DavidMailsTightPerm

Must admit that squad size is a worry - as some players have looked visibly tired towards the end of the season. But, in these post bosman days, and with the "Big" clubs carrying big squads with plenty of loan opportunities I am sure MH will have us covered by August.

Fair comment - but under Hughes anything is possible. We could hardly buy a win against United for years - and then we do the double. Lets not forget Arsenal and Chelsea home wins. Hughes is destined for great things - lets hope some more of it rubs off on Rovers before he moves on.

Reid is the most improved player in the Premiership. His distribution from right back was amazing - as were his runs down the right. Zurab was exellent, as was Neill - Tugay showed what he can do when you give him space. Nice to see Peter's little cameo - I would be worried if I were MGP - this looks the best youngster we have had for a while. All in all star player for the season - gotta be Mark Hughes and the backroom staff - they have got the best out of some average players - and improved average players beyond recognition. Lets not forget Bellammmmmmyyy - was out for large parts of the season - where could we have ended up with him fit for the season. However - now is not the time for what might have been - time to applaud the whole club on a marvelous achievement.

Ideally we need two points - Bolton could conceivably win both their remaining matches - and have a superior goal difference. However - who would have believed we would achieve top eight (which is now secure) let alone possibly come sixth and qualify for UEFA. A huge season - and if we do it Hughes should get manager of the year. What he has done at Rovers on a virtual shoe-string is unbelievable (especially when you look at the money spent this year by two of the relegated teams - and the position we were last season)

Waggy I hope you are right. A fully fit Dunn would be an asset to any team. One the subject of his injury record - I seem to remember lots of players at Rovers having problems with fitness before Hughes took over. Maybe he thinks his medical/fitness staff could do the business.

I have some sympathy for Spurs - but as FLB has pointed out, this possibility was known at the start of the season. I can't see how they can complain.

All players that would walk into our team Our best hope - is that the Chelsea players have one eye on the World Cup (especially after seeing what happened to Rooney and Terry this weekend). Still - even if they played their best team and we win - it would still be a Championship hangover rather than anything Rovers did

I agree - Bent is used to playing on his own up front - and this is the way England should now go. Play five in midfield - and give Gerrard, Cole and Lampard the opportunity to show their attacking talents.

Such an important result - if Bolton had won this match - I think they would have actually been favourites for the sixth spot (with two easy home matches to come). We have had some wonderful results this year - it would be a dream to secure 6th spot by beating the newly crowned champions.

TDI has opened a can of worms - lets hear it for a good debate Personally - as I stated earlier - I agree with him, maybe "burnt out" is a little extreme, but we seem half a yard slower, aren't winning as many second balls etc etc. For me the thing that shows it more than ever is the passing possibilities that players have - previously when a player had the ball he would have numerous options (as players were making space) - lately the options have greatly reduced - for me this is the sign of either a team low on energy or confidence. As for the MGP debate - his goals over the season have masked some average performances. But as I have often stated - he was worth a place in the team for that alone. However, take away those goals - and his worth is greatly reduced. Lets not forget though his excellent dead ball delivery - but I don't feel that is enough alone to keep Peter out of the side.

For those of you that can remember - exactly the same thing happened under Hodgeson during his first season. He introduced new training methods - and we played a high tempo pressing game similar to what we do now. First half of the season we were actually top at one point - but fell away badly in the second half of the season. I don't think we look as tired this season, as we did towards the end of that one - but the tempo and energy has definitely gone from our game. That season we limped into the UEFA Cup on the final day of the season - I will be more than happy if we manage to do the same again

In reality luck always plays a part in football - but I don't feel we have been particularly lucky this season. We have lost our best player for over 50% of the season, against Wigan we had a defo penalty turned down, against Liverpool two awful refereeing decisions decided the match both home and away. Most importantly - Tugay gets injured when we most need him - i.e. when Savage is playing c**p. IMO Reid is carrying the midfield at the moment - and not having Tugay available is one of the main reasons we have struggled recently. Surprised about the stick Bentley has had for last night - barring his aborted clearance the guys on radio lancs spent most of the match praising him. The only thing I agree with - is top 8 would still be a good season. But for all the doom and gloom - if you had offered me our current position with three games to go at the start of the season I would have snatched your hand off.

Yes - but with probably 25k to watch Chelsea - and I expect Rovers largest gate of the season when we play City. Hopefully Rovers celebrating sixth spot - and a place in the UEFA Cup, and City bringing 8k + as it is the last game of the season.

One thing is certain - if he plays it won't be boring. You just know that he will either score the winning goal or get sent off. It is a huge game for the club - about time Savage started to show why we paid £3m for him. IMO Reid has overshadowed him this season. However, if Tugay is fit I can see Reid being pushed out to the right wing. Playing away from home - I would play Bentley just behind Bellamy and try to get some decent service to him on the break.

I think the remaining fixtures are pretty well balanced between the two teams - both have Chelsea at home as their most difficult match. After big club - we also have fixtures against Charlton and Man City in comparison to them playing big club and WBA. Though this could rebound - we should find it easier playing two team with nothing to play for than teams fighting for their lives. However - I can't help but worry that they play Chelsea just prior to the FA Cup. Wednesday is huge - IF we win sixth spot becomes that little more definite - and 4th still looks attainable (though unlikely).

A bigger worry of Newcastle pipping us at the post - is the rumours in the Sunday newspapers about Hughes and Newcastle. Only rumours - but I have been amazed that this was the first time his name was linked to them. If we can cling onto a UEFA Cup spot - and with Fergie not too far from retirement - I still hope he would turn them down if approached. However, us missing out on Europe may have a bearing on this.

Anyone got any news on this - in desperation I even brought it up on the transfer thread - which seems reasonable as out budget is almost certainly linked to the success of this case.

I think for Rover's to get fourth place now would only be based on a series of results that would probably the best they have achieved since we won the Premiership. I think, from this point, to gain sixth will be a remarkable achievement - as only City at home could be seen as a "winnable match" - the others being very much in the balance. We will need to beat either Liverpool or Chelsea at home - and get results at Charlton and Big Club to even get in the top six. Top four would probably include home wins against both Liverpool and Chelsea - or a massive improvement in our away form. Wherever we end up - I don't think we should lose sight of the marvelous job that Hughes has done.

It has been noticeable to me how we have lost our bite in midfield in recent matches. I am sure it is no coincidence that Savage has been walking a disciplinary tight rope. Lets hope normal service is resumed now - as we can't afford any more second rate performances. Also - what has happended to Pongo ? I can't understand persisting with Dickov - these days he offers very little - no real pace, no height - at least Pongo offers more pace up front. The Liverpool game is now huge - just hope that Tugay is available - as we are sadly lacking when Reid and Savage play centrally. Maybe drop MGP to the bench - play Bentley left, and Reid on the right ? However - I was surprised yesterday that MH didn't push Bentley up front alongside Bellamy.

I agree with you 100%. I am hoping that the recent improvement shown by Pompey is just down to timing - i.e. playing teams when weakened etc. I don't know why - but I can see us winning this one. As always the first goal will be all important - if we score first the crowd will hopefully quieten down. My hope is that Bellamy and Pongo will be able to exploit the space behind their back line. Bellamy has been average by his high standards in the last couple of games (mainly down to the service he has been getting) - but I have high hopes for this game.

For all the moaners out there - lets put this in perspective Everton (A) 1-0 WBA (A) 2-1 Aston Villa (A) 2-0 Portsmouth (A) 2-0 West Ham (A) 2-0 Middlesborugh(A) 3-2 Bolton (A) 1-1 Spuds (A) 2-2 Sunderland (A) 1-0 Man City (A) 1-0 Before last night - this was Wigan's away record (excluding defeats). Lets :- 1. Give Wigan and Jewell a little credit 2. Lets give Rovers some credit for not playing particularly well - but still getting a result against one of the best away sides in the Premiership 3. Don't forget - Wigan came hit us on the break, leaving little space for Bellamy to operate. Had the initial disallowed goal stood - we would probably have gone on to win.

Why are people so surprised - when teams play a similar game to what we do (i.e. quick closing down, denying space) we haven't the quality to take advantage of superior possession. However, I had a feeling that we may lose this match - and then get a win on the south coast (lets hope I am right). Rather than criticise Rovers - lets give a little credit to Wigan. It was important that we didn't lose - this makes it difficult for Wigan to catch us now - and also means that Bolton have to win both of their matches in hand to overtake us.

This is a monster game - at least until we play Portsmouth Realistically - if we win this game it takes Wigan out of the UEFA equation (unless ours and Bolton's form slumps dramatically it will be too much for them to make up). However - this is a far more difficult match than people are assuming. We have left ourselves open at the back against (so called) lesser teams at home. We have to treat Wigan with the respect that there forward line deserves - and be patient. I expect to see Robbie and Pongo back in the starting line up - with Reid being moved to the right. On paper we have a far better team - but Camara and Roberts could punish us on the break. As always the first goal will be so important.

His prediction isn't without basis - Wigan have one of the best away records in the Premiership. Yes our home record is also excellent - but the pace of Camara and Roberts could well come to haunt us. My big fear is a Newcasle type match - where we are far superior but keep getting caught on the break. Lets hope I am wrong - I am sure Sparky will have done his homework.

Whelan is playing a few mind games prior to a game that will make or break Wigan's end of season. If they win this - with their run in - they have a chance of getting top six. Lose it , and they will be too far behind to make up the ground with only six games to go