Because I am an idiot and I over slept I missed the first half so obviously what I say has to be read in that context. I wa amazed how welll we performed as a defensive unit today, especially considering how makeshift we were. Gray particularly had a great second half (although he shuld of had a shot at the end of that run!) as did Kishi who showed great technique and, suprisingly, Nelsen levels of composure. Reid showed that if Neill does go to AC Milan (Ha!) or Spurs (more likely...) we have a more than capable deputy, although you wpuld have to wonder whether he would be wasted back there! The midfield was a bit strange. Played some decent throughballs but id reallt get their foot on the ball too often. Really most of the damage was done by the full backs overlapping. That said Bentley looked good again (he was, like at Charlton, given a lot of space). Up front I remain a little mystified as to why Pongo is rated so highly. While he is the best option at the moment as a partner to Bellers (although I would like to see Gallagher given a shot), like every other game I have seen him in he plays final ball that are utterly worthless, loses posession under little pressure and never troubles the keeper with shots on goal. If we could get him for very little cash it might just be worth it, but for a substantial fee we should look elsewhere. However: Great performance by the team generally. Next season is going to be exciting! Come on the UEFA cup!

He is behind both Reid and Bentley in the team. He is not considered a decent option for the bench. And a new right winger is a possible purcahase in the summer too. Not looking too good for him! I would be instructing my agent to look at options if i were him. And from Hughes pespective Brett has to be the most saleable player at the club, mainly because he is the only surplus player who we might actually get some money for (Amo, Gresko, Matteo have no future at the club, but who in their right mind would pay anything for them?).

The reserves are playing at the moment, but neither Gallagher nor Peter are turning out for them. Could point to inclusions tomorrow in the sixteen...

That is true. But daft as it sounds I am bored stiff of the same few clubs annihilating everybody else every blimming year. And, if we want to be Machivallian about it, Spurs could disrupt the hegemony and give us a chance to benefit from the infighting. Basically I just don't think Spurs being shafted would be fair, even if it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of fans.

Um, I think they would do rather well actually. Mourinho managed to win the CL with Porto with vastly less resources than the like of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Munich... And Wenger has not, in the grand scheme of things, spent anywhere near the amount of cash that his rivals have if sales are deducted from buys (Anelka, Viera, Petit, Overmars all left for large fees).

Um, i've been mispeling that for over three years. I wouldn't hold your breath...

Well I supose to put this in perspective we would, without Rooney, still have World class players in every position apart from defensive midfield, keeper and supporting striker (and the likes of Carrick and Robinson are not exactly awful). I am not sure any side in the world can claim that kind of consistent quality from front to back. But then you need that special player (unless your Germany who seem to be able to reach finals with teams consisting of average talent). And Rooney is the only one we have who has the flair of a Henry, Totti or Ronaldinho.

Not saying the FA aren't a bunch of clowns or anything, but, honestly, I doubt any of the top PL managers would be interested in managing England. The salary isn't much higher, the personal intrusion far more intense, and there is a lack of the national impulse of pride. Why exactly would Wenger, Ferguson, Benitez or Mourinho want to manage England? I cannot see a single reason except for the large amounts of holidays to be honest. Jol is the highest league placed manager who could be tempted IMHO (mainly due to the salary. Really what else is the attraction?). And guess who would be the next after him...

from a purely self preservasionist point of view here you are completely right 'drog. But we would all be devestated if the roles were reversed, and in the interest of the league generally I think it would be good if Spurs could make a dent in the top sides.

Jesus, I want to leave work. Bored, bored, bored. My side for tuesday: If Nelsen is not fit we are going to get tanked. The whole defence will lose confidence in itself. The best option in that scenario is to do the samething as we did on sat: Niell at CB and Reid at RB with Bentley on the wing. Moko cannot go in at centreback. Him and Zurab there would be suicidal! Even with Nelsen in we are up against it. We will need Bellamy to be at the top of his game. As for Pedersen, I have not been as critical as some, but you have to say that he is more adversely affected by fatigue than pretty much any Rover I have ever seen. He just disappears if we play a couple of games in quick succession. Might as well have Peter on for this game and have a fit Ped next weekend.

I hope your right Waggy, he is one of my all time favourite players. We will see.

While I hate Spurs with a passion I do have a bit of sympathy for them here. I mean 4th is like wiining the f-ing league if your not Liverpool, Arsenal, United or Chelsea. To have the opportunity to genuinely compete taken away from you like that, essentially devaluing the efforts of an entire season, is not fair. On one hand Spurs getting in will make things harder for Rovers in the long run as suddenly (provided they don't do an Everton in the qulifying round) the amount of clubs with masses of cash will swell to six ('big four' plus Spurs and Newcastle). But still, we need more competition at the top of the table and it would be a shame if Spurs were denied. I would hope that Tottenham fans would be for us if the roles were reversed. Despite them all being @#/?s, obviously.

Well if Dunn is willing to do that then great! But frankly he would be an idiot if he did, cos with his record he could be a pauper! In financial terms probably the best deal he is going to get is to stay at Brum, where I think he is on around 30k a week. But if he is willing to take a massive pay cut, and I doubt his 'pay as you play' contract would match his brum one, even if he plays every game, then it can only be good for Rovers. Another option for Hughes without spending too much cash. It does sound a little unlikely tat Dunn would give up that kind of money though, even for his hometown club.

For those still fretting about the bearing fo Boro on our quest for a UEFA place, it is set out pretty definitively here: Article Basically, no worries as long as we finish sixth! Hurrah! I actually quite want to cheer on Boro in the final so thats good as well, everyones a winner! City are terrible at the moment so even if we can't do the business with Chelsea we have to make it against them. But then we will be more tired than them...

Are you sure that's not "DUnn would like to return this summer"? I just can't see Hughes paying money for someone who has hardly played a game this season, he's far too shrewd to take that kind of risk.

Wasn't he relegated with Southampton? Or did he move before they went down? Whooops, just checked it out, he left the January before

um, pleasure is a bit 'eccentric' with his posts. Fact occasionally blurs with fiction... I am just wondering why SWP is so interested in 'roasting' gray. Add I'm not sure Blackburn's more conservative fans will think that's value for money on tuesday evening. I mean, you could get a video for a tenner.

Well, Joe Cole and Carrick have not been too shabby either... Poor motivation, tactics and injuries took Birmingham down. They have quality players all over the pitch. To dismiss them because they have been relegated is just stupid. Look at Roy Keane, the west ham lads, Crouch, Stuart Pearce, Dean Ashton, Kevin Phillips, James Beattie...

Like any player you have to rate him against other possibilities. And frankly in terms of powerful players Heskey is a good option. It is more than likely he will be affordable, two or three million, and although prone to losing the ball he is infinately better than Kuqi. To get an idea of the market you only have to look at Ashton, Crouch and Beattie who all went for massively inflated fees- and why? Becase they are big guys. In terms of value for money Heskey will go a long way. And as for Pennant being over rated - how many wide right players who can trouble a full back will be going for a reasonable fee this summer? Extremely few. And while Pennant is not Wright-Phillps, Pennant is young (with resale value) and genuinely exciting to watch. In the league IMO, outside the top three and Arsenal, only Lennon and Solano offer his kind of ability. Oh, and in the 'replacement to Tugay' stakes Jarosik genuinely stands out. And, again because of relegation, he will not be gong for a huge sum even though Chelsea hold his contract.

Well, brum are down now and I literally think if we expressed interest in Dunnie he would be our player next year for not much money, maybe a million or something like that. He is on his day an exceptional player, world class. In terms of skill on the ball there are very few Englishmen who can rival him. And he is precisely the kind of player Rovers could use at the moment, a sort of player we don't have, and happily a local lad too. But the injuries are ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. And you have to qestion how interested he is in getting fit. While I am sure he is not feigning injury and would like to play, he does give off the aura of not being as concerned about being on the treatment table as other players- our Bellamy, nelsen, Reid- might be. So, sadly, I can't see him plyaing for us. But I do reckon there will be at least one or two ex city players at Ewood in the Autumn. Upson, Pennant, Hesky, Forsell, Sutton and Jarosik are all players who have something to offer to our club.

How is Nelsen doing? If he is out we are in trouble

This has to be right up there with West Ham in terms of quality players going down. Well don 'arry by the way! From our point of view Heskey, Pennant and Jarosik are all worth more than a look. Pennant particlarly is utterly ideal for us ad we could get him for a bargain two or three million depeding upon interest in him.

To be honest, if Rooney doesn't make it i would stick Gerrard up front. I think he would do a better job of it than Crouch or Ashton or anyone else. But if we are going to have realistic chance of reaching the final we need roon fit!

We looked excellent today but you have to say that Charlton were just poor. The amount of room they gave us was criminal. No closing down or anything. Bentley and Tugay had so much room to pass the ball around it was ridiculous. Nobody played badly but the Ped still did little apart from the throw in, Bellamy was suprisingly subdued but still excellent in running the channels. I am not sure why everybody rates Pongolle so highly. He had a couple of nice touches but he offered so little threat. Often he would check back or mis-control. Reid was outstanding, as was Tugay, and all the defence played well. But is is worth saying again- Charlton were abysmal.

I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't think anyone would give a toss ifit was Sven won it. I certainly can't see anybody in fifteen years time going "Yeah we've won the world cup twice. Oh, hang no the second one doesn't count because we had a Swede in charge..." In ideal world the manager would be English, but I am not sure it is worth compromising our chances of winning a major competition to satisfy.