I like the comparison with Chris Coleman. It shows you can do a decent job without experience. If Hughes can sort out our defence, he's on to a winner. The man appears to have the right personality to be a successful manager. The main thing he needs is an inner hunger to do well. Both Dalglish and Souness felt they had something to prove to the footballing community and appeared to be motivated by a strong desire to succeed as much for their own sake as for Rovers. Hughes needs to want something similar for himself. I don't honestly know if he has. Looking forward to Saturday and the hope that our under-performing players pull their collective finger out and play with some intelligence and commitment.

I heard Roache interviewed on Five Live at about 4.30pm yesterday and he sounded quite desperate that his man did not miss the boat. He indicated that neither he, Hughes or the FAW had been contacted by Rovers and he was mustard keen to redress this before the job went to someone else. The pleading in his voice suggested Williams was not returning his calls. Either that or negotiations had taken place and he's a damn fine actor. I've rarely heard an interview with someone so clearly desperate that his boy gets the job. If Rovers had not made an approach at that stage (and presumably Hughes' contract forbids him from courting a new job: hence his agent's role), doesn't that tell us Hughes was/is not first choice?

But Hughes' agent is basically putting out a 'come and get me plea' to the media, as reported on the BBC.

If Andy Nield genuinely has an exclusive in tonight's LET saying Hughes has got the job, then I'd like to know about it (not being near a Blackburn newsagent).

Presumably Hughes can't apply for the job, since he's already contracted to Wales. Doesn't mean he doesn't want it. He would need to be approached (via the Welsh FA, presumably).

I don't know, there's something in giving Hodgson another go, if he's learnt from the mistakes he made last time around. For most of his tenure, Roy did an awful lot right.

The best news about the whole affair (Boersma, Murray & Saunderss also leaving). I never had any confidence in them. We've got one of Europe's top academy's and now a real chance to put together an excellent coaching team.

Since most of the players mentioned are presumably on lengthy contracts - Ferguson, Stead, etc, if Souness does come a-courtin' in January, Newcastle will be paying big bucks, which would give our new man the chance to buy too. John Williams has said an ideal candidate will be young and experienced (?). Does Strachan count as young? Hughes certainly does. Whatever, we need top quality coaches first and foremost.

It's the tactical side of Souness I won't be missing. I agree with Scotty and Groo and, although I can't believe Newcastle fans will be jumping for joy, he still has more trophies than they do. As for successors: Mark Hughes - inexperience, yes. But his style and mannner when playing at Ewood, plus the way he's finally got Wales playing to the potential of many of their individual parts. Strachan - possibly the most realistic 'safe pair of hands.' Available. We have some talented players. We need a good coach to get the best out of them. Anyone for Dalglish to do it again?

Can't believe I'm the first to get this one right: Brotherston Garner Hendry

Oh God! Come on lads, sort this out. Mind you if I tell him 5.30pm he can at least have a couple of beers.

Can someone please post the kick-off time for tonight's match against Reutlingen? A friend in Germany lives an hour away and will drive straight from work. Thanks.

Standing order set up. It's a doddle. Cheers to all concerned for ongoing efforts in keeping site going - well worth a few quid each month. I went into a new bar in Manchester last week, Bluu, up in the Northern Quarter. Paid £25 for two sausage & mash and two glasses of bog standard wine. I thought it was pretty reasonable at the time (work was paying), but I now realise I must be barking.

Have to say, Paul, the evidence is against you re Sky TV forcing attendances down. If anything, since Sky came along, crowds across all divisions are consistently up. Perhaps access to extended highlights of rovers games will rekindle the desires of many stay-at-homes to revisit Ewood.

FLB, I agree with your sentiments, but unfortunately the history of England fans (and people) causing trouble at football tournaments around the world goes back decades and marks England out as a special case. Hooliganism is not called the English disease for nothing, you know. Some of the media may be guilty of sensationalism or liberal hand-wringing, but they are still only reporting what these men get up to. You only need think how Brazil or Scotland or Scandinavian supporters behave en masse at World Cups, etc, to see how shabby these idiots make all English supporters look by comparison. I don't like it and having been abroad following England I also know that the small stupid minority make it that much harder for decent fans to give a good impression.

Come out of your cocoon into the real world In the real world, Englishmen are at it again at a major tournament bringing shame on their country and genuine supporters. It doesn't matter if they're England fans or not, or make it less shameful that the trouble took place in a holiday resort miles from where England are playing. But, in the real world, if there's serious trouble in or around the stadium on the day of an England match, don't be surprised if the England team is thrown out. That threat has been real since 1998 in France. It's not the players' fault, nor is it fair on decent fans or the TV watching public at home, but the precedent was set following Heysel and I'm sure UEFA will consider the same again.

No, you're not. Blaming the media is rubbish. It's not the media's fault hundreds of lads get drunk and start fighting at 1am two nights running. Sure they can sensationalise it, pay to get a good view, but they don't start the trouble, don't taunt the locals or police and don't develop into a glass and chair throwing mob at the drop of a hat. The reason trouble (however small & localised) is at the top of the news agenda is for two reasons: 1. We've seen this happen before and it has always escalated until there's at least one day of serious hooliganism before the tournament is over. 2. The threat of expulsion is probably a real one and would be the major story of the tournament. If I was at the BBC, The Sun or the Guardian, I'd want to be on hand to report on it. One way to avoid this is for people to take individual responsibility for their actions and to stay away from trouble. But that's a little harder than using the media or police as a scapegoat, isn't it?

It means they have merely been held in custody and NOT charged with any offences. It is not even as serious as "being questioned by police...". Chances are the dozen were taken away either for their own safety, for being drunk, to prevent them from causing a disturbance or because they were simply "in the way."

Tremendous. He always did seem to be a decent bloke. Top keeper, too. Glad also to finally have Collymore's Divot explained. Surprising (or maybe not) how many ex-Rovers still refer to us as their team or retain obvious affection for our club. Current players should read and take note.

I'm just thinking aloud here, but two seasons ago we were struggling and Cole's arrival and goals helped keep us up. Last season we were struggling and Duff's return from injury and goals helped us up the leage. This season we're struggling and who's the player to get us out of the mire? Stead? Gallagher? Maybe. But there is a pattern there...

Disagree with Jim on several points here: I think our squad is much stronger than this time last season. Only Duff is really missed (with the Berg issue mentioned above). Ferguson, Gallagher, Stead, Reid, Gray, Emerton are all good buys/youth players. Motivation is a Souness strong point. Witness the number of times we 'play to the final whistle', often scoring in the last few minutes. Sadly, the opposition usually score in the final minutes as well, which suggests the problem is coaching and teamwork. A different point.

Perhaps Graham could help by telling us which pub his uncle runs so we can pop in for a pint.

It's easy to be critical or snidey on a messageboard. Celtic fans are welcome to post (as is anybody) but let's all try to keep the playground personal mud-slinging out of it. i.e. my ground's better than yours, etc...

Did a crawl down Gallowgate - several pubs, including Bairds Bar. What a friendly bunch of people. Good fans, good pubs, good banter. Thanks to all who made us so welcome - particularly the lads from John O'Groats. Pity about the result, but you can't have everything.

Tickets on open sale at Ewood would be bought by Celtic fans. Tickets on open sale at Celtic are unlikely to be bought by Rovers fans. It will be interesting to see how many Celtic fans there are in home areas, particularly the Blackburn End, and what the reaction of Rovers fans and stewards/police will be. Experience says the Celtic fans will be villified by Rovers fand regardless of how they behave until they are ejected. Perhaps, for this game - if the Celtic fans are well behaved and good humoured - then Rovers fans could be a little more tolerant and accept them in home areas with good grace and take the opportunity to have a laugh and a banter with them? (Or does anyone know what time the last bus leaves for Cloud Cuckoo Land?)