bob fleming

There comes a time, now and again, when someone sums up so succinctly your thoughts, that there's no point trying to add anything else. Wise words Radagast.

Souness - you're a disgrace. Thanks for the "team" you left behind. Same players - different team. Jansen - 5th choice striker - advised to go find another club - scored the winner (played left wing (how revolutionary - left footed attacker at left attacking midfield) to begin with - then CF) Our defence was better organised by the way. This is the start of something better. It'll take time. Hughesy will have to get the best out of a bad bunch I'm afraid. He'll have a few quid to spend in January, probably not a fortune, just the money saved (from the inevitable sacking that didn't happen) and a few quid saved in wages from Cole and Yorke. G. Souness - the luckiest man in football. I promise not to mention his name ever again on this messageboard. He doesn't deserve it. Hughesy!!

Glad you liked it Sox. I could have re-written that preview three times this week (if I had time, OK it would have been a lot shorter, which is probably a good thing). It's been extremely eventful over the last few days and I totally agree, a wave of optimism is quite rightly evident. I think the vast majority of people are genuinely excited about tomorrow's match - many (including me) for the first time in ages. I'm glad everyone is talking about the game and the new manager and a new start for our club. However, there's also the "Blackburn Hooligan Joke!" thread to read if anyone want's a little light relief from all this Blackburn Rovers stuff.

Hughesy - who is being negative?

Bryan - It depends on how much money Hughes has to spend in January to make this team his own and whether or not he chooses to get rid or try to get rid of some of the "dead wood", that's if he perceives that we have dead wood anyway. If we were to get relegated then souness will have to carry the majority of the blame in my mind, although Hughes would also have to carry a percentage of that can (21% to my mind). Anyway none of this will happen. Hughes appears to have a plan. Which is nice. Some of the newspaper reports I read also state that he is meticulous in his preparation for each game. Having watched Hughes' press conference yesterday when I got home from "work", I am already impressed with him. He was methodical and came across as a very determined and focused bloke who knows exactly what he is doing, where he is going and how he is going to get there. I'm confident that this guy and his back room team, (Jim Bowen, Eddie Niedezy... Eddie Nedwkkqw.... "Steady Eddie" (if he comes)) will get the current set of players performing, and we'll move up the table quite nicely.

Jim you scamp. Get it in context. To date: 8 people have voted that they aren't happy. 29 have said they're undecided (they don't count). 238 are well made up and 6 wanted Lee Grooby (they don't count either) That's 3.3% who aren't happy. Or 96.7% who are extremely happy!

Surely thats just a tad uncomfortable?! I wonder if Dave has got Lars Bohinen's as well?

I apologise for that USA. Sorry, got a bit carried away.

Hughes, if he's a success, can stay as long as he likes. If the "big three" come knocking then who in their right mind would stay? Who was the man you had in mind who was going to stay at Rovers when Man Utd come calling? If he does that good a job then we should all be grateful anyway – he’ll have been extremely successful. More to the point when did you become possessed by Jim Mk2? I'm very happy indeed thank you very much. I clicked on "Yes". I didn't really have a "No 1" choice but he was in my top two. I haven't looked forward to a game this much in a long time. Roll on Saturday. A new era. A new start. I'm very optimistic that he, and his team (whoever they might be – they can’t be any worse than that other lot (I exclude T.P. from that)) can turn it around. He’ll need time but the other fella (forget his name) really has left a steaming mess behind for him to clear up. I've not heard anyone say a bad word about Hughes. 99% of people think he's a good coach and a good manager. Sure, he's unproven in the Premier League, but for the umpteenth time, so was Wenger (Grampus 8?!?) and so was Ferguson when they arrived in the EPL. A happy day! (Jordan - that's a great song - I'll just get a pen and paper )

I suspect Saunders is invollved in all this. He's well in with that lot.

Near Liverpool.

Who's winning?

Oh. Having read up extensively over the last couple of minutes on which countries are actually in Scandinavia, I can conclude that Sidders was probably referring to The Scandinavian Tourist Board of North America Webpage which doesn't half confuse matters. Similarly this does little to help. It's a grey area and no mistake. I take your word for it though and I'll ensure that I never throw Finland in with Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Poland ever again. Although I can't speak for Sidders I'm afraid.

He's from Finland Sidders cuidado, jeg ville sluttet å forsvare ham, det nytter ikke. Gi han tid, og disse folkene også, så slipper du (og alle andre) samme regla om igjen og om igjen hehe, er ikke så mye forsvaring, mer at de må åpne øynene, men ja, nå gidder jeg ikke mer. Sidders used the word "Scandanavian" - which I believe includes Finland. And another thing, those last two sentences from cuidado and neekoy, not only do they not make any sense but some of the letters are blowing bubbles. Very strange. Is it some sort of virus?

Allardyce? Lovejoy? Callum Davidson? Callum. Davidson. C. Davidson. Davidson, Callum. The big eared goggly eyed defender as he was once described in some newspaper or other. I don't think he should win. Le Saux was an excellent left back but I can't and won't vote for him because I find him annoying. It's got to be Bill Eckersley. Not only does he sound Northern and therefore dead hard (be honest if we had four Bill Eckersley's in our defence now, any team would fear coming to Ewood) but he also made 432 appearances over 14 years. Plus he had a telescopic leg. What more does anyone want in a left back? No contest.

Don't get me wrong - I do believe you and BRSCN! Cheers!

Well said steverovers. Can we not judge the man after a few games? Or is that asking too much? Innocent until proven guilty anyone? Talk about taking urinating on peoples bonfires. It could be worse - "Rovers next manager to arrive from Japan - Leaves Grampus 8 behind" - I'm sure that would go down like a lead balloon - all that lack of Premier League experience. Still Arsene is muddling through. Anyway - daheri, how come you guys get an official statement before the UK? How does that work? What's your source? And one final thing - Jim - are you happy with Hughes' appointment? (or is happy too strong a word for you )

I don't think we're quite at the stage where Alan Whitehead should get a game 1864. I think Flitty still edges it there.

That's the way I see it 1864. Kamy - of course there's question marks over Hughes. There's question marks over any manager when they're appointed. If we could get a manager that would guarantee success, and we knew that at the off, then everyone would be after him (and in all likeyhood he wouldn't come here). Besides is he's good enough for Craig Bellamy, he's good enough for me. I agree with you though - I'm glad I'm not making the decision.

150-1 on bet fair in from 1,000,000-1. That would be a turn up for the trousers.

It's gonna be Hughes. It's obvious. Or Dowie. I'm off to put a Pony on Pat Devlin. White Man in Hammersmith Palais.

I'm not having it. Why would Freddy's son holiday in Norwich? The Mail on Sunday ( ) also reported a rumour that Souness had contacted Birmingham about their managers job - should Steve Bruce decide to go to Newcastle. Rumour, speculation, conspiracy theories. Marvellous.

What?!? Is that from the sun article as well? Do you have a link anywhere for this? (I have looked myself but I can't see anything - do I have to buy the ruddy thing?)

I've thought about that Sox. I'll start a collection and contact all local businesses. But your right - it's not worth the risk. I ain't doing time for that slag.