and Derry have PSG

The Geordies are off to Tallin B*stards!!

But it's still illegal to broadcast this to the public (just as it is a different fee for sky tv in a pub than at home) and doesn't explain why pubs in London and the West Midlands have been cracked down on and pubs in Blackburn and Bolton continue to show games. Although it's only a short term fix, how many fans who would normally watch Rovers at home would return to the ground? 500, 1000? Not even that?

Good spot. Somebody has definitely caught his attention too... maybe Ulrika was in the crowd

When I was a kid I remember thinking Gennoe was the best keeper in the country, but I also thought Scott Sellars should play for England. Flowers was solid, and an amazing shot stopper, but he just didn't have the superman status that Friedel had for 2 or 3 years here. Mimms was good, but every now and again did a "Booby". Vince O'Keefe played half a decent season when Gennoe broke his leg, and had a stormer in the Full Members Cup Final. All in all we've done well for Goalkeepers at Ewood over the last 20 years. Even Darren Collier began to win the fans over before we signed Mimms to replace him. Who was the keeper who played instead of Mimms in our promotion season and let the ball float over his head and in. Against Wolves I think? 1. Friedal 2. Flowers 3. Gennoe 4. Filan 5. Mimms

How can you describe Bent as a flash in the pan when he's only had one season in the Prem? (a successful one at that) He was the top English born goalscorer in the Prem playing for a very mediocre side. Not only that, he was consistent over the entire season and scored goals from start to finish. He also played a lot of the season playing as a LONE striker. He was/is the most logical backup striker we have. Sure, he's not world class but neither are the Italian strikers, and look where they are. Still, it was only one of the problems we had. The midfield is another story

There's diving, and there's diving Strikers have been taking falls for penalties for years. A silly tackle comes in, and the player just makes sure there's enough contact for him to go down. Read Speedie 92, Owen in 98/2002, Grosso 2006. Poor challenges from the defender, and the striker says thank you very much. Is he conning the ref or simply taking advantage of the rules of the game? For me it's the latter. What we see now of course is players taking dives without contact, feigning injury and trying to get players sent off. Unfortunately Portugal have been by far the worst offenders of this in the tournament, although Henry against Spain was pretty awful too. Post match video evidence leading to bans will soon sort that out, but FIFA seem reluctant, alhtough I'm not sure why? Won't have a problem with Italy winning the wc. Think they've really gone for it in the last few games and deserve it the most.

So how much are tickets for the Aussie vs Brazil game going for on the black market?

The difference won't even be noticable. How many grounds in the country actually sell good beer? Carling is one of the worst lagers in the world, and all smoothflow beers are the same tastless imitations of real beer. You will still get Carling (as Thwaites serve it in their pubs), and you'll get Thwaites Smooth. Could be worse I suppose. Bud light and John Smiths....

Yep. Used to walk up/down it every day to and from School (Witton Park). it's off the road where St Peter's school is, and where John's Cut Price used to be.

Because Rover6, if Owen and Rooney aren't fit, he won't be coming on from the Bench he will be starting. For me Bent is the most suitable guy to play up front on his own as he has pace, power, and leads the line well. I just think Crouch will be sussed out, and is a late sub at best.

Rooney had played a whole season at Everton (or was it 2?), this lad's not even kicked a ball in the prem As someone in the office said, we have 4 strikers, 2 are injured, one has never played top flight football, and the other is Peter Crouch He's trying something different alright. Something crap

Darren Bent scored more prem goals than any of the strikers he's taking, and that's playing for one of the worst teams in the prem that I've seen. Never so obvious as now that Sven only picks players from his fave clubs

Managed to pursuad some guys from here (are aren' big football fans) that it will be a good idea for us to spend a long weekend in Munich when Australia play Brazil (didn't take much convincing) I would hope then to catch a train up to Cologne to be there for the England/Sweden game (again no ticket), then train back to Zurich. But a meet up in Munich on 17th/18th would be a good idea.

Eddie, I would make sure you buy your ticket in advance as we have 1500 tickets and could well sell out, as is the importance of the game. Gonna try and get mine tomorrow. Will be delivered to London so if you're worried about delivery PM me and I'll order another one for you.

Bellamy's first on Sat, no contest. 2 things I always look at are the importance of a goal, and just how difficult it is to execute. While we can argue about the importance of some of the goals, there's no doubt there's only 1 player in our team who could have pulled that goal on Saturday off. Not taking anything away from Tugay, but if connected with correctly, any player can smash a moving ball into the top corner. Most can only dream of scoring a goal like Bellers...

Also many ex locals will be making the trip back over the Easter holidays, and judging by this board, there's a lot of em.

Aren't Leeds also known as the Peacocks?

Since when do you kick off after scoring a goal?

What about prolific 5 goal a season strikers from Serie B, who couldn't cut it in the Serie A? I saw a video of Corado Garribaldi and he plays with his socks rolled down so must be good. a 6 million bid should do the trick.

Bellamy needs a full injury free season before anyone will come in and pay big money for him. Then we'd be talking Michael Owen type transfer money, he's that good. Reid also needs a full season consistantly performing well. He'd be foolish to want away. Neill and Nelson are both great players but are prone to the odd error. Only the elite defenders command huge wages and transfer fees. The fact that there're not English also devalues tham a bit. All the above I see us keeping this summer, the only player who could go is MGP. We don't want to sell him, and I'm sure the club would rather keep him than cash in. But if Man U can't get Duff (Chelsea wouldn't let them) and come in with a £10 million bid, along iwith agents and press reports, the player will soon be unsettled. And we all know what happens then. We could easily bring back Dunn and/or Duff on loan to rescue the fans.

So everyone's assuming we finish below Bolton, and we need 7th place?

Should be like Boxing Day but with nice weather then...

Sunderland seem to scrap and fight in every game, which is why they don't get hammered too often. They're so bad though they can't score and inevitably concede a goal or 2. Comparing it to West Ham doesn't really work as they had Freddie Kanoute playing that night, as well as Joe Cole, Jermaine Defoe etc. Sunderland aren't a team who on their day are good, they're just way out of their depth in the prem. If we play like we have been, we should win no problem... so 2-1 to the Mackems then, Stead to get the winner

Here is the link to the Drayton Park http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/50/...n_Arms/Highbury It's a bit of a sh*t hole, and totally dominated by away fans (I prefer a friendly mixed pub but you don't often get that these days) The Arseanal Tavern, at the opposite end of Highbury is a nice place http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/64/...Tavern/Highbury Think the Gunners pub just down the road from the Drayton is the hardcore home fans' pub so probably best steering clear I should be in the Drayton Arms around midday if I don't get thirsty on the way from Highbury & Islington and have to stop off somewhere else