Being one if not the biggest critic of Emerton, I thought it right to praise him on his performance at RB. It might not have been the hardest challenge against Everton, but I thought he performed well and should be given another chance. However, I am not convinced he is a footballer and he still gives me the heebies so would like to see him after a few games in that position before I am convinced.

I have to disagree here 1864 - I think its quite obvious that Gray is having to do the job of at least two players as MGP has been absolutely woeful in the last two games (carried over from the end of last season). To me there was only Gray with any attacking thought in his play the other night, fair enough he got caught a couple of time but that was more down to our negative approach as I saw it and our lack of movement all over the pitch. It makes interesting reading that there are different players getting singled out by different people for praise and criticism which I can only see as being what I have been prattling on about - - we are not playing well at the moment and don't IMO appear to be playing as a unit and the posts on various threads which would appear to back up this opinion. What I do know, is that in the two games thus far - we have made too many mistakes, gifted the opposition goals, looked unfit and cohesion amongst the players appears to be non existent.

No because I was there Saturday (wish I wasn't) and last night, and know people who where not there last night after Saturday and know people who where who won't be because of last night. Also knowing people who weren't at either before the start of the Season and won't be going anyway because its in the middle of the bank on holiday and on TV at a crappy time and not worth the money. All reflective and arguably a good reflection on a larger scale knowing the general feeling of Rovers fans, however I suspect there might be more home fans Sunday but not many more

So is Tugay definitely back for Sunday -no doubt will be picked or better had be if available.

Neither are we

Not this time...

--> QUOTE(ste b @ Aug 23 2006, 10:19 ) 438316[/snapback] Noticed last night he was banging away behind Tim Howard when taking a goal kick, he is just embarrassing. Not for the first time either WE HAVE TO GET RID!!

Not just you Paul - Everton are well know for their trouble, like MU. Alot of Rovers fans have good knowledge of them from our 2nd Division days and the Cup game.

No the price and Saturday's performance did - and last nights will probably affect Sundays even more

Although it was better than Saturdays debacle , personally I still can't see how people are accepting last nights performance, maybe its because they didn't see the game Saturday but last night was not agreat improvement and I'm disappointed in Sparky. We should have been at it all guns blazes after Saturday- but yet again we miss chances, look overly laborius bringing the ball from midfield and yet again gift a goal to the opposition ( how many times have I said how other teams always find it easy to score against us whwere we have to work hard to score!! ) Sorry, but to me we did not do enough and I expect more from our midfielders (sorry you Savage lovers) and although Mccarthy looked good in patches I expect more from both of them and am yet to be convinced. Maybe a bit critical but I think its warranted - can't see us getting anything against the Rent boys luckily I won't be there due to other obligations and may see it in a different light, probably what I need and we are only two games in.

All I can say is. . if that's our response to lat Saturday god help us for the rest of season. Who said we are supposed to be one of the fittest teams in the league...... Just one mention seeing as I have slated him enough, thought Emerton did ok tonight and did what he had to do well even though he didn't have to much against him.

Ok before I set off... After the pathetic display on Saturday I am going to stay positive despite Evertons good record at our place recently. Therefore on the basis we should have backlash to hand the toffees and there is normally 2 goals + (totally different to games at Goodison) going for a 4-2 victory , and if reports are to be believed the fox in the box appearing on the goals scored column against one of his former employers.

certainly was

That's the point American - over the years I have seem some dire performances but Saturday was bad and down with the lowest of lowest - however you could sense something was not quite right , in addition we where on the second row and you are very close to the action and we hardly heard any communication amongst our boys at all. Now I did warn people prior to the game about my excellent record when I go watching them away (bar the odd few) , maybe I sshould probably take heed from myself

Quality FR - That was in my younger days As for those dismissers - alot of what is being said is not an over reaction - it is very worried observations (with good reason) of how we can appear to be such a different team in so many ways. It would have been interesting to see what the reaction would have been if we had been at home and the same had happened. Luckily we do have Wednesday to start again, and it will be interesting as we won't need much to improve on the diabolical performance at Fratton Park.

Don't think so Neil, today was so different on many levels. It was bad, at least at Wham we scored and where arguably the better team in the first half. Interesting aspect though - one man off last season , two this how many for the opening game next season ( (in the Championship)??

It was more than an off game Eddie ... honestly Something was not right there on Saturday And to top it all off I got sunburnt on mi bonce!!!!!

FLB - the answer to this is a big resounding YES - laborious passes, effortless swings at getting the ball away and a total lack of concentration.

Getting confused H501 We hope..as we can;t get any worse Its not getting beat - its the performance and the way we got beat Exactly -first game off the season and we should be ready for it - Hughes words that we will hit the ground running.. we weren't even walking , it looked like we where crawling backwards. When has Zurab been our rock? Not what I saw today he can't.. Yes it does if it means we have put similar performances like that and couldn't realise that Bnetley is no first teamer and Mokoena is not a RB. Disagree - I think he is quite adpet at CB .. would appear on todays performance though he doesn't want to be be here anymore.

Everybody knows my opinion on Bert but when he came on today at least he looked up for it unlike 90% of our squad. Don't need to say anything else about his shot though...................................

I take it you didn't go OJR , bar the freekicks and Emerton just being Emerton we didn't create anything of worthy note attacking wise.

This has probably got to be the most realistic and best reply on her. Bollux to the bad day in the office key players missing etc (We only had one by the way -Nelsen) It dosen't wash with me - we have had all pre season and we put in a performance akin to a clown show and we are supposed to be challenging in Europe this season FFS 4 P's - PITIFUL /PASSIONLESS/ PATHETIC AND ME ###### OFF This was an absolute joke of a performance and inept management of the highest degree. Only Gray -caught out of position only because Pedersen was non existent bar the free kicks/Friedal (ESPECIALLY) and possibly Todd (can't comment on the sending off as I had walked off by then in disgust, and not the only one for that matter) can come out of the game with any CREDIT. I said before we even kicked off in the warm up they looked like they where just preparing for a kick about, - nice tans messing about with the ball and looking like they where still on holiday. It was quite obvious from the start Neill was not interested and should have been subbed at half time, Savgage was like a little girl practising ballet (soft git), quite obvious Reid was not fit and we play him in a different position to is main role last season.Bentley (who is he??) and Mokoena is definitely not a rb - not his fault and tried his best but no positional sense whatsoever. As for the Emerton miss - still convinced all you lovers CHANGES where obviously needed and Hughes kept it as it was. Two dollopers up front who offered nothing , fair enough there was hardly any decent balls to them but they did absolute bugger all when they got the ball, didn't win one header and couldn't control a ball for toffee. Can't blame the referee as he poor for both sides anyway, as he normally is but the linesman closest to the Rovers fans was an absolute joke and laughing after he had made the decisions against us. Portsmouth where fitter, faster and ready for it - we where just abosolutely awful - and you have John Williams crying about Football being on in the pubs affecting our attendances - don't make me laugh and they expect people to turn up on Wednesday after this? We had a decent following down there who most will have had a 500 mile or so round trip to watch that pile of ................................. I have my season ticket but even I am thinking of not putting in the effort to go on Wednesday as its certain the players except those named above couldn't today. What is quite clear is that we are short of any class in midfield, Neill plainly doesn't want to be here, Bentley is just a squad player as is Mokoena and we need somebody with some speed up front. For those that didn't go - believe me this is no knee jerk and forget about it being the first game of the season - we have problems and it could be a long season unless we get more players in before the deadline and some of the others get a right kick up the arse. Oh and BTW - as anybody heard from Jordan as he looked like he was going to top himself before the end of the game at the top of the steps -God did he look peed off

Aside the usual top four and then Spurs I feel its a case of just putting every club on a piece of papaer and seeing where they land as I think it will be all a case of which teams cope with injuries and get some consistency to their play - Except Sheff Utd who I think will finish bottom. Top 4 I feel there will be a shock and Chelsea will come unstuck this season so As for us, I expect us to do worse than last season because Europe could well hinder us but I don't see what other teams could do well enough to be above us . West Ham possibly but again Europe could hinder them, Newcastle if they get 1 maybe two decent strikers Surprise team - Fulham if they can sort their away form out 1. MUTD If they get HARGREAVES -If not read 3rd 2. LIVERPOOL -If UTD don't get Hargreaves 3. CHELSKI 4. ARSENAL - only beacuse there away form will still let them down and the new ground factor 5. SPURS 6. NEWCASTLE -only if they get two decent strikers if not 10th 7. EVERTON 8. ROVERS/WEST HAM 9. W HAM/ROVERS 10 FULHAM 11 A VILLA 12 MBORO 13 BOLTON 14 READING 15 WIGAN 16 WATFORD 17. CHARLTON 18. MAN CITEH 19. PORTSMOUTH 20. SHEFF UTD

Already have done FR - where you been the past two seasons Think I have done it once - because that is the amount of times when I can actually remember him doing anything. Its not a scapegoat scenario and as for judging him I feel us anti Berts have more reason to criticise than those who for the life of me seem to think he is any good. And certainly , if and thats a big IF he does do anything worthy of note on a consistent basis of a Premiership player I will certainly come on here and eat humble pie - however as I have said before and been proved correct thus far...I doubt very much I or anybody else will have to.

I didn't because I know he can't head a ball - and if memory serves me right it was easier to head the ball and he should have scored