DavidMailsTightPerm

A little bit of over-reaction on here if you ask me - Newcastle had three shots on target - for me that says it all. For the vast majority of the match we were the better team The initial goal - somebody says it was defo a free kick - then why 10 minutes later when Boumsong did exactly the same to Bellamy didn't we get a free kick ? 4-5-1 for me the jury is out - if we had taken our chances, and had a little more luck we would have won with something to spare - and the discussion wouldn't even be raised. However - Bellamy and Kuqi (for me) would be an ideal front two. Yes Kuqi will never be a true premiership finisher - but he is quick for a big man and will deflect a lot of attention away from Bellamy to gain him additional space. Unlike a lot of people on here - and I am still fairly optimistic. Bellamy isn't fully fit - but still showed flashes of the pace that will make a huge difference to the team. Nelsen looked unbeatable for large parts of the match, Friedal has signed a new contract. Yes, we got beat - but by the better team - hardly. Results like this can sap moral - it is down to Hughes to raise moral again. It is imperative that we put Huddersfield to the sword - as United away doesn't hold much hope beyond a battling draw.

I said some time ago that Rovers were once again trail blazing in terms of our lowering attendances. This season my prediction seems to be bearing fruit with most existing premiership clubs seemingly suffering from similar problems. Sorry - though all the reasons mentioned on this thread do have a bearing on attendances - for me the single reason for the Premiership's decline is what made it in the first place - SKY. For me it is simple - why bother paying £30+ to watch a match, when you can enjoy it on television ? Forget loyality etc - for the average supporter what real benefit is there on actually going to the match ? For me there was more atmosphere at Rovers when we were getting crowds of 7k to 10k back in the old second division - so what do you actually gain by going to a match besides a hole in your bank account and cold feet ? The Premier League should never have agreed to the Football First edited highlights on Sky - even though general coverage was slowly killing the game, the coverage wasn't 100%. Now it is - you can see the best bits of every match without the cost etc etc. and the decline in attendances is accelerating.

Don't want to make a prediction on this one. Personally my team would be :- Friedal Neil, Nelsen, Zurab, Matteo Emerton, Savage, Reid, MGP Bentley Bellamy (if fit, otherwise Jansen)

It's gotta be Matteo at centre-back with Nelsen - but I doubt it will be. A difficult one to call - but with Emerton having been on international duty, and not playing particulalry well - I wouldn't be surprised to see Bentley make his debut - in this formation :- Friedal Neil Nelsen Matteo Gresko Reid Mokuena Savage Pedersen Bentley Kuqi (Bellamy if fit)

I think there is one thing that is missing from the list - much of our increase in fan base was during the "glory years" with Uncle Jack bankrolling multi-million pound transfers every season. We were linked with all the best players - and even managed to buy some of them. Contrast that with the current Rovers set up - where we are paupers in comparison to Wigan ! I think this is one of the reasons why our attendances are falling quicker than average - but I feel we are just leading a trend which will eventually effect most of the Premiership. The prices are too high, there is saturation TV coverage (football first being largely to blame) and we have a league where nobody outside the top three has a realistic chance of winning anything.

Has nobody considered the relative attractiveness of our two opening fixtures - only a matter of days apart. For those that can't afford over £50 a week for two matches - the Tottenham one has to be the most attractive. Combine this with our new star striker being injured - two years of home defeats - and a poor opening day result (and performance). I think it is self explanatory why the gate was so low.

USA - could be a marketing ploy - brain wash the public by repeating our name so it slowly sinks in I have no doubt that he is using Rovers as a spring board to greater things - but as been said previously he will need to make us a relative success to do this. We have long been a springboard for managers to move onto greater things - but strangely since we have had the backing of Jack - only Souness springs to mind as a manager that has been poached to another club (I am wary of saying moved onto greater things). We need managers with ambition - unfortunately that ambition will always mean that if a bigger club (i.e. Man U, Chelsea Arsenal etc) come knock they will move on.

Has to be the return of the 5 man midfield from last season - but with Emerton and Pedersen pushed further forward. A lot rests with Kuqi - we never had a target man last season who could hold the ball up so the midfield players could get forward to join the attack - a performance similar to what he gave against Espanyol would be ideal.

MGP was never anything more than average last season. What sets him apart from other midfield players at the club is his ability to put the ball in the back of the net, and his ability from dead-ball situations. Other than that - he can't dribble, isn't slow (but has no great pace), passing is at best average (though he does show signs of imagination about his passing that we generally lack). His goal scoring exploits were what gained him recognition last year - and not his general play. But I believe that he can get 10 - 15 goals from midfield - which makes him worth his place in the team for that reason alone. I also wouldn't be surprised if he scores direct from a corner this year - and even with all his faults is probably one of our most saleable assets (name me another left footed goal scoring midfield player not already in one of the top 4 sides - there aren't many)

Woe, woe, woe is me. Lets put all this in perspective. If we were playing this game in the FA Cup last season (when West Ham were still 1st Division) - would anyone have seen this as an easy win. I wouldn't - and yet many people on here seem to think that we should win easily at these places. West Ham will probably be relegated - but along the way they will beat better teams than Rovers. It is disappointing - but only one game. As they saying goes - goals change matches - we had opportunites to go 2-0 up, and also 2-1 up - which would have made it a different match. They didn't go in - but next week who knows ? The team has weaknesses - but so does every team in the premiership.

I will reserve judgement - let's not forget that we were missing Nelsen, Savage is still gaining match fitness, Bellamy is clearly not match fit, Reid is still coming to terms with the additional demands of playing centre in a four man midfield, and Kuqi has never played at this level before.

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 )