broadsword

I blame Tony Blair myself.

Is it the one where you get to wear a skirt and get to call Jimmy Hill a poof? Sorry, I'm washing my hair that night!

Neither.

For all of these people that don't care about England, but care passionately about Rovers, let's have a hypothetical question. Let's say England win Germany 06, how will you react? Personally, I think I'd probably drink myself to death, and generally go bonkers. Will you lot be joining in, or will you be sat at home with a sixpack droning on about how "winning a World Cup is alright, but it doesn't compare to Rovers beating Bolton on a wet Wednesday in November"?

I DO! He's a bent GIT!

England playing in a major tournament helps unite the country. It gets casual observers involved in football. It's not a disturbing phenomenon at all. I can't believe some of the balls I read on here sometimes. And once the tournament's over then a lot of people will have no interest in footy until the next one, that's the way it is. Some people think there's shame in being a "plastic" football fan, as if it's some sort of black mark against your family name. Pathetic.

What?! Some people are just so odd!

I have to say I'm not Sven's biggest fan. Owen flipping Hargreaves, Emile Flipping Heck Heskey, Paul Stuffing Scholes (why persist with someone who is so out of form?), Keiron Well Named Dyer, no Alan Smith, Dracula James ... argh! But, nevertheless, we had a perfectly good goal disallowed. All the "they played better" claptrap doesn't negate the fact that the referee prevented us from reaching teh semi's because he disallowed the goal.

Quality or not, they are OUT! Whereas England are still IN!

Will we still be talking about Damian flipping Duff in ten years time? Enough enough. It's crazy man talk. To paraphase Phil Lynott: "If that Duff don't wanna know, forget him!"

I'll go for the Dundalk manager, Shearus O'Sheepus. News travels fast across the Irish Sea.

It won't go to pens, you heard it here first!

No worries, no-one will have a flipping clue what you're on about though!

Might just be the meeja making mischief. Strange to do it on the morning of the England game though, hardly a slow news day, is it?! If it is true then that is banonkers*. * Bananas and bonkers.

Where's a policeman when you need one?

Let's hope we win the thing, waggy might stop moaning about Souness for a bit then. England to win. (Touch wood, cross fingers).

Was our winning the rugby WC pre-ordained then? Why didn't someone tell, I would've stuck a bet on! D'oh! When England win, people get carried away. I'm not sure if some of the comments on here are an attempt to temper that, or whether some people are just peeved when England do well.

Gabriella's OK, a solid right-back, though not exactly Josimar. Philomena though - ouch! Are you "Romania" sure Tris? I can handle him playing for England, but not at left-back! The Man Utd nickname for them "busy coots" (or something) is quite apt.

??? Oi, RIML, what the flip are you on about?! Have you been going down the pub or a nursing home?!

Won't even be watching it at this rate. Will probably still be stuck at poxy work trying to get reports to poxy run.

well, his full name is Francisco Javier De Pedro, but nobody calls him Francisco, just Javier De Pedro or Javi de Pedro (Javi to Javier is the same that Jack to John). BTW: Real Sociedad = Royal Society (of San Sebastian, the full name) Javi de Ped-i-ro! Javi de Ped-i-ro! Javi De Pedro, Javi de Pedro!

It's either from Cosi fan Tutte or Madam Butterfly, anyway, the chant had already been appropriated for Di Canio. "Franciso de Pedro! Franciso de Pedro!" then higher: "Franciso de Pedro! Franciso de Pedro!" or something

We love Francisco We love Francisco Lalalala, lalalala! That is his first name, after all!

Gordon Bennett, give the poor bugger a chance! So many armchair experts ... !