Any Morissey fans out there that saw him play live in Brighton a month or two back? Personally, I thought he was absolutely immense and it was the best live performance I've seen. Although, the next Monday I found out my English teacher went as well... I feel so old. Some of feeders new album is excellent but half the album is rubbish and theres only 10 songs and I'm loving Keane - Hopes and Fears.

I've got to say I really get sick of it when everytime a fan from another club comes on the board and people immediately jump on the whole "we're better than you! you're going down," etc etc and the thread turns into a slanging match. I appreciate this lads account of Savage and the two clubs and do not really disagree with much of what has been said, although without Forsell I do not think our clubs are p[articularly different in standard - perhaps before the transfer window Brum were the better team but now I think that has been reversed. I haven't bothered reading anything after the first five posts because I know exactly where this thread is going.

While I wasn't at the game, since Hughes has taken the managers post at Rovers, I have picked up that he is very reluctant to make any kind of tactical changes or substitutions until it's too late to make a real impact, if at all. All too often we have been crying out for a change up front or even in midfield and Hughes just runs down the clock. We may be in a relegation fight but from my observations I would say he more after securing a point then going for all three, whoever we play. I do think he is a very good manager, but I hope he becomes slightly more adventurous in the future.

II think him moving would be bad for the club because he has been here some time now and is one of few that could not be considered a journeyman. He obviously has the respect of the team and him leaving would certainly affect morale. Saying that, I still don't consider him anywhere near the top 5 keepers in the premiership due to his all round game - his routine or fundamental goalkeeping roles are badly flawed but because these are not so spectacular, they go un-noticed, unlike his superb shot-stopping. Although, this admittedly wins and keeps us in matches.

Very well summed up there.

I remember a few goals this season that could have been prevented if Brad had closed the opposition striker down - the goal following Jay's mistake at Liverpool especially I thought was awful goalkeeping. All the time I see balls come into the box that could have been dealt with by Brad but were not. Perhaps we do not concede many headed goals from them, but I'd like to see how often the opposition regains possession or scores from knock downs in the box, from flick ons or from rebounds. I do not remember the last headed goal from a ball Freidel could have dealt with but then I doubt I'd remember, if one was concedded, after a few weeks had elapsed. I too cannot remember the last time Freidel fumbled or didn't adaquately punch or catch a ball - that's why it is so frustrating when he doesn't come and collect. I really do not think I'm talking nonsense here. For the record I like Brad and think that as far as shot stoppers come, he is one of the best in the world.

Have to side with USA and E.I.N on this. Superb shop stopper - nobody is doubting that, but when your defense is leaking goals and cannot defend to save their lives, you need a commanding goalkeeper to claim the ball in the air and close down a player when he is too fast for your defense. He does neither. I have been thinking for some time now that I would prefer the majority of premiership keepers over Brad. How often is a keeper required to make a fantastic diving or reactionary save? Then ask yourself how often a keeper is required to collect a cross or a corner or to come to the edge of his box or close a striker down... We look so vulnerable from anything delivered into the box its scary. For the games he has kept us in, he has probably cost as many by not performing run of the mill goalkeeping duties. What I do not understand is, why has he not developed his game to claim balls into the box? Surely managers and coaches, as they come and go, realise his weaknesses and try to ammend them, but he hasn't dealt with them at all.

Flitcroft didn't do a lot on saturday, but what he did do he did very effectively. There were glimpses of the player of old and some really crunching tackles. If he could do that throughout the game and not let it drift past him so often he would be so much more effective. But still, definately a more reliable, and defensively assured alternative to Tugay and I would far prefer him in the team. What was far more important, however, was that he was one of few players that looked like he wanted to win and realised that he needed to earn his place. Be it 10 minutes from the end, but when Thompson got sent off he seemed to take it upon himself to shore things up get stuck in.

Undoubtedly Brad is a great shot stopper but to be honest I'm scared every single time the opposition has a corner, cross or set piece because he just cannot command his area. Great reactions, agility, vision etc but we concede too easily from set pieces and sometimes I wonder if we would be better off in the long run gaining a few million from him. I think it's clear to say we need a striker more than Brad in goal.

not neccessarily. i think heavy changes are needed to turn us into a good, consistent side. i don't want to jump on the morten g-p bandwagon but i am really eager to see him given a proper run in the side, at least then it will finally shut up a few people around here on either side of the argument one way or another. priority lies at centre-back. short- old reliable but the 'old' stands out more than the 'reliable'. todd- strong and sturdy but not the greatest centre back to don the blue-and-white halved shirt. nissa- simply frustrating. one minute he looks so promising and solid and then below-standard in the next. one thing is for sure, he should only be a full-back in tough games away from home. at ewood we need a full-back who can get up and down the flank and support the attack sufficiently. matteo- doesn't fill me with any hope when i've seen him this season. there is a reason leeds got relegated and that was 'cos of their appauling defence. apparantly he had a good game at full back today but the jury is still out. amoruso- can take free kicks, has passion and works hard but i'm afraid the italian stallion lacks pace desperately and is prone to mistakes. also he has a troubling injury and i see his rovers career not lasting much longer. hopefully these trialists can impress and add some much needed energy to the defence. also, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if the reason gray has been dropped is just down to footballing reasons...? Roverdrake, I mean Ewood Dream, I mean Oblivion, how can you make these judgements when you admit that you never watch Rovers play? BTW, good try typing in lower case and following up with a post from one of your other alias', but you're not kidding anybody.

I think this might have been covered in another thread. But anyway, I was a bit annoyed they only took cash - I had to walk five minutes back in the direction I came and que in sainsburies to use their cashback service.

If Todd had not have played so well throughout the match, then Flitcroft would have been my man of the match for being just about the only player to show any fight - he did his defensive duties very well in the first half and came in with a few crunching tackles in the second. He and Matteo both came into the team after time out and they looked two of the only players that wanted their place.

Ugh he's just crap!!!!!!! So is your contribution to this bored. I personally do not think we need another striker, just the right combination. The combinations we play just do not work well together. Stead and Gallagher for me.

Really, really poor result and performance today. First half we atleast played some decent football and created a few clearcut opportunities, but in the second we were just useless. I've never left a match more disillusioned in my life. These are the games we need to win and the players just did not seem to want it or even know it - I was about to leave the stadium without acknowledging the players after their second half performance but my consciense got the better of me. Shorter than usual, will post more when I'm a little less under the influence. Friedel - 7 - did everything asked of him and pulled off one great save in the second half from Johnson Neill - 6 - pretty solid, fell over once at a vital moment but otherwise pretty good. Short - 7 - solid performance with some strong heading and a cracking volley in the first half Todd - 9 - superb performance from the man. He had Johnson, second highest premiership scorer, in his pocket from the very start. Strong in the tackle and with his head, no nonsense and worked well with Short. The one saving grace from this match. Matteo - 6 - A solid performance today but some absolutely woeful distribution in the first half. However, one long ball was an absolute gem. Must say it was very hard going on Johansson to be dropped but I am sure that was tactically and for this game only. Reid - 6 - dirfted in and out of this game. Broke up possession well, but played narrowly and offered little going forward or on the wing. Disapointing. Ferguson - 6 - good first half but didn't get a strangle hold of the second. Let things pass him by somewhat. Flitcroft - 7 - didn't do much, but what he did do, he did very well. So9me crunching tackles and hounding down and the only player to show ay kind of fight in the second half and, in particular, the second half. Emerton - 7 - good first half, starting every move we had. However, switched with Reid and drifted out of the game. Showed little in the second half. Dickov - 5 - superb tackle in the first half and had the centre back absolutely ###### scared, forcing him into losing possession on several occasions. However, missed a great opportunity and added nothing offensively. Didn't link with Bothroyd at all and he just is not the man to get us out of this relegation zone. Bothroyd - 4 - Awful. So disapointing after showing some real promise earlier in the season. For a tall guy he won nothing in the air today. He was clumsy on the ball, he and Dickov had a lack of awareness and did not link well and he barely got a shot in all day. Hughes - 5 - Needed to change things up front far sooner than he did and even then he was forced into it due to injury. Did not have the players fired up and lakced incention. Referee - 3 - thought he had a fairly good first half but blatantly should have booked a palace player and didn't. Got almost everything he could wrong from what I saw, though the brawl at the end wasn't at all clear in my eyes. If anyone should have been booked, I think it should have been Flitcroft. I didn't see Thompson do anything. Perhaps somebody could clear that up? I want to see something new - upfront and in midfield. It sounds crazy but in defense we look solid. I want to see MGP given a go in midfield. I have been the first person to defend Hughes in not playing him but we lacked creativity all over today as with Spurs last week and I do not care if he lacks strength, I want him to be given a go. Upfront we have real problems. I would love to see Stead and Gallagher given a go and I think they are the best pairing we have at the moment, both clinical finishers - either would have burried Dickovs opportunities in recent matches.

Looked on the official site and browsed this page to see if there were still tickets available. I'm guessing there are, but don't want to make a wasted trip. Can anybody enlighten me?

Has Hartson signed a new deal at Celtic? 15 goals this season in the SPL, 4 more than the next highest scorer. Strength and power upfront and the ability to score plenty of goals. If we could get him then that would be an amazing signing. Personally I think it's a matter of finding the right combination upfront and while Dickov has been our best performing striker, I just do not think he works well enough with our other strikers. I'd much rather us bring in a new central midfielder as a priority and as a luxury a right back, centre back and striker.

Say Roverdrake, I mean Ewood Dream, interesting, perhaps conveniant, that you joined on the same day that Roverdrake stopped posting, write just like he did and have a dislike for Matteo... Sorry if everyone else already knew they were the same person, I've been wondering for ages.

Haven't watched the match as yet so won't comment on our lack of creativity, but those players you have used as examples pretty much prove you wrong. Ronaldo and Giggs, in particular, have huge upper body strength and the ability to run through the opposition. Duff has the blind pace to run past anyone and has certainly increased in strength and stature in the last few years, Defoe is a centre forward, similarly Malbranque is a creative midfielder - is Tugay huge in stature? I think Wright-Phillips is just about the only one on that list I can give you, though he's certainly tougher from what I have seen than Pedersen. I swear if I hear this one more time I'll scream. Please just go away and stay off this thread.

As much as I like Dickov's work ethic and think he has played superbly this season, he is a poor finisher - in recent weeks theres been about three one on one chances with the keeper that a better player would have put away. He does, however, shield the ball extremely well and if we could find the right player to play along side him I think we would be in business. The problem with our strikers is that they are all too similar or cannot play together; Dickov, Gallagher and Bothroyd all appear to be link players and if playing together, just will not score the goals. Our goal scorers, Stead and Jansen, are either in poor form or lacking in confidence and match practice. Personally, I would like to see Hughes revert back to the Stead/Gallagher partnership that Souness used for a small period last season. The only problem would be how on earth do you justify dropping Dickov and can you afford to lose his grafting in a relegation battle?

I think it was also very impressive how Hughes has dealt with Tugay. He has been inconsistent at best for much of the season and in the first half yesterday I thought he was playing similar to recent weeks - getting drawn out of the centre, backing out of challanges, poor passing, only going backwards and sideways - and he was pretty much anonymous in the first half. However, Hughes persisted and his second half performance was very good, mainly because of his drive and commitment to tackle, something I believe to be the result of Hughe's half time team talk because Tugay looked fired up. Hughes will not make rash decisions or cut and change the team every week - he has played McEveley and after three matches decided he is either not ready or not good enough or simply just giving him a rest. Now he has started Gallagher and reaped the rewards - he seems to favour using the academy and I like that.

Haven't had the opportunity to read many posts as yet but people are giving Tugay and Ferguson remarkably good marks considering how anonymous they both were in the first half. Fulham were given acres of space and Tugay was again getting caught out of position with Ferguson not back tracking. Second half, however, Tugay played long stretches further up the pitch and he was able to really show his stuff. Ity was nice to see the two rotating rather than one playing infront of the defense the entire match. Much more of a partnership today between the two. Emerton and Reid were just superb AGAIN today, Emerton especially - he's looking an absolutely brilliant player. Thought Gallagher was good today and nice to see him in the team. Huge improvement from Neill, minus one occasion in the first half when Fulham were let in and missed the goal by a couple of inches because he wasn't far enough up the pitch. Johansson at left back was just brilliant and I hope to see the same formation next week. Great game and a damned good performance! EDIT: one complaint is that Emerton could have got about 5 shots in today but instead chose to pass. He really needs to get the confidence to shoot.

Providing Reid is suspended on saturday, my team would be... Freidel Neill / Todd / Johansson / McEveley Emerton / Thompson / Ferguson / MGP Dickov / Jansen Going to go for a 1-0 defeat.

Sorry Den, I'm not sure if you are implying that Thompson's passing is not up to the centre midfield role or not. I Haven't seen a lot of Thommo because I've only been watching live games over the last year or two, but last weekend I though his passing, displayed in his assists, was excellent and that in terms of attacks his vision was superb. Obviously this was just one match but if he wasn't before, maybe he is now...

PLEASE stop refering to this appearence fee as if it is fact - it is not! It's just something you have fathomed and its just so irritating to constantly read it. Also, I find it EXTREMELY unlikely that an appearence fee would come into effect after less than 10 appearences. That is the only way this could affect Hughes winter transfer budget. On another thread people have been taking the... out of you when MGP is mentioned and thats because you ALWAYS state your opinion, relentlessly. We do not care anymore, give it a rest. Personally I hope MGP plays on saturday if Reid is banned, mainly to see if he has improived his game and if he has learnt anything from the new management. Also because this would allow Thompson to play in the centre.

I apologize because 15 pages is just too much to read for me before posting, so I have not read whats preceded. I think the attention this incident has received is ridiculous. One man in a crowd, obviously drunk or just a plain idiot, makes a few racist gestures and our club is plastered all over the papers. It's just another pathetic reflection of the ridiculous over sensitivity on racism. Absolutely pathetic. Sure I do not condone it, but jesus, this happens all the time and the situation was dealt with efficiently. There isn't a racism crisis in the game, but the stupid amount of attention the issue is given is making it all the more offensive and all the more easy to offend. People need to be less sensitive and realise that racism has, and always will occur, it's just the way it is. As for Yorke, he is in his right to be angry and offended but he hasn't helped his former club by making such a massive deal of it. It's really unfortunate that at the time the crowd was also boo'ing because many think the entire crowd were boo'ing out of racism and not the fact that he's a lazy... He could easily have warmed up at the other end of the pitch. I was also very pleasently surprised by Birmingham's chairman who really played down the incident and looked at it realistically. I've since stopped watching SSN because the exposure this incident is receiving is ridiculous.