I don't know where 40% comes from - and can only hope it isn't true. But wasn't it only about a week or so ago that JW was saying season ticket sales were on a par with last season (at the same point). There must have been a drastic reduction in take up since that announcement.

Hughes was saying on Radio Lancs that he will play Bellamy to get the best out of him depending on the opposition - so I don't think we have seen the last of 4-5-1. But lets not forget that it is 4-5-1 when in defence - but can quickly revert to 4-3-3 when in attack. I can see Bellamy as either the lone striker - against some of the better sides we can hit long balls for him to latch onto, but can also see him as a right sided player with Pedersen on the left on Kuqi or maybe even Cole up front - in a fluid 4-3-3 formation. Can't wait for the new season now - thought our days of attracting a top class striker just coming to his peak were over. If we can follow this up with McCarthy or a high profile attacking mid-field player I will be over the moon.

Not too sure what DavidMailsTightPerm means about the Zenith Data Systems Cup though...we'll be saying we won the Milk Cup in 2002 next or something!

God I am getting old - 26 years now. First game was Bury at home in 1979 - the glory years under Howard Kendall Fond memories of Noel Brotherson beating his man, letting him catch up, beating him again etc etc. Micky Speights free-kicks (have they ever been bettered ?) Simon Garner going nap - only to have to share the headlines with Caldwell when he also scored 5 on the same day. Having the privelage of seeing the best winger (Duff) and striker (Shearer) of recent years Zenith Data Cup triumph Play Off Final win (finally) Premiership Title Worthy Cup Win Can't complain really

I feel that Rovers are again at the leading edge of football. Unfortunately this is the leading edge of apathy towards the Premiership and the general feeling that football is all about money. The number of people that I know (who support a variety of clubs) who are losing interesting is amazing (especially considering some support clubs with more money and success than Rovers) Sky, who initially brought so much to the game, are now slowly killing it with over saturation, stupid kick off times and the uneven spread of wealth around football. This isn't a Rovers specific problem - but will slowly spread around other clubs. Rovers biggest problem is that our fan base isn't big enough to allow for too much erosion in match day support. Maybe Rovers need to look at something radical - like a standing area - to get some atmosphere back into the ground. The Riverside would seem the logical area to change to standing only - we could then see the glorious sight of fans moving from one side to the other as we changed ends

I am certain that Stead would have stayed if Rovers financial position had been better. Unfortunately I don't think we can wait to see if Stead comes good - we need somebody in now. Looking at it reaslitically - in Johnson, Derbyshire, Garner etc we have players with potential - what we need is a 20 goal a season striker that will give us premiership safety. If the Stead transfer pays for that - then his sale is a necessary evil of current financial situation. I wouldn't be surprised if (after that transfer has been completed) Hughes admits that he would have liked to keep Stead if our financial position had been different.

To get back on subject - for Rovers to sell more season tickets - they need to sell out more matches. Sorry I know that this is chicken and egg - but we have unfortunately got to a situation where it is relatively easy to get a match day ticket even for games against Man Utd, Liverpool etc. Many supporters used to buy season tickets as it guaranteed them the "big" matches - this is no longer an issue, and I am sure that this has had as big an effect as increaings ticket prices. I have lost count of the number of times friends of mine have said that they would like to save their money for season tickets for places like Old Trafford, but are scared to as they won't be able to get tickets, or would have to wait long periods before they can buy a season ticket again. Watch United's overall attendances dip as they further increase the capacity and getting tickets becomes easier. Another factor, has to be all these stupid kick off times, and days. I would have a season ticket - but with work, can't guarantee getting to enough matches to be able to make it in anyway cost effective.

Vinjay - can I ask you why should the Walker Family invest any more money in Rovers ? They have already written off significant portions of our debt while also GIVING the club approx £3m per season. Do you think that there is a queue of people waiting to throw their money at Rovers ? I think we should be realistic about this - we were spoilt by the good times, but the level of investment that would be required to make Rovers challenge for the title again is way beyond what even Jack could have afforded. Things have moved on - and unfortunately Rovers (and their support) hasn't. We need to be pulling in 40k+ supporters every week to justify the investment that would be required to make Rovers champions again. Our only chance would be a Russian billionaire who wasn't bothered about subsidising salaries and transfer fees. But lets get real - who would you choose Rovers - or Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton, Liverpool, etc etc - all with far bigger profile and fan base to flatter the ego. Last question - do you go to watch Rovers home and away ? Do you regularly buy Rovers merchandise, do you have a Rovers credit card and phone ? If the answer to these questions is no - how can you question somebody elses investment in the club ?

Yeh - lets demolish the Riverside and further reduce out income Publicity has to be part of the key - how many people know that Cat B match junior tickets are only £5 - that is so cheap and yet I bet not many people know. I would like to see the re-introduction of the under eights free ticket - but extend to under 11. I would also like to see the introduction of a buy one adult match day ticket get child free (Cat B and below only). Give season ticket holders free entry to cup matches against lower opposition - or at the least 1/2 price. INCREASE the price of CAT A matches - but offer reduced prices to regular attendees of CAT B matches (as can be shown by DB)

Why the downer on Pedersen ? He is no Damien Duff - but lets be honest we couldn't afford a player of Damians quality. Pedersen provides good quality delivery, a goal threat that exceeds most of our forwards, and balance on the left side of midfield. He is also a threat from free-kicks, has a reasonable work ethic and is an excellent header of the ball. When you look at his general play - I would agree that he has a lot to learn. But in key areas he always seems to play a match winning role. Lets not forget that many of his goals have been match winning ones - and ultimately all the brilliant football in the world is worth nothing if there is no end product. Just remember that without Pedersen's goals we would not have qualified for the FA Cup Semi Final, and would probably still be in relegation trouble. Oh - yes, Stead and Pedersen to score in a two - one win

I am sick and tired of the pro-top 3 press in this country. I sat watching the match with a neutral. His main comment was how Arsenal players were unsporting always seeking to dive and unduly influence the referee. Yes - Arsenal deserved their victory - but this c**p that the press is coming out with really annoys me. I have yet to read an article that mentions some very dubious Arsenal tackling - one on Reid being particularly nasty - or the penalty we should have had. Though Arsenal had the better chances there were a number of key moments that swung their way - that left me feeling that on a day when we really needed a bit of lady luck it wasn't really with us. Also - when Arsenal play poorly - how come it is always the opposition that are to blame. Can the press not accept that one of their favoured teams can actually play poorly.

David Brent - I have no problem with your views on our perspective attendance at Cardiff. Football is all about opinions - you have yours on this subject and I have mine. I feel that this match is different in perspective to the ones that you mentioned - especially as (which ever way you look at it) this isn't a final, but the cost for many will be equivalent. However - I think we will all agree when I say sod the attendance - as long as we win - who cares. A match against Newcastle is destined in the stars

What a load of twaddle is written on here about our perspective following in Cardiff. If we are struggling to get 19k fans in for home matches - how on earth are we going to get 30k going to Cardiff for a semi-final that is on telly at 12:15 ? Everyone that is one here that isn't going probably has a genuine reason - for me I can't afford the £200 it will cost to take my family to Cardiff. Believe me my kids are gutted - but I have a choice - I may be able to get the money together for one trip - but not two IF we got to the final. Does that make me less of a fan ? Who knows - but I was regularly on the Blackburn End when we were only getting gates of about 7k - when times were really hard and we could only dream of the support we now have. For those that claim we are renowned nationally as a poorly supported team - maybe - but those that have half a brain recognise our small catchment area (we are % of population wise one of the best supported teams in the Prem) and fierce local rivalries.

I have previously advocated playing Reid in the centre - he is (on present form) our own cheaper version of Gerrard. I will be watching on Saturday to see him against Vieira. We have a number of players (including Reid) who haven't really got the praise they deserve from the national press. Lets hope after Saturday (win or lose) that they put in a performance that makes the nation sit up and take notice of Sparkies revolution (in a good way of course )

Though I wouldn't like to predict the score - I feel that this will be a more exciting match than many people are predicting. Normally the away side would try to defend - but in this case Southampton really need to win - so I feel that they will really give it a go. Against anybody, except the top teams Hughes has set out his team as 4-4-2 - with more of an onus on attack. The only problem in previous home matches has been that we don't have the guile to break down packed defences - but in this case I feel Southampton won't defend in numbers. So hopefully a better match will ensue. My only concern is that Hughes will have one eye on the Semi - and play a 4-5-1 formation for continuity. However - even if he does I would expect the wingers to be pushed far more forward than they have in previous matches making it more like 4-3-3.

Why all this debate about Final tickets ? 1. We have a major obstacle in Arsenal to overcome before we even need to worry about ticket priorities 2. We struggled to sell out for the Worthy Cup - with falling attendances I can't imagine too many people having problems. Unless they want specific seats. On a positive note - IF we get past Arsenal the club have the opportunity to boost the attendances for the remaining matches of the season by making fans aware that a ticket history for the season will be required to purchase tickets (after season ticket holders etc have had there shout).

I have to say that I felt that Hughes missed an opportunity. Dickov isn't fit - with international week coming up, he could have rested him. This would also given him another chance to see Stead playing in the lone striker role. But, all in all, this game just proved that there isn't much in the Premiership outside the top 3. The huge financial advantage of being in the Champs League and finishing in the top three means that they can afford to have a squad with quality running all the way through it. Realistically, for all the rubbish said about it being the Arsenal youth team - their side still cost more than ours did. In fact Reyes probably cost more alone than our whole side did. It is the sad reality of a league that is now no better than the Scottish Premiership for genuine competition between the sides. We may have three dominant teams to their two - but we have far more teams in the premiership. Its all just too depressing. Lets hope Newcastle and Rovers can strike a blow for the under-dogs and both make it to the final

Latest from Sky Sports Web Site - Charlie Nicholas is predicting a fairly comfortable 2-0 home win..........for Arsenal ????? Arsenal have far more attacking flair than Liverpool or Everton combined - and I fear that this may be the match that we are found out defensively. However, if we can score first you never know ! Nelsen had an average match against Liverpool (by his high standards) - so this will be a good chance for him to gain another man of the match award. Though I am hoping that will go to MGP for his goal, and assist for the winning goal in an exciting 2-1 win

For the Worthy Cup match I stopped off at a nice hotel in Ross-On-Wye - even met some nice Rovers fans who were staying in the same hotel. Try looking further afield - anywhere from Ross-On-Wye southwards makes the onward journey more palatable.

I can't believe all the Leicester complaints about the penalty, firstly IMO it was a penalty, secondly we should have had a penalty when Neil was pulled back. Note that none of the Leicester whingers mention that. Ultimately I think Hughes got the tactics right to beat a very hardworking Leicester team. He started with a team that would prevent Leicester any encouragement - lets not forget the height that they had in their side - Reid and the Axe adding vital height to our side. Second half, when they were tiring he introduced Stead and Emo to take advantage of tiring legs. Lets not forget, with a little luck we could easily have scored prior to the penalty. At the moment, we aren't pretty, but we are getting results. Hughes is doing exactly the job he was brought in to do - i.e. get the best out of the players at his disposal. Cardiff here we come

Funny thing is that the semi is really our final - it would be out of this world to win the Cup - but in money terms just getting to the final and qualifying for Europe will do nicely. I have a funny feeling that we will stop Shearer getting an FA Cup Winners medal - don't know whether it will be in the final or the semi - but it all seems set up

I want the kits to be made out of a material that doesn't pluck as you take it out of the bag for the first time.

Anyone using the Everton performance as a reason for optimism should bear in mind the number of times we have played well away from home, and then rubbish at home. We will need more guile and creativity, rather than just a resolute defence and hard work, when playing Leicester at home. The players have to treat Leicester with the respect that they undoubtably deserve - after their performance at Charlton. We desperately need to score early - hopefully Steads goal will lift his confidence. Because he is what we have been sadly lacking this season.

Nelsen reminds me of a younger version of Short. Though he has been excellent, there have been a few occasions in recent matches where the general lack of pace of the opposition forwards has meant that he hasn't been too exposed - though there have been a few last ditch challenges. The matches against Arsenal and United will show just how good he is. I am especially looking forward to seeing how he copes with Henry. If he does as well in these matches, as he has done in others - get his contract extended quickly . Though you do hope that as Hughes gave him a chance when no-one else would that he will show at least some loyality to Rovers.

I to though that Reid was excellent yesterday - and justifies my believe that one day he could make a good box-to-box midfield player. But lets not get over-board about this - playing away from home gave him far more room than he will enjoy at Ewood. Yes he made good use of it - but the formation and the way the game went ideally suited his type of play. Personally what I like is that he adds some genuine pace to the centre of midfield when he plays (not forgetting height, tackling ability and athletisism- but he still needs to improve his first touch before he is the genuine article.