That central midfield is very very fragile - Axe did play well for a bit but then returned to his more normal standard (i.e. poor).

Your joking right? Benni does not have the energy levels required for midfield. Roberts and Cruz are too similar (not in a good way). What we need is to stop playing square pegs in round holes and buy a creative midfielder to play along side Reid.

Hughes: Don't Panic For those of you over reacting and drawing comparisons to Souness - please read. Mark Hughes is one of the best managers we have ever had.

It was only a matter of time.

Right after you have just celebrated 'winning' the penalty then you realise it means nothing until its scored - cue feeling of dread! Benni wanted to score, he's just a flash get who over egged it. One good thing though, he will want to score the next one even more! Cue feeling of dread.

My view on the Bentley / England Situation sometime ago. Bentley should have played.

Here goes... personally I didn't boo Carson and Barry but for the sake of Debate; Carson's poor performance cost us a place in Euro 2008. One goal was the difference between us in or out of the tournament and a well paid, skilled professional player conceded that one goal that my Grandma could have kept out. Barry made the mistake for at least one of Croatia's goals and against Croatia and Russia (6 points lost) was one of the poorer players - big games where basically he and the rest of the big time Charlies didn't perform. Let’s be clear all the money that goes into football ends up in these guys pockets, so they get our support financially not that it even crosses their mind. They were poor and let the country down so in these days where winners get knighthoods why shouldn't losers get booed and jeered... It’s not my fault we live in a pantomime society, personally I blame reality TV. On a serious note though I think this is a symptom of the growing divide between fans and players and if the divide continues to widen then the impact can only be negative.

First team Regulars, my opinion; Most hard working player in last 5 years = Robbie Savage Least hard working player in last 5 years = Dwight Yorke Most talented player in last 5 years = Benni Mc Least talented player in last 5 years = Paul Dickov Best value for money in last 5 years = Ryan Nelson Least value for money in last 5 years = Barry Ferg. Hardest Rovers player in last 5 years = Andy Todd Softest Rovers player in last 5 years = Robbie Savage You can go on on.... 80% of people will disagree with the above, its only opinion - I think someone is reading far too much into it.

Got to agree with the go and fight real crime sentiment. Its a consumer society, the premier league are not short of a few quid, in fact it's the foreign TV rights money that goes to the clubs in the end. Fact is a lot of people are disillusioned with football, anything the working class man can do to get one over on the greedy and questionable money grabbing merchants currently running football the better. As for Rovers, it’s a shame we are short on middle class flunkies around the Blackburn area to make up the numbers like other clubs isn't it? (sarcasm)

Well I'm no expert but I know a bit about basic bussiness and a 3:1 debt to turnover ratio puts you on a very slippery slope. Global brand or not when the cash runs out......

My best friends dog says he sniffed the backside of the FA poodle and its wigan away first game.

Anyone else see a situation where chelsea refuse to pay more than £3m knowing full well Benni will probably throw it out of the pram and refuse to play if we don't let him move?

Benni Mccarthy, What does everyone think of him.... Mercurial changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic When he's good he's great when he's not he's not so great... the right sort of guy to have alongside hardworking Derbs and Roberts - don't think we can afford two of them though (Nonda?).

I bet he could keep Franny Jeffers out of the Ipswich team!

Lucas was honest and up front - yeah I don't think anyone has a problem with that. To be honest cupping his ear to the Blackburn End hardly seemed to provoke much response (much to my disappointment it has to be said - anyway been there said that etc...). I think the thing that has annoyed most people about Lucas is the fact he considers West Ham bigger than Rovers (which some board members have perversely argued they are). In reality by turning down Liverpool and going to West Ham he has proven his main motivation is money - which again is OK (which of us wouldn't) but he's not said that. Irrespective of fan base, income & history there is one defining element to being a big club in this day and age and that's playing in the premier league. Its not until Lucas gets relegated and leaves that the money factor will be truly 'outed' This is why this thread does so well. It's like the Souness thread, we all knew it was just a matter of time..... and I for one love being right.

18 points is extremley harsh but £1000 is very lenient. W/Ham will be fined no doubt.

Benni > Derbs > Nonda > Gally > Roberts > Jeffers Two out in the summer and two better in would be my plan. Roberts needs to up his game and lose his current kuqi'esqe first touch. Might be time for Gallagher to move on and Jeffers is fizzy pop standard - one of the new boys will have him. Nonda would be staying for me (assuming the price is right).

Me too, can’t see him getting anywhere near the wage he values himself at though. I can see Newcastle coming in for him (and paying stupid wages as well) which would save a bit of face for him. As for him re-signing for us, like it was mentioned above, he doesn't fit the criteria for a Rovers signing - they have to be able to get in the first XI. Roll on March 17th. I presume a polite clap is in order for such a model professional who was a wonderful servant to the club and after all was simply progressing up the career ladder by moving to such a super, well run club like West Ham. An excellent leader too, his public barracking of the moronic scum who occupy the Blackburn End was most masterful. I'll bring the prawn sandwiches shall I?

I honestly don't think its deliberate. But... we all know the media stick those officials will get if they cost the media loved 4 points. So yes subconsciously I suspect if they have even the slightest doubt (and at the pace the game is played these days - who wouldn't) they don't give anything against the big teams As a ref you must have that sinking feeling if you dare to make a decision against the champions league cartel after all you get such media darlings as Alex and Jose calling for your head and you know you will have a meeting with the boss to 'discuss' the incident. Big 4 are more to blame for declining attendances. - They are analagous to the US and Global warming - "It's not our fault/problem Bangladesh is under water"

Undisclosed.

Well all those who defended Lucas Neill in many cases attacking your fellow supporters to do so - how do you feel now? Berates the home fans, throws the capataincy back at Hughes and tells him "you didn't want me enough!" Oh and its not about the money West Ham are a much better prospect (than L/pool and Rovers) apperantly so you can forget that "wouldn't you move for the money line...." But I guess he's still a model professional, someone we should all look up to? One word: Vindicated.

Wigan would aslo be where my money would go. I can see a W/Ham resurgance unfortunatley...

I think most of you have missed the point. I've just invested years worth of training, promoted up, made it clear I am backing my employee to the hilt, sent him on the all the best trips, offered him one of the best wages in the company certainly on a par with his peers in the market. He then comes in tells me he's leaving which he's perfectly entitled to do - I'm not allowed to feel a little agreived at that? Yes perhaps we would do it but telling people that they are not entiltled to have thier feelings on it is just plain ignorant. The attitude of its bussiness so get over it sickens me and the fact it is so well subscribed to on this board explains why footabll is such a hollow experience these days.

Football can not be compared to real life situations. Where else to your share/stake holders really care if an employee leaves? Nowhere. but there again.... those of you who think football is a bussiness and accept that are probably the same ones who have sanitised football to the souless and atmosphereless (now its no longer in fashion outside of the elite, unobtainable top 4) sport it now is. Lucas is a crettin - not worthy of the armband. Leader, what a joke - what sort of example is he setting, one that you want all our players to follow? Football - the sport where you claim your team are the best in the world even if they are proping up the 4th Divsion and mean it! Its not about been reasonable - ITS FOOTBALL!

Its a good buzz if it happens... Thing is Dunn is coming back to a team all equal to and in many respects better footballers than him unlike the team he left. Hope he gets a big welcome but that it doesn't go to his head at the end of the day he isn't a patch on Tug's yet and Bentley is setting the example Hughes expects and Dunn needs to live up to.