I don't want to see Vratti back at left back, he's looked all to clumsy to play there.. at left wing on the other hand, I think he can do a job. However, here I want to see Gamst Pedersen or De Pedro get a run, because they ARE our leftwingers. Gamst will probably cover better defensively than De Pedro, against Chelsea I guess that covering up on the opposite wing is more important - since they don't have any rightwingers at the moment. I don't know how Neill would cope in a central defender position, but if he can play there then getting him in and Reid down at right back seems interesting. Lucas is more pacy than Amo/Matteo for sure, it's more the tactical bit that worries me when it comes to playing him in there..! Emerton should obviously play at the right wing, even though Reid did ok there - Emo's qualities is needed on that side, not on the left where he looks out of position. (which he is..)

I don't like seeing Emerton being played out of position, but I felt that Reid did a job at the right side of midfield, so hopefully he can just keep on working and give us depth. I agree with R6, Gamst should really get some games soon, and at least Hughes could have subbed someone the last fifteen mins to give Gamst some playing time, even at 3-0 down. Would also love to see De Pedro get some games, Gally the same.. My team against Chelsea: Friedel- Neill, Short, Amo, Gray- Emerton, Reid, Ferguson, Gamst Pedersen Djorkaeff- Jansen/Stead/Bothroyd ...with Gally/Dickov to come on as subs, they're the kind of players to pressurise the opponents!

Agree a hundre percent, Thommo and Ferguson can both be "complete midfielders", which would give us variety and good movement in the centre of the pitch. Both of them is capable of tackling and both are hardworking midfielders, and both of them are good attacking players.

Didn't bother to read through all the posts here, just wanted to say that I think slating Steven Reid after last nights match is undeserved. IMO, Reid was one of the better players in blue/white last night, he worked his socks off and got involved, both defensively and in attack. He was always the one player in the box when we had the ball down the left flank, and that is actually a very underestimated quality in a footballer, the ability to get into scoring positions. This is the same thing all over again, you dislike Reid because he hasn't made an impact at all for us yet, just like you slated Emerton in matches where he actually did allright. Both two wingers were forced into a central midfield position when Tugay got sent off (very uneccessary, silly tackle!) and I think Reid did well. A midfield of Gamst Pedersen, Ferguson, Reid and Emerton would be interesting IMO, I think he can do a job! Not much point in discussing our defence though, c r a p ! Thought Lucas Neill did allright, he's a solid defender. The two central "defenders" on the other hand... EDIT: Agree with 92, as you can see..

If Fletcher played for us, don't you think he'd just be considered a very ordinary player. Because imo, that is what he is. Lacks pace, isn't the strongest of tacklers and is hardly a goal threat. Agree with 6, Fletcher isn't special at all. The new Beckham my ass.. He'll might become what Souey used to call "a proper player" in the future for all I know, but at the present he's far from it - from what I have seen. Makes wrong choices, tries to play on abilities he just does not have. Look to Dickov, Darren, he knows what he's capable of and what he's not capable of. The only two quality players is IMO Barry Ferguson and James McFadden. Haven't seen the youngsters much, like Pearson, but from the XI that played against Norway, they were the only positives. Well, obviously Dickov is a threat to every team, but that's just because he's such a hardworking player. EDIT: Naysmith is also a fairly good player, forgot about him..

Anyone heard anything about his injury ?

Gamst made a positive impression today, working hard both ways and both an assist and a goal. The assist wasn't SUBLIME though, tchocky, it was a good pass - not more! Good game altogether, with Gamst and rightwinger Solli as the star men IMO.

Agreed! His points makes perfectly sense, and to me Barry is just a dedicated footballer who loves playing for his country. If it were Rovers he would do the same, just because he loves to get involved and do his best for his teams - Rovers and Scotland. YES, we pay his wages, but they talk about players being e.g "Charlton through and through", and Ferguson is just that - with Scotland.

Gamst will start tomorrow, when we (Norway) take on mighty Slovenia. At least he was the left winger in today's formation training. Let's hope he can have a good match and get some confidence from it.

He's the only quality player in our team at the moment, so no - I sure as hell don't agree with you. He's been excellent, considering he's just gotten back from 6 months of injury nightmare. (Trust me, dislocating/damaging the kneecap HURTS, and it doesn't exactly heal quickly either!) I would be incredibly disappointed if Rovers were to lose Barry in Jan or after this season, he's a player to build the team around and as I said - our only class man at the moment IMO. Keep Ferguson, and build the team around him and whoever else can keep up - Emerton, Neill, Jansen, Gallagher, Stead, Dickov, Gamst Pedersen................................. EDIT: And NO, I actually believe that Ferguson himself is happy at Rovers and is not looking for another club - at the moment anyway. The agent, I don't know, I guess they're always looking for money... but the point is, Ferguson is staying, will do his best for Rovers AND Scotland, and I'm delighted he is!

Douglas and Donnelly?..

Course not. If it was the other way around, he'd do the exact same thing! But if he plays against Moldova or Macedonia or whoever on Wednesday, Rovers should really complain to the correct authority. Hamstrings are nasty stuff..

Still, you ought to read the story. It's just Bazza's agent getting fifteen minutes of fame..

Flitty you mean?

Of course there's truth in it, the truth is that his agent has said that Liverpool was interested in Ferguson while at Rangers. So what? Paper talk, and paper talk only.

Neill and Emo will be back, but will obviously be tired after their long flights.. Ferguson, who knows? Let's hope they rest him on Wednesday, if he's not 100 percent fit then rest him against Boro aswell - don't want him injured the next three months.

Sorry, Philip, have to disagree with you there.. Andresen is no tackling midfielder, the reason behind him being benched was that coach Hareide wanted a more rough midfielder, against a physical Scottish side. We struggled to create anything from midfield, Iversen/Carew was left all alone up there.. I still think Gamst will come around, he wasn't impressing at all tonight, and I'm a bit worried about his lack of enthusiasm and confidence in some situations.. but if he can keep his head down and work hard, he'll be a sure starter come January !

Peter Taylor has confirmed that Stead / Bent will start next match..

According to Gamst, he got a call from Ole Gunnar Solskjær recently, telling him to stay in there and fight for a place. "He told me to work hard, yell a little bit more in training and be patient". Well, he can't possibly get a better role model than Solskjær when it comes to this IMO, he's very dedicated and loyal to his employers. So keep calling, Ole Gunnar!

It wasn't a punch, it was bloody Amir Khan... 6 matches, deserved.

If you put five quid on van Nistelrooy as first goalscorer, and he's not included in the squad - you get your money back. I follow the same rules, Savage won't play, therefore I win on a 1/1 odds. Btw, Herbergeking? How nice of you..

.... just to make sure: do you or do you NOT think Savage will get booked? EDIT: ALL BETS ARE OFF, Savage suspended... I finally understood why you were so eager to bet on it..

A tenner on Savage getting booked, a fiver on him get sent off against England....! (no danger in multiplying these figures with say.. ten)

Seems childish if true, doubt Dunnie would sink that low.. after all, he didn't shoot down Souness in the media after transferring to Birmingham..

Good post Jim.