Here is a real world way of working it out. What would Coventry have offered? Perhaps the fizzy pop average of £175K a year plus a bit. Rovers: "you can go to Coventry or come here for a bit less but with the possibility of Premiership striker earnings (£1.5m a year) if you perform like a Premiership striker".

I think we are missing the point. There were no other English-born strikers good enough to take.

Italy much the better side and two wonderful goals after two strikes on the woodwork. Only problem is the blessed Italians carcading all round the island. Its bedlam here- no sleep tonight

Capello leaves Juve: http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football...ello/index.html

Thanks- do go there. It is as diverse as China but less than 1% the size!

And that comes down to rank bad self-indulgent management. Gerard didn't look like like that taking penalties for Raffa in CL 2005? Lampard is hardly going to tap the ball to Brad when Chelski get a pen at Ewood is he? etc etc etc The difference between the Portuguese and English is that they had professionalism and pride.

Good point Eddie. If the under-performing England players hadn't carelessly tossed away their chance, Ewood would have been full 30,000 every week next season. Look what happened to Div 1 attendances in 66/7.

Go to The Sunday Times Tuesday, July 4, 2006 Breaking News You can't try me, key defendant tells Italy tribunal [04/07/2006 - 12:05] The first day of questioning in Italy's biggest soccer trial began with one of the most high-profile defendants arguing he should play no further part in proceedings. The lawyer representing former Italian Football Federation (FIGC) official Paolo Bergamo announced that his client had surrendered his membership of the FIGC and was not therefore liable to be tried by the sports tribunal. Bergamo used to conduct the draw that assigned referees to Serie A matches. 'This morning Bergamo has taken the difficult decision to resign from the FIGC after 40 years of activity,' said Gaetano Scalise. Scalise criticised the tribunal's decision to allow intercepted telephone calls to be used as evidence and attacked the 'media circus' around the trial. Bergamo has been at the heart of the scandal since telephone intercepts revealed him discussing refereeing appointments with former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi during the 2004-05 season. Four clubs - champions Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio - as well as 26 officials face charges of sporting fraud and unfair conduct at the trial in Rome's Olympic Stadium. Clubs risk being thrown out of the top Serie A league and European competition if found guilty of conspiring with refereesto rig matches. Individuals face bans. From the Times of Malta

"best in Premiership bar none SINCE 2001" Grabbi was IN 2001. Anyway, Roberts cost us £2m after Whelan knocked £1m off the asking price according to the Mirror.

If Jeffers and Roberts manage 8 goals each in the Premiership next season alongside 8 more from Shefki, I'll take all three donkeys very happily. Again, its worth pointing out that the worst over-priced donkey buying was presided over by Hodgson/Kidd and funded by Jack Walker himself. Since Jack's death, the inbound transfer record of Souness and Hughes backed by the Board has been remarkably good. In fact, I'd say in terms of transfer spend not wasted, Rovers are probably the best in the Premiership bar none since 2001. £2m lost on the Scottish mammy's boy but I'm struggling to put any other transfer outlay in the wasted category.

Is Jeffers an improvement on Jansen as he will be numerically the player he is replacing? I am quietly excited about this signing. It's as close to a no lose gamble as you can get in Premiership football.

Far from the non-Blackburn folks cheering up the Blackburn depressives, it seems that misery spreads and contaminates.... (I'll duck now) I am Ok with Roberts' signing as it would appear we have done a decent deal given the way it is being reported. Whilst Whelan is thoroughly unhappy with Roberts, he certainly doesn't have animosity towards Rovers in general or cause for complaint about conduct in this deal. I am not convinced by Roberts as being much more than a peripheral/squad player but as such in a club hopefully playing 60 matches next season, he will be invaluable. Hope Roberts keeps his BBC website column going- he was a decent read. My view of like-for-like replacements are: Jansen replaced by Jeffers Dickov replaced by Roberts Bellamy replaced by ? and we might get another ? up front as well Gallagher might have a bit part to play next season but Stoke seem to be very interested in another loan spell.

Completely agree. Yesterday was gut wrenchingly frustrating but not painful.

Spoilsport. I want all the hate figures atbthe Mancs. Stay at OT with your lovely uncle RFW Christina!

Rover6, you are spot on backing Walcott. He had a much better World Cup than Frank Lampard and scored as many as Rooney and Owen put together. The kid was a vital member...

Whatever England did preparing for penalties didn't work. Even removing Lennon to bring on Carragher at the end of extra time put a player into the frame who couldn't put the ball on the penalty spot. If you compare that pathetic showing with Germany's penalties: - every penalty taker marched up confidentally and showed through their demeanour they were totally in control. Only Owen Hargreaves did that for England. - the German keeping coach had anbalysed every penalty taken by every Argentine squad member over the past two years. Before each Argentine kick, Lehmann received a piece of paper telling him the directional preference of the next penalty taker. With the level of professionalism attained in the English game, that penalty shoot out was just pathetic and will stand as SGE's lasting epitath.

Not a classic but shows up how poor England v Portugal was in reality. Well done France!

I thought the same percy but the match statistics are heavily in favour of the Portuguese.

A pretty decent performance today apart from a 20 minute spell at the end of the first half when England could not pass to a white shirt. I take back my criticism of Hargreaves- he was fantastic. The momernt I saw Lampard preparing to take that penalty we were out. Lampard hasn't hit the target in 23 of his 25 shots this WC so why should he suddenly score in the shoot out? SGE has rescued England from the Eileen Drewery laughing stock (Glenda resigned from Wolves in sympathy today btw) but there are horrendous weaknesses in the English talent currently available. English international quality forwards end after Owen and Rooney although Crouch did well. We took a Liverpool reserve as third choice keeper because a second division keeper was injured. We had no cover at right back with nothing on the horizon when Neville calls it a day. Steve McLaren will ensure we achieve less than the sum of the parts so no major trophies coming England's way any time soon. Good job we have a relatively easy European Nations Group.

No you are not- a performance that convinced me he'd be an excellent mega million acquistion for the Mancs.

The Guardian's analysis of why this World Cup is a good one: http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup200...1808315,00.html The most successful highest tackling midfielder is a shock!

David Pleat's view of who will get transferred: http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup200...1808240,00.html

Yes, he's poll-axed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/w...006/5108722.stm WC Final?- you're kidding aren't you?

Was rather disappointed with Torres tonight. As for the Rooney v Torres debate, they are different. I think Rooney's talent is rather more a one-off than Torres so in most circumstances I'd take him rather than the lighter weight Torres. Will be interesting to see if Torres is any good in the Prem whereas Rooney is the sort of player who would bulldoze his way through any league.

Have to say the Spanish coach didn't set his side up right for this one and his selection was wrong. That said Spain never really looked like scoring from open play. All credit to Zidane for the killer goal. France v Brasil will be a corker but the first half might be played at walking pace given how both teams feel their way into games.