Savage doesn't do this anymore. He's had right kickig from in some games and he just gets back up and gets on with it. In a post match interview he's even said that 'If you dish it out you've got to be able to take it as well'

I agree. Ronaldo is a disgrace. Was the Rooney incident a red card? I don't think so. He didn't stamp, he just put his foot to (where he will have percieved to be) the floor. I reckon he didn't even know the chap was there. If anything he's been fouled whilst trying to hold the ball up previously anyway. If the little push is a red card then that's a very disappointing decision. I agree with a previous poster. Football is a sport with which I'm becoming rapidly disillusioned because of the appalling and biased refereeing. On the other hand maybe I should try my hand at being a ref. At least I've played the game at a reasonable standard and can see what's going on! Very disappointing tournament from England, though. We can't say that we deserved to win the World Cup, in any event. C'mon Brazil from hereon in!

Poll deserves a rousing rendition of 'You let England down' when he next visits Ewood.

That balding Swiss defender (left back?) that kept looking to rev up the crowd looked good.

Yes!

Nice preview. I want to visit there now. I didn't realise you were a travel agent, Philip! Maybe Owen's departure will be a blessing in disguise as we'll be able to operate with a holding midfielder giving Stevie G and Lamps the licence they need. Don't kow why there's rumours of Carrick stepping in, though. I'd have thought Hargreaves would get the nod. I know that Carrick's a better footballer, but is he the better defender? A win for Engerland nonetheless.

I was thinking that. I'd like to see Gerrard further up the field. That'd sort out the link from midfield to attack and see Owen getting the service he deserves (and thrives on). I thought Lamps head dropped a bit in the last game. I don't think Gerrard's head ever drops and he can take a team by the scruff of the neck.

I think that the previous comment is heavily laced with sarcasm/irony?

It's probably a bit different sitting there in front of the big man than just sitting with your agent having your head filled with garbage. Transcript of meeting... MH 'I hear that you're thinking of leaving, Mr. Reid?' SR Agent 'Well, my client...' MH 'I'm not talking to you, son. Are you thinking of leaving, Mr. Reid?' SR (strangled voice) 'No, Mr. Hughes never crossed my mind, sir.' MH Smiling wryly 'Good lad'

I just thought I'd add that I'm really rooting for Australia with the Rovers contingent. C'mon the Socceroos!

The first booking should never have been a yellow IMHO. Match defining moment.

Was that the young lad up front? Came on as a sub? Looked sharp. Worth a look, defo.

First dodgy refereeing I've seen, apart from the England game, and where's the ref from? The UK. Big surprise. Poll was _so_ keen to get his red card out he issued that before the yellow. Speaks volumes IMO.

You've touched the ball twice if you score from the rebounded pen. If the keeper saves it then you can tuck it away. Otherwise it's a foul... I've always thought that the opposition goal should count as an opponent. ie if you hit the woodwork from a shot you should get rewarded with a corner.

Maybe in his post match comments Lucas could say something along the lines of 'With all due respect to Australia, my Blackburn team would not have allowed me to be under pressure to the degree that I put through my own goal and my Blackburn team mate Friedal would have save my og anyway'

After Rooney gets ruled out Shearer will be tempted out of retirement and will get a surprising 15 goal haul by just whacking the ball as hard as he can as soon as he gets it ala Hasselbaink. Or, if we're going to be silly, maybe Ronaldo...

I think this is an awful idea. Lucas has had an excellent season at RB and Nelsen likewise at CB. Why on Earth would we want to swap them around? Just my opinion!

Ah, but they base their prices on intelligence/emotional development and not age...

Doesn't he get called 'Wee Barry' or 'Mummy's boy'? Just to clarify the reason for the 'ski' it's because a lot of russian names finish in 'ski' and the russian Roman owns the club. Sorry, presty, but I wasn't sure if Dillo would follow the reasoning. Sorry to Dillo if I'm not giving enough credit to you!

I think a couple of those are half-truths...

Arena sounds really grumpy. Is he always like this? Apols if already posted. http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=Atks...ov=ap&type=lgns

I actually quite like him as a player. Surprisingly good footballer for a big chap IMO.

If Lehmann (who is a pillock prone to stupid lapses IMO) hadn't made that challenge then there was no argument about the red card. If you have a goalie like that he drops clangers and he's just done that in the biggest game he will probably ever play in. If another player had put a challenge in like that on him he'd have gone ballistic and we've all seen him put in mega hissy fits for the most trivial of challenges. It's a pity he got sent off, however, as I've been buzzing all day thinking about this game and it was ruined.

Blades on boots should be for ice skaters.

I think it's all academic. It appears to me that Curbishley's clearly got the job.