Not sure if it has been mentioned elsewhere but Bentley has just scored two cracking goals for the Under 21's playing from the left wing.

I think Bolton will clinch 4th,with Arsenal in 5th, Spurs 6th and Rovers 7th.

However, if we avaoid defeat at Spurs and win our four winnable home games then we will get into europe no problem.

Fingers crossed.

Ticket prices are going to make very little difference.

Especially when nobody knows about them.

The truth is, only success will bring back the crowds.

And success isn't being 5th in late February one season. We have to build and keep up these high standards on the pitch, and slowly but surely, the crowds will rise.

I mean ticket prices are at a point where they can only be lowered a small amount more. Say by 2 or 3 quid on a consistant basis. And that amount off a 25 quid product is hardly going to make peoples mouths water is it?

Success is the only way.

With Pedersen now out I was thinking to myself that this could be a great opportunity to play a sort of Diamond formation in midfield. Let Tugay sit deep with Reid and Savage in front of him and then Bentley further up in behind a front two if we are feeling adventurous and give the fullbacks full permission to get forward. If not then maybe play Bellamy alone up front with Bentley in behind and a sort of diamond formation with Reid, Savage and Emerton forming the three across the middle and Tugay sitting deep. It will be interesting to see what happens. Can't wait for this game.

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Though the idea sounds all arrows and dynamite in your head in a Football Manager kind of way (that is no insult, I often get similar 'super' ideas in my head) I don't think this would be the time to start experimenting with new strategies.

Tried and tested route please.

Are Spuds that good?

I don't know... but the fact I have to ask the question means they have neither convinced me the odd time I've seen them on the big screen nor have they brought Fleet Street's "finest" to paroxisms of delight -which given half of Fleet Street are Spuds followers is a bit strange, n'est-ce pas? (eh? in drogese)

Are Spurs a slightly more cultured effete version of Bolton or have I missed the reason for their existence?

Going for mathematical symmetry. We 0-0'd Notlob home and away and I rather suspect Sunday's televised match will be an advertisement for Sunday afternoon shopping in B&Q as a stimulating sportive social occasion.

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Spot on,.. Absolutely spot on.

People on this board have bitten the bait and believed the hype.

The truth is, Spurs aren't that good. They are in the same class division as Rovers, the only difference is they have bought their players for silly money, whereas we have developed ours. A cultured Bolton is just about as accurate description of Spurs I have heard, and though that is no bad thing, let it be known that we have just beaten a much better team last weekend.

I don't think we will win this game, but only because I have a bad feeling we will buckle, rather than be dislodged.

Ronaldo however, is indeed a fat chuffer in footballing terms.

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That's one fat boy I'd be over the moon if we signed him....

Wants to leave Madrid doesn't he.....

Yes.

My number one signing, as I have said before, would be Malbranque. A central midfielder who is too much of a ''wildcard'' to play in the middle, so plays to great effect on the wing.

Who does that remind you of? Dunn.

Only question mark is his fitness. If he proves he is fit enough, then in my opinion, he is more than good enough to be in our team. Better than Reid; Better than Bentley; Better than Emerton.

Pretty stone wall if you ask me.

I think we have seen the best of Peter (QPR and to a smaller degree Sunderland) and the worst of Peter (Yesterday I thought he was poor and made the wrong choices far too often, as he did when he came on vs Utd in the cup, though granted it was late on).

This isn't suprising considering his age, but I personally don't want to see the risk taken in a monumental game such as Spurs away. I would prefer Bentley to play from that side, drifting in whilst Bellamy drifts out.

All of it. That's why I didn't select part of your post to quote.

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So you feel Peters' performance yesterday was of a good enough quality to face Spurs in a crucial game?

And you don't feel that Champions League qualification could totally change the outlook of our club on a domestic level and a european level for the forseeable future?

If so, then it is you who is talking ''absolute garbage,'' and I'm sure the board would agree if they had a £20m difference in profits come the end of the season.

Absolute garbage.

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Thanks for the insight, but which bit did you think was ''absolute garbage?''

I hope by top flight club you mean as in top of the premiership and not being in the premiership. I hope we won't be relegated if we lose on Sunday. The only other option to Peter is Emerton, he's been pretty impressive in this small cameo appearances lately, but we'll have to see what Hughes thinks.

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I mean by if we get into the Champions League we have real chance to do what I would call a ''Villareal,'' and turn into a major force domestically and a decent european outfit.

If Pedersen isn't fit for Spurs I don't wanna see Peter start.

Yesterday he showed that despite him having potential, his age means he can be a complete liability, and that's a risk we can't take in a game that could have major implications on not only our season, but immediate future as a top flight club.

The higher we get, the more likely it gets that we will lose Sparky sooner rather than later.

Double-edged sword!

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But the sword looks pretty blunt when you consider THERE IS NO JOBS THAT WOULD APPEAL TO HIM RIGHT NOW, AND PROBABLY WONT BE FOR QUITE A WHILE!!!!

Only the Man Utd, Barcelona and Bayern Munich jobs stick out as obvious ones, but none of those will be after Hughes any time soon. Man Utd wont want Mark Hughes, ask the Glaziers if they even know who he is. And how much money he would make them.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool (Seriously would doubt that anyway!) all have managers they will be looking to keep for a long while.

Other top european clubs from abroad wouldn't be interested, and jobs like Spurs and Newcastle wouldn't appeal as they hinder you getting to the VERY top, as those clubs are so disillusioned they think they are the VERY top.

Team I would like...

Friedel

Neill Khizanishvili Nelsen Gray

Bentley Savage Tugay Pedersen

Dickov Bellamy

I reckon Arsenal will win, as I just cannot see the day we beat Arsenal in late Febuary to go above them.

Bellamy here for the long haul.

No release clause

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Most promising news yet regarding next seasons' squad. Great to hear how committed he is to the club, and maybe now he can become a major hit with the fans, as I don't feel there has been a major connection yet, though perhaps I am wrong.

The money they will be putting into them rather than us, would make it 'supporting'.

We need to start attracting more from Preston, Blackpool areas etc.

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I've tried this one, falls on deaf ears.

Premiership football is sh*te.

Complete sh*te.

90% of matches are a complete bore unless your team is involved, there is no atmosphere at 90% of matches, there is a small crowd at 90% of matches, and 90% of the season can be predicted before it's even started.

Something needs changing, but I have no idea what. I fear Rovers will turn into an eternally dull team such as Villa, Charlton or Everton, who will 90% of the time occupy a position between 8th and 17th.

Yesterday was sh*te. We are toothless like we were pre Christmas, and nothing other than a win on Wednesday will kill our season.

Kevin Gallacher was fast.

does anybody know if SFP and Bellers are fit for Saturday because we need them back urgently i know SFP came on against West Brom but he did not look 100%

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I dunno but Bellamy will definately not start. He will only be about 70% fit if available, but don't be suprised if we're waiting a few more weeks before we see him again on the pitch.

It changes season by season.

Tugay won't be replaced by a carbon copy, but the system will change to suit the team once his long term successor is in place.

We could have a thread about who's next after Lucas Neill, or Craig Bellamy, as neither will be replaced with exact like for like replacements.

What was next at Utd after Beckham? Ronaldo.

The system changed, as did results. Likewise with Arsenal when Wright left, then Anelka, like it did when Adams left, like it has now Vieira has left.

Getting it right isn't easy, but that's why you try and employ the correct manager for the job.

To be honest though, would you blame them, considering his final touch on the ball 

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Final touch being another term for his first touch.

What a joke he is.

I have no personal vendetta, as he tries his best, but please drop him, and please stop singing that embarrassing chant.

SHEF-KEEEEE KUQAAAAAAAYYYYY.

For some reason when it's chanted it sounds like a bunch of 13 year old townies are singing it, as are the emphasised pronunciations at certain points.

Also it usually follows a first touch so heavy the pitch slants somewhat afterwards.

I would prefer....

Friedel

Neill Nelsen Zura Gray

Bentley Reid Savage MGP

Pongolle Bellamy

I know it wont be though, no doubt Kuqi and Todd will start, which should ensure another pointless away day...

2-0 Everton.

according to Ferguson, only failed to retrieve a 4-1 deficit because "Blackburn just cleared the ball into the corners and we lost a lot of energy having to go back and rebuild all the time"

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That's so funny.

''The only reason we didn't pull it back is because Blackburn used tactics which meant we couldn't.''

Well I never, why would anybody ever do that?

It wasn't long ago everyone was calling him 'our makelele'. How times change ..

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Everyone?

Only the retarded ones among us would have such a rediculously untrue and bizarre statement.