philipl

Zidane is THE BUSINESS. I've seen TV coverage of him playing for Bordeuax and it would be fantastic getting him at Ewood with the Dugarry deal which everyone reckons is done and dusted now. Incidentally, Bobby Baggio's agent is supposed to be pushing Jack to buy his man. That Kirsty Gallagher is well developed for a 10 year old isn't she?

Blast it- the only weekend we can bring all the directors over from our European subsidiaries has to be the last day of the season. So I've been to 25 games up and down the country (travelling from Chichester) and cannot see us win the Prem.

Shearer all ends up! He hit it so hard that the camera lost the trajectory of the ball so there is no chance of it winning the MoTD goal of the season. Both Le Tis goals were a bit special but that dribble and shot for his second was one of the greats. There's been another fantastic goal been scored against us this season but cannot remember whether John Barnes overhead bicycle kick has happened against us yet. Whatever it was, it came third in the MoTD goal of the season behind Le Tis and Cantona's chip over Kelly at Sheff U.

Anyone else thinking King Kenny is looking very frazzled? Last thing we want is him cracking up again.

The Sun have exposed a Brum boob this morning. The Birmingham City Marketing Department advertised Saturday's fixture as the return of Savage. They are explaining it away as the gentleman's agreement being a private affair between John Williams and Karren Brady they did not know about. Seems like they do the sensible thing and ignore their Chairman.

This is well and truly messing up hopes of a top half finish.

Brum tearing into us now. Need to hold firm. Toogs replaced Nissa so presumably Mokoena drops into the back 4 but with Thomo on for MGP, still 4-5-1.

Lucky break and he tucked it away. Come on Rovers get back in front.

Some high octaine scoring this afternoon- Fulham got a second and Sauxie has volleyed Southampton 3-2 in front. Coventry are saying farewell to Highfield Road in style: 4-0 up in 40 against Derby. Schumacher scored Bradford's second.

Couple of interesting scores lower down. Rochdale 4 up in the first 25- when did that last happen at Spotland? Ugarte already has a hattrick for Wrexham at Stockport. Leading 4-1 away not doing them much good because other scores and their 10 points deduction are conspiring to send them down at the moment.

Jon Stead 1 ******0

No this has to do. Southampton equaliser and City in the lead.

Norwich and Boro both score early. Very quiet at st andrew's. Elsewhere, Celtic are 1 down at home to Hibs- understandable, who'd want to win the SPL anyway? and Ipswich have got an early goal against Crewe to set nerves going in Wigan.

I remember him scoring a very nice goal for us at Sheffield Wednesday. ....and didn't he get a brace in the 5-2 against Newcastle?

Mark Lawrenson predicts defeat for the Rovers so God is in his Heaven and all's well with the world! He also makes a snyde remark about Savage despite the official announcement about honouring the gentleman's agreement is several hours old now. Just looked at the table- defeat in this one and we could drop two places very easilly, three if Pompey win at Man City. Very important not to lose it if we are to build a decent transfer kitty. With Sav out, I feel a bit more optimistic about our chances, especially when I think back to watching Brum's no show effort in their 3-0 humiliation by Citeh.

The BBC preview speculates about Savage recovering in time to play. Sky Sports quotes Mark Hughes in saying the Rovers will honour a gentleman's agreement not to play Savage.

An out of court settlement is not a foregone conclusion but I would be surprised if one is not reached. The cost to the insurance industry of the trial upholding the original verdict is too great for them to risk it is my guess.

Bazza - the Rovers will receive a pay-out. The amount is the issue. FLB- the Rovers will not receive more than the the original award. That sort of extortion is not exactly legal! Anyway, all the information as far as we have it is on the thread.

Well £xm "other" would be a give-away but the players' account is usually well over £10m of income and expenditure. Plus the amount could legitimately be split into the component elements the insurance could be argued as providing cover for (loss of gate income, loss of club winnings, medical fees, wages spent on an unavailable player etc.) then the club could also put a monetary amount on time and expenses involved in pursuing the claim and allocate a proportion against that. Lets hope the club is in the happy position of receiving a sufficiently large sum that disguising it in the accounts is a problem.

If it is settled this year- yes. If the Rovers want to honour a confidentiality agreement with the Insurance industry in any settlement, there are a few captions in the published accounts where even quite a large number could be "lost" under.

Quite possibly a mamoth game for Spuds contesting 7th place and entry into the UEFA Cup. In all likelihood at least £500K at stake for the Rovers as well. Perhaps Hughesy can join in the fun?

Souness and the cartoons bottom at Christmas will do me fine so long as we beat them on the way. Martin O'Neill doesn't seem to be having Bellaritis but I have to share the concerns expressed. Then again, Benni is no saint either.

No Speed of thought not quick enough out wide so no way can he be relied upon to lead the line.

0-0 draw. The really ugly one was at the Hawthorns looking bored tonight. Don't think he will mave learnt anything to tell his blue nosed underlings. Wonder if there will be a bunfight in the Boardroom.

Got home from watching both games. AC were no way two goals better than PSV but PSV froze in front of goal and that certainly went for the guy with the complicated name we are supposed to be watching. At The Hawthorns, I thought the ref was a disgusting homer. Many of the pro-West Brom decisions were dubious and MGP certainly pulled out of the collision with Hoult for which he and Lucas both got booked. Rovers controlled the game, were clearly the better side but are so utterly toothless going forwards it is embarassing. Eventually, something was going to break and Stead was so unlucky with his shot, Emo took his chance well and yet again Reid had a great chance in injury time which he flashed wide. The problem is not Stead, it is the play of Emo and MGP. Emo seems incapable of selecting the right ball and MGP's thought processes are simply not fast enough for the Premiership yet.