Please no Peter Reid. He shouts and screams players up the league for a season, then it all goes south. See Leeds, City, and Sunderland. He had a hand in all their demises in recent history. He may have not been the major cause (Leeds) but he didn't do anyone any favours. Fans have been moaning about Souness' treatment of players, he's a saint compared to Reidy. However he is a mate of Terry Darracott our chief scout. Players have too much ego these days to be bothered to listen to ranting, they need a boss with charisma, much like Eriksson has (I'm not debating his tactics but all the players really like him so they play for him). We need a coach to do the training and a motivator to do the managing a la Harford - Dalglish.

Yeah the Arsenal directors were so incredibly stupid when appointing Wenger What were they thinking???? We all know that only the English can manage clubs well, just look at all the international trophies won by English managers!!! I really don't like when people here (Or on other predominantly British boards) slag off people simply for being foreign. Hitzfeld, who's had one of the hardest and most prestigious jobs in European football (Bayern München) for many years is obviously someone we don't want at Ewood, he's just a useless foreigner

I guess I must clarify myself here. I do not think that only English/British people can manage teams. I am merely stating that for a club of our meagre stature a well known foreign coach would not fit in. We are a very close knit small East Lancashire club. We are not in London. If you've ever visited I hope you'd see that straight away. London caters to the world, it has everything anybody wants, East Lancs has never been labelled as cosmopolitan; not from my experience anyway. Wenger has done well at Arsenal: I'm not having a go at foreign managers, I'm just saying that it takes a special type to understand the locals and what they want. Hitzfeld is a good manager too, but you won't find many German brasseries on Darwen street. Manchester is the closest big city, it is having a resurgence but it's nowhere near London as a cultural melting pot. I cannot remember what your fellow countryman, Martin Dahlin, said after his very unsuccessful spell at Ewood but it wasn't very flattering toward East Lancashire and its people.

As for the predominantly British boards slagging off non-Brits. What do you expect? Everyone sticks up for their own kind, but that is another thread on another board.

Mixed bag about Souness going. Fans were getting impatient with him but he does wear his heart on his sleeve and has the ability to attract players. Parkes will do his usual; 5 wins playing flair football, then steps back down to anonymity with another pay rise.

I'd have Ian Dowie. Great manager, clever too. He's got a chemical engineering degree or something. Can think and is willing to learn. Did wonders at Oldham and Palace; who will get relegated this season. So he comes to us and steadies the ship.

As for popular opinions:

Hoddle: wouldn't move north, plus he's a bit of a loony.

Newell: No experience? Did Dalglish have any when he took over Liverpool? Bad argument for me, but I don't know much about him, apart from Luton are top and the fans would appreciate him.

Hughes: If he came he'd never be allowed back to Wales. He will stay with Wales until 2006 qualifying is over then on to Man U.

Houllier: Must be on drugs. Wouldn't touch him with a barge pole. He'll buy too many overpriced continentals who won't like the weather or area.

Strachan: Maybe but he got Coventry relegated.

The "fancy foreigner". Never. John Williams isn't stupid. He did well with Souness and will think wisely. He looks after the club well and thinks of the future.

Allardyce: No. He wouldn't leave Bolton. He's on a good gig there, the chairman lets him get free 1 year over the hill superstars. Rovers want to build from the ground up.

Venables: We're not flash enough for him.

Moyes: Will bring Irvine back to Ewood. Could be a possibility, he's fed up with Everton right now.

Hendry: Another emotional choice. No Chance. Steered Blackpool to bottom of the table.

O'Leary: He wouldn't leave Villa, he got it running right there and I think Deadly Doug doesn't have long left making it easier for ayone to run the team.

George Graham: Would shore up the back, but we'd be very mediocre. We need entertaining football if we are going to attract fans. Solid record and a disciplinarian, but boring football.

Woodward: Let's jump on the bandwagon eh? Silly.

Robsons' et al. We would go backwards.

Shearer: Many fans' emotional choice, plus conspiracies will be abundant. Odds on for the NUFC job and was passed over, Souness tried to bring him back, Uncle Jack offered him the job back in 1996. The media would like us better and we'd get a few penalties. Brings in Newell as his assistant. Ahh, to dream. I wonder how many would ask about Shearer's lack of top flight managerial experience? Methinks not many.

I shall wait and see who else is thrown in, but don't look for a quick appointment, everyone knows Parkes will do well.

Soccernet says that they are in talks with a view to talking over the remainder of his contract. Nothing definite yet, but in all likelihood he's off. Our only chance of a replacement is a lower league player or the Matt Jansen story was a reminder that he's coming back.

Ricky, your comment is priceless, taking the joy out of a good moment for many fans.

Having seen the match and finally watching the US equivalent of MoTD I have to say that we were definitely not the only team to be on the wrong end of very bad refereeing decisions last weekend that cost teams points. Everyone has had a good gripe about the Saha handball and the dubious sending off of Amourso, so I won't voice my opinion on that, but I will offer up some other instances last weekend.

Arsenal - Norwich. Huckerby went down like he'd been shot, the replay showed there was no contact, but the young defender Hoyte didn't think and looking at it in full speed was a pen. However, how Lauren stayed on the pitch is beyond me. He'd already been booked and then decided to put in a very late, very dangerous tackle right in front of the ref in the centre circle. The offical didn't blink. Favouritism?

Villa- Newcastle. This one didn't fall in line with the "big clubs always win" rule. Bernard was clearly fouled in the build up to Villa's second. But the big one is how does Sorensen stay on the pitch? The ref acknowledged that he handled it by awarding a free kick and booking him, but why not a sending off? It cost poor old Bobby his job.

Bolton - Liverpool. Garcia's equalizer. Never offside.

So folks, judging from these I would like to console everoyne that there is no conspiracy against Rovers, but I'm not curtailing the fact that ref's do give more leniency to the "big clubs" and it's here to stay.

I won't totally blame referees though, regarding their decisions. The game is getting faster with players able to do far more than previous generations. Ref's have a split second to make a decision and stick to it. Couple that with the saturation of play acting, diving and general faking that has become an integral part of the English game, and you have a recipe for disaster. Feigning works, so players will do it until mandates are passed down saying that any acting will be dealt with strictly it will carry on. It's not in the British psyche to do it, but if our clubs and the national team are to be successful we have to learn to cry like babies and fall over every time someone breathes on us as the rest of the world has a 15 year head start on us.

As for our formation/tactics, we did well, but need Amoruso playing. For all his misgivings he's a tremenbous talisman who plays with his heart on his sleeve. He needs a good run to show everyone.

Was Rune Hauge that agent banned for all sorts of dodgy deals in the 1990's?

All the ranting and raving about Souness and his formations may be justified to those who are expecting much of last year, but I'll reserve my judgement until 10 games in. If we are still tripe then, we need to do something. As for right now, Souness is trying his hardest to make us harder to beat, and but for idiotic mistakes we would have had 6 points. Souness' tactics weren't at fault for Clement's free kick, it was a soft player in the wall. He changed it at half time in that game and we got a draw.

On Saturday at Southampton, all the goals conceded were from bad defending, not tactics. We played well and deserved to win, but were undone by sloppy play. Craig Short was at fault for the first and third. He must not be sure of playing with Johansson, that's why he went for the ball, missed and it fell for Phillips. People have moaned about Emerton's contribution to not picking him up, but if Short would have stayed where he was and let Nissa go for it we would have been OK. Even if Beattie won it he would not have scored. The same applies for the penalty, Short was scared Beattie would out jump Nissa so he ran over to challenge. We can argue until the next bad decision we get about the penalty (it was never one IMO) but because Short felt the need to go for a ball he had a harder chance winning it cost us. If Amoruso was in there it would never have happened as he is very commanding in the air; Short would hopefully have felt more comfortable. The second was horrible from Gray as was the lead footedness from the lads when the ball was played back to Svensson.

Once De Pedro loses his girth, Thompson gets fully fit, and Souness decides to omit Flitcroft and Matteo from midfield we will be OK. I'd continue with Disco Dwight up front and bring on Dockov for 30 mins as he's hard work, especially when defenders get tired, they can't be bothered chasing around after him. Souness has never been the most tactically astute defensive coach, but he is trying, it's now up to the players to concentrate and start playing.

I'll go with Friedel. Premier League team of the year, a class act. Flowery Tim was a great shot stopper but he lacked that little extra that Brad has. Don't get me wrong, he is a good keeper but Friedel is a better option. I've only seen from Gennoe on so the old timers I have no clue about.

I also really rate Shay Given, I think he is on a par with Friedel.

We have done well at the Dell, I'm predicting a win, 2-0. Sturrock is in hot water down there and his lack of confidence is rubbing off on his players. Beattie won't get any change out of old man Short and swarthy Amoruso.

Mind you, that little git Phillips might. But I'll stick with the result, knowing that in all my years the only defeat I ever predict is Leeds away.

Didn't see the game, or the mass of highlights due to living abroad. I'll get them about Tuesday, when everything has died down. But from what I have read on the match from papers and the web it seems to me like West Brom did exactly what I thought they would do, and will do for 37 more games: defend like mad and try and get a lucky goal on the break. They'll furstrate better teams than us this year.

Megson was in the Prem 2 years ago, he is a very good manager and is learning, he knows they've no money and are favourites to go down so he's adopted a system of frustration and block defending to maybe give them 2 seasons up this time. When they do go back down, and they will, they will have plenty of cash to buy up the best talent in the Coca-Cola Leagues and make for a swift return to the land of the plenty, albeit for a brief spell. If you're a WBA fan you've got to love it, one year spent watching the best in the land try and socre past 10 defenders with no football being played at all, followed by a season of rehearsal playing great football and scoring freely. No wonder they get good gates.

Now back to the Blues, and the comments on this site. We've played one game against the most negative team in the league. They went one up and played to cash in thier chips, it nearly paid off for them but luckily for us we got a draw. Not getting beat in your first game is always priority, we did that. BRFC not playing flowing football with 6 goals doesn't pose any problem for me. If some posters on this board were to be believed we've had it and will be lucky to win a game. What are Charlton fans thinking? Especially if they have the attitude alot on here do. They're doomed. Getting battered of relegation specialists Bolton after spending all that money.

Please start looking at this differently, we will be OK, not world beaters but OK. We'll beat teams who are supposed to beat us and lose to the ones who should get hammered every week. The league is a slog, it takes plenty of fine tuning and changing to find a formula that works. Rovers have some very good footballers, opposition managers know that so when they come to Ewood they try to not let us play. The good teams don't need that so they play a more open game, giving us a better chance to play. Our away form will be better than most teams because of this.

Most of all, I know negativism is popular in East Lancashire, it's where I'm from, but some of the posters please try to look into what you are commenting on before going ape. It has a habit of catching and before you know it there are thousands of disgruntled fans. We have a lot to look forward to, just think of the position Burnley are in; it could easily be us.

On a separate note, I like those blue shorts.

If I remember rightly, thoe whole reason we signed Brett "worth 10 million" Emerton is because Souness assured him that he'd play right wing, not right back, or wing back where he played at Feyenoord.

Now if Souness has told him "Look mate you were crap last season, certainly not worth the money people were talking about paying for you, but Neill was worse, take his place or you'll not get a new contract" I think he'd play, and now with Thompson fit he has competition for his place unlike last year, well not counting "two nobs" Flitcroft.

An easy Rovers victory 3-0. Yorke, Gresko and Emerton. We have to be optimistic here. West Brom will come to defend, and they can't score to save their lives. We will exploit them wth De Pedro shining for an hour before his lack of fitness gives way to Gresko, who tormets the Baggies late on.

Serves him right. Yet another arrogant footballer who has got his comuppance. If he'd had 2 whisky's why did he run? Will he learn though?

I've been re-reading the posts to catch up and the one mention of Andy Kennedy deserves more attention. Maverick Scottish striker with Italian looks, well apart from the jawline. He entertained the Blackburn end and I seem to remember him being a big hit with the local ladies. Remembering him made me smile.

My era is 1985 onward so I can't go back from there. We've never had many flair players, mostly workmanlike types, so pick 3 from this lot.

David Speedie - the day he came out for the warm up wearing that curly wig and everyone asking who was this new player we'd signed was priceless, plus all of his goals.

Simon Garner - great player but had that extra bit of pizazz from his smoking, drinking, and jail antics.

Terry Gennoe - his massive arms and ability to make silly saves look easy endeared himself to the Blackburn End.

Mark Atkins - Super Atko has to be in, his pre-Dalglish awfulness and his post 1992 David Batty impressions.

Jason Wilcox - I've never heard so many moan about a player who we'd have killed for last season, a genuine winger who gave balance to the team. We'd have won the title at a canter if he didn't do his knee against Crystal Palace just before the run in.

Colin Hendry - Nine years, a title and full members cup winner, spokesman for that window firm, why did he always show his arse?

Kevin Davies - He sold more replica shirts than anyone else the season he came.

Steve Livingstone - kept us up one year with his 9 in 9.

Another £7m wasted. Time to add Cole to the list along with Grabbi and Davies

I'm sorry I don't agree with that. Davis and Grabbi were wastes, Cole was not. He was a good player, kept us up when we first bought him, and although many here disagree, his partnership with Stead was a big reason why we stayed up last year. Yes, Stead got all the plaudits but Cole worked his socks off for us.

£7 million kept TV money flowing, if we'd have gone down, it would have been a return to the days of 8,000 fans and mediocre teams.

Strage one this. Cole gone, recevied nothing back for him, paid him some severance payment probably 7 figures, and left with unproven strikeforce.

His wages have gone and if the Telegraph's 55 grand a week was right, it's better off he's gone, Rovers cannot support that amount. Once we get rid of Yorke we'll be able to bring in someone else; hopefully.

Hillsborough was a terrible disaster, the subsequent inquiry didn't give many Liverpool fans justice, then the Sun laid into them. Liverpool fans were already suffering from the recriminations of the Heysel tragedy and many blamed them as it was easy to label it as a repeat occurrence, which it was not.

The Taylor report had its conclusions that have helped football immensely. Ticketing, policing, and stadia are far better today than in the 1980's, even the fans have changed. Solace from that is not enough for many that lost relatives, I didn't and therefore cannot understand their grief, I knew people at the game and saw the images but I'm sure it doesn't come close.

Having said that I feel that it is of little benefit for the people of Liverpool to constantly have a go at The Sun. Newspapers sell with sensationalism, they had some, they felt that it would sell, it did, they got hammered for it. To pick sides on newpapers is an exercise in futility, all the tabloids are useless and although I read them, albeit online as I'm away from Blighty, I certainly do not believe what is written or take seriously any of their crusades.

Good luck for the Justice committee, but don't blame Rooney for any of it, he's 18, a scouser making his way, and like all of us he wants peole to like him and make lots of cash.

As a newcomer to messageboards, and Rovers fan sites, this place has been a breath of fresh air. I'm yet another ex-pat living in the States. I only make it home for a few weeks a year and get to see only one or two games at Ewood. I get plenty of premier league coverage over here, I'm sure that others living in America will agree with me in saying that Fox Sports World has been a godsend as I get highlight shows, and at least 4 games a week. But what you don't get living abroad is "the man on the street talk". I laugh whenever someone posts with inside info from - their neighbour's brother who works with the chairman's cleaner's sister - stories of who were signing next as it doesn't happen here, neither does the general humour of the site, it reminds me of home.

The messageboard may have quality issues, I'm not experienced enough to know. Yet, with any site dedicated to opinions you will get some different ones, good and bad. That is the beauty of football, the ability to completely disagree but like the same thing. Some posts are downright ridiculous, but it helps me decipher what type of fan I'm reading:

Is it the fervent idiot who sleeps in Rovers pyjamas?

The away fan nut who's been to every ground in Britain?

The ex-pat?

The uninformed, but keen, foreigner?

Disgruntled ex-Nuttall Street old-timer?

Part time clown?

Mr. singing is more important than winning?

Women!

Overall I like it the way it is. The regulars do have their own jokes, but these folks actually see each other and have more in common. Please keep it going, I like it.

It is a major debate between fans, particularly within local team circles, as to who has the most loyal support. It seems that when teams are in different divisions the way to compare teams is through fan support not results. As we are currently the cream of the crop within East Lancs we come in line for more grief than others because of other fans' jealousy. Preston and Burnley fans serve up the most, and our usual rebuke is to look at the support as a percentage of population. I'd prefer to laugh at them and remind them that they have to suffer lower league football, not the good stuff we get, and stay clear of the fan argument as it does cause some Rovers fans problems.

Rovers support has never been the greatest, and never will be, we are a backwoods team with fickle fans who got very lucky with a benefactor who wanted to put us on the map. Jack Walker did this and his legacy was to keep us there. His money is not what it was and we now need ticket sales to, quite rightly, cover operating budgets. But we won't get the required numbers unless we win the league, play Man U and Liverpool every week, or charge not enough to break even. Our cup and European crowds are downright awful. It is not something to get angry about, it comes down to the product. If the team serves up good football and is doing well our gates will increase, giving us more money later on in the season. Rovers is a business and has to forecast cashflows, it is easier for them to do so if they get more money upfront, but they won't argue if larger sums come it at later dates.

Finally, my view is that because of the ease of buying matchday tickets these days many good Rovers fans can choose their games easily and go on the day. This way they are able to pick up the tickets to get into the 'big' games, but don't have to fork out when they don't want to watch, have to work, are ill, and have other commitments taking place. For many, a season ticket can be a bit of an albatross, some feel forced to use it as they've fronted the best part of £400 for something they have give up quite a few hours of leisure time for.

Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but Chelsea have allegedly agreed on a fee with PSV Eindhoven for Mateja Kezman.

He's signed.

I'm with with most on this one. Why would he? Money!

I heard a lot about Kezman a few years ago from a mate of mine from Belgrade. He used to say he was ace but couldn't score to save his life.

The more intruiging issue for me is that why do English teams keep buying players from the Balkans? Not one who ever came here has done well; Milosevic -Villa no hoper, Acimovic - Spurs misfit, Suker- Arsenal, West Ham useless git, Stanic -Chelsea one goal hero, Balaban - Villa (again!) one appearance waste, Jokanovic - another Chelsea 2 game player who came for his pension money. I'm sure the list goes on but can't think of any more right now.

They don't like the physical side of the game, but like the money. They are the international version of scousers, great when it goes well for them but if it goes wrong they argue like mad and give up. They play a lot better in Spain and Italy where it's warmer and slower.

Some of the comments here border on the ridiculous. If you are English, football fan or not, you get behind your team because of national pride. Rarely do the English have this chance. It makes people feel good.

Rovers and England are two separate entities. The idiots saying that fans should be more reserved for England need to have a sit down and think about how their brains work. I remember the moderate clamour in the late 80's to have England games moved away from Wembley because Northern based players, John Barnes springs to mind, were getting booed by their own fans, mostly jealous champoinship starved Southerners. This was utterly stupid and I feel that some commentators on this site would do the same. We should unify when it comes to the national team.

Rovers play every week, and the media attention that garners this frenzy does not apply.

Please folks start thinking sensibly.

A player at a discount who is: an international, played all his career in the premiership, gives his all, got 5 good years left in him, won't have to move house, speaks english, knows the manager.

Snap him up I say.

What it all comes down to is the social group a person is a member of. Something is deemed offensive to a person if the person having a go at them doesn't belong to the group they are having a go at.

You can call a Spaniard a "lazy Spaniard" if you are one, but not if you aren't. Likewise if you are black you can refer to other black people in the derogatory.

It works for all socal groups and taboos. Jewish people can have a pop at other Jews but non-jews are frowned upon for doing so.

Does this make sense?