I was beginning to suspect that. Ah, you have just sunk to the dregs of a tabloid journalist by manipulating a quote to fit your meaning. Next you'll be using a phrase like 'firing someone broadside' which you just do not read anywhere but in a tabloid paper.

Getting back on topic .... how did MGP play? From the match report, it didn't sound like he had a great game. Edit: Question answered by Roversmum on reserves thread.

i know morten a bit, so kill me. plz stfu asap ok thx. krislu, har du noe problem med meg? Cuidado, my friend, you must get used to the fact that certain members of this board still find it hilarious to depict a member as a person's lover/stalker/relation/agent or the person himself - just because you are rate him as a footballer/manager. This 'joke' repeats itself incessantly but never loses its effect - so it seems. Hence, I am infatuated with Sturrock and Donnelly apparently. This provides much mirth for certain people - and if it brings a bit of humour to someones life, I'm happy to be the source.

Do you reckon there's any plausibility in the conspiracy that Hughes wants to avoid paying an appearance fee to Tromso, so isn't playing him? I know people are very sceptical but there seems no other reason in my mind. Especially considering that his last performance involved a goal and an assist against Bournemouth - which was at least a sign he was coming to terms with English football.

I just wish that Hughes would explain the situation. He's come out and explained that de Pedro's fitness is keeping him out of contention. But in MGP's case, the silence is deafening. What do you Norwegian guys think about MGP's mental strength? It is possible that him being snubbed so far is going to seriously damage his confidence unless he's got real self-belief.

MGP not even on the bench as Emerton excels on the left flank against Liverpool. It seems quite clear now. Hughes doesn't rate Pedersen and doesn't want to lose £1 million that would go to Tromso if MGP makes a certain number of appearances etc. because that would eat into his funds and plans for the January transfer window. As someone who thought MGP would be a hit at Rovers I'm disappointed and feel for the guy because he hasn't been given a real chance, especially when you consider how long Brett Emerton was allowed to be rubbish yet play regularly - and it's paying dividends now. If this is the case, I'm disappointed in Hughes because although he didn't spend the money, I'd have thought it was still his responsibility to try and make the transfer work out. Hughes seems to have the attitude that MGP wasn't his idea so he doesn't have to try and make him fit into his plans - even though the club lose out if it turns out to be 1.5 million down the drain.

Well done to the players. It's a sign of how well we played that I'm a bit disappointed that we don't hold onto the three points Good on Hughes for having the boldness to kick out Gray and Matteo for the time being. McEveley and Nisse did alright (except Jay's blunder). No surprise that MGP was not involved, after all, Rovers don't want to pay that appearance fee to Tromso.... And what is it about McEveley? The guy has got previous that would make Kevin Muscat shrink in fear. Ok that's an exaggeration but so far Jay has managed to break Hakan Sukur's leg in training, damage Mark Delaney's ankle ligaments, dislocate his own knee cap and now play a passive role in Cisse's leg break. And he's only played a handful of first team games.

Question is, are you going to put your money where your mouth is?

Douglas impressed with his honest endeavour and ability to play anywhere in midfield. Danns meanwhile, obviously had the technical ability - he scored a fabulous 30 yarder against Oldham for 'pool, however his apparent lack of effort meant he wasn't a regular. In fact, people who watch the reserves say that's why he hasn't got into the first team. However, it sounds like Phil Parkinson has got Danns coupling his technical skill with graft.

I agree that we should recall him. It's only division 2 blah blah blah (although he scored against Southampton) but he's shown what he can do after disappointing spells at Hartlepool and Blackpool. And besides, I don't think he can do worse than Flitcroft and Tugay.

Good Grief. Wenger won the Premiership and FA Cup Double in his first full season at Arsenal, FFS. Link below: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/special_ev...002/2542591.stm I stand corrected on that one then. However, good managers have made bad starts to jobs and gone on to succeed - so let's hope Hughes does a Colin Hendry at Blackpool. I mean, turn things around, not lose incessantly.

Under Souness, did we ever draw against Liverpool in the league, let alone win? All I can remember is hammerings and Heskey nearly scoring a hat-trick *shudders*. Talking about three goal hauls - we may as well sort this one out now. Milan Baros or Djibril Cisse? My prediction - 1-1. We can only hope.

Yet you can question MGP's quality as a Premiership footballer after, arguably, doing no worse as player for us than Hughes has done as a manager. Double standards.

More utter garbage. Pedersen hasn't been good enough - that's why he doesn't start. Matteo has been garbage. Neill has been garbage. Stead has mostly been garbage. Emerton has been garbage on the left wing. Flitcroft and Tugay have been worse than garbage. Amoruso.... get the point? These guys are still getting games. There is a peculiar reason why MGP isn't playing - and I don't think the fans know the truth behind it. That's my opinion - if you don't like it, go and cry into your keyboard. I'm not saying you have to agree.

The board have taken the risk to appoint Hughes and now we need to give him a chance to prove his worth. I agree that he hasn't impressed as a manager to date. His selections have been strange and I don't like the idea of playing Paul Dickov on his own up front (albeit with Djorkaeff behind). And the way the team have capitulated in the second half of the last two games, doesn't say a lot for Sparky's half time pep talks. Whilst I loathe using Souness as a benchmark for anything positive, I'm pretty sure that for the second half Souness would have made a couple of changes immediately and sent the team out fired up with the intent of regaining some respect. HOWEVER, Hughes has a poor team to work with. No defensive midfielder to speak of and no decent centre half to speak of (although I think Matteo could be alright). Those two positions are crucial to the spine of the team and we're severely lacking. My hope for improvement lies in the fact that good managers have had tricky spells before. Alex Ferguson was close to the sack at the start of his Man U tenure. Arsene Wenger didn't win anything for the first few years at Arsenal. Sam Allardyce and Nigel Worthington both failed at Blackpool. Graeme Souness didn't have an auspicious start with us in the promotion season. So things can turn around. I'd say give Hughes a chance in the transfer market and if things are still bad, we cut our losses.

Ok, I've cooled down and having mentioned the 'MGP issue' to a friend, they came up with a rare moment of insight by suggesting that Hughes may be trying to avoid some kind of appearance fee that would be owed to Tromso if Pedersen plays a certain amount of games. It still seems a bit strange because if the club were that desperate to avoid an extra payment, they wouldn't have Pedersen named as a sub. However, perhaps the clause expires by January or something ridiculous. Yes, it's 'contrived but it seems more likely than any other reason.

And your sitting on the fence and contriving ridiculous explanations for perplexing managerial decisions is very, very stupid. You may have the notion that Hughes is beyond criticism and questioning - but some may not. If you really have no good explanation for Hughes not playing MGP, please just don't comment when we who think he should play debate it. This is a forum for debate. (If you hadn't noticed). We are debating why Hughes is not playing a new, expensive signing who is an international and plays in a position that we are not blessed in. If that annoys you, maybe you shouldn't be reading this thread.

1. Yes 2. No But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be given a chance. After all, just as Hughes hasn't impressed me as a manager yet, he deserves the chance to change that and he will. yeah but Hughes did beat Italy with Wales, still not qualify and then win one game in 2 and half years and leave Wales without any hope of making the World Cup, and that impressed you, so Pedersen should have allot of hope in impressing you I should've qualified that by saying 'club manager'. Nonetheless, you have a point that Hughes' Wales record is the worst in something like 40 years. Even worse than the derided Bobby Gould. However, you must consider the resources he had available and the fact they got to the play offs. And don't forget, it was Hughes influence that actually got Ryan Giggs and some of the other 'big' names turning out for friendlies they'd normally have bunked. However, his international record counts for nothing because the club management game is a completely different thing. The Rovers board were brave in taking the plunge, now we just have to hope that it turns out right.

1. Yes 2. No But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be given a chance. After all, just as Hughes hasn't impressed me as a manager yet, he deserves the chance to change that and he will.

Then at least give him sub appearances so that he can prove his worth to the club. Jon Stead has been poor this season, that hasn't stopped Hughes from using him regularly. I just think it's unfair to a young lad who's moved from a different country and is eager to impress the fans after a couple of dubious displays, yet he is being denied that chance. And why? Is Emerton playing well as a left winger?

I'm sorry that I don't adhere to the Bob Fleming doctrine. Which states that the incumbent manager is always above any sort of criticism. However, as soon as he leaves, you can bollock him all you like and pretend that you always knew he was losing the plot. My attitude is to say things as I perceive them. Which is why I am not afraid to say that Mark Hughes has cocked up with team selections - Brett Emerton is not a left winger and MGP is and should start or at least be a used sub. Emerton was finding his feet as a right winger and this latest sojourn onto the left wing is going to set him back. Paul Dickov is not suitable to play as a lone striker and Garry Flitcroft is no longer an adequate Premiership midfielder. What's more, Hughes decision to give Ferguson more attacking freedom is a mistake because our central midfield, being as impregnable as the House of Commons, is left too exposed if our best midfielder is on the rampage going forward. Having said all that, I refuse to say there should be any thought given to giving Hughes the boot at this stage. It is way too early - he's made mistakes but he'll learn from them hopefully. Sam Allardyce was sacked as Blackpool's manager, so there is evidence that good managers have difficult times. We don't want a situation as has arisen at Southampton where a new boss is kicked out just as he was settling in, leaving the club in limbo.

You obviously can give no reason for Hughes' blanking Pedersen, so you come out with rubbish. The current situation is totally baffling. Although in recent games the left winger who started the game, Jansen and Emerton, have not had good games, Hughes has still refused to bring on MGP. Now if MGP was horrifically bad in training, he wouldn't be on the bench. Which is why I come back to my original question. I suppose only Hughes can answer it - that's if there is a rational answer.

WHY DOES HUGHES PUT MGP ON THE BENCH IF HE REFUSES TO PLAY HIM? Someone please explain this to me because it is pissing me off.

Hughes seems to have a mental block when it comes to MGP. Why have him on the bench if you don't want to use him? I just despair at this 'management'.

Hughes' selection choices have been questionable. However, just like any new player, the new manager deserves time - unless you adhere to Rupert Lowe's approach to chairman-ship.