Norman Tebbitt was an MP who famously had a go at people who had emigrated here but still followed their country of origin.

There were no excuses as you were the better team. Gregan was fairly gracious in his post match comments but also true in saying how tired they are as it's the end of our season. The game at Twickenham will be interesting as Gregan admitted. I know you were born in Blackburn Dave it was a joke. However if you have changed your allegiance then you must be a bit of a Norman Tebbitt fan.

It's funny how two countrys so close can be so different. We have just had a few games against the All Blacks and also currently playing them at cricket. In both cases the games were played in great spirit by and large and one noticeable factor was the atmosphere between the players. Sadly whoever the Aussies play it always descends into a slagging match simply because of the attitude. I'm sure you lot must of have been sent over by the French and not us.

I don't think the renewal deadline was too early rather that the packs were too late. The club need to get the stuff sorted although a few extra weeks wouldn't have done any harm given the lateness of the stuff.

Exactly

Glad to see you've got over it. Shame it doesn't win you anything though.

How can you say that when he has been captain whilst we have won promotion, won the WC, and qualified for Europe by finishing 6th in the league. He must have been doing something right!! If i'd have said we were a poor side last season because of Flitcroft then I could understand you point but I didn't. I don't think he has ever done what I think a good captain should. We have had successes in spit of him being captain not because of it IMHO. I've made no comment on him as a player but if anything I think it could free him to play his game without a burden that I don't feel he is up to.

Great move for me. Flitty can get on with doing his battling midfielder role and hopefully let Barry become the 'leader' that he never could be. For all his faults Flitcroft for me can inspire the team with a few hard tackles, he doesn't need to be captain for that. A good captain should be able to lead the troops and motivate them, get them going and if needed rollock them. Flitty has never done that for me. Interesting to see how he responds though as it must be viewed as a snub.

Spot and couldn't agree more. I don't mind at all if loads of people who usually have no interest can find all get involved. Equally I fully expect them to go back to having no more than a passing interest in football. It;s not a new phenemenon and certainly nothing to worry about.

In the first half Owen had at least two more really good chances one which fell onto the roof of the net and the other which the keeper pushed wide. Portugal were only ahead for 3 minutes though so it's hardly a fair comparison. The comment 'stick to your guns' wasn't a dig mate. You've made some good points and I appreciate that. Far better than some of the nonsense that has been posted. Anyway i've got Denmark in the work sweep so I'm cheering them on now.

I expect a bit of loyalty but obviously I expect too much.

Someone else speaking sense. Some of us on here need to take those st. georges cross glasses off and face up to the truth. So when Jimk2 et al talk so pessimistic about Rovers you don't ever respond. We haven't been overly negative at all. We have simply done what any team would do and that is try and hold on to a lead. It makes me laugh some of the comments. Obviously when two teams are evenly matched when one takes the lead they will sit back. What else would you do? Course we sat too deep but it was the quarter final for gods sake players get nervous and panic. Yes we played too many long balls but with the strikers we had on it was an easy option and when you are leading 1-0 in a quarter final you take the easy option. If you honestly think we deserve to be going home then fair enough but we have played some of the best football at times and had as much right to be there as a few of the others. When we needed to we could play and score something the Italians, Germans and a few others clearly couldn't but you stick to your guns Tom.

Apologies Manchester Blue. I wasn't having a go. It wasn't my intention. Fair enough. I accept and apologise too. And on that note i'll retire to dream about beating Beckham about the head with a large stick.

You're the one saying 'Some would say if you don't try and defend for 87 mins etc' . Clearly we know that and there is no need for that but if it is not patently obvious that a few people will be somewhat touchy and a little bit peed off then i don't know what is. Quite frankly i'm gutted and some of the nonsense being spouted is to me tantamount to going on another teams messagboard after a defeat and gloating. You ain't going to get a good debate a couple of hours after the match cos it still bloody well hurts.

Some would be talking out of their arses then. Is that really possible? You tell me you seem to have perfected it.

Some would be talking out of their arses then.

No humble pie needed for me thanks as I made no predictions on what we would do. I leave rash predictions for the fools who said we would not make it out of the group.

Ofcourse they're favourites, but their defense isn't impressive at all. And stranger things have happened. You gotta be optimistic, we have absolutely nothing to lose. Apart from a place in the semi-final! Well duh... but noone expects us to get there. We will have performed well even if we go out. Holland have much more pressure on them. And not to anyone in particular: Yes the referee was awful, but don't do what the Italians always do and solely blame the ref. He had a part in it, but Portugal were the better team too, don't forget that. Well duh you seem to seeing as you haven't stopped chirping on for the last two weeks about wanting England in the semi as it would be an easier game for you lot. Oh and to you in particular you can be assured the head of our FA will not be blaming it all on a fix. We still have every right to be bitter about one of the weakest referee's i've ever seen.

Ofcourse they're favourites, but their defense isn't impressive at all. And stranger things have happened. You gotta be optimistic, we have absolutely nothing to lose. Apart from a place in the semi-final!

Maybe you should A couple of them did the same towards those who predicted they'd get knocked out in the group stages. Entertaining game, quite even too. Had Rooney not been forced to go off it might have ended differently. But I think that overall, Portugal deserved it. However I'd have prefered England to go through, since I think we'd have a much better chance vs them in an eventual semi final. As you must well know you've got little chance of getting there.

Don't like the team. Don't like the country. So why support them? Because I was born here? I want revenge for being born in the first place.. No.

Absolutely. Like Italy going out ! Who's next RoyRover - Holland or Germany ?? While it's hardly conducive to your little witch-hunt ("He believes not in England? Burneth him!") a quick peruse over another thread will underline the fact that my compatriate was simply countering a rather ludicrous and quite naive argument. One which debased every other capable team in the tournament. But hey, that's just the facts... The post he responded to may well have been slightly ott but seeing as the vast majority on here are cheering England on then we are allowed that are we not. Instead RoyRover proceeded to slate England and state just why we will do nothing. This was backed up with facts like the gems that the Germans have shown they can rise to the big occasion, and Spain have the best attack. Now fair play for making bold predictions but when you get left with egg on your face you can hardly blame people for laughing. As for the comment about anyone bit cheering England getting stick, well that's just nonsense. The few posters actually cheering on other teams have by and large put their point across well and been respected for it. When posters come on sneering and making digs then they should expect to be treated like a Burnley fan who would come on here slating Rovers.

Is that what the lofty means then?

. Now that's comedy. See what he did there. Ste / Stephie. Genius

Who's Stu and why are you having a go at him now.