Rovers v BIG club.....18,341 Rovers v Sunderland.18,220 Rovers v Bolton........18,180 Rovers v Charlton.....17,691 Rovers v Fulham.......16,953 Of the five lowest average attendances four were in the first half of the season (up to mid-Jan) with only Sunderland, in February, being later. That would have been much larger had it having been abandones at the first attempt. So...it does appear that slowly but surely attendances are rising. Although, as the Chelsea game shows, when there is two home games in a week then the gates suffer.

Rovers chief plots Euro campaign Good to see the positive vibes coming out of Ewood regarding the upcoming UEFA campaign. Makes such a contrast with the last days of Souness who I think said something about wishing rather to go out with the wife that night. At the time it didn't seem as obvious as it did now that he was covering his own back, downplaying expectations so it would lessen the pressure on him. Still...it had me fooled! At Newcastle it was excuse after excuse. Anything to take the pressure off him and damn the club itself. Williams was at least as bad as Souness, probably more as he is supposed to be the boss. Fortunately he seems to have come around to the positive thinking of Hughes. 'The one thing I'm determined to do next season is make sure we have a good European campaign" "It's no easy task for a club like ours to have a successful season in the Premiership and do well in Europe but, given the way our coaching staff prepare for games, I think it's possible. "The last thing we want to do is go out with a whimper after the first round because everyone has worked so hard to get us there in the first place. "So we know we must do better in Europe than we have in the past, and we are determined as a club to do that." Blimey...it seems something to really look forward to!

The problem with getting him out the club will be that he is on huge wages, can't imagine any club stumping up millions in transfer fees like some here are suggesting.

Does the Isle of Man count? Hughes has performed over and above all expectations. However if he can mix the demands of Europe with domestic concerns then he will go down in history as one of our greatest managers. No other manager has ever been able to make us perform well in European competition. Hell...I'd be happy with just winning a few games there for once!

Unfortunately he probably topped the poll last season as well... ...and the season before.

Allardyce is English so that obviously means he is likely to be mentioned. Besides, he is an excellent manager and has worked wonders at Bolton. Hughes' lacklustre end to a once-promising stint as Wales boss will also most likely count against him. As for "Obviously you see Sam as a better manager than Hughes"...there is nothing obvious about it at all. Where did I say that? Try not to put words in my mouth please. Hughes has done very well for eighteen months with us but that doesn't mean he should suddenly be seen as "obviously the best man for the job". I'd go for a Allardyce/Pearce setup if we are going down the English route. There are many, many possibilities still left to explore if we go down the non-English path.

You don't half go over the top sometimes Phil. Hughesy "so obviously the best man for the job"? Better than Wenger, Ferguson, Mourinho, Allardyce, Scolari, Capello etc etc?

Mind you, I'm still waiting for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer coming to Rovers after it was said to be a done deal on here. Three or so years later...no Ole.

Yeah right. Convenient excuse like I mentioned before, of course there were reporters outside. There would have been if he was seriously linked with ANY major job in international football. Presumably the rumoured death threats he received may have played some part in it. Blaming the press already? Red herring.

Pay as you play deals usually mean a decent standard wage which is topped up by appearances. So...not pay as you play at all really. Jansen's and Dwigh Yorke's for example were referred to as 'pay as you play' but when they moved it became obvious that it wasn't just that.

The rules were known to all at the start of the season. If they did miss out it wouldn't be as bad as if Everton had missed out last season when the rules were not so clearly defined. Much good it did Everton in the long run though!

Of course there could be more to this than meets the eye... Guess I'm the only one who thinks this could be a ploy on the part of Scolari to get a better package? After all, the FA are 'only' offering 3million a year compared to the 4.5million they pay Sven. As for the press intrusion...Scolari managed Brazil! Their press is just as fickle and intrusive regarding the football team as it is in England. Portugal can hardly be much of a cakewalk regarding media inspection either. Regarding the Portugal job..."Newspapers also reported that Scolari's decision to withdraw as a candidate to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson was influenced by death threats from Portuguese football fans upset that he was talking to the FA before this year's World Cup. "...there was a sinister edge in the Brazilian's claims that threats to Fabricio, his 14-year-old son, were behind his u-turn," wrote The Times. The Telegraph said: "That (death threats) is likely to provide a more realistic explanation for his amazing u-turn." Seems like the English press are being used as a convenient scapegoat. As I said, there seems far more to this than meets the eye... Scolari knows he is the number one choice...and it seems to be he may be haggling. Or, other considerations are playing a part. As for journalists camped outside his door...he might be about to agree a deal to be England manager FFS! Of course they will be outside his bloody door!!!

Only if Dunne well Sorry.

If you look at the back of that team photo you can see the stands are packed. Aren't some (on the right side) of those Liverpool fans as well? Wonderful day and everyone but the mancs happy! Check out this site... Manchester United's Worst ever games See which is number one! Then see the bitterness after!

Joe Royle : McEveley Could Sign

O'Neill's record isn't a patch on that of Scolari. World Cup winner and European Championship runners-up vs. 'devalued Uefa Cup' finalists. O'Neill is a good manager but to be a great one you surely have to win the biggest prizes in the game.

Think so yes Ozzie. Not a particularly nice person it was said.

Oh and here is Glenn Hoddle consoling his players... Hahahaha!

The winning goal... And the celebrations...

Is there any indiction of how many Chelsea will be bringing? As they could win the league at Ewood it should surely be a big enough gate to confirm GAV winning the bet.

Probably because Scolari has a better international management record than Hiddink or just about anyone really. Already having managed Brazil and Portugal however he is hardly going to be viewed as 'one of us'. Mind you, Kevin Keegan was seen that way and look how he did...

Good work Bob. You're right...April wasn't the best of months was it? Two draws and two losses. From Champions League contenders to fretting whether or not we will even get into the Intertoto Cup unless we improve! They say you should 'beware the ides of March'...for Rovers it should be to 'watch out for the April showers in case they leave your season petering out into a damp squid!'

Craig Bellamy has been named in Football365's 'Alternative Team of the year'. MGP on the bench. "Striker: Craig Bellamy Without him, Blackburn are an average team destined for mid-table mediocrity. With his chavness on board, Blackburn are on the verge of qualifying for Europe." F365's Alternative Team Of The Year

I got that data from Club Call or something that came up when I Googled. It doesn't mention his assists however but I'm guessing he has a fair few. Maybe the best bet alonside Bellers for the last three games? Cerainly is FSP is going to continue in Sparky's bad books.