CAPT KAYOS

Don't seem to recall anybody making him a scapegoat Roversmum. Think you have put another slant on it here - but regardless of the contract the club or Souness are not exactly making it clear to Jansen when on one hand theyare saying one thing and on another something else - your link to report would seem to confirm this and Mattys comments. What the fans are trying to do is find out if JANSEN has a future with us - if not then what is the point of keeping hold of him because all the signs emanating from the club is that they don't see a future for him. J may have all ' The qualities to be a Premier Hit' but does MJ still have them?

Personally I don't think we can answer this question at the moment as we are in another about change situation with new players. And with the possibility of Souness MAYBE now realising our strength is surprisingly playing players in their normal positions in a 442 formation perhaps we should now probably ask the question after the next run of 5/6 games. So for me I am going to be humpty dumpty and sit on the concrete fence (wall)

Nooooo Colin - you can't vote for Richard Brown!!!

Benefit of the club off the field but not on it Alan 75 - the other hand we have kept MJ supposedly for the benefit of the club on the pitch which ironically has gone against it both off and on it as he is doing absolutely nothing yet still being paid (unless this is covered by insurance?) The club is at fault here, as Souness has been saying for a while now that he is physically and mentally ready and all he needs his confidence yet he does not play the guy to give him e the confidence yet still says he is part of his plans . Then on the other hand he carries on saying we need another striker at the club (even when Yorke was here) and in true style get another striker in as well as one going out - yet now says he is now available to leave the club - this says to me that he is not ok and is not upto premier football as most of the fans thought anyway Either the guy is ok or he isn't - but it looks to me as if we will eventually off load him without any fee whatsoever and wasted wages - something we can ill afford as a club. So to me its either give him his last stand or get rid.

Is our best singing what Modes98 - Is this part of the new training regime? Maybe MGP can add the yodeling

As with Scotty and Alex Sc fi, best I have seen play is Pricey - exciting in his time with his bombing runs down the line and goals to boot which wasn't bad for a right back - remember his first game back the second time at Grimsby as well and as mentioned always appeared to add a bit of defensive stability. However got to be Mr Crompton for me - still admired and respected to this day and his record speaks for itself.

Krislu You could be spot on here So Souness saying we have the strongest squad he has had and that he is making us harder to beat with is completely baffling formations is totally a load of codswallop - just what alot of us suspected really So how can anybody really believe what he says nowadays unlike ' the believers' on here or has he really lost his marbles in that he doesn't know what he is talking about himself?

To me I say give the guy a chance. From memory good things where expected of the guy when he was at Coventry but he just lost his way and seemed to disappear of the track. I for one am happy we have replaced Yorke and regarding what has already been said we don't really have anything to lose. He's young and fast which is what we have been crying out for up front - but does nobody find it a bit canny that way his style of play has been described is very similar to the younger version of Yorke with a bit more speed. However there are two things of concern to me now though, and these being the comments from Souness at the beginning of the season which people seem to have overlooked on one part anyway:- Firstly re Jansen - Is this guy ok or not as I think the fans need to be told a definite - at the start of the Season Souness was saying he was in his plans now he is saying he can go - so what the hell is going on?- answers are wanted. Secondly re Gallagher which is a big worry to me - and after Souness said this was going to be a big season for him if he knuckled down where does this signing leave him.? To me this should have been the season to give him his chance but he does appear to be being left on the side and the rumour mill re the supposed argument appears to be sounding louder now.

Beat me to it 92er and is something I find very worrying. This game was approached with the feeling we where meeting a MU team that was at its weakest it has been for a while with us having possibly our strongest line up (barring Gray). I am not really for stats and I am also one of those that will say its not how much or how long you have the ball but what you do it that counts - however it leads me to the question of even with our arguably strongest team on Saturday is nobody else in the least, still slightly worried about how we were still picked off at liberty and how easy they cut through us? We could have lost the game by a significant margin if it wasn't for Super Brad and IMO we are still missing 'a spark' of creativity out on the pitch as we still appear laborious in our efforts to attack. Yes we showed more determination and looked 100% better organised , probably because we played 442 but unless we can continue with this I can still see major problems. As for Yorke, how anybody can try to defend what he did on Saturday is unbelievable - this guy is a waste of space - there is a big difference between chasing lost causes and putting in effort - and I know what I and many others saw from the 'Caribbean Slug'. Cannot really add anything more about the officials, but I genuinely thought the ref was bad for both sides with us losing out more. Lets just hope, the determination shown on Saturday is carried over to the restof the games and the confidence and concentration is built upon that allows us to get the team into routine of organisation and stability.

Its all well and good having our full strength line up as we see it back - but what's the point if Souness is going to ###### on it and play everybody bar where they should be playing. What the f in hell is he going to play against MU if he went all defensive against WBA for christ sake - 11 defenders? I am not as convinced as alot of people are about Thompson being the'one' to get things going but he is certainly better than what we have at the moment. You can't win a match unless you score goals, and by going defensive you will more than likely get beat rather than win. Its about time we started playing at what we are good at(*?) and playing to our strengths (if there are any) and stop flipping worrying about what the other side are going to bloody well do. Get back to basics and go out to win the match,which is what its all about at the end of the day ans stop being so BLOODY NEGATIVE SOUNESS!!

1. two mistakes in defense were capitalised on & they cost us dear - Jimbo quick question for you - bearing in mind what has been said on here with our defending last night and the previous games after what has been quoted by Ferguson as saying training has primarily been centered on defence does this not REALLY REALLY worry you? 2 . Against WBA, again I think we were the better side, esp. in the 2nd half - I'm sure Megson was a lot happier with the result than we were - I know the Baggies fans I was chatting to walking up Livsey certainly were - golly goshems you do surprise me - newly promoted team struggling for strikers and playing away first game back expecting to get beat. 3. Last season I can't comment on - I missed the whole season barring the first & last games after having major surgery on my knee - explains your comments so we'll give you a bit longer to summise what you see. Don't really want to comment about last night as I wasn't expecting anything different - what I find surprising again is why people are sounding surprised and trying to defend what happened - don't try to fool yourselves that there is nothing wrong (see point 1). I hate to say it again, but don't say I few of us didn't warn you many moons ago - same comments come out time and time again except that the numbers are increasing all the time. But we can all look forward to a possible 1-0 win on Saturday - penalty anybody?

Think you'll find I was , commenting that we couldn't continue in that fashion especially into this season - which looks entirely what we are doing. Think FLB covers it the best

Don't say I didn't warn you Haven't quite lost faith yet PhillyRover - but as you can see there is a growing band of disatisfied Rovers fans. What is more gauling on this is that D'arsehole is a joke of a referee - suspending him is not the answer and neither is demoting him to the lower leagues - its not fair on them. I haven't seen anything of Saturdays game and don't want too,which is why I have not commented - but he is totally incompetent anyway and should not be allowed to ref another game - as for us I don't think Wednesday can come along quickly enough. As for Beattie, as I have said I haven't seen anything of the game but does he owe Blackburn anything - he was let go to allow us to get Davies (good move that turned out to be)- and considering the so called turmoil at Southampton - to me he had a job to do and he did what he is paid for.

That's the whole point though Capt. The vast majority on this message board can see when something isn't right or isn't working. We will all disagree on how severe the situation is and how to fix but as you rightly say that's what the MB is for. However what annoys 'us' supporters who get a tad annoyed with the doom and gloom at times is the way you dismiss all the opinions as not seeing or not wanting to see what you and your select band have had sussed for a while now. I have many concerns about our Graeme, some I've posted on here and some I haven't but you just ignore that as it doesn't fit in with your argument. Eddie has just made some great comments which seem fairly balanced to me but they probably will be ignored also. I personally wouldn't respond to you saying 'stop being so bloody negative' mainly because you're as entitled to your opnion as I am. However when you say you're not trying to trip Mr Souness it doesn't really tally with what you post at times. The main thing that bugs me is that anything Souness says is disected and picked on and held up against past comments. If you did that with me or most others you would occasionally spot contradictions and innaccuracies but we aren't a debating society on here it's a board for the discussing our team. I don't think you should have to hide your opnions by any means but some of the stuff posted at times just smacks of people looking for any opportunity to pick fault. Now that to me doesn't seem very balanced at all which is the very thing that us 'gullibles' are accused of. Sorry for the rant but i've got that off my chest now so it's just for me to ready myself to cheer us on to much needed points, with my blue & white blinkers on of course Commendable post MB and I take on board what you are saying and is much better when views are expressed in this matter whether we agree or disagree, unlike Eddies just shut up and go away one liners. I respect your viewpoint, but I feel maybe I am not expressing myself very clearly or something is being missed in my comments. My concern is not just what is happening on the pitch - but the affect it is also having off it. To me its not just a case that we are only 2 games into the season - but a carry on from last with 'carry on' being the operative manner. With whats going on I the moment I honestly expect to see Barbara Windsor lining up for us on Wednesday (Souness -'this Windsor player is a big player up front but I have not seen him/play yet but its just what we need ' ) Souness has said that we cannot compete with crowds of circa 22k - he is not doing much to help matters though. Despite my negatism away from the ground, you'll find me amongst the most vocal when we play (Bobf can vouch as he now has to wear ear muffs - says its because of me but I think it has somethiing to do with his ears - but don't tell him). Haven't seen anything of Saturday's game so I will refrain from commenting, but somebody mentioned earlier on this thread re the interview with Ferguson and the concentration in training now being on defending - I'll let you think about that one. Last before I go - do you not find it worrying that the very things being mentioned by myself and others are now being questioned by other sectors and personnel?

Right -going to predict before the Southampton game because I don't think what we do there will make any difference. Don't think we will be prominent enough in attack to be able to stick it up the Arse but we always seem to be able to get close to scoring so provided we can shoot on target I think we might score. Providing we keep our cover at the back and keep it tight when Arsenal get aroused we might be able to keep it down to a respectable score 3 -1 Arsenal

I here Kevin Keegan's good at that, lets give him a try. . . . . . . Oh wait, we did. Worked well didnt it. Not quite Floppers Put Keegan and FA together and you'll see what I mean. Keegan is just a rant n raver and another that I didn't want as the manager. Call me single minded or whatever but it has to be an Englishman for me everytime If people want me to put a name - whether they would install him a not I don't know ALLARDYCE

Whops soreeee mr eddie person but I thought this was a MB for open discussion. Think you'll find what is becoming boring is Mr Souness spouting his crap excuses and the gullibles eg YOU believing everything is rosy - which is what annoys us supporters that are actually concerned about what is happening at the club - and I don't just mean of the pitch. We are not blind to our observations At least us 'boring people' that you state are giving crede and explaining our worries with reasonable explanations primarily before they happen and being proved correct. I for one am not looking to trip Souness up - just wish he would take stock about what he is saying and to change the record and stop his stupid formations that are making him look like he is a protogee of professor sven yaffle. None of it is good for the club - I'll admit us being negative does not help but I'd rather express our concerns and hope somebody takes notice (Mr S) than keep stum and things carry on for the worse.

Different team formation - whoppee do! - like tell us something that wasn't obvious. mmm... less vulnerable - we couldn't have been any more vulnerable if we tried on the right hand side with that formation - barring the likes of Norwich or Palace if we had been playing anybody else the game would have been over and out for us last Saturday. Defensive at home against a very very average just promoted team - what a load of tosh. And what's this - he claims owhatsymithingeyabob is actually a winger - thought wingers are not needed anymore in the Premier Mr Souness?

Keep up SS

Can agree with you on the scoreline TD but not on this being the best time to play them . As USA Blue says, of any team we are the ones that end other teams bad runs (ala West Ham) Despite all the negativity I feel at the moment, I have one devil saying we will win and one on the other shoulder saying we won't. As Scotty says, we seem more well equipped for getting better returns away from home, but the way the team is shaping up at the moment and what looks like Souness making us hard to beat, I expect Souness to go with a very defensive team so expecting a line up consisting of Neil/Amoruso/Johannson/Short/Matteo/Gray and Flitcroft and Douglas. In addition other things don't bode well - Southampton and especially Sturrock know they need to win - its not the best away ground for us - only 2 wins in 16 games down there - Southampton have yet to win one of their opening fixtures at home since the Premiership was formed (see above re ending of bad runs - but this could also be to our advantage) - Andy Arsehole -whoops D'Urso is reffing. So I'll go for the classic 0v0 as IMO we didn't look likely to score last week and I expect Souness to go all defensive with us being reduced to 10 men again with Matteo being sent off.

Totally agree with you there Bryan. It's not as though the starting eleven are indispensible and are the only talent this country has. If need be, sack everyone of them who strikes. We could always just replace the England squad with the U21s and teach the ungrateful sods that they are not only not bigger than their clubs, but they can't even touch their countries. I've said it before, the only reason they all bum up to SGE is because he is too bloody soft. Everybody wants a manager that will let them do what they want and never publicly criticise them etc. And me We hear time and time again the players saying how much it means to wear the England shirt - well its about time they started showing it. I'll say it again and again - Professor Yaffle should not be managing England. We need somebody who can install into these numpties what wearing one of these shirts is all about - not some inept swinging Swede Get rid and get rid now and get rid of the imbeciles at the FA who gave him the ridiculous effin contract in the first place - and pay him off out of their wages. The whole setup needs a complete overhaul.

A few more for your list GG - O'Keefe /Talia /Given that you must have seen looking at your list Can't believe nobody has mentioned Vince yet (lots of smirks) - the only keeper I knew that could go for a cross and direct planes into land at the same time. There ya go Bobf -how can you miss that lot out - them grey follicles must be dampening them old memory strings. Mark Grew - one of the best stretch of goalkeeping I have seen down at Ewood - to say he was on loan as well Difficult one this - and what I think will probably be the hardest to decide. Having been a goalkeeper myself - all the attributes that Jones possesd would in my book point to him as being the 'No1', but like so many others didn't have the fortune to watch him in his heyday. Always had a soft spot for Gennoe - went about his job in a most professional way -good at coming for crosses and for a big man got down well also - not bad with the old penalties if my memory serves me right either. Commanded his box. Friedal - absolutely out of this world the Season before last making superb saves and commanding his box - to me similar to Gennoe in ways but lost his way last season and made uncustomary mistakes (unknown at Ewood anyhow) for him. Kicks with both feet and would put an Orangutan to shame with his wingspan. Flowers - best display from a keeper in one match I have seen down at Ewood - positioning questionable though and didn't exactly ooze confidence when coming for crosses - excellent shot stopper though So as things go my choice would have to be between Jones (on what I have heard and read) Gennoe for his consistent performances and did it season after season. Friedal - for all his attributes -I just feel we need to see more of him to establish himself as our No1.

Not just in your opinion RB - tell us something that most of the world dosen't already know except Souness (first half anyway) Do I sense a little let up in your stances with Souness - have you found your ladders and climbed back on the fence? Just going with what you have said re the games coming up based on last Season and the theory of the results against the respective teams:- WBA -(h) draw Southampton - (a) lost Arsenal-(a) lost MU -(h) won Newcastle- (a) won P'Mouth -(h) lost Charlton -(a) lost A Villa (h) lost Mboro (h) - draw Chelsea (a)- draw L'pool - (h) - lost Norwich - (a) -N/a Citeh (a) - draw B'ham (h) - draw Fulham (a) - won Total 14 pts (h7) 6 (a8) 8 So hypothetically speaking as I know (hope) it won't be like last season - barring the Norwich game on a pro rata basis we could be heading for around the 42-45 pts marker Doesn't look good does it. I don't take stock of those who said we would have lost this game last season as we didn't - same sort of scenario and we hammered Wolves yet still struggled. Possibly over critical and its only the first game - but maybe people can understand where I am coming from now. Improve on our home games and we could easily be in for a better season.

Excellent post Capt Kayos. Sadly though, I think Blue and White Army is right. Even if we have a season as bad as last season I cannot see Souness being shown the door, not until the summer anyway. The board seem quite happy to accept his excuses and public fall-outs, even when it is damaging the club. And it is the finacial damage that is the most worrying. However, I guess sacking the manager mid-contract could equally lose us as much money. I dont think Rovers' fans are unrealistic. Most now can accept that we are not going to challenge for the title every season, but equally we should accept a season of poor home performances then all the ref/luck/injuries excuses. Thanks Kiwiwannabe but I don't feel good at having to do the post, what I can't believe though is that people are accepting it. Yes it might only be the first game, but it was the same old scenario - I'm not saying I want them to sack Souness although I feel he is now hanging on a thin line and the next run of games is not exactly going to be easy. Where does he get these stupid ideas and formations from? We all want to feel confident and hope Saturday was just a blot - but I couldn't see anything different to last season which after what we witnessed last season does not bode well for this. I honestly believe we have the players to be challenging in the top 10 and the manager, but if we don't play them in their correct positions and get some form of continuity in the line ups and form a backbone to side then we are going to be in for another rough season. Souness needs to learn from his mistakes and the number of chances he had last season before the aboration on Saturday, to me he has had enough time to do this and now needs to start showing this to the fans.

Nope -can't dispute that - but continue with that formation and we will be 1 nil down in every game we play. Yep - we got a draw and all in all we have to be happy we got a point (at home) Yep - I was complaining because that's another we should have won- always do when we don't win - especially when we know we should have - happens far too many times - you can accept the odd game - but not over 10 a season. How long do we let what continue? ..... Obviously not seen us for a while - its not that we drew that's the problem - its the way we ended up drawing against what I consider poor opposition that played like a First Division team - exception being the best player on the pitch Kanu. You complain about us being negative - try having a word with Mr Souness. And Souness also said that survival is a priority he wants to be past by midseason. ....... - then why the cock does he keep conjuring up formations that would perform better in an assembled room of comatised monkeys?