The way I remember the story was that the Crystal Palace chairman kept on putting the price up and the Rovers eventually said enough was enough.

Please read this as coming from someone who has never rated Dickov and who is thouroughly fed up by his stupid tackling and whingeing. Would Dickov be more effective if he were brought on later in a game when the other team is tiring?

Didn't Brotherston also go round the Brighton keeper, in a home match, get flattened, and the ref waved play on?

I thought Bentley looked rather light-weight at times, in a way he did not against Newcastle. Gray was struggling getting back later on in the second half-he just seemed to be jogging back when Emerton, who was covering him,ended up getting booked. It was after this that Gray picked up his injury. I also thought Gray's crosiing was not brillaint, despite getting into good positions. Savage ,despite apparently giving 100%, continues to disappoint.

No-one really picked up on this but I thought that from a defensive point of view, the Newcastle goals were all disasters. The wall was incredibly poor for Shearer's free-kick. How could such a small striker out-jump 2 central strikers? Who was supposed to be marking the young lad for the 3rd goal?

On Radio Lancs this morning, Hughes said that, without wanting to tempt fate, if we were winning comfortably, that might be the time to introduce young players.

I'm no longer motivated by going to Cup matches against lower division teams. However, I am going tonight because it's going to be a low attendance. The club must not think that fans are not encouraged by the reduction in ticket prices. I regret the whole amount will not go to my club, but I would not be going if the tickets were full price. I have been influenced by other posters but each person must make up their own mind.

I also thought all 3 goals we conceded were poor. The Wall did not keep their shape. How could a small striker out jump two centre backs? And who was supposed to be marking the young striker for the third?

I don't think we can argue with that. Indeed it's what the "newish" fellow on Radio Rovers was saying. However, he also said that the first 1 had to 100% on his game and that it was a tough role to play-he suggested that Bentley's form in the role was disappointing.

And yet isn't there a continuing pattern? Hughes did well, shored up the defence and avoided relegation. However, results and performances then disappointed. They are continuing to disappoint. His touch line gestures yesterday suggested he was frustrated.

On the presumtion that things could have been even worse.

Some of us would disagree that Savage played well, despite our respect for a number of contributors who felt he did. He runs around quite a lot and his deadball free kicks to the left of the penalty area can be very good but for the rest he appears to have poor ball control, he's a poor passer and he finds it very easy to get out of position. Indeed, a valid question about him is how do you play him in midfield? I think Leicester,under O'Neill, played with 5 in the middle. I don't think you can play him with just one other central midfielder. Which suggests Hughes has to stick with 4-5-1 to accomodate him. How many goals were scored after Mokoena went off? We certainly thought there were increasing gaps after he was taken off. If Bellamy is our main striker, what is his best position? Can he play in a 4-5-1 system? Our impression is that Hughes has brought in new players without taking on board where he is going to play them. In addition, Kuqi is (currently!) some way short of Premiership quality. Reid still lacks confidence and the jury is out on whether he will ever make it. Emerton is a poor, overpaid player. As Scotty quite rightly says, we're in a mess.

I think Emerton's contract is also up and he's supposed to be one of the highest earners.

The 2 or 3 papers I've read suggest Bellamy is hyped up to play. I doubt if it'll matter whether he's fully fit. He'll start!

I bet he'd do it for a quarter of what Sven son too! Problem is (and its a big un) .......... 'eees a bladdy norvenor innee! 345836[/snapback] I thought he was from the Midlands.

Is this Rover6's best ever post?

but Gavin McCann of Everton Has Gavin gone back to Everton?

The signing must lower the odds they will score against us and maybe get their first win.

There was a suggestion on Radio Lancs tonight that Hughes was saying Mokoena is back in the squad. that Jansen might be back on the bench and that Tugay would probably start.

I don't know if Tugay did say anything, but what no-one seems to have mentioned is that at the end he and MGP went up to the Blackburn end and were celebrating the goals and the success.

Yes, but we're not a big club.

Welcome back Sam. It seems the fish are still biting.

The only reference in today's LET to any injury situation re Jansen/Nelsen/Bellamy is "There are fears tht the thigh strain which ruled him out of Wales' friendly with Slovenia could keep him out for a month although Rovers have yet to confirm the full extent of the damage."(Bellamy)

"At the time I did not think it was that bad but having looked at it again, I have no excuses. I went straight in and and apologised to Paul Konchesky afterwards. It is all very well being passionate and aggressive but I can't condone that." He won't be able for Rovers again till September 11th. Dickov only has 10 Scottish caps. " I have never thought about quitiing. I am disappointed I don't have thaat many caps and I want to play for as long as I can at both club and international level.You always make yourself available and it is up to the manager to pick you. I will be the first one to hold my hand up if I can't do it.I will know myself because my game is basically about fitness. If that starts going then that will be it. Hopefully I will play here. I am not going to get any club football in the next few weeks si if I get selected on Wednesday it will be a chance for me.It would definitely give me a chance with the qualifiers coming up." LET