Two part article going behind the scenes on the scandal. Has anyone read the precise details of what AC and Galliano got up to? I haven't yet.

Interesting divergence of opinions about the relative strengths of the second division next season. In terms of relative size of clubs, there are a lot of city clubs in there which should pull decent sized crowds. On that score, clubs like Rovers in the Prem will get embarassed again. I expect that Palace, Southampton and Norwich will put last season's embarassments behind them and mount a decent challenge, West brom look the best equipped of the relegated clubs whilst Sunderland are the archetypical yoyo outfit as well. The re-financed Derby might mount a challenge. Beyond that, Brum will have it all their own way irrespective of the shortcomings of the Manager.

Not for much longer. They should survive the 2nd Qualifting Round but third qualifying round defeat to AEK Athens will dump them into the bottom half of the UEFA First Round draw and a one in forty chance of playing the Rovers.

I agree that Zura was the only plus for Rovers from yesterday. I didn't think Todd looked fit when he was on. Seemed very ponderous.

The Osasuna v Hamburg and Red Star Belgrade v AC Milan (assuming no further action against AC) Champs League 3rd round qualifiers are going to dump a couple of toughies into the UEFA Cup. If Hamburg or Red Star, their co-efficients are so low, they will be in the other half of the draw to Rovers.

SHOCK REVELATION There is a club bigger than BIG CLUB: "The Birmingham chairman David Gold has defended the sale of the winger Jermaine Pennant to Liverpool and pledged the £7m transfer fee will be used to bring in players. "People have to be realistic," Gold said. "Did they want us to chain him to the fence? It was the chance for Jermaine to join one of the greatest clubs in the world. You can't say no." Taken from The Guardian. What makes this really funny is that Arsenal get 25% of the transfer through a sell-on clause from when they sold Pennant to Brum. So a bit tricky for Gold to give all £7m to the transfer kitty. Interestingly, West Ham get 15% of the Carrick transfer fee through a sell-on clause as well. That's a nice bonus for the WHammers.

"Rovers spending spree continues"!! according to the Guardian.

To be honest, the picture was increasingly pixilating in the second half so it was hard to tell although the commentators certainly mentioned his name quite a lot. I guess it might have been more a decision to give him a 20minute run more than anything else. McEvely had the twin problem of fair hair and being close to the camera which rather highlighted his shortcomings. One thing I noticed was his close control looks poor- he always seemed to be playing the ball with his legs outstretched and I kept waiting for a nippy forward to nick the ball off him. His positioning for goals 3 and 4 was not the best. Hughes is not taking it lightly: Hughes described the result as "alarming", adding that Olympiakos had given his side "a good hiding"... according to the Independent.

The shorts Rovers were wearing were borrowed from the local club as the Ref decided the two kits clashed too much. I rather think that we've seen the last of Matteo and McEveley even though it was a friendly. I guess the hunt for a left back and central defender have been stepped up.

That was really bad. Enormous misjudgement either to play that opposition or to put joke teams out. Jeffers is a million miles from being good enough at this level and the squad players were left looking extremely ordinary. McEvely doesn't look like he knows what he is doing and Matteo was woeful. There was no pride shown in the secind half which mist have really hurt Sparky.

There is only an hour gone- this could be 6 or 7 by the end.

0-2. That was offside! This is a shame- we are facing a very decent side which has put something like their first XI on the pitch with a totally inadequate line up. At least Hughes knows that a lot of his squad are sub-standard for the challenges ahead.

Good save by Friedel from Rivaldo. Olympiacos shot whistles narroiwly wide. Looks like Rovers Reserves v Greek Champions which is what it is,

0-1 Rovers central defence parted and Friedel chipped. Jeffers not looking good.

Classy piece of defending by Zura when 1 on 2. Has any forward pass by Matteo found a Rover yet? Peter close.

Rivaldo playing for them just been Axed. Bright start by Rovers.

Yes fantastic- Bentley running past cows! Changing Rooms a corrigated iron shed behind the baseball hoop. Pitch looks a lot worse than in Austria.

Well, the TV station is coming through clearly. Let's hope they show Rovers!

Quite astonishing considering the cloud under which he left with disciplinary problems and Sullivan moaning about having paid him £40K per week.

Yes I had it already and yes it workds fine now. However, the fact they were scrambling the signal earlier makes me wonder if they'll scramble the signal for the football. The screen was a professionally produced, the signal is scrambled notice.

I was going to post that link in the Prem forecast section. It is proving accurate in what it forecast so far.

Those Hammers are bitter and twisted aren't they? Rovers boring - our games against them finished 1-3, 3-2 and 2-4 last season didn't they? Perhaps WHammers prefer 1-7 as a scoreline? Anyway, I reckon Sparky has some work to do to get Benni right both physically and mentally but presuming the lad is willing to put the work in, he certainly seems to have the attributes to be an extremely effective all-round striker again. He seems to have purple seasons every so often- Rovers have to make sure 2006/7 is the first of several consistently great seasons. PS Hope he enjoyed scoring his brace against the Mancs and fancies more of the same!

Just tried it and got a scrambled signal message.

Uefa are funking it as well. They have postponed a decision on AC Milan meaning they go into the third Qualifying Round Draw. Meantime the two guys appointed to clean up Italian soccer are on the point of resigning whilst Moggi claims he is just on holiday...

It was all about the money. The rest is guff for gullible Geordies.