bazza

With typical pessimism I don't expect us to win either game but if the Boro fan's predictions are correct (4-0 and 0-2) I'll settle for that except the other way around; i.e. us to win 2-0 tomorrow night and take the usual Boxing Day drubbing 4-0. Let's go all out for the cup!

Sweden and Paraguay to go through to the final stages. It must be the Blackburn Rovers pessimism syndrome coursing through my veins. That's my prediction. Hope I'm wrong.

Talking of Wigan, I heard on the radio this morning that Jose Mourinho is alleged to have said "The game against Wigan Athletic is more important than the game against Liverpool" If, three years ago, I had suggested that the manager of the current league champions and whose team are way out in front again would seriously say that, you would have had me taken away to the funny farm. Isn't football strange?

It's not the officials who ruined the game. It's FIFA's stupid rules that have destroyed the beautiful game. The officials are told to impose the stupid rules to the letter. I'm disillusioned once again.

Won 3-2 Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

I presume the game is TUESDAY 29th. Nothing on the calendar. And fixtures are last seasons with only half filled in.

Cracking game. Thoroughly enjoyable. Best friendly I've ever seen. The best team lost. Do not get complacent, England. If we meet the Argies in the finals it will be a different and much more difficult game to win. But what super entertainment today!

Tugay, today, was superb. Lay off the ref; I thought he was better than Mike Riley, Barry Knight, Andy D'Urso etc. Fantastic performance considering injuries to defenders before and during the game. I think MGP got injured but soldiered on; hence his (perceived by some) poor performance. Brad was great, saving us several times and shouting at his error-making defence. The two Aussies were very good. Zurab MUST be signed on permanent. Cannot stop this giddy smile on my face.

No. I watched the game in the pub and thought Rovers played well. Certainly gave Chelski a scare. But at 4-2 down we had lost the game but continued plugging away. Then Mr Idiot Riley starts giving a yellow card for every Rovers tackle. Maybe he likes to play snap or whist. Someone please tell him he's on a football pitch and not at a card table.

Barry Knight is noted by us and Bolton fans as being the most atrocious ref around. However, today I thought he had a reasonably good game by his standards. He tried as often as possible to let play flow e.g. Heskey's dive in Darwen end penalty area. He certainly wasn't card happy. At least we saw two teams of eleven play for 90 minutes. Did he book two or three of them and....................... WOW!! Not a single card for a Rovers player. Am I right; am I mistaken or am I dreaming? Shame on those of you who booed him at half time.

Zurab's sending off today demonstrates another reason why people are becoming disillusioned with the modern game. Last defender; miss-timed tackle produces foul for which the penalty should be a free kick or a penalty kick depending on the area of the pitch it occurred. 40 years ago a player only got sent off for serious violent conduct. I'll bet the number was not much more than 5 in a season. FIFA in their wisdom have acheived more than 5 per weekend. If a player is sent off fairly early in a game, the whole game strategy is immediately changed and in more than 90% of games the spectator, having paid a mega amount of money to watch a great contest, is cheated out of this because of silly mandatory rules. It makes me so angry

"One for the future" is often said of the younger players. But Duff is at Chelsea, Dunn is at Birmingham as are Johnson and Tiny Taylor. Paul Gallagher, Douglas and McEvely are out on season-long loans. All these have been described as "one for the future" Strikes me that at Rovers tomorrow never comes. Man U brought a squad through the youth team with Beckham, Scholes etc. Surely our first team should by now contain at least 3 or 4 developed youths.

Didn't Rovers have a Grewcock on loan goalkeeper?

Beat me to it, Alan. The second yellow was shown before the red. I saw it. I know because I was there (said in a broad welsh accent) Not many draws between these two. Rovers turn to win Will scrape a 1-0

Is tonights match on TV? I'm sure it was ear-marked when the fixtures came out. If so the gate will be crap again. I cant see it being on the box because of European matches.

Bryan was right. It's early days so dont get too excited. Two wonder goals, yes but Fulham were not much worse than us. I have a feeling I've just watched two relegation-bound teams today. So here is a doom and gloom merchant still spouting doom and gloom. Neil was terrific going forward in the second half but as a full-back he was skinned time and time again by Boa Morte and could only stop the Portuguese by fouling. Pederson is superb in his overall play and not just in his goal scoring. When the game started I couldn't stop laughing at the huge overweight bulk of Kuqi lumbering ever so slowly round the field but by the end the game I had changed my mind. He is a player far ahead of Dickov in a 4-5-1 formation. I think the fans will warm to him just like I have. In a strange way he reminds me of Tommy Briggs and plays at the same speed as Tommy did in the early 50s. Matteo impressed me today. I'm not his greatest fan but his game has improved a lot. The Admiral is crucial to our defence. Without him we are lost. Tugay had a cracking game and scored a cracking goal. Credit to Toogs and to The Gamst for executing a well worked set piece that I've seen them try twice before without success. Other teams will suss them out so you wont see it again. So enjoy the highlights tonight. So to Spurs on Wednesday. Sorry, folks, but we'll get stuffed.

He needs to see a specialist about getting a new chicken head fitted. Last I saw he was still running around without one.

You mean a la Gresko style?

This post is cancelled.

I'll give you odds of 1000 to 1 you wont see Leicester City in the bottom five of the premiership this coming season.

Well, for what it's worth, here's my final table. I think Spurs will be the most improved team this year and I've stuck my neck out and predicted all three promoted sides to stay up. Newcastle and Villa will disappoint their fans. Chelsea Arsenal Spurs Man Utd Liverpool Man City Boro Everton ROVERS Charlton Bolton Sunderland Newcastle Brum Villa West Ham Wigan W.B.A. Pompey Fulham

So did mine .The fixture list poster is up on the wall in our office much to the annoyance of a Burnley supporter. I haven't found a sticker but I do have a car air freshener.

Any more news of the match?

Quite, Eddie, quite!

This report is fantastic. It beats anything you read in the "News of the World".