Time to be brave and bring in some fresh faces. Emerton should be benched as he was at the end of last season - coinciding with a winning streak. Reid to replace him on the right (why was he dropped in the first place?) Thomson either benched or sent to chase sheep round a field - which is about the sum total of his recent efforts. Drop Mokoena who shows no passing ability whatsoever and looks like a red card waiting to happen - if the yellow has not got there first to shackle the only aspect of his game - tackling. Take a risk with Tugay - at least he can pass (sometimes) - and bring back Stead. Unfortunately we're stuck with Neill and Matteo - both as bad as anything since Larry Grayson and Harkness - but there's no alternative. I fear it won't happen and Hughes will stick to the tried and failed (at home) so its 0 - 2 (Ashton and Huckerby - who is due for a goal).

I suspect if this 4-5-1 carries on much longer we will back in the mire and nobody will be sorry to see such a physical, negative unentertaining team go down.

The club has banked a transfer profit in this window but will no doubt plead poverty in the summer. Even if Rovers stay up both Emerton and Thompson will leave in the summer for modest fees. If things look bad now they'll be a whole lot worse next season. The caution of the board/owners looks like a strategy to land in the Coca Cola with manageable debts

No way will Ferguson play. Don't expect to see him for some time with this injury.

I doubt any move will take place this month due to Ferguson's injury. He has a history of groin problems and had a major op a few months before joining Rovers. One of the newspapers last week referred to him as having a "fragile chassis". The fact he's had nearly 3 weeks out and has been sent for a scan suggests this is not a minor problem.

Speaking on 5 Live this evening Harry Harris a tabloid journo( admittedly not a beacon of truth) said there are circumstances behind Ferguson wanting to leave that he could not mention on air. There better had be because otherwise he looks a complete numpty by the way he has behaved.

The silence from Ferguson himself is deafening and telling. If he wants to leave he might at least have courtesy to say so (unless he's money-grabbing for the "loyalty bonus") and if not he should put this sordid saga to an end now.

Just got back from match. Tugay was awful but apart from that alot of strong individul performances including notably Nissa at full back. Pedersen still looks lightweight and easily dispossessed but one thrilling second half run certainly shows promise. Nelsen looks fearsomely strong more like All Bl;ack than a typical footballer.

This unfolding saga looks uncomfortably similar to the peparture of Sherwood at precisely the same point in the relegation (and at a time when Rovers were looking likely to avoid the drop after a fruitful Xmas period). Then Rovers caved in to Spuds even though Sherwood was still under contract. For the remainder of the season Rovers were utterly rudderless in midfield (to the extent of using handbags Wilcox in a holding position in some matches!) We can only hope the lesson has been learnt but I suspect that once again player/agent power will win at the expense of the clubs that pay them. Yet again Rovers will have lost a small fortune for very little in return. Davies,Grabbi,Cole the list is endless and sickening.

Everton makes sense as they are almost bound to lose Gravesen this month and tried for Sav in the summer. No great loss as no way should Rovers pay £2m + for a 30 year old with fairly modest ability. Any money should go on a creative player or a goal scorer of which Sav is neither.

Tommo needs to be saved from himself at he moment. He's simply trying too hard to impress and making a complete mess of everything. Came on at Palace and in a very short time he completely missed with a wild tackle that set up a dangerous Palace counter. Then he put in a dreadful cross when well-positioned. Perhaps being completely out-paced up the touchline was the last straw and he flipped. At the moment he looks a liability particularly if he played in the middle as some have suggested.

Only goal-scoring strikers really transform a team - and with a very ordinary team in every department that's the opnlt y way out of the mire. Stead did it last season but probably can't repeat it. Farm out Jansen to make room. Finding such a player is the difficult part and a helping hand from Ferguson is about the only hope.

Scared stiff at the prospect of speed merchant Routledge against our bag of nerves Jonathan Ross look alike(does Nissa practice that surprised gormless look?) Add to that Johnson's pace and off-ball movement against Shorty who looked knackered after 20 mins on Saturday. Palace's style of play is to have 3 forwards using the full width and exposing opponents for pace. Break quickly when picking up loose balls in midfield - Tugay's speciality. I predict a return almost as dismal as 3 June 1989 - and with similar long term consequences. Palace 3 Rovers 0

Before his signing sources in Spain said he had a "problem". Obviously one that involves gaining weight. Draw your own conclusions. Perhaps he's at the Priory.

Back from match. Fairly even first half with fewe chances. Nissa very poor and virtually handed them a goal with a riduculous stooping back header. Team performace improved towards halftime and Hughed is right Bothroyd was the outstanding player up to his sending off. Reminds me of Collymore in many ways - build,control playing style,shooting. Unfortunately he is also a complete numpty in the head. I hope Hughes can sort him out but sadly it may need the men in white coats. Having said that I can recall Hughes himself getting sent off for similarly stupid kick outs. Second half fight back was remarkable as Rovers in complete control with 10 and Norwich non-existent - on this showing they will definitely go down- as virtually all the contributors to their the phone-in on local radio confirmed afterwards. Several personal outstanding contriburions particularly Ferguson, Dickov, McCeveleyand Reid - yes note the last name. In the end a point was the least they deserved but definitely against the weakest team in the league.

Another day another Barry Ferguson story. I am the only one becoming totally brassed off that this hugely expensive player (and his agent) seems to see his interest lies elsewhere than the club that bought and now pays him? The player seems far more interested in turning out for his country and (on his own admission) aggravating an injury. Then every few days he is linked with a different club to join in January (obviously can't wait to the end of the season). I can see the outcome. First he'll miss the Boro match and probably 2 or 3 more. Then he'll leave in the transfer window for one of the clubs seemingly with new money to burn. Rangers,Newcastle,Liverpool,Everton. Take your pick. Of course as usual the club will do the ritual posturings and say it's all beyond its control. Just give in to the player. It's probably in his contract.The fee will be £4m tops leaving a total cost to Rovers of about £6m in transfer fees and wages for a total of about 30 appearances. It makes me sick to think of the money the club has squandered. It never seems to end.

Contrast the comments by Friedel who is willing to end his international career to give his best for Rovers ( "they are the ones that pay me") with those of Ferguson who is willing to jeopardise Rovers' Prem survival to play through a hamstring injury. That is both plain stupid as well as selfish. If he ends up being out till Xmas with a torn hamstring (never an injury to settle quickly) we can start looking up the route to Brighton. If he felt the injury on Saturday why did he not tell his club and get pulled out? I'd be livid if I was manager.

Miles better than any other other centre -mid players on Rovers books - but that says more about the dross like Flitcroft and Douglas than any great quality in Ferguson

GMP was poor - makes Emo look a wprld beater by comparison. What a miss!

Why is Souness complaining? According to him at the start of last season (and beyond) he said we had the best squad of players ever! Since then nobody of any consequence has left whilst Stead, Gray ,Dickov and Encks have been recruited. I agree with an earlier post that Souness is a transfer market junkie and needs to be saved from himself. That said it does not add up that a £1.5m bid is put for a player last week but now it's nothing except free tranfers. Have we taken on a finance director from Leeds or is Souness just exaggerating? Some clarification from John Williams would be nice.

Guardian says O'Leary had him watched on Thursday and will be putting in a £2m bid. Prepare for disappointment.

The only reason not to sack Souness now is to deny him compensation money he would undoubtedly claim and receive (Derby have had to pay Gregory £1m last week in an out of court settlement). Souness has more or less bankruptyed the club, spending money they did not have- despite selling Dunn and Duff for £22m. H e has been found out for the crap manager he truly is. He took over a drastically under-performing squad and got promotion - a modest achievement in the circumstances. I'm sick of the man and he should be given a clear message at the next home match - for God's sake GO!

Sack Souness and ask Mark Hughes to save the club he helped get promoted. At least he might stop both the pointless feuding with Cole and asking boys to do a man's job.

Souness must go if lose to Leeds. Similar position to Fulham last season wgo sacked Tigana and then won 3 out of last 5 to stay up. Having said there is no Coleman in the wings so Peter Reid would be the prime candidate to motivate the uselless idle prats.