DavidMailsTightPerm

I think people expect a little too much from the academy. The last few games have seen Peter, Gallagher and Derbyshire on the bench. Comparatively speaking, these players will be on low wages - and are filling places in our first team squad. If we had to buy Gallagher or Derbyshire from the clubs we loaned them to last year - how much do you think they would have asked for them - I think you are probably looking at them trying to fleece us for at least £2m for the pair of these high scoring players at lower league level (which is what they were). Straight away the Acadamy is paid for a year (especially when you consider their wages would probably be higher). I think when considering the acadamies recent output - you have to consider the impact of two seasons in the Championship - and the impact that would have had on our ability to attract the best youngsters. Youngsters that would be in their early twenties now ! Rovers only chance of keeping Jacks dream alive is the academy - or free transfers like Kuqi bringing unexpected windfalls. If we look at the balance sheet - Duff paid for approximately 8 seasons of the academy - as well as the joy we all had in watching him play. I can't see the benefit of closing down because we got beat by Reading - these things go in cycles and it is likely that an overall poor youth team may produce that one gem that we all crave. After all - we only really need (and should expect) one or two youth team players a season to get to the fringes of the first team.

I think that Gallagher and McCarthy are too similar to play up front together. I would play Derbyshire - as has been said,he can't do any worse than Nonda. If nothing else it would send out a clear message to the players that lack of effort won't be tolerated. Bit split about MGP - I don't think he is playing much worse than last season - IMO he works fairly hard, is always a threat from set pieces - but this season hasn't been as good in front of goal. Beyond that there isn't much more to his game - he rarely beats his man - other than in the air for the now well documented long ball ploy (which rarely works). For this match - I think I would start with Peter - rest MGP to the bench - and see how it goes.

Rev - though I agree with your sentiment - is not every player purchase a gamble. I could list a whole host of players that looked good on paper and at their previous clubs (Kevin Davies coming top of the pile) - that ended up being less than successful at Rovers. Looking at your list :- McCarthy 28 - no Premiership experience - but Champs League winner and previously highly sought after player Nonda similar age - only on loan Ooijer 32 - World Cup player - who has been one of our better players recently Jeffers - I think the jury is out - but i would allow Sparky one pet project - and age is on his side Henchoz 32 - don't think he would have brought in if Nelsen hadn't got injured. I agree we need serious investment - but even then we would probably be gambling on foreign players - just hopefully a better class and younger. Or would you prefer to buy Nugent for £4m ? From the clubs perspective it is difficult - they are doing more than any club in the premiership to make football affordable - and yet the gates are only just holding their own. Against this back drop - all us fans will ask the club to spend between £5 - 10m (which I think is the minimum investment we need at xmas). Its all a gamble - with Rovers Premiership position at stake (believe me if relegated I can't see us coming straight back up) - boy could we do with another Jack

Though I agree we do need more pace in the team - it is mainly up front that we are lacking. Getting Reid and Roberts back will bring in some much needed pace to midfield and attack. I think we are missing Reid more than anyone would have ever imagined a season ago.

Personally I would play Derbyshire. From what I have seen of Benni - he isn't the type of player to hang on the shoulder of the last defender and then beat them for pace - he is far more comfortable filling the hole between midfield and attack. Having Derbyshire up front would provide us with a bit of pace - and stretch the opposition providing a little more room for Benni. Regarding Nonda - I don't think he has been as bad as people on this board are making out - but his biggest problem is that he doesn't have the pace to stretch the opposition and neither does Benni. At this moment in time I just feel they are ill-suited to play together - especially for our style of play.

I am glad there haven't been any knee jerk reactions to last night Irrespective of league position - everyone can beat everyone in this league. I am not surprised at getting beat - as some of our away performances have been diabolical. This isn't the first bad away performance is it ? But lets put it in perspective - we have two of our best players from last season in the treatment room (Reid and Nelsen) - with our new Kuqi (Roberts) also out to the new year. We already had a thin looking squad without these long term injuries - and I think the number of matches is catching up with a number of players (which is worrying). However - even when playing well we have a habit of getting beat by teams like Charlton. It puts more pressure on the Newcastle game - again I don't think it will be a roll-over as they have some good players. It is down to Sparky and the players to make sure we exploit their main weakness in defence - and lack of bite up front (put like that we should win )

Yes - but for injuries we would have had Roberts coming off the bench - who can do a similar job but has more pace and can actually occasionally trap the ball. I wish Kuqi all the best at Palace - but it was one of the best pieces of transfer business ever done by Sparky - only just behind signing Nelsen - which must merit alongside Friedal is one of the best free transfers ever.

It is absolutely vital we score first - if they score first their confidence will come back. On paper their squad isn't that bad - but confidence is a fragile thing. Benni to score first to see us to an eventual 3-1 win (I hope)

Oh come on guys - surely it has to be Morecambe away (though they have a tough match away to Swindon) ? Also it would probably be switched to Ewood.

I am disappointed about some of the remarks about Neill on here. Lets not forget he is playing out of position, he had a transfer turned down - and yet I haven't seen any reported dissent in the press (as so many players do) - the only thing he has said is to re-iterate his desire to move to pastures new. For those that accuse him of being a money grabber - he will get far more money by sitting out his contract - and yet he has said nothing in the press to indicate this. I personally don't want him to go - but if he does, he will go with my thanks. Irrespective of the level of his performances, IMO he always gave 100% in a Rovers shirt. Yes we gave him his initial break in the EPL - but I think he has repaid us - especially if we get any form of transfer fee in January.

1960 FA Cup Final - before my time - but the start of the decline.

I can't understand all this talk of SWP - unless everyone thinks that Beckham will be playing centre midfield when he arrives in January

We are missing the power and pace of Roberts - though Nonda has some neat touches he seems to have lost the pace that he once had, and we look very one paced at the front. I would give Franny a go - he looked sharp last night - and probably deserves a start (at least that way we will be able to see whether he is worth keeping or not)

The professional foul rule has always been a little bit of a minefield. For me - if a player makes an honest attempt - it should be a penalty and possibly a yellow card (at most). I would even introduce penalties for so called professional fouls outside the area. The professional foul rules were brought in for cycnically fouling a player, when running through on goal - hardly what happened on Sunday

Without wishing to bite the hand that feeds us. The main reason for our decline in gates (imo) is the advent of Sky Football First. Why bother going to a match if you can watch all the best bits ? Add to this ever increasing number of live matches - and is it any wonder gates are declining ? Get rid of Sky and we would be selling out far more frequently - however without Sky we couldn't afford to pay the players wages. We are also seeing a resurgence in local clubs - Burnley punching above their weight (well until recently), PNE doing wonders (considering their squad), Blackpool with new Latvian owners etc.

I honestly believe that some body at Rovers has run over a black cat. Was it against Sheff Utd that Neill gave away a penalty for chesting the ball away (though in Neill's case it was the chest). Mido handles in the area (and from reports on here has admitted as much) - but it isn't given. Funny old game

I agree - but I feel it unfair to single out any one player. It was almost as though the injustice of the sending off really gave us a lift. To be honest - we played better with 10 men than 11. I will always believe that Refs and linesmen give honest decisions - but why do they always go against Rovers

Oh come on - defending against the cross from Cole was virtually impossible. He does ok for us - and I can't wait to see him alongside Nelsen.

For all the people having a go at Gally - lets not forget that not many people were behind Bentley last season. I view both players as being very similar - and hope that Gally will be given an opportunity one day, in the same way that Bentley was.

Interesting thought - even though I am huge fan of Neill - at the moment (IMO) Bert is playing as well at RB as any player I have seen at Rovers. Bert maybe prone to the odd defensive mistake - but so is Neill. This all begs the question - are Liverpool bidding for the right player ? Personally I would like to keep both Aussies at Rovers - but at the moment, it looks as though we will be retaining the better of two excellent RB's

I would agree - can't see him currently displacing Savage or Tugay, or Reid when fit. However - I am sure that Hughes will see him as additional cover for midfield (which we desperately need) - and worth a gamble - if he can recapture the form of his youth he would grace far bigger teams than Rovers. For me a pairing of Reid and Dunn (in the future) would have considerable promise - with Reid making up for Dunns lack of pace, and Dunn providing some imagination to our attacks.

I totally disagree - United were the better team - but they are better than most teams in this league. We gave them a game - and even may have grabbed a point (though on balance we would have been lucky to do so). If we keep up that level of performance we should be ok - won't repeat last season efforts - but still finish mid-table. Maybe you took too much notice of the pro-united drivel on Sky. We should all email Sky and complain about United fans being able to commentate on their own matches - because that it is what it felt like for the vast majority of the match.

Sorry totally disagree - his wages would be paid for by the increased commercial & Sky appearance revenue. In the unlikely event that he joined - I am sure that he would publically sign for around £60k per week - taking an apparent huge drop in salary "just to play football again". In the background - our shirt sponsor would offer him huge amounts just to be associated with him, and we would probably give him an extremely healthy percentage of merchandising profits. Imagine all those fans in the east changing their Real Madrid tops for the famous blue and white halves. Beckham is a huge brand name - his incoming being far beyond just his huge salary for playing football. That is the major reason I can't see it happening - that his sponsors would want him associated with a bigger club than Rovers. However - I can dream - he does seem to be genuinely passionate about football - lets dream that the prospect of playing for one of his idols before he retires can tempt him.

This is exactly the type of signing Rovers should be looking to make. Not only is he a 1/2 decent player - but he would raise our profile beyond our wildest dreams. Beckhams name has managed to raise Real Madrids incoming hugely - and I am sure the same would happen if he joined Rovers. Rovers biggest obstacle - won't be football related - but how his numerous sponsors would view him joining a small club like Rovers.

Even with a full team - this would be difficult match. However - heart ruling head - I think we can do it. Hopefully Bert will be back - boy have we missed him (never thought I'd say that). Even with our depleted resources we still have plenty of match winners - after his poor form this season MGP owes us a hat trick of spectacular goals in this one. I think McCarthy and Nonda will both really be up for it - and on their day Zurab and Ooijer can defend well (concentration permitting). The biggest concern has to be centre midfield - especially as Tugay could be bypassed at times - and the Axe - well lets just hope he gives the back four some protection -as he can do little else. On paper - a sound thrashing - but I am gonna be optmistic - heart ruling head 2 - 1 to Rovers. MGP and McCarthy with two goals totally against the run of play - somewhat similar to when we played Bolton - but in our favour this time - ah I can dream