You're right. I accept that Arsenal can afford to splash cash on teenagers. (I kind of admitted that in the final sentence of my post). Perhaps, I am wrong to draw comparisons with Arsenal due to the gulf in financial muscle between us and them. But it'd be interesting to see a Premiership manager of a 'lesser team' trying to build a team that grows 'organically' without millions to spend. Perhaps, its not possible, which is why it's not done. As for Larsson in, Rossi out, that smacks of short-termisim in my book. But if short-termism wins you the league - who's to complain. But then when Rossi moves on and proves a success with another team or doesn't develop as much as he should have due to lack of first team opportunities, maybe that short-termism will come with a cost.

So me expressing an opinion irritates you? It doesn't matter whether my arguments have any validity but because they are made by me, vitriol pours from your fingertips. I noticed that in my post questioning Hughes' decision on the renewal of Mokoena's contract, your immediate response was "If only he listened to you, eh? The man's a fool." (typical mixture of whimsical and droll)(No such derision for other's who concurred). Yet further down the life of the thread, as consensus grows that Mokoena is a shoddy player, Bryan, responds to a description of a dire piece of play from Mokoena in a match with: "You can't teach that sort of thing. You're born with that sort of touch and awareness." I don't mind criticism, after all, it's part of the banter and general liveliness of this board. However, I do take exception when someone as inconsistent and apparently opinion-less (or maybe it just gets diluted by the drollness) as Bryan throws insults at me because of my opinions and not their substance. Suggesting I get a "hard-on" or whatever for young players because I am a proponent of giving youth players a central role at Rovers, I find insulting. Not because of the words used but the discriminatory way I have been targeted. Maybe I do bang on about things far too much - but that's because I strongly believe in them and have thought them out (whilst I admit to having been wildly wrong before and will be in the future, I don't think you'll ever find me putting forward a view without foundation or reasonable argument). I enjoy engaging in the debates and widening my horizons by engaging in argument. I guess that's why most of use this board. I challenge anyone to argue against the fact that my record on "being right" (if there is such a thing in the world) on issues regarding Rovers is as good as anyone's. (It's a shame that there is no record of opinions expressed on here because then you could identify the people who have no opinion or who are always wrong from those who are usually right). Sorry, mods, off topic.

Stick to the whimsical. It suits you better.

Gotta agree. However, Hughes is a conservative manager and no doubt he is thinking that Henchoz's 'experience' (that favourite of concepts of footy managers) will help us - somehow. I think Arsene Wenger's philosophy is spot on. I know he has an advantage of having good contacts in France but he seems to always be thinking one step ahead. He's always looking to bring in young players and plan for the future - but without jeopardising the present. On occasions, he seems to have got the balance slightly wrong - but you just have to look at his Carling Cup team to know that Arsenal can look forward to a rosy future - that's without splashing on new signings, which they will do. I remember in the summer Arsenal were linked with Davids and Dabo and Wenger refuted the rumours by saying that it would send out a negative message to his young hopefuls if he brought in a old stop-gap. Now, obviously the talent bubbling away below the Rovers first team is less impressive - and we don't have the dosh to splash out on say Walcott but I would like to see Hughes adopt a long-term approach without taking his eye of the short-term. Perhaps, it's asking for too much as we are one of the clubs that go into a season knowing that relegation is a possibility. Arsenal don't have to worry about that.

Isn't the fact he's playing regularly in the Prem enough?

So how long will he last? 7 mins... Seriously, I just he hope we can see Dunny back to his best.

James Milner has been playing exceptionally well recently. A slightly better player than Bentley due to his extra pace?

Interesting comparison. Similarly, 'promising' young strikers who don't boast tremendous skill but have a real eye for a goal and who have heaped attention on themselves with sudden unexpected goal gluts. The test will be when Derbyshire's goal dry up - obviously. Has he got the mental strength to take the inevitable criticism and the fact he'll get dropped? - (Roberts and Jeffers looming in the background). I have a feeling that his unhappy spell at Plymouth might've toughened him up and ensure he won't follow the downwards spiral of Stead.

We need examples like Derbyshire to inspire the present youth players. Granted, he got his chance as result of injuries to Roberts and Jeffers (so luck played its part) but Derbyshire has gone on loan, done very well, and got his chance with Rovers. Taylor and Kane should take note. (Taylor should try staying fit for more than a month - that'd help his cause).

He's already filed his report. Apparently Martin Dahlin scored a hat-trick and Jimmy Corbett was a livewire on the left. (Sorry Pleasure, it was meant in jest)

Please, not Konchesky. He's not very good, both defensively or going forward. We need a left back with real pace.

Dunn's arrival (and assuming he stays fit) could signify a new more defensive role for Sav.

I notice that the sheer "sturrocking nonsense" is catching on.

Not looking good. I'm pretty sure that half the reserve team will leave this summer with their contracts having expired. And they were more successful as an U18 side than our current U18s....

Didn't Neill play this game of refusing contract offers at Millwall before he signed for us. I'm sure about the ins and outs but I do know that he's pretty unpopular with Millwall fans for the way he left on the cheap.

So after a couple of starts by Mokoena (and handsome victories to boot) have peoples' support for Mokoena crystalised? Or are some a little concerned because it seems that against Everton he was again poor or at best, average? Also, I note that Den apart, the majority of people playing down Derbyshire's talents on another thread are fans of Mokoena the utility man. Inconsistency? The fact that Hughes signed one got anything to do with it? Of course.

It was said in jest. I apologise for the confusion, clearly Derbyshire did not score a make-believe goal and this was very ambiguous in my initial post.

Well done Matty. Let's see a REAL goal now.

He's not the finished article and will improve with games. How impressive were Reid and Gamst on arriving at the club and making their first appearances? Hughes should give him games (probably sub appearances) to see how good he can be. If after a fair number of games he proves inadequate (like McEveley) you bin him. Simple.

Derbs might not have got his chance had Jeffers not got injured. Just goes to show that unless flotsam is cleared out the way - be it accidently, youth players may not be able to show their true worth.

Dunn's flair would be a welcome addition to the squad. But his injury problems and positional confusion, not. Some might see his versatility as a good thing but I can only see it as a hinderance. He needs to find a position and grow into it.

Talk about playing down a quote to suit your fixation on insulting people. Thank you for posting the above quotes but imo they are just part of the rhetoric. I know Hughes has given youngsters a chance (more so than Souness) but "they have to be exceptional?!". Claptrap. Exceptional like Aaron Mokoena or Gray or Gamst on his regular bad days? I picked up the "luck" statement because it backs up my complaint about Premiership football clubs. I keep going on about this issue because it is so important. People on this thread have been arguing the merits of the academy system. But in the end, this club is pouring money into the academy and then the manager comes out and says the chances that youngsters may get with the first team get can depend on luck - is the money being spent wisely in that case? And he's not wrong. Jay McEveley was lucky - he got a chance at 17 due to an injury crisis. ANdy Taylor has been unlucky because he is nearly 21, I think, and has yet to make a first team league appearance. Jon Douglas was lucky. He was on loan at Blackpool with Souey's mate, Steve McMahon. They had problems on the left wing, so Douglas filled-in. Rovers were having problems filling that spot as well and on hearing that Douglas had done a job on the left wing for 'pool, Souey hauled him back and stuck him out wide. Neil Danns and Donnelly were unlucky because, despite doing quite well on loan at Blackpool, neither played left wing and there was no CM crisis at Rovers. (Well there was but we got the Norwegian David Beckham to sort things out). Why should luck play any part? We have got used to seeing managers caressing the egos of struggling new foreign signings, giving them game after game after game to overcome their stage-fright/culture-confusion/language-despair. But when it comes to a youngster who needs similiar supportive treatment, to be given chances to find their feet - no sign. Things are just summed up by the sight of Djimi Traore bumbling about on a pitch for a Premiership football team. Have things got that bad in England with the academy system? Or is it, as I firmly believe, a symptom of the perverse and paranoid mentality in the Premiership where experience, be it detached from talent, is valued above promise.?

"You do need a bit of luck and to be in the right place at the right time." That's Mark Hughes on the chances of youngsters making it in the Prem, From the horses mouth. It's that what I've been whining people into despair about. It shouldn't have anything to do with luck. There should be systematic attempts to get the best players through into the team. Not to wait for an injury crisis or for the player to become demotivated and get kicked out. full article

I stand by what I said when Jeffers first arrived - he'll flop. I know he's done quite well as a sub but I just do not think that we are the club to resurrect his career. He needs starts, which he won't get here. He's the sort of player, who if off-form, is a total waste of space. I know that sounds obvious, but some players have physical attributes - like Kuqi with his strength and height, or Bellamy with his pace, which enable them, despite being out-of-form, to pull something out of the bag to create/score. Jeffers has neither strength nor pace nor an abundance of skill. He has good anticipation, decent movement and a tidy finisher (at his best).

Nice win. Defending for first goal was poor and McCarthy's petulance was embarrassing. Bentley's goal, cracking. People still wanting dogs of war 4-5-1 away from home?