The away kit looks really good like that Doctor Ryan! Why not take a punt and send it to Rovers. They won't do anything about it now but it might register when it comes round to design time in a couple of years.

To be honest I have been a little baffled about all this talk of Souness making bad buys myself. Even Boumsong was clearly a very good defender before he wound up on Tyneside, in France and in the CL. If they get a decent manager in, one who can keep the team fit and healthy and sort their defence out then they will be more than decent. A front six of Shearer, Owen, Luque, Solano/Dyer, Emre and Parker is not just good, it is outstanding. No side outside the top four has that level of quality. Souness' problem was getting the best out of these players rather than the players themselves. Hopefully they will be too demoralised to get into the top half this season though.

If you think Rio deserved a red for nudging Pedersen your completely insane. Just reverse the players in your head and think about it. If Ped has done that and got sent off you would of gone absolutely mental. The yellow was soft, if it had been earlier in the game the hair platted ponce would never of got it, it would of been dismissed as a bit of 'afters'. The second foul was definately a yellow and if he had caught Sav more squarely it would of been a straight red. The lack of the offside decision last night aside, which is the linesman's responsiblity, we were fairly treated by the officials. We have to get over this persecution complex, it is ridiculous.

Personally I would like Ferguson to go now as then we wouldn't lose Hughes as he woul be considered too inexperienced. If they wait a year or even just till the summer that could rapidly change. As for the Ref I thought he had an average sort of game and we were fortunate to a certain extemt in a couple of few decsions. Rio's first booking was a little soft and there could have been a penalty (albeit very harsh) against Niell. However, certainly Utd's first goal shouldn't of stood.

I think he actually would go back, I think it would appeal to Bellers to make a point. BUT Newcastle United have no cash Rovers are looking like they might well qualify for Europe, Newcastle could get relegated He has a great relationship with Hughes He recognises he needs to settle down All that said I oculd easily see him at St James park again in three or four years. He did seem to like it there and, as I said, he would like to get on over Souness.

Seconded. Gray has been vital to our success, and although he can be defensively suspect sometimes he offers so much going forward. TAKE HIM OFF THE LIST! Also he is hardly a waster, in terms of effort he is one of the biggest work horses on the team.

I can't see Hughes going to Newcastle. He has got his squad together, we are playing extremely well and there is a good chance we can qualify for Europ plus he is at the start of his career. He will have his eye on the Man Utd job. Going to Newcastle would just mean starting all over again- assuming defensive tactics, working on fitness, looking at bringing in players to build the team around. Even the money may have run out.

Why do welsh people/west of englanders (specifically the gloucester/worcester area) say "fairplay" all the time? It's a regional obsession.

Red and black halves would work but the club has just never really gone after it. I personally don't really care about the pattern although in terms of a colour scheme I think red and blakc does seem the best.

Our last eight Premiership games have yielded (most recent on the left): WWDWWWLW or: 19 points out of 24!! When was the last time that happend for Rovers? Bloody hell... As for Saturday I am greatly looking forward to it. Team I would like to see: In actuality I think Hughes will prefer Kuqi to start, but hey. It is vital that the lads remember that while Saturday was a fine performance Utd (particularly Rio) did us quite a few favours. If WBA organise themselves it will be difficult. 2-0 Rovers (Reid, Savage) ps. I forgot to add, if anyone hasn't noticed, we are 4 points off fourth place with a game in hand... not saying anything mind, just stating the facts.

I thought he looked good but then he always looks good when the opposition fullbacks bomb forward leaving space behind. The problem he has that if the opposition are not chasing the game and defend properly he just runs out of ideas. Still worth a crack though if we play Reid in the middle on Saturday. Incidently Pedersen defended superbly today, absolutely superbly.

I think Ferguson's out burst is provoked by the fact he knows he is essentially at fault for Utd's recent form (not to take anything away from Rovers- we were awesome in the second half). How he has, with all the money at the club, put himself in a position where he onlt has two 'proper' central midfielders, one of whom can't tackle and appears to be blind and the other a distinctly average Scot. They had absolutely no shape whatsoever. It smacks of the insane. Plus the errors were lack of communication which shoul really have been sorted out on the training ground. I'm looking forward to his sacking. If the side carries on like this he has to go soon. And he knows it!

Today the midfield and defence were brilliant, and Bentleys finishing was incredible! As for Kuqi, he was awful but when we were under pressure he won most of the high balls. I am a little worried that when he is dropped on Saturday (quite rightly) we will lose that way to relieve pressure..,. I wish we had a tall chap with a bit of technique. I think this game probably means Kuqi will be moved on in the summer. If he cannot have a good game when we score four against united.. Still, Awesome! Such an entertaining game!

Well done! Shame there are no questions about his bizarre move from Business lunch to MOTD 2. Chiles' cheery face became synonimous with the school holidays for me. Waking up at 12.30 hung over, turning on the telly, seeing him entertain a lot of boring men in suits and watching him try to marshall discussions upon subjects which he clearly didn't know the foggiest about. Happy days.

Shame that Pongolle cannot play, with him in the side I would of hoped for a bit of debut magic. As it is: We lose 2-1 again. Its so frustrating because you know if you stuck Bellamy and Pongo up top we would be favourites coming into this.

Completely agree about the first bit, but I would just add that I think there will be a 'natural' general tendency to favour the home side in any game as a matter of course: Subconcious intimidation by the crowd, more highlight given to fouls/rough legal challenges by the noise from the supporters, subconcious desire to have an ride home without getting abuse from people outside the ground. But I don't think this is a major factor. However, as AESF says, there will be a couple who conciously try to favor 'big clubs' for their career. What everybody has to remember is it is a dangerous game to play, if a ref was caught doing it then their career would be over. The vast majority of abuse directed at refs, imho, is completely undeserved. We have both benifitted and lost out on referee decisions and most of it just comes down to natural error. You have to put yourself in the referees position, on the pitch running around without the benefit of television replays. As for the 'never trust a frenchman or a german' thing, well if we are trading in stereotypes I have always found Germans more trustworthy and respectful than the British generally, although to be fair we both have a lot of 'bad apples'. As for the French... well 'they' (don't you love the genralisation!) do seem to be unneccesarily rude an awful lot of the time. I have no doubt the feeling is mutual though.

Phillip, just because I am thick and have an insatiable thirst for speculation, can you give me a rough idea of how much you think Rovers do have to spend at the moment and in the summer, once the sky money comes in? Helps pass the time, anyway...

To be honest even if Arsenal have three or four bad seasons they are going to continue to be a massive club. They have been extremely successful in a crucial time for football, just as the game was opening up on sky, and managed to put considerable distance between themselves and the other London clubs in terms of support, although Chelsea are catching up. They now have a massive fanbase around the world and throughout the South East (huge amounts of fans in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire which used to be a very fertile United/Liverpool area). They should always be able to fill the stadium for Premiership games irrespective of how well they do in the league apart from, obviously, if they were relegated. Poor performaces however would massively affect the ludicrous sums that they charge for boxes. Chairmen will not view it as an ideal way to entertain clients if the games are bottom of the table scraps with unfashionable clubs. What is interesting about this is that now the North/South wealth gap is going to be seriously exploited. Traditionally the richest clubs have been in the north (Man Utd, Liverpool) due to larger attendances but Chelsea and Arsenal are going to annihalate everybody in ticket revenue. The notion of on the field competition continues to be slowly eroded.

I have got a feeling that it is oretty much nailed on thta it will be Hiddink.

We don't really sound like we are up for it do we? Reid seems to be continuing his rich vein of form though and Bentley seems to be having a good game. Personally I would bring the Axe off. It really looks like he is only playing to try and appease him so he doesn't ask for a transfer request. Axe for Jemel, move Bentley to the right, Reid to the middle and Johnson up front.

Hopefully we should have a new striker by Wednesday or, failing that, Bellamy should be fit. If neither happens I reckon we should play like Ajax/1970s Brazil with NO strikers: Pedersen Bentley Peter Tugay Savage Reid Gray Nelsen Zurab Niell Freidel The wide player and the front two could rotate and move about the pitch bemusing the Utd defence. Think of it, we would be AWESOME! Of course this is a ridiculous idea but I have a suspicion that it might be better than having Kuqi on from the start. Better to have himcoming off the bench in the second half.

A real shame today. We were decent but lacked the quality up front. If we had gone out and bought (from somewhere with what cash, I know) a top class striker or Bellamy had been fit we would of stood a chance. Arguably if just Dickov was available we might have made more. Hughes know, the board know it, the players know it, the fans know it: There needs to be a striker coming into Ewood within the next six days. I have a feeling we may go out in the cup on Saturday but then hold steady for a top half finish, maybe even a top eight.

I never said I was expecting him to, it is just if we are going to cause them problems we will need him to provide a real threat- something he hasn't done before. Come on young David, prove your worth! Please!

You get the feeling Bentley is going to have to have the game of his life. Kuqi will be up for this and will hustle the defence. Come on lads, this is going to require a special effort. Just don't conced early!