Hopefully Pongo and bellers will be fit next week. Why not suprise Everton with a pacy lineup to hurt them on the break? I honestly think that lineup will get a better result than a basic 442 2-1 maybe. A draw would be adecent result.

Watch him play: Runs fast/dribbles slow. Why? It appears he likes to have the ball under close control (which to be fair he does, he keeps it tidily). But so much of the time he would be better getting it out from under his feet and running full tilt. However he doesn't do it for reasons unknown to me and eventually plays it square or backwards. Everytime he keeps the ball close and looks to come inside... drives me insane.

Were you actually threatened into buying a raffle ticket?!

I think Hughes will sell him if he sees a player who he thinks offers more. Its a tricky balance because fundamentally Emerton is sound, especially defensively, and passes okay and all the rest of it. But having such a hardworking midfield generally (even Pedersen is showing himself to be a fine defender) I think it would be worth a punt on a player who is more defensively suspect but can cause real problems for the opposition full back. Somone with pace would be awesome. If Brum goes down there is absolutely no doubt that we should go after Pennant, and no doubt either that Emerton would be worth selling to get him. The Eddie connection works in our favour and while others - Spurs/Everton/Borough - I am sure would be interested it would be in many ways the ideal signing.

The best post on this thread IMHO. Souness was slightly deranged, detached from reality and not particulalry tactically astute I suppose. But on the other hand he did fantastic things for this clubs and even his dodgy signings- Grabbi/Ferguson/De Pedro/Amoruso - are somewhat compensated by the quality he got on the cheap - Tugay/Friedel/Gray/Stead. Give him a break. He is too unbalanced and lacks the raw talent to be a top manager, and I don't think he will ever get a really juicy job again. That is punishment enough for a man so proud.

Ummmm...... I hade been led to believe the Sol revelations were a bit more, uh, substantial. Internet rumours somewhat off the mark again.

Hansn't anybody considered how tired our side must be? We played a hectic, full on game on Wedensday and played two more games than WBA over the last month (LC Semis). Plus we are missing our best player and a striker better than what is available. And we were playing away from home at a side who are not bad. You have to be realistic, we are not Chelsea and consistently demolish every side we play. WE HAVE PLAYED EXCELLENTLY FOR AN INCREDIBLE EIGHT GAME RUN. Things come to an end. We will regroup and do our best at Everton but to be fair we won't be favourites going into that either. Away from home, good side, and they are on a good run. I definatley think we CAN beat them but I think it is totally unfair on the side to EXPECT to beat them. Rev's goal of a two wins and a loss out of every three games is a little optimistic. If we keep up our current perforemance of about 1.5points a game that will do me, indeed that should be enough to get us into Europe.

Didn't Newcastle only upgrade to 52000 in about 2001? At Euro 96 SJP was only around a 35k stadium. Where do they get all their fans from? Newcastles actually a suprisingly small city I think, only about 270k, and in the NE generally there aren't that many people. But I suppose they only really have Newcastle, Sunderland and Boro to choose from...

Well if the rumours are true I hope he gets a lot of support. A lot of people are going to make it difficult for him. I wonder how the British public will come out of this, compasionate or a bunch of bigots? Should be interesting if, as I said, it is true. As for NOTW, they have a got a lot of balls, but they could suffer a huge backlash.

He just isn't interested in doing that FLops. He never ever ever NEVER ever wants to take his man on the outside. Utd was a case in point, everybody was impressed because he beat his man, but even then it was on the inside! If WBA sit deep and hold a line of four against the back Emerton will be completely useless. If the Baggie full backs come forward he should have a decent game because he will have the space to come inside and pull their centrebacks apart. Personally I think he is a decent player but would, out of the current squad (ie. not including Amo, Gresko, Douglas etc. who are essentilly reseves and need shipping) be one of the first (actually I think the first apart from maybe Kuqi) member I would be looking to sell in the summer, providing we could find a better alternative. Can run/cross/strong/reasonably quick although dribbles slowly. BUT Can't beat a man on the outside. Unfortunately that last point undermines so much of his game.

The away kit looks really good like that Doctor Ryan! Why not take a punt and send it to Rovers. They won't do anything about it now but it might register when it comes round to design time in a couple of years.

To be honest I have been a little baffled about all this talk of Souness making bad buys myself. Even Boumsong was clearly a very good defender before he wound up on Tyneside, in France and in the CL. If they get a decent manager in, one who can keep the team fit and healthy and sort their defence out then they will be more than decent. A front six of Shearer, Owen, Luque, Solano/Dyer, Emre and Parker is not just good, it is outstanding. No side outside the top four has that level of quality. Souness' problem was getting the best out of these players rather than the players themselves. Hopefully they will be too demoralised to get into the top half this season though.

If you think Rio deserved a red for nudging Pedersen your completely insane. Just reverse the players in your head and think about it. If Ped has done that and got sent off you would of gone absolutely mental. The yellow was soft, if it had been earlier in the game the hair platted ponce would never of got it, it would of been dismissed as a bit of 'afters'. The second foul was definately a yellow and if he had caught Sav more squarely it would of been a straight red. The lack of the offside decision last night aside, which is the linesman's responsiblity, we were fairly treated by the officials. We have to get over this persecution complex, it is ridiculous.

Personally I would like Ferguson to go now as then we wouldn't lose Hughes as he woul be considered too inexperienced. If they wait a year or even just till the summer that could rapidly change. As for the Ref I thought he had an average sort of game and we were fortunate to a certain extemt in a couple of few decsions. Rio's first booking was a little soft and there could have been a penalty (albeit very harsh) against Niell. However, certainly Utd's first goal shouldn't of stood.

I think he actually would go back, I think it would appeal to Bellers to make a point. BUT Newcastle United have no cash Rovers are looking like they might well qualify for Europe, Newcastle could get relegated He has a great relationship with Hughes He recognises he needs to settle down All that said I oculd easily see him at St James park again in three or four years. He did seem to like it there and, as I said, he would like to get on over Souness.

Seconded. Gray has been vital to our success, and although he can be defensively suspect sometimes he offers so much going forward. TAKE HIM OFF THE LIST! Also he is hardly a waster, in terms of effort he is one of the biggest work horses on the team.

I can't see Hughes going to Newcastle. He has got his squad together, we are playing extremely well and there is a good chance we can qualify for Europ plus he is at the start of his career. He will have his eye on the Man Utd job. Going to Newcastle would just mean starting all over again- assuming defensive tactics, working on fitness, looking at bringing in players to build the team around. Even the money may have run out.

Why do welsh people/west of englanders (specifically the gloucester/worcester area) say "fairplay" all the time? It's a regional obsession.

Red and black halves would work but the club has just never really gone after it. I personally don't really care about the pattern although in terms of a colour scheme I think red and blakc does seem the best.

Our last eight Premiership games have yielded (most recent on the left): WWDWWWLW or: 19 points out of 24!! When was the last time that happend for Rovers? Bloody hell... As for Saturday I am greatly looking forward to it. Team I would like to see: In actuality I think Hughes will prefer Kuqi to start, but hey. It is vital that the lads remember that while Saturday was a fine performance Utd (particularly Rio) did us quite a few favours. If WBA organise themselves it will be difficult. 2-0 Rovers (Reid, Savage) ps. I forgot to add, if anyone hasn't noticed, we are 4 points off fourth place with a game in hand... not saying anything mind, just stating the facts.

I thought he looked good but then he always looks good when the opposition fullbacks bomb forward leaving space behind. The problem he has that if the opposition are not chasing the game and defend properly he just runs out of ideas. Still worth a crack though if we play Reid in the middle on Saturday. Incidently Pedersen defended superbly today, absolutely superbly.

I think Ferguson's out burst is provoked by the fact he knows he is essentially at fault for Utd's recent form (not to take anything away from Rovers- we were awesome in the second half). How he has, with all the money at the club, put himself in a position where he onlt has two 'proper' central midfielders, one of whom can't tackle and appears to be blind and the other a distinctly average Scot. They had absolutely no shape whatsoever. It smacks of the insane. Plus the errors were lack of communication which shoul really have been sorted out on the training ground. I'm looking forward to his sacking. If the side carries on like this he has to go soon. And he knows it!

Today the midfield and defence were brilliant, and Bentleys finishing was incredible! As for Kuqi, he was awful but when we were under pressure he won most of the high balls. I am a little worried that when he is dropped on Saturday (quite rightly) we will lose that way to relieve pressure..,. I wish we had a tall chap with a bit of technique. I think this game probably means Kuqi will be moved on in the summer. If he cannot have a good game when we score four against united.. Still, Awesome! Such an entertaining game!

Well done! Shame there are no questions about his bizarre move from Business lunch to MOTD 2. Chiles' cheery face became synonimous with the school holidays for me. Waking up at 12.30 hung over, turning on the telly, seeing him entertain a lot of boring men in suits and watching him try to marshall discussions upon subjects which he clearly didn't know the foggiest about. Happy days.