We may get a tad more than that but, even so, if he had been in the reserves we'd have been unlikely to get anyone buying in January. Besides, his appearances so far this season have been pretty decent. After Hughes had one of his 'deciding not to play Gray' periods that come up now and then we really did need him in the team.

Not at all. Firstly his performances this season while out of position have on the whole been pretty good. Secondly we may see the benefit of this in January via a bidding war which, while it won't raise a spectacular sum, may well bring in some much needed funds to help boost our weakest positions. Would we have got less for him if he had been placed in the reserves and lost all match fitness? Almost certainly I suspect. Teams wanting him for January will have watched his form this season and will be wanting him to play a part in their squad for the rest of the season. Putting players who want to leave into the reserves doesn't really work for the club. It decreases their sell-on value and means we are paying good wages for a player who is doing little to earn them.

I've got no problems with him staying as a squad player but I'm not sure why Hughes didn't use him in a 5 man midfield when Savage was out injured. If it meant bringing someone like MGP, Gally or Bentley to play in as a third midfielder then so be it. Starting with Tugay and Mokoena as the two central midfielders is just throwing any hope of victory out the window. You say that 4-5-1 is "a system that we may need to play from time to time" but it seems that Hughes might have thrown it away. The very time when it was needed was recently yet Hughes decided not to go for it - and we lost the games against Aston Villa and Manchester United, more importantly we didn't ever look being capable of winning either. Even when Savage came off against Basle we were struggling but Tugay's brilliance saved the day. So...if we aren't to play 4-5-1 at all anymore then Mokoena's usefulness is going to be compromised somewhat. 'The Axe' is a very limited player and I don't see any point in retaining him unless he is on very low wages compared to the rest. Even then...it would hardly hurt the squad too much if he left, particularly if Hughes is looking bring in another defender and central midfielder in January. Alternatively, keep him but play 4-5-1 every now and then, particularly away from home.

There was also Robbie Slater.

Which part do you resent? Or is it all of it?

Not really Phil...I was just given that moniker...I haven't had the time in the last few years to do much research on anything other than my work. Although I did just do a quick Google and come up with this... "On the land where the park now stands there used to be a quarry called Park Delph. The rock is millstone grit - extremely good for building. During the early to mid nineteenth century, it was used for building the majority of the cotton mills and churches in Blackburn. The land was acquired from Joseph Feilden, who declined to sell it to any private individual but reserved it for the public. An agreement was made by which an area of fifty acres was sold to the corporation for £65 per acre, the council having to make roads on either side as a condition of the contract (East and West Park Roads)." From - http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/server.php?sho...4412&viewPage=2 So now you know! Drummer Boy had it right, it used to be the "Park Delph quarry."

It's perfectly safe during the daytime but who would want to walk through on their own at dark? Better to be safe than sorry. Does anyone know what the park used to be? Was it a farm or a huge country-style house or just fields?

Eh? He hasn't been given a run, so how would you know? Has he ever even started more than one game in succession for Rovers? Anyway, surely a fit Peter is better than an unfit MGP who is getting over a broken rib.

It is worrying but ultimately you never know until they are given the chance on the big stage. I'd suggest that with MGP unfit that Peter should be given that chance.

Gamst seems to be undroppable in the mind of Hughes. Despite looking knackered and out of form he kept his place despite Peter having looked promising for some time. Then he injured a rib yet still plays! Give Peter a chance for crying out loud and let MGP have a little while to nurse himself back to full fitness. We've been told by some that if the Academy had produced anybody with promise they would have had the chance. They have in Peter yet Hughes still won't give him a start. It only makes sense to allow him a chance to show what he can do while Pedersen gets back to full fitness. I'm not suggesting we should listen to waggy (if he was still around) and just "throw in the kids" but Hughes does seem very reluctant to trust any player who hasn't already been in the team. That kind of philosophy is how Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger really thrive, they do give their youth a chance to sink and swim. You could say in response that it is because their youngsters are far better but that would ignore the reality which has seen many they have tried being not up to it but at least they were given the opportunity. Give Peter a chance Sparky, at least until MGP is back to full fitness.

Baptiste on transfer talk This site has us linked with a move for young Mansfield defender Alex-John Baptiste. Can't say I know much about him!

Not sure where to put this as we no longer have a transfer rumour thread but it seems that Mark Hughes can't be all that happy with the four (!) strikers he brought in last summer as he is after the Olympiakos striker and Cypriot international Yiannakis Okkas. With a name like that I'm sure the Rovers faithful will be able to quickly think up a few songs for him in case he comes in Jan. Rovers consider Okkas Move Is the writing on the wall for Jeffers, Roberts or Nonda perhaps?

Disagree that any of those have the status of being a precedent for such an important change to the game as this would be. None of them actually affect the game itself except for possibly the fourth official. The rest are all largely important outside the 90 minutes, if they have much import at all. This would be a huge step forward and can't be compared to any other changes before as it will be something fundamentally new to the game. Yet although I understand the reasoning of FIFA I still can't see it makes too much sense. The Premiership or La Liga or The Champions League cannot held back because of some worries that poorer leagues cannot have it. They don't tend to be broadcast live around the world. There are better reasons for both not introducing it or bringing it in gradually.

Very well, I will take your word for it and say welcome to the board then Blakey. As for Ste saying you can say what you like on here...well, we didn't put Vinjay and RoverTheMoon on 'mod watch' did we!

The style of his post was very similar to Vinjay's, in fact I'd be surprised if it isn't Vinjay using a different email and computer than usual. Expecting people not to mention it shows that perhaps it is your own viewpoint that is more in line with Pravda.

Not only that but the 'luxury' Blackburn town centre hostelry 'The Flying Haggis' (where 'The Blob Shop' used to be) is starting karaoke nights. No doubt they are hoping to appeal to the kind of circles that Posh likes to mix in...

No reason why there can't be technology brought in for goal-line decisions but anything after that would have to be carefully introduced. If yesterday showed anything it is that often replays are not conclusive. The Spurs thread is full of posters saying that their view is correct and therefore that is that. There are many incidents in a match which are not clear enough to be certain of so generally it is better to let the refs get on with it. No need to stop having trials of it though in youth competitions or whatever.

Well...his wife might like to go along to Blackburn's very own POSH shop! Think it's having a closing down sale though at the moment...actually, isn't it always having a closing down sale?

Our lowest was against Fulham last season IIRC (first home game as well) it was below 17k.

Tugay I'm pretty sure captained his country too on occasions when Hakan Sukur (another ex-Rover!) didn't play. Not sure if Brad ever captained the USA.

Not sure, isn't Tugay still the vice captain? Other than that Savage would be a good choice or maybe even Ooijer who captained his country in midweek.

In that case...what should Rovers fans expect? Sixth last year, enjoying a European run, excellent manager and good players do keep coming. We brought in a Champions League winner in the summer and, in Roberts, a regular starter in the Premiership. It's meant as a serious question: do Rovers fans expect too little or too much?

Neill is definitely injured and therefore out according to the Beeb. Rovers v Spurs preview. Pedersen is rated as doubtful, it would surely be most sensible not to risk rushing him back in even if he could make it and to give Peter a start. Savage is slightly different as Mokoena is not an acceptable replacement for his position alas.

Why play Ooijer at right back, where he has not played for us this season, instead of Emerton, who has played there in most games? Emerton isn't injured or suspended so that I have heard. I'd expect it to be more like Emerton - Ooijer - Henchoz - Gray. Then again...he doesn't seem to rate Gray anymore so McEveley in for a start?

I just find it funny when people take him so seriously! "Ban him!", "Kill him!", "How dare he?" etc etc...