Christ this is starting to annoy me somewhat now. Being honest technically Arsenal are better than us, even pace wise they have the faster players. One way to upset that is by harrying oppnents and trying to outmuscle, outrun and (wait for this word) out-organise teams. From what I can tell Hughes has made us into a high tempo, high pressing team. Which results in more fouls. Simple logic says the closer your are to player the increased chance of making a tackle but with this brings an increase risk of making a foul. Hughes has set the team up to work hard chasing the ball and there being no gaps at the back. But because we don't have the players to produce sexy football we are lambasted? If this is so why were no players sent off? Why only four (IIRC) bookings? I'd rather have my players booked for mis-timing a tackle not petuantly kicking the ball away....

After a couple of days of contemplation i'm glad I went. When the teams walked out the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, that rarely happens at Ewood these days I thought we played ok, we were doing well in the opening 25-30 mins and then Arsenal just seemed to look all that more menacing towards the end of the half and I could sense a goal. I actually thought we played well in the second half we were actually looking at making a break through but time was running out and Hughes brought on Stead which lost us our shape and fiar play to Arsenal they took full advantage! BTW i'm not critiscing Hughes by bringing on Stead we had to give it a go at that point. I'd like to see Reid get forward more as he's a quite fast and a big strong lad who will cause problem by arriving in the box later. Plus i'd like to see someone in the team actually shooting......

Well that was boring wasn't it? Didn't think it was too bad of a game, the fact that spurs seemed very well organised in defence should lead to some pointers to out weakness'. 1. Why do we hoof the ball up when none of our strikers are fast or big and good in the air? 2. Why on earth do Tugay and Ferguson start in a 4-4-2? There both quite similar on where they like to sit and neither of them were that effective? 3. NJ at left back? Your having a laugh ain't you? Admitedly it was a strange game neither team got into any sort of rhythm at all and the one main spurs attack in the second half resulted in a goal (good tackle Tugay on him there....). I think our strength lies in our wings and we need to attack teams that way but as I say we didn't get going at all. Strangely I thought Bothroyd caused them problems as well as our fans (watch out for that ball in the blackburn end) when he was brought on. Neill I thought played well

I'm intrigued at the moment how Hughes is lining up the team. I don't think the system is 'that' similar to the one he uses for Wales but then maybe he doesn't want to knock the boat too much. I'm all for bazza getting forward as he looked good against Villa and our attack actually looked like we were trying new ideas and varying the style of our attacks, now wether this was down to ferguson's new found freedom as well as fitness remains to be figured out by myself (I only watchd it on the prem highlights on sky.... ) But the defence looked vunerable again and that needs plugging by someone who will just sit in front of the back four and harry opponents when not in possesion. The thing is who's avalible..... well as has been said Flittcrofts prob lost the legs to do it and Douglas..... big task that for someone with little top flight experience IMHO. Tugay, well from what I heard he was sold as he was too similar to barry ferguson (well that and Rangers mamoth fianacial problems). So who could we get in.... lievrpool have the market cornered for defensive midfield players but there... well... prob over priced for us. Personally i'd like to see hamann but Gerrards injury rules that out. Robbie Savage has recently signed a new contract as has anyone at ManUre (as much as i'm loath to say it P.Neville could do a job for us). There is a distinct lack of players who we could get to fufill that role. I wouldn't mind seeing Todd in that role but after refusing to wear the shirt i'm not so sure....

I'd say i'm happy on the whole, it will be intresteing to see what sort of formation he will be using. As far as i'm aware he was using big john hartson upfront with giggs and bellamy playing slightly behind to get onto any flick on's through balls etc. I'm happy we have gone for a young manager as i'd rather us try a new untried (at this level anyhows) manager than one thats tried and useless (i'm looking at you Houllier and Advocat <sp?>). It also seems Sparky has the lads on his side with regards Wales, I mean Savage in his 442 coloum is always banging on about him. Souness I felt was only ever gonna be good for a couple of seasons before he would lose the dressing room (so to speak anyhows), his discipline was what was needed to get us out of the 1st division and establishing us as a premiership side (although he neraly cocked that one up)