United 2 Blackburn 0 More of the same sitting back, defending and playing deep with a defensive line up, no width and both strikers playing in midfield.

We didn't play particularly badly last night, we were just playing so utterly deep that nobody could get a stragle hold on the game. Gresko and Emerton both played as narrow defensive midfielders, Matteo was an awful defensive midfielder and Tugay was just too deep with no one infront of him and couldn't work his magic. Even Stead and Dickov were having to drop right back to get the ball; some of our goal kicks were going to Stead on the right wing and then to Dickov on the left. We needed to push up the pitch, its last season all over again. Replace Matteo with Ferguson, Gresko with De Pedro and Johansson with Amoruso and we will look a much better outfit, ONLY if Souness stops playing such defensive football.

Iv just watched the highlights on football first (what an excellent program btw). We were lucky to get away with a few bad mistakes at the opening - nissa in particular was at blame. Otrherwise the first half was fairly good but we just didnt have any width, as usual and there was no creativity. The chances we made were good but if I remember correctly, one was from a corner. As usual Tugay worked hard but i just didn't see the performence many of you saw in him. He just didn't provide the creativity we needed. Dickov and Stead worked well together but just didn't have the service. Gray made a few defensive errors and Matteo did very little. His distribution was poor and he created nothing. Second half was just awful. He played so deep it was untrue. What good is Tugay when hes playing in his own half the whole game with just Dickov infront of him? First goal was a supreme ball and i don't think we could have done much about it - maybe short could have stuck out a leg. Second goal was awful defending by Matteo when he just missed the ball on the corner. Third goal was again a useless mistake from Matteo. Matteo was useless, Gresko offered little going forward and while I don';t think Emerton did much wrong, he did manage to run straight into arsenal players a few times. Tuag ywas too deep to offer anything. I can't put my finger on what was wrong, but the whole midfield just seemed... wrong. No width and no creativity and Matteo was useless. Perhaps with Fergy and Tugay in midfeild, and De Pedro on the wing we will have the creativity. The second half saw no Rovers chances. Im getting fed up with Souness formations and poor tactics but it really is hard to hate a man that looks so damned cool; the hair, the suit, the shirt buttons undone - he looked the man.

Now i havent had the advantage of 40 years but Filan wasn't even in the same league as Flowers. Flowers was an excellent keeper, better then Seaman, Walker, James and now Robinson in my opinion and deserved more England caps.

But why? What has Matteo done for you to think hes so pants? I was very pleased when I heard we had signed him. Whats even better is that we didn't pay a thimgs for him! As captain of a team with players like Smith, Viduka, Robinson etc and with the decent run of performances he gave last season, why do you value him so little???

1. arsenal 2. chelsea 3. man utd 4. liverpool 5. newcastle 6. middlesburough 7. birmingham 8. villa 9. blackburn 10. spurs 11. southampton 12. charlton 13. man city 14. fulham 15. portsmouth 16. bolton 17. everton 18. west brom 19. norwich 20. palace I've got to say im pretty amazed at peoples predictions for spurs; about to sell Carr, looked awful all pre season, keane injured for the start... I really don't think they'll improve at all. Man UTD season will be dependant on their start. With an opener at Chelsea and extensive injuries and Ronaldo and Heinze in the olympics I think they'll struggle. Otherwise its pretty even between the top three but i think arsenal will take it. Everton, pompey and bolton's squads look pretty thin and i think that once injuries hit they will suffer and finish low mid table. Afraid I can't see any players with the quality to succeed in the premiership in the newcomers either.

Likewise Rover6, i believe Ferguson is a better holding midfielder and think he played his best football for us in that position. I sincerly hope Souness plays him in that position next season. However, I wouldn't agree that Souness has plans for him playing as an offensive midfielder. Tugay showed he played far better further up the pitch last season and Flitcroft is far from a holding midfielder. With Thompson returning I think we would have exactly the right balance in midfield and the obvious position for Ferguson would be infront of the back four. A large part of my optimism for next season is based on the return of a fully fit Ferguson. I rate him amongst the very best midfielders in the premiership and in a captains role know he will have a massive influence on the teams performance. For those that have watched out pre-season matches, can anybody share any light on Fergusons performances and fitness?

I'd agree with that - at the start of last season we were playing some real fluid passing football. As soon as Ferguson became injured we lost a massive part of that game and it showed big style. If it wasnt for our wretched luck and poor defending, we would have been in a much better position. Next season, if Souness plays Tugay and Ferguson in the middle, with at least one attacking winger, then I am sure we will play some really attractive football. I'm really looking forward to it and believe Souness has done an excellent job in aquiring such an excellent midfield.

Attempted to set up a standing order but forgot my security question and my service has now been suspended Tomorow will see a small donation for you guys, but it will be a weekly contribution. Many thanks for a top job on this site and for 6 months of entertainment

I really need to find a new way of displaying a formation - what is there now is what i wanted it to look like. I tried to show Ferguson and Tugay together in the centre with Tugay pushing up and Ferguson dropping back but gave up on aligning them and put them infront and behind each other.

Friedel Neill Matteo Short Gray Ferguson Thompson De Pedro Tugay Stead Dickov SUBS Enckelman Mceverly Emerton Gally Jansen

Very disapointing news. Not so much the club failing to recoup any money, but because of the partnership he had developed with Stead. At the end of last season they really did appear to have an understanding and I doubt we will forge a more deadly partnerwship. I really had a good feeling about the two next season. Now its going to take our front pairing more time to settle and Souness will no doubt have to switch things around much more - I really don't want to be mid way through next season without a settled front pairing again. Saying that, we are linked with a couple of promising youngsters, one being a forward and we will have to wait until the season starts to see the affects of Cole's departure. And remember, this was a liklely outcome ever since the end of last season, we should be prepared for it by now.

To be fair there Dr Rich, it is mainly the admin and mod's that feel the strongest about this and who it affects the most. Surely a few minutes here and there would be better then weeks of editing, merging and reminding? It wouldn't have to be a single admin member, just whoever was on the messageboard at the time somebody signed up. How long would a PM take? 3 minutes? If these people never post, then atleast they will feel welcomed to the board and know what to expect.

Perhaps Admin should PM new members with an individual message to add a personal touch? Maybe just to reiterate that people have to read the posting guidelines as many most likely cannot be bothered, think that they know it all anyway, forget or are so keen to post that they forget to read the guidelines.

Watching SSN now and it says the "SP," is running the story. Sorry to be dense, but what paper is the "SP?" It also says that he's GOING to be fired later this week, not that he has, and Rovers are going to have to pay half his wages remaining on his contract. He is being linked with Fulham. After getting a glimpse, i really think this is more tabloid crap.

Thats the thing, if it were simply a transfer rumour then it's to be expected, but if its a load of rubbish then what's going to happen when tomorow comes and Cole is still playing for the club? Thats why I'm going to wait and see exactly whats been reported, maybe somebodys misundertood?

I' m never one to believe tabloid stories, but this is one hell of a story if they've reported Cole has been released. I'm going to be watching SSN and getti8ng the NOTW tomorow in any case and see just what they have reported.

Me neither. I think that this attitude of "get over it" is misguided and somewhat callous. The Scoucers lost 95 friends, relatives, and family all down to crap policing and stewarding at a football match. To then add insult to injury, The Sun then accused them of pissing on bodies, pick-pocketing the dead, and beating up coppers who were trying to resusitate the dying. Just imagine that on 23rd February 2002 something had gone horribly wrong and The Sun had accused you, me, Abbey, Bryan, Paul, Steve B, Laughatthedingles, Tugay, Modes,Ossey(....the list goes on) of robbing our fellow Rovers' supporters who were dead. I don't think any of us would be able to "get over it." I don't think The Sun would sell a single copy in Blackburn any more. I admire Mottman and Skem lad and the rest of them for keeping the torch burning and wish them the best of luck in whatever they do. I agree entirely with this post. I knew little of the event until the posts of Mottman and Skemlad encouraged me to probe further and, while i never really did buy the sun, i make sure others in my family do not as well. Many of the posts on this thread are callous and yet Skemlad has remained entirely pleasent and respectful of your views, i would ask nothing less of the rest of you.

I'd really suggest that you read the "message board quality, declining?" thread in the ICBINF section before posting again. It is your daft statements and posts that force these, admittedly funny, one line posts of little significance that annoy other posters. Saying that, at T4E and Shilito. EDIT: sorry Ste B, didn't see you already refered RD to the ICBINF section.

No problems at all Ricky, no doubt I came off pretty rude there, but without meaning to at all. All comes with the responsibility of being a mod for you guys. Thanks for your apology, on reflection I was being a little hasty - I myself have had a bad few days.

In all honesty, if there has been a decline in the mesage board quality, it is most likely a result of it's growing popularity; the majority of "lower quality," posts are made by those who are younger, newer or less accustomed to message boards in general. I think its the price you pay for a variety of views. Now when I first came on the MB i had very little experience with mesageboards in general and thus my posts were "low quality," however, rather then trying to do anything about this, some mods were all too keen on being aggressive and totally intolerant of new members. I remember Den being particularly pleasent and conversely Ricky being completely intolerant and offensive. Now the admin and mods do a superb job on the mb but it must be considered that if the "quality," is to improve, newer users should be guided in the right direction, rather then simply having their posts deleted. Not so long ago i made a bad thread thread in an attempt to expand my influence on the board, failed and wanted the said thread to be deleted. Unsure on how to have this done i tried messaging Admin that were currently on the board and couldn't find instructions on how to request it being deleted - perhaps this process should be included in the posting guidelines. Apologies if this has infact been included, I must have missed it at the time. In any case, peoples responses really discouraged me from starting new threads in the future. Now a comprimise has to be found. Some mebers really do post some stupid drivel and they need to make efforts to improve their knowledge of messageboards and post higher standard posts. Now i find that inner circle jokes between the likes of T4E, S15 and TP ADD to the "quality," of the MB, and not to this claimed decline. Perhaps if more intelligent members of the MB are concerned about the "quality," of the MB then they should have a specific section for themselves. No doubt this would again lower the standard of the MB and this brings me back to my main point - this is the price you pay for a popular messageboard. EDIT: I was unaware of the opposition to mutiple quotes, I will refrain from quoting several statements in one post.

Back on topic, I just don't understand how anybody can be pessimistic about our activitiesso far this summer. It is still early in the summer break and we have made nothing but positive moves; we've bought a proven international and an excellent solution to our left sided problem, a decent striker, who even if somebody considered a bad signing, looks to be nothing more then a backup or rotation player, we've been chasing decent players like Pedersen and Mateo, the latter of which we still have a chance of getting and we have re-shuffled the back room staff. Im very optimistic about next season and have been very impressed by what has transpired so far this summer.

I have classes three times a week... But the class content is to become soooo braindead I forget them.. You're back Six posts today and all absolutely utter shiite. Does your mother love you?? ( at least i've only posted ONE crappler post today ) I find it scary when someone analyses my daily posts.. Well you do make a lot of them...

oh dear... Our summer signings have been poor.. I was referring more to your grammar, but i also disagree with the point you were trying to make. What more do you want than an answer to our left sided problems and a very, very decent player with experience at international level, a proven goal scorer in Dickov who, without any evidence to the contrary, looks only to be a rotation player and the possibility of signing a one time captain and decent defender who would add depth to the defense. I have been extremely impressed with our summer activities, I dont see any reason to be negative.

oh dear...