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

And the big temperature (money raised) thingy mi bob

Have to agree with Bryan on this one everybody being fit and pending no more signings:- My team:- Friedel Neill (nobody else!), Amoruso, Matteo/Short, Gray Gally, Fergie, Tugay, de Pedro Dickov, Stead Possible exception - Thompson/Douglas for Tugs Thompson for Gallagher Gallagher for Dickov Bench: Enckleman JANSEN/Gallagher/Dickov Thompson/Douglas/Tugs/Emma weighs a tonne Short/Eric/Matteo Side I think Souness will pick.... Douglas gresko gallagher de pedro reid(if still here) yelldell dickov neill short Eric (because he scored in the cup a few seasons back) Friedel (beacuse he can remember him scoring last season) ....as he continues his escapade to make sure everybody can cover each position

Agreed BobF as Usual As Tris - says the so called star player snuffles the income from over a 1/4 of the crowd. What boro have bought is nothing different to Cole - regardless of what I think of Souness or Cole or anybody else - do we need another disruptive influence in the team. Just look at what they spent on strikers over the years. Yes it might be a short fix - and a 'star buy' is probably what the club needs short term but there has to be a balance between that and whether the player is considered 'bothered' enough to give his all -otherwise we could end up with another Yorke. Viduka - possibly the type of player we needed-blows hot and cold - disruptive yes - worth the money (wages) - questionable? Kluivert - has anybody seen this guy play recently - has the technique but can't be bothered - trying to hog himself round the Premiership to get the best wages he can - probably for the least effort - worth the money - no way Jose - however - S/T / Match Ticket sales might just pay his wages and also on a free. Hasselbaink - now we all know this guy can't hit a cow's rear end with a Newcastle Fans head never mind a banjo at Ewood Park - worth the money(wages) -again questionable? Fowler - no way. It looks like its going to be a 'suck it and see' for the Rovers fans -at least until January anyway - as Bob F says lets give the likes of Dickov and crew a chance before we condemn ourselves. No I'm not happy with whats going on - but hey! my Season Ticket card turned up yesterday - now the anticipation starts until the end of August when all my fears are confounded.

TND I think you sum it up here in what the majority of people's feelings are - yes alot would like him to stay but I doubt if we have/had a quality replacement would overall not be too bothered. Keeping an unhappy Cole is not the answer- and as what keeps being said 'no player is bigger than the Club' regardless of who or what they have done. My argument is against the timing of this all scenario - but as usual we will all be left guessing

Regardless of whether this a 'tit for tat' between Souness and Cole there are a few major worries here for us as fans. 1. This is not a surprise FFS so why has it taken up until now for this to be sorted? - not so close to the new Season - as more plans will have to be made yet Souness says we have the squad now to take us forward. 2. Our coffers are minimal at most - or so we are told - so if Cole does go its likely that a severance payment will have to be made as there is no way we are going to get for him what the club values him at. In addition we will probably only be able to get experienced with a has been 30odd year old or will have to look at the lower leagues and hopefully pick up another Stead - not impossible but risky as we will have the usuual they are not ready yet for the Premiership - as the coffers will be reduced anyway 3. There is no advantage to be gained to Rovers if they let him go to Fulham or anywhere else for that matter, and Rovers stumping up part of his wages as we will lose one of our main strikers and give the advantage to whoever - which will more than likely be a Premiership club as noboy else will be able to afford his wages and its unlikely that any Foreign club would take him on. 4. If we keep him we are going to be left with a far from happy player -who will probably not give his all and disrupt the 'dressing room atmoepshere' ( no change there then some people will say) and cause unrest amongst the other players. Rovers are in a lose lose lose situation regardless and this is very disappointing news and very very bad business by the Rovers Board et al- lets just hope what we have prove to us they are upto the task, IMO all is not lost but still worrying all the same. Oh nearly forgot - just to add BANG! there goes the dustbin lid as the undecided/new Season Ticket holders dispose of their application forms.

I always thought that by using PAYPAL -a percentage of the payment was taken out Can somebody confirm - as if this is the case then surely its better for a S/O to be set up - unless charges are made to the bank account for incoming payments.

Not quite got it wrong FLB as its still not overwith -if you read my posts I was questioning why he keeps making the same mistakes and ignoring the obvious not that I wanted him out straight away. I still feel if it hadn't been for the three teams at the bottom we would have been relegated if it had come down to the last day. What you will find I was clamouring for, was that questions needed to be asked about the above and the negativity coming from his mouth. In addition, he has to prove to himself and the fans that he has learnt from these mistakes early doors this season. Yes give him the chance but he needs to show he has learnt from mistakes last Season and prove he is the man to lead us forward. Coming over to Waggy's - comments - I to still have reservations about Coar and am still undecided about Williams, in regard that I still feel he has alot to learn about the fans of Rovers and Football in general, but cannot deny it would appear he seems to be going about it the right way. What I do know is - there is something slightly amiss at the moment in the corridors of Ewood Park and this woould appear to be having a knock on effect.

Being thicko - can somebody explain to me what this is please? Ta

Think this is a good idea Admin/Mods Coming back to what Tris/MB have said, I have not contributed either (think I might have been one of those who said they would initially ) but due to this and that have totally forgot or down to pure laziness and probably because I do not have the internet at home yet. No excuse - and I agree - but although I know a few of the Admin and Mods on here and talk to them at games and new that we strugggle for funding at times, I didn't realise it was that desperate. For the sake of a pint S/O shall be set up from the one and only 'Capt' around here. Come on members lets do our bit as I am sure you will agree, there is no better MB around than this one.

Or another Centre/Rightback Waggy as I suspect? Dawson from Forest - mmmmm......? Matteo - Possible Centre Midfield (defensive) bet many have not thought of this or Centre Back? Jansen - to quote Souness will play more of a part this Season -more chance for Gallagher? Butt? - Possibility still

Bobf Similar to what I said earlier in the thread - overall I don't think our average attendance will be affected over the season - and saying we do have a good start upto Xmas - just watch them half season tickets sell. IMO the board at Rovers need to start looking more into the LOYALTY shown by those who renew year after year regardless, rather than the bog standard offers if they want S/T numbers to have a steady turnover.

That's just it SG194 and from probably diehards as well - and as Pabby states its a 'dangerous spiral' - and it needs to be stopped now.

I'm not disagreeing with you Captain K, there is no buzz around Blackburn about the club - I just don't know how the club could get that kind of feeling around the place back. The only way I can think Rovers could be 'exciting' again is if they brought in big name players. The majority of people on here are die hard Rovers fans, it's the less committed that are needed to be drawn to Ewood. I've no idea how the club can do that...but that's what's needed to stop this decline. FLB Therein lies one of the major problems - even the diehards are feeling worried, although most understand that we can't make major signings the passion is starting to wane even amongst us, and its us diehards that need to convince the stayaways to get there are arses down to EP - but to do that we need to have something to convince them with. Getting it right on the pitch will help but buying big is not the answer in my book - and as somebody already mentioned - even getting somebody like Kluivert would have much difference. Having a better outlook and creating a better atmosphere on matchdays (get rid of the drummer) and making it more enjoyable would be a start. Don't know about you but I get the feeling there is a lack of togetherness down at EP nowadays - not just within the Club but the fans as well.

Short of spending money that the club does not have on big-name and big-money signings I can't see how the club could create a 'buzz' themselves. Personally, I'd rather not have a 'buzz' than to jeapordise our future. If that means a few less thousand season ticket holders...so be it. FLB Improving I totally agree and I might not have made it so clear above but the 'buzz' I refer to is not one of jeopardising our future - more the bringing pride back that we have a Football Club worth speaking about. That is why I also mentioned going back to the mid eighties - we never used to have money to spend willy nilly but there always seem to be a good feeling around the place when we where at home and everybody knew when there was a game on at Ewood. As so many have reflected on here overtime, maybe the expectation levels of the fans have been raised due what has happened over the years and we have had too much of a good thing (Tris, Gav). As a result the feelings towards the negative due to the 'bad season' we have just had may be the influence, but all in all there does seem to be alot of apathy about regardless of last season's mare - even now pre season which is normally an exciting and intriguing time for fans full of hope (from Carlisle to Man Utd) there doesn't appear to be an 'atmosphere' of anticipation about - more of doom and gloom around Ewood Park. How about 'We might not be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea/Man U's etc in finance but we will certainly give it a go on the pitch and at the end of the day we are still Premier League team just the same as them'

Although most on here have valid reasons and there own ideas and opinions, there are three views on here that I feel all contribute together and go someway in at least giving an idea to 'falling attendances'. Firstly - IMO the post by Scotty is the major one - our support all in all is not bad considering what has already been said re the catchment area etc. however- replacing the no-goers is where the problem lies Secondly - The knock-on effect of the negative vibes and lack of 'major signings' to replace the creative players that have left (or the matchwinners as the fans see it). Does nobody else see the similarities between this and after we won the league and what appeared to be our lack of 'strengthening' by letting our 'best' players go and we all know what happened then.- all concerns expressed by myself and Rev and vigourously by Waggy and others and also Paul above and the 'connection' the fans feel towards the players. Thirdly - The comment from Ossydave - to which some degree he is right but not in the sense that Blackburn is not a footballing town. IMO Blackburn is a footballing town but is suffering from its own 'put down' and lack of confidence for the future all becuase of the above - which leads me back to where I began. At somepoint somewhere (I don't know when) the buzz around Blackburn disappeared - possibly when we sold Shearer or even when we won the league( yes that far). Again without checking back on the threads here - I think it was OssyDave who mentioned the lack of 'passion/excitement' does not seem to be there in town or in the stands leading upto and when a match is being played. Now take this back to the mid-eighties and when we won the league and everybody was talking about Rovers in the street and the pubs etc. Nowadays you'll be lucky if anybody will even mention it and all you here after the matches now is disgruntled supporters moaning about what they have just seen - and this in turn does not spread encouragement to others as word of mouth gets a hold. The anticipation of a match being played down at Ewood seems to have lost its appeal in my book to alot of people and this is because of what I have tried to explain above. It is very rare now to here somebody on a Friday night coming upto you on a Friday saying ' Going t'Ewood tomorrow - see ya there, I can't wait'. Decisive factors maybe/maybe not, its only my opinion - its just it appears to be affecting us more due to point 1 above.

Never played CM in my life Billy so I don't know what that will tell you. As I said at the time if he doesn't do anything in the game then I don't want this mentioned ever again. I wanted everyone to forget I'd even mentioned him in the first place and then look a right smart ar*se in 2010, when I dig out my original post, and he makes a substitutes appearance for Leeds United who'll then be in the Coca Cola Champions League (i.e. The Conference). I've not forgotten Bobf - shame Blly C beat me to it (been away again for a couple of days). Anyway what do you mean you haven't played CM -Where've you been mi laddo?? Where do ya think we all get this superior football knowledge from?