The interesting aspect about Bellamy is that before he came to Rovers he had a reputation as a poor finisher. Indeed I have seen Celtic laying the blame for their blow out which handed the SPL to Rangers on Bellamy's poor finishing.

Don't even give a moment's thought about it- United will be as strong as they possibly can be. They only have the two Cups to save their season with. Their new signings give them a sporting chance of 2nd in the Prem but Liverpool are in the driving seat and as I write this they are still five rounds away from a Wembley appearance (and here's hoping Burton do an Exeter on them this afternoon) so RFW has to go all out to get a big result at Ewood to give him the luxury of not being at full strength at OT. RFW will be aware of how Mark Hughes has said that the win at OT "started" our season. With his two new signings, RFW will be wanting to return the compliment and get a typical Utd second half of the season under way.

Simon Jordan wasn't my favourite person but his articles in the Guardian are all absolutely first class. I am sure Ryan Nelsen has read that and taken note- if not, someone should send it to him.

Well done Sergio Peter on a smashing debut. Seems that everyone is underwhelmed by what was a routine win (isn't it nice to start having those?). The gulf between the Prem and the rest is pretty frightening judging by today's results- all 20 Prem clubs look like they'll be in Monday's 4th Round draw although Wigan will have to be at their best to survive at Leeds and the Baggies will start second favourites when they go to Reading. So the probability is that we'll get a tricky draw. Its just bound to be Man U at home for us!

Just listening to Gareth Ainsworth- what a great guy! He's on the subs bench for QPR- what is Holloway on?

didums

Rovers only expecting a 10,000 crowd today. ...and more general comments about the Cup losing its magic. With all 20 Premiership clubs facing lower league (or non-league) opposition and only 20/1 against them all survivinf the Third Round, we could be heading for the least romantic FA Cup ever. On the other hand... No romance at Ewood this afternoon, thanks all the same.

o next to p on the keyboard as well as the alohabet!

It is a differentg job to the one Souness took. 1) He can push Fat Freddie around with FF having f'ed up sacking Robson who was a success and appointing Souness who wasn't. 2) He's seen what Hughes has done following Souness at Rovers and knows he can get a similar improvement from the existing squad at Newcastle. I bet Hughes copied some of the things Sam has done at Wanderers when he got Rovers fit. 3) The Shearer legend is a bit tarnished so Sam can be his own man at Newcastle- Shearer can only be the Prince in Waiting so long and he's waited too long. 4) No Geordie expectations this season- they are all crocked! 5) He inherits the best squad outside Chelsea if he gets some defenders (and he doesn't need a big chequebook to do that- our defence cost a grand total of £3m if you forget about Amo and Vresko and is one of the best around). Where can he go from here at Bolton?- every season he has to comb the scrapheaps of the world and its not getting any easier as the world has learnt how to copy him. He was genuinely frustrated at his inability to make the signings he wanted this summer. Allardyce to Newcastle is bad news for the rest of the Prem including Rovers. Souness to Newcastle was bad news for Newcastle but great for the rest of the Prem and a double bubble helping of fantastic news for Rovers (£1.3m compensation for a crap management team and we got Bellamy cheap!)

According to the official site, Jansen is not in the squad. Looks like one very emotional half time draw.

Smart move- laugh it off, what's the fuss about? After all, the guys on the other side of the desk at the hearing will have moments over a oint they are probably mighty glad never saw the light of day in print.

I guess Mark hughes quote about carrying a few bruises probably means Bert in place of Bentley. With Reid out, I am certain one of MGP and Savage will play but don't know which.

Dragging on a bit now.

We certainly should get close to a sell out! The Glazers have let the RFW into the sweet shop and he's scoffed the lot all at one go- he's spent the annual £12m transfer allowance by the 8th January! I know very little about their two new defensive signings. Hopefully they will have less than happy debuts but I cannot imagine that the Rovers' task has got any easier. Rovers 1 Mancs 2 ...but Bob's preview was a classic!

Another QPR preview Good one apart from not knowing about brfcs.co.uk...

"Please Mr Fat Fredie, sir, please don't sack me." Comments about continuity are a bit sick coming from a man who has picked so many rows with his players.

Glad he's tipped as a potential upset- it will be a stroll now! But he has Hull v Villa and WBA v Reading as safe bets for the Premiership sides!!! Those are games where the Prem side starts off as outsiders in my book. Boro and Newcastle will know they've been in a game when the full time whistle goes as well and I doubt the Chelsea boys will be too comfortable with a dose of third division reality from the Terriers.

Absolutely right- what's the point of getting the lads super fit and not taking advantage of that? The risks of going with a weakened side are: - QPR raise their game because of the affront of it - Psychological damage to the Rovers when our second stringers inevitably struggle (it is not as though they even play together in the reserves so they are hardly match fit as a unit) - Big psychological damage if we lose - The total buggeration of having to put a decent side out in our week off if it goes to a replay The advantage of a strong side is if we get in control early, it should take the edge off QPR and reduce the risk of "competitive" tackling injuring our guys. With a bit of luck, we can ease off the gas and use substitutes early in the second half. I'm sticking with 3-1!

I completely agree Montana- that was my big hope for this season. But from what I can see, Mark Hughes is a very fair bloke and an excellent judge of footballers. He's much closer to the players than we are.

Let's assume what is public knowledge is the truth. As Matt Jansen, would you prefer to go to Huddersfield on £6K a week max, or Do you settle on being Sparky's fourth choice striker on about £8K a week basic and massive bonuses if you he picks you? If the Board meeting decision is anything other than a smokescreen, it can only be a new contract they are talking about because Matty's old one is expired. Enough of speculation- just seen the LET article and he won't be playing on Saturday!

Can you explain why the announcement is being delayed until after Tuesday's board meeting then? When I have parted company with an employer or had staff depart, the announcement invariably is made on the day of the resignation unless there is some complicating issue which simply cannot be sorted on the day. Otherwise you get Tony Parkes-type communication muck-ups which having had one of those, I would think the Rovers would prefer to avoid another. The Rovers weren't exactly without notice given Matty's big press coup all over the Sunday papers. On that basis I am astonished that the Telegraph's Farewell Matty headline has been proved wrong. I can only guess that Jansen has asked to be paid properly as fourth choice striker and that is what is going to the Board and a last chance on the pitch has also been requested- both to show Rovers he can still do it and to show the shop window he can. For all the talk of Bolton and Everton, the only interest admitted by a club in Jansen is from Huddersfield with a rumour about Derby. On that basis he could well prefer being paid as Rovers' fourth choice striker to going elsewhere so it might be Matty's side that has pulled back from the brink in which case we might not see him on Saturday. A certain MGP finally got a run out in the third round of the FA Cup last year after playing as little football for Rovers as Matty has this season. Of course, it could be pure sentimentality and Matty is getting ten minutes to wave goodbye but that makes no sense as he would be cup-tied and is losing a week's wages.

Must admit the announcement that there will be an announcement after next Tuesday's Board Meeting is very odd. I can only conclude that he will play.

I wonder if this is another case of LET reporting that isn't quite right? There is no announcement on the official site yet.

I'll do the away leg. I'm surrounded by Mancs and the bank manager's car registration is UTD 111. QPR very mid-table Coca Cola club so having tonked Leeds 3-0 should be straightforwards PROVIDED we approach it the right way. Anything worse than the second half performance against Pompey is asking for trouble. Rovers to win 3-1.

No announcement yesterday. Either an announcement this morning or he is staying for the time being. The sensible thing to do would be to retain ties but with Jansen free to look (which the PR has achieved) and Rovers equally looking for a replacement. It's in the lap of the Gods as it were. Would still be great to see Matty have a decent run against QPR. He is never likely to have a higher motivation to do well.