DavidMailsTightPerm

I can't imagine that Rovers can afford to let Barry go without a transfer request (removing the need for loyality bonuses and the like). As I said in previous ramblings - I still think he will end up at Newcastle - a little closer to north of the border. Hughes and JW are doing their best to keep Fergie's transfer value as high as possible - I hope it pays off. One final note - in all this I think Fergie at least owes us a decent transfer fee for stickking by him during long term injury.

I don't think either club (at this moment in time) can say it is better off than the other. Yes Birmingham have enjoyed a recent resurrgence - but overall the season is one of steady decline - maybe linked to the loss of your favourite loan star. You are about to lose the midfield star of your team (Bruce's words - not mine) - and we might lose ours. What gives me, as a Rovers fan, some heart, is that we seem to be in a period of gradual but steady improvement since Hughes took over (though our real test comes in Feb when we play the big guns). On the otherhand Bruce seems to be making some strange purchases (Yorke) - much like Souey before he left us. Football is all about opinions - but I would rather have our squad than yours - but you do have better attacking options. Lets see where we both end up at the end of the season - I am sure we will both be fairly happy as long as it is outside the bottom three

I may be wrong - but I think that Barry's agent may be using Rangers to flush out other interest. I would imagine that when Souey left he gave gentlemans assurances that he wouldn't unsettle any of his old team. What better way - let Rangers do the dirty work and then jump in with an offer when the player is clearly going anyway. Fergie to Newcastle - watch this space. I have to agree with what a number of people on this message board have already written - I don't think he is anywhere near the level of Keane or Vierra (as promised by Souey). He is talented (without a doubt) - but no more so than any number of similar midfield players that we could get from the continent. I do wonder what his best position within the midfield is - I don't think he is exceptional as an attacking midfield player, or as a defensive/holding player. However, we should still hold out for maximum cash - use it be buy Savage ( a proven premiership player) and then take a risk on a younger midfield player from the continent with the remainder of the money.

How can anyone have a go at Hughes for his team line up. When I heard the team sheet, my initial thought was good, well balanced team - giving fringe players a run out, and chance to impress. Lets not forget that this team was packed with internationals and one on paper easily good enough to beat Bournemouth. But for some fine goal keeping, and poor finishing we would have won this one easily. I prefer to take the positives - Hughes now knows the size of his task with our defence and fitness. Already he seems to be instilling more confidence into players like Emerton and Jansen. For me his team selections so far (only two I know) have shown balance and a sensible formation given the players at his disposal. Best of all - no excuses, no mention of lady luck, no mention of all the chances we had. Just an obvious commitment to put right all the problems that Souness left him with. Another point for those having a go at Hughes - the guy has only been in the job a week - it will take a lot longer than that for his tactics and approach to the game to start impacting on the team pattern. I'm still optimistic that Hughes is the man for the job - even after such a poor defeat

Good luck JB - you can't possibly show any less effort than Yorke, and must be quicker - go for it

I just want to say - it has been pointed out that his type of head injury takes approx 2 years to get over. This is the final year of his contract - and based on previous medical advice probably the last season that we can still hope that he can get back to what he once was. Matt is the last link to the era when we got promoted with Duff, Dunn etc. when I genuinely thought we had a chance of getting in the top four. He helped to get us promoted - and deserves our full support in what may be his last season with Rovers. I for one, am praying that he recovers the form he once showed. Not for Rovers, but for Matt himself - who I am told by people that know him is (as GS would say) a proper human being. He has also always given his all in the blue and white - and deserves our utmost repect for that

This has got to be a win-win situation ? We get rid of a 32 year old has been for £500k, and his 32k a week wages. We then get on loan a 22 year old player who can't be any worse - but has it all to prove, and so hopefully will work harder. He will undoubtably be on less wages than Yorke - and we still have £500k in the bank. Why is anyone moaning about this ? We have to take risks on players like this in the hope that we unearth a gem that has been over-looked by the big boys. Being on loan for the season means that we also don't have as much risk (other than his wages) - as long as we have first refusal on him (and an agreed fee) if he is a star in the EPL

Blue phil - I agree with your sentiments about Yorke. But would have been happier if the money saved in wages were used to bring in an experienced striker. Gally and Stead have lots to prove - Dickov is hard working, but doesn't have explosive pace, and Jansen has yet to recover any of the form he showed prior to his injury. All four will work hard for the team - but do we have the pace and explosive finishing that so many of our rivals seem to now have ?

The Duff rumour makes perfect sense to me. As we now have an abundance of left sided players - it would give GS the chance to play even more left footed players out of position as he did against WBA Seriously - Duff showed that he has an eye for goal, and plays as the second striker for Ireland. I am going to keep on dreaming that Kamy will come good with this latest rumour Given our recent poor gates - maybe the board have decided we can't afford to have five strikers on the books Personally I am glad to see the back of him - but worry who is going to score the goals for us

From what I gather about De Pedro - he may be able to play the deep strikers role that Yorke used to play so well. It's time for Gally

I don't see any problem with his comments. A far better attitude than some players we have had - that appear to only be here for one final pay day. Being realistic, it would take a number of a youth team players exceeding expectations (as Utd had with Scholes, Beckham etc), a number of shrewd investments that exceed our wildest expectations, for us to get anywhere near the Champions League. And that is where all players with ambition to play at the top want to play these days. If players like Duff and Dunn (who came through the youth system) don't show too much loyality to Rovers - what chance a player who admits that United are his favourite team ? If Pedersen is as good as he thinks he is - he will provide enough excitement and skill to help us into UEFA again - maybe a run in a Cup. Then we sell him to United/Chelsea for a huge profit - everyone is a winner

Lets remember one thing about Arsenal - this is probably one of the best teams ever. They have pace and flair that has taken teams far better than Rovers to the cleaners. We held them for the first half - did they play poor deliberately, or was it a clever game plan by GS which denied them the space to operate ? As soon as we went a goal down - I think we all knew that was it - they are the best team in the league by a fair margin. And by a huge margin excluding the top three sides. For me the one thing that we miss that Arsenal have is pace. Personally I would like to see Emerton given a run in the centre - with Thompson wide right. It might sound daft - but he would add that bit of pace down the centre that we sadly lack. Add Pedersen (hopefully he has some pace) - and we should be getting there

A 5 - 1 win against Wolves - sigh here we go again A strange formation in the first half - but am I wrong, or has Gresko actually had a good pre-season ? Maybe he was there to give De Pedro a bit of protection. Whatever the reason - at least Souey recognised that he had made a b***s up - and put it right. Though WBA are a very limited side going forward - it must be the first time that we have looked as solid when we went three at the back - normally we are all over the place. And lets put it all in perspective - we should have won - and with a bit of luck we would. Also - that was a game that last season we would have lost, so things are improving. Was it only me that thought the passing and movement from Fergie and Tugay was something to behold - we almost looked like a decent side at times. All we need is a player that can get past his man - Thommo step forward please

I sincerely hope that he recovers the form that he once showed. He is the only one of the three shining lights left (Duff and Dunn being the others) that made me feel that anything other than mid-table beckoned for Rovers when we got promoted. Stead and Jansen (as he was before his injury) would provide quite a combination - both skill and endevour. Rather than hitting him while he is down - lets all keep our fingers crossed that he recovers fully to display the god given talent that he once had.

With a gate of less than 8K I wouldn't imagine that there was anywhere near 4k rovers fans - though a good and noisy following none the less. A very disappointing game - on this performance a struggle for both Rovers and PNE this season. Though, as agreed by the friends that went with me, we did feel that certain players (Ferguson imparticular) were only getting back into their stride, very rarely making a tackle. It looked every inch a pre-season friendly to build up fitness - though Amo and Nissa's performances do demonstrate the need to play Matteo in mid-field to provide extra cover. On the evidence from Saturday, I am amazed that we haven't let in a goal yet - we definitely would have conceeded to a premiership team if we played as we did on Saturday. Hopefully this is just a fitness exercise, and the eventual team will show more composure on the ball. BTW I thought that Yorke actually worked hard - but too often his passes were backwards, and what pace he once had he seems to have lost - better off-load now and bring someone else in

Does anyone know (or have an idea) if any fee was involved with the Cole transfer (seen either undisclosed or free in the press). And whether we had to pay him off (as he was due a loyality bonus at the end of the season). Thanks P.S. Sorry - I have been away for a while - and don't have time to go through all the related threads.

I would guess that Flitty is one of a number of players that, if somebody offered the right price, would be sold. As has been said by a number of people on this thread - he has been a fantastic servant for the club, and shown loyality. A mutual pay day for him and Rovers £750K - £1M, would be of great benefit to both parties. Then use the money to invest in somebody a wee bit younger

How true, I don't know, but I have seen numerous reports saying that he was dropped at Real as he had refused to sign a new contract. Makes sense to me - why play a player who is definitely leaving, when you have somebody to take his place. I am fairly optmistic that Souey may have pulled off a bit of a coup - after all, only a few months ago Southampton were prepared to pay £1.5m for a 31 year old

There is no smoke and mirrors with De Pedro - though a potentially good piece of business - he didn't cost anything (other than the usual wages, signing on fees etc). So the story from Souey still stands - we have no money Now sign Butt, and the smoke and mirrors scenario would come into play. Though Williams says to expect potentially one more new face (presumably Matteo) - which again wouldn't help with the conspiracy theory that we have money, but just don't want people to know we have

I think we underestimate the talent in our team. The French are out and out favourites - but thinking of the key positions there isn't a lot in it - who would you prefer Beckham / Pires Gerrard / Viera Lampard / Makalele James / Barthez The only place we are sadly lacking is Henry and Zidane - to match these players we need Owen to have a better first touch than he has shown so far, and Rooney to play as well as all the hype around him. There is very little between most of the top sides - and all it takes (as Denmark have shown in the past) is for your key players to be on form, a little luck, and no injuries. You never know

Strange this - they supposedly don't want him to leave, but are upset that Rovers have pulled out. I think there are other forces at work - maybe the player himself wants to leave ? If you remember when Berg left us for United, it was all done on the qt and Berg did the honourable thing by Rovers by not going to the press - though letting his feelings known to the board that he wanted to go. Unlike other clubs we do offer him an almost guarantee of playing the first few matches of the season (though he will obviously have to prove his worth). It is obvious from some of the reports attributed to him that playing regularly is very important to him - and he has recognised that Rovers don't have a natural player for his position. I get the feeling that this one isn't dead yet

To an extent I would agree about the age thing with Dickov (though I do beleive that he is a good short term signing, while Stead and Gallagher pick up more experience). But for a central defender, surely Short demonstrates that experience is vital at Premieship level - and Matteo brings loads of experience. He is also potential cover for the defensive midfield position. Provided we don't break the bank for him (either wages or fee) - I think that this is another excellent deal. Get Pedersen and we will have had a good close season (though probably not as spectacular as some people would like)

BTW - if half of the managers in the premiership were after Dickov why is he such a bad signing. Maybe some high profile foreign signing - say for example an Italian World Cup midfield player called Baggio would be more to peoples liking If nothing else surely Stead, Gray, Friedal etc have shown that GS does get it right sometimes. I have a feeling that this one will be one of his better buys - couldn't be any worse than an Italian world cup midfielder could it

Exactly right Den. To my mind the correct definition is that (thanks to Jack Walker) we are a big club competing in the most attractive League in the world situated in a small town. The other JW seems to have done a fantastic job of brainwashing people into thinking that we've no right to expect to see anything other than the very mundane when exactly the opposite should be the case. We're currently in probably the most attractive League in the world as far as attracting talent goes and by definition only a very limited amount of players can play for the top three or four clubs. Makes you wonder why so many people are predicting a further slump in season ticket sales, at a time when the club has done everything to encourage increased support. It may be the most attractive league - but as a player do you go to Rovers - who consistently fail to fill the ground, or Southampton, Birmingham, Charlton, Man City, Tottenham, Everton - all clubs roughly on a par or below Rovers but regularly sell out.

We can't ignore the fact that Stead may be found out a little next season - so a willing experienced hardworking striker to play alongside Cole while Stead and Gallagher continue their education for £100k. For me it's an absolute steal - and like Gray could turn out to be an inspirational signing. Look on the bright side - he is more effective than Yorke