Tcj certainly is and you change your tune about the team and the manager every couple of weeks. If tonight was a one off I could happily put it down to bad luck, no rub of the green, dodgy ref etc. But it isn't a one off at all. We've been playing like we did tonight for a year or so now and we keep finding ourselves on the receiving end of scorelines like tonights. It isn't a coincidence - we really aren't very good. Hows that Scotty? I've clearly pointed out several negatives from the game and criticised players accordingly. The second half certainly gave me the impression of a real team spirit. We were desperatly unlucky and there were several positives to draw from the half. Stop being so damned negative, step away for a minute and look at it from a neutrals perspective; we had the possession, we finally possess width, which was by and large very effective today and we had several chances. How you can not be so negative about our second half is beyond me.

Mjs, the poor side of our game came from our centre backs constantly whacking the ball aimlessly all game, bypassing Ferguson and thus eliminating him from the game. Saying that, Ferguson and Flitty were seriously poor and neither went to get the ball. If we can instruct Amoruso to play the ball along the floor like he did at Pompey and Hughes to absolutely scream at Ferguson to get involved, we should be far better on Saturday. Added to that we lacked strength up front big style and Bothroyd should start at Villa. I REALLY hope we get Hartson, we need him. The second half looked to me as though we were well on the way to sorting out our width problems that hindered us last season. If Jansen wasn't so poor tonight we would have provided more of a threat but Emerton is becoming more and more of a winger and Gray overlapped superbly, man of the match for us by a long way. I came away noth thinking of how bad we had played, but about just how lucky Charlton were to come away with that win and how desperatly unlucky we were.

Read the first few post match posts and couldn't believe the complete negativity... After an awful first half the lads really picked themselves up and put in a great performance. I couldn't see the goal properly because i was in the opposite end but after that the team sustained long periods of pressure and we were desperatly unlucky. Again I am lead to presume Hughes has the ability to rally the players. First half we just couldn't keep hold of the ball; why oh why did Matteo and Amoruso CONSTANTLY whack the ball 40 yards up the pitch at a time we needed Fergie on the ball?! Very disapointing because Amoruso's distribution against Pompey was pretty good. The midfield was bypassed the entire half and Ferguson and Flitty looked poor (again very disapointing as Ferguson looked pretty good up until now) but Emerton and Neill looked good at times on the right, as did Gray on the left. Second half as soon as we conceded the team rallied together and put in a really good, spirited performance. Gray was outstanding on the left and Emerton even managed to take on, and beat, his man on the right a few times. Just disapointing that his crosses were often way too long. Ferguson and Flitcroft were just useless today, Fergie especially constantly gave the ball away, never took players on and both were anonymous all game. The one criticsm I have for Hughes is that he hasn't replaced Flitcroft at half time two games in a row after two poor performances. Stead and Dickov tried but they just didn't work well together - we seriously lacked strength up front and it showed when Bothroyd was introduced. He made an immediate impact. We REALLY miss Cole right now. In my section of the stand the fans were tremendous and I salute you. Jordan and another guy nearby really carried the fans, well done

Looked at the stadium plan on Charlton's official site and they didn't have any plan of the away stand. Don't suppose anybody is seated in block H are they? I'm curious to know where abouts I'll be seated.

Flitcroft: hes anonymous 99% of our matches these days. Gresko: had a few good games in his first season but has been poor ever since. Amoruso: good distribution and is a real threat/defensive asset in the air but is just too much of a liability at the back for premiership football. I often wonder how he would play just infront of the back four when Ferguson isn't in the team - good distribution and strength would certainly be an advantage. Perhaps alongside Tugay? Douglas: simple, hes just not a premiership player.

Do we know if Amoruso and Emerton will be fit for Monday? I'll wait to leave my prediction until I know who will be available for selection.

Jesus, just saw Bournemouths goals, what abysmal defending. The first goal would have been embarassing for me when I was 10, playing Sunday league football with a team that would lose, on average, by atleast 4 goals a game. Absolute disgrace. Second goal a division 2 player outjumps and out-muscles a premiership defender - again woeful. The third was ANOTHER wishful leg out to hope and poke at the ball, missed. Saying that, our goals were very well taken and Jansen deserved the acolades for the first goal.

Roverdrake, its just the same thing over and over and over again. Infact, I'm sure I've read this before. AGAIN you have to add your little "I hate Matteo," bit into a post and thread where it has little, if ANY relevance, board members get annoyed at you bringing down the good standard of posts and you use your trademark "its an opinion, if you cant take it don't go on a messageboard," getting people even more annoyed and resulting in personal insults. LISTEN to this, I don't care if it's an opinion and I'll take it because I have to, but it's a stupid opinion, with no backing and whats far worse is that it NEVER has any relevance. So don't say its just an opinion, because it's the fact you repeat it over and over that irates us. Don't then try to look intelligent by argueing your case; anyone can argue a case, but that doesn't make you intelligent, conversely it makes you annoying and pretty stupid for continueing to annoy your fellow board members.

Im afraid I mentioned it when I first returned to the game, SO refreshing to see and the most pleasing aspect of the game, result aside. If Hughes continues playing with a positive attitude then he will be very popular in my mind. As for Gray, it wasn't a matter of him getting out of position, afterall he made a lot of good runs, it was his abysmal final ball both passing and crossing that let the entire team down. I can only recall him being caught out of position once in the first half. It was also quite refreshing to see a player that would run at the defense, even if he was to fail on occasion. Practice and confidence will improve Jansen's game. Sure Pedersen would run at the defender, but he was so easily pushed off the ball it was frustrating.

What Pedersen needs is strength and attirude. All too often on Saturday he was simply brushed aside and didn't get the chance to play a final ball. Hopefully under Hughes he can build his upper body strength and not fear pushing somebody aside to get to the bye line.

After *8 hours journey home last night and another 6 hour return to Norwich today I'm just too tired to read over the last few pages, so apologies for anything repeated but these are my thoughts on the match. First half we controlled in large areas for the first 30 minutes - didn't play particularly great, nor particularly badly but were certainly better then Portsmouth. MGP looked lively a few times but looked all too light weight, constantly barged off the ball. Emerton looked pretty good first half and had everything but the final ball. What I did notice however, was that Neill and Emerton seemed to keep getting in each others way. Michael Gray really did make some woeful passes and crosses in the first half, absolutely woeful. We seemed to be able to do everything but carve out an oppertunity. The only bad note was Flitcroft, who was absent throughout the half. When Short got taken off we seemed to lose our solidity and people switched off - including Ferguson who played a pretty dodgy ball that got intercepted leading to a real pompey chance. We were very lucky to go in at 0-0, especially when Matteo was so easily brushed aside by Yakubu. Second half and what a difference! Everyone was playing with an added zest. An early suggestion that Hughes has what it takes to get people to play for him and that he has the motivational ability to drive players on - even Flitcroft made a few challanges. Like Flopsy has often said, we do seem to play better with Amoruso in the team, going forward at least. His distribution was excellent and he often started us on moves. Ferguson also played better as the creator and we carved out far more oppertunities. After 15-20 minutes of sustained pressure and the introduction of Jansen, their midfield began to crumble and all too often Ferguson was left in absolute acres of space and this showed as he went past 2 men and played a great through ball to jansen, who took the chance well. Even Emerton was encouraged to have a go from distance. It was at this point I kn w he was lacking confidence; he had about 15 yards to run into and a free shot on goal yet was extremely tentative. Jansen looked far more effective than MGP as soon as he came on. MGP looked like he had the pace and could play a good ball but he seemed well too lightweight for the premiership and hardly worried the Pompey defense. Conversely, Jansen had the strength to drive at people. What REALLY impressed me however, was Hughes at this point; all too often under the Souness regime we would put 11 men behind the ball and invite pressure. Yesterday we didn't. We dropped back sure, but we still ran the game and went forward. SO refreshing to see. They hardly had a sniff all half. The only minus was the review i read today. I bought The Times expecting a decent article, yet what i saw was an attack on the fans and the team. "Blackburn laboured their way through more than 70 minutes." What crap, we were awesome from the very start of the second half and were the better team for most of the first. "Hughes knew Jansen would bring the meagre — and until then moribund — home crowd alive." Again, rubbish. There was a quiet spell in the first half when Pompey were all over us, but that was it. "The game had begun with Blackburn not so much roaring off the grid as inching their way forward in the manner of a Sinclair C5." I beg to differ. I was very pleased with ourperformance and showed that we can be a very decent team this season.

Just got home after my 6 hour journey from Ewood so I shall leave my post till thoughts till tomorow. However, I will say that I Hughes has brought something new to the club - ATTACKING, POSITIVE FOOTBAL!!

I have a box seat ticket for this match that I may or may not be able to claim. I was going to leave it to the day and see if I can claim it. If not, I was going to just book a regular ticket. However, now I'm worried that any decent seats will be gone. What are peoples thoughts?

Am pleased at the appointment and the club have impressed me by getting the man they appeared to target from the start, and very quickly.

While i agree MGP needs to be introduced slowly to the english game, I disagree over tactics - to play such negative minded football at such an early stage in the season is going to garuntee us relegation. Whats the point trying to play nice football if we're already resound to being in a relegation fight and play a formation to match? Sure we have played awfully this season, but one of the reasons many wanted Souness out was for his, at times, negatively minded football. The only way to bounce back and make a success of the season is to play attacking attractive football and put the pressure on the other team. We're 19th as it is - we don't need the constant pressure of encouraging the other team to attack. Bring in the attacking presense of De Pedro on the left, Thompson on the right and play Tugay and Ferguson in the centre. If Portsmouth play Berkovic then bring in Douglas as a grafter, otherwise lets control the midfield and take the game to them - im sick of all the negativity in our play! Oh yeh, does anybody know if a suit and tie is required when watching the game in the box's in the JW stand?

I posted my opinions on Blackburn Rovers on a Newcaste fans forum that Paul gave a link to not long ago and the quality is so far inferior to that of this site its unreal. I agree that this site has just the right balance of serious debate and banter. I have no complaints, thanks guys

Parkes has worked with Souness for too long to make wholesale changes. It would only further upset the teams balance and i doubt he has had time to orchestrate huge changes. Therefore I think a familiar team will line up on saturday... Freidel Neill / Short / Matteo / Gray Emerton / Tugay / Ferguson / De Pedro Stead / Dickov As for the result, I think Tony will get us our first win of the season.

Very sorry, have neglected reading the board after time off. Apologies.

Not sure if this has been mentioned but bet365 and william hill have both suspended betting for next rovers manager? Can anybody explain this?

I too am extremely worried he will try to poach our players. With a large transfer fund to spend he could easily take one of Stead, Ferguson or Neill. I would hate to lose Ferguson, I agree that he is our only remaining class player we have.

In an assistant's role yes, but he hasn't the managerial experience to fill this post.

It doesn't matter who we get, they will never have the same success as Souness. We need somebody that can employ the same passing game as the man himself. Can Newell do this? Strachan? Wilkinson, Houllier, Robson? no. If you want to avoid relegation, bring in Houllier for me - one thing i think he will do is bring strength to our defense, but say goodbye to exciting football for a long, long time guys.

Sick to my stomach. This is just so unexpected. I've never felt so empty, so devestated in my life. I can't see us being successful this season, simply because we have lost such a great manager and such a great man. It's the worst possible time to leave us and the unrest the players face and the time it will take for a new manager to settle will cost us our premiership status. Thankyou Souness, you've shown us the best days of our exsistence.

Freidel Neill / Short / Matteo / Gray Emerton / Ferguson / Tugay / De Pedro Stead / Dickov Also, short was our best defender, Douglas is crap and Tugay and Ferguson work together in midfield.

Thanks Roaming Rover Does anybody know how ticket sales have progressed or can anybody predict how easy/difficult it would be to get a ticket for this match?