I think Hughes needs a rethink regarding tactics. He has given Ferguson more freedom to get forward thank Souness ever did. Whilst this may make us a more potent attacking force, it leaves us dreadfully susceptible to the counter-attack. Ferguson makes a lung-bursting run into the opposition box, doesn't receive the ball. He's now effectively out of the game for the next few minutes positionally and stamina wise. This leaves the frightening prospect of Tugay being the only shield for the back four. Frightening that is for us Rovers fans, needless to say, not the oppositon forwards or midfielders. Hughes has to ask Ferguson to sacrifice those forward runs for central midfield stability - until we get a decent defensive midfielder. I don't know if Tommo is one of those but he must start ahead of Tugay.

Would normally be well pleased but the league table still doesn't read pretty. Steven Reid played very which is encouraging and this game should emphasise that Tugay is now officially past-it and Tommo must start. No appearance for MGP - fresh legs in the dying minutes when Birmingham are going defensive and when the player has a good goalscoring record and likes getting into the box and scored a last minute equaliser in his last appearance for the first team?..... Didn't expect to happen. And there was I think Yorke might nick a winner - the guy put in a cameo performance that all Rovers fans have grown accustomed to. Cheers for the money Bruce.

Come on Hughes, fortune favours the brave, bring on MGP.

Oh don't boo Yorke - not because he wasn't a waste of space because I have a very nasty feeling... Hope it's nothing more than indigestion.

Hughes has to make some changes at the break. Tommo for Tugay would be a good place to start. As for McEveley's error-strewn game - the regular reserve watchers have been warning us that he was not playing well even against reserve opposition.

No chance of Gallagher starting, I'd have thought. Jansen will probably play if Stead's out and I'd be surprised if Hughes drops Reid. Now would be a good time for Bruce to play Martin Taylor at right back. After all, he can play there - remember the Worthy Cup final, he's good on the ball has nice technique......

Congrats - but you are forwarding his case by implication. I share your view that MGP's not getting a fair in chance. If Souness was still in charge and results going as they are and MGP was consigned to the subs bench all the time, a lot more people would be querying why a young international left winger with a good goalscoring record for both club and country and who has just joined the club is not being given a chance. However, most seem to want to give Hughes the benefit of the doubt, which is understandable. So let's just wait and see if MGP can force is way into the team rather than posting new messages that obviously get on everyone's nerves and only serves to harden people's view against MGP.

Scotty's been exposed as well.

Even if Steven Reid is played instead of MGP, I hope Hughes plays Emerton on the right wing because that is obviously where he plays the best.

Hughes must be crapping himself about this one. If MGP has a stormer of a game he'll be under pressure to pick him and that would spell an end to his bid to avoid the appearance fee.

Anyone who attended the game, I'd be interested to know what flanks Reid and Emerton played and whether they were any good. I still think that we need a natural left footer on that side but after the Liverpool game, it seemed like Emerton might be capable. However, that was just one performance.

Still disappointed because in our predicament we need wins. Draws are not of much use - remember when Kidd took over? The losses stopped and we started drawing a few matches but it didn't take us away from trouble. Would be interested to know how we played though because it sounds like we could have won it late on. Especially want to know if Emerton and Reid on the wings is actually working.

Its about principle. Garry Flitcroft has been at the club for a very long time but does that mean that at the end of his contract we keep him on the playing staff to make the odd reserve appearance on a low wage just for sentimental reasons? Eventually, you have to move on and part ways. Doesn't excuse the manner in which Tony Parkes was ejected but the reasoning behind replacing him makes total sense. Souness didn't have the balls to get rid of Parkes - instead he demoted the guy.

There is no doubt in my mind that Parkes was retained recently on sentimental grounds. To an extent, I can understand why, he was blessed with the link to the Jack Walker halcyon days - not to mention his time as a player, which made it difficult for Souness or John Williams to remove him. And he has served the club to the best of his ability and provided a comforting and unwavering fall back whenever we found ourselves manager-less. However, Hughes decision makes sense because Parkes has proven he was not manager material and his coaching abilities are not feted by many. Rather than taper out of sight and the Rovers fans conscience as a reserve team manager, its best that he goes now and allows a younger man to come in and make an impact.

Unfortunately, the guys we sent over to Cercle Brugge can't even get a game in the first team. In Weaver's case, I don't his had a match for the reserve team. I'm sure, as part of the infamously protracted MGP deal, Rovers and Tromso agreed some kind of deal that but gave us first option on future talent.

Coming back to Blackburn was Danns' decision - he wasn't recalled by Hughes. Which means that Danns thinks that he can break into the first team squad and I don't see why not with Ferguson being the only real central midfielder of note we have. Only fly in the ointment for Neil is that Thommo's getting back to fitness and playing central midfield for the reserves.

Danns returns from Us loan spell.

Didn't he fail to dive depriving Perugia a penalty and infuriating their chairman? In which case, it's no surprise Arsenal got shot of him.

You see - I don't actually think that Davies is/was a bad player. Obviously, he was downright shat for us - but that had a lot to do with a poor attitude, weak management, playing in a struggling side and crucially - the burden of a ridiculous transfer fee was like a millstone round his neck. All that resulting in him totally losing his confidence. In his first stint at Southampton (signed by Souey incidently) he was very impressive and you've got to grudgingly say that he's doing alright at Bolton.

I see Graeme Souness is pursuing his tactical masterplan that involves playing a central midfielder on the left. It could be worse for the Geordies, he could be playing a centre back on the left wing. PS - Don't you think this thread should be re-named, bash Souness at all opportunities? I don't want to sound bitter but I can't help it - not because he was an inadequate manager in the last year or so of his reign (OK that's part of the reason) - but more importantly - he displayed little regret in leaving Rovers. The attraction of Newcastle is self-explanatory, but for a meagre word or two about the 'great people' at Blackburn - he seemed to forget about us in a blink.

Cuidado - you obviously want MGP to succeed in the Premiership, as do I, and I share your disappointment with the opportunities Mark Hughes has given him - however, outbursts like that will not endear yourself on this board because it shows a selfish interest in seeing MGP play and not Rovers to do well. You may not be a Blackburn fan - but you are on a Blackburn messageboard. I'm pee-d of with Hughes reluctance to play MGP but if he is as good as I think he could be, he'll get into that team eventually - hopefully.

I assume that the main criterion for this award is technical ability - which is why he's gone for Egil. Corrado Grabbi was an awful flop - but you have to admit that he did have technique and displayed it on some rare occasions. Egil, meanwhile, was a lump who could hold up the ball and not much more. Darren Peacock deserves a mention whenever we're talking about crap players.

To come back with 10 men was fantastic but it should worry Mark Hughes and Rovers fans that with 11 men in the first half we were apparently the inferior team. We need a domineering central midfielder to replace Tugay quick. And Bothroyd deserves a fine.

Out-of-favour after a couple of dodgy performances.

Let's just hope Douglas doesn't have to fill in as an emergency right back at any point...