen is short sighted, lets not rush into eliminating votes.

He was "bribed" into voting for Sherwood as much as I would have to be considered "bribed" into voting for Forrest, since all I can go on is the writings and stories of others. Therefore only people old enough to have seen all of them play can vote! dear me....

P.S. - haven't voted yet, but will probably vote for Forrest near the deadline, just to make things interesting.... 5 medals, I have to agree with that being enough said.

Besides, there is a difference between having the player watched (by a scout or assisant) or allowing Hughes to see how the lad can play.

Although, I'm sure someone with a pessimistic view will think that this indicates that Hughes doesn't trust the scouts???

Another thought about our wings. Certainly Emo was man of the match for us, as he had a hand in both goals on the left. And for as much bashing as reid gets, and he did disappear at times today, he seems to back track well. I can't think of any mistakes he made...

Might we have seen a lineup that hughes will trot out a few times in a row? I like the paring of Dickov and bothroyd actually. Dickov had a few chances today that he missed getting a foot to the ball by a whisker. Bothroyd heading crosses down to Dickov, I see that working.... maybe I've had too many pints....

2-2 full time

decent result, although, truth be told... we COULD HAVE (like you could have paid more attention in school) (perhaps should have) had more....

Bothroyd looked very dangerous, I think this defence could work for me (if mceveley would stop baning free kicks into people). Even Tugay looked good at times (although his boot to Baro's stomach was nasty). Wild game, probably a dream to watch in person, good attendance too!

I'd have to say it helps a little. No real downside since the contract is so short (assuming it's Rovers option to extend, not his).

I like the idea of some added spark to the attack, especially someone adept at delivering the ball in dangerous positions... we've all lamented the bad service to the boys up front. Here's some needed help potentially.

At least its a veteran to help develop MGP, get more from Emerton and push DePedro into fitness

I know its been said, but I want to agree, I'm glad that Portsmouth's pace didn't give us more problems.... Hope Short gets back soon! Encouraging win, and looking for more in the future!