Citeh and Ericsson have just parted company. I agree with the nodrog on this one. Lets look at this logically. From Hughes's point of view he had probabaly taken Rovers as far as he can. Our football towards the end of last season was poor and we looked stale. Now, Citeh have money and are in Europe - something we have not got either of. Granted, I would rather work for Williams than Shinawatra, but that's Hughes's choice. My gut feeling is he will go, although how this will sit with United fans is another story - I think we all agree he is probably high on the list of replacements for Fergie when he does finally retire. However - look at it another way. Why Hughes ? What has he won ? Surely the Thai has the resourses (and cash) to attract a much bigger name to Eastlands, a la Sven Goran Ericsson who, lets face it, is one of the biggest names in world football. Maybe, just maybe, its the press putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5. Or perhaps its a rouse to pressurise the Russian into making a decision on the vacant Chelski job. Now, lets say Hughes does go...... Allardyce is top of the list according to 'sources'. Rememeber, this is the guy who the vast majority of the footballing public wanted as England manager not too long ago. This is the guy who worked miracles at Bolton on a shoestring budget. This is the guy who can pick up bargains - top players like Okocha - for next to nothing. This is a guy who is universally respected in British football. Fpr me, he would be the perfect replacement. Other options ? Simon Grayson. Give him a crack. Colin Hendry. Dont let your heart rule your head. Mike Newell. Please God, no. Things may not be as bleak as it seems. My only worry is if Hughes goes, who will follow him ? Samba ? Nelsen ? RSC ? Warnock ? We'll just have to see. Accyrover

Another thing about Ashley Cole is how truly atrocious he was for England against the Swiss. Even Capello gave a wry smile when the crowd booed his every touch. Perhaps his off the field activities and new coach will finally see the end of THE most overatted English left back of the last 20 years and convince Capello to look no further than Stephen Warnock or Nicky Shorey (you can forget Bridge because he seems to have a condition known as 'can't pass the ball forward, take anyone on or stay on my feet for more that 15 seconds at a time syndrome'. Accyrover

Yet another ungrateful thick footballer who's so far up his own self important ar*e he doesn't what day it is. Cheating on your wife is one thing, doing it with a bird who looks like *that* is another. Anyway, is it me or does Mr Cole look a little like Theophilus P. Wildebeast in this pic ? This story just smacks of how bad English football has become. Its a money making business and its the likes of us who end up paying for it. Accyrover

How the guy can think Dyer, Jenas and Brown are internation class is beyond me. Mind you, Graeme Taylor made a career out of conning the great English football fan that Carlton Palmer was exactly that ! Accyrover

What's your source ? Accyrover

Given that Moan-a-rihno is looking for cover for the players he will loose during the ANC, I find it hard to believe he wiould be allowed to splash out on a striker who will be playing in the ANC. From what I gather from his interviews he will not have the same sort of spending power as in previous transfer windows due to Abramovitch loosing interest in his little West London toy. Anyway, havent they just agreed to buy some Peruvian striker who they are reportedly paying £50k a week to ? Accyrover

Casino Royale was by far and away the best film I've seen in the last 12 months, if not the last 12 years ! Other faves of mine are (in no particular order) :- The Hunt For Red October, Constantine, Layer Cake, Snatch, Pirates of the Carribean (Dead Man's Chest) and The Hitchhikers Guide To the Galaxy. Accyrover

Live coverage on Radio Lancashire. probably be something on the web if you google it. Accyrover

I dont speak a word of whatever-it-is-they-are-speaking, but I think they might be having a bit of a laugh at our first two Prem results. Accyrover

Its easy to villify Ronaldo for Englands exit from the World Cup, and I agree the greasy scum bag should bog off to Real Madrid as quickly as possible for his own good. I can just see some nutter planting one on him as he's paying for his tank full of unleaded at a Shell garage. Wayne Rooney has said he cant possibly play in the same team as Ronaldo next year. RFW has some serious thinking to do. Does he get shut of Twinkle Toes or Shrek ? My money's on Riverdance Boy packing his kit bag. The real reason we lost was that Sven got his tactics hopelessly wrong. We were awful, plain and simple. You cannot play Rooney as an out and out striker because he hasn't got the temprement to play with his back to goal and get booted every 20 seconds. You cannot play with a midfield comprising of both Gerrard and Lamprad and Beckham simply has to be replaced by Aaron Lennon. Sven didnt have the balls to make the big decisions, his squad selection, especially strikers, was truly comical and Theo Walcott must be the highest paid mascot in International football. We had an Argentinian ref, an opposing team who dived at every possible opportunity and a manager who Mike Parry calls a 'Bum'. Figo got nothing more than a yellow card for headbutting a Dutch player and Rooney gets sent off for pushing a Portugese greasy fag who looks like he plucks his eyesbrows and would rather be staring in the new Michael Flattly production. Even Sepp Blatter said we were boring. Enough said coming from him, Mr Sparkling Personality. Dont kid yourself, the World Cup is so much better for the departure of boring England and its clueless outgoing manager. FIFA saw to that when they appointed an Argentinian ref.

I think the press have a lot to answer for. Sven Goran Ericsson - they stitched him up. All he was doing was exploring his options knowing he would leave the England job sooner or later. They also constantly hound him over his private life which has nothing to do with his ability to manage a football team. Glen Hoddle - Ok, so he might be a bit of a fruit loop but the press hounded him out and constantly made fun over his Eileen Drury connections. Terry Venables - arguably one of our best post war coaches yet the tabloids couldn't resist chipping away because of his 'dodgy business dealings'. Bobby Robson - almost lost his job because of the press. Took us as close to winning the World Cup as anyone in 1990. Graeme Taylor - the press acted disgustingly towards him (Turnip Taylor). He may have had his shortcomings as England manager but it was no excuse to villify the man. Gus Hiddink and now Scolari have pulled out of the race because of the mentality of the press. 20 of them camped outside Scolaris house is taking it too far, even before the bloke accepted the job ! The press are even unearthing aspects of McLaren's private life now ! I think we should give the job to a group of tabloid hacks with Talksports Mike Parry as head coach. They obviously know how to run the England team given their constant critisism of whoever is in charge. One final word - the News of the World is a disgusting waste of paper who should be thoroughly ashamed of what they have done to Ericsson. I am not an Ericsson supporter but their actions were a discrace. And please, for the love of God, dont give the job to McLaren. Accyrover

Landmines ? Accyrover

And I was half way down the A59 when they called it off. I really feel for the poor Sunderland fans who made the trip. Accyrover

What really suprises me is the fact that Newcastle's game is still on, and they were clearing at least an inch of snow off the pitch on Sky Sports at 6-30 this evening. You could hardley see the white lines. Very odd. Accyrover

...........SHUT UP! If there is one thing you can't ever accuse Savage of it's lack of commitment on the pitch. Ok, he's an arrogant sod with even girlier hair than me, but uncommitted? What @#/?. You look like an afghan as well then ? Accyrover

It wasnt a bad result, but we really should be beating teams like Palace. By all accounts their Hungarian keeper had a blinder and our strikers just had one of those days. Unfortunately we have problems. No pace at the back, although I once saw Toddy beat Rad-what's-his-name in a foot race when the unpronouncable Canadian was at Everton. We have no creativity in midfield. I'm sorry, but Ferguson can go to the Barcodes because I dont think his heart is in it for us. Our wingers aren't really creating on a regular basis, Reid wants to come inside too much and Emerton is.....well....still the enigma he always was. Dickov works his socks off but has no support and pumping the ball up to him is a pointless exercise. Bothroyd could come good, Gally looks knackered and Stead couldnt hit a cows arse with a banjo right now. Savage is not the answer in midfield, although I suspect he's on his way. Thommo could be the creative spark we need providing the daft bugger can stay on the pitch. Hartson........could be Dickovs foil but would he come ? I doubt it. Gabbidon is a done deal apparently. I fear a long cold winter ahead, and survival......just. Accyrover

Well, my heads gone. Having the mother of all hangovers didn't help. Thought it was a very entertaining game, we still look seriously dodgy at the back but going forward was a breath of fresh air. Emerton and Reid looked dangerous (Reid was superb IMHO) and Thommo and Gallagher certainly livened things up in the second half. Still worried about the defence but I thought Todd and Johanssen did ok. Sloppy goals though. Off to Fulham next week. Hangover there for sure ! Accyrover

I'd appreciate it if we'd leave the 'Stan from Darwen' thing alone. I had very bad nightmares on Saturday, although that might have had something to do with the 6 bottles of Riggwelter and 1/2 bottle of Glenmorangie. What the local brew in Peterborough then ? Accyrover

Quote "Thought Lucas Neill did allright, he's a solid defender. The two central "defenders" on the other hand..." We actually *have* two central defenders do we ? Oh, you're referring to Zippy and Bungle....... Accyrover

I think its clear to see where our problems are. The central defence is a shambles, yet another goal conceded to a set piece. Amoruso (aka Bungle) is not Premiership quality, has no positional sense and obviously thinks he's a better player than he actually is. I would hope Souness comes in for him in the transfer window but I doubt even he would make the same mistake twice. Matteo ditto. He's 1st division quality at best. I have a sneaking feeling Sparky will go for Keown on a short term contract like Djorkaeff. Plus when Todds fit you can guarantee he'll play. Central midfield was better, but Tugay had a poor game. Ferguson on the other hand had a stormer. Its about time in my opinion. The Wizard of Oz enigma that is Brett Emerton (aka Dracula - doesn't like crosses) had a good game again and took his goal well. Problem is we dont have a natural goalscorer, just forwards who graft. Hats off to Paul Dickov again, he ran himself into the ground but never really looked like scoring. We need another centre half, probably two, a creative midfielder and a forward who knows where the back of the net is. Djorkaeff had a good game I thought, great through ball for Emerton's goal. Time to ship out the rubbish at Xmas I reckon. We'll see how good Sparky is in the transfer game. 2 points dropped I'm afraid. Accyrover

Couldn't have put it better myself Bob Accyrover

It went mental where I was sat in the Blackburn End lower when Matt scored. What a great moment for the lad. All in all pretty happy today. Abysmal first half, very encouraging second half. One thing I have to say is Brett Emerton. What the hell did Hughes say to him at half time ? The guy was possessed second half and looked every inch a world beater. Definately a confidence player and obviously a certain Scotsman knocked all that out of him. Well done to Mark Hughes - whatever he said obviously worked. Dicov was excellent, Stead looks like he desperately needs a goal, Matteo had a half decent game for once. Amo was solid, Gray threatening coming forward and very impressed with Jay Bothroyd. All in all a good day. I've had a few drinks for the lads tonight. Final word for Mark Hughes, well done Sparky. you're a hero already. Just remember, one swallow doesn't make a summer....but it bloody helps ! Accyrover

Something a certain Mr Souness has an unfortunate lack of. Just ask Andy Cole, Andy Todd, Michael Gray etc etc Accyrover

One very happy season ticket holder here. I didnt want Dowie or Strachan. I reckon Hughes will be a breath of fresh air at Ewood, and the players seemed united in wanting him which can't be a bad thing. I'm looking forward to a new era at Ewood. Accyrover

There's no pleasing some people. Accyrover