bob fleming

Mainly looking like dodgy Mancs. Talking of Asian betting philipl, what are the odds on the floodlights failing in the second half tonight? About evens?

Agreed. It deserves it's own thread. I'm off to the bookies to have me a bit of that. Heard a whisper that ManU will go with basically the same team as Sunday. Either way, it's good odds.

Woah! It's Shillito who needs cheering up not me. They lost last year in the Semi Finals of this competition so they may as well make it two in a row. We've every chance. I couldn't care less what team they put out. I'm more concerned about what we can do. And so's Ferguson I'd imagine, hence all his nonsense about a "weakened team" - it'll be more or less full strength bar a couple of players and they'll be on the bench anyway.

Official site

United to play a weakened team? I'll believe it when I see it. All part of Fergies "Mind games" - i.e. he's probably lying. The rascal.

Absolutely first class. Well done to all those involved. Should be an interesting, and long, meeting. Hopefully you'll get some answers to the questions posed.

Don't start all that Latin with me shillito - in won't work

He's due to lose another one then.

Todd needs to calm down, IMO he went too far. Every credit to the QPR fans for not reacting. However I fully expect the FA to review the video highlights and charge Todd for this, sometime in September.

That sums the whole sorry episode up completely for me. You should send that to the FA, they'd be so embarassed they drop the charges on the spot.

Well if he does play and scores five and looks an all round superstar and still leaves anyway we're all going to be gutted as well as looking pretty stupid. I can't see him playing to be honest. Strange decision if you ask me (to delay the announcement, but to announce that that he's leaving anyway ( )). Maybe we're waiting for some mysetry person from Jersey to fly over with a rubber stamp?

Carling / Worthington / Milk / Coca-Cola / Rumbelows / Khyber Café / League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg, Ewood Park. I was going to do a bit of an interview with a Manchester United fan for this but I only know one decent one and I haven’t seen Terry for ages. So I ain’t bothering with that lot. You can probably guess what they’d say anyway. Here we go again then, following QPR at home we have a re run of the Semi Final from 2002/03. Except this time we’re at home first. A good thing or a bad thing? Well, if last time was anything to go by then maybe a good thing. We went to Manchester United Plc (as they were romantically known as back then when they were happy) and drew 1-1. David Thompson scored as I’m sure most of you will remember. I seem to recall we did rather well and we were optimistic going into the second leg at home. It wasn’t to be. Andrew Cole opened the scoring for us and whilst I don’t like giving them any credit, they were better than us and scored three. Whatever. Bah! Anyway, times have changed since then. We’re rather good at this moment in time and we’re on a cracking run. I fancy our chances at home against almost anyone at the moment. United are in crisis I read the other week, they’ve fallen all the way down the league, as far as second. At the time or writing they’re still in the FA Cup as well. Has Ferguson resigned yet? Since season 2001/02 when we returned from that dark place where burnley play their games (no, not t’turf: Division 2, aka Division 1, aka The Championship) our league record against the Red Scum reads as follows: Played 9. Won 3. Drawn 3. Lost 3. Lest we forget our last game against them saw us leave Old Trafford victorious for the 1st time in 300 years thanks to two goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen Tra La La La La. So what have we learnt from this very brief history lesson? Jack Diddley Squat mate that’s what. On their day they’ll beat us, on our day we’ll beat them. Will Rio lose his concentration and start playing with his comedy syrup? Will Scholes remain invisible as he has been for much of this season? Will Christine injure herself doing her 800th step over in the first half hour? Will Fat Wayne just pack it in for a couple of games? Perhaps more importantly: will big Shefki put his boots on the right feet? Will Savage avoid being booked in the opening 5 minutes? Will MGP produce another fantastic goal when it matters? Will Bellamy start and finish the entire game? Perhaps even more importantly than that, will we get a decent ref? Who knows? All I know is that I hope we sell out and the Blackburn public get right behind the team. The team deserves our support now for the effort and consistency that they’ve shown, as does Mark Hughes. The last couple of seasons have been pretty dire – a great night next Wednesday and a great night in Trafford on the 25th will see us return to Cardiff (again, but for the last time) and will go a long way to erasing some of those memories. Make no mistake these are great times for Rovers and the future looks bright. Let’s have it!

You got someone for this now Den? If not I'll do it.

Steven Taylor is also injured I seem to recall. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for them the latest is that Titus Bramble is still fit.

SSN reporting that Scott Parkers out for 8 weeks now following knee surgery. What bad luck.

Thought he played well myself, News of the World gave him 3 out of 10 What a fantastic strike that was from Reid, up there with Shearers strike against QPR for sheer power. Happy New Year!

They've been a lot quieter recently MCMC, last I saw of 'em they were in one of the top fields laughing at the goats. Nowt but scum that lot.

In a nutshell.

I can't speak for anyone else but when the fixtures came out in the summer Wigan away was going to be one that I was going to go to - New Years Eve, just down the road and a local derby. So I don't think it's a case of "suddenly" 4,000 will go to Wigan. I don't get to many away games now for various reasons (cash, money, time) so I have to plan them well in advance. It certainly isn't a case of not being arsed I can tell you. p.s. Plus there are now free pies as well! Is there any wonder we're taking so many?

As has been pointed out there was a 1 in 3 chance it was going to be Wigan. 1 in 3 it was Man U an all. I'd hardly say it was a fix - although we all know that Sky are delighted that "the so called big two have been kept apart" (their words). Would Wigan and Arsenal have been any easier? Arguably we'd have preferred Wigan but it would still be tough, no guarantee. So we play them at home first. Good. 2003 , League Cup Semis, Away at The Theatre of @#/? first leg - 1-1. Then they came to Ewood and did us 3-1. I'd suggest we have more chance of keeping their fans quiet at their own place. Get a slight advantage at Ewood, stop them from scoring if possible, away goals count double, and then get down there and stuff it up 'em!

Don't be nervous, just provide us with updates on the hour, every hour, in fact make it hourly, until we've sold out. Shouldn't there be some sort of real time "clock" on the official site? How's about an elctronic sign on the outside of the Blackburn End (viewable from the main road) stating how many are left? Lets go crazy, it could also tell everyone when the next game is, that sort of thing. Sure they'll be a few more road accidents on Bolton Road as people will be looking when they drive past but if we get the gate up it'll be well worth it.

Same here BB.

I don't know Den, I reckon we could sell out for this one, it's only half an hour away so people can still go out early no problem. I rang up for my tickets this morning (first away match this season ( ) but I forgot to ask how many we'd sold, which is typical if you ask me. The very helpful lady at the office should have asked if I'd wanted to know, but looking back, she had no intention of asking me. Clearly the blue and white blanket of secrecy that smothers Ewood Park shows no signs of being taken to the launderette just yet. Any news Lee?

I don't think that's Bellamy but it must be his hat.

What does that mean "Lift and Dust" ? is that on topic are they having to clean round you at the nursing home?