Sorry but Gray is not good enough to mark Ronaldo and Co and McEveley is not good enough to mark Eddie Lewis let alone the Premiership stars. Aaron Mokoena is not up to competing with Gavin McCann. I have not seen much of Taylor at all but have read reserve reports avidly and Taylor has nearly always been one of the more impressive of the players. I just wonder if now would not be a good time to give him his deserved chance with all the other competitors foundering. I have, however, seen enough of Jay McEveley to know that he is way out of his depth in the Prem at left back. Hughes has recently accused Arsene Wenger of unfairly failing to give youngsters a chance with first team football (when talking about Bentley). If Hughes can accuse Wenger of that - it's only fair to analyse his record. The cream does nots alway rise to the top due to managers' insecurity and consequent plumping for the 'safe' option of experienced players. I would argue that Hughes has shown himself to be overly conservative when it comes to giving young players a chance. With Gamst performing dreadfully for a while, it is strange that Peter has not been used more.

Reserve goers of the past few years, are you surprised that with our current problems with the left back position, Andy Taylor is out on loan playing (well according to all reports) for Crewe rather than getting a taste of the action? He acquited himself well during last pre-season as a right back for the first team and I would've thought that with Gray looking suspect, McEveley's weaknesses exposed and Matteo out-of-favour, this is the perfect stage for Taylor. Taylor's done very well during brief loan spells at Blackpool and now Crewe and at the age of 20 or so, he's not that young or inexperienced as to be any more of a risk than an unpredictable Mickey Gray, surely. I know certain people like Roversmum rate him much higher than McEveley and it appears the only reason that Jay is on the bench is because he is more experienced than Taylor - not a valid reason imo. We have to start looking for a long-term left back and where better to start the search than on our own doorstep with Andy Taylor. I've read that some people think that he's too slow and weak to make it but I remember people saying Sergio Peter - at least, the weak bit anyway. The performances of Sergio Peter of late has put some of our experienced players to shame of late. More youthful exuberance in the team would be a plus imo.

We HAD to bring in another central midfielder, with Hughes deciding Douglas was surplus to requirements. We're paying the price now. With Savage out for a while, Hughes has got to earn his money and get a player to fill an unfamiliar centre midfield role. Mokoena's got to be discarded and someone like Emerton, Gallagher, Neill or someone I haven't thought of has to be asked to save this team from sinking further in the absence of Sav and Reid.

Felt exactly the same, and my fears were compounded when I read that McCann was returning to the Villa side. Even during his Sunderland days, he tended to walk over our midfielders. Our problems, needless to say, are primarily in central midfield. A 36 year old and a bad central defender cannot compete on a weekly basis.

Tugay's in for kicking then. Rovers v Celtic all over again. Very disappointed to see Jeffers favoured over Gallagher (assuming Paul is not injured).

Tugay can be great - but mark my words, he's more than likely to have a stinker against Villa. (Especially if Chris Sutton plays...) We cannot be relying on a 36 year old to inspire us every week.

Hughes will pursue with Mokoena but at Rovers peril, imo. I would resort to Emerton central midfield but it's not looking good whichever option we go for. It's unfortunate that we haven't got any young central midfielder on the fringes of the squad. (Eddie Nolan's played CM, I believe, but not his natural position).

Was he bad? Savage will be out for weeks so the Axe may have to stomp around in midfield for a while - pretending to be a footballer... I think Gray will get better as he eases himself back in.

Yes he can. McEveley's favoured position isn't even left back.

I whole-heartedly agreed with your assessment barring this. Claiming that Mokoena is a great defensive midfielder (albeit in a five man midfield) is like claiming that Jon Stead is a great Premiership striker (albeit alongside Andy Cole). Both did a job for part of a season to drag us out of a mire. However, I cannot accept that there is anything great about Mokoena. There are skills required to be a good centre half that are transferable to defensive midfielders - eg positioning, anticipation, heading ability, organisation, concentration, tackling etc. etc. Mokoena came woefully short as a central defender, displaying a lack of many of those aforementioned talents - so how is he meant to perform as a defensive midfielder when they are almost all equally important? His lack of technique will also be exposed in a midfield role. We've seen Ivan Campo making a hash of playing CB in the Prem only to flourish as a midfielder. However, I don't need to insult anyone's intelligence by describing the gulf between him and the Axe - and I'm not talking about hair. If Mokoena had been signed by Souness, Hughes would've got rid by now, like he got rid of Tommo.

I'd prefer to see Gally on the wing with Bentley central midfield rather than up front. Peter deserves more playing time after showing more promise.

Too true. McEveley, Mokoena and Jeffers etc. are just sub-standard. Franny Jeffers may yet recover his form but the first two are lost causes, in my humble opinion.

Whilst listening to Gary Speed, it struck me as uncanny how much he sounded like Allardyce. Did anyone else notice this? He used Allardyce-isms and the inflection in his voice was so similar to Pig Sam.

The Axe was playing in a five man midfield in a very defensively minded side back then. Playing as an orthodox central midfielder in a 4-4-2 is a completely different story. I must say, Mokoena is making a better fist of the role than I thought he would but still not ever gonna be first team material imo.

Mickey Gray has a habit of returning from the doldrums to reclaim his first team spot. I won't be surprised if he does it again.

I just think McEveley lacks the agility to be a decent left back. When Hughes gave him a chance when he first arrived, he was shown up when players ran at him and I believe he had the same problem in the Champ with Ipswich and Gillingham - decent on the ball and positive but when a decent winger/right back run at him, he's all at sea. You can see why he prefers playing CB. Maybe he'll take confidence from a good second-half against Chelsea but I'd like Hughes to move on. Either look for a new left back or one of the other guys at the club.

Still think that Andy Taylor should've been making his debut for Rovers yesterday. McEveley has had his chance and has proven that whilst attacking-wise he has potential, defensively he is pretty rubbish.

At least Hughes now knows more about Bentley, McEveley, Peter and Henchoz. I'd have liked to see Gally get a game but not to be.

Back to moaning managers, I have to put in a word for the biggest whingers of the lot because to be fair they're the ones the media cover the most, so chances are they're gonna be the ones who you'll hear crying on the radio the most. (Although, you don't hear much from Rafa Benitez as you'd expect) BTW: I dont think Moyes is fair-minded. He's as myopic as the rest, only he delivers his rants in an under-stated way.

Taylor defends Shefa!

Kuqi's not going to get 'a chance' because of his price tag. ROvers fans were squabbling over his merits and we got him on a free. Taylor messed up on this one.

There are too many teams trying to hoof their way out of the Championship. Tony Pulis and Micky Adams seem to have become role-models - which is worrying. Didn't Sheff Utd's promotion coincide with Warnock's belated realisation that passes that make contact with the ground aren't outside the rules of the game?

Scowcroft and Kuqi up front? I think you can see what Taylor's philosophy is for Palace. Kuqi should score goals in the Champ but looking at your midfield, there appears to be a lack of creativity, which doesn't help.

I agree. Ball-skills are woefully neglected in the football education English youngsters get. There's too much emphasis on winning. Kids are discouraged from expressing themselves - i.e running with the ball, trying tricks etc. I'm no great shakes at footy but I don't think I can remember ever being encouraged to run with the ball by a coach. Speed and skill were my forte (or so I told myself!) and I was continually lambasted for not playing it simple, playing the way I'm facing, being a fancy dan etc. Obviously, the coaches I came in contact with aren't the elite - far from it. However, why do our youth teams rarely make any impressions in youth international competitions? Surely, if that is something that must be rectified before anything else? Or is capitulating in another youth qualifying game or early rounds of a tournament 'part of the learning curve'?

How predictable. When in doubt yearn for the tried. Beckham's history as far as England is concerned and that's how it should stay.