Seeing as it's a short-term deal, we can't really lose. Question is, where is he going to play? My guess is that it'll be left wing, in which case, where do MGP and de Pedro figure?

I'm worried about MGP's Rovers career after the CHarlton game. Despite being a sub and us desperately needing new ideas in the attacking third to break down the opposition, Hughes refused to bring on MGP. Does this mean that Sparky doesn't rate him?

Why the hell was MGP not thrown on at the end? Jansen was obviously having a stinker so I don't see why MGP wasn't brought on, especially as he scored that late goal against Bournemouth. Please, please, let's not have this idiotic favouritism from Hughes. If Jansen isn't playing well TAKE HIM OFF.

If you can't beat them, don't join them - that's my motto. So rather than follow the format of some the previous excellent 'previews' I've gone for the run-of-the-mill footy preview. Here goes: Blackburn V Aston Villa Background: Not quite a banana skin but a bunch of gutsy Cherries were enough to bring Mark Hughes’ managerial honeymoon period to an abrupt and unceremonious end. If the debut victory over Pompey was the Wedding Day snog, the Bournemouth debacle was the first row. Notwithstanding that blip, Hughes’ arrival has been the proverbial breath of fresh air sweeping through a club that had grown stale under the previous regime. Most notable amongst the plethora of changes instigated by Hughes, is the more attacking intent shown by the players on the pitch – hopefully the sight of Garry Flitcroft and Jon Douglas marshalling the flanks will never haunt Rovers fans again, at least not outside of recurring nightmares. Aston Villa are a match for any team in the Premiership these days. With the relative up-turn in fortunes brought about by David O’Leary, the fans have almost forgotten to maintain the perpetual bitching about Doug Ellis. (Emphasis on the word ‘almost’). They currently lie in 8th position and a win over Rovers could take them up into the Champions’ League mix – whatever that means at this stage of the season. O’Leary has a strong side, with Nobby Solano and Gareth Barry, they certainly have wingers well capable of delivering a decent ball – if not out sprint a full back. Carlton Cole was an intelligent signing and will no doubt keep our defenders busy, along with Angel and/or Vassell. Form: Rovers: (last six games, oldest first): LLDLWL: Not very good - you can see why Freddy Shepherd went for Graeme Souness, can't you. Aston Villa: (last six games, oldest first): LWDDWD: A few draws in there, mainly brought about the fact that they don't score many, but then again, there defence doesn't often let them down. Last season: This fixture tends to be like a day-night cricket game – the result’s decided before the start. Bizarrely, one team always comes out eager to impress and the other in a stupor. Take last season’s contrasting scores. At Ewood, Rovers were predictably pathetic and Villa eased to a 2-0 win. Yet, in the return fixture, Villa played the submissive role, with Rovers collecting a rare three points, Stead and Flitcroft scoring the goals. Who’s hot? Rovers: Brett Emerton, aka the Enigma of Oz, has benefited more than most by the managerial change at Blackburn. Debut apart, the winger has been a serious disappointment, rarely showing the talent that won him wide acclaim during his Feyenoord and right back days. The guy has actually started to play like a Premiership winger and coupled a decent performance against Bournemouth with a rare goal. Special mention for Matt Jansen who has shown that there’s life in the old dog yet, since being recalled. Bravo, Matty. Villa: Carlton Cole: A mercurial talent, the man from Chelsea has found the scene at Villa to his liking. Not only has he been getting goals for Aston Villa, he has been the real deal for the England U21s, outshining our very own Jonny Stead. Cole has all the attributes to be a fantastic striker. He has strength, pace, close control and finishing ability – only his temperament stands between him and being amongst the best. Who’s Not? Rovers: Jon Stead: Last season’s saviour has found hitting the onion bag a darn sight harder this campaign. One suspects that being awarded the number nine jersey and the immense responsibility that comes with that has been a burden too difficult to bear for the youngster. The penalty miss against Bournemouth will trouble him and by all reports, Peter Taylor has demoted him to the bench for the U21s. There is no doubt this is just the customary trough that all strikers go through and Stead will be back amongst the goals before long. Villa: Tommy Hitzelsperger: ‘Der Hammer’ has not been firing in those 20 yard thunder bolts recently and has seen his midfield spot snatched by Lee Hendrie. In my opinion, not the most talented of players but his powerful shot is a useful weapon to have in the armoury. Although, it must get a bit annoying when the crowd cry ‘shoot’ every time he has the ball – Stefan Freund had the same problem, for different reasons obviously. Prediction: Rovers to win 2-1. Aston Villa will be sluggish for the first half and Blackburn will capitalize by going 2-0 up by half-time. David O’Leary’s words still stinging their ears, Villa will mount an impressive fight back in the second, but with only one goal conceded by Friedel, we will win. Hoooray.

Bit by bit, the truth is coming out and it isn't easy reading. Some fans were dismissing comments made by the likes of Egil Ostenstad, Andresen, Duff, Cole and others about the inadequate training regime as sour grapes. I was prepared to believe the same, but when I read that Martin Andresen was claiming to be glad to be going back to Staebek because he wasn't improving his match fitness at Rovers, I was convinced that things weren't being done correctly by Souness and his crew. Add to that the fact that Duff pointed out that training at Chelsea was a lot more intense than at Rovers, and you start to see why Rovers were flagging in the last few seasons. Hopefully, Hughes will bring a wind of professionalism to sweep away the dross Souness had accepted and installed at Rovers.

Cole is elected to Blackburn Hall of Fame

Bryan Robson Some one needs to get back on their medication. However, I will resist the temptation to slam Douglas. He was playing alongside an old man. We've seen how much Roy Keane has deteriorated as a player with age catching up - and the same has happened to Tugay. And secondly, his biggest strength is his defensive work. If he played alongside a more forward minded, mobile player, like Barry Ferguson, he'd be able to stick to what he's good at. And that means no more Robson-esque runs into the box and Grabbi-like finishes. The mind-boggles that Rovers can let Neil Danns go out on loan and play Jon Douglas. Regardless of the merits of both players to play Prem football, Danns is the more gifted footballer.

First out the door? How many can you cram through at one time. Tugay needs to be given the push. Amoruso, Gresko and Flitcroft can also go.

Sounds like the game was very much in the mould of the Genclerbirligi home leg match, plenty of chances, Matt Jansen was playing and was profligate and comedy defending ensured disappointment for Rovers fans by the end. All we needed was for Grabbi to make one last Ewood appearance by streaking when Rovers were on the attack and spooning an open goal over the bar. I agree with Tris that Hughes made a big mistake in making so many changes. 9 changes was too many and was sure to bring in a complacency factor amongst the players who probably thought they were going for a stroll. However, there are positives to take from the game. One, Hughes is now fully aware of our defensive achilles' heel and our generally inadequate fitness levels. MGP, Gallagher, Emerton all did enough to suggest they'd be integral parts for the future. Finally, I hope Hughes is now aware that Tugay is past-it. He makes Jamie Redknapp and Darren Anderton look mobile.

And how crap our defenders can be. Sounds like de Pedro played well and MGP scored, so a few positives to take out of a very, very bad day for Rovers.

Yeah, nice one Alan. I suppose we had one coming because we haven't been the victims of a giant-killing for a while. Anyway......*rummages through brain for THAT well-worn cliche* At least we can concentrate on the league now.

How the hell did we manage to lose to Bournemouth?

C'mon Enks, save a pen!!!

I agree with most of the points made by Manc blue. The club should NOT pursue policies that anger the long-term fan who has attended shed-loads of games for unmentionable amounts of money. However, the club should be proactively trying to bring Asian fans in by other means than giving away free/discounted tickets. If we tap into that segment of the market, Blackburn can get bigger and better. And that would benefit the die-hard fan of 30 or whatever years as well as the new arrivals. My opinion is that the best way would be to unearth a great Asian (Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi) talent. If a player of that ethnic background was playing for Rovers I expect barriers to be broken and more Asians to attend matches. There would be a pride factor. I suspect that not a huge number of Asians were into boxing but Amir Kahn's exploits have changed that. Some people on this board might say fast-tracking an Asian player into the first team squad would be unnecessary pc-ism and bending backwards to a group of reluctant football fans. However, if it long-term benefits Blackburn, would it not be a good thing for your club? Before anyone says that there are no decent Asian players (the old chestnut) I would say you're wrong. There are barriers of discrimination and culture. Can you believe that Shaun Wright-Phillips was rejected by Nottingham Forest because he was too small? If that sort of idiotic stereotyping/discrimination can occur, racial discrimination can do so too. Our scouts have to just look harder and deeper.

And here's me thinking Souness said he did not like wingers in the modern game. A most Un-Souness like decision made on Sunday, to play Bellamy on the wing. For the sake fo the Geordies, I hope he's got over his fettish for the midfield diamond formation.

Collins John has mainly played as a right winger in a 4-5-1 formation.

Except he's a striker and MGP has got all those goals from the wing. And how many Maltese teams are playing group stage Champs League footy? I'm not saying the stats prove he'll make it in the Prem, but it does prove that MGP has more to him than what he's shown in the 3 matches he's played.

Are these MGP stats right? Because they're damn impressive for a winger, in any league.

Andy Cole under Mark Hughes would've been revitilised but no-one could have forseen Souness' sudden departure. I must say I've been well surprised by Cole. He's playing as a lone striker for Fulham and in my mind I always thought that such a role would be beyond him because it involves a lot of self-less running and holding the ball up.

Amoruso's titles count for nothing. What does count is that outside of Rangers fans, most SPL viewers consider Amoruso to be a joke due to his regular mistakes that ultimately got covered up by the incompetance of most of the opposition. And paying over 1 million pounds for him was ridiculous considering that the Spurs managed to buy someone of similar age but far greater talent for well below that in Nouredinne Naybet.

Don't know about that because there was no Dwight Yorke on the bench to bring on, and in doing so, disrupt the formation and no Lua Lua to take advantage of the tactical blunder. Isn't amazing how a man can be revered and then detested in a matter of days? All he did was take the Newcastle job ffs. (And destroy the players' confidences and team morale).

It really is pathetic to 'despise' a player with no genuine justification but on a whim. Matteo hasn't excelled for us - but he has been played out of position by Souness. He's was a hero at Leeds, and there must be a reason for that. This coming from the person who had a signature at the official site saying 'Amo out! Amo out! Negative? Absolutely!' after a few games into last season. My position with Amoruso is that I think he hasn't got the necessary attributes to be a good Premiership defender. His sending off against Man U typified that imo. I can't see your problem with Matteo because he has been a very solid centre half for Leeds and Liverpool. Not brilliant, but for a free transfer I didn't see many clubs getting better value for a defender.

It really is pathetic to 'despise' a player with no genuine justification but on a whim. Matteo hasn't excelled for us - but he has been played out of position by Souness. He's was a hero at Leeds, and there must be a reason for that.

Getting this thread back on course.... MGP has had a very disappointing start to his career. But I really think people shouldn't be writing him off just like that. He's better than what he's shown but seems to be a bit over-awed with the Premiership. He's definitely got the potential - he wouldn't have been scouted by so many teams (granted, only we bidded for him). Tromso played Wolves in a pre-season friendly and MGP scored two goals and put in a good performance to prove he can do it against more physical opposition. Now he just has to prove himself against better players. Getting on his back would be so counter-productive, at least by being supportive, the fans will give him the best opportunity to prove his worth. Egil Ostenstad scored 2 goals on his debut versus Norwich - what happened to his Blackburn career? On the other hand, Matt Jansen had a very slow start to his Blackburn career and was on the verge of being sold, until Souness arrived. So let's not dismiss MGP. The same way we shouldn't dismiss Sparky if we lose the next two or three. (Which isn't going to happen, thankfully).

'New manager syndrome' - don't you just love it? Right, Hughes out and Sturrock in. New man for the Charlton game and another 3 points. I think John Williams has found the formula to success.