DavidMailsTightPerm

Always stook in mind - how hard Burnley fans must be to throw slates at their own fans. Almost as good as doing the double over you that season. All pales besides the Chelsea fans that left the Darwen End and stormed the Blackburn End - scary times. Lets hope that for all the rivalry - that it is kept to chanting, and the odd obscene gesture - some of us have grown up - lets hope the Dingles have. This particular Derby may not have the huge crowds of major City derbys - but has more history than most. Lets hope the TV public remember it for the right reason.

Do you think anyone on MOTD will remark on how United have bought the title this season ? £50m added to an already expensively put together squad sounds more like buying the title than Rovers ever did.

Though utterly dejected by yet another poor performance - can we really lay the blame at the managers door ? Before the match I thought he had selected a side more than capable of beating Coventry - but also giving youth a chance (something people on this MB have criticised him for recently). But for hitting the post - rather than the back of the net - we may (even allowing for the poor performance) got something out of this match. For me, and I don't think you can lay the blame totally on MH, key players seem to have had huge dips in their performance levels recently :- Emerton - for me looks tired, possibly the lack of a proper break in the summer is catching up with him Nelsen - could be home factors, but he has been poor over the last couple of months Samba - again maybe home factors, again nowhere near the heights of earlier this season MGP - actually starting to come into a bit of form at last, but has been poor up until christmas McCarthy - the ultimate enigma, if he was repeating the performances of last season we would be in the top 4 ! Warnock - seemed to peak against Newcastle, and has been poor ever since Also add to this injuries to players like Oiijer, Roberts, Derbyshire, Reid - who is available would probably have enabled MH to shake things up a bit (not forgetting the apparent fall out with Savage). Start of the season - I thought we had the best defence since the championship season, probably the best forward line, and a midfield with a good combination of skill, hard work and goal threat - not forgetting the ever green Friedel. I don't think anyone could have foreseen the drop in form of key players. One thing is certain - we do have the players - and we will now see how good a manager MH really is. I just hope that the board give him the money to prove (what I believe) that he is the best manager we have had since King Kenny (and possibly better given relative funds).

For all the doom and gloom merchants - I think Sunday's gate was probably around 2k higher than it would have been last season (than if the game had been played at a similar stage of the season). That represents a theoretical 11% increase in attendance. I am slightly disappointed that Rovers attendance haven't climbed higher - but Rome wasn't built in a day. It will also take a while to attract back those fans disillusioned with the current set up of the Premiership, where only the top 4 clubs will ever realistically win it - and the rest are left to feed off scraps. Hopefully continued progress on the field will help attract a few more back to Ewood. But utilimately the club should be applauded for at least trying something to stop the slide in attendances. Taking into account the slide in attendances we have seen over recent years - to actually increase attendances must be seen as a success.

Can't agree - why not give the Greeks some credit. Does nobody remember the Greeks winning the European Championship - again with a team short of star players - but with a great work ethic and good organisation - somewhat like the team we played tonight. Breaking the two legs down - if not for the flukey first goal away in Greece - I sincerely think we would have got the result we needed. That, followed by Emo's back-pass turned the game on its head - up to that point we had looked well in control - and looking to at least draw the match. Tonight we were the better team - and believe it or not actually won - with a bit of luck we would have actually won by more goals. IMO MH got some things wrong tonight - but he (and the players) should be better for the experience.

I was as surprised as most to see the gate last night. However I won't call anyone - as I didn't go myself. I had to make a choice - 3 matches in two weeks doesn't agree with my finances. So it was Pompey for me - and I will be going to the Larissa match - I hope others follow suit, as we could really do with a good gate to cheer us on in Europe

Lets hope Rovers advertise - for both Pompey & Brum - cheapest adult ticket is £15. Even the Blackburn End is only £20. It is an absolute bargain for a premiership match. Hoping to hear lots of adverts on the radio leading up to these two matches.

I may as well put in my two penny worth. At this moment, IMO, Dunny is miles off an England place. However, he is slowly becoming (no doubt with help from the excellent coaches we now have at Rovers) the complete midfield player that Souness always said he should be. The most impressive things about his game recently has been his hard work and tidy passing - not attempting something flash every 5 minutes. He also seems to be more defensively aware - as has been demonstrated by him playing just in front of the back four when he plays along side Savage. IF he can get back that little burst of pace and dribbling ability that made him such an eye catching talent when he first burst on the scene - who knows he may force his way back in the England squad. For those that say his true test will be against Chelsea - does nobody remember a certain FA Cup semi final - when Rovers fans started to dream that that old Dunny may be on his way back (so good was his performance on the day)

Totally agree about other players moving into space - half the time that Tugay gets caught in posession or passes to his invisible friend is due to lack of movement. At the top of his game Dunn offers something in midfield that few other players can match. The reality is - we couldn't afford a young player with the same potential - and definitely not the finished article. So we have to put our faith in a player that has yet (mainly due to injury) to fully fulfill his potential. I think it was a gamble to buy Dunn - but without gambles like this we will always be a mid-table team - as (unlike Spuds, barcodes, West Ham, Aston Villa etc etc) we can't afford to buy players like Dunn or Bellamy if they weren't in some way damaged goods.

I agree he isn't irreplacable - but as has been shown in our not too distant past - we have previously paid far more for strikers who have done far worse than Benni. I also think that his work rate is underrated - possibly because - as you point out - it is often his general attitude that seems amiss. I do think that his work rate has improved drastically - but he will always seem lazy compared to Derbyshire. Also - to be fair to the guy - he has played virtually every game in (what has been) a long season - especially compared to what he has previously been used to. Many of the mutterings against Benni will hopefully fade into the distant past as he puts in match winning performances in the FA Cup Semi's and Final

RB gotta say I disagree - watching the match back on Sky I was amazed to see McCarthy tracking back on a significant number of occasions. Not one of McCarthy's better matches - but at the end of the day strikers are about scoring goals - which he has done frequently and in matches that count - aka Arsenal. Believe me - if Rovers decide to let him go I am sure there would be a long queue on clubs wanting an 20 goal a season striker in their squads.

A quick question - what is the main reason for our recent defensive improvement ? The pairing of Samba and Nelsen or the drastic improvement in the Axe ? Personally I think it is a mixture of the two - if you watch matches carefully - you see that the Axe often covers for defenders when they move forward. His style of play contrasts greatly with Savage - who runs around like a headless chicken often leaving gaps that the better teams can exploit. Even when Savage is fit - I think it would be dangerous to drop Mokoena on current form. Very often the best eleven players don't make the best team - and at the moment I think this is Rovers best attribute - they are playing as a unit - with the odd bit of magic from players like Bentley, MGP, McCarthy etc.

Gotta say that Nonda (at the moment) appears like Roberts but without pace and effort. His hold up play is probably as good as Roberts, and control slightly better - but Roberts makes up for that in effort IMO. Can't wait for him to be fit again - giving us either Roberts or Derbyshire to come off he bench against tiring defences - as opposed to Nonda or Jeffers.

Its now down to Hughes to get the best out of a player who has a special talent - the problem I have always felt - is that he struggles in centre midfield. Could be our ace in the pack though playing in Europe. All the best David - lets hope that Rovers own Gazza can finally live up to the hype (and form) that got him into the England squad.

And won at dominos I think the most disappointing thing for me would be if Dunn signs for Bolton when he knows he has the chance of signing for Rovers. All he needs from Rovers is a pre-contract agreement that they will sign him in the summer - and we could call Bruce's bluff up to the end of the transfer window. With then knowing that they either accept Rovers offer or end up with nothing.

Must admit that as a squad player the Axe is limited. However he does provide us with cover - and who knows may be helping to keep Benni settled. As has been said - he does provide excellent cover without the ball - but is so limited with the ball it can be embarrassing. It is a huge shame that the acadamy hasn't been able to provide us with a half decent centre midfield player post-Dunn.

Providing this a pay as you play - coupled with low transfer fee. It could end up being another pice of transfer magic by Hughes. Though it isn't enough of a reason to sign a player - it is great that he supports the club and wants to play for us. For me that makes a difference - am I the only one that was pleased to hear Matty Derbyshire saying how it was a dream come true to play for the club he supports. Having home grown players in the team - helps build a bond with the Blackburn public - and you never know might actually add a few to the gate.

On the presumption that Tugay can't go on forever - I would play a midfield formation something like :- Reid Savage MGP Dunn thats presuming that Dunn does arrive. With MGP and Reid expected to "tuck in" it would leave us a little narrow at times - but our forwards rarely seem able to convert what little wing play we have anyway. If we had the right forward - he would also be excellent in a 5 man midfield - maybe something for future away matches ? Regarding his falling out with GS - it could have been partly about being asked to play wide right - but by all accounts GS was poor at explaining his decisions and relating to players. Maybe this got up Dunn's nose as much as being asked to play there.

Totally agree - by half time I was praying that MH would bring Tugay on. Not just because it was a dire match - but I felt that both Gally, Derbyshire and Peter all deserved far better service than what our poor midfield was offering.

So you would prefer - with Todd, Henchoz, Nelsen and Zurab unavailable this weekend - for him to have a go at him ? I think his reaction was ill-judged. But then again I can understand him feeling disappointed and maybe upset at the reaction of the fans. He has always given 100% for Rovers - he has carried on playing 100% even though the club blocked his move to Liverpool. Personally I think ,on the whole, he has behaved well in a difficult situation. It is about time that Rovers fans woke up to the reality of the post Bosman era.

Dunny seems to be spreading this particular rumour himself. If true - even with all the fitness considerations - it has to be a good deal. If we are signing him on a pay as you play deal - I would suprised (and disappointed) if a large transfer fee was involved. All in all could end up a good deal for Rovers. Will also be nice to see a player with a genuine feel for the club - rather than players with no appreciation of the club or its history.

You have it spot on there - I know a number of Rovers fans who no longer go as they feel the standard of officiating is so poor that it takes the pleasure out watching football. Though I still go - I do agree with the sentiment - how many times have we been the recipients of bad refereeing. I am not saying it is a conspiracy against Rovers - more the small clubs in the EPL. Referees are only human - and the pressure they get, via the press, from high profile clubs like United - must pray on their minds during the split second decision making during a match. Add to this increased vocal support from better supported clubs - again you have to be a very strong character not to be occasional swayed by the shout of "Penalty" from the Kop etc.

I agree - we should be careful what we wish for. People like Jack Walker, Jack Heywood and Abramovich (to an extent) don't come along everyday. These guys put money into football clubs with no great expectation of a return. When it is business men putting money into clubs - it is only for one reason - to create money. Not for the clubs but themselves. So though West Ham and Pompey fans are currently enjoying supposed large transfer kitties - I would enjoy it while it lasts - as many of these people don't have the clubs at heart (or enough money that it doesn't really matter i.e. Abramovich), and one day will want their investment back.

MH has got to use this game to experiment - not whole sale changes - but something is obviously wrong at the moment, and this is the ideal game to shake things up. I'd have Todd back in, consider playing Peter on the left and Derbyshire up front. I would also consider playing Bentley central again (give Tugay a rest) and play Gallagher wide right - my only objection to this, is watching Tugay in Europe has been like watching a master class in midfield play - but he does need a rest. Again not certain about going the full hog - and resting Savage and bringing in the Axe - probably a step too far against a good Nancy team. For all those that worry we may get a Champs League club if we don't finish top of the group - so what. These are teams that are obviously playing so well that they couldn't qualify for the next stage. Yes there is a risk of coming against a good team - but there is also a chance of coming across a team on a downward spiral. Anyway - there are no easy matches in the latter stages - as we may find out when we play Nancy.

Lets not forget Hughes previous record in the transfer market. I think too often fans are attacted to players with unwarranted big reputations with similar transfer fees. Some of our best buys have been free's or relatively small money - I must admit it would seem that because we have limited funds MH and his staff go the extra yard to pick up bargains. It is difficult - but a number of the players that MH has signed for relatively little money couldn't really bet bettered if we were back in the Jack Walker days - and indeed remember how much money we wasted at that time on average players - quick comparison :- Dailly (5.5m) or Nelsen (Free) Davies (£7.25m) or Benni (£2.25) Ward (£4m) or Kuqi (Free) Point is - spending big money doesn't necessarily bring success - ask any Wolves/Newcastle etc etc fan