Apologies if this has already been posted: Official page of the Manchester Buccaneers

We appear to be going round in circles in two threads now Probably best to keep it to the other one. I've addressed the number of games Stead started in last season in there.

Yea, because Stead is so much better in that respect! If we're comparing the two, Dickov made 27 starts and scored 9 goals - thats 1 in every 3 games. Stead made 19 starts and scored 2 - thats 1 in every 9.5 games. Whatever you think about Dickov moaning and whatnot, the fact is he's scored some very vital goals and without them we'd be off to Burnley for two more games this season. Neither record is good enough but Dickov's is better. As for selling Stead, I'm unsure. Given another season he may come good and return to the form of 03/04, but Hughes might not be willing to take that chance if he can use Stead to get a better player. 319150[/snapback] Valid points Clare, but take away what, three/four penalties and that's 5/6 goals in 27, a far worse return. Then theres the fact that Dickov is extremely difficult to play along side and next season I really hope we are neither playing 4-5-1 on a regular basis and that Dickov is not starting. 319199[/snapback] 2 penalties. And he won them both and had a player sent off as a result both times. So it isn't as if they can be struck off. How many penalties did our other strikers win? Pedersen won the one against Fulham and Savage won the one against Chelsea (I think). Dickov scored 3 penalties last season if you include the goal against Leicester, which takes his goal tally up to 10, but the stats there are working off the league.

Congratulations. The only team who could have pulled 3 goals back against the best defensive team in the world. Liverpool - deserved champs of Europe.

I saw it in the Spurs game. Since his arrival, Savage looks like he's been trying too hard. He has mentioned on more than one occasion that he wants to justify what is a large amount of money for a player of his ilk and age. Take the Bolton game for example - awful challenge within a minute of the start and countless attempts at sweeping passes that went wrong. He has always looked commited but he has also looked like his next booking is a matter of seconds away. He has an incredible discipline not to get sent off, but he comprimises his style when he gets booked early, as happened against Burnley. Against Spurs had had what was easily his best game in the shirt. His tackling was controlled and ferocious in equal measure and on three or four occasions he absolutely floored one of their players and emerged with the ball at his feet. Adding these spectacular tackles to the countless other smaller ones which nipped Spurs in the bud before they could get the ball to Keane, Kanute and Defoe and we get the player Sparky spent so much of his budget on. Next season I expect him to go from strength to strength. There will always be people who criticise him and there will always be people who praise him, but within a few months of the new season I expect the majority to fall heavily on the side of praise.

Tony Kane 317217[/snapback] Lee-I thought the announcers said that Donnelly came on and the LET seemed to suggest he had replaced Kevin Hird.Did he not come on or did he play in a different position? 317625[/snapback] Tony Kane played right back for the current team.

Very harsh point to make, Paul. We've got our way out of this relegation mess on sheer hard work. There are quite a few cult heros such as Friedel and Tugay, and players like Andy Todd and Morten Gamst-Pedersen are on their way there. We've drawn games in places where we should be getting hammered (Old Trafford, Anfield). We've given the best team in the league a real fight at Ewood. We've got to the FA Cup semi final. This is without a talented out-and-out goalscorer. It's because those players have worked their arses off in training learning how to stay solid against some of the better players in the game, and they fight for each other as a team. We never go down in a pathetic whimper any more, with the recent exception of Fulham at home. Some of the players or recent past times haven't been worth their salt, but this bunch we have now try their guts out and on several occasions this season I've gone home very proud of them.

You'll buy your console based on how it looks?

For once Waggy I agree with you (although not quite for the same reason) and I raised it at the last fans forum (leading to the somewhat embarasing sig Ste B has). Currently there is no financial incentive for kids to use the family stand and as a result many have relocated to the lower tier. The in turn has lead to a diluting of the atmosphere in the lower BBE and must be partly responsible for the lack of buzz that everyone has noticed. I know I behave much more reserved at Ewood that away, especially with regards to "industrial language", mainly because I'm surrounded by kids. I am comtemplating my second seat move in two season because once more I have my football spolit by an annoying kid who has little or no intrest in the game. Give the kids an incentive to move back into the family stand and let the "hardcore" fans retake the BBE and rebuild the atmosphere. Secondly, a radical idea I've been touting (along with other such as Ewood Spark and Cap'n K) is in two parts. The two parts could be done independantly, but I feel would work best together. 1. Demolish the Riverside. Period. Don't rebuilt it. Nothing drives up demand like scarcity of supply. Less seats = full house = clamour for tickets again. People will have to come to the small games to get tickets for the big ones. 2. Stand Up To The FLA and open a gently sloping setion of the former Riverside as a safe standing area. As the SASD campaign have proven, there is nothing legally stopping safe standing, only the FLA's recommendations. This would not only bring back some of the atmosphere, but truely make the club stand out from it's peers (not to mention rekindling the intrest of some of the lost support who have become disillusioned with the commercialization of football). I quite like those ideas in principle, Glenn, but the first one especially is rather radical. It has been proven that the supporters are actually out there when it suits them. It can bring them back if they feel pressured to get to games in order to see the bigger ones. This is no bad thing, especially if Rovers serve up the good football to satisfy them against these 'smaller' clubs. But it does rather disregard the wishes of the Riverside contingent who have sat there for long periods of time. One reason they sit there may be tradition. Another is that there are generally cheaper seats there. Making less seats to increase demand will do nothing to make prices better. If those people feel priced out of the other stands already then they may feel forced away from Ewood altogether. The tradition issue may also be important too. By demolishing the place where they've sat for years upon years, Rovers are disregarding their loyal support and tearing down yet another foundation of the club's history. Are these people likely to return if Rovers actually heighten the impression of disregarding the fans rather than working to dismiss it?

I'm not going because I think Tony Parkes is poor and needs my money. I know that used to be the point of testimonials but it's far more than that. I'm going because he was a loyal servant in a game where such a thing rarely exists any more and he deserves my attendance for this one game. I also want to celebrate our ten year anniversary and this will be my last chance to do so with the people who made it all happen. But hey, maybe it's all just a scam so that Tony can take advantage of us and steal our cash, eh?

Exactly. He had the chance to give Nissa (what looks like) his swansong as a Rovers player but decided to give McEveley some more experience. He also gave Jemal a good half hour to try and make a better impression than Stead. I still don't understand which players you think are better than this and able to cut it at Prem level?

I think back to a very uncomfortable train journey away from Olt Trafford this season where some very annoyed Man United supported with 'Utd Not 4 Sale' on the back of his shirt kept screaming about how we were inbred and how he was 'surrounded by Blackburn paedophiles'. Clearly upset that his beloved giants had just drawn with lowly Rovers, he was out to start something and just kept going on about how "we still aren't for f*****g sale". This one's for him

Is there any possible way that this could turn out to be a good thing for Manchester United?

I'm not particularly well informed when it comes to this matter and the implications, but according to the BBC, Glazer has reportedly secured the shares of McManus and Magnier, giving him 59% of the club's shares, and has thus launched a formal ?790m takeover bid. Now I'm no expert, but does this mean it has to be accepted? And, if so, what are the realistic implications?

Glad you had that saved somewhere Sox! Very entertaining. Spurs win 2-0. Rovers are playing at a level below since the Palace game, and with some justification. Every one of them has put in a magnificent effort over the second half of the season and as I read the relegation permutations I had to thank God that we weren't a part of them because I'm not sure I could have handled it.

They've just taken £400 out of my credit card account. Looks like we're in~ All we need now is for South Africa to actually qualify. They're by no means certain to, but they've got an excellent captain

Just applied now. TST4 to see South Africa. The application was sent in within about 2 minutes of them going on sale so fingers crossed. I hope they let everybody know soon, this has been killing me.

Very very disappointed. It just seemed like this was the game we ran out of steam. We were outclassed and can have no complaints with the result. I thought Pennant had a great game, and the difference between their strikers and ours was obvious for all to see. Jan, I don't expect you to give any stick to players who used to play for Rangers. I mean, who cares, right?

I thought he was decent enough last night. Certainly not our worst player. Also, as of late, he's been one of our better players and it looks like he's gaining more and more confidence. As a side question, what 5-letter word begins in "F", ends in "K" and needs censoring?

What, that angelic Mr Todd? Never. I am a bit concerned about what we're going to do when Tugay isn't around - his contract expires this summer doesn't it? Loath him or loathe him very much, Barry Ferguson could get the ball down and bring a bit of poise and passing football to our midfield. Savage isn't that type, nor are Reid or Mokoena. I agree. We certainly need a ball-playing midfielder to come in over the summer. I'm not sure where Reid is going to fit in next season - his energy and running is excellent but he doesn't control a midfield. There are better tacklers and better passers, so I'm not sure whether there'll be a place for "enthusiasm" next season. Pedersen's all-round game isn't the best (especially his first touch - attrocious), but he isn't as bad as people are making out. I just think he's looking tired. The players have been very committed and they've fought so hard to get us out of the mire that it's perfectly understandable that they're looking a little jaded. I think a common misconception is that a new striker will solve everything. It only will if we get somebody to dictate the midfield and create chances.

Not sharing the same confidence. I think we could sneak it 1-0, but West Brom are fighting for their lives. They won't miss a second ball or pull out of any tackle. It's going to take a gigantic effort to come away from this one with three points.

The only youngsters who should be near the forward placings are Stead, Gally and Jemal. There is no point bypassing them for the likes of Barker and Derbyshire. The first group are much better than the second group, and there is no proof that they're Prem class either. In Stead we have a young boy with a chance of making it. He hasn't played a lot since the lone striker change because we've needed Dickov's work ethic. People forget how young he is. He's the youth striker we need to keep giving experience to.

I think Taylor is becoming the underground favourite here. He has not been outstanding for the reserves. Barker doesn't deserve a go, he looked woeful against Bolton reserves and contributed nothing. Derbyshire is quite quick but his finishing is none-existant and looked about half as good as Jemal. Playing Garner now would be about two years too early. He's doing very well at his level now, but the Premiership is an almighty step up. The only player remotely deserving of a place is Jemal. Maybe he should play? Can't really hurt, although Jon Stead is a young lad in need of developing too. If any of the others were even threatening to knock on the first team door then fair enough, but they aren't. End of.

Which youngsters are Premiership class then? At no point this season has anybody been to a reserve/youth game and come back thinking any single one of them can improve the team.

This is a peach. Save us Mr Souness!