I'm finding it even harder than usual to predict something for this...and it's hard enough with Rovers as it is. I'm going to have to sit on the fence and say it will be a draw although I think we have it in us to beat them. The team selection will be interesting, I wouldn't like to think that Hughes will ditch width to put Djorkaeff in the team...at the same time I wouldn't like to think he'll play up front because we already have enough strikers fighting for those two places. Djorkaeff has played on the left before, he played there for Bolton sometimes too, and playing Jansen there against Charlton suggests that he's not happy with starting either De Pedro or Pedersen at the moment so this might be where Djorkaeff fits in. Villa have quite a tough central midfield so, although he's past it and all that, Flitty has to start in there again unless Hughes throws in Douglas but that would be a bit of a risk. Well...this is what I'm hoping we'll line-up as: Friedel Neill Amoruso Matteo Gray Emerton Ferguson Flitcroft Djorkaeff Stead Jansen I think we may see Dickov in place of Stead though, but I'd love to see Hughes try a Stead/Jansen partnership because that's potentially the best we have...and potentially the best we've had for a long time.

I don't think Dickov can be the main striker, he doesn't have enough to his game. I agree with the bit you said about him running around and creating space for Djorkaeff to use the ball...but then there'd be no-one up front to pass it through to? Or I might just be that I don't like Dickov.

Up front with Dickov I think? His tireless running could create enough space for Djorkaeff to bring others into the game. I think he might play from the left but have license to come inside, similar to the way Hughes sometimes used Koumas for Wales. If Djorkaeff is going to play off a striker then it can't be Dickov, it would have to be Stead, Bothroyd or Jansen I think...not sure Gally could do that role either. For what it's worth, I think we might line up like this: Friedel Neill Amoruso Short Gray Emerton Thompson Ferguson Djorkaeff Stead Jansen That's with everyone fit of course, for now it's probably going to be Matteo instead of Short and Flitty instead of Thompson.

The second goal was pure genius, the way he lost the first defender then smashed the ball into the bottom corner was quite breath taking, there are very few players in the world who could have done that. What's more scary is that he's still learning the game...there's no limit to what the kid can achieve.

You hit the nail on the head yourself...that is an old concept. Any remotely successful team now knows that you have to play your way out from defence, if you just lump it up the opposition will just get the ball back straight away and the defence is under pressure again. Defences now are too good to be beaten by long balls out from the back, it's a tactic that we need to get rid off as soon as possible.

People have been praising Dickov a lot for last night but I was shouting for him to be taken off. Whilst I appreciate his enthusiasm and work rate, I can only repeat what I said when we signed him: hard work is no substitute for quality. He has done a lot of running but has any of that closing down resulted in a goal? Like was pointed out to me yesterday, he will only get one or two a season from those if he is lucky. He was involved with goals against Southampton but they were from good play, not running around like a madman. Last night, apart from his curled shot in the first half, he was very poor with the ball and was one of the main reasons we lacked any sort of quality in the final final third. Gallagher or Jansen in there is a must for me, it's not like these two are lazy anyway, whoever we put in there is going to close people down.

I wouldn't like to think we'd change our system for a player who could very well retire at the end of the season...

I watched the game with many neutrals tonight, they all said we were poor and that Charlton deserved to win and I fully agree with them. I admit, there was very little in it and had we turned some of our possesion into chances then we could very well have a case to say we were unlucky...but that wasn't the case. Just accept we were the worst team and we have problems...I have confidence that Hughes will sort these out but with some people there's a worrying sense of the wool-pulled-over eyes syndrome that happened last season.

Charlton had far better chances throughout the game than we did, even at 0-0 they looked the more likely team to score. As for the penalty...again...it was not a penalty...but if you were going to give that one then you would have to give theirs too. We lost tonight because of a lack of imagination and too many long balls, it was no hard luck story as many are trying to make out.

Can't be bothered to do a full match report but the general jist of it is that we're gonna have a long hard struggle this season. *For me, Ferguson is nearing Grabbi in the 'wasting £7 million' race, he does nothing that a £500k midfielder couldn't do (Matt Holland for example). *As poor as his final ball is, Emerton looks our most dangerous player. *We play far too many long balls which just result in more pressure on the defence. *Amoruso is crap, at least two mistakes tonight which could have cost goals. Get Short/Nissa/Todd in there ASAP. *Jansen is looking quite sharpe although still obviously low on confidence. *Stead still looks good but too many terrible balls into him at awkward heights is not helping his confidence. *Dickov runs around a lot but there's no quality, bring Gallagher in please. *Swapping Emerton and Jansen? Please Sparky, don't do what Souey did to us last season. *Friedel seems back to the form which made him the best keeper in the Premiership, long may it continue. Personally I think we'll stay up and I think Hughes knows we have major problems, his big test will be whether he can sort those out within the next year or so. Oh...and if Souey is planning to poach Ferguson from us...hurry up and get on with it will you? Edit: Posted this before reading anything, suprised to see so many people agreeing with me on Ferguson.......but as for the 'penalty'.....take the blinkers off will you? It was no more hand-to-ball than Matteo's, I was with several neutral observers and they all said ours was not a penalty. We lost because we couldn't create, not because of a referee.

No these download charts aren't run from free download sites, free downloading is still as illegal as it ever was. I think it's taken from places like Napster and other paid for download services.

I might had known you'd be the first to answer something about breaking copyright.

I can't see us getting anything less than a win from this, I'm going for 3-1. Team: Friedel Neill Amoruso Matteo Gray Emerton Ferguson Tugay De Pedro Stead Dickov Hopefully Jansen will get a game at some point too.

I am happy that we got Hughes because I think he will make a good manager, but that's not based on his achievements, it's about how I see him as a person and the qualities he has. However...there is no-one that can argue with the above. All he's done is failed with more respect than the managers who preceeded him with a Welsh team that has more talent at it's disposal than for many a year. There is no doubt in my mind that this appointment is being made because of the reputation he built as a player and as a person whilst at Rovers previously...to make such an appointment based on his managerial achievements would be ludicrous.

Breaking news on SSN: FAW give Blackburn permission to speak to Mark Hughes

Come on Dowie! We need someone who can make an immediate impact on the club, look at the affect Dowie had on Oldham and Palace when he arrived. He performed minor miracles at both of these clubs...don't forget Palace were looking like relegation candidates until he arrived then he transformed them into a winning side straight away and they got promotion. I can't believe people are using the few games this season against him...he has a poor side, they haven't spent much money. Curbishley did the same at Charlton when they got promotion, as did Megson at West Brom. If they go back down it's no disaster, they'll be financially better off and in a good position to go straight back up...if the signings pay off and they stay up then it's a bonus. If we were picking a manager purely based on achievements then Dowie would be ahead of Hughes...I have a feeling sentiment maybe clouding our judgement somewhat. For what it's worth I think Hughes will make a good manager but it may take time, and that is time that we currently don't have...we need results now. Dowie is the man for the job.

it will start again in 2mins. As JW said, the manager wont be named till next week Isn't it now next week since JW said that?

I reckon we're going to win this one 2-1...if we can't get ourselves motivated for this then we're in desperate trouble. Team: Friedel Neill Short Matteo Gray Emerton Flitcroft Ferguson Pedersen Dickov Stead

The fact that you want Hughes in preference to Dowie when you moaned about his lack of experience goes a long way to undermining your point. He has made some ambitious signings with them this season, Nicola Ventola from Inter Milan for example, but you haven't listed any of those...even the ones you did list don't backup your point because Fitz Hall and Emmerson Boyce have been very good so far. He also brought Sorondo from Inter and Ivan Kaviedes from Celta, two very good players. Sandor Torghelle also looks good, I know he had built a reputation in Europe of being one of the brigther young talents. Speroni looks a bit dodgy but he also brought Hungary international George Kiraly and I think he will be number one when he's fit. Interesting you also pick Strachan...apart from Niemi I'm struggling to think of a good signing he made, Southampton are left with a very ordinary squad from his reign.

But what are the options? Hughes is by no means proven in the managerial world, he's only failed so far with Wales. Houllier has failed pretty much everywhere he's been and Advocaat isn't much better. Dowie is definitely who I want now, I fully believe he's the man to take us forward.

CTRL + V is the secret of any top comedian, it's a trade secret.

Shearer seems like a complete none starter for me, if he came he wouldn't be able to play until January and I can't see him wanting to do that in his final season. I'd love it if Dalglish came back...he could bring back the excitement to the club that seems to have disappeared somewhat...he also had an eye for a bargain which often gets overlooked because of the big money buys he made.

I'm quite suprised by the amount of people who want Strachan. He did a poor job at Coventry and a half decent one at Southampton...if it wasn't for his high media profile because of his good interviews I doubt many people would be picking him. His league finishes range from average to poor (don't forget it was Hoddle who started Southampton's rise from relegation strugglers to a safe mid-table team) and whilst reaching the FA Cup was a decent achievement, would you be happy if Dennis Wise was appointed? At Southampton he left behind a very average team and hasn't, as far as I can see, made any really good signings for them. He has been known to make the odd weird decision himself...I was quite suprised in the World Cup coverage when he claimed Scholes playing left midfield for England was ideal because then Ashley Cole could have the entire left side to himself. As much as I love the man for comedy value...I don't think he is the man for us and I can't think of a good reason why he should be given the job.

Can anyone think of a good reason why we couldn't bring back King Kenny...

What lies ahead for Newcastle in the coming week... Monday Newcastle United unveil their new manager Graeme Souness at St. James' Park. Chairman Freddie Shepherd states he's "delighted" to have landed one of the "top, young Geordie managers in the game". Souness, the 51-year old Scot, promises to deliver "unprecedented success" to the long suffering north-east fans. "My record in Italy, Turkey and at Southampton, Liverpool and Blackburn speaks for itself" he claims. Douglas Hall is ushered from the press conference with a glazed expression and quietly whimpering. Tuesday Souness attends training in order to meet and greet his new players. Captain Alan Shearer does the introductions and lets Souness know who he'll be picking to play in the next game. Souness readily agrees with Shearer's selection. "Alan is one of the great strikers in the game. Just because he didn't want the managers job it doesn't mean he cannot pick the team. Or select the dvd's we watch on the team coach. Or select the music in the dressing room. Mr Shepherd says so." Wednesday At a press conference Souness outlines his vision for Newcastle. "Disicipline is very important at a football club. Players have to look after themselves both on and off the pitch. I find it intolerable that any player in mine and Alan's team would behave in a manner which might bring direpute to the club. That is why I have imposed a 9pm curfew on the players in the 3 days leading up to a game. With all the mid-week fixtures we have that means the players can only go out on a Sunday. After 'Songs of Praise'." Keiron Dyer, Titus Bramble, Lee Bowyer, Olivier Bernard, Laurent Robert, Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Jenas, Shola Ameobi and Aaron Hughes all submit written transfer requests. Thursday In a further bid to instill the "mental toughness" and "discipline" he requires from his players Souness arranges a physical and mental 'bonding' session in the Cairngorms. The players are told to make their own way to the venue and are instructed to take a book to meditate on, a Swiss Army knife, a torch and sufficient food and water to last them for 3 days, as no meals will be provided. Alan Shearer is the first to arrive, on time and with the correct items. Most of the players arrive by lunch time. However Keiron Dyer doesn't join the group until 3pm on the second day. He blames his late arrival on the fact that British Airways only fly to Aberdeen on alternate days and he couldn't find any 'proper' Louis Vuitton luggage in Auchtermuchty. Also he lost his copy of 'The Gruffalo' and had to wait to have another couriered to him. Friday During the 'Search and Destroy' mission in the Uckle-Muckle Forest it becomes apparent that some participants are taking their instructions too literally. The local McDonalds has been firebombed by a group including Bowyer, Bramble and Jenas and the Prebyterian chapel converted into a 'Hardcore Rave and lapdancing club' with rooms set aside for 'the Roast'. Several local women are transferred to Glasgow Royal Infirmary to be treated for shock after going to the 'Roast Room' and asking for a 'hot meat sandwich'. The outraged Souness promises drastic action. "I'll speak to the chairman and Mr Shearer and those responsible will be severely punished. The players will all travel together in future and I'll limit them to £10 a day pocket money". Keiron Dyer submits another transfer request. Saturday In a strange twist of fate Newcastle's first game under their new manager is against his old club Blackburn. Although not directly responsible for first team affairs until the following Monday, Souness lets slip that he has had significant input to the selection process and tactics to be employed. "Alan kindly let me pin up the team sheet in the dressing room and give the second copy to the referee" he says. "I also got to pass the numbers to the fourth official when Alan made the substitutions". In a bad tempered game Newcastle lose 0-3. After the game Souness is quoted as saying "I never knew Blackburn could play like that. they never did in the last 18 months I was there". Crowd trouble erupts after the game when irate Newcastle fans try to force Souness onto one of the Blackburn supporters coaches, only to be turned back by hysterically laughing Rovers fans. "'E's your problem now lads" is overheard from one of the Lancastrian suporters. Sunday The local press report the fans reactions to the appointment of Souness and their opinions of the change in playing style the previous day; "Obviously yesterday was a disappoint. to lose 3-0 at home to a team 2 places below us isn't good enough. Souness' experiment in playing Robert at centre-half didn't seem to work, nor did his tactics of playing 7 across midfield and lumping the ball to Shearer all the time. And if Craig Bellamy is a goalkeeper I'll eat my hat" - Geordie Knacker-Dan, Walker. "If I'm going to pay £500 a season to watch Newcastle I expect us to lose with style, the way we did just after the club was formed and that Kevin fella was the manager. I'm not having that performance yesterday again. Souness out" - Billy Boots, Gosforth "Whooooop ding Klerrrrrnnnnnnk wibble. What was that man? I'll tell yerz it was a ###### camel in the poss tub with a side order of squirrel flange in Jus-Rol pastry that was. Anyway I'm oot on the toon the neet if I can get me zebra top ower me heed to show me hawaiian short to all the dorty bords in Baja. Fancy a swally?" Paully Paul McPaulster, Hebburn. Newcastle announce "with regret" that Souness has been "relieved of his duties forthwith". Cilla Black is to "act as stop gap manager" until "Alan decides who he wants next."