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.

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.

Choice of 3 for me: Latheron: England International, Championship winner, killed in WWI. Forrest: 5 FA Cup medals, when it was more important then the league. Batty: personal - seen him play - the best we had, 42 England caps, 1.5 Championships (didn't really figure for us until late on). Atkins: don't make me laugh. Sherwood: cannot label him "great". I don't think any other will get a vote. Parkes wins the loyalty award. Could go with the majority: the only member of the team I've not voted for so far is Le Saux, for justifiable reasons.

This one will wind a few up but when Mark Atkins first came he was dire. He's being seriously considered by some for the "greatest 11" yet I remember his debut season as one disaster after another. No joke, he was crap. It is a testament to Dalglish, Harford and Atkins' own attitude that brought him around. Today players will sulk and give up whilst collecting outrageous wages. Another from the late Mackay era, I think; Gary Tallon. He came during the murky waters of 1991. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong as I'm not concrete on his arrival. I don't think he ever played in the first team, maybe ruling him out, but I used to watch the reserves quite regularly and he was a complete laughing stock. He was labelled as a Roy Keane type, but fell way short. The best laugh of the night was alwys when some fan in the crowd piped up with "here he goes, Gary Talent". Seriously bad, but never made it. I hate to think what would have happened if Dalglish didn't turn up.

Not Steve Livingstone, he kept us up one year with 9 in 9 late on. He scored the winner against Oldham at home, they were runaway leaders and getting promoted to the top flight, they were singing going up, we were singing staying up. I only have recent memories but they are long enough to remember the bad old days of the second division, mostly Mackay's reign. Matt Dickins was a far worse keeper than Collier, he looked like an ostrich. Home grown bad ones include Darren Donnelly, the striker who couldn't score, and Paul Shepstone; Mr ball to nowhere. My all time worst I can think of right now was a loan player we got from City; Jason Beckford. He was Darren Beckford's brother, and we all thought he'd play like him. He was big and fast but couldn't so anything with it. Pants. Krislu's post-1995 list has some very bad players on it. Coincidence that we went down shortly threreafter? I think not. Peacock was awful. No doubt more will pop into my head as the day rolls on.

Ah Duncan Shearer - I dont think he was overpriced We signed Duncan Shearer to not play. He was banging them in for Swindon and they were catching us up. We signed him, he scored on his debut, then hardly played the rest of the season, Swindon lost all hope after losing their 25 goal striker; Dalglish masterstroke.

Are you joking mate? Take away the so called 'sympathy vote' for Latheron and compare his record at Rovers to others now in that list..they dont come close.In my opinion a vote for either Atkins,Sherwood,Barker or Parkes ahead of Latheron is a vote of complete ignorance of fact. I agree with you. I guess it came out wrong, I'd vote for Latheron on just his war service. To put Sherwood and Atkins ahead of him is a joke.

I'm all for a worst 11 after we've finished the greatest 11. We've had more bad players than good. It would make for good reading. There are too many to mention right now. Hopefully we'll take this one on later.

Forrest? I must have missed the write up on him. Good was he? I know about Latheron. Sherwood and Atkins, great? Come off it. It looks like Atkinsd in particular is going to make a run for it. It will get interesting. If anyone could post some information on Forrest I'd appreciate it. Latheron is still strong if only for his war hero status.

Last thing I read on here about the standing issue is that it was the law of the land. Just because away fans stand at Ewood, Rovers fans should obey the law, even if they don't like it. This is a petty argument that will never be won by either side. The obedient ones will get frustrated and the renegade standers will think they are in the right as "it's what watching football is about". The law was created for a reason, the Hillsborough disaster, there is plenty of literature around explaining why. I've been to football stadiums both before and after the implementation and I believe that sitting down has made the game better for me to watch. I'm not a singer so that aspect never interested me. It has made it much safer to take kids to, something that Rovers desperately need - a new generation of fans. As for this quote; An easy target? If I walk down the street dressed as a vicar most people will assume I am one. Wearing desinger caps has connotations with hoolignans, if you don't want to be labelled don't wear them, simple.

Hilarious. One side has a good result, 10 men battling for a draw away from home. Other have an extra 2 points down the drain. Not getting beat away, showing resilience to come back with 10 men. I think we are on the up. Plenty of time left but we do need a few wins. Shame Brum won, and WBA-Soton was a draw in some repsects.

Neill is past it, sorry never had it, but I don't know about Douglas for right back. There and central mid are completely different positions, could he adapt, do a reverse Super Atko? As for Dickov, he should be dropped; toil, hard work, and effort doesn't add up to goals. Yes, he is a complete pain for defenders but if he can't score it's pointless having him. City and Leicester didn't do that well with him. He is a good player but I would have Stead and Bothroyd up there, both tall but different players, Bothroyd can dribble and Stead can do the donkey work. If it's not working bring on Dickov for 20 minutes to run around and annoy defenders. Bothroyd has a chequered past but he has genuine quality, he needs special treatment and if Hughes manages to bring out his good side, we are going to have a good striker. Intersting to see that Souness is after Huth and Dawson, two players talked about regularly on here. Both would be good for us, but we are left with Matteo the lump. I like Amoruso, maybe with a pacy player next to him he'd do better.

Norwich haven't won all season, they're looking at Swindon's record of 15 games. Rovers haven't won, or got a point away all season. Rovers are coming back off a spirited performance against a good team. Looks to me like Norwich's first win; but I'd love to be proven wrong.

Commentators here (Tony Dorigo and Ian Darke) said Amoruso is out for a few months with an ankle operation and Matteo has a bad Achilles which didn't perform well in a fitness test before the game. From this it would seem that he would have played if fit. Does Amoruso not like the cold weather? It will be his second winter out. In the 1970's playboy footballers used to get themselves sent off close to Christmas so they'd miss the extensive Christmas program and could concentrate on most people's favourite pastime: Christmas drinking. Does he have a penchant for December Mediterranean sun?

I'm in line with everyone else here I think. A very good performance which should have been 3 points yet were also lucky to get one, if Kewell's last second cross shot touched anyone we'd have lost. We were inventive, looked good going forward created chances, but still need defensive replacements. I've been saying it for years, Lucas Neill is not up to it. He proved it again today. The first goal, he had no idea Riise was behind him, therefore had to chase. If he stood flat instead of turned toward the ball he can see both the man out wide and the ball, but his back was facing Riise meaning his eyes could not see. WE NEED A NEW RIGHT BACK. Emerton, Bothroyd, Ferguson, Johansson we our best performers. McEveley would be on the list if it was not for his pass for their second. Was very assured and can defend. Second tier has Short, Reid, Tugay, and Dickov. I'm not convinced about Dickov, works very hard, but is not a goal threat, we need a poacher alongside him. Brad could have been better but made two very good saves. Neill was p*ss poor, should be dropped immediately. But do we have anyone who can play there now. Stead looked OK, silly booking but if he gets the proper teaching I think he could well be as good as Chris Sutton (was Sutton the same age as Stead when we signed him in 1994?). Sorry about Cisse, no football fan likes to see that. It looked very innocuous, but those who have watched the replay tell a different story. Shins bending; Eugh. I for one will not try and see it, I broke my leg a few years back and seeing things like that doesn't sit well.

Good memories. I do remember Bob's mate shouting for the Animal Reid every game. I was only young but always looked what Reidy would do afterwards. It normally involved him battering someone. A mate of mine went to Millwall one year in the playoffs, we tubbed them 4-1 and he says that Reidy was left on the pitch at the end of the game with only his jock strap on as the fans had taken souvenirs. He was club captain the year Dalglish took over. Lee Makel also could have made it. "the next Gazza" was signed from Newcastle and played for years in the reserves. Played one game our first season up and got man of the match, never played again. I'm still with Clayton and a toss up between Latheron and Batty.

It's looking like Clayton with Atko and Sherwood in a tussle for second. I'm either going with Latheron or Batty for my second. Latheron for the heart and Batty because he was class. I find the sideways pass comments about him a bit naive. Not all players become great from launching 50 yard balls all day. He was great at keeping possession, something this current team cannot do. 42 England caps, 10 as a sub. Has anyone else mentioned Lee Richardson? The most one footed player I've ever seen.

Colin, Atko did a very good job for us, but he is not one of the greatest players we've ever had. I liked him as a player but you cannot put him ahead of an established interantional in Batty, a capped player in Sherwood and a genuine hero in Latheron. Wilcox was very similar to Aktins, was around before the glory and did a lot to help us gain it, but he won't get a sniff in the left wing vote. Atko played alot during the promotion season but Gordan Cowans was far more influential. Atkins was to Cowans what Deschamps was to Zidane. We're not trying to give an award for the ones who tried the hardest, we want the greatest. Club service doesn't warrant automatic selection. Derek Fazackerley has nearly 600 appearances for BRFC, did a great job for the club, is still in the game wherever Keegan goes, and did not get anywhere near the central defender spot, which was opened up to two after the Hendry-England debate. See the light and keep away from him. We've already lost one spot to Le Saux.

I'll jump in on the Batty/Sherwood/Atkins debate. Hopefully Ronnie Clayton has one spot sewn up already. There should be no discussion as to why he should not be in the side. End of story. When it comes to the other one it's looking like a four horse race between the aforementioned 3, and many wanting pre-WWI hero Latheron. Nobody knows anything about him so peope are going with the next best lot; our title winning bunch. Sherwood was a very good player for us. He ran the midfield during our meteoric rise, and jumped ship during the latter days of our decline. He could see passes that many other players could not, he'd open up the pitch for us and give players tremendous amounts of time and space with his vision. Fans used to moan now and again when one went wayward into the Riverside but when they came off they were great. He could put a tackle in, wasn't afraid of the rough stuff, but could not shoot straight, he always just put them over the bar. Overall a good one who was maybe worthy of a better England chance on his club performances but didn't have international class or consistency. His leaving was controversial, as was many of the glory team. I first saw Batty when he played for Leeds, we tubbed them 3-1 at Ewood in our first season up. It was the game when Shearer did his knee. Wilcox ran Mel Sterland ragged. I remember then watching him and thinking what class he had, simple but very effective. Allegedly Dalglish went to Leeds asking for McCallister, they said no, so he asked for Batty instead. He won player of the year in his first season with us, ahead of Shearer and his 30 goals. He did everything simple, kept the ball well and broke up attacks well. He was brilliant, far better than Sherwood, and also never scored, but injuries and his Le Saux fight marred him. Won plenty of England caps, missed a penalty in 1998. Atkins is different, a lowly Don Mackay signing came as a bad fullback (Super Atko started as a mick take nickname) whose pre-Dalglish days most famous moment was a last minute own goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup. It robbed us of a great win, as they lumped us 3-0 at Anfield. Jimmy Hill blamed the ball girl for giving it to Liverpool too quickly - I blamed Atko. Anyway, once Dalglish started buying, Atkins managed to convert himself into a ball winning midfielder. He must have watched Batty alot in training as when he was injured Atko came in and played like him - I've never seen a footballer do that. He was big and had good stamina, but should not be in the "greatest ever team". We also got over a million for him from Wolves. What still does me in is that Le Saux made the team. Good player but left in acrimonious circumstances, Woy was going to let him rot in the reserves, but money came calling. Clayton is a certainty with either Latheron or Batty - I'm an undecided here.

Ronnie Clayton is a must in my book. He and Douglas were genuine class. As for the other position I've no idea yet. I've seen Simon Barker onwards so I can vouch for them. I remember Scott Sellars as a left winger, really tricky but then got a terrible groin injury and was never the same again. I honeslty believe that if that never happened he would have played for England, but that is for the left wing debate. Old Latheron pulls at the heartstrings, but no-one will have any idea how he played. How many of todays millionaire footballers would go to war? He will get a lot of sympathy votes. Atko was never the greatest, don't forget his pre-Dalglish awfulness. Sherwood and Batty were both very good with Batty getting the nod. Batty had a bad injury that kept him out for over a year, something which hindered him. Can Paul Warhurst be added? He won't win, but when he first signed he was ace, then he broke his leg. Nicky Marker deserves a mention as does Nicky "the animal" Reid.

This thread reeks of 6 months ago when we were struggling and the Souness out thread was over 100 pages. Same arguments, different manager. But how you can compare the two is beyond me. Thankfully most posts are ridiculing the suggestion. Hughes has had 5 games, yes, we've not played well and are off the back of two hammerings but give him time. It is not his fault that we have some complete dross playing for us. Souness, the board and the players' themselves are to blame. Souness is the main culprit and many fans will never forgive him for it, especially if we go down, but if the no commitment comments are to be true, that is very worrying. Give Hughes until after Christmas to install his own philosophy, weigh up his squad and bring in a defence (hopefully). If results do not improve by then, maybe we should start sweating, but I wouldn't get rid even if we go down as I feel we've got a good man who will do the club well over the long term. As someone pointed out, after Saturday we will have played Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle away, Man U and Liverpool at home; arguably the upper echelon of the league where most teams in our position get very few points. It will get better, we will start playing a bit.