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?

And you're getting as bad as Jan, Jim and Mr. 6... Hey, he put out the wrong squad in the first half. He had his reasons for doing it (W. Brom weak in the attack down the left), and it didn't work. The only harm done wasn't because of the formation, it was because of a dodgy wall. At the half, he realized the formation wasn't giving us the offensive results we wanted, so he was smart enough to admit he had been wrong and changed it. It worked. Just remember, if not for such a dodgy wall, more people would be praising how he made the right changes at the half. Of course others would be moaning no matter what, even had we won 3-0, including all those listed above. Not quite American, you'll probably find I am worse. Yes he did put out the wrong squad in the first half - and it wasn't because he was smart enough to change it as it was glaringly obvious what needed doing. If you had been there you would understand the angst at which myself and others are showing with this regard - but it wasn't the first time was it - how long do we let this continue and just accept it. Fair enough if it had been the first time - but it wasn't and its no wonder the players look 'clueless' as to where/ what they should be doing. We can all accept mistakes - what we can't accept is the same mistakes time and time again and no improvement as to what is happening. How many more excuses do we want to hear - dodgy wall (Man city last year anybody), lady luck and her sister (pick any game last year)/referees (pick any game last year) injuries (no other team has them don't you know) And as for the changes - no it didn't work - we should have won the game -all he did was stop the debacle of the first half which was his own doing. If it hadn't been for the determination of Short and the nous of Stead to get the ball in the box we would have been on the end of a defeat - as up to that point we did not look like we where going to score. I'll leave it on this point -Souness in his own words has said (again) survival is priority - well to me looking at Saturday if we don't start to win our home games , especially against the teams that we will more than likely fighting it out with - it won't be a priority as we will be relegated before we know what has happened.

Spot on. People seem to equate having lots of possession as playing well. To me, playing well is determined by how many chances we create and, ultimately, how many of them we take. Possession's nice but it doesn't win you games - goals do. On Saturday we didn't create a single chance in the first half and only created two or three in the second. It was exactly the same as most of our homes games last season - lots of huff and puff but no end product. The fact that some people seem to be happy with that just amazes me. Couldn't have said it better myself Scotty DB - its your posts that are unbelievable - see what you see but don't hide away from the obvious - your as bad as Manchester Blue. There is a defining factor with our team and that is Souness - the fact that people are moaning after one game - is that yet again the same cock ups are made and an unbelievable line up was selected - this to me smacks as panic. These are Sounes's players yet he doesn't have a clue how to gel them into a team. Our deficiencies are glaringly obvious - yet the only people that can't see them are Souness and his backroom plebs - oh and nearly forgot you and Manchester Blue. Look nobody wants to come on here whingeing and moaning - we all wish everything was rosey in our garden - the big FAT thing is though is that it isn't. We have the players - do we have the manager?? Yeah, be positive but don't dis others who are genuinely concerned about what is happening time and time again to the detriment of our team - and club for that matter.

Yet again good posts Scotty/Rev Blue (sorry Steb but have to agree with him, again) nice to know some people live in the land of reality and say it as it is instead of sticking their heads in the sand to hide the obvious and gaping faults with our team. Right, now I’ve had time to reflect here goes - its not pleasant and only a few niceties so for those of you who are still wearing blue n white blinkers leave them on!! Saturday’s game WAS A JOKE –AND SO WAS SOUNESS!! New season same old pathetic Rovers (or should that read Souness) Hindsight is a good thing, and not wanting to sound bigoted or arrogant but for the elite of us ( eg myself) foresight is a god damn precious attribute (especially where Rovers are concerned). I stated on the ‘2004/05 prediction and nervous or excited threads’ where I expressed my worry about whether we would be stabilised in midfield due to what I considered to now being a weak right hand side. This, as Saturday proved, showed my worries where not in vain. Not wanting to go over what people have already said – but any manager that goes out so negative at home against a team that has just been promoted – and from Saturday’s evidence will definitely be relegated along with US – should not be doing the job. If people are not worried about this, then they better wake up and smell the coffee because obviously our ‘mighty to some’ manager has not learnt from his mistakes of last season. Yes he rectified it, but only because it was obvious to a blind man what the problem was. I was mighty annoyed coming off on Saturday, but on the second half performance can drag some aspect that there might be something in there to build on as long as our @#/? of a manager stops pissing about with the team, and only because it’s the first game of the season and we have yet to see our the other teams look. For those that went to the pre-season games - hope you can see now that the formations he played where just because it was pre-season (NOT!!!!!!!!!!) As for the players – I thought Matteo was poor looked far too slow and conceded to many fouls. Gresko/Pedro – just got in each others way due to them virtually playing the same position Emerton – A lot of people I spoke to on Saturday came off cursing him and saying how useless he is - about time I thought .However, people know my feelings on this guy (how long tdo people want to wait for this ‘potential’ thing that so many seem to think he has?), but I couldn’t really fault him (except for the attempts at trying to take on the man) but don’t know whether this was down to him not knowing what he was supposed to be doing ie no cover in front of him or just because he is incapable or stupid instructions from Souness. Tugay – Thank ###### he’s still here – thought last season he was beginning to come to the end but still has the quality (needs to be consistent though) Yorke – hold my hands up have condemned him previously but thought he was excellent on Saturday – can he continue. Gray – to me another excellent display kept momentum going forward Dickov – The energy and determination is there – smaller version of Ashley Ward? Time will tell Short - Gosh how we miss him when he doesn’t play – the one that wanted to win the most – showed it with his determination for the goal The rest, just routine – but does nobody else feel that we looked a bit unfit. The wall for the freekick was a shambles – and to me we didn’t look like we where going to score regardless of the amount of possession we had in the second half. So unless there is some major improvement we are in for a roughshed of a season – and regardless of who we play, any similar pattern to the first half on Saturday and Souness will be picking up is UB40 album to play that scratched record again come the game against Villa. Thanks goodness for the sake of Rovers it was only the first game -otherwise this page would have exploded by now

As I have mentioned on the Season prediction thread, I certainly think this will be a tough game with the Baggies hard to break down, with us just sneeking it by the 1 goal 1-0/2-1. Can't see them scoring so will go for 1-0 just hope we can build on it and even though we may be harder to beat also start to play so co-ordinated footbal rather than haphazard keystone kop scenario of last seaason. Rovers 1 - 0 WBA - Yorke 72mins att - 22478

Mmmmmmm... and that's supposed to fill me with confidence going of what I have seen so far. Can't tackle, can't can't head and never mind not be able to run forward Hope for us if he does play there he does show what he is SUPPOSEDLY capable of and believed by many gullibles on this MB - maybe RB is where he should be playing.

Good review Stella but everything could be thrown into chaos if there is any truth to the reports on the radio this morning of Emerton being on 'standby' to play at right back due to Neill being injured

Went for MU at the bookies as you can never write them off and the value is with them. However can also see them having another bad League Season (in their book) but retaining the FA Cup. 3rd spot between them and Liverpool with the scousers just pipping them Chelsea for me still need another Season but will push Arsenal a bit closer and will probably have the same exploits in Europe. I think Newcastle will struggle to make the top 5 and internal turmoil will set in ( if it hasn't already!) Although I hate to see it I think Boro will surprise a few and dependent on how they take to Europe could decide whether a top 10 finish or just outside . Villa will have a steady Season and nick 6th place. As for the drop - think this is the season we say goodbye to the Toffees as Norwich nick a draw at Fulham and Everton lose at Bolton on the last day of the Season. WBA and Palace to drop (either one bottom) As for us, I think if we can organise ourselves, play players in their accustomed positions and Souness has learnt from his mistakes from last Season we could be pushing for a top 10 - otherwise a battle with 6/7 teams fighting to avoid the drop - just glad there are some poor teams down there who I feel we are better than. Thing is we have to prove this Do we have the Bottle and the will? We'll soon find out. 1. Arsenal 2. Chelsea 3. Liverpool 4. Man Utd ( Retain the FA Cup) 5. A Villa (League Cup) 6. Charlton 7. Boro (Dependent on how Europe affects them otherwise 11/12th) 8. Newcastle (start of the slide for the Geordies) 9. Spurs (how do they manage it - better organised this year) 10. Birmingham 11. Rovers (dependent on many factors - good enough but have to prove it) 12. Fulham 13. Saints 14. Bolton 15. Citeh 16. Portsmouth 17. Norwich 18. Everton (not a sweet end for the toffees - last game misery) 19. WBA 20. C Palace Climb on board and enjoy the Rovers Rollercoaster

No - think we have been sold an extra here from 'Casualty' - thought Reid could be a good buy for us but now I think we should get rid - too mnay injuries for my liking. 'some of the set pieces were sublime' - go on tell me - we had a shot on target Thanks for the update - so come the WBA game I'll blame you if it all goes belly up.

Don't know about anybody else , but I find it rather worrying about the different viewpoints on here - some being positive /some being negative and some totally different to the reports in the rags. Couldn't make it Saturday as I was otherwise engaged on a Stag do, but personally what I have read does not fill me with any confidence. Although I know friendlies are essentially for blowing away the cobwebs, personally I feel Saturday should have been used for playing as near as possible the team that will line up against WBA against a stongish side, this being backed up with the game on Wednesday with the tinkering left for the game against Bray. Now people may be able to convince me that Saturday's game was just a question of going through the motions for the Rovers with the weather and all that, but similar things seem to be still happening as they were last pre season and it didn't improve any once the season started. From all accounts we where overrun for the first half hour and although Matteo would appear to be ok for filling in in midfield, would he be able to sustain it for a full season against Premiership opposition. Dickov sounds like another Ashley ward - makes the runs but then thats it Nissa - would appear to be still making the same errors and losing concentration. Reid -injured again for the n'th time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Defence - too slow Midfield - wayward passing Forwards - Lack of shooting Come on folks - for those that went convince the Capt that it was definitely just a typical pre season game,

Whoah! Whoah! Whoah! a minute Think I few people need to take stock of what they are saying here. Sorry Tris and other but I have to agree with Rev and Waggy again here and the comments that Souness keeps coming out with. We have had the club saying we need to get people renewing their Season tickets and the need to get more fans in the ground - but the negatives emanating from the club are not doing this. Us fans are not stupid, we all know that Premiership survival is the first and foremost - so there is no need to keep ranting on about it. Keeo on saying the same and stating the obvious and fans soon get bored and this will not help S/T sales. I have said it previously and will say it again - what we need is a bit of uumphh around the place!! What I find worrying is people thinking that after one game, all of sudden Yorke is a new man and will sort out our problems. Forget me if I am wrong, but this is guy that Souness has constantly slated and said is 6th in line striker and he wants Yorke to help the younger players - to do what exactly - stand around and not give a toss? Seems to be a lot of contradicting or worse confused comments coming from Souness. He has said we need another stirker and are looking to get one - doesn't look like it now Jansen will play more a part this season - so is he ok or not? Purchased Dickov to do what exactly - doesn't bode well for him when Souness says we need another striker. Yorke - as above Gallagher - has to prove himself this season- bit difficult if the others are going to be playing before him. This looks like turmoil to me and sounds like Souness is still not sure of who to play up front and the Yorke situation smacks at me as panic, we have all seen what he plays like for Rovers and at the end of last season 99% wanted him out Worrying IMO to say the least. Come on Rovers lets get a bit more determined and show we mean business- IMO man for man we have a better calibre than most teams outside of the top 5 (except Emmerton) so lets start showing the rest of the Division what we can actually achieve.

Interesting views on here but looks like some things haven't changed. Viewpoint from Stockport fan here at work says we always looked like we could step up a gear which he says is expected - to me this is a positive as last years pre season we didn't and you could tell we looked in for a bad year, as proved. Said he was a bit disappointed by his lot as he expected more from them as much of their fans do this season, but also said we where awful first half (as confimed on here) but we improved considerably in the second. Also added that our midfield will have to improve somewhat on its passing, alot of balls going astray and poorly placed but said overall you could certainly tell the difference between the Division status. Says Yorke looked good and had a number of chances to score. Sad Dickov seemed to up the tempo for Rovers when he came on and looks a decent buy. Emmerton - who's he - did he play? To me its sounds ok for the first game back on Blightly, but Saturday will be a tester.

I have said previously - we shouldn't have put this guy in charge in the first place. Professor Schnaffel is not good enough and hopefully this wiil be the push that gets rid of him as he is getting paid far too much - but then again the FA are too limp wristed and corrupt as it is, and where already aware in some part of his' exploits' so they probably won't do anything as usual. Get Rid Get Rid Get Rid

Look very much like the ones they used out in Portugal. Seemed to work ok