Exactly, with a better defence Brad's weaknesses were seldom exposed. Most of the time he only had to deal with shot stopping. the same weaknesses were there, just not seen as frequently. I'd agree, if I were wenger I would probably rather havve Cudicini, can't see Chelsea wanting to help Arsenal much though.

The only thing that this MGP Soap Opera has done for me is convince me we must never never never, under any circumstances sign another Norwegian player. Bloody hell they just never stop.

I wouldn't say I'm as scared as you but I'd have to agree that set-pieces are Brad's weakness. On the basis that Arsenal's weakness is set-pieces then it's be a bit backwards to sign Brad I don't think we'd get anything like 3M for him either. Nice to know I am not alone in my thoughts. It seems the season where Brad was super human has gained him a position of God like status with some fans. I am dumbfounded how some can overlook his very obvious weaknesses. Goalkeeping's basics are somewhat lacking with Brad, he often plays like he's a hockey goalie, never coming out far from his nets and try's to use his feet too much rather than the huge frame of a body God blessed him with. The Spurs goal against us was another shining example, just a few more steps out of his goal mouth as the cross went to Keane and he could have almost totally blocked out the target from Keane. As it was he chose to stand put, offering Robbie a large chunk of goal to aim at, plus more time to pick his spot. In fact, it is these weaknesses that makes it hard for me to believe Arsenal would ever consider paying so much, they must see it too. While selling Brad may not sit well with a lot of fans I think 3 Million would be an excellent price. A price that if I was Mark Hughes, given our weaknesses elsewhere, I would have to seriously consider.

I don't know why...but it's just hit me how poor our strike force is and how much people are deluding themselves about these two. Bothroyd couldn't even make an impact at Coventry, the excuse so far is 'fallings out with the management' but if he was good enough he wouldn't have been offloaded from there on a free. I think he scored 6 goals for Perugia...that's nothing really, he is undoubtedly a good athlete, but a Premiership footballer? Never. Dickov has spent his entire career in teams either in Division One or not good enough for the Premiership, why at 32 should we assume that he has suddenly become better than that? His workrate is a useful asset to us but should never in a million years be the focal point of our attack. If that is our first choice partnership then we do have the worst strikeforce in the league...couple that with our erratic defence then we really are in trouble. Edit: Didn't actually get as far as USABlue's post before I wrote this...any reason why those two shouldn't be first choice? Jansen has more goals from open play than Dickov since he came back into first team contention (I think) and Stead is still a quality player. Yes Le Chuck. Stead I have no problem with, I like him a lot. Poor Matty however, he will have to show me a lot more to convince me he is on the way back. Granted he has bagged a couple (just) but he seems to offer little else, he has impressed me a bit in the air but that is about it. I don't know, perhaps I am being too harsh, remembering Matty of old and all. As I have said before, his instincts seem to have left him. Stead/Gally or Stead/Bothroyd for the future.

If I am reading correctly we did play reasonably well. I can take encouragement from that since I really expected us to lose. I was very worried about Rouledge and Johnson. Another tough one next week, onward and upward slowly but surely we can pull ourselves out of this. Why did Thommo get 2 yellows, most posters seem to think he was stupid, any details please.

And with your ninth post would you like to actually offer something other than an insult to a poster, go on you know you can do it. Would you perhaps like to offer a rebuttal that effectively negates my complaint that the standard of refereeing has gone down the toilet over the last several years. Mmmm? I am waiting, yes there are a few that know how footy is supposed to be played but, my insolent comrade, there are many more dancing to the tune of Soho Square and FIFa than not. Usual tripe from the locals. BTW. there is a handy little feature in the top right hand corner, its a little box with the word "Quote" in it. Might help you for future empty meanigless posts

Oh yes right oh, I'll have some of what you are smoking.

Hahhahahahahahahahahahaha deep breath.... hahahahahahahahahaah. Officiating is a pure joke, it's an absolutely summation of incompetence and inconsitancy. If you look up inconsistant in the Dictionaty there is a picture of a football ref there. Yeah, the FA will do something about it. They will back the idiots 100%. It's the FA got them as stupid as they are. They are killing the game man just killing it.

Having just watched Palace I was going to give my 2 cents but I think you have mirrored my thoughts exactly. I don't think we stand a chance. Palace are well drilled, 100% commitment from EVERY player and have pace upfront, they whipped in some terrific crosses. I see a hiding coming actually. If we try to go through them at the back, no chance. I think our best chance to get at them is to go wide and come in behind, they look a bit dodgy if you come at 'em from the wings. Scary one this, I will be most surprised if we come away with anything.

Are you on a mission from Sparky Lee? Ooops almost forgot the whole point of the thread, Centre Half, with leadership abilities. defensive Midfielder. No point have a scorer if we can't stop the goals, not point having a scorer if we can't breakdown the opponents attack, no point having a scorer if we can't win possesion in the middle of the park. The best goalscorer in the world would struggle with the number of chances we create. The platform had to start at the back, middle. Shore up that, allow our creators to create, provide opportunities for our striker. That should do it.

i would say friedal has been under preforming this season I HAVE BEEN saying Friedal has been underperforming for some time. At Fulham I actually saw him come off his line to narrow the angle and thought "oooh good someone is teaching him some basics". Saw the Spurs game and I am not so sure, he is always stuck within a yard or two of his goal line.

I really hope so, if not before then very soon after. We are rapidly approaching the levels of squad players at the club prior to Souness being here, albeit with perhaps a tad less quality and less balance.

He might if he was exceptional, not neccessarily in his own play but in a leadership role. If we could find a CH who was truly a defensive General to help organise, bite some heads off, bark some orders it would be helpful. I think it is one of the reasons we are so poor defending set pieces, no one really knows their role is we have no one in the defence who really tells others what they ought to do. We play with four defensive minded individuals rather than as a defensive unit.

Funny that someone who shall be nameless just recently had a go at "Americans" for not reading the threads. I am sure even all my American friends might have grasped the "no names" and "only two players" part of this thread.

Would someone please explain that theory to David Moyes, preferably before we have to play Everton.

Well are we predictable or are we predictable. This is the biggest disappointment of the season so far for me I feel totally gutted with this loss. Infuriated even.

Did not realise Spurs had to play in the Cup. Let's hope for a gruelling encounter with extra time and Spurs winning on PK's. Perhaps then they will have one eye on the next round and be knackered too.

No predictions, just a few comments. We all are well aware of Rovers habit of the big let down after good performances, right? Well, to me this is a real acid test for Mark Hughes, have we really turned the corner? Make no mistake this is a big big game for us. I have no doubt the stay away fans who are borderline at the mo', their eyebrows are beginning to raise and they are saying to themselves " Mmmm, maybe this lot have something going" It is imperative, absolutely vital that we do not suffer a let down this weekend. This will be the third week in a row we have been on telly, one was a stirring comeback, one was a sound and emphatic beating of Fulham. We must win this, the armchair Rovers fan watching on the box may just get stirred up enough to go and watch. If we blow it he will pop another can drop back in his comfy chair and say " Aaah I knew it, same old bloody Rovers"

I AM SICK OF THIS THREAD. THIS WHOLE MGP THING IS OUT OF ORDER. HE IS A LIGHTWEIGHT WHO IS NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH OR MAN ENOUGH TO PLAY IN THE PREM. hE WAS SIGNED BY THE SAME MAN WHO BROUGHT US AMO AND MATTEO. NOW ALL YOU NORWEGIANS LET IT GOOOOO, HE WILL BE PLAYED IF AND WHEN HE IS GOOD ENOUGH NOW GIVE IT A ###### REST. Note to Mark Hughes, FFS don't sign anymore Norwegians, they end up polluting our board wondering why thet did not make it.

Almost ditto. I must admit Sparky started to make a beleiver relatively quickly, even the two 4-0's did not discourage me. I think he is on the right track, can he sustain it? I hope so. I am now looking forward to being able to watch the games when they are on instead of just watching them out of blind loyalty. He keeps things moving in this direction and the gates should pick up. We may not always be the prettiest but the effort is their for all to see and it is worth the price of a ticket Well done Mark Hughes, now let's just hope he does not get the dreaded Manager of the Month anytime soon. As far as Marsh's comments, no one player? Well in my mind that is just fine as long as we have the right balance it means the opposition never knows where the danger is coming from. Perhaps it is better to have several players that can do a little damage than one who gets a lot of attention. Case in point, would Gally have been allowed so much space for his goal if he had the reputation of a big name player, I think not.

Great game by the lads today. I thought most played well. Being a Rovers fan I found it quite nail biting, it seems that anyhting other than a ten goal lead with 2 mins left and I am going to be uncomfortable. The man I thought was huge today was Andy Todd, I have only really seen one other really positive comment. I thought he played Andy Cole out of the game, stuck to him, gave him no room. Fulham restricted to two really good chances, both from blown calls by the officials, Radzinski WAS offside thank god that did not go in. Andy Cole, clear handball AND some well high studs too, thank god Brad got to the. I can't help but feel early in the year BOTH those chance wold have gone in. Perhaps Lady Luck is coming back, she might not have a Season Ticket but she has popped in a time or two. All that along with a penalty and a clean sheet, made for an upbeat day.

Phil, I completely agree with you. The rotten press and media has blown this out of all proportion because they are simple-minded pillocks. So, just one 15 second round of applause for Cole will put it right. You don't have to do it because you mean it or because you think it's right. It'll just put the good name of our club back on board. It'll help distance us from those couple of pillocks. And the media will lap it up like the fools that they are. They will love it. We will suddenly become the most friendly club in the country. I know. Big fib. Sad isn't it? I just hope everyone at CC does the big cheer for Cole. Utter rubbish Colin, nothing can repair the damage. Our reputation should have preceeded this event anyway, nothing after the fact is going to change matters. IMHO the only reason this was as big of an issue as it was is it occured just days after the Spain debacle. Just re-read your post Colin, missed parts of it first time round. Or should I say the sarcasm did not register untill I re-read it. So not utter rubbish, OK

Burglars and robbers don't get hunted with the same venom that he was. Perhaps for the minorities, if your house is robbed tell the police you heard the perpertrator making monkey noises as he left. Things are getting topsy turvy, I wonder when my beloved England finally succumbs to being run by the "minorities" will the English nationals still have the same rights of protection under laws against racism. Shillito, if you don't understand what I am getting at then there is no point me trying to explain.

Cna't see us getting much out of this one, Fulham showed at Newcastle how devastating they can be on the break. I don't see us being able to deal with the pace of their attack.

My point exactly, and all the while calling for us to have signed Hartson. Oooh wait a mo' Hartsons white and Cole is Bl.... Nah it couldn't be. You're missing the point I'm trying (and obviously failing) to make. Thanks to those two "fans" on Sunday, Rovers are now seen as a racist club with racist supporters and by supporting Andrew Cole the Fulham match gives us the chance to show the nation that we are not. Or perhaps you think we should boo Cole because he is one of our former players ? In view of events at the Birmingham game, and with the press and TV cameras watching, I don't think that would be a good idea, do you ? jim, we booed one of our greatest players ever, MERCILESSLY, it did not make even a small footnote. Thank god Alan Shearer was not Black. No I did not miss your point. Cole, although I think over the long term was disappointing there is no denying his goals in his first year kept us in the Premiership. Does he deserve a rousing reception, I don't think so. Are you saying we should give him one just because he's black. I don't even want to mention what overtones that carries