He's showing his usual timing and anticipation there - 2 weeks after the transfer window closed!

bye bye

From the Evening Standard article:

"Just as Roman Abramovich has more money than Jack Walker, it's fair to say that Mourinho possesses considerably greater charisma than Kenny Dalglish. "

cheeky b***ards!!

At first I was very surprised by this, but on reflection I guess that Sparky wants to be in control of every level of the club and bring in new ideas throughout - it might be some time before we see the benefits but you've got to start on that omlette sometime.

Tashor, spot on. We need to play 2 up front and we need to hae Djotkaeff to unlock defences. The only way we can do it is to play him out wide on the left. Playing one up front just doesn't work for us.

Interesting point R - I'm sure Notlob used to play him there sometimes - definately worth a go, with Emmo on the right, Dickov & a.n.other up front

I think you're right rf1 he will turn out to be ok, but we have to make it to Christmas in one piece.

We've got to treat the next 2 months like the last 2 months of the season and start fighting our relegation battle now. We need to get Short and Todd fit and playing together (or Short & Matteo + Todd as a defensive MF) Amo can be packed off to the glue factory for good (Jay would be a better bet any day of the week) and start making ourselves hard to beat. This is the core of the problem, the team is sh*t scared to commit themselves forwards because we're so leaky at the back, as soon as we conced a goal the whole side's confidence evaporates and the back four just loose it completely.

Johnny Stead can play a few weeks in the reserves (or just a few sub appearances) so's he can remember where the goal is, Bothryod and Gallagher deserve a chance and FFS lets get MGP on the bloody wing!

sorry about the rant, saturday still smarts.

I wouldn't loose any sleep if Elland Road was flattened

anyone got any idea why I get the sound and not the pictures in WinAmp or Windows Media Player?

Sounds like its a divx file. You might need to d/l divx from www.divx.com

Thanks mode_m - works a treat

Hi everyone. A video exclusive of Morten Gamst Pedersen is now available for download at Tromsø’s website (if you are not aware of it already). The 5-minute special was made by the world-known television football magazine Fútbol Mundial and has been/will be broadcasted in more than 150 countries. Notice: The file is large (60 mb), so it might take a while to download, depending on your connection. MGP is interviewed in this video (+ some former teammates and manager) and you will see some of his goals for Tromsø this season.

MGP video

I’m from Tromsø, Norway, myself and I have followed the team closely for more than 10 years. MGP was probably the greatest talent I’ve seen on our team. In some matches he was outstanding (in fact versus the best teams, Rosenborg, Viking, Lillestrøm etc.) and he’s also proven himself well against international opposition. His only weakness was the stability, but during this season he has performed very well almost every match (before he was sold).

Knowing MGP as a player, I would be very surprised if he doesn’t succeed in the Premier League. As you all have said, he might and probably will need time to adjust. He also did when we bought him 4 years ago, but he developed into a great player.

So I hope you have patience in Morten and I’m sure he will “bloom” eventually!

anyone got any idea why I get the sound and not the pictures in WinAmp or Windows Media Player?

after we played Villa the season before last...

Souness said: "I'm extremely upset with Johnsen. I thought he was a proper player. But he wanted our young play (McEveley) to be sent off.

"It was two young lads going for the ball and Johnsen raced over to the ref to tell him to send our player off.

"I always thought he was a proper player but now to me he's just another Jonny Foreigner - and there are a few of those around."

from Annanova

sounds like a match made in heaven

Not one player has come out and rubbished him or dissed him in any way.

That for me shows the professionalism around the club players.

Judging by the comments attributed to mssrs Short,Flitcroft and Jansen there appears to be a masive upchange in mood within the club.

What is Jansen supposed to have said and where was it quoted?

Im very suprised this hasnt turned into a Poll?

It should be a poll, so make it a poll mods!

Who Do You Want As Our New Manager?

I. Dowie

M. Hughes

G. Strachan

D. Advocaat

C. Levein

M. Newell

P. Sturrock

P. Reid

G. Hoddle

G. Houllier

you forgot L. Grooby

I see no reason for people to go a bundle on Strachan, his pedigree is not hugely impressive.

...

I still maintain Moyes is the best we could go for.

Can someone tell me what Moyes has done that Strachan hasn't?

Jewell would be interesting as I go to the same barber as him so could pass-on Jim & rover6's tactical advice, but for me it has to be Strachan (he might bring Beattie back at Christmas).

If he had broken his neck we would all have forgotten about him by now.

You might have but an awful lot of us woudn't - what a bloody stupid thing to say

Rovers Agree Pedersen Fee

Its on the BBC so it must be true, but £2.5m - didn't know we had that kind of money in the bank, not for one player anyway.

Agree totally kris - I would have thought the youth players present much less of a risk in many ways and their commitment is usually spot on.

...getting a bit off-topic here

I think we'll get a penalty tonight, but we won't win

However, Souness has proved he is not a big one for promoting players from the academy. Apart from Gallagher, has Souness actually brought anyone through to the first team on his own terms?

Its odd that , considering that he promoted quite a few players from the Liverpool youth system when he was there. Perhaps in the current situation he thinks its too risky...?

Not sure how Shearer can be a cult hero, isn't this about those players who weren't widely known but were favourites at Ewood? I'd definately go for Ripper but then Super Atko (he's the A in SAS), Speedie, Gally, Berg, Hendry, Nicky Marker..? I guess a lot of our players could be 'cult' heroes as not many people outside the club thought much of a lot of them. Berg and Gally probably do it for me, but then.....hmmm

Hadn't it occured to anyone that there might be reasons why the club wants this kept quiet, and that as supporters we might consider going along with that?

I to was thinking along those lines but the fact that it is reported in the sunday people blows that idea out the water.

If the SP says that it was this Volpato guy and the match reports say he's black then we still have some doubt, not sure which is more likely. Problem is that its bound to come out sooner or later, but there's no reason why this mb has to hasten the process and potentially bu**er-up a promising signing for the club.

Hadn't it occured to anyone that there might be reasons why the club wants this kept quiet, and that as supporters we might consider going along with that?

Can't believe we didn't try to get something for him

...that all I wanted to say really

Its interesting that the LET says that Cole would've been starting on the bench next season, behind Dickov. Surely GS knew what would happen if that was the plan. Well at least we can while away endless hours speculating on a replacement - how about keeping that nice Dwight Yorke after all?

...wonder if Milan Baros fancies the short hop to the east?

thought not

George Graham.....aaarrrghh!

Anyone suggested Jan Molby? - plenty of pedigree/respect/experience has been learning his trade in lower leagues...

I think GS should stay on anyway, but JM might be a good longer term replacement.

Aren't their measures to stop that now?

Only in the Football League, which is one reason for them to do it now - if they go into administration having been relegated then they'll be docked points, but not if they do it now, then go down.

How come Ridsdale is allowed to walk straight into another football club?