One of the saddest events in Rovers history. Losing a player who had so much to offer and another reason I don't care much for the Swede. Matt should have been in goddamn Japan not in Italy on a ferkin moped. It's a tragedy that really saddens me but he's not going to make it. He has lost his football instinct, he now has to think about what used to just come naturally, he will never cut it at this level again. Sad but true, he was a special player.

Interesting headlines from soccernet.com, shows how in tune some of these people are. "Dickov sinks Preston Preston North End 1 - 2 Blackburn Rovers Paul Dickov scored the only goal of the game as Blackburn beat Lancashire rivals Preston under hot sun at Deepdale." Struck me as funny.

And that is the funniest thing I've read on this messageboard in a long time!!! Got your season ticket for't Turf then Gav? Not only have I got my season ticket DP, but I’ve also received the customary membership to both the BNP and KKK (if every I’m over in the states again). I'll be cheering on my beloved clarets in the coming season and keep watching over your shoulders fellow posters as we'll soon be on a level playfield mark my words. I've been introduced to whole new way of living and coming back to blackburn and supporting you lot just doesn't cut the mustard I’m afraid. Up the clarets. Hope you got a seat with a nearby ledge.

I do beleive they would, but then we would hear tirades like " Does Souness think we are stupid, we know we are not good enough to qualify for Europe" Why can't Souness at least tell us the truth, why can't Souness be realistic, why is Souness living in fantasy land and so on and bloody so forth. Are there people here that scour and analyze every word of Souness' looking for ANY mean to put a negative spin on what he says. I have noticed of late that in fact some people only post when they THINK they have a negative, something to tear Souness a new asshole for. My thoughts are it is bordering on obsession and I believe help is available. Oh BTW, the difference between top half and bottom half is only one place in the table and 500k, does it really matter much?

I'll start it again, and I'll keep on about it until he stops coming out these daft comments. I'm sure it hasn't escaped your attention it's emptying Ewood and progressively eating into season ticket sales regardless of whether you feel it has any effect on performances on the field. (I think it does) A simple "I'm happy with the squad I've got and we're going to give it a real good go" or "let's do the best we possibly can" or "the aim is to improve on last season" etc would be far more helpful. FFS someone break the goddamn record. With the exception of an elite few, most Premiership managers say the same bloody thing. It is said in the Prem, The Championship, League One League Two and just about every bloody football league amateur and otherwise, but our Rev just has to slate Souness for it. It's reality, it's an honest statement. Why can some people just not handle it, does anyone really beleive that if Souness said "well we are going to give 6th place a real go" that the masses would be flocking to Ewood to plonk down their season ticket money, DUH, no they would not. Damn right the priority is and will be to stay in the Prem and take the money that comes with that, after that is reached then you push on. You don't try to build a house form the roof down do you?

It's all getting a bit silly now.

Tough one this, and of course mine will be dated, Shoe in, Simon Garner Shoe in, Glen Keeley Any one of the following Duncan McKenzie Noel Brotherston Roger Jones Ken Beamish I think it narrows to a toss up between Beamo and Dunc with perhaps Beamo edging it.

Who said anything about being in the Babbel fan club. Where did I say a damn thing about Babbels performances. Thats half the problem with some of the folks on here they read but somehow they come up with a completely different story. What cynical smirk? please explain, or is that another fabrication. Why not any credit for Souness Revidge?, oh yeah thats right it's Souness, any other manager and you'd be singing his praises going on about how good it was and how it takes a special breed of person to give someone a break like that. Shop window? could'nt the same be said of all players? Is it just too hard of a cross to bear for you Rev, some one else publicly giving Souness some positive PR by way of thanks. Must really chap your hide that. Babbel did well for us early on I thought, he did not feature too much after his comments did he, would that be down to Souness? You will read into Babbels comment what you wish FLB, that much we know. Speaking of players that do their best were you pro Cole by any chance? Interesting conflict of statements if you were.

Don't be daft USA - half of the Souness out brigade had Babbel down as one of the 237 players Souness has upset. Yes you are probably right Tris, no credit where it's due. Perhaps we should have a thread for those who just wish to put a negative spin on everything Souness does. Is it only 237, I thought it was more than that.

No one want to pat Souness on the back for giving Babbel a chance, as reported in the LET.

We will see how Cole handles it "venison" the bench, or left out at Fulham, unable to steak a claim to a regular first team spot.

I think that this season will tell us what the "level" is. 12,000 ST holders seems about right. If the home crowd for the West Brom game is 20,000 then we'll know that 8 thousand people haven't committed to STs but are a market to be targetted for all home games. It's quite important that the baggies return south on the end of a proper shoeing. I hope they send WBA packing too. Trouble is you know what the public of Blackburn will be saying, "well we 'ammered Wolves first game last year and look what happened. Then we have some very difficult games on the bounce, people will have us relegated already. The general public of Blackburn are just apathetic about their club and they have been for about Forty years. The comments about finding our own level are very true and as support wanes we will and it most likely will not be Premiership. My personal theories are the switching of games is an easy out for people to avoid shelling out their money. I had a season ticket for years but I very much doubt if I would have forked over the cash not knowing each season how many games I would actually be able to see. Another point that I have raised before, it may seem small but I feel it is a big factor and that is the getting in and out of Ewood. Easy access to and from the ground. I have heard of many issues regarding traffic flow etc it needs to be remedied, people simply are not as patient as they used to be.

Thanks for sharing that Sam it's a bloody great read, I can't help be echo that sentiment 100% I really can't wouldn't it be refreshing if that was the case, I think it would be.

This just about sums it up as well as it can be. " He was pure @#/? and it deserves to be said loudly and in public. His failure as striker would have relegated Blackburn if it wasn't for Stead and a few other players who actually cared and put some effort in" The whole quote was a GREAT one though, makes one think we ALL have forgotten football's roots. Personally I think that is about as close to a nail on the head as you will see and I don't really understand how any reasonably intelligent person can see it differently, I just don't, so perhaps it's time to just move on now. As for the comments, well done Andy for not going into it..... YET, and he will, once things simmer down, if there is money to be made on the story it will be. As for Souness' comments, off key? yes somewhat, false? no not at all. Why do so many take the coddling stance on here, have people forgotten how to be. Souness says it like he sees it is, always has, always will. Sure he will be wrong but you know what I have more time for a person like that than a sneak behind your back and report you type. Any day of the week I do and I know which I would rather have with me when the writing is on the wall. Play your cards and bugger the feelings. So all you fishermen keep baiting your hooks and look for any old snippet with which to criticise Souness and sooner or later you will have it your way, THEN WHAT?

The proof of the pudding is in the eating or some other such cliche. Middlesbrough have brought in star names and season ticket sales have gone through the roof. In the past two summers, we will have offloaded Dunn, Duff and (as looks likely) Cole, our biggest stars. Meanwhile season tickets sales have slumped. I wonder if the two events are related? You have no proof and no pudding jim. COuld it not simply be that Boro are on the up under McClaren that their sales went up cos of success rather than a few past it big names. Could it not be that it is wholly related to winning their first ever bit of silver.

Credit where it's due.

Either way, if Cole speaks all we will have here is the Souness haters agreeiing with Cole and the Pro Souness brigade disagreeing.

I wonder how the Souness can't do anything right brigade would react if a fan had let the cat out of the bag regarding a big name player and cost us his signing. It's all a bit silly really. Of course the fans are going to want to know who this mystery fella is that bangs in two goals when our "best" striker is leaving.

Waggy, are you suggesting Souness bent over backwards to keep Cole happy. Went and spent shed loads more money just to keep ace Cole happy. Doesn't sound the the tactics of a man with an ego problem does it?

Offensive? Please explain.

Yes, Souness is, he also got rid of Gillespie, Dunn, Curtis, Hignett, Berg the list goes on. None of whom were black. Perhaps Souness hates whites too. It's pretty simple Mr NEO-? if they don't give 100% they are gone, regardless of the colour of their skin. Let's not forget Souness also BOUGHT Yorke and Cole, bought Bent and wanted Jason Roberts, wanted Traore from Liverpool.

Cole a physical presence?? Dickov will kick his arse at that side of the game, cole was a bit of a lightweight really.

No and in fairness that is the weakness in the points I make. I don't see him as much as you do and even on the telly you can't see all this phenominal, endless running off the ball stuff that Cole did. So I could be coming across a bit harsh. PS, Waggy, whats ditti?

Swap Fulham for Blackburn and it is typical of a few report from Cole while he was still here, sure he still has hunger all GREEDY people do. jim were you or were you not one of Coles biggest critics while he was here. Tje same jim that said Dwight Yorke was a brilliant signing.

######, he may be a legend but he's not even close to a Rovers legend, not even close. Cole,Cole Andy Andy Cole He gets the ball and hits it wide, good job cos he was offside, gets it to his feet, then he slips, hands on hips. Gives a scowl, shakes his head, Tells the ref it was a foul It's the boss' fault he's damn crazy, it's not me, I'm not lazy 50K a week from you I'll Pork Go get my friend his names Dwight Yorke. Thank for the memories Andy, one or two were special but the rest of the time you were an over paid, egocentric, self serving prima donna.