Whoooooooooooooosh!

Bans should just be applied for diving retrospectively if it can be proved on video there was no contact. The big argument against this is 'what if the referee awarded a penalty/freekick and it was scored from?' The answer to that is tough, but the ref will be marked down if he was considered in error. A standard three mach ban for absolutely provable (this is very important and would only apply to the most blatent of dives) 'simulation' would make perpetraitors think twice. It can only be a matter of time until this rule (give or take the exact nature of the suspension) is introduced. Why not just do it now?

I checked out Gallagher's progress on the Oatcake. Currently rated as the most skillful player at the club but doesn't much like a tackle or running around a lot. He got a '7' for the game. Apparently his goal was quality. ps. He has scored 9 in 26 appearences- a goal every third game. Not bad in a strugling side!

Just realised that I got the wrong end of the stick!

Unfortunately, even if we finish fourth we wouldn't be able to spend the cash. The qualifying round is harzardous (as both Newcastle and Everton have found out in recent seasons) so nothing of that could really be invested until Janauary if we get through. The higher placing compared to what was budgeted for would be money that could be made available.

They have much better strikers than us. While I would have Bellamy over any one of theirs, that they can call on two (out of three) forwards of real international quality trumps our front line. They also have a much better selection of players in midfield but do not seem to have found a balance. The concept of 'width' does not seem to be on the Jol radar, and they actually tend to go route one quite often negating the whole point of having skillful individuals. I don't think we can really kid ourselves into thinking we have better players, but Hughes certainly seems to put his resources to work far more effectively.

This strikes me as being realistic. 59 points would put us around sixth and would represent a steller achievement by Hughes and the team. All the away games are going to be difficult and I don't like the look of Liverpool or Chelsea at home (both those sides are solid unlike Arsenal and United). 65 points is extremely unlikely, lets not get carried away.

Thats a good idea but wouldn't we lack width? If I was Bentley I would be wondering where the next start is coming from. Reid ahead of him on the right; Bellamy, Pongo and Dickov ahead of him up front. Personally I would like to see: A draw would be a good result, a win fantastic. 2-2 edit- apparently the Ped is definitely out so I change my team accordingly! Even though Peter was decidedly average against the Arse I reckon he will offer more than Emerton, plus can take a decent corner which nobody else seems to be able to do.

He was also up against the brilliant Tugay so playing in the centre was never really an option. To say his form wans't that good is a bit of an over statement. Sure, he was never as good as Tugay or Duff but still created and caused problems and the Brum fans rate him as their best player. If fit he would get in our side as a right sided player or a supporting striker. The big problem with this however, as someone else mentioned, is that is exactly what role Bentley is ear marked to play. Would it be worth having both of them?

Thats nonsense, he was clearly class but got injured regularly and Souness was not his greatest fan. Dunn would, if fit, be a great aquisition.

I agree thT Emmo offers more than Thompson, mainly in terms of being strong defensively. But as for finding a way to get him to produce consistently, don't you think we have tried enough? Bentley and Reid are ahead of him in the pecking order, he is not getting a sniff, his Rovers career has come to an end.

His crossing is very good and from a dead ball (corners, wide free kicks) I would say he is actually better than Ped (although not at direct free kicks). He showed against Sunderland that he can beat a man too, but as pthers said he seemed to struggle with the pace of Arsenal's right back. It looks like Hughes has commited himslef to giving Sergio an extended run. Putting MGP under pressure can only be a good thing too.

I personally think Dunn is a super player and if he hadn't had so many problems with injuries he would be an established international, ahead of the likes of Jenas and Carrick and so on in the pecking order. BUT I will rpeat this from the other thread: To put things in perspective he has only managed 40 appearances (in all comps, 34 in the league) in two and a half seasons. That is roughly a mere 34%. THe only person who can really assess whether it is worth the risk is the manager after having the medical report. Sparky's no mug, he knows how popular such a move would be and that it would suit the club in terms of the footballing side.

I know this is little consolation for those who ears were left bleeding on the terraces but the drums actually sounded quite good on the telly today.

He was brilliant today, absolutely brilliant. But then he has been shaky other games. Zurab is similarly up and down so it is hard to put one in over the other. All round Zurab has more of the qualities I like to see in a defender but if Todd keeps performing like that then of course he should be in the team.

Why is it poor Bert? He is not in the team because the other players deserve to be more than he does. He is gone. And the one time we tried him at full back, against Newcastle I think, he was terrible. And why would we want to displace his compatriot Niell who is, as the crowd keep on pointing out, a football genius? Im just hoping is bizzarely over inflated reputation gets us a decent fee for him come the summer.

Christ, what a good result! The performaces of all of our players, bar two, were exceptional. Bellamy was incredible, Todd had arguably his best game ever, Savage was brilliant! Only Peter and Pongo let the side down. Sergio's deliveries from dead balls were great but apart from that he was poor, which is a shame. I was championing him for a start but those who said that was premature were proved right today, hopefully he will improve. As for Pongo I am not sure what he really did for us today, even Kuqi puts himself around a bit and wins flick ons. I really hope he steps up his game as obviously he has strength and technique. If DIckov is fit he must start the next game, failing that give Bentley a shot. In the context of games to come we are set up really well. A HUGE match at White Hart Lane next sunday- if we win that (which to be fair will be unlikely) we can genuinely look at ourselves as CL contenders. The next three games after that- Boro and Villa at home followed by the Mackems away are all (gulp) eminantly winnable. Absolutely sensational

We could have done without the Arsenal win, but if we are realistic about getting into the top six we need to beat the best teams at home. I think this will be a draw, but at least we will be much fresher. I still want to see Peter on the left to give Toure something to think about when he bombs forward. The way the Gunners play creates space behind the full backs and he is the best man to exploit it.

Yes, we do look a bit like a British empire team don't we? Englnad, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, USA, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand. All we need is an Indian and a Canadian and we would have all the big bits of it. Shame Dwight isn't here, as he could have been the West Indies representative...

I'm not sure how you came to that decision, how can playing Pedersen and Peter be any more of a liability than playing Pedersen and Bentley on the wing (which we have done for a considerable amount of games)? Pedersen particularly is a good defender and while Peter is lightweight I can't see him being any worse than our Dave. I do agree about Reid though, he has been very good recently when he has played in the centre. But against Arsenal Tugay will get the space to dictate the game so will play and there is no way Savage will be dropped. All in all I expect Hughes to start Reid over Peter, but I honestly think the other way round would be more likely to get a result. Peter will cause their full backs so many more problems and delivers a far superior cross from what we have seen. Oh, and what joy to have such strength in depth that it is likely Axe, Emerton and Kuqi all won't even make the bench.

I didn't realise that, excellent news! I would still like to see Bentley given a start up front, so maybe ease Dickov in from the subs bench, taking Kuiq's place?

If he keeps on scoring I am sure there will be a connection! I have to say I am so impressed at how tight a ship Hughes runs. All the comments from the players and the board have been extremely positive. All together though I think if a genuine big club came in for Bellamy he would still want to go. Same as any player really, part of the game...

Big game this, for both teams! If we win then ROvers overtake the Arse with over two thirds of the season gone (!) and Wengers team could be up to eight points adrift of fourth. More importantly we could move into within three points of Tottenham setting us up nicely for another 'big game' down at the lane the following weekend! So, all in all I reckon it will be a draw. A win would be a sensational way to kick off the run in. Too sensational for Rovers. Team I would like to see:

Well, a partner for Bellamy of Rooney/Henry quality and a Gerrard or Lampard and actually I do think we could put a challenge in provided we had few injuries. Obviously it would be a slim chance but I think we would be more than decent. Arguably we have a better striker in Bellamy than Liverpool have (I don't think I would swap him with any of their lot). And we have a better defender in Nelsen than Arsenal or Man Utd have on this seasons form. Anyway I still am at a loss to understand why Ferguson did not buy a top quality (or even average) holding midfielder. They have been giving away games for fun. Same goes for Wenger at Arsenal. Is it some bizarre new tactical evolution where they don't expect to have to actually have to win the ball? If it is then it is a remarkably stupid evolution. If they rectify these problem in the summer then I fully expect the Scum and the Arse to bounce right back (although saying that, if Arse finish outside the top four then there will be a major talent exodus).

I think a premiership 11 would certainly have turned out for Shearer. If any player in the league deserves that it is him. But if they are looking for crowds they have got the right team in Celtic. I don't think any other team would bring as many fans. Their lot are manic and see opportunities to play Premiership as something worth seeing on a footballing level, even if it technically an uncompetitive game. For an English club people would only really want to go out of respect for shearer or reasons similar to those for attending a pre season game.