Liverpool 1 - 2 Rovers I just never fancy Liverpool to win a game, I think we can get something from this. The team almost picks itself, the only thing I'd like to see is Thommo in centre mid and Emerton back out on the right...with Mokoena infront of the back four we can afford to have Reid and Thommo in the middle (both will work hard anyway). Friedel Neill Todd Nelsen Johansson Emerton Thompson Mokoena Reid Pedersen Stead Interesting quote from Hughes the other day about Dickov "playing at 75%" due to his injury...I'm sorry Sparky, but a 75% fit Dickov isn't better than Stead...I think we've seen this in recent weeks where he's been nothing like his usual self. Give him a rest, let Stead have a chance to build some momentum then bring Dickov back for the run-in and the FA Cup semi.

Barring some crunching tackles and appalling refeering, this is a game that will be quickly forgotten. Deciding to start with 4-5-1 was a mistake, we were painfully toothless going forward. We dominated possession but this was largely due to a string of passes constantly revolving around a Todd/Nelsen/Mokoena triangle. It's nice to see us not hoofing the ball forward anymore and it's certainly a good platform to build from in the future...but at the moment it's not working, we don't have a striker capable of playing effectively on his own and the midfielders (MGP aside) don't threaten goal enough. The game took a drastic turn for the better when Stead was introduced, the game looked far more open. Leicester saw more of the ball but we looked far more likely to score. If Savage was playing then I don't think Leicester would have come into it as much as they did...it's just that Reid was virtually none-existent and Flitty isn't up to a whole lot anymore (except fouling people). Thommo seemed to come alive when moved into the middle and Neill decided to bomb on more once Emerton was brought onto the right. Nelsen was superb in defence and Todd was his usual reliable self...these two are the reason why I believe 4-5-1 is not necessary against sides who aren't top 4 Premiership material, it would be understandable if it was the centre of defence of the late Souness era. Overall a win was a fair result, Leicester did little apart from try to out-Blackburn...sorry, out-bully us. Nelsen had their big lump of a striker in his pocket all game and MGP threatened to provide the goal-scoring spark on several occassions. Also, a special mention for Neal Barry who...despite giving us a penalty...is an incompetent turd.

Got my ticket and persuaded two other people to come with me... Whether I can do that again will depend on Rovers performing well... 4-4-2 please.

Didn't really want to devote a thread to a mediocre foreign referee so decided to stick it in here: Frisk retires due to death threats Even if you dislike him, that's taking it a bit too far. He shouldn't be forced to retire because of something like that.

There was more anger in that post than I anticipated...but I still think the same. It's very easy to knock the Champions League but it's doing what it should...provide the best matches in the world at the highest level. Doing that is not easy, just look at how the major international tournaments have flopped since 98 (ish). The money problem does need addressing but it won't come from a change in the Champions League, so other areas need to be looked at.

I hate the cynicism towards the Champions League. It's a wonderful competition that provides excellent matches, it's blatant jealousy from people who don't like it. Yes, I wish we were there...and yes, I wish the money was distibuted more evenly. But why should it change? It's providing brilliant entertainment that people will see around the world. Get over it.

What the hell are you on about? Jansen was playing when he was fit, he went off injured against Birmingham and hasn't been available for selection since. On this season's form, he deserves to be here as much as anyone else. Rather than being treated more favourly because of who he is, I think the opposite is now true. If you swapped over Gallagher and Jansen's form I think the responses would still be the same because of the accident and the 'he's finished' theory.

NZ legend Rufer talks about Nelsen Starts off very well by saying he should be the New Zealand sportsman of the year...but then goes on to say that he's too good for us and suggests Arsenal as potential new employers. As good as he's been...he's a long way off being too good for us, if he's still in this form at the end of next season then maybe...but after 2 months? Pish.

This is what I think will happen, not what I'd do. Out: Amoruso Short Tugay Johansson* Jansen* Bothroyd Gray *personally I'd keep these and flog Matteo Leaving us with a first team of (at a rough guess): Goalkeepers (3): Friedel, Enckelman, Yelldell Defenders (7): Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo, Mokoena, McEveley, Gresko Midfielders (6): Thompson, Emerton, Reid, Flitcroft, Savage, Pedersen Strikers (4): Stead, Dickov, Gallagher, Johnson Looking at that list, we need the following players: A young right back to compete with Neill A quality central midfielder with creative qualities A quality striker with a physical presence (unless of Bellamy quality) With £5 million to spend and a vastly reduced wage bill, this will be a good test of how well Hughes can use money. What is blindly obvious to me is that squad players are of no use to us, we need people who will go straight into the starting 11 and be better than what we have.

I noticed that too. Talks of a move away in January could have unsettled him but I think he showed how much he wants to be a success here. We have to keep him for a good few years and give him chance to be the player we know he can be because we need players with his attitude around the club. On a similar note, we don't any Jay Bothroyds.

We've been very solid with the 4-4-2 under Hughes so I can't see a problem playing it against Leicester...we should only use the 4-1-4-1 against top teams when we could do with the extra body in midfield. Drop one of Mokoena or Flitty (or both is Savage is back) and put an extra man up front, keep the rest the same. Reid should be given an extended run in the centre of midfield alongside a defensive player so that he can be allowed to break forward like he did yesterday. I'd still prefer Emerton on the right ahead of Reid, but after yesterday's performance I'd take Thommo over both if he can stay fit.

Exactly...but he's crap don't forget. That wasn't directed at me was it Le Chuck? I've wanted him in the team all season. Even when dickov was playing well I said I'd rather Stead in the team. Nah not at you, just at the people who were knocking him. Didn't make that very clear, I admit.

Reid was excellent today because he was in the centre (where a lot of people want him to play). He can't cross to save his life so makes a pretty useless winger, but in the centre he can use his strength, power and combatitive style to great effect. Thommo Reid Savage Pedersen That's how we should be lining up against Leicester (injuries permitting).

Exactly...but he's crap don't forget. I now officially love Jon Stead, he won me £100 today...I didn't lose faith in him scoring the first goal. I knew he'd come good, hopefully this is the turning point for him now.

Everton to win 1--0 me thinks, hope I'm wrong though. As for the team, if rumoured injuries are true I'd go with the following: Friedel Neill Todd Nelsen Johansson Emerton Reid Flitcroft Pedersen Stead Gallagher However...I think Hughes will favour a 4-5-1, especially with us likely to have 3 fit strikers...so probably something like: Friedel Neill Todd Nelsen Johansson Emerton Flitcroft Mokoena Tugay Pedersen Gallagher

Like I said...my memory isn't that great at the moment.

Oh right...thanks. My memory is getting really bad, I don't remember him ever going anywhere near Everton. I just thought it was Man Utd to Chelsea to Rovers. Oh well.

"He also claimed that Everton made a late bid to scupper the Rovers deal, somethng that seems highly unlikely given Moyes insistance on professional types who play as a team." What a fool, Moyes tried to sign Savage a number of times. Did Mark Hughes play for Everton? He hasn't made it very clear but it appears that's what he is trying to say.

Aside from the MGP thing, that is a (suprisingly) good match report.

Does it get much better than free?

That's true as well. I don't think we would have ever thought this at the start of the season, but it seems very likely that our defence is going to be the reason why we're good enough to stay up. The credit has to go to Hughes for that because Souness tried for roughly a year and couldn't do it, let's hope he can sort the strikers out in the same way.

It's far worse than that. If Dickov and Gallagher start, it's the worst attack in the Premiership.

I've noticed his crossing ability too...but he doesn't have the qualities to be a winger because he's as fast as a slug and his crossing isn't good enough to be a Beckham-like wide player. Kevin Gallacher was talking about him yesterday and said that through the academy he was playing in a 4-3-3 as a wide striker (I guess similar to what Duff/Robben play for Chelski), which would suit his game perfectly. The only role I can see him possibly being a success in for us is as a Bergkamp type player because his passing (especially his through balls) look very good and he is an intelligent player. However, playing with Dickov won't allow him to play like that because Dickov prefers playing with his back to goal which is the main reason why the partnership isn't working. Back to Jansen...I hate the way that he's always discussed in the past tense, i.e. what he was. If you talk about Jansen as he is now, regardless of what he was or what he could have been, there is no reason why he shouldn't be playing (when fit of course). He's scored two goals...two very good goals in fact, there is certainly more to support the case for him starting instead of Gallagher or Bothroyd. To say he's finished when he's been performing equally as well as or better than everyone bar Dickov seems ridiculous to me.

Barring a fluke, I was right.

I meant Nissa isn't one of his favourites so doesn't seem to start when everyone's fit no matter how well he's playing. Matteo has been woeful.