I fully expect UEFA to act in the strongest possible way by making sanctions against the Croatian FA. (Yeah, right)

Unfortuntely England just is not popular with Eufa, for example during the Rio drug test thing sebb blatter was demanding a long ban and placing a large amount of pressure on the FA to ban Rio and make a real example of him.

Now bear in mind the charge against Rio was for missing a drugs test.

Now what do you think happened to the Croatian international player who FAILED a drugs test recently?

He played in last nights international against England - Ivica Olic

Now bear in mind this guy had FAILED a drugs test, yet eufa decided to accept his explanation that the banned substances were in his system as part of some medicine for a damaged rib.

He wasnt banned from playing for Croatia because the doctor failed to notify the Croatia FA about the drug/drug test so he was never banned, instead the croatian FA had there legs slapped.

Now excuse me, but if thats not double standards what is!

As an englishman living in Portugal i just wish that this game had been the final.

Portugal's close ball skills and passing is generally better than Englands, but thankfully as i've mentioned before they don't have an owen/shearer/cole type guy who stays up front and who's job it is, is just to get the ball in the net anyway possible, something which we have with abundance with rooney/vassell/owen (not saying anything about heskey).

Portugal seem to look for 'wonder' goals a great deal, due to the lack of a striker and if they play with only 1 up front like they have so far in the tournament we shouldnt have to many problems.

But we need to get in amongst them and not let them settle into a nice passing game, we need to rattle them and do so quickly.

My fear for England is just how easily we get opened up, look at last night at times our defending was very poor, if Portugal play with 2 up front it will be hard game, but then they didnt need to play 2 up front to draw with us a few months ago.......

I find it quite amusing to read about the various supposed 'fans' (which is the wrong word for them totally) that were arrested in Albufeira.

Complaints of dirty jail cells, police with little/no sympathy keeping them awake during the night, being to aggressive etc.

Just to shed a little between the ears of those with nothing there, this isn't the uk were talking about here, Portugal has not been blighted with laws and politicians who want to give criminals more rights than innocents, the UK is fast disappearing round the u-bend, one of the reasons i moved over, here its become a country where you can't display your national flag for fear of upsetting someone, a country where if you hurt strike a burglar in your own house with the wife and kids upstairs you can end up on a charge worse than the breaking and entering charge the burglar would get.

A friend in the 'met' was explaining to me once how when he has to arrest people the have to do so with sufficient police witnesses in case the person being arrested claims the police used excess force which would allow him to more or less walk free, in other cases the other officers are there to prevent the person from being arrested intimidating the arresting officer to strike him so he can counter sue.

Unfortunately for the idiots in Albufeira the police here are not bound by pathetic legislation, so if you throw things at them, your likely to get wrapped around the head with a truncheon and generally put somewhere not very pleasant called jail, its not supposed to be nice or fun with tvs/dvds/video books, magazines and courses as we have in the UK, the ones here are what prisons are supposed to be, a punishment.

Personally i'd have preferred the idiots involved to have to do there time in a Portuguese prison as i fear when they return with there sentences to the uk they will probably get 4 months community service as according to there relatives there all little angels who don't possess a violent bone in there body, but im fairly sure a 7 month stretch in a Portuguese prison would have been an eye opener for any of them thinking of attending future sporting events in foreign countries and not to be so niave to think that foreign police forces are as hog tied as our own.

ah well im sure there are some oldies we can sign some more golden oldies for a final premiership payday

Have to say personally the academy that had so much money poured in is not exactly producing players capable of holding a regular place in the team, or disappear before then but i suppose that is the nature of the beast for a club that has to stand on its own two feet.

Albufeira has obviously been ear marked as a potential trouble spot due to its english nature, as i live very close to the coast and haven't seen any police in riot gear or with horses anywhere else.

So rather than go into Albufeira (which is rather like Blackpool with sun and sand tbh) i would recommend people try other coast based towns instead.

From what i've heard locally (Albufeira is about 20 minutes away) the local policing policy in Albufeira, is different to the rest of Portugal, because Albufeira at this time of year is crammed with young brits who go round pubs, bars disco's and stay out all hours and is a very English resort, the policing there is more of an english nature.

As such in Lisboa the police are being fairly low key, in Albufeira its very much a large physical very obvious english style policing with guys in riot gear and horses on the street corners, could be a lesson learned there perhaps.

and i can't believe were talking best right back in the world and haven't mentioned the stunning defending and passing abilities of Jeff Kenna!!

i'll get me coat.

i'm soooooo glad you put smileys after that comment American.

and the reality of a team signing 10 18yr olds?

more realistic for them to sign a couple of youngsters and one or two who are older.

Just an interesting little snippet, local Algarve radio kiss fm is reporting that there own reporter witnessed a 'scene' between the Spanish, Russian and Police last night, but was forcibly removed from the scene by the police and warned not to report on the incident itself, local press photographers also had to hand over film to the GNR (police) before being being ejected from the area.

One wonders if it would have been the same if England fans were involved......

Call me naive but I can't keep up with this at all. soueyisgod is English but lives in Spain but is seeing all these "hooligans" whilst he is in Portugal and not drinking heavily? ptholt is from England, once lived near Glasgow, but now lives in Portugal with his wife and children who are Spanish? Meanwhile the worst offenders to date of Euro 2004 (gosh it's exciting - let's see who has the most arrests at the end of the tournament) are the Spanish. How the hell can I comment on any of this from Blackburn, which I think is in England?

I wouldnt say worst offenders, makes it sound like something was kicking off, but they were the most rowdy and 'enthusiastic' bunch ive come across so far.

how is the weather in sunny Blackburn btw?

Maybe the Spanish have been the rowdiest so far, but that's also related to the fact that they have played a game already. I think the number of English fans will increase throughout the day, and especially if England lose we'll see some trouble.

And playing it down and saying it was nothing etc. is just as bad as exaggerating.

To be fair the Spanish were the rowdiest but probably due to several factors at the time -

1. they were the largest numbers present.

2. its a 40 minute drive from the Spanish border to where there first game was being played so lots of them came over.

3. it was right before there match (i was at the nearest beach from 12-4:30 yesterday.

There was a large police preseence (by local standards) but nothing really kicked off at all.

I was also at the airport yesterday at Faro picking up a gire car with friends who are over, fans from every nationality were present and didnt see a single ounce of trouble there either.

Unfortunately for us English as pointed out earlier we are tarred with a certain reputation and any slightest piece of news that anything untoward has happened means the media generally leaps on it from a great height.

Sorry to disagree with you again ptholt but you're wrong France & Holland don't have hooligan problems, neither does Germany. It's all a myth. Only the English have a problem just ask soueyisgod he'll tell you, he knows it all.

Right ok manchesterblue, i must have imagined various scenes from Marseille fans (not world cup related i might add) or turkish fans from previous matches.

It was probably because i was beating up some locals when i was drunk there i'm sure someone will say.....

Funny how the english press are playing down what happened last night. Nothing on bbc.co.uk and apparently 'minor scuffles' ocurred accrding to sky.com/news (playing it down as if it was ok - unbelievable!). In case you dont know as it's not being reported over there much but a group of english 'fans' threw a gas cannister into the middle of a popular local event in Lisbon at about 1am in the morning. It was a procession i think and Marca reported that people experienced breathing difficulties and eye irritations. Not many were arrested as they managed to get away from riot police.

It really makes me angry that people are sick enough to do this, they obviously have very sad and boring lives if they call this their idea of fun, and I know the excuse will be that they had been drinking, but if thats what you do when you drink then you shouldnt drink at all. Disgusted.

As im apparently a hooligan according to soueyisgod as i mentioned having a drink in another thread, i thought i would add my tuppence.

I live less than 3 kilometres from the faro-loule stadium, and yesterday spent the day at the beach with the wife and the kids, now who do you think were the loudest, rowdiest and most drunken people there?

The Spanish.

Granted there were lots of police present and most of the banter between everyone was fairly friendly, but to call this an exclusively english problem is close to idiocy. Both France and Holland have hooligan issues as well and in any group of people regardless of race, colour or creed there are always bound to be a few idiots, especially when alcohol is introduced into the mix.

I just thought i would add before someone accuses of me sticking up for hooligans that i am in NO WAY defending the action of hooligans if they were english or anything else for that matter, personally i'd prefer if they were prevented from travelling to ANY sporting event ANYWHERE, perhaps even 'tagging' renowned ones so the police could track them.

Have to agree with Tris here,

he came on and looked more like a left sided central midfielder to me as he constantly looked to come inside rather than trot down the wing.

Also noticed him WAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY out of position at times in the middle of the park, seemed a fairly average chap from what i saw today, tho he didnt get much of a game, didnt think he lived up to the 'lively left sided player with flair' the commentators gave him.

Granted i can only comment on what i see on sky/itv and local tv and what i read in papers (not the best place) or on the net which from our predicament last season wasnt the most pleasant viewing/reading.

I'm all for some experience, every team needs it, id just like to see more youngsters given a chance than oldies, i think that would actually give the club better long term prospects than older players who want fat salaries for what appears little commitment in some cases.

Some good posts on here from both sides of the fence recently from blueblood and tony greenbank, nice to see a debate doesnt have to drop to primary school levels which seems to happen quite frequently, and quite where people get the idea i want us to spend millions i havent a clue?? are you cross reading a post somewhere else? I personally have no great desire to return to paying stupid amounts of money for people like blake, hignett, grabbi, ward etc.

Just out of interest i did a little check on the following site - http://www.footballtransfers.info which has average squad ages and size of first team squad, lets see what that has to say.... (it does include recent arrivals and departures as well, like dickov for example).

Arsenal - 25 years old, 23 first team players

aston villa - 25 years old, 28 first team players

Birmingham - 27 years old, 21 first team players

Blackburn rovers - 27 years old, (lower than i expected tbh) 25 first team players

bolton - 29 years old, 19 first team players

Charlton - 26 years old, 28 first team players

chelsea - 26 years old, 34 first team players

crystal palace - 26 years old, 26 first team players

everton - 27 years old, 33 first team players

fulham - 26 years old, 30 first team players

liverpool - 24 years old, 32 first team players

man city - 26 years old, 27 first team players

manure - 24 years old, 34 first team players

middlesborough - 26 years old, 22 first team players

Newcastle - 25 years old, 26 first team players

Norwich - 26 years old, 21 first team players

Portsmouth - 27 years old, 34 first team players

Southampton - 26 years old, 30 first team players

Spurs - 25 years old, 28 first team players

west brom - 26 years old, 34 first team players

So on that basis we currently have the third oldest squad in the premier league after Bolton with the highest, then brum, then us (taking into account age + team size, those with larger squads being above us as the extra players obviously increases the average age).

ptholt you know nothing about football!

Anyway if you are on holiday why dont you go and see some of the place, get some cultural things done instead of acting like a typical english yob/fan(if you can call the ones that drink all day that) then enjoy the footbal on the day but without making our country look even worse. ok?

soueyisgod what on earth are you talking about?

If you had bothered to either learn to read you would have seen that i live in Portugal im not on holiday, as for my drinking habits what on earth has that got to do with you??!!!!

As it goes im T-total only having a glass of wine on my birthday or at xmas, but was merely using my comments to diffuse any ill feeling before some mindless fool with the iq of an amoeba got the wrong idea, but still your here now, and yes you have the wrong idea, well done.

I don't like being called a yob by someone who does not know me, never met me and based on there childish message isnt likely to unless i happen to return to a youth club somewhere on juice bar disco night.

So in your opinion acting like a typical yob is where people talk about older players, younger players and player performances...... strange I don't recall reading to much about that sort of behaviour on the news when there wrecking bars etc, are you sure you understand what a yob is, i recommend having a look at http://dictionary.reference.com/ for the word yob, then await your explanation as to how you think i am one.

Granted i mentioned the word beer, drink and port though i didnt realise anyone who touched either of these instantly becomes a yob.. crumbs thats all of the ex-pat community in Portugal if thats the case, funny how i haven't heard about all these yobs on the tv/paper/net etc.

May i suggest you engage your brain before motoring your mouth off before you post next time.

You could go a long way to cheering yourself up, for a start SHUT UP.  Then go and mingle with your own kind.

usablue, would that be my own kind that can have a conversation and debate without resorting to throwing toys out the pram in a strop?

nice constructive post that one, as for my own kind, i thought i was mingling with fellow supporters here, but posts like yours are starting to make me wonder, perhaps site should be changed to 'Blackburn rovers supporters club for sheep' as you must conform to certain people views or be flamed.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA - wheres the mint sauce.

i dont understand it when people keep saying we are a retirement home for players and then go on about all the old players who came in last season. Who exactly are these old pensioners? fergie emo reid gresko stead enks and gray are all under 30 only amo was not.

I didn't say it was a policy that only started last year, i was bemoaning the policy itself, there is a list earlier in the thread of the rovers derby + joan club attendees.

Can anyone living near ewood confirm the rumour that car parking spaces have reduced in size so they can fit several players zimmer frames instead of there cars?

interesting that some web sites are reportiing that Tugay wants two more years on his contract currently being haggled, from memory he's about 33 now, so look forward to seeing him run rings round scott parker, frank lampard et al when he's 35

No problems mancs blue, the heat and lack of cold beer and tabs was having an effect on me

if nothing else it gives us something to talk about in the close season

and im not entirely convinced if xmas is the time to take stock, as we all know what happens to the team who's bottom come xmas, i would rather the club be proactive instead of reactive.

Actualy no it's a yet another thread where somebody decides to make a name for themselves by being 'controversial' knowing full well the response they will get.  A poster that has watched highlights last season but has come over all mystic meg and already can tell us what kind of a season we will have next year.

Even Jim is prepared to wait till the first couple of games next season.

I am not attmpting to make a name for myself, i was posting my opinions and concerns on a bulletin board, which is what i thought they were for, foolish me, there obviously to sit around towing the party line and if you dont toe that line its obviously open season....

also the fact i am only able to watch live games on sky and portuguse tv (which is more than you would think) and the highlights on itv means im not entitled to voice my opinion, perhaps that should be added to the terms and conditions for membership here if thats the case?

Plesae only post if you are a season ticket holder and can attend in person a minimium of x matches a season...

all i mentioned about the season is that its long (it is compared to the rest of europe) and its cold (well it is the uk in the winter!) the majority of my post was about the current player recruitment policy and that i would prefer a different course of action, i don't find it that enthusiastic that our current player signings emulate relegation candidates tactics more than it does those that will finish in top half.

I'm not saying i don't want any experience in the squad but our average team age is more akin to a derby and joan club trip to eastbourne than a premiership team, and if all this experience and age is so good just how many mid 30's players are in the england team? how many in the other top half of the prem?

as for being a gypsy, its what comes when you live in a forces family, you tend to move around a fair bit and see quite a bit, something quite a few here could do with hehe

I work with 4 Rangers fans, 2 of them season ticket holders

All four of them would welcome Amo back tomorrow

Its a funny old game isn't it, i used to live near Glasgow so know lots of gers and hoops fans, most of them roll over laughing whenever anyone ever mentions him, its a funny old game init.

as you say it is tv based matches or hightlights via sky/itv/local sports channels, tho must be a helluva coincidence he looked so poor just on televised games or the sections shown in the highlights, maybe he gets nervous when the cameras come on

I take it you watched the matches on the radio.

No, on sky or portuguese sport channel (live prem footie on a saturyday!) or highlights on itv, but certainly not whilst wearing the blinkers many here seem blighted with.

Ask any rangers fans if they want amo back........

funny how when your views or concerns don't sit well with others they have to resort to getting personal, sad really, obvisouly not many posters here work for the samiratans lol, but life would be boring if we were all the same, specially if it was red rose tinted like many on here

half the league were after dickov?

which league was that? dr martins? southern central?

i read an awful lot about who fancied having dickov, think it amounted to about 3 clubs who were relegation battlers last season, including us. Sad reality is he's a battling journeyman, like several others who drift from relegated club to relegation prospects each close season.