I don't know about that, I am sure Sparky could have got Mido playing too (although probably not quite as well as McCarthy). In fact if he is available in the summer I would have a look. Him and Benni could be a very good combination!

No complaints at all if we shipped out Nonda and Jeffers and got in Mido.

If Berbatov's recent form continues, Mido could well be available.

Not sure how happy I'd be if we signed him (though I've maximum respect for MH's ability at spotting great players).

Didn't Sutton finish joint top scorer with Dublin and someone else one season? 1996/97 if my memory serves me right - when it was him and Gallagher up front. Technically the GAS days rather than SAS.

Cheez, how short is my memory? I watched him score a hattrick at Villa Park that season, too!

Simon

The Premiership top scorers table (BBC) makes good reading. Benni at number 3, behind only Drogba and the Winker.

Can't think of any Rover so high up (at this stage) since the SAS days(?)

Simon

Really, where did you hear that?

Happy if its true by the way - it wasnt doing us or him anygood just sitting on the bench/reserves

From BRFC's text service. I expect it'll be on the official site in no time.

I agree it's a good move for him and us.

I've an Everton supporting mate who really rates him. If he can recapture his form from that 1st season at Everton, he'll be a great striker for someone.

Simon

Jeffers has gone to Ipswich on a month's loan deal.

Simon

I lived in Nottingham at the time and walked around with a massive grin on my face for days. Couldn't wait to get to work and start winding up the locals!

I sat with the home fans for that season's game at the City Ground. Great seat, but sitting on my hands while the away end went ballistic wasn't much fun. Never again!

Happy days indeed!

Simon

Sigh

Tomorrow's chip wrapper.

Simon

There's one word that describes the whole debacle.

EMBARRASSING

I can think of a few more

Simon

Are we better off NOT qualifying?

That way, McLaren can be sacked and our hopes and expectations wont be DASHED yet again

What? And have a whole summer of being a neutral? No bleedin way!

We should drop fat Frank. While he can manage one good game in two for Chelsea, put him in an England shirt and he turns into a pub team player (even in his natural position). We've more problems than just Lampard, but that'd be my top priority.

Simon

Bentley should be playing for the full squad tonight, he has been on top form of late and is proving to be a top class player.

He should be ahead of Dyer and Wright Phillips for me

Were it a competitive game, I'd have Dyer on the right. His form's pretty good lately and has the experience.

As it's a freindly I agree, I'd give a debut to Bentley.

SWP is a long way behind both players right now.

Simon

I still remain very wary of this signing. I think the weight of expectation on his shoulders might mean that he fails or tries to do too much and gets injured again. I'm certainly not looking forward to his starting tomorrow and hope that if he does get on we're already winning. I can't get caught up in this local hero worship. I'd love to see him do well, but I just can't believe he will. Hopefully I'll be proved wrong.

You're right to be sceptical, and indeed I wasn't keen on us signing him before Reid got knacked in training.

Now he's here though, I'm seeing a terrific atmosphere at Ewood tomorrow and hopefully some decent cover in midfield.

Fingers crossed you'll be proved wrong

Simon

Didn't Birmingham have loads of injuries last year that led fans to call into question their training routines? We are not just fit but one of the fittest teams around and Hughes always complains when players miss any of preseason because that's when you really build up the reserves of strength that get you through the number of games you have to play. Dunn has not trained with a squad of players for some time - most of the work he was doing appears to have been general fitness stuff and rather than rush him in and have him fail or break down Mark Hughes is erring on the side of caution and I for one agree with him.

That's certainly what I've heard, especially last season (my local is majority Bluenose).

Their injuries last season rivalled ours or Newcastles in this. Dunno about this season, the pub's mysterious filled with Villa fans since they went down

I'm jumping in to this thread quite late, so don't know if this has metioned before. I wonder if the manager's kept him out so his debut's at Ewood, thinking the boost we'll give him by raising the roof as he runs out will be more valuable than a couple of substitute appearances away from home...

Simon

Hey Mate, you speak to Wigan fans now and they'll tell you how they are missing Henchoz.....Todd's ok, but not good enough to warrent a regular first team spot. At his age this probably bugs him after being player of year etc for a couple of seasons....He would be a great signing for Wigan, but a loss to the Rovers.

Having seen highlights of the pie-eaters' game last night, bloody right they're missing him!

I like Henchoz, but I'd pick Todd before him any day!

Simon

Gone to Wigan, according to BBC transfer news page. Can't find a dedicated article or mention of a fee.

There's nothing on the official site or from the official SMS service, which tends to be the first place news gets out.

The only paper to report it is the Daily Star, not the most reliable source. I'm crossing my fingers it's a load of Ballacks.

Simon

As I understand Glenn, we will not be playing a team from the same qualifying group or another team from England.

Also PSG finished second in their group, therefore the current three which we could play are Zulte-Wagem, Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Fenerbache.

From looking at these teams I wish we had lost tonight. Don't fancy a trip to either Turkey or Israel.

But we missed Moscow It averages -10 (daytime) there in Feb.

Simon

Could our better results in Europe be down to the fact we haven't got FA Premier League officials?

I think so. Based on that and their crap away form, 2 - 1 to Rovers

2.5ish hours work left, then hit the M6

Simon

I'd play Peter over MGP.

Too right!

I live with a Geordie, so really need this win.

0 - 1

Simon

Way off topic, but why on earth can't i buy Liverpool Tickets online, went on the official Rovers website then clicked 'Book Online', searched for ticktes and theres no option of Liverpool, they've only got Newcastle, i'm sure Liverpool tickets have gone on sale.

My guess is this: The club expect the away end to sell out and Scousers to try and get seats in the home stands, so won't sell them "anonymously" on the web.

If you phone them and have a record of attending Rovers games, you'll get tickets. Actually a Blackburn postcode might even be enough given our crap gates.

Simon

Exactly. Why can't the FA retrospectively punish the divers and cheaters or more to the point, why don't they?

IIRC its FIFA that is blocking it.

I don't agree with this, but here's my understanding of FIFA's reasons:

They oppose video reviews as the elite leagues in the 3rd world can't afford the kit. The Premiership (and other top European leagues) can afford it and the lower leagues can do without* but they won't sanction a system that's not affordable for, say, the Angolan top division.

* lots of precedent for this: squad numbers, transfer window, 4th official, cameras at every game all came into the lower leagues after the top division.

Simon

I am not in favour of replay technology at the match. What I am in favour of, and I think we need it big time, is video technology to punish these cheaters and floppers. Use the video and have a panel to reveiw incidents from games and start dishing out some HEFTY suspensions.

I think with this in place a lot of these "difficult" decisions will go away, quite frankly a lot of them are being generated by unsportsmanlike play from flopping players. Stomp that out first and then see where we sit.

I agree 100%. Refs are under unprecendented scrutiny, but also face unprecedented cheating in the modern game.

Let the games flow, but cane the Drogbas, Terrys, Ronaldos (and, to be frank, the McCarthys) afterwards. Diving would soon be up there with talking yourself into a red card for letting your team mates down. We'd stamp it out in a fortnight!

Simon

If there is technology available then it should be used, as footy is seemingly one of the last remaining sports not using technology. But not constantly, probably more like in Rugby League, for controversial decisions, like for penalty decisions, goal-line clearances, sending offs. Will give the fourth ref in the stands, something to do.

Trouble is, once in place replays would be used more and more - for every controversial decision.

Rovers fans are slating the ref for his decision(s) yesterday, but how much more angry would we be had he turned down the offer of a replay in order to keep the game flowing? It just wouldn't happen. We'd soon be adding another 15 mins to each half, just waiting for the 4th official to watch replays.

Simon

It was clear to the Sky cameras and Sky commentary team and Sky pundits but not to the BBC muppets.

I didn't see any of the Sky coverage, but thought the BBC shower completely bottled it, especially on the handball.

Their POV was "it's sometimes hard to make these things out, benefit of the doubt to the ref, ref 2 - Hughes 0"

Absolute cop out. No mention of the talk that Mido had admitted to it. Nothing.

Cowards!

Simon

Got our 3 tickets today

We are wondering whether to prebook the tickets for the train from Amsterdam.

Although from what I hear trains run every 15mins so it should be OK to buy on the day.

Has anybody else prebooked?

I've not. I reckon it'll be the usual first come first served scrum, especially after the game. It'll make a mockery of pre-booking.

Simon

Spurs 0 Rovers 4 (11/05/2003) – A wonderful match where a Rovers team including Damien Duff, David Dunn and Andy Cole made Spurs look like relegation fodder. With Everton losing to Manchester United at Goodison the onus was on us to win at White Hart Lane. It took just five minutes for Dwight Yorke to break the deadlock, and things went from bad to worse for Spurs after that. Gus Poyet was dismissed for a Kevin Ball-style lunge at David Dunn and Rovers were rampant against ten men. Super Craig Hignett made it two, with Duffer and Cole both notching in the second half. Rovers would go on to celebrate European qualification by losing humiliatingly to Genclerbirligi.

Heh. Remember it well. When the 3rd goal went in a load of season tickets came flying on to the pitch. It might have meant something had it not been the last game of the season.

I think that we can get a win here. 1 - 0 Rovers, McCarthy to get the only goal in a tight game.

Simon

I thought he was excellent when he first arrived-and looked as though he had the ability to be a class striker. Now, he looks as though he has lost his way again.

I think this points to the lack of service (now). Earlier in the season all our strikers looked more dangerous. Now our midfield trouble is starving them of good balls to get onto.

I like Nonda.

Simon

No problem, I appreciate the dig.

I'm not crying about it. Tis my own fault as I went to Salzburg and could have got a ticket straight away. Was on holiday and waiting on a mate back home to sort tickets out.... he never did.

As has been said, I'd hang on. I read somewhere (can't remember where for the life of me) that Feyenoord won't expect to sell all the home seats, so we could end up with a bigger allocation.

There's hope!

Simon