Eddie

I don't blame him for accepting the job, anyone would have done that, but I do blame him for refusing to resign. Sometimes things are just about honour, he will know that he hasn't done a good enough job, he will have known that he was almost certainly going to be fired and a man with some self-respect and guts would have done what needed to have been done and simply resigned. It fits perfectly into the gutless creature that he has been for the past 18 months as England manager, but it would have been the right way to end it. I can tell you that I certainly would have resigned and I am sure I am far from being alone in that respect.

I'm very disappointed, although not surprised, that he hasn't resigned.

Of course, but then that feeling that we have a right to be there is the same in basically every major footballing nation. It is a product of the fact that the vast majority of the time the same core group of sides qualify. We were lucky to even be in with a chance of qualifying tonight, not only on the basis of the Israel v Russia match at the weekend, but simply the number of points dropped over the entire course of qualification by other sides, the quality of performance given the significance of the match is simply unacceptable.

We're not overrated in football, the players are good enough. They show that every week in the premiership, they just need the right man in charge to sort them out at international level. I'll just have to support my country of birth this summer. By the way, when I mean sort them out that includes dropping some of them and giving them a kick up the backside. The players are at fault as well, but the quality is there.

Got what he deserved. I'm a firm believer that when you need them you start with your "big-game" players, Beckham should have been on from the start and we should have stuck with 4-4-2. I hope he has the guts to resign, but I can see him trying to stick it out and probably get himself a nice cheque as he leaves.

I agree with you there Bazza. In fact, I seem to recall Fat Sam saying that he had used it for some things. That isn't to say that any player who is good in FM is good in real life, but certainly there are a good number for whom that is the case. Having said that, I would never suggest that we buy a player purely on the basis of FM.

Well I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that South Africa are hosting the next World Cup. Both of them will probably be able to play in that, so why would you choose to miss out on playing in a world cup (considering they didn't make it to 2006) and being the host nation.

He did, as did Mokeona (I think), but they are both back in the squads now.

For us? Just Mokoena.

Agreed. Also have to remember that he's probably on quite high wages. He's a Dutch international signed from a big club, so he's probably in the clubs top 5-10 highest earners despite the fact that he isn't holding down a place in the starting 11. I'm not saying we should put in an effort to sell him, but if someone puts in a reasonable bid, then at his age and given his role I think he can be replaced. I think he's a good player and I like having him as a squad member who's able to step in, but that doesn't mean that we can't look to quite possibly reduce the wage bill and the average age without taking too much of a hit to the quality of the team. It always fits in with the same view I have on Savage and Tugay, replace them when you can afford not to, not when you are in trouble if you don't.

He's a good player and he's done well for us, but I also would take money for him at this point. He is old and we have Zurab who can step up to fill that role, as well as Henchoz as extra cover. It would be nice to sell him and bring in a younger player.

I wish Thompson the best of luck. Fantastically gifted player when he is fit, a shame that injuries have prevented him from ever fulfilling his potential. I still remember that turn he pulled off on the edge of the box during the game at Celtic Park, it was wonderful.

That will be to do with the finances Rovers start with. Don't worry about it, as long as you have a bit of success you'll be fine. We're 3 million in debt (I think) at the start of the game, one good season can get rid of that, but it isn't anything serious enough to really have to worry about. You shouldn't have to sell anyone, but if you can sell someone for a nice profit it will solve your problem in one go.

He's already admitted that his mind was elsewhere for a while.

Lay off it, you sound like some Arsenal or Chelsea fan bringing up the bully boys tag. We can't pick and choose when to use it and only like it when it's against a former player. Neill didn't "f**** off", he actually told us well ahead of time that he had no intention of renewing his contract (which is as much within his rights as it is for you or I) and then he continued to play his heart out every time he stepped onto the pitch. Had he not continued to put in the effort then I would have had a problem with it, but he behaved really like a model professional. Of course I want every player to want to stay here for their entire careers if they are wanted, but realistically players are going to look for more money and bigger clubs, just like you or I would if we were playing for a team who we didn't support. It's not unusual for players to become unhappy or want to leave the club they are at, essentially that is what happened to Neill and we had every opportunity to sell him the summer before. What is unusual is for a player to play with the same commitment even after their desire to leave has been made public, some of the fans have turned on them and it is clear that they are leaving in the near-future. His decision to go to West Ham was an odd one, he sometimes fell foul of a red mist and he wasn't the perfect defender, but he was a very good player and one who did a good job for the team.

Has anyone bought FIFA Manager 08? I used to buy total club manager and liked it. I couldn't have it instead of FM, but it is interesting to switch between the two.

You mean a player who always played for the club even when fans had turned on him and he had been prevented from moving to a bigger team? It was a shame to see him end up at West Ham and really the issue is over, but I think the premier league would be a better place if more played like Neill did. You always knew he was going to fight for the cause.

How the the strokes and the every song sounds the same monkeys can be said to have changed music I really don't know.

Well, considering that left back isn't Neill's best or natural position he did a pretty good job for the team there. It's unfair to be critical of him for not being the best when played out of position. He was a very good player.

Hughes can do no wrong, he deserves credit for things he didn't even do...

I'm not saying he wouldn't be off if a bigger club came in, but I think there is certainly a passion there that goes beyond the simple employer-employee relationship. I think it is a general feeling amongst our squad at the moment and you don't see it all that often.

I think anyone who saw the passion with which he celebrated MGP's goal the other night can tell that he doesn't see us just as an employer.

I thought it was ok. It was an interesting idea, generally well written and it made you think, but I'm still not a big fan of the style and that is what prevented it from being a good book for me. I can see how some would really like it though.

Never happens.

Maybe I just don't have a problem telling people when I disagree with them on an internet messageboard? Or is that not what they are for?