Ive been on this messageboard for almost 3 years and I have to say that there's always been quite a lot of crap, much of it my own, but that is what makes it so amusing, controversial and stimulating.

Im a big admirer of Cole, and I feel that he does a great job for the club in ways that have already been stated many times before. Also, just like what has been said, I would not be happy to see him go unless a replacement was to be brought in.

However, if Cole was to leave and money was made available for Souness to spend on a striker of a decent age who would come in, in a similar way that Cole did in the first place, then overall it could be beneficial for the club. If this is not going to happen, and we are simply going to make do with the other strikers we have, or bring in some young talent who may or may not make it, or someone of a similar age to Cole who in no way will have as good of a pedigree and who will stand a risk of not settling in as well and performing as well as Cole has proved then he can, then I have to say no, this is a very, very bad idea.

I think the point is, that even if it was a poor decision or not, England, as the far better team going into the game, should not have put themselves in a situation where the referee's decisions would affect the outcome. Obviously this is impossibly to a certain extent, but I think everyone can see what I'm getting at.

So this service will be free? Standards sky sports 1 package or something?

When will it start?

Nuf said !

You're only saying that because all of the Vikings are out now. So much for the Sweden/Denmark final that are Scandinavian members talked up. Neither of them came close to deserving to win their match.

Will i be emailed when I have a team? Or do I just have to keep trying until I can log on?

I very much doubt that John. By the end of the tournament no one will care anymore, it's rare to see individual decisions that are talked about for years on end, only very special ones such as the "hand of god" last many years. Does anyone still talk about Campbells disallowed goal in the '98 world cup? Didn't think so.

Also...never become a fifa spokesmen. You would have had yourself ripped apart if you stood up and said "refereeing is all about opinions". The laws of the game should be clear, and though there will always be wrong decisions, and there will always be sides that feel agrieved as a result of them, I think this case has highlighted a major grey area in the rulebooks.

You are a pillock. David Beckham doesn't run without the ball? I think this has only happened as a result of him playing in Spain. You are talking about one of the fittest players in world football, one of only two athletes I know of to have COMPLETED the bleep test, the other being Lance Armstrong.

His only skill is crossing and free kicks, oh how terrible that a right midfielder is only good at passing. He's not bad with his head, and is a good tackler. Spain may have ruined his work ethic, but before his move there he was really something else in that sense. He was never considered the kind of player who would beat people, he has his style of play, he's not a Giggs or Duff.

To be honest I have no idea what the figures should be like at different times of the summer so I'll take your word for it. Hopefully we can get it up to the 15,000-17,000 mark, but that probably won't happen. Even if we don't, if the players go out there and play as they can, and start getting results like they did in the back end of the season, Ewood will fill up.

My definition of the beautiful game is not flicks and tricks, where on earth did you get that from. I'm also not saying that there is no difference between English and continental football, I for one should know this as I live in Europe.

My point is, as you have said, continental football is less physical. However, what you have not said, and this is what I am getting at, is that as a result of it being less physical, meaning that players are given more space, the games are slower, plenty of open space, the players are given more OPPURTUNITY to show off their skills. As a result of this, many are seen to be more skilled, when in reality, it is simply that in England you can't try and play that way.

I don't doubt that if a lot of English players went over to continental leagues and played 2 seasons there, they would get used to having the extra space and would start to use some of the parts of their game that could previously only be tried out on the training ground.

i have been to every major tournament england have been in since 82 and i have only beenhome once before team,wheni was deported,unfortunatley ifly home friday

there you have it lads home at 7pm last night

It's all your fault then.

Maybe you should try reading the sentence in full, I said clubs have MORE tougher/stronger players THAN those with skill.

For example, look at teams in Spain, Italy where even the defensive midfielders like Baraja, Davids, Gattuso all have both skills and strength.

The players you mention are worldclass players but like I said, they are a minority in their clubs.

The Premier League doesn't have the ammount of skillful players like those in the above leagues, even the French league has more skillful players than the Premier League. However it's slowly changing due to the increasing ammount of players like Zola, Bergkamp, Duff, Giggs etc plying their trade here.

Those players above aren't the norm in our league, they have had to adapt and add another dimension to their game or else they wouldn't have survived in this league. The reason people don't have time on the ball is because the majority of English teams are more aggressive. Players with skill doesn't mean they show off.

Why do you think players like Veron have problem playing in the Premier League but on the Wednesdays when playing in Champions League, he excels and on many occassions is probably the best player in his team?

Also apart from United, name an English team that consistently does well in Europe?

Try explaining that then Eddie

If you think players like Duff and Giggs have had to "change" their games, this is strange as it's the only league they have played in. While Henry has become a more skilled player while playing in england. All but the bottom clubs in the premier league have their fair share of skilled players, they simply aren't allowed the time on the ball that is required to show the kind of tricks and flicks that we so admire in spain, well at least some of us do. *

Arsenal in the past few seasons have done well in the Champions League. With the odd team getting up there, Chelsea this season and Leeds not too far back.

Yes, the stlyles of play are different. England is more physical, but those who say that there is less skill, and fewer skilled players in england, don't know what they are talking about.

Its all pure speculation, if the figure is accurate 10,000 is awful. Two seasons ago we had the best part of 15000. Burnley have 9000 FFS.

Yes, but with 8 weeks to go until the actual season starts don't you think that number will increase a bit?

Which is why the Premier League clubs have more "tougher/stronger" players than skillfull ones compared to the other leagues.

I hate it when people say that.

I forgot, Duff, Pires, Henry, Giggs, Scholes and the rest don't play in England do they? It's what people like to spew out. The premier league has just as much skill, it simply is played in a different manner. Players are not allowed as much time on the ball and it's played at a higher pace. This means that there is less room to show off.

For me this is one of the reasons why Beckham has had a poor tournament. He is starting to get used to the Real Madrid style of play, which isn't what best fits him regarding what he is good at. He's a hard worker, with great passing and vision, sadly I think he's used to playing with the all stars and messing around.

No way of knowing that. Who knows how Beckham scoring may have changed the mentality of other players and in this way affected how they took their penalties. It's really impossible to say.

now then eddie

that word INCONSISTENCY

it can be levelled at the squad as a whole apart from the odd player

Of course it can. Ferguson though has shown himself, at least after he settled in, to be a performer and a battler. One who will probably displace Flitcroft in the side next season, so it makes sense to have him become captain. I'm not having a go at Flitty, but being captain does mean that there is extra pressure on him to perform. Just look at the things said about Beckham on this site after last night, it's exactly the same for Flitcroft.

You are rather milking this aren't you 1864?

10K at this point isn't bad...maybe one good signing draw a few more in and improve on the crowds from last season.

wishful thinking?

Flitrcroft has been a great player for the club, but 1864, for the past couple seasons he's been past his best and inconsistent. Yes, he still gives his all, but at the end of the day we have better players, he doesn't deserve to be insulted, but at the same time, have to take a look at reality.

Because if terry is making a genuine attempt to play the ball, then it's not a foul, they are just getting in each others way if you see. His arm is "limp", if you see what I mean, in that top picture, it is not holding him down, it is straight out. It's not a foul, I'm a striker (watch out I'm looking to get somewhere with this) and if that goal was taken away from me, I'd be miffed.

As far as im concerned judging by those pictures, it looks to me like the keeper has jumped under Terry's arm, now that, is not a foul

Brian Clough wasn't it? Maybe it's true, but make it your own death and not someone else's.

Come on boys calm down. He was poor and biased, but it is just football, leave the man alone.

Thanks a lot, well I hope to be getting a team soon as there is no waiting list in France, and hopefully I'll be playing some of you in friendlies and such sometime in the near future.

Still, I think a Ferguson/Bazza middle two could still work if we got a decent defender (like being linked with Daniele Adani).

Ferguson (Bazza) is really going to have to work hard then....