Well i read somwhere that , that deal has not been confirmed by Liverpool yet

Andy Todd has been Rovers player of the year twice out of the last 3 seasons, a couple of bad games does not make him a bad player.

I remember him starting last season pretty slowly but he got much better as the season went on, and for me, he's a better defender than Zurab (who is good also)

With Todd, we have 4 solid centre backs and thats more than most clubs can boast.

If Todd goes, it will be bad for the squad as it means if 2 players out of Nelsen,Ooijer and Zurab get injured, we are in deep ###### AGAIN.

It's my bet though, that Andy Todd will still be a Rovers by Friday

I see we had nearly double the amount of corners to Chelski - did any reach the penalty box?

Yup, quite a few actually, especially the one where Ooijer had a free header from but missed it as it came of his shoulder

You ask Ooijer if he thinks he had a good game, he looked like he wanted to die at the end, nobody is bashing him, he was the reason we lost the game, 2 major errors, these are FACTS, hopefully he will improve, but he was shocking yesterday and i'm sure he is pretty down right now

He was playing very well untill he decided to wrestle John Terry. And that's just something he'll learn not to do in the Prem, its nothing to do with being a bad defender.

I didnt think Zurab had a great game either, he seems unable to actually head the ball.

Really unconvincing all-round against a at-times poor Chelsea.

Is this the same side that finished 6th last year? Jeez, we don't look like it.

At no point did I ever think we could score.

I thought we played better today than we did last year at home to a really really bad Chelsea side we're they had 3 clear pens and we scored one quite flukey goal and created not much at all.

Chelsea were not poor, they just did enough and played in 2nd gear. Apart from against Man United really, they can play like that against anyone in the Prem and get away with it.

I actually said this last season, we as a side didnt create too many chances in games, 2 or 3 at the most on average, but we usually took them. If we dont take our chances (including games last season) we are actually quite a boring side to watch

Just a point on Lucas Neill at left back. If Gray is fit, Gray should play there for certain. Lucas had it easy today because Chelsea played with no wingers. Most teams do play with wingers and he'd stuggle there I'd say as he did not look good on the ball at all IMO. He's all right foot.

Not to upset. We played quite well expect Ooijer and Zurab

Oh, and did Steven Reid actually play today?

Very decent first half. Sav was running the show till he got a daft booking. Bentley's crossings been great, that last one where MGP was through, he was level! He would have been one on one!

Pleased MGP been more involved today although he's wasted a couple of good opportunities.

So far so good

Neill at left back?? Gray must be injured

Would you rather they beat Boro 4-0 and looked in great form. Or does Boro's win give our players heart? Hopefully the latter, but cant see it.

Think it'll be close for a while, Rovers coming back level mid-way through 1st half at 1-1 but Chelski to score right at end of half and score another 2 in the second.

Rovers 1-4 Chelski

Reid (34) Drogba (19)

Lampard (43)

Drogba (59)

Shevchenco (77)

Att: 19,432

I think I can make out them saying something about your mum......................

think that was arsenal (h). the axe has always done a good job for us (when he's played in midfield).

people say he has to play in a 5, but the last time he played in a 4 was at west ham (in the cup) and,

although we lost 4-2, he played very well.

WHAT?!!

He was woeful! He was taken off quite early i seem to remember and was so bad a few Rovers fans decided to boo him.

And by a few, i mean a few of a few because there was like 100 of us there

top form, dear lord. We played Everton the other day and should have beat them despite us playing nowhere near the level we can. Dont think this Austrian side are anywhere near the level of any prem sides.

We always take this, "ooh, it's going to be tough" attitude, why not a little confidence in Mark Hughes and his side and we might actually win a game in Europe!

CSKA Sofia and Glencerlidghbgy were both better than this team while Hearts and Nancy would have both been much much more of atricky tie than this

We're also going to Austria, so cheer up guys!

A Valencia team about 4 weeks away from the start of the season.

''excellent players? Is that why they play for some mugs in Austria?''

Sheer Ignorance like that will see us not last long fella!

Ooh, sorry Mr.Positive but it's not ignorance but fact. You wont see players in their prime who have fantastic ability playing in Austria

Also, whats the average age of their team , 35?? Our fitness levels should be too much for this lot

Their starting lineup against Valencia, Linke, Dudic, Vargas and Kovac are excellent players.

Salzburg

1 Timo Ochs

4 Thomas Linke

2 László Bodnár

3 Milan Dudić

31 Jorge Vargas

28 René Aufhauser

6 Niko Kovač

16 Karel Piták

13 Christian Tiffert

5 Ezequiel Carboni

24 Peter Orosz

substitutes

22 Heinz Arzberger

33 Thomas Winklhofer

18 Remo Meyer

20 Markus Steinhöfer

11 Patrik Jezek

19 Johan Vonlanthen

9 Vratislav Lokvenc

Coach

Giovanni Trapattoni

excellent players? Is that why they play for some mugs in Austria?

I think if you class those players as 'excellent' then ours must be bloody World Class

thats alright! Probably the 3rd best team from the 5

Always difficult going to France, the top half of the French league has some good teams.

well then, they must be crap, just realised they finished 12 last season and only got into the Uefa Cup by winning their cup

Please let us get Nancy.

are they any good though?

I've been searching for that too Glenn. I think you'll find out tomorrow morning because I found an article from last year at this same stage on Uefa.com showing the groups on the day of the 1st round draw.

Also, IF (which because it's Rovers in Europe, we wont:D) get through to the group stages, we will most likely be in pot 4 or 5 (bottom 2) meaning we will be facing better teams than us(according to Uefa anyway)

Cant wait....

Love the fact that Spurs and West Ham will both have to face oposition who will be bloody hard to beat due to the fact there un-seeded.

Spurs and West Ham big clubs ay?? ha

Just had a look at the teams we could be drawn against tomorrow. (the un-seeded teams from this site

What are the chances we actually get a tricky team to play ie.Trabzonspor from Turkey or Maccabi Haifa

Here's hoping we get Derry City before taking on the 'sort of big boys' such as Ajax and Parma in the group then knockout stage

Have to say, for me the Uefa Cup is pretty much 'the season' for Rovers IMO. I would take a mid-table safe position in the league 9th-13th in the league aslong as we get a good run in europe. A bit like Boro last season, although slightly higher in the league. Lets be honest, 6th is the best we can achieve, and that will only lead us to the situation we are in now. We are pretty much at the peak for a club like ours, so you may aswell enjoy it cause it aint gunna get any better

By the time I'm strolling down Livesey Branch Road I'll be expecting a cracking performance from the Rovers. Attacking Chelsea with aggressive yet fai football. 2-1 ROVERS

I fear for the crowd, I'd suggest London team, on Sky, poor Everton performance, £36 - less than 20,000

Not only do i disagree that it was a poor performance but last season proved that no matter how well we are playing, does not effect the attendance.

cant exactly start having a go at Rennie, was unbelievable how he didnt give Everton a pen

Bit ironic we start a thread about a players challenge when we've had to put up with this crap for years from other clubs, i mean, we have a player who (according to Jamie Carragher) tried to snap his leg in half