I've heard Melchiot is a big reason they got relegated...

Sam. I think he'd be a great England manager (and I'm not saying that as a foreigner). If you compare the talent between Bolton and Brum they are fairly even. If you look at the managers, there is a reason one team is top 10 and the other relegated. By the way, in years past I have been one of his biggest critics. For me to say he'd be best for the job is a big change in tune. For the excuse of the "tabloid press" making Scolari not take the offer, funny that it is rumored he will be now signing a 2 year 6 million extension with Portugal.

I think Heskey would be good partnering with Bellamy. He does a good job of finding the open man. Just think of all of the times Bellamy has been open and hasn't gotten the ball.

It's been a few seasons - since we pipped Everton for 6th...

We were solid at the back with him in. The problem was he was sorely lacking going forward.

Nice pun (if not a little tasteless, but that's part of what makes it nice!), but his sons are heavily involved in his businesses, so it should remain business as usual.

By the way, is anyone going to Eng-Trin? We are going to soak up the atmosphere and would like to meet up with people. Also if anyone is coming from Blackburn, we'd love it if you could pick up some Rovers stuff for us (assuming the store has any left, as the online store doesn't seem to).

We've got 5 matches, applied for the conditional, too. Applied for some of the matches that were most expensive on Razor Gator, hoping we can always trade for what we want. Either way, I picked matches I can go see if not. It was interesting, the Japan matches were by far the most expensive.

Should it be someone vs. US, will you sell the tickets?

Let's just say the Irish, Scottish and Welsh would be happy. That record isn't much better than Souness' with us and he got run out of town.

Especially news if we will be able to wear it to Germany in June...

Woohoo, just found out from US Soccer we got 2 category 1 tickets for US-Czech and US-Ghana!! We now have tickets for 5 matches.

I'm beginning to know how Everton fans felt a few seasons back when we overtook them... Hopefully the poor finish last year was not the start of a trend. Wednesday's match is crucial.

Have a friend at work from the Liverpool area, so it should be a fun Monday. He was moving yesterday and I asked if he got the moving company hired. He replied, "yeah, 3 crooks and a van." I told him they could reminisce (sp?) about the old days in Liverpool...

Heading down, but should bounce right back up. Was in a tough league. Me and the next to last team both were active managers, don't think we ended up with a dead team at all. Tried to sell my World Class PM, but couldn't get any nibbles at 3 million or then at 2.5 (US). I'll build my team around him then, I guess.

I just got Tunisia/Saudi Arabia, one of the matches that fits into our timeline.

Tickets were available this morning. Got to the confirmation screen for Ivory Coast, S&M, having entered my credit card info and then got an error!

London, Milan, Madrid, Liverpool and Bucharest?

A point on the road against a team fighting for their lives is a good result. Wouldn't have had that result without Brad.

I got there juuusssst too late. So far we have the Poland/Equador in Gelsenkirchen match on the 9th, flying into Amsterdam that morning, back to Amsterdam for that weekend unless we can get tickets to Dormund or Cologne. Back to Gelsenkirchen for the US match, then probably off to Luxembourg to drop our stuff at the company apartment. Going to the England/Trinidad match (no tickets, but will be there for the atmosphere) then to Kaiserslautern for the next US match. Back to Lux for a few days then off to Kaiserslautern again for Paraguay/T&T and off to the last US match. We've picked a few matches in between that we'd go to if we can get tickets, but nothing yet.

Guess what: The majority of Americans back in the 1700s thought that slavery was good, too. Again, you have your definitions wrong. Show me where it says that a pub or restaurant is a public place. No problems with the government banning it in public buildings, parks, etc. But you are sorely mistaken when you say banning it in bars and restaurants is banning it in public places.

Should have taken some of daddy's money and opened one. From the claptrap I hear on here it would have done booming business. Take this scenerio: The government today has announced a ban on growing certain types of flowers and grasses in private citizens yards. The following flowers and grasses will no longer be allowed to be grown due to the problems they cause allergy sufferers. Those in apartments will not be allowed to own them in their residences, either. All of these flowers and grasses must be exposed of immediately. These include: Artemisia Bahia grass Bermuda grass blue fescue bluegrass buttercup castor bean centipede grass fountain grass gamma grass goldenrod orchard grass sedge (Carex) Timothy grass In addition, the following trees will not be allowed to be planted. Anyone with one of these types of trees will be required to remove it (them) at the owners expense. These can cause harm to other people's health: almond ash (male) Arizona cypress aspen (male) bald cypress black acacia catalpa Chinese elm cottonwood elm eucalyptus fringe tree (male) Kentucky coffee (male) mango mountain laurel mulberry oaks olive Osage orange (male) pecan poplar (male) privet (male) red cedar Russian olive silver maple (male) smoke tree sumac (male) sycamore walnut willows (male) zelkova In addition, all owners of motor vehicles will not be allowed to turn the engines on. This act can cause health problems in the people in the vicinity of the vehicles, and will be banned immediately. A third act put into effect is that all cattle must be slaughtered immediately. The methane from the cattle causes a negative environmental impact and WILL lead to loss of lives. I could go on. But all those who have given health reasons for banning smoking in PRIVATELY OWNED bars and restaurants are total hypocrites if you think the scenerios I just outlined are ridiculous.

Total BS. You are taking away a pub owners right to make his own decision. The only reason it directly affects the lives of others is because you allow it to by going into the pub. I have no problem with banning smoking from public buildings and public environments. You can't blame the government that no one chooses to have no smoking places. I have yet to see you counter that arguement, yet I've countered all of yours (unlike what you so pompously said earlier).

I have no problems with Rovers making the ban themselves, again, it's their business, they can do as they please. It would be good to see a smoking area that people could go to, but again, their business. And Philip, when you went to the restaurant, you knew if they allowed smoking or not. If you don't want to go where people smoke, find a restaurant or pub where they don't. If you complain that there won't be any non-smoking places, then invest in one, Mr. businessman. From how many people on here would sacrifice civil liberties for smoke free places, it would be a gold mine. When they take away the rest of our rights and liberties without a fight, I won't be allowed to say I told you so. And by the way, I don't smoke.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ALLOW IT. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! NO ONE FORCES YOU TO GO TO THE PUB!!!