I always want us at home to Burnley in the cup.

It would be good to get Bellamy. Although a complete tisser he can play and has bags of pace. It would also nark Bruce and Sullivan again.

Very interesting posts. I'd agree with some on both sides.

The people who watched BRFC 20 years ago were used to good football played in the second tier of English football by players who didn't earn much more than the average wage. Rovers survived back then off loan signings, aging free transfers and players who could come in and give the ground a buzz. I was only a kid but Steve Archibald's debut was massive, it put an extra 3,000 on the gate. The star factor gave us some publicity, but it didn't last long. The die hard 8,000 came week in week out to watch some talented players entertain. Faz and Keeley were always worth entry fees for the inevitable scythe on the striker. Barker produced some wonderful passes, Sellars would run rings around defenders; it was entertaining football. The biggest games I remember in the late 80's were our FA cup ties against Villa and Liverpool, both draws with 14,000 on. Now we play these teams every week now to a crowd not much different in size. This changed when Jack came in, transformed the place and we've had the rollercoaster since.

Today's Rovers are hard work to watch, no-one wants to go and see it live when they can stay at home and watch United etc. play great flowing stuff. I went to three games when I was home at Christmas, I nearly didn't go to the Charlton game but it was my last chance before I left, so I begrudgingly paid to go. If I lived in England there is no way I'd go every week whilst Rovers playing like that; it's so boring, but effective enough to keep us in the Premier league. Our crowds will not get any better in the near future, the cynical fan is too fed up with overpaid players milking the club and the fans who ultimately pay their wages, either through Sky subscriptions, match tickets or merchandise purchases. Someone told me that Matteo is on £30,000 a week minimum, allegedly (do I have to put that in?). The club doesn't deserve money if they work out pay deals like that, it's complete lunacy.

It is a vicious circle. We have no flair players, fan favourites, or talismen, so people don't bother to come, we get a lower revenue because of it making it harder over the long term to pay the good players to come, forcing the club to adopt the style we have now. I'm very glad we have Hughes as a manager, I think he does a great job and will keep us up for years, but that needs to be sustained with continual development and money from somewhere or else.

Sky has been both the saviour and villain of English football, it gave clubs the licence to spend stupidly, with BRFC being a culprit all too often, and it gave players/agents more power to negotiate silly wage deals for themselves. It also gave the fans access to loads of games and opened up football to a wider public. 20 years ago there was barely a live game on TV so people had to go to stadiums to see it, BRFC had the 8,000 it still does, what has changed? Did the town get delusions of grandeur when we won the league? Did the club budget on projections of 25,000+ crowds every week? Does the club take the public for granted?

For BRFC to keep its Premier league existence on its paltry crowds it needs outside help; probably coming from TV money. Sky is much maligned by a good few on here, but realistically they are our only hope. I'm not a "Lancashire United" advocate, it's a white elephant. Sky needs competitive football for it to survive. How many will watch Chelsea play Man U every week? A Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Everton challenging for honours is good for the league, Sky has the financial muscle to at least attempt to make it happen by equalling out its money. If Sky gave each club the same amount per year, then in theory all clubs would have at lest that much each to start with. Right now Chelsea, the richest club (if you consider Red Rom's billions) get a far larger Sky cheque than Norwich, who need it more. Obviously the traditionally bigger clubs would generate more funds from kit sales and attendances, but that is expected. Smaller clubs would also put a greater reliance on youth development; hopefully. Another silly idea that may work is for the Premier League to pay each team the same regardless of where it finishes in the League or reverse it so the bottom 4 get the most and the top 4 get the least and so on. The top will still get its beloved money from the Champions league and UEFA Cup and the relegated teams still have to play in the Coca Cola. However the big problem with paying the bottom teams the most is that they'll get to League 1 and but up all the good players for a swift return, with the rest crying foul that they'll never get a chance to go up.

Blackburn Rovers are not the only club with attendance issues, it is a football problem that needs to be dealt with from the top but the FA big wigs are reluctant to do so because they have too much to lose from it if they do play it fair.

I'll go with the majority on this game and say that we were very mediocre in a very scrappy game where no-one could get it down and play. It was a draw all the way until the penalty. We are not the best team to watch from an entertainment standpoint but for budding coaches among us the shape dedication and discliplined way we play is very good to look at and learn from. However that is lost on most; hence the low crowds.

We desperately need a goalscorer. There was a topic on here a month or so ago about which position we needed most, I plumbed for a centre half as we were leaking goals like mad, well Hughes has sorted that out, our organisation is very good now, we won't concede many, but unless we can score a couple we'll have more draws and losses instead of wins.

Dickov is our best asset and that is saying something. I've no idea what has happened to Stead, I think he's a good player but it's not working for him. Bothroyd shows great flashes but I don't think he has it, what does Perugia want for him? For all the hype about Gallagher, he reminds me of Franny Jeffers; bags of potential but never seems to come through. The fans' allegiance to him will be much stronger as he is a local lad but he either needs to gain a yard of pace or bulk up a bit to make him stronger on the ball. Johnson looked lively, but needs a big man alongside him. Many of us have asked what if, in regards to letting Cole go. Could it still hurt us?

Kayos made the point about Emerton being too narrow; that is a product of the system we play, Hughes has our wingers defending the spaces making it hard to get around the back of us.

Forgot my point about the penalty. It came as no surprise to me that when Diouf turned his man, that man happened to be Matteo. What was he doing in the middle? But more to the point, why is he playing?

This stinks of agents making more money at the expense of players. Footballers have everything done for them, therefore do not have to think. Once they are around someone who they think they can trust they will listen to everything they say. This is the case here with Viola; Go home, they want you etc. Meanwhile he makes another £x thousand for practically nothing.

If he wants to go then let him, I just hope we get decent money for him. But homesickness? He can stay in England for 3 more years, it's not a long time. The Scottish league isn't a hotbed of football, it could be that he wants to return to being the best in a bad league.

Have we done the greatest strikers yet?

There is more coming out on this. I reckon he's off. We'll make £1.5 million on the deal which when you add on Beattie's £1 million gives us another midfielder.

Soccernet's Ferguson contribution

He was homesick when he came, did he ever get over it?

Having been at home for a couple of weeks I managed to see some live games. My overall opinion is that we are not the greatest team to watch and will never impress many in the flair play league. I saw Newcastle, Villa and Charlton, all of them very forgettable games, especially Villa; cold, wet and crap.

We are however, very resilient and will have no problems staying up. My only hope is that Hughes can get rid of the Souness deadwood so he can mold his own team together. We also need a reliable left back. I've slated Neill for a while on here but over the last 2 months he's been impressive, he's learned to defend again, maybe Matteo can do the same but I doubt it because he's pants. He has the mobility of the Titanic and the left foot of a spoon. His only saving grace is that he's big and can head it from set pieces.

Right, I'm sticking my neck out and going for another draw. Pompey are playing well and we play not to lose.

Why does the English League need a break?

Not over Christmas, I do like the Christmas program. I would like a break after the third round of the cup in early January for 2 or 3 weeks. With the transfer window open, it gives teams a chance to bring in new players without having to put them straight into the side, recharging batteries, not putting onus on fans to go out and support with January blues, saves pitches, and a few other reasons I'll remember later. Anyway different topic.

I voted for Duff. Partly torn as Sellars used to light it up in the second division, but he was the best in the Premier league when we finished 6th, and in my eye part of the reason why we thought Gresko was the bees knees; he had Duff in front of him taking all the pressure off and doing the donkey work.

Christmas break please. I wonb't be on the computer much and it will give people a chance to have a breather, and show those in authority that the English leauge also needs one.

I've still not voted, will probably vote for Duff still as he would have been great if he'd stayed longer. I don't think the strikers are set in stone though.

Will we have to ship out before we bring in?

We need a pacy centre half first, shore up the back line and make us more solid going forward. I like Amoruso but he has no pace and I doubt he is a player Hughes is fond of.

A striker is also needed, Dockov doesn't have it and the youngsters playing alongside him, whoever that may be, don't have the experience to lead the line at Premiership level. Most people agree that Stead did so well because Cole was taking the majority of the flak whilst telling the young lad what to do. Dickov can't do that as he doesn't have Cole's talent.

Defensive mid would be third, I think if we can be more solid at the back it will take some pressure off the need for a growler.

As for players.

The Gabbidon rumours still go around, but is he good enough? We need speed foremost, Henchoz isn't that quick, but he can read the game, has bags of experience and will be a cheaper option than a purchase.

Saha is certain to go, either on loan or permanently. He can't compete at United with Van Horse, Smith and Rooney ahead of him. Even with Van Nistelrooy out, they can play Smith alone, with an extra midfielder enabling Scholes to score plenty. I read that PSG were after him. He would cost a fortune, but he's fast and can score, would be good for us.

Defensive mid; Savage is still bleating, but do we want the most hated player in the league, we already have a bad name in the press from our "moneybags" days, would he help?

Random players. Would Chelsea let anyone go, and if so would they come north? Hughes played for them, does he have any pull?

The result was a shame, a draw would have been better as it was a very drab game played by two sides short on confidence. We could have done alot of good with a win, yet as the rest of the bottom 3 lost we stay were we are. A win at Palace will be wonderful.

My pointers on the performance are varied. I'm one who constantly has a go at Lucas Neill but I thought he played very well yesterday, if he could maintain that kind of performance I'll be happy. Todd was good, he should be in the side every week, Nissa isn't bad but has the pace of a rhino. My main probelm now is Craig Short, he's too slow and I honestly think he feels that he has to do everyithng he can to make up for his lack of confidence in his fellow defenders. He has been around a long time and knows what to do but tries to do too much. I faulted him for this at Southampton and he did the same yesterday. After Brown had tired himself out Tood had the first forward covered but Short came rushing over leaving the gap for Keane to run into, if you look at replays you'll see those two stood right next to each other when Keane shoots.

Midfield never got going, Spurs played compact and didn't let Reid and Emo get going. Tugay or Ferguson didn't do that badly.

Up front is where we will struggle all season. We have Dickov who works his socks off but doesn't have the quality to get more goals, too many times he'll make a stray pass or mis control it. Gallagher didn't look interested and Bothroyd was out of sorts. I wonder what will happen when Stead gets fit? I think he can do a job but he needs confidence. This was the real difference in the side. They had Keane and Defoe; two very good internationals, who looked dangerous, when they wear out they bring on Kanoute. People on here got miffed when Lawrenson and Marsh made comments that we have nothing up front, but they are right, we have no real threat.

In January we need a new centre half and a striker, but they will cost money. Offload Amoruso and his big wage, as well as Matteo, I'm sure he's on a load too. Gray can go as well.

We won't go down, Hughes is slowly turning things his way. It will be another bad season hovering around the bottom, losing when we should win and winning games we should lose. We've now won only 5 of 27 at home, fortress Ewood has crumbled. Crowd issues are a big factor in performances, the East Lancs moan moan moan attitude spills over very easily to the players and makes for bad experiences on home soil. Roll on Christmas.

I belong to the club that remembers Brotherston (just), Sellars, Wilcox, and Duff. They were all cracking players and did a great job for BRFC.

I only saw Brotherston play a couple of times, I was young, but I was impressed that he was an international, that is all I can remember about him. I used to wonder what he was doing playing for a poor (moneywise) Second Division side. I'll defer to the older posters to give better accounts of him.

Scott Sellars was the best player in the second division when he was there. Could go past players with ease, cross well and shoot. What I remember about our playoff teams of the late 80's was that we always used to score early goals, many times inside 5 minutes, most of them involed Sellars jinking around someone and firing it into the box. He was a great player and the plaudits on here sum him up; if he was playing for us 5 years later and without that nagging groin injury that hampered his later stay, he would have played for England. I was at a youth presentation one night, David Jones the fat DJ from Radio Lancashire was MC and Sellars was the guest of honour presenting the trophies. Jones got up beforehand to introduce Sellars and made a comment about John Salako getting into the England squad and "he couldn't shine this fella's boots" pointing at Sellars. He just bowed his head and got embarrassed, but it was true he was a far better player than Salako ever was.

Wilcox was one player who, like Atkins, made a name for himself under Dalglish. When he first came onto the scene it was out of necessity as Mackay had no other players. He'd signed Alan Irvine, but he got injured so Wilcox got to play right wing; he was pants. For the first few years the crowd would dog him constantly for giving the ball away, running up the wing then stopping and passing it backwards. He got progressively better and was an integral part of the Dalglish-Harford system, along with Ripley, to get balls in the box for Shearer. His torment of Mel Sterland when we battered Leeds (reigning champions) at Christmas time 1992 will stand forever. He ran him ragged. Also, I've mentioned on here before that when Wilcox got injured during our title run in it took the rails off our game. If he'd have been fit we would have won the title a week or two before Liverpool. He was different than the other three in that he didn't have the skill level but he had the work rate, determination and brain to know his role and do it well. He was good but the fact that he got dropped for, and eventually sold because of, a young Duff speaks voulmes about the Irishman.

Duff: he has the workrate of Wilcox, the skill of Sellars and better finishing ability than both of them. Quite simply class. Runs all day and terrorises defenders. Everyone who sees him knows how good he is in Chelsea's team, he was just like that for us, but without the supporting cast. Most people wish he would have stayed longer, but 17 million was too hard to pass up.

Who will I vote for? Probably Duff but I might get sentimental.

Unfortunately some idiot has landed the club right in it. Regardless as to whether or not the lad got kicked out for gesticulation or racist chants will get lost the the backwards northern racists witch hunt tirade in the red topped press.

I wasn't there but reading the comments from the media and this board it seems like the Roma (is that the latest?) scarf wearing fool got his comuppence for being a complete moron before it happened. No doubt the clown will wake up this morning with a bad head wondering what he did. I'm sure that if drink wasn't involved and the Madrid incident wasn't fresh in his mind it would not have happened. It's no surprise to me that both incidents happened a few days apart. One again the press have won. They raked the Spanish over the coals late last week and now they can carry on doing it to us, nothing like stretching out a story to sell more papers. I'm now waiting for the "undercover" reporter going around the streets of Blackburn on a fact finding mission to show the country how racist the town is.

Just in case there are any undecided out there:

The history books might have been written very differently about Sherwood's one season wonders if a certain Mr E Cantona had not been banned for half the season.

I doubt that one less dismissal would have made much difference to Mr J Forrest's honours.

  

If Wilcox didn't do his knee against Palace we'd have been sailing. It completely put us out of stride and made us unbalanced. Cantona helped us only because Wilcox got injured. Yes, Jason Wilcox of all people. I saw more games than not that season and it definitely had a big influence on out spluttering run-in.

Forgot, I don't want Sherwood in, just want to make the anti-Cantona case.

Catching up on this again. Some of Jim's comments border on the ridiculous. I'm in agreement with him on the "no way Sherwood" protest, but his constant harping back to the good old days wears me out. What put me over the top is his stance that Fred Pickering would give Shearer a run for his money.

Also Atkins has more votes than Batty. If you'd have told me 10 years ago that Mark Atkins would be ahead of David Batty in a greatest ever Rovers team vote, I'd have laughed them out of Ewood; so much for hindsight and nostalgia.

THERE'S ONLY ONE TONY PARKES.

Sing it loud and Proud on Sunday.

Stupid comment. Parkes has gone, it was a mess how it came out but he's still gone. For fans to chant his name at the game would be a disservice to Mark Hughes and the players. It's his team now, Hughes has to get us away from the relegation zone. What message will singing about our ex-coach send?

I'm sure Tony Parkes got a good severance package, and I think I read that they are trying for a testimonial for him - that would be a good way to show your appreciation for him, by going there and acknowledging his service. Bringing up a sore point when the players are trying to kickstart the ascent up the table is plain idiotic. Getting relegated is far far worse than firing Tony Parkes, we need unity and to completely support our team. Yes, sing, but don't sing about a former member of staff.

After reading the article I'm inclined to agree; you can only watch so much football. Living in the States, the blessing that is Fox Sports World often shows 3 games back to back on a Saturday. You get the 12:45 live game, the 5:15 live game then they normally throw one more in on taped delay for laughs, plus the two sunday games, and the live monday game. I've got English mates who'll either watch all of them or tape them for later. I'm stuffed after one, unless it's a cracker like Arsenal-Spurs last week. It's nice when Rovers are on as they are this weekend.

Just wait though, eventually it will turn into USA style market saturation. Yanks follow more sports eagerly than we do. Most sports fans like a baseball team, 2 American football teams (one professional, one university- unbelievable to see 110,000 sell outs every week), 2 basketball teams (same as minus the massive crowds). You can get packages that show game after game after game. Attendances are up across the board as the marketing geniuses do a good job of duping dramatic Americans into thinking that they need it. Also there are rules stating that if the ground/arena is less than a certain percentage full the game is not shown on TV in the local area. However the size of the country and the blatently unfair bias toward the big few in all sports makes small market teams (like us) have not much following and even lesser success.

The more games on TV makes it easier for people to not go to games, not just for the casual fan who likes football but the genuine supporter. If there are loads of games on the mrs., or whoever, will probably get mad about a bloke going to a game. If he's at home watching at least he's around, at a stadium he can't leave the game for 5 minutes to go to the shop for some milk.

I think dropping attendances are due to many factors, not limited to the high cost of going with your family, ever changing kickoff times, proliferation of Sky TV, idiot footballer behavior, girl power taking over, making men (the traditional football watcher) hen-pecked, and access/parking/traffic problems at many grounds.

Will it be solved? Who knows but football clubs need to as most are losing money fast.

More things familiar to Rovers fans happening again at Newcastle. Robert is now complaining about Souness not liking him. Is he playing favourites again?

Sparky has everything in place now, we shall continue to improve, we won't be Champions League conternders as we don't have the players but competency is on its way.

Revidge, I agree with you that Batty was a class act, and a longer stay would definitely put him the top of my list. But for sense's sake vote for Forrest. Right now Sherwood is winning due to people with memories stretching back to 1995 alone.

Sherwood left under a cloud and although he did well for us and I liked him as a player, he is never a great.

Al, spot on re. the farce comment.

Incidentally Speeedie my comment about Hughes being harder to sack is perfectly valid no matter what weasle words you may say about it.

There is always a place for a man with 35 years of experience and loyalty. This is a sad day for the integrity of Blackburn Rovers and their manager.

The word cronyism comes to mind.

Al, Blackburn Rovers need to move forward. We've got a new manager, coach, and now a reserve team coach. Hughes is the boss and has proven it. He wanted fresh ideas, his own men and the way he feels he can do it is without Parkes. He wanted to keep him accoriding to the LET but nothing sutiable was available. I liked Tony Parkes, met him personally, saw him coach, was definitely a players coach, that's why he lasted so long. 30+ years service deserves something, he will get it, a nice retirement package safe in the knowledge that he'll never have to work again if he doesn't want to. That his how any company rewards long standing employees when they leave.

The story was leaked, it doesn't look good, but that is not the point, the tabloid press have done far worse in far graver situations. They have to sell papers and don't care whose palms they have to grease to get their story out before anyone else.

The validity of Hughes somehow being harder to sack because he gets rid of Tony Parkes escapes me. Why? If Hughes does a bad job the board will get rid. They won't sit around thinking " Oh, we can't sack him, we don't have a decent caretaker." Tripe.

These aren't "weasle" comments, they are trying to show my frustration at Rovers fans who constantly look on the bad side of any decision the club makes. Stubbornness and the refusal to look forward won't help anyone, let alone BRFC.

Voted for Forrest. I was getting worried about Latheron splitting it and letting Sherwood in. This was a case of not wanting Sherwood, so I went with the toughest competition.

Forrest and Latheron were hard to split, but 5 cup winners medals and his professional status edged it for me. What would have happened if Latheron didn't go off to war? I view that fighting for your country as more important though than a few more medals.

Sherwood was not as good as Batty, but he's not getting a look in.

Tony Parkes will probably get early retirement if he wants it, as 30 years deserves it. "Sacking" is paper wording for me, I'd prefer to say let go, yes it means the same but sacking implies that he's done something wrong, as as all Rovers fans know; he hasn't. Hughes came in with his own agenda, brought his own men in and if this board is to be true he has another of his men on board to take Parkes place. Hughes needs to impose his own system on the club and this cuts the final string of the Souness era, and many others.

Many of us, including me, feel for Parkes as I thought he was a good man and a real Rovers legend, but in our perilous position we need the boss to act like he has hunger and the necessary balls to try things. I think this has proved it.

Al's scandalous comment about Hughes being harder to sack now is just plain stupid. Progression and staff turnover is sometimes needed to give people a jolt. How do you think the players feel? A loyal 30 year player/coach/caretaker gets the boot, what could happen to me on my 3 year contract? Hopefully it will have the desired effect and make them try harder.

What started out as the public dressing down of some Rovers "stand up or your not a Rovers fan" idiots at Norwich has turned into the ever popular culure war debate that rages on here and in pubs, clubs, schools, houses Britain over.

I could care less what people wear. I grew up in East Lancs watching lads my age spend silly money trying to look good. Some did, some didn't. I also used to see pople going out on the town in their school pants. I'm not making any fashion comments as mine is no better than anyone else's. Posters taking exception to people winding them up because they wear certain designer brands is a tad immature. You like good quality, if expensive, clothes good for you that is your choice. It's also the choice of others to have a go.

The point lost amongst the fashion debate goes back to what I said on this topic on Monday, and a good few others have reitterated since. Whether you like it or not, if you turn up to a game wearing "casual" designer gear looking like a stereotypical hooligan people will assume you are out for trouble, not everyone but some; especailly the Law in most cases. If you feel comfortable wearing these clothes and are sure why you wear them, and are no way remotely connected to hooligansim be prepared to possibly get some stick from someone. Unfortunately for you it goes with the territory. Don't overreact if and when it happens as you should know the consequences.

As a Brit living in America I come across all sorts of people. I've met plenty who assume that when they hear an English accent you can coach football, drink loads of ale, and live in London. Whether you do or not is not the point, stereotyping is; a sweeping generalisation applied to a specific group that is rarely true on an individual basis.

Lads wearing Burberry caps (or other brand), flash jackets, whatever jeans, stripey shirts, and same style shoes at football matches are stereotyped into the hooligan bracket.