More actually, because, if I may blow my trumpet for a second, I was amongst the embattled minority on this board who was aware of the Souness' Rovers empire crumbling well before the rest cottoned on. So perhaps, I'll be right rather that Sturr'ong with this one, as well.

Of course USABlue's complaining, we've just appointed a George Bush look-alike and if he's anything like Bush, we'll be in division 3 in no time. Joking aside, Hughes has got a bit to prove, especially that he can be flexible with his tactics and the 4-5-1 he played a lot with Wales. We don't have a Hartson type player so I can't see that working. But I'm quite confident that it's the right appointment.

'New manager' syndrome even worked for Brian Kidd - so surely it'll work for Sparky. Here's hoping.

I vote 'Yes' like the majority. He wasn't my preferred choice but he was damn closer to being so than some of the rather 'scary' names linked with the job. (Houllier and Advocaat to mention two). His Welsh achievements have been impressive - but let's not go over the top, they didn't qualify for Euro 2004 which is the bottom line. He obviously has a lot to learn about club management but he seems a good man-manager from what you hear from the Welsh national players. Alan - on the main story for the site you describe Hughes as 'oozing charisma' Hughes, to me anyway, seems a bit reluctant with the media gaze and is definitely not someone who's going to raise the entertainment levels of press conferences and interviews. However, once he get's away from the media spotlight, maybe that's when he comes into his own. Besides, Souness talked a good game but what's really important is what happens on the footy pitch.

Wikipedia to the rescue for those with their Scandanavian knickers in a twist

USAblue, I can see where you're coming from - and I'm not totally ecstatic about the proposed appointment, but then again, I'm not on such a downer about it as you. The most worrying thing is that Wales fans, who know much more than we and the media know about Hughes management achievements are not unanimous in their celebration of how far they've gone. In the past week I've heard Welsh fans saying that Hughes' long ball tactics were being found out and that they would be glad if he went. Is he living of that Italy result or is he a good manager struggling in this campaign with a weak pool of players? I'm not totally convinced either way. Hughes is painfully laconic with the media - does he reserve the passion, motivation and enthusiasm for the dressing room?

I've had the same initial enthusiasm quelled by doubt. The thing that worries me most about Hughes is that some Wales fans are saying he's tactically naive and has had one alright campaign that most have over-celebrated - they didn't even qualify. I watched the second leg against Russia and to be honest, I didn't see a team with a strong idea of how to break the opposition. And as much as the media have hyped him up - he's had a few good games in charge - Wales' win over Italy for example, but recently the team have been shown up. Is it down to poor tactics or the fact Hughes has a lack of decent talent at his disposal? Some Welsh fans I heard on the radio were of the view that Hughes' one-dimensional, lump it long to Hartson playing in a 4-5-1 formation, had been found out. I haven't seen enough of Wales to pass judgement on it, but it is a concern. Of Dowie and Hughes, I would prefer the former on the basis of what he did with Palace last season and Oldham before that. He has the more reliable track record - although he lacks the high profile that some fans seem to be obsessed with.

It's the rule of the jungle I'm afraid, Hughesy. One person starts a new thread claiming MGP has signed when it was patently obvious that it was still rumour and speculation. That is given the stay of execution. Another person does something very similar with Hughes becoming manager and the thread is wiped.

JW says the manager will be appointed after the Pompey match - which leads me to believe that the board are still deliberating over the shortlist. The papers are playing the same guessing game we are.

Sean Hanna, my sources tell me. If all people followed your logic of concluding that players are duds after a disappointing start, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires would not be Arsenal players. And Matt Jansen wouldn't have propelled us out of division one because he'd have been sold off.

I've heard Rej Volpato wants the job.

Thats a big fat 0 points next week. Totally right. I can't see our rudderless team picking up anything against an in-form Pompey.

Not quite the saviour - but I implore fans to give him time. I've got a bit of a theory (here we go again ) on why MGP has found it difficult to play well in his embryonic Rovers career to date. Apart from the obvious upheaval. But tactically, Souness has recently been keen on a narrow midfield. Meaning, the wingers tuck in alongside the central midfielders - theoretically, solidifying the centre of midfield. (The fact that it means the opposition wingers have more space out wide obviously didn't worry Souness). It was the ploy we used at the end of last season and what we started off with this season. In the highlights of the matches so far, you often see Souness gesticulating on the touchline with him 'compressing air' between his hands - directing the midfield to play narrow. What's more, after the Man U match MGP revealed that he was told to follow the runs of Gary Neville. I'm guessing that these negative tactics aren't MGP's style, who is a more attack-minded typical winger who likes to get wide and attack full backs. If we get a manager in who's brains aren't addled by the need for negativity, MGP might be given more freedom to do his stuff. Yes, sadly I think TP has been indoctrinated by the Souey negativity.

Well said.

Too many people are over-reacting. Our squad is not 'sh1te'. Imo if we get a decent manager, with tactical and motivational nouse, he'll get the best out of the players to finish at least mid table. MGP should not be dismissed after approx. 2 games. He's playing in a team that's in limbo and with little confidence. He needs time, Henry looked bad when he first arrived in the Premiership. For his sake, I hope all the upheaval and poor performances have not irreparably damaged his confidence - as appears the case with Emerton. Matteo is not 'pap'. He's been messed around by Tinkerman Souey and this was his first chance to play in HIS position - centre back. Give him time and I think he'll be a very good signing. Problem is, who's going to partner him? Short Nissa McEveley Amoruso Newcastle were always going to win because the players were stung by the criticism. Probably feeling guilty for getting Robson the sack - and for getting the backroom staff the boot. And Souness was watching - so they experienced 'new boss syndrome', with players eager to impress. Meanwhile, we are in limbo with a nice man in temporary charge but not manager material.

There is a reason why Tony Parkes has never been manager for any length of time in all his time at Rovers, and I think we found out why. I don't blame Parkes, he's trying his best, no doubt. However, when you're looking for a goal - Douglas on for MGP?!!!!!!!!!! (Unless MGP was injured, but even still, Jansen would have been a more attacking substitution). I'm a bit concerned that MGP is struggling to make an impact but I'm sure he'll settle in eventually. Hopefully the new manager will give him a chance and the fans will rally around him - it can't be easy coming into a tumultous set-up that we are right now. We desperately need a new manager to fill the void.

2-0 Newcastle. Some new bloke called Shearer. Don't worry, the come back is on the cards, I can feel it in me bones.

Id prefer Megson to both Dowie and Hughes Megson is a 3-5-2 man. His appointment would be the end of MGP, unless he can adapt to being a wing back, which I doubt. 1.5 million down the drain. We would start playing goddam awful and negative football. It took him half a season before he plucked up the courage to play Koumas the season before last - it was a bit late by then.

How the hell do you know if Hughes has approached Rovers from that quote? Stop jumping to conclusions eh? My implication was that he hasn't applied for the job. I know you thrive on jumping down my throat at every opportunity - but please look before you leap. Dowie is a good choice, if it happens.

No de Pedro in the squad and no mention of an injury. A very brief Rovers career me thinks for the Spaniard. I wonder if Newcastle might want him...

JW made it plain that Rovers would not go and approach a manager but wait for people to contact them, before drawing up a short-list. And Mark Hughes has made it plain that he will not be approaching Rovers when he said, 'I don't expect them to call.' wtte And as both are supposedly men of their word, I wonder if the Hughes rumours are just that - rumours. And perhaps a smokescreen for another target. On a different note. Can we end this debate about whether or not Houllier is a good manager? It shouldn't evenbe a debate because the facts clearly prove that he is an imbecile, incapable of managing a top club. Here is the proof: A) France national team - England weren't the only ones to miss World Cup 1994 because France's very own Turnip, Gerard Houllier, then national manager, managed to screw up big time. He blamed the failure to qualify on David Ginola's poor back pass, although he should be reminded that qualification is achieved over more than one game. B.) Liverpool - look beyond the plastic treble. Think about players under Houllier's tutelage. Owen and Heskey classic examples. Both were promising players at Liverpool - but both were raw and needed developing and improving my a decent coach. Look at them now. Owen is a shadow of the player he once was (sadly a great talent has turned into a player who just looks for balls over the top) and Heskey has been impersonating a donkey for much of his recent career. C) Houllier's transfer record has been shocking. Cheyrou, Titi Camara, Eric Meijer - need I go on.

When was Flitcroft stripped of his squad number? If I'm not mistaken, he has already made one starting appearance this season.

I agree Rover6 (wow i never though i'd hear myself say that) but there is a difference to starting in the Premiership and starting with a Div 2 side. We are not in a position that will allow a novice manager to come in and spend a couple of months finding his feet. We need a manager to come in and help us start winning games *immediately* and it is far more likely that an experienced manager with good credentials and good premiership experience can help us achieve this. It's early days but we are already knee-deep in the relegation zone. I don't see why a reasonably experienced lower league manager can't make the step up. It's still football with 11 players aside and so on down there. Granted - they have fewer prima donnas to handle, less money, more physical football. But if they're a good manager they will be able to transfer their skills to handle a bunch of Premiership footballers.

'The Art of Transfer Blunders' by Peter Reid, illustrated by G.Souness (a short excerpt from a book that is sure to come out sooner rather than later). ''1.6 million for Milton Nunez - I meant to buy the star striker of top Uruguayan club, Nacional. Unfortunately, a mix up meant we signed Nunez from a crappy division 3 Uruguayan side, also called Nacional, (bloody confusing or what?) for nearly 2 million pounds - bugger. He featured for 10 minutes in a Worthington Cup tie before being banished to the reserves and eventually, back to Uruguay and retirement. I suspected something was wrong when I first saw a 5 foot nothing guy turn up at training one day, when I was expecting a burly target man from those grainy videos kindly given to my by an agent. I thought nothing more of it because the video was of very bad quality and besides Kevin Phillips had done alright, and he was a bit of a short arse.'' Chapter 2 - 'How I wasted 10 million in a day on a Norwegian totem pole and a one season wonder called Stewart'.

Oh, please. You have to get over this idea of needing a 'big name'. Was Moyes/Allardyce/Mourinho (before being appointed manager of Porto) big names when appointed? NOOOO. Are they doing good jobs at their respective clubs YEEEES. Conclusion? You don't need to be high-profile to succeed. It is a myth that you need a big name to attract players. We don't have much money anyway - we need someone who is going to get the best out of the current bunch. What we should not be worrying about is competing for transfers, the priority is a good coach. Looking at reputation was the mistake we made when appointing Kidd and Hodgson - who were quite high profile people. Same with England and bringing in Sven on reputation and not facts. If Fabio Capello or Arsene Wenger was coming to Ewood, then I would agree that such a big name would be good for Rovers. But when the biggest names being linked with Rovers are Hoddle, Strachan, Walter Smith - what is the point? I doubt a player is going to look at those names and say, 'oh, I have to sign for Blackburn to work with that fantastic Mr ......' They only have high-profiles because they've been around the block. If we remain in the Premiership, play good football, have a decent manager, offer good wages - we will sign good players. Regardless if our manager is a complete unknown in football or not. FACT: Every manager is low-profile when they start football management - apart from those who were famous players.