I don't really have a reason to be optimistic, even after we won on Sunday, but I think we'll win this one. I really hope that Nonda gets the nod in this game or Gallagher, just not Jeffers. Nonda has shown glimpses of what a handful he can be, with his size, power and pace, while Gallagher will surely be on a high after scoring on Sunday. By all accounts Middlesborough's attack has been pretty hopeless, which is good because so has our defending. Boro 1: Yakubu Rovers 2: McCarthy, Nonda

That was a great and much needed win today. It sounds like the first half was only grime, but the lads got a roasting from Hughes at half time and came out in the second and played well. The defence sounds like it is an absolute shambles and I find it hard to believe that Hughes hasn't bought Todd back into the fold. Then again, after spending £2 million of a defender, you are going to play him. I'm glad that Benni scored again, that will give him more confidence, even if it was a tap in. Nonda sounds like he had a good game and could have scored. I'd like to see him and Benni paired together in the next match. Hopefully Hughes will give up on the Francis Jeffers experiment and use him as a sub at most from now on. I'm pleased for Gallagher as well, scoring a goal will increase his chances of first team football and the chance to see if he is able to really cut it in the league.

It's a lovely morning here in Richmond Virginia and it's just been made even brighter. Yes!

Hopefully this will be our first win of the season. We'll be tired from the game on Thursday, but we have to be up for this game and get a win. We'll get a chance to see how good our squad really is, after a summer of making it bigger, but not nescessarily better. I'd like to see Benni and Shabani Nonda given a run together to see what they can do. Rovers 2 (McCarthy, Nonda) Man City 1 (Dickov)

Two away goals sets us up nicely for the return leg, although losing the lead in the 90th minute is a real sickener. It sounds like we had plenty of chances, but only converted two of them.

Fair play to him, it doesn't mean that he's not a striker though.

Jeez, who ###### on your parade? The guy's a striker, we all know that, I don't need to be Mark Hughes to know that.

I don't know, but I could make a good guess.

Try Gallagher up top in his natural position and put Bentley on the right. If we are ever going to get the best of Gallagher, which is a big question, then we should be playing him in his best position.

I hope that's just a typo and it's McCarthy up front, not McEveley! Reid mustn't have been able to prove his fitness, I was really hoping that he would play and Gamst would be benched.

We should be going into this game confident of getting a result. We saw last season how 'smaller' teams like Steaua Bucharest went really far in the competition, beating a lot of bigger and better sides. We shouldn't be found wanting in this respect. The artificial pitch will play a big part in the game IMO, as they will be far more used to it then we will. I'd like to see Reid back in the side in place of Pedersen and Bentley being moved out the left. I think we can win this one 2-1. Benni and Nonda to score.

How many times have we said that over the last couple of seasons, when it came to our transfer dealings? A fair bit I'm afraid.

I remember Lucas scoring last season from a penalty against Man United and as captain he probably wanted to take responsibility, instead of letting McCarthy take it. But for Brad to save one is brilliant!

It sounds like we truly sucked in that first half yet again. The highlight was Lucas Neill hitting a shot wide of the post. I'm sorry but this simply isn't good enough. I feel that our failure to bring in the required quality players to our team, is showing up badly.

I totally agree.

I would much prefered it if Gallagher or Nonda had started instead of Jeffers. Hopefully the return of Tugay will bring some more creativity to the team. Rovers to win 2-1, McCarthy and Nonda, who comes off the bench to score the winner!

Roll on January! I still think that we have made the squad deeper, but not better.

It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected it to be. I was there at night though, which might explain why I didn't see it in it's full glory. As for Henchoz, I don't think that it is a bad signing. I thought he played well for Wigan last season and was surprised when they let him go. Henchoz will just provide cover incase of injuries. With Nelsen out and Todd seemingly not happy, we only have Ooijer and Zurab left. There is Matteo, but we aren't that desperate. With the amount of games we will play this season, we need as much cover as possible and with our defence being as 'robust' as it is, we are sure to pick up bookings, so we'll need plenty of cover, which Henchoz offers us.

It's more than likely that Gray was totally hammered and he said some things that he shouldn't have. I don't condon what either player did, but if some guy came up to my table and was repeatedly offensive to my girlfriend, then I'd find it hard not to smack him.

I know it's an obvious thing to say, but I really think this deal could go either way. He could recapture something close to his old potential and score a good few goals for us and turn out to be another master stroke in the transfer market by Hughes. Or he could fail to regain his form after all the injuries he suffered and not really make an impact. I hope and believe that it could be the first one.

I must say that I think that Rovers have gotten the better end of the deal. I wasn't happy when we signed him. He has the touch of a brick wall and has little or nor football awareness. However, Kuqi's commitment and effort are never in question. He really gives everything he has and he scored some important goals for us, however sadly he really isn't good enough for the Premiership. He'll do well in the Championship and he'll score goals that could get Palace out of the division.

You are right, I don't agree with you, but not because he's Irish. I just think he's a better player, like you think Lucas is a better player.

Because he would probably go the way of Jan Kromkamp and Josemi, two players who played regularly for their clubs before leaving for Liverpool and were unable to get a game and have now moved on. Neill isn't going to displace Steve Finnan who is a far better right back, or is he going to break up the Hypia and Carragher partnership. Yeah he'll be going to a club on the up, but he'll never play.

Fair play to Andy. I for one hope that he stays and fights for his place. Obviously Ooijer and Nelsen will be the prefered central pairing, but IMO he's a valuable member of the squad and we need defensive cover with the amount of games we will have this year and I for one don't think that he is nearly as bad as other people think.

Yeah but if he isn't playing well for Birmingham, why would we want to sign him?