For me there is a compelling reason to sack Souness this week - he hasn't a clue about who to pick and how to tell them to play.

We will go down if he is in charge for the next seven games.

We have to have a better chance if those next seven games are under the control of someone better at formations and tactics than Souness, which is just about anyone.

Our players are very experienced, I'm sure they can stick to a plan if it's a good one.

<font color='#000000'>People who have read my previous comments (all of whom have been critical of Souness) will know that this is not a knee-jerk reaction following the Charlton defeat.

I do admire one of Souness' strengths - fight. But did that fight reflect itself in the team against Charlton? Or Fulham, Liverpool, Man City etc.? Souness' fight is waning and his ability to instill confidence in his players is following suit.

Tactically, he is primative. Anyone can tell you that Tommo can't play left midfield. We have zero width when that happens. Any half-wit could have told you that Charlton were without Bartlett and Lisbie - their in form strikers. Surely the objective therefore, is to attack at home, not start with ONE striker and 3 defensive midfielders.

Nevertheless, tactics doesn't always win games. Ask Kevin Keegan. But what has Keegan got that Souness hasn't? The ability to give confidence and support his players. OK, Grabbi misses sitters against Genclerbiligi - what do you do? Put him on the bench to confirm your support for him OR chuck him out of the team altogether and let him rot - all £7million of him.

Souness claimed before the match that confidence was not a problem - which is why Tiny looked terrified on the ball. Ferguson avoided the ball, Flitty likewise, Tommo looked uncertain and Emerton non-existant.

WHy is Souness lying to the fans? Because he has to hide his blatent inability to help the players in their moment of crisis. No doubt Souness will blame the defeat on missed chances - why are we missing chances. Because the players are low on confidence and their manager isn't helping.

Last time we were this low under Souness, he went and bought Cole (during our first year back) and last season DUff came back to form. Souness can't buy anyone now, we don't have Duff - what is he going to do. The money was blown on failed signings - the biggest one being Barry Ferguson. A good player but not worth £7 million. Nowhere near as good as Scott Parker, Koumas, Michael Brown or Carrick.

We need to get rid to give a new man a chance to avert this crisis before it becomes disastrous. A new man will not bring with him SOuness' idiotic beliefs. Alan Mahon is not a rabid player who'll infect our players if he plays. Flitcroft isn't infallible because he's the skipper - need I go on. We need a shake up and heads must roll - Souness'.</font>

5 months on since the first post, and it cannot be denied that what has happened in those last 5 months largely vindicates Rover6's point of view.

If we had known then that by April 1st another 7 players would have been played out of position in left midfield, that the lady luck / ref conspiracy drivel would have been trotted out another 20 times, that our defence would still be as dodgy, that we would only win one home game, and that we would be 3 points above the drop zone, I think there would have been much greater support to get rid of the Great Man.

I totally disagree that we "hammered" them today. Lots of possession, but virtually all of it courtesy of a terrible Leicester side. To have 60% of the ball and manage one good effort on target is pathetic.

A manager stands or falls on his signings, his team selection, his tactics, his choice of backroom staff and his motivating the players; and on all five of those this season, he has clearly failed.

- his last good signing was Friedal. More recently, Thompson, Emerton, Reid, Amoruso, Gresko and Ferguson have all been poor to pathetic

- Team selection is all over the map. Players must have no idea where they fit in and why

- I find his tactics incomprehensible, switches formation with every substitution, 4-5-1 was useless. He looks like he's making it up as he goes along.

- His call to swap Boersma and Saunders. Where is the benefit?

- As to motivation, we can only infer from what we see and hear, but given the worst disciplinary record in the league, reports of bust-ups, players arguing when they get subbed, it certainly doesn't seem good.

I agree with Rev and with jim (mostly), every manager reaches his sell-by date apart from RFW, and I think Souness may have reached his.

I seem to recall Revidge telling us how there was some sort of contest last time, which clearly no-one is aware of this time around. So how was this Jason chap chosen? Probably related to the editor or something.

And I can imagine that Scummings only lingers on due to the absence of basic writing skills among the few remaining hardy souls witnessing the second demise of our neighbours.

Both CLB and I are 45, no matter what he says.

My bet is that jim is 51

My Dad's a season ticket holder and he got me a ticket along with his last week because I did exactly what RB suggests (though I spoke to Tom finn's secretary) - couldn't have been more helpful.

I'm not sure I understand this "who should/shouldn't be allowed to buy the tickets we never sell normally" thing. They are being bought for people like me who can't/don't go on a regular basis - that's why we sell out some games and not others

I'm probably typical of some people in that I can only get to Ewood about 4 or 5 times a year but I am willing to rearrange all my work and domestic schedules (and have a row with missus!) for what will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime match.

Another example would be me. I'm due in London for a meeting the day after, so obviously I'm going to come a day early, fly into Manchester, hopefully see the game, sleeper train down to London etc.

Didn't go to Sofia, bought one ticket in last 2 years, I suppose I shouldn't be allowed to go really!