I think that we've just as good a chance as Villa as getting him. From his point of view he's more likely to be guarenteed a first team place - let's face it he's no competition at all. Also Villa are not much more likely to win anything than Rovers, indeed we've had more success than them over the last few seasons. Not sure how badly Villa want him, he's hardly neccessary for the team, so might not make as much of an effort to get him. Hopefully Stig can put in a word for us.

I thought you were talking to Spurs fans there for a moment.

Birmingham manager's hardly noted for his loyalty. When the going gets tough Brucie gets another club. How many clubs did he botch or jump ship? Couldn't even get Wigan out of the second division. And let's be honest, can anyone see Birmingham winning anything in the next five years?

I am gutted that yesterday's result cost us over £1 million!!! I know everyone is in 'oh well we stayed up' mode, but I cant forget how poor this season has been. I am not going to start 'Souness Out' rants, but there are still questions I have about his managerial technique and team selections. Case in point again yesterday - we finally have a left winger fit and starting a match, so Souness plays him at right-back!! Reid did ok, and Douglas has played on the left a lot, but I'd rather have only one player out of position instead of two. I am very worried about next season already. Agree. Am already getting worried. The quality is there but for some reason it just isn't working. Take the second half we did everything right but still ended up conceeding a goal and dropping a few places and a lot of cash. As for the first half it was ugly to watch. I've never seen a team play so narrow before, although with four centre mids it shouldn't have been a surprise. At least when Brett and Neil came on we had a bit of width and the team seemed to benefit from that, playing some decent football. The thing which most underlines how bad this season has been is how other clubs view us. Last season we considered ourselves must better than Birmingham and most fans on both sides and nutrals alike agreed. This season Birmingham see themselves as good as if not better than us, which shows how far we've fallen. As for Reid he's not a left winger, and hasn't shown me any indication he could do an ok job there. Sadly his positional sense didn't seem that great at right back either. The bloke next to me reckoned he'd be sold in the summer. As for Douglas he adds nothing to the team, with this performance again underlining he's not Premiership class. On a positive note though thought Tugay and Nissa were magnificent, and I'd be very interested to see how an Amo Nissa partnership would develop.

Personally I think Flitty's been one of the most vital players in our squad for many years. He always gets stuck in and disrupts the opposition - a vital job in football even if it isn't the most glamerous. And he's stayed with Rovers through relegation, good times and bad, and to me seems to really care about the result. Flitty is much more of a hero than Smith. As for consistency IMO Flitty's been disrupting the oposition well for the last 3/4 with scarcely a bad game. And IMO I don't think Smith has been that effective or impressive. His constant lack of disipline is hardly the type of consistency I'd want in a player. And saying Flitcroft is not as aggressive is laughable, the guy never shirks a tackle. Don't confuse Smith's mindless sendings off with Flitty's channelled aggression on the pitch.

Not sure about the prediciton...but that team is perfect, I wouldn't change a single bit. Totally agree Le Chuck. Prediction 2-1 Rovers. I bet we get a pen; I reckon the refs at their referee's meeting realise the blatant (alleged) favouritsim against Rovers (though we don't need any help loosing home games) and in an attempt to counter this give us a couple of pens. The first will be missed by Cole, who'll score the goal of the season five minutes later, Brum will get an equaliser, Taylor from a corner) but then Flitty crashes home the second penalty to give us the win.

Good idea by the dingles. Much as I dislike to say it, agree that Ternant's not done a bad job. Maybe he was too successful for them? They aren't goign to get a big name, or any other type of name really. There best bet is to get a young promising manager though that's not going to happen either. It's not the most carear enhancing job ever.

I wish more players had been bothered when we got relegated. And despite the guy being a thug, Smith always gives his all, which is what every football fan wants to see from their players. Agree with sentiments that relegation is not a pleasant experience but as long as it isn't us I'm not too bothered who goes down. In fact with Leeds down it should make it easier for us to survive next year.

It's interesting how people change from Souness must go to Souness is brilliant after 2 games. To be fair just after the Leeds game things were looking very dire. Anyone who witnessed the Portsmouth, Liverpool or Leeds games will tell you that it was relegation form from a very uninspiring team. Each game was a massive game for the club, especially the home games, and after the performances delivered it was only natural to question why such poor performances in such crucial games. Tactically and motivationally Rovers seemed lacking and the buck stops with Souness. Granted the players weren't holding their end of the bargain, but it appeared the manager wasn't performing either. Based on the back of a poor season up till then many who had not previously called for Souness's head, the majority without a chip on their shoulder or an axe to grind, should not be blamed or heavily criticised for this misjudgement, the reaction was appropriate in the bleak situation. After the last two results I'm convinced we'll stay up, there's too many teams near the bottom to all play their way out of trouble, as well as our recent upturn in form mean we'll pick up a few more points just to make sure we'll survive. Souness should take a lot of credit for both results, no one would have gone for the team he chose, and it paid of big time. I never thought the board would sack Souness, based mainly on his past achievements. And up until after the Leeds game my faith in Souness remained pretty strong and I still consider myself pro-Souness. However the weaknesses of Souness are becoming more apparent leaving me to wonder whether this is the beginning of the end. My main bugbear with Souness is his disregard for certain positions. Last season it was left back, this season left midfield. This to me is criminal, and although now the formation is more suited to playing without a left mid it shouldn't have taken till crisis point to make such a change. I've ranted about this elsewhere. The second biggest concern I have is the falling out with players. Whilst Dunnie appears to be an arogant muppet he's Rovers through and through and you wonder whether another manager might have managed to get more out of Dunn; after all if you can't get a player performing his best for the club he supports, then the manager may have motivational problems (although the same should be said about Dunn.) The Cole and Todd situations also did more harm then good, especially since they have been two of our top performers this season. It's not like they were not pulling their weight or inconsistent. You have to question how such fallings out would ever benefit the team. At least with fall outs with players like Yorke it might force them to perform. You can't really fault many of the transfer's Souey's made. Only Grabbi has flopped, Emerton and Gresko on paper seemed very shrewd buys, and it's more the players than the manager's fault. Add to this the real bargains we've had, Tugay, Friedel etc you can't really complain. However, whether we brought the players we really needed is another matter. Grey and Stead are both excelent buys, but perhaps what we really needed was a centre back with pace and a left midfielder. Souness buys well but perhaps not always for the right position. What does annoy me is the high squad turnover, especially this season. As another member posted this team has little resemblence to the team that has had had the success of the past three seasons. By not keeping to the if it ain't broke don't fix it rule Souness has tactically erred and the time take for everyone to gell may have cost us success this season. A good example of this is Hignett, no more than a squad player, nevertheless he always did a job for us - or at least got the goals. His replacement Baggio did naff all at greater expense. Although Hignett wouldn't have filled in for Dunn like Ferguson has as a squad player, I know who I'd rather have. Finally there's our defending. Let's be honest it's pants. Ok we kept a clean sheet, but Leceister aren't very good. Bt even in the Fulham game we let in three and the rest of the season hasn't been all that plesant defensively either. This really needs sorting out, and there aren't many indications that it's going to get much better. Short's not long left and Babbel, Neill, Gresko and Amo have been inconsistent. I'm not saying Souness should go but that there are some worrying signs there. Fortunately there have been signs that Souness is beginning to recognise these mistakes. The lack of a left winger has seen a change in formation, Amo might not be as terrible as first thought, Souness issues a form of apology for the bust ups and I can't see any full scale changes next term. Hopefully Souness will continue to rectify these errors that have contributed to a poor season. Indeed based on the last 3 seasons, where we more than exceeded my expectations he deserves to be in charge next season. Three out of four good seasons is still an impressive ratio. The circumstances of this season have contributed to a poor season too, nasty injuries, lots of new players settling in and a total absence of luck, still no penalties, would have hindered any team. We know the players have the quality, we know the manager still has the quality and we can't be so blighted by circumstances next season. So let's get behind the team and see us finish much higher next season.

I'm a big fan of Souness but this season some decisions have been baffling. My main gripes apart from the really deep #### we're in, from recent games are: 1) Why change the bench every game? 2) Why drop or change a player's position after a man of the match performance? I mean Todd after Newcastle, Nissa after City. 3) Why change the left & right midfielders over after 10 minutes? Then change them back again on and off for the rest of the game. 4) Against Portsmouth why was Grey the only left footed player substituted? 5) Amoruso, why? If Souness was to go who would we have instead? I have heard a romour that Hughes will come at the start of next season as boss since he apparently has a soft spot for rovers. Apart from Strachen who's most probably going to Leeds, there isn't anyone out there I'd want. The other name I've heard mentioned is Newell.

Wasn't Emerton replacing Gillespie and Ferguson replacing Dunn? In both cases Rovers have improved the squad. The only player not to be replaced is Duff and whilst it is nigh on impossible to get someone else of this quality, having no replacement whatsoever has been clearly detrimental to the team. The only criticism that can be levelled at Souness as regards to transfers is his lack of a replacement for Duff. As for the rest on paper the squad has been strengthened in all areas. Sadly many of the players have not lived up to expectations this season, but can this be seen as Sounesses fault?

If Leeds United go down, what have Yorkshire got? Yorkshire won't have a Premiership club, unless Sheffield United go up. Lancashire have Manchester United, Manchester City, Bolton ... Leeds have become a laughing stock. The muppets forgot to mention the best Lancashire team (and technically the only Lancashire team) Rovers. Other than that good articles. It's fascinating in a morbid kind of way watching Leeds in their death throws.

Ooops double post.

What do Boro want another striker for? Division 1 may be followed pretty quickly by division 2.

Is Gray being kept on as a coach? Wonder who's next to manage them? (Manage might not be the most appropriate word.) How about Brian Kidd?

To be fair no one in their right mind would seriously think of investing in Leeds. Even if you chuck in twenty odd million you've still got nothing out of it but another lot of rather sizeable debts staring at you. And if they loose a few more decent players - Robinson, Matteo, Smith and Viduka, at least two of them will go I reckon, then relegation would look pretty much a certainty.

Good post Shaddy. Let's be honest, how many of us thought that we'd finish 6th last season? Not sure about the bouncing between divisions - that could be too disruptive for the club, as players leave each time we go down. There's nothing wrong with being ambitious but let's not get too disheartened if we don't reach the heights of the last two seasons every year.

Just a thought. There's not too many left sided players around, certainly those who we can afford. Granted Barmby's not the best player in the world, but he's not that bad. He's a pretty decent record with his past clubs and a fair few caps as well which proves he's got some talent.

I think the reason people want Wilcox back is we're desparate for a left midfielder. Don't think he's the answer though. Barmby might be a better bet. Certainly if Rovers are looking to strengthen the squad and haven't much money Leads is the type of place to go shopping. Smith, Matteo, Milner, Kilgallon there's still some bargins to be had there.

The money has to be spent on a left sided midfielder, anyone can see it's upsetting the balance of the team. That gaping hole on the left is where a lot of the problems are being caused. If that was filled I reckon we'd score a fair few more, and perhaps more importantly for us keeping the number we let in down. Most of the games I've seen the holes in the defence have come from the left midfielder not being where they're supposed to be drawing other players out of position or leading to the opposition ganging up on the left back. It's the same going forward, attacks down the left side of the pitch are a problem, limiting our options. If we are to survive then surely any money available - and there should be some from reduced wages and money left over from the summer - must be spent on getting a decent left sided midfielder.

To be fair the squad we've got is good enough to stay up. All we need is a spark to get the confidence back, like the Worthington Cup. Other than Cole, admittedly a big influence, it was the same squad who'd been struggling who got us out of the mess we were in. So if Souey could get the squad to pull together then, he should be able to do it now. One or two good results and we should get the season back on track. Only problem is when we're going to get that win to begin the run. As for Tottenham? If Souness moved it would be for a better job not worse.

Maybe he gets his Left and Right mixed up...? Someone comes along with a right-sided midfielder for sale and Souey says "Oooh! I don't think I have one of those, I'll take it!" only to get back to Ewood and find he already has three.

What worries me about the whole left sided midfielder problem is that it isn't the first time such a situation has occurred. Last season until Gresko came we played without a proper left back. Granted Bjornebye was injured but it still shouldn't happen. It's a tad worrying that Souness seems to forget about certain positions for part of a season.

Cheers. He'll have to be one hell of a persuasive talker to get anyone to go into that scheme then.

Does anyone know how loaded this Arab Leeds fan is? Is £60 million a lot for him? If not Leeds could be out of the mess pretty soon. As for not being a good investment, other(!) than the £60 million debt, Leeds is a good investment. Good ground, fan base, youth structure, some good players etc. It all depends really how much this guy would be willing to shell out £60 million for nothing.