Ruined my evening

Todd he deserves it on recent performances. Plus Record as a captain is P1 W1 D0 L0 F1 A0 Pts3 Gd+1 100% success

Agree completely, total lack of ambition for a player out of his depth.

on the occasions at Ewood when it goes quiet, like the game against charlton I always say that I can hear Garry Flitcroft shouting his head off, usually saying something like "NISSE GET BACK!!!!" I must admit so far this season when it goes quiet I have never heard Fergy shout, I'm sure he does but has anyone heard him?

can he play right back? if so I think he may start in against Pompey, My team would be FRIEDEL NELSEN TODD MOKOENA JOHANSSON EMERTON THOMPSON FLITCROFT © PEDERSEN DICKOV STEAD subs GALLAGHER JOHNSON ENCKLEMAN McEVELEY REID

my team: ENCKLEMAN NEILL TODD MOKOENA McEVELEY EMERTON FLITCROFT © NELSEN PEDERSEN GALLAGHER STEAD Subs: JOHNSON AMORUSO YELLDELL DOUGLAS REID

My team would be: FRIEDEL (Obvious choice) NEILL (Put Gardener in the stands) JOHANSSON (Look to keep Vaz Te under wraps) TODD (Will relish tussle with Davies) MATTEO (Dodgy I know but experienced. Although suffered a 5-0 drubbing last time at the Reebok! Diouf could be danger man) THOMPSON (I would like to see MGP but Hughesy will favour Thommo) FLITCROFT (Kick Jay-Jay and Campo early doors ) FERGUSON © (Ferguson vs. Speed whoever wins I believe their team will win) EMERTON (Could do damage against Ceaser) DICKOV (I think Ben Haim and Jaidi wont know what's hit them) STEAD (I hope he scores, deserves it for his efforts this season) subs PEDERSEN (May get his chance, still unsure whether Thommo can go the whole 90) GALLAGHER (possibly for Stead if things are even or going pear shaped) McEVELEY ( May come on depending on how dodgy Matteo is) ENCKLEMAN (Obvious replacement) JOHNSON (Would be a good experience for him, more would be gained by putting him in the squad instead of risking Bothroyd) Ref ROB STYLES (Refereed against Liverpool and Fulham and did a good job both times imo so hopefully he will not bring about any controversy)

After last time at Ewood and the times before that, since the Liverpool game infact, we have played a similar starting XI, Players like Johansson, Todd and McEveley have been shifted from the starting lineup to the bench or vice versa, in what is a defensive lineup. Emerton, Bothroyd/Stead/Jansen/Gallagher, Dickov and possibly Ferguson are told to push forward with Reid and Tugay/Flitty and the defence told to stay back. The Liverpool game was a game which I thought Hughes approached correctly, home, keep it tight for as long as possible and try to defend any lead we get and look to break on the counter. In the end McEveley's mistake cost us but most people would have taken the point pre match. The following away games at Norwich City and Man City were approached again in keep it tight for as long as possible and look to break on the counter. This worked to good affect at Fulham, although the early goal gave Rovers the confidence to brush a poor team aside. Last week we defended resolutely but inveitably should have taken something from the Eagles who I still think will be fighting for their lives come May, maybe a more attacking lineup would have helped us? The matches I have been most disappointed with Hughes is the home matches against Birmingham and Tottenham. In the Birmingham game we played very for the first 10 mins but after we scored we let Birmingham come on to us as if we were playing away from home and desperately trying to defend a lead, when instead we were at home to a club in a similar league position to ourselves. Luckily we rallied and managed to get on the front foot in the second half as Reid became more of an attacking threat. The match against the Toffees could be a mirror image of the Spurs game, so far this season Everton have won 8, 8/17 almost 50% of their games 1-0, the problem with the Spurs game was that a good defensive team turned up and played for a 0-0 draw and tried to nick it which in the end they did through Robbie Keane. With Everton's impressive defensive record and "if we dont conceded we wont lose" attitude, particularly on the road it is imperative that Rovers get on the front foot and try and score early doors. I believe an early Rovers goal could set up for a proseprous afternoon as Everton have only come behind to win once this season, in the recent fixture against Bolton when Stubbs cheated by charging the wall on a free kick and Jaidi was unlucky to force the ball into his own net. Everton are without doubt a decent side, what we musn't do is invite Everton on us and play their way, ala very happy to defend in numbers and take a 0-0 but if a chance comes their way take it. Everton wont come at us all guns blazing flooding the Rovers box with crosses. I mean Carsley and Bent in my opinion were never Premiership quality during their time at the Rovers anyway. (Probably both score on Staurday now!!! ) I would like to see Hughes give the players more attacking freedom, I wouldn't make any major changes to the lineup. Possibly Stead for Bothroyd but keep the same starting side and lets get at them ruffle their feathers. and Higheshy please put Morten Gamst Pedersen on the bench (for everyone on BRFCS sake!!! ) An interesting game waits in store in what will no doubt be a crucial part of our seaon be similarly could be a productive one. If we score first: Rovers 2-0 Everton If its 0-0 after 45mins: Rovers 0-1 Everton Merry Christmas to all at BRFCS Come on You Blues

My team: 1. Brad FRIEDEL- obvious choice 2. Lucas NEILL- give him insentive to go forward against Kolkka 6. Craig SHORT- experienced head at the back 24. Andy TODD- played superb against Spurs handled Defoe well hopefully will handle Johnson the same 33. Michael GRAY- need a pacey full back who can combat the dangerous Routledge 7. Brett EMERTON- best attacking midfielder at the rovers at the moment 16. Barry FERGUSON ©- captain 20. David THOMPSON- who else? need his creativity plus his fiestiness will help 18. Steven REID- help Gray with Routledge. main objective keep him quiet 10. Paul DICKOV- best forward at club at the moment will cause the impatient Popovic a hard time 27. Jay BOTHROYD- forward muscle to counteract Boyce Subs 12. Morten Gamst PEDERSON- possibly get a run out if are comfortably up or trailing with 10 to go, nuture him in slowly 13. Peter ENCKLEMAN- backup 14. Nils-Eric JOHANSSON- backup 19. Paul GALLAGHER- possibly bring on for Bothroyd/Dickov can change game on its head, seems to go missing when he starts 22. Dominic MATTEO- versatilty. no point rushing Stead back with busy Xmas period approaching NO PREDICTION FROM ME~SUPERSTISTION C'MON YOU BLUES

Home to: Burnley- local Blackpool- local Yeading- Chance to play 1 of the minnows and put up a cricket score Bournemouth- revenge

if it aint broke dont fix it. MGP will get his chance when Reid does his ban/ or someone gets injured. Then we will see what hes made of

Suprising how Yorke heard the chants yet nobody else did, publicity stunt on Yorke's behalf if you ask me

Heard Do they know its Xmas this morning! I think its quite cool, I was minus 3 when the last one was made so I can't compare the two events but I was wonderin what other peeps think of the tune!

I think we should play FRIEDEL NEILL SHORT TODD GRAY REID FLITCROFT FERGUSON © PEDERSON STEAD GALLAGHER subs DICKOV DE PEDRO MATTEO ENCKLEMAN JANSEN

rovers is my life

CUT OUR LOSES -----------Friedel----Enkleman------Yelldell--------- --Neill-----Short----Amoruso-----Matteo----Gray-- ------------Ferguson----------Flitcroft----------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------Dickov-------------------------

Sound's a cliche but I think that Premiership survival is a lot more important than a run in a cup competition. Anyone who disagrees seriously needs their brain checking + if it was a league match we would have got a point. Good luck to the Cherries in the next round and here's to Villa thumping the Dingles at Turf Moor next month

As the East Lancashire wind howls and the Blackburn End becomes one big blob of supporters, Hughesy sends out his revamped line-up. Team: Friedel Neill Amoruso Short Gray Flitcroft Ferguson© Tugay Pedersen Dickov Stead Subs: Jansen, Matteo, de Pedro, Bothroyd, Enckleman The game starts at a frantic pace, with Rovers and Pompey both on the attack. Rovers take the lead through Ferguson after a Pedersen throw flicked on by Dickov. Pompey however exploit Rovers's speed at the back and Yakubu, Lua Lua and Fuller all miss chances to draw Pompey level, as Friedel makes 3 superb saves. On the stroke of half time Rovers get a penalty, yes a penalty, which Ferguson takes after 10 mins of deciding who infact is our best penalty taker! Half time 2-0 After the restart Pompey get a goal back as Berger blasts a left footed strike into the top left hand corner and continues his one man mission for the goal of the season award. Rovers then dominate for 20 mins and substitue Jay Bothroyd beats the offside trap to make it 3-1 to Rovers. However Portsmouth come back again, Yakubu is left one on one with Amoruso, he turns him one way, then the other before beating Friedel with a low drive. In the last 3 minutes Portsmouth have a corner, and Steve Stone's shot is blocked en-route to the goal by Lucas Neill's trailling hand, David Unsworth steps up and riffles the ball into the top right hand corner. In the dying seconds Hughes throws Jansen on for Stead, immeadiately Rovers get a corner kick which Pedersen whips into the near post where Shaka Hislop meets him, but he can only push the ball as far as Tugay whose drive takes a deflection and falls to Jansen, 6 yards out who strokes the ball home. Hughesy gets a winning start and the Rovers season is up and running in dramatic style Blackburn Rovers-4 ~ Ferguson 10, pen 45. Bothroyd 65, Jansen 90 Portsmouth -3 ~ Berger 47, Yakubu 76, Unsworth pen 87

A great idea it has to be done

Arsenal will score 2 early goals then ease off in the meantime Steadinho will score and we will boss the last 10-15 mins and come away thinking of what it might have been. Arsenal 2 - Henry, Reyes Rovers 1 - Stead

tugay4england, you're prob right 95-96 was more impressive, however apart from 1992-1993 when Al was injured any one of the seasons he spent at rovers where exceptional seasons with exceptional goals and an exceptional work rate.

Having only been born in 1987 and attending Rovers since 1992-93 season this team is only based on what I have seen. 1. Brad Friedel (2002-2003 season) 2. Lucas Neill (2001-2002 season) 3. Graeme Le Saux (1994-1995 season) 4. Tim Sherwood (1994-1995 saeson) 5. Colin Hendry (1994-1995 season) 6. Henning Berg (2002-2003 season) 7. Stuart Ripley (1997-1998 season) 8. David Dunn (2000-2001 season) 9. Alan Shearer (1994-1995 season) 10. Matt Jansen (2000-2001 season) 11. Damien Duff (2002-2003 season) Subs: 12. Andrew Cole (2001-2002 season) 13. John Filan (1999-2000 season) 14. Tugay (2001-2002 season) 15. Craig Short (2002-2003 season) 16. Jonathan Stead (2003-2004 season)

If Rovers are true in saying that he is such a good talent then why don't we just fork out the £2.5m! we will surely get our money back! Paul Dickov- £110k Gamst Pedersen (good on champ btw)- £2.5m Domonic Matteo- £500k??? Another midfielder- £1-2m Thats a total of £6m With a budget of £4m + money from sales we can afford to spend £2.5m can't we??

I hope he behaves himself when were on pre season tour to Germany!

No matter what Bolton will still play boring football and get all the luck