How definite is the Bellers out news?

I think we all agreed that we would trade our cup win for a league defeat on Monday. Getting anything out of that game will be a psychological bonus. Although as others said, Boro will be a different side on Monday.

Actually Wenger has said that because they struggled against them in the league and want to make the final, he may look to bring in some of the senior figures.

If Bellamy has broken down again, I would be devastated. It may turn out that the papers were right about Bellamy missing a month or so of action! Hope we are wrong.

Yes the FA getting what they want. Lets hope that the script falls apart for them. Blackburn - Wigan final anyone?

I pray to God that aint true. We need him against Boro on Monday night and then the subsequent run. This isnt right, every single challenge he is involved in during a game, I just feel he is going off.

It will depend on 3 things with the emphasis on the first. 1. Bellamy being fit and on form. 2. United lining up their "kids". 3. Us strengthening in January. Freaking fix though. Everybody knew that theyd keep those two apart. Cause who would want to give the people a Blackburn v Arsenal final or a Wigan v United final for instance. Plus the home leg thing. Hopefully it will backfire on them! It will be very difficult. Cant see it right now, especially as this cup may be the only inkling of success for either of those two sides this season.

Latest team news? Will Bellers and Nelsen make it... I cant watch it anywhere, its gonna suck.

Taylor is a right footed left back? Lee...You should have put some space between the top of the thread and Peters name to signify how close he is!!

I can see Peter being named in the squad over the X-mas period. Give him a chance. Maybe in the FA Cup?

Yep just saw the official site... Disappointing...Idiot Neill for the way he got it. Dickov always argues so its a habit of a lifetime... Oh well, we might as well win the league cup match in exchange for the league one...

why are dicky and neill out?

With this kind of defending last season, we would have been relegated. We are playing some good football this year but not scoring enough due to lack of quality up front and letting in goals with largely the same set of defenders as last year. 2 reasons: No 4-5-1, which means we are matched evenly more often than not in midfield and secondly possibly a more adventurous outlook leaves us more exposed at the back?!? How many matches in a row have we played with the same back four this season? I reckon the central defensive partnership has been changed alot this season due to suspensions and injuries.

Rubbish Emerton, not only does he frustrate every single match but he had an open goal with a header that went wide. Had he scored we wouldve been 1-0 up, and I couldve seen us coming through. He missed one more good chance as well. Wasnt meant to be. Not much between the sides. In fact, Id say we had the better chances. Friedel shouldve done better off the first as well. I firmly believe without Bellamy we pose much less of a threat especially psychologically. We will finish mid-table this season, unless we sign one or two players, a striker comes to mind.

He was playing behind Pandiani, then they took off Tebily for Forsell in the 25th and Dunn moved to the right wing but wasnt giving width so then he brought on Pennant although Dunn was having a good game and he was shocked to be subbed. Btw, great performance Brum!

Disappointing. Couldve used his fight in the middle. Especially against one of those sides away from home, who we need to outfight.

I hope Sergio gets a taste of the action sometime soon. It may do MGP some good too, to be rested or dropped. He hasnt been firing on all cylinders, maybe gotten a little complacent cause he knows there isnt anyone to challenge him for his spot right now.

Well it would have been a fairy tale for him to have truly come back. He will be the last piece of the "old school" which remained, from the side that got relegated and then brought us back up (Dunn, Duff, now Jansen). Always liked him. Destiny and fate are something else. If only that Stupid Swede had called him up to the WC, it couldve been a whole lot different. I reckon he may have to drop down a division if he is ever to come back to his best.

Crashing back down to earth. Inconsistent results the only thing we need to stamp out...

Im sure the Portuguese will think they are going through. That will do us a world of good. Let them underestimate Iran and Angola...

I was happy to see Bellamy standing behind Hughes near the tunnel through out the whole game. How many times do "big players" even show up to support their team-mates? and if they do they are sitting in the stands but Craig was there and thats good to see. He must have been pleased with the win, gives us a boost going into the Xmas period. I cant see him being back for Fulham, but hopefully for both Boro games he will be there.

Thank God for the vital 3 points. After a poor first half, Sparky must have given them a rollicking at half time and it worked! Our defending was poor today, but that was expected with 3 players either coming in or moving around in the back four. Zurab had his worst game for us yet. Emerton was very poor again. Bentley was lively in the second 45. First win in the league after coming back from a goal down since April 2003 against Leeds!

Good luck. Iran hasnt even arranged any friendlies yet. Probably play with some farmers sides, cause of the incompetence of the federation.

Is Bellamy out for sure?

Its a double edged sword. Even if there were no quotas and only the "best" qualified, would it really have the feel of the "World Cup" if it consisted of, lets say for arguments sake, of 30 European teams and Brazil and Argentina? I think the balance is almost right at the moment. Maybe 1 or 2 up or down from one or two places.