If Savage is back: Rovers win 2-1 Without Savage (Or perhaps with Savage but without a bunch of others): Spurs win 2-0

Like others have said, Emerton is the first one that springs to mind, and then Neill & Reid. Derbyshire, if he'll ever get a game, is ridiculously quick though isn't he?

Absolutely no way this will come of. But IF it for some unknown reason does, I think it'd be a cracking signing. Would be a great replacement for Tugay, and heck, even if he'd be a poor player (Which he certainly is not) his high profile alone would be worth it.

Yes he was, I thought it looked quite clear (If not by much) on the replay.

I had no way to catch the game today, so would appreciate if someone could tell me how Ooijer played? Does he now look like the real deal?

Hodgson is actually more or less fluent in Swedish, seen him on Swedish TV a few times as a pundit. Gotta give anyone who learns Swedish some credit, not an easy language. Of course, he's got a heavy accent, but that seems to be true for most Englishmen.

Was gonna mention those two. Aki Rihilahti seems sharp enough when reading his columns.

A draw at Anfield is always a good result, and with the pressure they had for a while it could've been a loss. However considering how cheap the conceded goal was (A completely unmarked midget at the back post from a corner) I feel a bit disappointed with just one point. We were in control in the first half, not threatening much, but also never really looking like conceding (With one exception). Similar at the start of the second half, but between the 60th and 80th minute or so we were under real pressure, couldn't string two passes together. I thought the whole back five were excellent, while Bentley had a good game too yet again. Pedersen and Nonda didn't contribute all that much, and Tugay had one of his poorer games in a while. Roberts was a nuisance when he came on, Moko was solid and Gallagher below average.

Losing to Croatia away isn't in itself any reason to really worry (As they have NEVER lost at that stadium), but I suppose it's the manner in which it happened that's got everyone worked up? Plus, of course, the Macedonia game. England does have a very good side, but I think it's wrong to expect to outplay opponents with your skill. Because most English players (Like my team, Sweden) don't have technique as their main strengths, it's the combination of some technique, physique, work rate, team work and tactical awareness that's always been the Northern European way. That's what the team should focus on. Now I'm not saying that your players have no skill or flair or anything, just that when comparing to teams like Brazil the quality lies in different areas. Brazil can outplay even very good teams, some teams need to rather outmuscle and outrun them. Basicly, play more like Blackburn and less like Arsenal. Might not be as attractive, but I'm sure you'd rather have results?

We really should win this, and I think we will. But seeing how much I suck at predictions I'm worried whenever I expect a win.

Watching the Charlton - Arsenal game atm, and it reminded me of something I thought a long time ago: Doesn't Bryan Hughes look an awful lot like Barry?

Uploaded Bentley's goal to YouTube in case anyone else was having problems. It's the same vid as the one posted earlier so all credit to the original capper.

I believe the reason for that is that Moko can play in centre midfield and at right back (Although not very convincingly in my opinion) too, which gives Hughes more options.

Kolo Touré plays at right back or the right side of midfield too. No way he can play centre half.

It was Zurab (Or the commentator said so, I almost missed it so didn't see the infraction. Very small in any case) for the first and Neill for the second (And that was NOT a penalty).

Honestly I don't care whether a player likes the town or not (And this goes for my local team as well. Not that many people find Gothenburg a dump, but still) as long as he performs on the pitch and doesn't moan too much. Would I prefer it if he kept those thoughts to himself, or even better didn't have them at all? Yes I would, but it's not something that keeps me up at night. And in regards to the actual signing: Good cover on a free, can't imagine who else we could've gotten as cover?

Actually, Barca pay UNICEF €1.5m per year, and donate 0.7% of their yearly income to charity. I've not read anything about having other sponsors pay for that, but tbh I don't really care about it either. The bottom line is that UNICEF gets their name on an iconic shirt, something worth millions of pounds per year, as well as €7.5m over five years. I doubt the people helped by that €7.5m care whether it's a publicity stunt or not.

He's scored 20 goals in the Championship in the past, might well do it again. Like people have already said, his control is quite awful, but his physical presence alone can cause a lot of trouble. He'll never give up, and he has a great scoring celebration £2.5m is too much, but then again you got a great deal for AJ so I suppose there's money to spend.

Well losing to Chelsea isn't the end of the world. We played well in the first half, and it wasn't like Chelsea dominated the second either. Ooijer didn't have a great debut, but he looked a threat at corners and looking at Emerton we know that the debut performance doesn't mean much Not gonna judge him based on just one game. On the plus side, Bentley and Emerton were both good on the right, and Neill had a decent game as well. Reid's passing was all over the place, Tugay is still needed in the centre.

Kanu beat Todd for the header for their 2nd goal, and Moko for their 3rd.

Yes. Marking wasn't great in the center either when the cross came in, tho I didn't see who was there (Todd I guess)

Well it's certainly not unheard of for the margin between 1st and 3rd in a league to be 15pts, happened in the premiership as well I'm sure (Or at least 1st-4th. My memory is bad with numbers like this ). Especially so with a club like Juve involved. While they won't keep their big name stars, they still have a good squad, keeping in mind that they've in a position to sign a lot of the young talent for years etc. I'd also imagine they have a lot of players out on loan, or co-ownership deals on players from serie B teams or smaller serie A teams who could well play for the in serie B, and who would be good enough to win the league. And like Angelo di Livio stayed with Fiorentina at the time, someone like del Piero might do the same (And he's already mentioned something along those lines).

It's the Finns who are the birch-spanking sauna-dwellers. At least get your stereotyping right. Anyway, I'd agree that SGE could've done more, but if the players are so superior to other nations then surely they should be able to adapt to new tactics etc too? Are you really a great player if you can play well under one system, in one team, but not in any other? Also, what's with the constant emphasis on his nationality (And not speaking specifically to Bryan now)? It's always "That clueless Swedish idiot" etc, why isn't "clueless idiot" enough? Sven obviously isn't the only example, nor is Sweden the only country affected, but I wonder why it's so common to include it.

Källström. I wasn't very impressed by him during the WC, but he is a good player. However he signed for Lyon early last month.

I was gonna say it earlier today, but it's even more true now than before: No team like this can be complete without Cannavaro. He's my player of the tournament, he's been completely flawless throughout the tournament, even when playing with three different partners.