rog of the rovers

MCG is certainly on my to do list. Australian actor Hugh Jackman (Wolverine from X Men) was earlier saything that Oz was getting gripped by Football Fever although he said he didnt think that Australia would be there too long!

Well done Jason, always a good read. Simon Garner's is just funny, which games does he watch?

My Predictions Group A Winners- Germany Runners up- Poland Group B Winners- Sweden Runners up- England Group C Winners- Argentina Runners up- Holland Group D Winners- Mexico Runners up- Portugal Group E Winners- Czech Rep Runners up- Italy Group F Winners- Brazil Runners up- Croatia Group G Winners- France Runners up- South Korea Group H Winners- Ukraine Runners up- Spain 2nd Round Germany v England - England Sweden v Poland - Sweden Argentina v Portugal - Argentina Holland v Mexico - Mexico Czech Rep v Croatia - Czech Rep Brazil v Italy - Brazil France v Spain - France Ukraine v South Korea - Ukraine Quarter Finals England v Argentina - Argentina Sweden v Mexico - Mexico Czech Rep v France - France Brazil v Ukraine - Brazil Semi Finals Argentina v France - Argentina Mexico v Brazil - Brazil 3rd Place Playoff Mexico v France - Mexico FINAL Argentina v Brazil - Brazil

No Adu in the squad? Who is your risk?

Nice work Philly Rover. Chimbonda hardly inspiring! Ouch GOod job Hughesy is better at fin players than I am!

Must say that having seen the interview with him on ITV News he looks like a top bloke who I think is destined for great things. Anyone with that sort of pace can be a real asset, especially coming off the bench against the aging defences of countries such as Sweden and Trinidad and Tobago.

JACK-AN-ACK-ANORY I liked the kit, the Dark Blue was the right shade and the shorts and socks were nice and plain, superb effort from the club IMHO If you see the blue and white and don't love it aren't you supporting the wrong team?

Makes you wonder again, what role does David Dein have in the F.A.?

I presume from the big yellow stripe on the side of Brad's shorts and his yellow socks that the keeper shirt may be yellow, however due to Man City wearing yellow, he couldn't wear it. Of course I may be wrong!

Horribly wrong on some, but right on others, 1st Chelsea 2nd Manchester United 20th Sunderland Bolton can still finish 7th aswell! Correct Expectations Expect Essien to sign and Chelsea to win by several points. Expect Rooney to score 20+ goals this term and Christiano Ronaldo to perform 20+ step overs a half Expect to see Doug Ellis and David O'Leary have a major fall out Expect David Dunn to miss 3-6 months of the season due to back or hamstring trouble.

Could I take all of Angola's games? Angola v Portugal Angola v Mexico Angola v Iran I love the kit! Angola shirt

Mine Goalkeepers ROBINSON JAMES GREEN Defenders G. NEVILLE R. FERDINAND TERRY A. COLE CARRAGHER KING BRIDGE Midfielders BECKHAM © LAMPARD GERRARD J. COLE CARRICK WRIGHT-PHILLIPS LENNON JENAS HARGREAVES Forwards OWEN CROUCH DEFOE BEATTIE I really think we should take the kid Lennon, he has been very impressive of late. I also think it better to take Beattie instead of Darren Bent as D. Bent and Defoe are virtually the same player, and despite his fantastic season, Defoe's experience must give him the edge. Hargreaves to scrape into the squad simply because he knows Germany well, and can tell some of the players what to expect at the grounds. Apart from that the squad pretty much picks itself, dont you think? *** NOTE I AM ASSUMING ROONEY WILL MISS THE TOURNAMENT ***

I'll take Iran vs. Angola! Like a challenge

Lets see the youngsters! Oh and the new Kit!

My team for the game would be, Friedel Neill Khizanishvilli Nelsen © Taylor Reid Savage Tugay Peter Bellamy Gallagher Subs Enckleman Bentley Kuqi Emerton Mokoena Dropped: Pedersen, Dickov Givve a chance to: Taylor at left back, Peter at left midfield, Gallagher up front. THIS AINT GONNA HAPPEN, but I would try this vs. Charlton

To be fair I'm quite excited that England's getting Big Phil. No one really stands out from the English based managers, I think that Sam's time will come eventually but he has to leave Bolton for a bigger club to prove his worth. Stuart Pearce and Alan Shearer should be in line the nest time the job comes around. THANK GOODNESS ALAN CURBISHLEY ISN'T GETTING THE JOB!

I forgot to put down my goal of the season! 1st MGP vs. Fulham 2nd Bellamy vs. Pompey 3rd Reid vs. Wigan Could we possibly turn this into a poll?

What a year it has been for tremendous goals. Just wondering what people think will win goal of the year out of these. All are realistic contenders G0AL A - MORTEN GAMST PEDERSEN vs. fulham (h) GOAL B - TUGAY vs. fulham (h) GOAL C - MORTEN GAMST PEDERSEN'S SECOND vs. manchester united (a) GOAL D - BRETT EMERTON vs. charlton (h) GOAL E - DAVID THOMPSON vs. charlton (a) league cup* GOAL F - MORTEN GAMST PEDERSEN vs. wigan (a) GOAL G - STEVEN REID vs. wigan (a) GOAL H - MORTEN GAMST PEDERSEN vs. manchester united (h) league cup* GOAL I - LUCAS NEILL vs west ham united (a) f.a. cup* GOAL J - DAVID BENTLEY'S THIRD vs. manchester united (h) GOAL K - CRAIG BELLAMY'S FIRST vs middlesbrough (h) GOAL L - CRAIG BELLAMY'S SECOND vs. middlesbrough (h) GOAL M - CRAIG BELLAMY'S FIRST vs. portsmouth (a) GOAL N - CRAIG BELLAMY'S SECOND vs. portsmouth (a)

Free pies for the away fans anyone?

I remember being away in France skiing with my family, but found an English bar to watch the match in! Superb as there were some other Rovers fans in there! It was a Friday night to remember

Bellamy was a pleasure to watch today. I'm not particularly bothered that only 18,000 or so people turned up because those who used to come (excluding those that can't afford the tickets or are abroad) and now aren't seriously cant consider themselves as true supporters! BTW 2 previews by me, 2 wins! Norwich (h) and Middlesbrough (h) 100% record

As much as I love Rovers, Easter sunday is as important a day for Christians as Christmas! This ruins both Easter Sunday and the game for me

5.15 was fine a month ago but now its an outrage? What? I just don't get it. Being in Liverpool you sense the Hillsbrough disaster could have happened a year ago, and Im sure if one of my relatives was killed I would feel the same way, BUT isn't the best way of celebrating their life by playing football the thing that unites us all. Surely a 5.15 or 8pm kick off on the 15th and a minutes silence/applause would be the best way to remember their lives.

Boro beat Roma on away goals rule!

Well after a scrappy 2-0 victory earlier this evening, attentions turn to next Saturday's clash with in form Middlesbrough at Ewood. Rovers as said go into the game on the back a 2-0 victory against Villa, as conversly Middlesbrough face 3 tough away matches in under a week, starting with Charlton at the Valley on Sunday, then to the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Wednesday, before returning to Ewood on Saturday. I will be honest, I intially agreed to do the preview so I could "interview" a rather good looking girl from university called Amanda who I had spoke to briefly and who had said she was from Middlesbrough, so I saw this preview as a perfect oppertunity to meet up at a bar and maybe ask her a few questions about Middlesbrough and the Rovers, after plucking up the courage to go and speak to her earlier this week she told me that she wasn't a Middlesbrough fan, but followed her Dad's team Sunderland! Ah well! This week's Questions and Answer's come from two completely different sources, firstly "Fly Me To The Moon" (Middlesbrough's fanzine) editor Rob Nicholls, with the second coming from arguably Middlesbrough's most famous fan, Roy "Chubby" Brown. Rob Nicholls Q and A 1. How long have you been a Middlesbrough fan? Since school - got my first season ticket with my dad and brother in the old Bob End of Ayresome Park in 1974/75 to see Jack Charlton's newly promoted Champions play in the top flight. Been hooked since. 2. This season, Jekyll and Hyde, true reflection? Yes definitely - but it's even weirder than that. In that we hit rock bottom with 7-0 pounding at Arsenal and then an worse 0-4 humiliation by fellow strugglers Aston Villa at the Riverside. The manager was finished then - I've never ever heard so many people call for a boss's head. A fan flung his season ticket at him, people were marching out of the ground en masse. Young player Lee Cattermole was in tears. It was an evil atmosphere. The turnaround in the month after this has been quite incredible. Hammering Chelsea, grinding out results v WBA and Brum. Getting through to the Quarter finals of the FA Cup without a single home draw. Beating Stuttgart in Europe and then winning at home against the unbeatable Roma. That is an awesome few weeks. 3. Future Middlesbrough stars? Downing? Morrison? Riggot? Parnaby? How good are these talents? Who is the best? Downing's already made the England team hasn't he? He just needs fitness and the chance to get all his confidence back. Morrison could potentially make it just as far if not even further. He can play anywhere at all across the front line. Chrissy Riggott has been knocking on the door at England for a year or two and been ignored. He will eventually take over from Southgate as the rock in our defence. Stuart Parnaby has to sort out his injury problems but all credit to the fullback for making scoring contributions as an emergency right midfielder. The young player we are most excited about at present is Super Lee Cattermole - at 17 years of age he has fantastic ability and tremendous bottle. He gets stuck in but can also pick a great pass. Even at 17 he has the potential to be a future England player. 4. McClaren the next England boss? Wins against Chelsea, Stuttgart and Roma have suddenly promoted him from no hoper to a real possibility. He has big time European experience at Man U, Boro and of course England. Few of the other candidates can match this not even Martin O'Neil. His tactical ability in European competition could well mark him out above anyone else from the British contenders. 5. Who should Blackburn be wary of? Our strikers Yak and Jimmy. You know all about Hasselbaink from last season's hat trick. But he's right back to that form again. Yakubu is an all round centre forward. Strong, fast and with a great eye for goal. They form a frightening combination at the moment and then there's always Viduka... 6. Who should Boro be wary of? You really rocked us with those two wins over the un-festive season. Kuqi ripped us to sheds at ties in those games. He was so strong and awkward to contain while Dickov just never gives up a constant irritant. You hesitate for just one moment in the 90 the minute and he takes the game away from you. Being an ex Geordie Craig Bellamy is not a popular man on Teesside, he has incredible pace as well. Morten Gamst Pedersen is annoying too seeing as he had a trial with Boro and returned back to Scandinavia unsigned. But you have some really good players, real attacking threats. 7. Fly me to the moon? Where did the name come from? Back to our inception in 1988. Manager Bruce Rioch had taken a bunch of young local lads from the closed gates of liquidation to the top flight in 2 amazing seasons. We were barred from making any signings so hadn't even got even resources for a proper reserve team we had to get a local non league team to help us out. Anyway Rioch was the man in charge and Tony Mogga Mowbray was his inspirational leader on the pitch. Rioch said of his captain's heroics if he had to fly to the moon he would want Mowbray by his side. As yet the Moon Mission has not been launched but the revolution at our club since being an hour away from going out of business in 1986 has been nothing short of astronomical. 8. Any tips for people wanting to start a fanzine? Get as many contributions as possible. Get as many good writers cartoonists and the like. Be open minded. Don't just be anti be positive as well. Keep it fresh but build up a rapport with the fans. Be by the fans and for the fans. And never drift away from that central tenet. 9. Favourite Ground? (Apart from the Riverside) Why? Millennium Stadium Cardiff - field of dreams after 128 years of trying we finally won our first silver ware. That is an awful long time. 10. Prediction for the game? Should be an interesting game. We will be desperate to make amends for the League and Cup defeats at the Riverside. I'm predicting a narrow Boro win 2-1. Jimmy and Yak scoring the goals. Roy "Chubby" Brown Q and A 1. How long have you been a Middlesbrough fan? All my life. 2. This season, Jekyll and Hyde, true reflection? True. 3. Future Middlesbrough stars? Downing? Morrison? How good are these talents? I believe one of them will make the England squad. 4. McLaren the next England boss? No. 5. Who should Blackburn be wary of? Hasslebanks left foot. 6. Who should Boro be wary of? Dickov. 7. How long have you been performing Stand Up Comedy? 37 years. 8. Any tips for young Comedians? Carry a baseball bat. 9. Favourite Gig? Why? London palladium because of its nostalgia. 10. Prediction for the game? 1-1. Memorable Matches vs. Boro (at Ewood) 1903- Rovers 0-4 Middlesbrough (First Ever League Meeting at Ewood) 1910- Rovers 5-1 Middlesbrough (Christmas Eve 1910) 1945- Rovers 3-3 Middlesbrough (Month before the end of the War) 1954- Rovers 9-0 Middlesbrough (Quigley and Mooney hat-tricks for Rovers) 1991- Rovers 2-1 Middlesbrough (Rovers went up via playoffs, Boro as runners up) 1992- Rovers 1-1 Middlesbrough (First Premiership game) 1996- Rovers P-P Middlesbrough (The game that never was, Robson blamed flu, Boro had 3pts deducted, which ultimately cost them) 2004- Rovers 0-4 Middlesbrough (Last Premiership meeting) Foot in Both Camps (Direct Rovers to Boro or vice versa Transfers) Jock MacKay Eddie Murphy Stuart Ripley Jock Sorley Charlie Watts Star Man (In My Opinion) YAKUBU Gifted Nigeria striker who has proved to be one of the hottest properties in the Barclays Premiership. Joined Middlesbrough from Portsmouth for £7.5million after scoring 29 goals in 67 top-flight appearances at Fratton Park. Blessed with power, pace and a fearsome shot, Yakubu has the talent to make Boro a force at home and abroad Record (In Premiership): Played - 2053 mins Goals - 13 Assists - 5 Yellows - 0 Reds - 0 Young Star (In My Opininon) STEWART DOWNING One of Boro's brightest prospects, England Under-18 international Downing was handed his Premiership debut against Ipswich in April 2002. The left-sided midfielder made his home bow against Chelsea three days later. Opened his Boro goalscoring account last season in a League Cup clash at Brentford. Made his England debut in a friendly against Holland in February 2005. Record (In Premiership): Played - 706 Goals - 1 Assists - 4 Yellows - 0 Reds - 0 Match Prediciton I'll leave that to you