While (rightly) praising Bert - I think we should also recognise MH for his part in this transformation. Also - Bentley has played a part. The pair make an excellent combination down the right hand side - each seeming to make space for the other. Long may it continue.

I agree totally - obviously the first priority is to win matches - but doing that with flair is the only way Rovers will pursuade fans to come down to Ewood. But for a bit of luck - some of the showboating nearly led to a number of goals - wouldn't that have been the icing on the cake Best bit of showboating (if you want to call it that) was Tugay - did u see his pass in the second half to set up Neil - pure class - outside of his foot curving into Neills run. 35 yrs old and still a class act

You were proved right - but I thought just short of 19k was a good effort. Realistically Rovers have rarely sold more than around 22k home supporters - many of the numbers being made up by away fans. The only match that bucked that trend was Charlton (if my memory is correct) when we got promoted and lowered prices to £10 - and the 30k that filled the ground to celebrate the championship win (and that was free )

For the first time for a while I didn't think anyone actually had a bad game. Bentley had a poor game by his recent standards - but his link up play with Emerton is excellent - and of course he scored a tap in. Though there is room for improvement - the general play was at times excellent - and but for a few missed chances, and near things we would have won by an even greater margin. What I currently find amazing - is how the full backs are given apparent license to roam - reminds me a little bit of Man Utd during the 90's. With Nelsen, Reid and Roberts to come back from injury - things are looking up. We just need to keep this little run going with a win against Wigan. For me - just short of 19k home fans was an excellent effort - considering our peak home attendances over the last 10 years probably only rose as high as 23k. I was there when we played Trelleborgs - only about 13k if my memory is correct.

I can see the Axe continuing in midfield - possibly in a five man midfield. Rovers to nick a 1-0 win.

But it does cost £20 to join Still - you do get a few freebies (wallchart etc) that I will be able to pass on to my youngest - plus discounts, ticket priority (may be useful for FA Cup Final ). A good idea - for any that take this up - will attend at least two matches. May not seem many - but is a start.

Well said - for me and my brood - a match day experience can cost up to £100 (incl Petrol etc). Thats a fair chunk of my monthly disposable - and difficult to justify if I can get my fix free via Sky in the local pub. When I first started going to Rovers it was about £1.50 for a junior to get in the BBE - and a whole family could attend for a tenner. Not certain how salaries have risen since the early eighties - but it seemed more in reach of the average man in the street back in those days. I think it is different for different people - but cost is my main driving factor. Having said that - I will take advantage of the Adult Membership scheme that has just dropped through my door - good idea by JW

As Bob took us slightly off topic - no centre half looks good without cover from midfield. Anyone wonder why Terry looked so good for Chelsea - but so average for Engand until we put a defensive midfield player in front of him ? We looked far better when The Axe came on - giving the sort of defensive cover that I believe Reid offers (in part). The way we are playing at the moment is seeing Emerton and Neill virtually playing as wing backs - but without the usual three in the centre to make up for that. The Barton goal was a typical example of a less defensive right back - as it was Emerton that played Barton on-side. Personally I think there are more problems (defensively) than just the centre halves at the moment. As has always been said - teams defend - not just two players.

In either case they should be told to cough up the extra dosh or go away. I can understand the police view on this - but looking at it this is actually fraud.

I agree entirely - for me the only reason that this signing would make sense is that he is an ideal squad player. There aren't many players that can cover all central outfield positions - and do a good job at all of them. When he was at Rovers - he had a spell as an emergency centre half - and I actually thought he was the best centre half that I ever saw in a Rovers shirt (even including Hendry). When he played against us for Celtic he had an unbelievable match in centre midfield. And up front he would provide a better "different option" than Kuqi ever did (even if some way past his best). Overall a good signing (if he is fit) - but I would still think he will end up at Villa

For me the ease with which the City midfield got into goal score positions in the first half demonstrates the excellent job that Reid does for us when fit. It is only when a player isn't available that his true worth to the team is demonstrated.

I think a Cup run would do the club good. It would increase our profile in Europe generally - what better way to attract players. Maybe get a bit of additional money - but importantly get a bit more media exposure. Also a chance of attracting some European Billionaire who takes a liking to blue and white halves For me it is all positives - with one exception - our squad may be a little light for an extended run in the cup - but maybe the board will free the purse strings in January if we get to the group stages.

Sounds like Rovers prior to Jack putting his money in As much as Jack gave the average Rovers fan a dream - for me we also lost a little of the magic. Don't know if it is all seater stadium, TV exposure - or just that fact that with only 7 - 8k fans at Ewood you knew there was no hangers on, nobody there just to watch Premiership football. Everybody was committed to one thing - watching Rovers. Maybe as our crowds decline we will see a return to this atmosphere - that you only really get at away games these days. Though (obviously) I hope for a trend were youngsters brought up on supporting Rovers during the "glory years" will continue to support but with a heart maybe lacking from casual supporters.

I prefer to look at it from a glass half full perspective - rather than the somebody has nicked my glass perspective that many on this board seem to. Midfield players we signed during the close season - Tugay, Reid, Emerton (granted playing RB at mo) & MGP. It has been a worrying start - but probably more because expectations were so high. With the exception of Bellamy we retained the team that got us to sixth last year. Remember also that Bellamy only played half of the matches. We have added four new forwards (one European Cup Winner, one ex-£13m, one ex £8m and one who had an excellent season in the Prem last season), one Dutch World Cup centre half, cover for Brad and cover for Nelsen. We desperately need at least one of the forwards to start justifying their previous reputations - but if they don't I wouldn't view that as being Hughes fault. After all many on here actually wanted McCarthy to Bellamy last season - this season we have him and all people can do is moan. On balance we are stronger - not much - but enough to hope that a top half finish is achievable.

I do think that most of the smaller clubs in the Premiership do get the s**ty end of the stick - but think that much of it is down to crowd influence. This is where Rovers are at a disadvantage - the only time we have large crowds is when we have a large away support - which effectively evens out any "crowd pressure" advantage. IMHO the linesman at the Sheff United game was as good an example of this as I have seen. Another thing that can't be ignored is media coverage - make a hash of sending off a Rovers player - and you may get a sentence at the bottom of the match report. Send off a Chelsea player incorrectly - and you will be splashed all over the back pages.

They have changed their tune - wasn't so long ago that one of their commentators was saying what a good signing Roberts was. Dutch World Cup centre half can't be that bad either. For me Sky talk absolute c**p based on little knowledge of our club - did they mention how many sought after players we managed to retain - Reid MGP, Nelsen, Neill etc ? I doubt it - unfortunately they just wait for an opportunity to put the boot in.

Can't believe that it is a straight £2.5m - I am sure there will be a few clauses in there. Maybe even a large chunk depending on promotion to the Premiership. However - all I can really say is good luck to Kuqi - a hard working player, who always seemed to be a gentleman on the pitch. I hope he proves to be a success for them - he deserves it.

I disagree about Ooijer's performance. I thought it was an ok debut - against the current champions. He isn't the first centre-half to be out-muscled by Drogba - or cheated by jelly legs Terry (if he was defending in his own area there is no way Terry would have gone down like that - if that isn't cheating I don't know what is). MGP worked hard - but without his excellent set piece delivery (which seems to have gone to pot) and his goal scoring threat - he is a limited player. I would drop him for Peter or Gallagher. Other than that - same team against Sheffield United (with Nelsen on the bench as he builds up to full match fitness).

Can't believe some of the negative comments - we did quite well against the current CHAMPIONS. But for more even refereeing we would have got a point - and this against a team with a foward who cost more than our enitre squad. Debut boy was ok - but got a rude awakening to the Premiership. Amazing how Drogba could keep his feet - and yet Terry went down like a sack of spuds. All this rubbish about him being an honest player - he is as calculating as any foreign forward - its all how the press decide to portay him. Overall we deserved a draw - against the most expensive team in Premiership history. I am not too dis-heartened - though I agree that we lack a spark somewhere - be it in midfield or up front. However - I think that Roberts and McCarthy will prove to be good signings over the season - lets not forget that Chelsea are one of the most defensive teams in the Premiership.

2-1 Rovers McCarthy & MGP Can't help feeling I am letting my heart rule my head though

Shall we also give MH a bit of credit However - his real test will come against Robben, Duff or Giggs.

If Reid is carrying an injury - which seems to be fairly self evident - then it will effect his game. His best times at Rovers have been when he is injury free. His game isn't about finess, passing or great dribbling ability - but his fitness, physical presence, will to win, pace and a general competence in most facets of the game (i.e. fair header, not bad passer etc). Not fully fit - and he loses much of what makes him such an effective player - IMO potentially one of the most effective midfield players outside the top 4

I am amazed at the doom and gloom - but I think this is just typical football fans. If we had played c**p for 80 minutes but scored 3 times in the last 10 minutes, many would think it a brilliant performance - we played ok for 60 - 70 minutes and went into our shell, and suddenly it is a bad performance. Lets be honest - Todd played on absolute blinder - all he was missing was the guide dog. It was his inability to handle Johnson that gave us our few moments of worry. Yes, we sat back after taking the lead - but with three games in a week, you can't argue with the approach too much - especially as we looked as likely to score on the break as they did. Everton are a poor team overall - but do have a work ethic and the odd good player that means they will get results throughout the season. Last night wasn't far off our full first team - but for me our few problems revolved around centre half - which MH will resolve with Nelson coming back from injury and our new dutch centre half. Our forward pairing looks promising - and will only get better (this was only their second competitive game together, and McCarthy's 2nd in the EPL). And we have Tugay to come back from suspension.

Daily Mirror reports that Roberts is out injured tonight. If he is MH has kept that one quiet. I am going for a 3-1 win to Rovers - though that is more with my heart than my head. I also hope we beat them - as many of the toffee's fans on their message boards already seem to be dismissing our chances.

My personal preferance would be "Always look on the bright side of life" Eric Idle - be nice to have a sing along as the team comes out Or if something a little more lively "Living on a Prayer" Bon Jovi - just about descibes live as a football fan Or what about "You Sexy Thing" for Robbie and Gamst ? All our Southern Hemisphere players might appreciate "Down Under" by Men at Work.