This bit in particular rings very true. I can't believe that in some quarters Zidane is being painted as the victim in this. A two match ban for insulting language? What a farce.

Behind , right? Again, ignore the video.

I sure enjoyed it, a few bits were pretty exruciating, but its a family film (I assume kiddies would have loved that endless wheel fight sequence) after all, and the makers did very well to tread the line between the adult and junior markets. Plus ***Spoilers, oooh, exciting!*** the promise of the great Geoffrey Rush being back in the third film is a welcome one.

Great album. Shame they turned to crappy post-grunge radio rock afterwards. Actually, the new album (Operation: Mindcrime II) isn't bad.

Sad. I own four of those albums in one format or another.

Snap.

Very good game of football. I've not enjoyed a match (from a purely footballing point of view ) more in this tournament.

I had to stifle a groan when I saw this. I saw Jeffers playing a few games for Rangers in the first half of last season, and his displays were woefully ineffectual. When is the last time he actually had a good season? His final one with Everton first time around? I'm always willing to give players a chance, especially with a man-manager as good as Hughes, but I really can't see anything good coming of this signing. Hopefully I'll be eating humble pie in a few months.

Another hard luck story for England. I genuinely thought it would be your turn to win a shoot out after Portugal's utterly inept attacking display. The contrast between England's excellent defending and their toothlessness in attack (a combination of the two I suppose) following the red card had me thinking Portugal were set to bottle it when they should have had the match sewn up in normal time. The contrast in displays before and after the red card was unreal - Portugal were definitely in the ascendancy beforehand with England falling further and further out of the game before Rooney's momentary descent into madness (I don't want to cause an argument here, but if you put your foot where he did then you force the referee into a decision he shouldn't have to be making). After the red card England tightened up unbelievably and started fighting like hell (why did it take a red card for them to finally start playing with heart like that?) and Portugal seemed to be unsure of what they were supposed to be doing. They almost seemed afraid to committing men forward despite their numerical advantage, and their final ball was just brutal. Like I said, when it came to the penalties - especially when you nosed in front - I thought an England victory was inevitable. Ricardo performed some serious heroics, but how can three out of four top level footballers fail to convert from 12 yards? While I'm dishing out the England praise (this one's going to be backhanded ), who are the boo boys going to target now that Owen Hargreaves has been given a serious chance and shown that he can actually, y'know, do stuff with a football? I think the game also highlighted the lack of quality we've seen at this world cup - Portugal were just crap, and that was against a side attracting all sorts of criticism for their displays up to the game. So now they play a similarly unsatisfying France team that have knocked out a less-than-inspired Brazil. Ah, the pessimist eternal. Hopfully the big guns will start firing on all cylinders for the last few games.

Dickov's Rovers career was the very defintion of 'value for money.' We got nothing too fancy, but good gonest hard work and some crucial goals (including a couple of real crackers) are more than enough for him leave Ewood with his chin up. I wouldn't have minded getting another season from him, but a two year deal seems a bit excessive if we are planning to keep moving upwards. A parting of the ways is the best for all concerned.

What they said. ^^

It must have been Sutton and Butt.

Utter madness from Eriksson. What more can Darren Bent do (other than sign for a more glitzy club)? After posting this I fully expect to be eating humle pie in a few weeks time.

I too was expecting this to be a thread about the Rovers match being the only one (or one of very few) on the card not to have an at-the-scene commentary and post-match analysis. But you'd think we'd be used to that by now.

Gamst against Fulham. The sheer awareness and technique displayed to so perfectly execute a volley while in full flight was unreal. That, and there was some lovely build-up play as I remember.

You really are a paranoid lunatic.

Even though Charlton's customary poor finish to the season seemed to start in December and Rovers' customary strong finish to the season seems to be on the blink this year, I guess it wasn't too surprising that we got the victory. I actually haven't seen any of the game (Rovers always seem to be on the telly when I'm otherwise engaged these days) but its great to hear of us stroking the ball around comfortably after our recent sticky patch. Hopefully we can hold our position from those oh so sneaky Geordies (where the hell have they come from anyway?).

I've had that old Rainbow song 'Self Portrait' stuck in my head for a while now: Wonder why? Ah, good times.

"Ever since I was young I dreamed of being a baseball." [/simpsons quoting] -- I agree that Todd's days as captain are probably numbered, but not because of this incident (which I haven't actually seen, but it seems like a bit of a storm in a tea cup). He really just seemed to fall into the job because he was the only player of reasonable experience (at the club as well as general years of playing) that was getting a regular game when the job became available - he's never really seemed vocal enough to be organising and rallying the team, but has done an admirable job of leading by example. Now, with Nelsen having established himself as first pick to play at the back every week and spent a little more time at the club, i can see him getting the job full-time in the close season. He does indeed seem a more 'natural' captain - there are certain players that just seem to get the armband wherever they end up.

I'm really trying not to get too upset about it, when you consider we've had our share of luck against Wigan (twice) and Newcastle when it comes to dodgy goals. I guess the gate does swing both ways.

Ah, sweet irony. How I've missed you.

If you mean the one in the France '98 qualifiers, we weren't awarded the victory (although there was talk of it). The game was replayed at a neutral venue.

Jody Morris? Or did he get the last of the old? I'm convinced I've got one of the two at least.

I really enjoyed this book - it managed to be a zippy little couple of days read and yet somehow still seem relevant and thought-provoking I read this...cripes...almost five years ago for my sixth year dissertation. Doyle's usual mix of the hilarious and the heartbreaking. A really good read, probably the best Doyle book that I've read, but The Snapper remains my personal favourite. About a month ago I decided to finally see what the fuss was about with Steven King's Dark Tower books. The first, The Gunslinger was a thoroughly bizarre yet totally compelling experience that prettymuch forced me to read the second in hope of answers to the million questions posed by its predecessor. The second and third were definitelty more immediate and less dream-like - I really love how they both open with very immediate and memorable events (book 3, ten pages in: BAM! 70 foot bear!) and don't really let up, although the third has one of the most frustrating endings I've read in a long while.

Fowler?