That would explain Jay McEveley getting his first-start for a long time then...

Norwich 0 Blackburn 1 (Emerton) Friedel Reid Nissa Short McEveley Emerton Ferguson Thompson Gamst-Pedersen Bothroyd Stead

Yet contributed more in one-match than Matteo and Amoruso have in their consistent runs in the side.

Maybe Hughes feels that in our current situation he wants more grafting players in the first-team than 'luxury' players like Gamst-Pedersen or De-Pedro. I think Gamst will knuckle down and keep working hard and I do hope that he shows the staff his potential and claim a first-team place.

I did. Yup good result, after those humiliating defeats I think a well-fought 2-2 draw with an on-form Liverpool side isn't a bad result. One thing worries me though, after that slight guff from McEveley and apparantly Matteo due to start until he failed a fitness-test..... So expect Dominic back in the starting line-up for the next match....*sigh*

Since Emerton is excelling he should be put back on his favoured side and thus excel more and despite Reid finding a bit of form, he should be replaced by Gamst-Pedersen. With a team that can hardly defend we need as much attacking threat as possible and Gamst-Pedersen IS a better player than Reid.

2-2 so far.... 89 minutes gone or so..

Interesting changes by Sparky, I don't really have any objections to the line-up, it's great to see McEveley back in the starting line-up, he obviously must of impressed the staff in training and the omittance of Matteo is always going to be a positive. Still dissapointed to see Morten Gamst not used and also I think maybe we COULD HAVE (like you could have paid more attention in school) replaced Tugay with Djorkaeff for a bit more creative flair. COME ON ROVERS!!!!!

*Terrified* I can only see defeat for our Rovers and I haven't got any real expectations for this match so I'll just wait to get my hope back when we have the games against Man.City and Fulham... Cisse, Luis Garcia and Baros will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Short, Matteo and Neill. If I had the reigns: Friedel Reid Todd Short Gray Emerton Djorkaeff Ferguson Gamst-Pedersen Gallagher Stead =================================

Yet you can question MGP's quality as a Premiership footballer after, arguably, doing no worse as player for us than Hughes has done as a manager. Double standards. Haha he's got you there, Scotty! Good grief, the Chuckle Brothers are posting on here now. I'm not sure what's more depressing, Rovers current form or the standard of posts on here following yesterday's game. And you conveniently avoided the 'double-standard' comment aimed at you Tell you what, when you become a highly respected member of the board with an award for best footballing contribution then come back to us. Whether I'm highly respected or not, I'm allowed to voice an opinion.

Yet you can question MGP's quality as a Premiership footballer after, arguably, doing no worse as player for us than Hughes has done as a manager. Double standards. Haha he's got you there, Scotty! Good grief, the Chuckle Brothers are posting on here now. I'm not sure what's more depressing, Rovers current form or the standard of posts on here following yesterday's game. And you conveniently avoided the 'double-standard' comment aimed at you

I was just trying to put a point across that Ferguson hasn't been as good as a player bought for £7m should be performing at. It seems the most important thing on this board is for members to try and get one over each other.... petty really.

So you are saying Ferguson has set Ewood alight with his midfield dominance? The guy has majorly under-performed and only shown a few glimmers now and again in the odd-match. Although I do still rate him and believe if Sparky can sort the side out he could be a vital cog.

Yet you can question MGP's quality as a Premiership footballer after, arguably, doing no worse as player for us than Hughes has done as a manager. Double standards. Haha he's got you there, Scotty!

More utter garbage. Pedersen hasn't been good enough - that's why he doesn't start. It's almost impossible to respond to one of your posts without making a personal attack as they're all so pathetically stupid. You simply haven't a clue and continually post "controversial" rubbish to gain attention. And I guess I've just fallen for it. Well done. I dissagree, I think rover6 just states his opinion and his opinion happens to be full of facts. Gamst-Pedersen must be played. He is a left-midfielder who is highly rated, the likes of Ferguson, Matteo, Neill have plenty of consistently bad performances yet still get in the side, so we might as well balance the side and play MGP and give him a proper chance at least.

OUT A.S.A.P. Garry Flitcroft Dominic Matteo Tugay Lorenzo Amoruso Vratislav Gresko Matt Jansen (goal vs. Pompey yet again inspired false-hope)

I am sure once Ferguson is playing in a confident, balanced, settled side he will show how good he is. The whole team is devoid of confidence and unreliable defence, the whole side is on tenderhooks when we play. Hopefully Thommo will return injury-free and Hughes will eventually play MGP to sort out the midfield.

I find the build-up this week as ridiculous, with 'Sir' Alex stating that the fracas Arsenal caused during last year's draw at Old Trafford was one of the most disgraceful things he had seen in football.... Appears 'Sir' Alex conveniently forgot.. * Cantona's assault on the Palace fan * Keane snapping Alf-Inge's leg * Aggressive hassling by his players on the ref during a match against 'Boro. Knob..

I must admit my opinion of Sparky has gone down judging from these last few woeful performances and dissapointing team selection. Since the Dickov-as-lone-forward been pointed out already I won't go on about it, but have also said previously that I will wait for a proper judgement on Sparky when I see what he can produce when the transfer market re-opens. People seem to think Robbie Savage would be a good signing, he is a player of limited talent but gives 110% and makes a few whole-hearted tackles so he is seen as some kind of midfield kingpin. Gabbidon seems to be viewed as a promising player, but I have seen him a few times and he looks nothing special and hasn't been great for Cardiff this season, maybe some people are judging him solely on the England v Wales match? Wes Brown won't touch Ewood with a barge-pole and would much rather be looking at progressing clubs like Newcastle, Middlesbrough or Birmingham. Defensive reinforcements are needed desperately as Amoruso is just too much of a risk at centre-back and Dominic Matteo is one of the worst defenders I have ever seen play for Rovers (worse than Peacock!) Stead has as much confidence at the moment as a bullied teenager with immense acne, Bothroyd hasn't been given too much time to shine, Jansen's goal against Pompey once again inspired premature hope, Djorkaeff will be amazing when playing in a confident, balanced side, and Gallagher appears is non-existant in Sparky's plans. For some baffling reason Emerton is now seen as left-sided midfielder despite two proper left-sided midfielders in Gamst-Pedersen and De Pedro at our service. Cue comments saying Gamst-Pedersen is light-weight and De Pedro isn't suited to PL, comments without no real substance until either of them are given a proper, decent chance in the side.

Why was Matteo such a muppet for the first goal? The guy is useless.

liverpool - 0 norwich - 0 man city - 0 brum - 0 fulham - 0 spurs - 0 palace - 0 everton - 0 newcastle - 0 bolton - 3 (the PL awards us 3 points despite 5-0 defeat out of sympathy)

Yeah yet on GSS, they made it out like it was good GS jumped-ship when he did, as if he wasn't at all responsible for the mess we have now that is a 'team'.

Its time Hughes looked deeper into his entire squad and tried to seek out players who can change the set of crap we have that is called a 'defence'. Andy Todd is no Paolo Maldini but at least he would add more solidity than say Matteo or Amoruso until the market reopens. Like krislu said, we have NO player who can beat players (remember when Duff and Dunn would do this?) How about Ciaran Donnelly? Isn't he an attacking midfielder? To be honest, I really feel Hughes won't make major changes in terms of offloading when the market reopens... Which is a shame because the likes of Flitcroft, Tugay and Matteo need punting out..

Yeah lets go down and be drained of money before sinking lower and lower into oblivion like Sheff Wed and Bradford.... My proper judgement for Hughes will emerge when I see what he produces when the transfer market is avaiable...

Knowledge or information based on real occurrences And to be fair rover6 is right, Hughes has made weird selections. Not that I am saying I want him out............yet.