Team should definately be, IMHO: Can't see how anybody can argue with that, unless Short is back from injury which I dont think he is. The only question mark is over Thompson who, although he had a good game in the reserves this week, combined with Barry in the middle could leave us very lightweight defensively. Still, when the other options are Tugay and Flitcroft I say give him a go! Feeling reasonably confident, provided everybody can stay on the pitch. 2-1 Rovers

One big problem for us in this game is that our central midfielders will not get any space. With the exception of Ferguson our midfield (Emerton, Tugay and Reid) cannot cope with close man marking very well. Brett has shown some ability to turn a man on the left but it is going to be a whole different kettle of fish to the Liverpool who stood off us. Saying that, we posess so much more quality than them we have to get a least a 'convincing' draw (ie. we looked the better team) or a win. The team should remain unchanged. If Thompson is fit, stick him on the bench. Pedersen too. 2-1 Rovers

We are really suffering from having very little defensive bite in midfield...... goddammit. If we put out our best attacking eleven we would look quite good: Unfortuately, as some will know, away at Chelsea we would be torn to shreds extremely easily with a midfield like that. This neccesitates the inclusion of either Douglas, Flitcroft or, uh, Matteo to pair with Ferguson. I tell you, one quality player to partner Ferguson in the middle would transform the side- fair enough we need a striker on form and a decent defence but I honestly think that is the most crucial problem. I think it is likely Hughes will elect for a side looking more like this: More defensively solid but I cant see us being able to hold the ball up at all. We could well get stuffed.

Just for my tuppeny worth..... I agree that we need to make ourselves hard to beat but the fact of the matter is we lack any players to really do this with. All are central defensive pairings appear awful, we have no dogged tackler in the middle of the park and our full backs are vulnerable to decent wingers. I cannot see how sitting deep is going to help us as we have no one with the pace to hit a team on the break. Goddammit, we have a team that is certainly technically proficent, we just lack the abilty to score and prevent conceding, so we might as well pass it a bit. A quite possible team to shake things up would be: Flitcroft should sit resolutely within fifteen yards of the central defence and just soak things up as best he can (which is pretty awfully). Gallagher has to get a game. Bloody hell........ are we going down?

Hmmmmmmmm..... News just out is that Todd and Reid are available for selection while Thompson is going to have to wait for another week. We have so many players now it is hard to see who to pick. Friedel, Short, Gray, Ferguson, Djorkaeff, Emerton and Dickov are- at the moment- automatic picks but beyond that it is all much of a muchness. I desperately want to see Stead, Pedersen, Reid, Bothroyd and particularly Gallagher given a decent crack of the whip but the only real likely starter out of that is Pedersen coming in for Jansen. Gallagher and Reid are going to struggle to even make the bench. Paul has a great range of passing, movement and finishes well- in many ways he is exactly the kind of player we need at the moment. Is there no way we can fit him into the team? I know it would reap dividends.

And no doubt at the players request. Theres no two ways about it i suppose. If any of the big five came in for Ferguson he would be off like a shot- he is an ambitious bloke with little connection with Blackburn now Souness has gone. I am no really sure you can blame him for that, 90% of players are like that (even the ones who have been at a club all their life like Duff and Parker). He is however a man of integrity, or appears to be anyway, and i am certain he will do the best for this club and show it some respect (ie. not talk up a move etc.) while he is here. I hope he is here for a very long time too, he is a quality player.

I am wondering what sky is actually thinking about all this as they hold the key to the leages future. Their over riding concern will be how can they increase/maintain their pofits for the forseeable future, so in that context the two big questions would be.............. 1. Would a more competitve premiership (one where 10 clubs could compete for the championship) bring in more subscribers than the current oh so predictable version? and 2. Would a European superleague generate more cash for the Murdoch clan than either versions of the premiership? I cannot see why Sky would not be investigating this, they have to make sure the 'product' (god I hate that word) does not get stale. I am sure that if over the next ten yeas we just see Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal winning the title supporters will vote with their feet...... but if they all just park their arses on the sofa and watch it on telly that might just be what Sky want. Its a hard one to call, but the game wuld be immesurably improved by a leveller playing field. Unfortunately money, rather than entertainment, will be the deciding factor.

The way I see it is that we are absolutely buggered unless we can find a player to hold the midfield together. This new 4141 formation certainly has promise but unless we have a tiger sitting infront of the defence we are in trouble. We cannot get anybody in till Januay but we might have a possibility in Thompson. Does anybody know when he is back? The only problem with this is hta Ferguson will be completely tied down without any hope of the forward runs that made him such a force on Saturday. However we would not have to have either Flitcroft or Tugay on the field which would be a massive bonus. Another big problem for me is what are we going to do with Stead, Bothroyd and Gallagher? All of them are hugely talented yet there seems little space for them in the lineup....

I think the cadidates for shifting are pretty obvious: Gresko Johansson Reid (Could perhaps be a decent player but is behind Thompson, Emerton and perhaps even gallagher for a spot) Flitcroft De Pedro (I know, but he just isnt going to get a game with Djorkaeff here) Douglas None of these players add anything to the side. We need a technically able strong tackeling midfielder and a defender but apart from that we probably wouldnt need to have anymore replacements.

You, sir, are a pedant.

It really does sound like Amo is a massive liability against Villa's pace. Its a real shame when everybody else seems to be doing really well. I wonder if a McEverly Matteo partnership is a possibility...

Djorkaeff off, Stead on. Strange formation, Im not sure who are playing on the wings.

Been barking up this tree for effing ages. We quite plainly need a decent all round player to slot in next to Ferguson. Carrick, Davis, Parker, Cahill- anybody of any quality. I know they do not grow on trees but it is important to find someone to allow Ferguson to express himself and add bite to the midfield. Interesting fact: Parker has played 8 minutes in all competions this year..... Loan fodder?

Im not really sure about this one. Great player in his day (and even last season) but I am not sure he is going to slot into the system too well. The only way I can see it working without effectively playing three up front is to go for a sort of diamond: We have striker overload (and talented ones too) at the moment while a chronic shortage in central midfield..... Anyway we cant really lose I suppose, but Im not sure it will make the team better.

I think we can win this one and continue the posession dominance of last monday. This is the team I would pick. Dickov has been holding the ball up superbly and remains the only striker who has scored a couple. I cannot see how he can be dropped. Jansen was good on the left on saturday but we need to give Pedersen a shot. He is the only real long term option on the left and has looked like improving. Rest of the side picks itself. I want to see Gallagher get a game, even as a sub. However, with the arrival of Djorkaeff, I imagine Hughsie will put out something a little more like this: Should be interesting....

Well, im going to fly in the face of public opinion and say WE WERE ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD. We held on to the ball, the strikers held up the ball, we passed well and we got down the flanks. We lacked movement up front and had serious problems with width but I was impressed by how we closed down the opposition, especially in the first half. The game was won by a good set peice, that was it (although the lapses of concentration were worrying in the last fifteen minutes). If we had Cole or a Stead with some shooting boots we might well of won that game. Hughes will not change the system, we will play compact passing football (for all those accusing us of lumping the ball up front, where did you get that from? We passed out of the back, indeed it got us into a few sticky situations). We have two problems that need to be addressed: 1. Defensive Concentration 2. Goal threat Pretty massive problems I admit, but the technical ability, shape, ball retention and attitude (at least since Hughes has arrived) has been good. I think Hughes will be optimistic and uplifted at present. Roll on Saturday.

Charlton are a good side! What do you mean "its only charlton...."! Right, this is the first game we can see really what Hughes is all about. He has seen a fair few of the squad and he will be wanting to mke an impression.... In actual fact I can see the side walking out unchanged from last week apart from Amo coming in for Short (as he is injured) and Flitcroft losing his place. Thompson, if fit, should get a stab at the middle. Apart from Ferguson all our central midfielders look dodgy. If Emerton is injured as reports suggest Gallagher should be give a run on the right wing, no questions asked. Prediciton 1-1

Call me crazy but I think his future might lie on the right wing or in the hole behind the strikers. No matter what with the revival of Jansen, Emertons improvement, Thompson returning from injury, Dickov's good form and Bothroyd's promise he is certainly up against it up front or deeper.

Bothroyd is a revelation. Could really threaten both De Pedro and Pedersen for the left wing spot.

1-0 Matt Jansen.

Injured, all to often unfortunately.

Shame to see that neither Gallagher nor De Pedro made the bench. To say that Hughes had little time to assess the squad. Interesting to see Amo dropped too... I will put money on Flitcroft getting subbed for Tugay at some point during the match.

I voted 'yes' as I couldnt really see a stand out first choice. Hughes is young, articulate and ambitious lacking the ego of Souness and his confrontational nature but sharing the passion for the game. Hughes will want to buid a good side and obviously cares for the club. The most hertening thing for me is that he seems to want to say abrest of he latest developments in the game and embrace them, Speed was saying as much on SSN. I expect Hughes to come out fighting and not build a side to merely stave off relegation- I think he is exactly the kind of man to piece together a long term plan for Rovers. I am not saying that we will neccesarily have an excellent season this year, but Sparky will always be thinking a few moves ahead. And that, in my mind, is the mark of a good manager. Looking forward to saturday.

Looks like its done and dusted. Hughes wants to come, the Board want him. Barring something extrodinary he will be our next manager. It will just be a case of whether he takes control of those two Welsh games and indeed our match against Portsmouth on Saturday. I will be very interested to see what kind of side he will put out. Adventurous times, and a manager Jim is happy with!

We have to win this one. We absolutely have to. My team to start: Subs: Tugay, Boothroyd, Emerton, Short/Jansen (if parkes decides to go sans defenders again), Enckleman Four things- Thompson needs to be given a shot in the middle. he is the only realistic long term partner for Ferguson. Flitcroft is finished, Tugay is old and Douglas is just too limited. If he is injured (god dammit, when will he be sorted out?) Tugay should get the nod. Flitcroft should just be roundly flogged whatever the circumstances. I know Emerton has been playing better recently but I have to say that, if fit, Gallagher will worry the opposition more. I dare anybody to argue with that. Defensively he might be slightly more suspect but Emerton has hardly covered himself with glory. If Pedersen has another weak game Boothroyd should be considered as an option on the left in the final third of the match. He can play wide and run at defenders, something which has been lacking from MGP's game. When will De Pedro be fit? Matteo and Amoruso need a run of games together. Once they know each others style they will be authorative. Matteo needs to learn to play off Amo. 1-1