yeah the line ups are similar, should be excited, yes and no Will Thompson be the same, will Emo get fit, will Stead continue to score, how's Amo going to do this time, Neil must up his game which he could do, is De Pedro still good enough at 31 yrs old and many many more ????? the talent is there I think just needs some fitness and stability. The obvious observation from the posts is most fans are uneasy about Dickov, me aswell, he's nearly 32 yrs old and has a poor record other then scoring 9 goals in open play last season in the PL, plus he scored 2 pens and missed a really important one against Man City. I call it 50/50 on whether we do well or not, i'm not even going to make a prediction this season, I think its impossible to call, but really you got to be a little excited as in the last 7 months we have become stronger in 4 position, left back, left midfield, centre defence and a forward plus we have two extra midfielders in Ferguson and Thompson returning. The only place we are weaker is Dickov replacing Cole, but hopefully this will be solved.

feeling better about the situation knowing that Souness is going to target another striker or CM, so hopefullyb this will prove to be for the best long term getting both Cole and Yorke out.

I would love for some people promoting Tugay and Ferguson to play in the same team to explain how this would work, surely we don't expect Ferguson to be the defensive midfielder, and Tugay at 34yrs old, he's already inconsistent, his legs must be getting heavy, i just can't see that working. If we play De Pedro and Emo and Ferguson they are already attacking players, we don't want to end up making the mistakes Keegan always does. Othwise most the people here have a similar team

i'm not happy with the signing of Dickov particularly, i don't honestly think he a starter but more then happy with Stread, Gray, De Pedro and Matteo this years signings as on paper all good players and very cheap. I have no sorrow for Yorke, he's a lazy b*****d, if souness had ended his career he would have done him a favour. I'll be proud of Souness if he is successful again ofcourse. A decent striker and defensive CM (unless Flitty hits form hope he is still there psychologically) would make me think he's bacvk on track. As a sub I think Dickov could be handy, but he should have to fight for his place, its important he has STRONG competition, with the transfer of Cole and soon Yorke Souness needs a little extra in that position I think

Does anyone know whether Fulham were in for Dickov?

probably give him away for free, that seems the policy

Thats got to be the lamest reason i've ever heard for keeping Flitcroft. I think your anti souness campaign is clouding your judgement Waggy. 3 goals last season, 4 goals the season before its not exactly prolific is it. Ferguson will score more than that in a season as will Thommo. thats nothing to do with souness,i think if we do not get a million for flitcroft we might as well keep him,i'm not saying he is a goal scoring midfielder,just scores important goals,like the one the beat man utd the season before last. his best one was 96/97 against Arsenal in the last few minutes of the game, kept us a point closer to staying up, just after Sutton had force a corner and almost got into a fight

actually nothing to so with Souness being a racist or not, but there is an extremely good change we will go through the season without a single black player in most games, must be the only PL team, not that it matters but uncommon

think there's more chance of Cole playing again then Gresko starting ahead of Gray, different class

Friedel Neill Amo Matteo Gray Tommo Flitty Ferguson De Pedro Stead Jansen (hopefully) Obviously hoping that Jansen has a good pre season, otherwise start with Dickov

no, arrest that man, put him in one of them camps!!!!

Now that's not good at all... I wouldn't be worried if it was someone else (Well, maybe Matteo) but it's not very encouraging. I just hope it's the other knee, or that it's simply bruised. I think it may have just been procortionalry is that German

I heard that as well on Five Live. The suggestion being that he enjoyed playing but wasn't interested in all the trappings around it. Might explain his lack of interest in helping the likes of Stead and Gally for another season. Anywayy looks like he's going and Rovers will be freeing up £3-4m from the wage bill. That has to be good either for the club's profitability and/or new signings. I'm not happy he's going but if he's fallen out with Souness and has no interest in helping Stead and Gally develop it will be for the best. so what exactly is Dickov's advice going to be, "err Stead ang Gally, run after the ball and then run some more". Stead would improve just training and playing with Cole, I think he has already said that, if we want to improve their technique then get a coach.

he got11 goals in the PL and 2 in the cups, also he had a couple of penalties, so its about 8-9 goals in open play. And he certainly is not taking the pens at Blackburn after his last miss in Foxes biggest game of the season, well i hope not

what he likes porn?

I should add I don't have anything against Dickov stats are stats and facts are facts, I think he would make a good "squad" player. Souness quoted in the LET today ""I've got to mention little Paul Dickov. I think his movement this year will make us a different team all round," mused Souness, as he reflected on a satisfying night's work." Souness has had this attitude the second he signed Dickov, I really don't know the whole story but Cole must have felt little option but to leave with Souness's attitude, its evident Souness treally didn't want him, and a unwanted Cole is going to move on now.

well i said i wouldn't but I will, Dickov IMPRESSIVE (not) stats 92-93 Arsenal 2 Goals, 3 Games (-) 93-94(déc) Arsenal 1 Games (-) 93-94(avr) Luton Town 1 Goals, 15 Games (-) 93-94 Brighton and HA 5 Goals, 8 Games (-) 94-95 Arsenal 0 goals 9 Games (-) 95-96 Arsenal 1 Goals, 7 Games (-) 96-97(déc) Arsenal 0 goals 1 Games (-) 96-97 Manchester City 5 Goals, 29 Games (-) 97-98 Manchester City 9 Goals, 30 Games (-) 98-99 Manchester City 10 Goals, 35 Games (-) 99-00 Manchester City 5 Goals, 34 Games (-) 00-01 Manchester City 4 Goals, 21 Games (-) 01-02(fév) Manchester City 0 goals 7 Games (-) 01-02 Leicester City 4 Goals, 12 Games (-) 02-03 Leicester City 17 Goals, 42 Games (-) 03-04 Leicester City 11 Goals, 35 Games (-) keep in mind many of these are in div1 and in div2

Dickov can't even get a place in the Scotland team now or over the last five years, i think comparing medal is a perfect assessment to be honest, Dickov has had poor players around him because he has no chance in hell playing for a top 3 team as Cole has. Plus when Cole did have a decent partner in stead, i am sure the interview still exists on Roverworld where Cole said he plays for the fans who have been great to him and we have a great set of lads at Rovers, i thought it was a good response, obviously Cole has problems with Souness but I think he still played his part which shows some character at least. Even when we first signed Cole he always lack great ethusiam but he was like that t United. If you are not happy with me comparing medals, well I am not even going to start on comparing their career goal ratio, its not a contest. Maybe if we compare who runs around like a headless chicken Dickov would beat Cole to that one. No offense but I think there is a small possibility that you are trying a bit to hard to justify Souness's decision, ask yourself if against West Brom you would have liked to Stead and Cole or Stead and Dickov, honestly I can't believe anyone whould not select Cole. But I do think that Souness has made it clear to Cole that he will not be starting, in every interview he has not mentioned his name, probably this put more pressure on Cole and then wanted to leave.

i don't think every striker has to run around like a headless chicken, Cole has never worked that hard, many top strikers don't, sure Dickov does work hard, maybe that's why Cole has about 15-20 medals in his house from Champion league to PL titles and Dickov has div 2 play off winners medal. Personally i think you give Cole the right partner and his qualities will show, Yorke was a bad influence and too lazy, he lost all his pace and it was evident, but players like Stead and Jansen linked well with Cole and looked good there is no doubt about that.

He did, but I'm just stating my preferances. Besides, Dickov scored one more goal and played one more match than Cole, so the goal ratio isn't that different.. EDIT: Wow, after rechecking my sources I found that Dickov played 35, Cole 34, and both of them scored 11 goals last season. the fact Dickov did ok last year mean little to me, he's 31 years old, through his peak years he been close to crap when it comes to PL standards, Blake and Ward both scored 12 goals in a relegation season does not make them better then Cole who has a consistent record particularly when he has a decent partner with him (not Yorke). Dickov has a lot to prove this season, was last season a fluke??? and anyway it was not that great, think about it Dickov best ever season is the same as Cole's poorest season by his standards, Stead and Cole looked good to me and yet again we have lost a good partnership, if i was being honest I would slate Dickov, but i am going to give him a chance with very little expectation

yeah i have said that to USABlue before, but I thik he knows his stuff, its not really a fair comment, but i will probably use it again

sadly you could be right, last season i gave Souness allot of chances and backed him fully, but if it does not work out this season then i will have difficulty supporting the releasing of Cole and signing of Dickov and have no excuses. At the moment i can't see Dickov being a success this season, he looked handy from the bench maybe, but we will have to see

if The People had used the name Yorke and not Cole, this story would be realistic and maybe our only option to at least get him out the club and slightly reduce the wage bill.

just hope Souness is fair to Cole when picking the team, hopefully Cole will prove himself better then Dickov

Maybe that came out wrong. What i was basically trying to say is that i dont feel that Douglas (as the moment, not nessecarily in a coupla yrs) is good enough to play a full season of prem football. I have no problems with him as a player and in the future will be a real asset but for me, at the moment we have better options. i don't think he's anywhere near good enough to fill the CM role, Souness claims him to be a right back I thought, anyway if i had a 23yr old Flitcroft or Batty I would not give Douglas a second look, sadly we seem to be weak in a position he can fill to some degree. Maybe he should be given a chance if we have injuries and see how he does, but we can do a lot better, Douglas will likely end up playing his career for a lower PL club or good div 1 club, hopefully Blackburn are going to become a good PL club where we belong