I wasn't argueing about whether Emerton was playing well, and truth be told I havent seen a rovers match in a few weeks, but what I was argueing was your immature accusation that Hughes was "blanking," MGP. Perhaps Emerton has shown more to Hughes than MGP as to why he should play in that position, but in any case, that's not what I am argueing. In answer to the piece you have quoted, MGP has shown nothing to say he is warranting of a first team place. Although I understand your frustration at a young player not getting the chance to play, I just do not think we can accomodate him. Before I say anything more I just want to reiterate that it's my opinion that either Djorkaeff, De Pdero or Jansen should play on the left as Pedersen looks too light weight for the division as it stands, though he is a very promising player. Finally, I agree Emerton on the left is a real mistake, upsetting the balance of the team and immediatly limits one of our best players, one of two or three that can actually make a difference at the moment.

GROW UP rover6! Have you thought that perhaps he isn't "blanking," him or victimising him, MAYBE Pedersen is in the same position as the rest opf the team and has shown no reason why he deserves a starting place. Johansson played a game for us this season and we have a poor defense but hasn't started since... VICTIMISATION!!! Hughes is a disgrace! What these magical sub performances are supposed to do to our victim, I do not know.

Have to disagree. Aside from the last two matches I have praised Hughes ability to motivate the team at half time, when they always seem eager and willing.

Hillarious.

Four wins before xmas? Are you insane? I think this is more accurate... liverpool - 0 norwich - 1 man city - 1 brum - 3 fulham - 1 spurs - 0 palace - 1 everton - 0 newcastle - 0 bolton - 1 It doesn't matter how we improve our defense if we cannot score and right now I cannot see where any of our goals will come from.

Our goal difference is frightening. I fear the damage has already been done. If we do not get a result at Man City and Norwich then frankly I think we're down.

I'm not saying that we should be playing Pedersen but is this last season all over again? Souness was absolutely blasted for playing an unbalanced team and players out of position and it played a large role in our dismal season. We need to play somebody better suited to the left and keep one of our star players so far this season in his prefered position.

Guys, the chat features working incase you were unsure.

2-0 Chelsea, but a huge improvement at the back.

Sorry but that really wasn't funny.

Why is it that I'm told I'm not needed at work one day before the match?! I cannot get up to Blackburn to buy a ticket, so if on the off chance anybody has a spare ticket theyd want to sell to me for tomorow, please message me

EDIT - the picture is huge, how do i reduce its size?

I'm sorry to repeat myself but I think that if Hughes is a good manager he will address this problem and that this is having an affect on Pedersen's return to the first team and adapting to the league. I would prefer De Pedro ahead of Pedersen at the moment because of his experience in the game and strength that are both required against teams like Chelsea and his pin point crosses to help solve our poor goal scoring record this season - if Emerton is failing in this respect then De Pedro can help and againt a narrow chelsea midfield I doubt his lack of pace will be exploited as much. I think Pedersen looks a real prospect, full of energy and looking to beat his man, but whats the use when he's just barged off the ball at every turn. Rover6, I fail to see what sub appearences will achieve - it's hardly enough time to let him make an impact on the game and ultimately time in the reserves will get him to grips with the english game.

This is the best thread I'v seen in my time on the MB. at Jim's picks... Where the hell does he find them too?!

Run - Snow Patrol is one of my favourite songs in a long, long time and last week I decided to download the album. I was very pleased that I did - it encouraged me to buy tickets for their London gig but while their site said there were tickets available, there were infact not. That's Keane, Snow Patrol and Maroon 5 I'm going to miss playing live now...

I don't know how to describe it Radagast - I have no idea about music, I just like what I hear and while Hopes and Fears is generally slow, the songs have a really nice rythem and are really catchy. R.E.M's new album on the other hand just seems... well, boring. The first track aside there is just no catchy beat and no rythem. sorry but I just do not like it. Compare that with songs like Great Beyond, Man on the Moon and Losing my Religion and this album is really disapointing. (and don't ask me to explain about rythems and beats - I gave music up at school when I was 14 )

Downloaded R.E.M's new album and, as an R.E.M fan, I'm extremely disapointed. There just no kick to any of their songs except the first track. Keane - Hopes and Fears is one of the best albums I have heard in a long time, while Snow Patrol - Final Straw is another excellent album. Have many people heard Jimmy Eat World's new album, or even of Jimmy Eat World?...

Did I say that? sheash... What I do think is that Jansen or Emerton would give far more than Pedersen would at the moment, Jansen has strength and can beat a man, Emerton plays as a winger and is on top form. Both seem more appropriate to play in this game, though I wouldn't play either. For me Reid would be the best player to play, purely because he has power, strength, pace and tenacity and will atleast provide something , though I think he is far more valuable in central midfield at the moment. Even if I though Pedersen was ready for premiership football, this certainly isn't the right time to play him. Think what will happen to his confidence if he is man handled by Ferriera all match.

I have only seen Gallagher once or twice and I thought he played particularly well on the one occasion. I think a lot of people's liking for him is based upon the fact that he is young, promising and a graduate of the youth system. It has been a long time since a member of our youth team was given an extended run in the first team and Gallagher has some degree of sentimental value to the fans.

For me the real reason I wouldn't play Pedersen is that he looks ridiculously light weight in the premiership and every time I have seen him play he is just easily brushed off the ball. He has shown nothing as yet for Rovers and needs to adapt to the training regime and play in the reserves before he comes into the first team. I REALLY hope Hughes get somebody to bash him about in training to give him some fight whilst working on building his upper body strength. He could well be very good, but right now he just isn't a premiership player. I'd hate to see him up against one of the best right backs in the world in Ferreira on Saturday, because he'd just be played out of the game. He isn't ready.

All depends on whether Chelsea get through wednesday without an injury and whether Amoruso is playing on saturday. If Short is fit, I think we can keep Chelsea from scoring too many. This game will be won in midfield; chelsea are light on strikers at the moment and Rovers have yet to find a striker capable of scoring this season. Mourinho will no doubt play a diamond and it is imperitive that Ferguson is on top of his game and that we actually have some bite in his midfield partner. Makalele has been excellent this season and is the biggest obstical to over come as I'm sure he will break up most of opur moves. To counter this I'm sure Hughes will be playing 5 in midfield with Djorkaeff and Ferguson making plenty of forward runs. Im hoping we play Emerton on the right so we can exploit Chelseas narrow midfield but really do not think Pedersen should play. He will be up against one of the worlds best right backs in Ferreira and he just isn't physically strong enough to beat him. I'd like to see us play De Pedro though this is at best unlikely. On this basis I would like to see a Rovers team of... Friedel Neill / Short / Matteo / Gray Emerton / Djorkaeff / Ferguson / Reid / Jansen Stead As for the score - 2-0 Chelsea.

I just don't think Thompson would fit into our central midfield with Ferguson. We need somebody with the ability to track back and tackle hard and I think Thompson would just be too attack minded, limiting Fergusons impact on the game and leaving our already inept defense more exposed. Then we have to remember that Emerton has got off to a flyer this season and it will be extremely difficult to displace him. Emerton can't tackle for **** and will not be able to play centrally and for me it's a straight choice between whether he or Thompson play in the team. Frankly, I don't think we will be seeing much of Thompson this season if Emerton continues as he has. As it stands I think the best way to play is to keep Ferguson and Djorkaeff in the midfield and maybe consider somebody tenacious like Todd to sit back. If Flitcroft could still do this then I would say play him alongside, but sadly he looks well passed it. Reading the post above - I agree fully that that is the way to play, but we just do not have a player who can. Two Fergusons with a little more defensive bite would be amazing.

Thankfully i was not at the game yesterday. The last home match I attended I was sat in the corporate boxes overlooking the bbe - if i was there this time I could have seen exactly what happened. I've read mention of our fans standing match after match and thus an aggressive approach is the result, but unless the seat numbers and faces of the individuals are remembered perfectly by the stewards then frankly I don't count that as an excuse for their behaviour at all. Every club will have fans that stand on occasion - the entire home stand cannot be victimised because of the actions of a few. If there are people standing week in, week out, address them individually. To do this in a game we are losing heavily speaks volumes for the incompetance of the stewards - they must be aware that the fans will already be pretty furious with the rubbish on the pitch and that they are more likely to retaliate to thuggish policeing. The last away match I attended was at Charlton. Towards the end, large sections stood for prolonged periods but the stewards let us be. If someone infront of you stands, you stand - the fans recognize this, as did the stewards, and nobody really cared. The result was a far more enjoyable match, despite eventually losing. There was absolutely no trouble to speak of... well I didn't see any anyway.

21 votes ahead of the rest with less than a day gone. I can see where this is going...

Sure, we kept possession of the ball in defence and just outside our own box, but as soon as our players lost patience and had passed it around for a few minutes it was always the long ball to the front two. If Rooney wasn't there to take the ball forward it would have been much more than it was. Admittedly in the second half we played a lot better out of defence and into attack, but the first half was full of long balls.