Could also quite easily apply to Hughes. Delicate Situation because the FAW have not been officially approached to talk to the manager and working out the details of how/for how long he would carry on with the Wales job. Spot on Kamy. It's very delicate in those terms. Williams will have to decide if the club can afford to let Hughes continue as Wales manager for at least the England game I would imagine. Willa#iams must also consider how will the Rovers fans react to having a part-time manager? A very delicate situation I think.

Having just heard Mark Hughes agent Dennis Roach on SSN it has become clear to me he will be the next manager. For those who didn't hear it Roach basically said the following: They felt the need to speak out because there have been fabricated stories floating around with quotes stating Hughes wasn't interested in the job - this is clearly not the case. Hughes is interested in the job, and he said he expected Hughes to be on the Blackburn shortlist. Stated that there is a release clause of somekind to allow him to move. He did say some other stuff but when asked if preliminary talks had become he denied it, but it wasn't convincing. He was then asked how long before he expected some movement in terms of being approached and the line went dead. I am convinced he will be the next manager after hearing him speak.

I am becoming less and less enthused about Hughes taking over especially if he brings Robson with him. I am however warming to the idea of Dowie taking over. He has an eye for detail, something I fell Souness completely fell flat on. By now they must have identified their number one target, yet there seems to be no movement. With the time it is talking that would seem to indicate the target is in work, yet nobody (Wales or Palace) have confirmed any interest. I am getting restless.

Who ever is the man he needs to be appointed early this next week to give the place a lift. As I understand it today's performance was shambolic. For some strange reason I have a feeling that the announcement will be made at the same time as the Newcastle press conference where they unveil Souness (Monday 1pm I think).

So what you're saying is that if you were a Blackburn Rovers player and Ian Dowie was appointed manager, you'd want switch allegiences to Newcastle United. You must have had some pretty itchy feet then in the summer of '99. I said if I was Barry Ferguson - he's not a Rovers fan to the best of my knowledge so he's not bothered about allegencies. and just for the record I bought my first season ticket in the summer of '99.

If you'd have taken the trouble to read 2 pages back you would have seen this.. here Well it's not many over 100. I was rounding down

I'm not saying Strachan or Hughes have acheived more as a manager. The fact is the players would respect Hughes alot more than Dowie. I'm sure you'll agree on that. Like it or lump it the premier league is full of over-inflated egos. That is what the game has become, we can't change it we have to cater for it. Fergie was close to the sack was he not? Right at the start of his reign, but an FA cup win kept him in his job. I might be wrong on that. But as I understand it he was very nearly sacked.

What has Dowie acheived as a player? Not alot. He probably hasn't managed more than 100 games. Yes he got Palce promoted but with their squad they should have been pushing for the play-offs anyway. I am just pointing out I don't think the top players will respect someone who a)hasn't any experience and b)hasn't acheived an awful lot. It's just my opinion that Dowie is too inexpeinced to handle the players we have I just don't think he can command the respect he needs to.

He'll struggle to attend the game from there. I would be most suprised if is there, nut thats what Sky say.

I've just noticed on SSN that Souness is expected to be at the game tomorrow. I must say I am alittle suprised by that.

Dowie is a nutter. His training methods are unorthodox, but they do seem to work (for now). Although He is big on the fitness side of things and that will catch up with the players before long in the prem, it did when we had Roy Hodgson in charge he had that Italian bloke (Longratti?). I can't see the likes of Ferguson and Amoruso listening to Dowie. I wouldn't if I was them. The fact is he's not big enough for us. We may be a small town club but we have some top, top players. If I was Ferguson and Dowie is appointed I would be on the phone to Souness to organise a January transfer.

Flitcroft is garbage full stop

It would be a real shocker of an appointment. Surely they know that Reid isn't the name the fans want. I can see why they (might) want him though, very similar to Souness.

Parkes has just been interviewed on SSN and it sounded like he thinks he may well be in charge for 2 or 3 games. So I am guessing he has been told don't expect a quick appointment.

Don't want Jewell, Newell or Advocaat. They're all bad, bad choices.

Gutted. Get Sir Bobby in. This next appointment is crucial.

Don't know if it has been mentioned but next weeks Futboll Mundial (which is on sky sports for those who have no idea what I am on about) has a feature on MGP. The programme is usually repeated a couple of times throughout the week. This week I know it was on Wednesday at six. Just thought it might be of interest.

Poor decision for the pen simple as that. Played pretty well in patches, although we did miss Amo. Gutting to lose in the last minute. I'm not sure what Souness is trying to achieve with his 1st half teams he continues to select. I can only think he wanted an experienced hard working team in the first half, but it hasn't worked twice now. Need to get some points and fast. Otherwise confidence and the passing will dissapear. I have to say at times I am pleased with the way we keep the ball. Need more balance on the left, either a fit de Pedro or MGP in. Gutting to lose in the fashion we did. It would be just like us to go undefeated now against the big boys.

The first day of the season means very little in terms of the big picture. After 10 games we will have a more accurate reflection of where we will be. 12 months ago everyone thought we were champions league material and Emerton was a world beater. So let's not get carried away either way. First half we were very poor indeed. I think the manager will admit that the formation contributed greatly towards that. Second half much better, but still lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Tugay looked brilliant in the 45 minutes he played, but whether he could sustain that level of play for 90 minutes I have my doubts. Ferguson was a driving force and kept things flowing. I must give a special mention to Dwight Yorke I thought he was superb yesterday. He worked his socks off despite the shocking service he continues to receive. He can be a top player for us this year. de Pedro looks fat but technically gifted, so we will have to wait and see. There is room for everyone to improve, but yesterday was no disaster. West Brom only looked dangerous from set peices. As I say we must push on now.

We will miss Cole badly. For all the effort Dickov will give us he isn't fit to lace Coles boots in footballing terms. I'd rather see Stead and Gally given a chance. I am becoming increasingly frustrated at the managers inability to communicate with players. He may well rue not telling Flitcroft he will no longer be captain to his face. As I understand it Flticroft is very much a favourite in the dressing room, which will no doubt work against the manager.

What?! Some people are just so odd! I don't think it's particuarly odd that I care more about Rovers than I do for England. I spend god knows how much on a season ticket and travel and the rest of it watching Rovers. All I do is watch England from my armchair, so I am not going to pretend to be Englands biggest supporter. Yes I am English and proud, but it's club over country every time for me. Call me odd, but that's just my opinion.

I am in complete agreement with you Rev, whilst I was getting excited last night I would have still taken England to go out and Rovers to get a point at Highbury. It really genuinely annoys me that people who have no interest whatsoever in club suddenly become the biggest football fans when these major tournaments come around. Although I guess it's the same reason Rovers can take 30,000 to Cardiff and struggle to get 20,000 home supporters every other saturday. People only want to be involved in the big occasions and don't care about much else. Last night was superb, yes England lost but what a fantastic game. I was truely honoured to watch it. Although had it been Rovers in the quarter finals of something I guess I wouldn't be so enthused.

I am just glad we might have someone who takes a decent free kick. With Fergie returning and now de Pedro being touted as abit of a free kick specialist we may have a chance of regularly getting the ball over the wall and on target. When the opposition get a free kick I can see no other outcome other than a goal. Conversly when we manage to get a free kick my main worry is that when the ball hits the wall do we have enough people back defending our goal. I am now excited about August.

The reality is this is a very good signing for Rovers. Dickov will never take on three players and nutmeg the keeper and he knows it. He's a gritty little pain in the a*se. He'll work all day and hope its enough to create a chance for someone else or get on the end of something himself. For £200,000 you probably won't find a better a deal next season when you look at the fee paid to goals scored. The most expensive players are the people who put the ball in the back of the net and we have someone who scored 13 goals in a side who were relegated before the season started, for next to nothing. the fact that nine other premier league clubs wanted him speaks volumes, as does the fact he seems to have chose us.

There is no way Souness should be sacked, as people have said his record is superb, it's not about where we are now it's where are in May. I have very confidence things will turn round. Souness has now constructed a team that is his, this isn't something you can do overnight. He will see it through, that's the kind of man he is. He won't walk away, nor will he be sacked. We have underperformed, we have dissapointed, but one win will turn all the gloom into happiness. Charlton and Glencer will be forgotten. Remember where we came from, we are still building. Just remember who got us here and who's doing the building. This is our team, Graemes' team so for gods sake get behind your team, pull in the same direction and be patient. Form is temporary, class is permanent....... and we have class!