Neither are Bryan Douglas, Tom Finney, and Bobby Charlton.........nowadays

Scousers used to enjoy a reputation for being the most knowledgable fans in the country...........well this sure explodes that myth! However Chris I do agree with your belief that Gerrard is indeed 'different class' to Duffer! Gerrard is a damned good Sat aftenoon player without question but various adjectives that commonly accompany his name eg 'great' and 'world class' are miles wide of the mark. I dont know if Opta is up to date but I feel our Stevie might just be the top English player to have given the ball away more than any other in Portugal. imo in a Fantasy Football situation Gerrards value to us would be as a replacement for Flitty. He would do well as a 'water carrier' for Tugay who possesses more footballing talent in his big toe than Gerrard has in his entire body.

Up to now Jeff winter and Graham Barber have come out in support of that ludicrous decision by the myopic swiss git!. God only knows how they managed that with all the benefits of slow motion (one wonders how the f*** they managed to survive as referees all that time) but if Mike Riley comes out in support too then thats a hat-trick decision by the worst Prem refs of all time.

I dont think Pennant would offer much of a threat on the left Flpsy. As for Beckham, his dip in form has been for the last 4 games. I was not discarding any player merely insisting that prove that they deserve a place in the team / squad. "You are only a good as your last game" is a motto that Sven should strictly adhere to.

Cant see it happening but the poor performers notably James, Beckham, Owen and Heskey should be dropped forthwith and told that only improved personal performances will allow them to get their place back. It's only fair that replacements such as Robinson, Wright Philips, Defoe and even Pennant should be given an equal chance.

Isn't that a somewhat contradictory statement waggy? I bow to your superior knowledge of travelling with England but do you not think that the 'excellent atmosphere' without 'a hint of crowd trouble' fully and unequivocably justifies the FA's ticket allocation policies which they were undeniably forced to implement by events of the past? Whatever they are doing they seem to be doing right.

You just beat me to that quote Don. What a fool he is if that quote is correct....... he wants dragging up before the beak and never being allowed to ref anything above park football! That goal was a goal! Period. God only knows the state of your eyesight Kingalan! I get really ###### by referees who despite video replays still stick to their guns when they have made a major cock-up. If the @#/? had held his hand up and admitted a mistake I could readily forgive him, but to carry on with his stupid charade confirms that his appearence at this tournament is a classic exampe of 'promotion to incompetence'

Nice to see that Im not the only person to still have not got over that travesty! I still have strong memories of the MU players not even appealing for a free kick ffs! That could have had major repercussions.

Like I said before Joey it was not Souey's original intention to even have Flitty at the club next season.

I'll bet Revs in the pub celebrating as we speak. Anyway lets not forget that at the beginning of last season Flitty was only offered a one year contract but he dug his heels in and in the end got a two year deal, so it's obvious to me that GS is merely sticking to his overall gameplan. Furthermore its possible that he promised Fergy that he would be captain this year when they were in negotiations. I should think that this move might just see Flitcroft moving on..... providing of course that he can find somebody (Wigan / Notlob?) with enough bunce so as not to make him lose out financially.

If we had had our goal allowed, it's Portugal that would have been cheated. You cannot be so negative throughout a full 90 minutes and expect to go through. Dont be daft Tom. And dont be bitter either. We would be in the semis because we scored more goals than them. Period. They attacked for 80 mins simply cos they had to. When the scores were level or when we were behind we were not negative but were going full tilt at them.

Plus a striker (Defoe maybe). And someone to play right wing! We all knew at heart that we had deficiencies on the left and up front but who would have dreamed that the captains international career appears to be well and truly over?* Beckham must be dopped now and forced to prove that he is worth his previously automatic place. He's had a shocking tournament culminating not only in the pen miss but in another awful performance and atrocious closing down that led directly to Portugals first goal. I know that English left sided midfield players are like hens teeth but right now off the top of my head I cannot for the life of me think of a replacement for Beckham either. Looks like 2006 (if we get there) might just see a return to tactics based on Ramsey's Wingless Wonders from 1966. * But Becks has still done well........ (dont forget he was the 2nd best player in the world 2 years ago) for someone who cannot tackle, head, dribble, sprint, and kick the ball out of his shadow with his left foot. Good job he played for MU and married a pop star eh?

It's easy Paul. Gerrard must be better cos he is playing at a BIG city club that won loads of trophies 20 odd years ago.

His name was Steven Smith, he was a Wolves supporter, 28 years old and loved football. He was living his dream to travel around the world. His parents have done a press comment about what a great son he was and how he was doing what he always wanted to do. They are grieving for their son and so is a lot of Portugal and most of the England supporters. He died because of...........oh.....sod it........RIP Steven Smith. And you Phil just want to make a comment about illegal immigrants. Well done. Happy now? Proved a point? Nothing wrong with my comments Col , my super smug mate! Maybe it's you who's trying to make the point about how superior and moral you are ..... Did you know him personally ? Now thats 'irony'.

Mentioning that name on here is akin to mentioning the name of Voldemort around the halls of Hogwarts You've got me thinking Don. Lofty's mate eh??? Hmmmm........any of the mods wear a turban? Not sure about that Gordon. Do you reckon lofty is up for a 3 month ban though? Well Don history tells us that if its for record-breaking topics that provoke almost universal debate and liven up the close season no end are to be the yardstick......Yes! if its for being an occasional moonstruck pain in the neck .......Yes However if no rules have been broken other than bruising a few mods / admins sensitivities then..... No. (But whatever happened to yellow cards?)

The best player of the 3, the one who will change the course of a game in the blink of an eye as a makeweight! The only one of the 3 to possess far more natural ability than just energy, enthusiasm and work rate?!!!? Good grief! It's quite apparent that Kenyon is running Chelsea! Maybe Abromivich has signed that new chap to do the books! . Somebody get on the phone to Chelsea NOW and tell em Bretts reluctantly available but only in return for Duff, Parker, Gudjonnsen and 50 million. The simple barsteward might just be addled enough to accept! The bridge is set to become a laughing stock. Not often I agree with Mick Macarthey but he was adamant last night when questioned about Robben that never mind him there was not a player on the pitch to rival the ability of Damien Duff!

Mentioning that name on here is akin to mentioning the name of Voldemort around the halls of Hogwarts You've got me thinking Don. Lofty's mate eh??? Hmmmm........any of the mods wear a turban?

Matteo is no Roy Keane but how much did 'waiting for him to come back from Ireland on Monday morning' in 93 cost us compared to the price of a return plane ticket to Cork?

Read your own sig Hughesy and think of transfer fees. Why do you think an out of contract spanish international chooses to play for Blackburn Rovers specifically? Do you think that he's read about our cafe society and the many tapas bars to be found on the Barbary coast? Ditto for Matteo? Ditton for Dickov? When you have done that then take 5 whilst you read Big Sams predicament at Notlob. Why is the current world of football 'transfers' so difficult for people to understand? Have you not heard of Bosman? Put it another way Hughesy Half price happy hour in your local is 6-7pm, you are in a party of 10 and it your round and you only have a tenner to spend. It's 5.59pm. So do you 1. Order 10 drinks there and then and borrow the rest of the money? (City) 2. Order 10 doubles and borrow ALL the money and end up having to go home early and stay in for a month skint and in hock (Leeds) 3. Wisely but boringly dont get into a big round in the first place. (west Brom / wolves) 4. Dont ever go out but simply stay in with your sister? (Burnley) 5. Order Dom Perignon champagne and bend over in the back yard for some Russian gangster for a few quid? (Chelski) 6. Order pomagne and bend over for some Egyptian gangster or a soft porn baron. (Fulham/ Brum) 7. Only ever go out in happy hour (Notlob / Charlton) or 8. You dont earn as much as your mates but you stil want to stay out as long so you use your head by going for a quick slash and coming back a minute later?

Does anybody believe, Hughesy, that these 3 have not had a signing on 'bung' and are all going to play for nothing? That original 4 mill will be looking a lot less now! Why do you think that it was specifically to waste by paying transfer fees to other clubs rather than simply an amount of money to be used for signing new players? Think about it!

As far as this messageboard is concerned, and if I remember correctly, he took exception to comments made about the legendary "early leavers" at Ewood. He outed himself as an "early leaver" and was mocked to varying degrees by some people. I don't recollect if it was one post or the cumulative that triggered his departure. I do have a vague memory of his farewell message. Wasn't that John Howarth Colin? CH if my memory serves me correctly was very knowledgeable about all things BRFC and a useful contributor, but a stickler for his habit of leaving early and spoiling the view of the people who stay in their seats until the final whistle.

Personally I'd insist on 40million + Duffer then I'd really be laughing! Now that they have Roben Duff moving back north to Lpool/mu might not be so improbable.

Spot on. That would be classed as wisdom Paul, and that usually only increases with age. The minority of idiots always spoil things for the majority and tarnish events for the nation in general. Heavy, swingeing and lasting punishment for the guilty (and never mind what their parents / girlfriend / lawyer say through their crocodile tears on tele) of one form or another is the only deterrent. The real hard core dickheads would still get involved but they would be in the minority and much more easily identifiable and avoidable because they would attract far fewer hangers-on. btw any press caught instigating violence in the interests of a 'good story' should be sacked and prosecuted, with their editors forced to do a Piers and the newspaper owners held ultimately responsible....but I dare say that that would never happen.

Not sure about the numbers but I take your point Gav. Only problem is now that you have identified them how to deal......sorry 'dispose' of those 200 scum. Terrorist act? Plane crash? Any suggestions Gav cos they certainly wouldn't be missed. One of the major problems is the lack of punishment. The Portugese or whoever simply deport them whilst we meekly accept them back into the country with apparently nothing more than a dissaproving look. Presumably the cost of keeping them in detention / prosecuting them is too prohibitive, so every nation takes the 'Pontious' route of washing their hands of the problem and simply awarding the dick heads bragging rights for the next few years. Call me old fashioned but the punishment really needs to be made to fit the crime, and that includes any similar acts whether its at the football or simply on an 18-30's trailer trash lash up. Furthermore if the Dutch/ Germans / Italians have problems then maybe the authority should come from Brussels. No wait what am I saying? That lot couldn't come up with a solution if they were given 50 years of debate.

I've said this until I'm blue in the face but for the benefit of the few I will say it again. For the majority of football clubs transfer fees other than token gestures have been consigned to the history books! Leave salaries out of it for a moment and 4 mill or whatever spent on a transfer fee to another club depreciates to sweet FA in 4 short years.....or however long the contract is! Any player that was bought 4 years ago will simply ###### off to the highest bidder in terms of wages. Lets look at Barry Ferguson, assuming that he is on 2 million per year he will cost 3.75 million (7million / 4 years + his salary) per annum and in 2007 will walk away for free. Put another way...if we have a budget to spend of 4 million are we better off signing 4 players of the calibre of Dickov / Matteo or one player of similar ability who is contracted to his club and will cost the same in total? The clubs are simply having to pay the money now in wages to the players and their agents. My only surprise is that this situation post Bosman has taken so long to materialise. Maybe this will ultimately lead to 'normality / sanity' in football, I dont know. What it is doing in the interim is however not healthy because for all the millions being generated and pumped into the game the only beneficiaries are the individual players (and agents and Gordon Taylors) pension arrangements and investment funds. Very little will end up left over to benefit the development of the clubs, the Stadia and spectator facilities, the whole development of young players and the whole game in general.