I think this game shows how badly we need Savage in the team. There's no tempo to our play at all esp. in the 1st half. Gray looks like a lost child on the pitch, cant blame him anyway as a last min replacement for unfortunate Emerton who I feel we would've gotten something out of this game if he plays. Center Midfield and leftback definitely are the positions to be address during Jan. As we could see Tugay is no more a 26 years old chap to last the whole match at the current pace and the 'Axe' is just an axe. I also feel McCarthy seems distracted atm. Are those racist thing still cloaking his mind?? Good points are the performance of S.Peter, how refreshing to watch when we had only Gamst's freekick to appreciate this season. You could see his eagerness to want to perform well. Faded during the end which is understandable given the oppotunities he had in the first team. I'll say give him more chance in the future. We will be able to cope with 3 losses imo. No pressing of panic button yet. As long we keep our heads high and keep working. I think a positive result will come soon. Let it be on thursday.

No Rangers but looks like a good draw avoiding decent clubs. Good chances of progressing I think.

Group A it is. Do make it come true. I 'll be a happy man.

Getting exciting!! Home or away let us have Rangers. Come on Rovers!

Hope we don't get embarrassed. 2-1 to Salzburg isn't too bad a result anyway and we will finished them back at home.

I'm generally satisfied with our transfer signings covering areas we lack last season. Some really good value buys I feel in McCarthy,Roberts and loanee Nonda although they haven't perform to my expectations yet. Still settling in would say, only time will tell with more games coming up.

Its been awhile since my last post. Work is killing me atm. But I do have some concerns (don't know where I can put it) after watching rovers this season. I am certainly no bandwagoneers as I'm no.1 fan of Hughes/Williams who both will definitely able to take us to the new heights in near future. But those so called 'bandwagoneers' do have a valid resaon to over-react after rovers performance recently. Lack creativity is the main concern to most if not all, but I felt that its our attacking outlet becoming to predictable with our current play. So are we being founded by our rivals or are the players really under perform? I hope Hughes does have a plan B in his mind instead of keep relying on our predictable 442 formation. Didn't Everton turn the tides around and nick a late equaliser after a change of players and formation? Its pain to see us struggling in the last period of time at Brammel Lane when Utd players rose to occasion and up the tempo while Hughes seems helpless to do anything with his subs. Probably its early days yet but I hope Hughes sort out his squad asap as games are coming thick and fast now. While having in mind an alternative tactic (by throwing in a defensive player for an offensive one or v.v) or formation be it 451, 433, 352 when things don't go our way. As I see with our one and only formation now, we really need all 10 outfield players to perform in order to get any results.

Good reasoning there shillito15. The difference in opinion depends on whether you are viewing it as footballing terms or business terms. Sad to say in modern days, football clubs are being run as a business. Players being their assets. I'm not saying I'm happy to let Nelsen leave as he had shown us what a quality player he is to warrant the fees we will receive for him. But if selling him and replacing him with two decent player who had played in the WC (Oojier and Huth). Not only we replace him with equal quality but also raise our club's profile immensely. Like I said before, Rovers had signed their most valuable player this season in Hughes and with Williams, I can safely say our beloved club is in good hands. So am just relax and see what kind of squad we have after 1st sept. Roll it on. Just like to add more. Personally love this article by Andy Neild :Rovers are sexy now So much of positive vibes coming out from the club and how well we are selling ourselves now. "We've got great facilities, I'd like to think a good manager, great coaches, good back-up from all departments at the club, and everything is geared to make players better, and that will always be an attraction for footballers." We could have dubbed ourselves as a small Ajax in England.

Poor performance from us but credit to the greeks. They are good technically(I think they're champions in the league last season) and stop us from playing in the midfield. We only get going when Tugay came on(too late). I hope Hughes realise that we do need a quality center midfielder as this match shows that none apart from Tugay can hold the midfield together when facing good opponents. Think Hughes and the players got alot to learn from tonight's game. Like most said, it's better to make mistakes in pre-season then in a crunching UEFA cup match!

Thanks for the link, been watching it now, the quality is poor but watchable. Btw whats with our shorts?

Managed to squeeze into top 10 at the last round thanks to the 'Pig' from Germany.

Welcome aboard Roberts! Well done Rovers! Two thumbs up from me. Two signings in a day. The boards do work hard to get things done so stop slating them for not doing enough when there's no transfer news comin out from those press. On my view, Roberts is vastly underrated. Watched him number of times last season. He's been causing problems against defenders even when operating as a lone striker. I see him as a target man being strong and yet possess with decent pace. But I do fear that we could have miss out on Mido with him signed. I can't see Mido n Roberts with Kuqi as backup. All being too similar. Time to look for a striker with pace but no Baros please.

I would say no. Not even with crazy money. Why sell a talented young player that's happy with the club?? What does it imply to other good young players? I hope the club will come out saying 'He's Not For Sale' when club like manure or spud approaches and sign him on for another another 2 years till '10 this summer. I surely hope that mgp realise that we are the club thats on the up even when comparing to the likes of manure etc.

Brillant!! What a performance from the lads.. although Savage sending off is abit harsh by the sound of it. How many match will he sit out? Bellamy had done it for us again. He is simply few class above all the rest. Lets hope he stay fit and Europe is near.. very near.

Nothing separate both team honestly.. only difference is we finished our chance while they don't. Fifth position and 3 points off spurs! Europe.. Here we come!!!

Yes! Yes! Rovers won!! Kuqi scores!! Swan-like celebrations!! You have done what i had wish for tonight.. you made my day. One downside is bell's injury though. Hope he could recover next game. Table up we come!!

After an excellent result against a top team last week. Most will expect us to fall short against a below average team. This is a game we need to win if we expect to finish as top 10 and staying clear of that 'R' zone. My team : Friedal Neil Zurab/Todd Nelson Gray Emerton Reid Tugay Pedersen Bellamy Kuqi The inclusion of kuqi in my team as wba will see bellamy and pedersen as the main dangerman in our attack, hence lessen the attention of him which had him as the main attack focus when we played 451. I really hope that now with a capable strike partner in bell, he could recapture the form that's been so prolific when he's at Ipswich last season. My prediction is 2-1. Bellamy and Kuqi for us. Can't wait to see kuqi's celebration which is long overdue!!

I'm loving it..

Jansen to start and alone up there? hmm.. seems a strange selection by hughes but good to see jansen getting a start (at last). Comon rovers!! Ps: looking at our bench tonight, whose to say we lack firepower upfront this season??

Nice preview, rovers will win it as always. We play 4141, fast-counter them where possible, exploit their slow defence hopefully with bell's pace. Heres my team ; Friedel Neill, Moko, Nelsen, Matteo Tugay Reid, Bentley Savage, Pedersen Bellamy Sub : Enks, Gresko, Emerton, Jansen, Kuqi Rovers 2-0 bellamy and savage for us.

Just watched the delayed telecast over here. I just got to say; No doubt we lost the match but looking at the qualities we had in our squad atm being a mid-table team at best. These are the matches we would have easily lost in the season.. In fact during GS days, we would just sit deep and clear every single ball on sight throughout and still lost the game. Under Hughes, take away that disappointing first, we took initiative, dominated second half creating chances, forcing villa to play counters most of the time. In the end we got more possessions and corners. The efforts and commitment they put in to me is top class. They definitely gets more fitter and tactically organise under the guidance of Hughes and co. I am confidence just give Hughes another season or two to get in the players he wants, we will be up there challenging with the elites. Under his reign, the future only gets brighter!!

1-1 draw is my prediction. Heart says 2-1 rovers. kuqi (can't wait to see his swan-like celebration ) for us, keane for them. Spurs not as formidable as what papers said. A defense consists of ; Stalteri - not proven yet, Dawson - championship level still learning, Gardner - doggy for me, Edman - that looks better, uncompromise player, doesn't strike fear to many premiership strikers at all. If we can up our tempo earlier on like what we did last sat and nick 1 or 2 goals before ht. We will definitely stands a great chance to win it. Go for it rovers!

Good job !! Delighted with the result. Sounds like we are in good attacking shape looking at the numbers on our shots and corners. We need to finish off teams like fulham with much ease if we are gunning for europe places. Saw our first goal by pedersen and what a gem!! Perfectly executed!! Can't wait to see our second which sounds as good as the first too. First down.. now whos next at ewood?

Due to the injuries we had atm.. I reckon we are back to the famillar 4141 formation. Hughes prefered 4141 lineup will be, Friedel Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo Moko Emerton, Reid, Savage, Pedersen Kuqi But being at home turf, we got to be more positive getting forward. My prefered line up would be a more versatile 4231, Friedel Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo Moko, Savage Gally, Reid, Pedersen Kuqi Giving gally, reid and pedersen more freedom to get in and support kuqi. Prediction for me would be, 4141 - 0-0 stalemate 4231 - 2-1 rovers Go rovers!!

What a let down.. still hoping bellamy will start the season fully fit after lasting the whole first game but to get injure in a meaningless friendlies is just so depressing. Seeing the loan out of douglas and probably the sales of flitcroft(rumour). Lets all hope that the board is actually trying to push some deadwoods out now, hence freeing up enough wages to add another striker on loan. Getting Earnshaw a good shout for me.