Neville as Man Utd captain is like Souness as Newcastle manager; As long as that stays the same, neither will win anything significant to them. A captain has to be someone you aspire to, or you would give your life for on the pitch (preverbally). I'd watch Neville roll up and die happily. (Preverbally )

He doesn't say anything... Btw was he involved purely to ensure he doesn't get poached by another nation when he get good?

I think Mike Newell probably, dunno if that's who Waggy is insinuating towards.

Good shout, though would we be calling them ''wonderful signings'' had Souness had stayed? Considering I think we'd currently be in the Championship, I think not.

To be honest, I'm not as worried with this talk of Hughes possibly leaving as I was when Souness was linked with Spurs just after wefinished 6th. Managers nowadays do seem to have a short life span, and we know how quickly things can change (it seemed almost overnight with Souness), s if I were Hughes, I'd just be worrying myself with ensuring Rovers progress before he starts worrying about other jobs. If he does this, when (if) he does leave, this will leave Rovers in a very strong position to attract another very good manager, who can further Rovers progress. After all, Premiership jobs rarely come along at teams who are in healthy positions, so Rovers could be very attractive if they come along after finishing in europe. All very hypothetical, I can't see many jobs popping up any time soon which may attract Hughes.

How can it be mind games when nobody has even said anything about it! As far as I'm concerned the official line at the moment is Bellamy didn't play at Newcastle purely due to suspension, therefore I expect to see him in squad on Wednesday.

Not on a consitant basis it isn't. Our team is playing very well, but once the performences drop, we can easily lose 2-3 games on the trot, seeing us plummet down into the 10th-14th positions. The ''next level'' as I see it is having a team good enough to be between 6th to 8th every season, as the team is good enough to beat teams like West Ham, Fulham, Everton even when we are playing badly, safe-guarding our challenge for Europe season in season out.

Before the death rate jumps to that of a warzone, why don't we wait for somebody other than a messageboard poster to deliver us news on Bellamy. I'm sure he'll be on the bench, and incidently, it's funny how one guy says Hartson will be signing with no proof and you all laugh, but then another says Bellamy is injured (again with no proof) and your all tying your nooses. Obviously I appreciate one is more likely than the other, but you'd expect somebody else in the world would know about this.

What do you think the next bloody level is? Petrov and McCarthy would take us there easily.... Challenging for the top 6 year in year out, not just playing out of skin and getting near there one season. Be realistic, Man Utd wont be spending £25m this summer, so why the hell would we? £10m and I will be delighted, as would Hughes, as he knows that's more than enough.

Seriously-I think your talking crap. £25m? Hughes is never, ever going to get that, and Hughes knows himself £10m-£15m is well beyond his wildest dreams. To improve the team we need a new striker, a midfielder and possibly a defender. A new £4m midfielder and striker would improve the team no end, so £25m? I'd head back to your Championship Manager editor if I was you.

I have a sneaky feeling Rovers are going to turn up in ballaclavas and stripey shirts and go for the smash and grab here... My guess at the team would be one of these two.... Friedel Neill Todd Nelsen Gray Reid Savage Tugay Pedersen Bentley Kuqi Or.... Friedel Neill Todd Nelsen Gray Mokoena Reid Savage Tugay Pedersen Kuqi Either way I think Bellamy will be on the bench and will be used as a secret (or not so) weapon to try and nick it for us late on. It is very dangerous tactics, and I hope we don't use them, but I have a feeling we might.

Though your point should technicaly be true, just look at Villereal in Spain, and even Deportivo. Once you get into the Champions League, the foundations are there to build a successful football club, which if you do correctly, means you have a great chance of staying there, due to the financial rewards you recieve. At the end of the day, ''big'' clubs are just that because over the last 50-100 years they have won trophies, and built a reputation as great teams. The next 50-100 years will see a same trend, and if Rovers win trophies and consistantly finish high up in the tabl over the next decade, then there is no reason why we can't be a ''big'' club again.

Unfortunately I think BRISA are pretty powerless when it comes to Rovers relationship with Sky.

Am I correct in thinkin any Man Utd red cards today wouldn't come into the equasion for Wednesday night? Just injuries. (Rooney and V-Man please)

Correct, but it isn't a problem just Rovers have. For all the success Bolton and Boro have had over the last two seasons, attendences have dropped at those clubs too. It's Sky, not the fans that are not only keeping clubs like Rovers afloat, but also killing the soul of these clubs.

Looks like Fat Fred really doesn't want to dish out that £5m to Souness and his Merry Men, and is doing all he can to get him to resign.

At the end of the day it boils down to whether the trustees actually care about football, or Rovers that much. If they don't, then why would they give us money to rise two positions in the league, as a UEFA Cup run is hardly going to give them much of a return on a £5m, £30k a week striker. They might be quite happy to see us lurking around 8th, and see no particular need to give the club any more of their money, as they have given plenty over the years. I guess with that in mind it's the job of JW and co to convince the trustees it is worth giving Rovers the cash we need to move on, and that in the no so distent future the trustees will have an attractive gain from doing so.... And I don't envy his position in trying to do so.

Yeah that guy who has scored over twenty league goals EVERY season since his return to Spain nearly four years ago.

Talk of Englang is premature, without a doubt. What I was suggesting is initially was if Walcott has an impressive half season at Arsenal, does he have a shout of the World Cup? Don't think that statement/question is too far fetched? Why don't people just discuss points rather than make them seem like set in stone statements of intent/fact by a particular poster.

Yes but last time we decided to take Keown over Jansen, hardly similar... What I'm saying is, for the final two or three squad members, whoever is picked, it is unlikely they will play unless there is some kind of crisis, so you may as well take players who can turn a game for you, rather than solid players who have been in decent form. Walcott could win us games with his pace and trickery, people like Hargreaves couldn't. In that sense the situation is quite similar to the Jansen/Keown one.

Considering Jansen was very dissappointing in the Premiership for half a season before Cole signed,then one good half season, Walcott has the chance to equal that in the next 5 months. And considering this boy has just cost £12.5m despite being only 16 he can't be too bad can he? I expect Rooney would have cost the same had someone bidded for him at the same age, before he proved himself at the top level. Ronaldo attended World Cup '94 as a 16 year old, didn't do him much harm. Put it this way, I'd rather Walcott was at the World Cup as apposed to someone like Owen Hargreaves.... Who would you rather enter the field as a 70th minute sub when we are one down to the Germans?

Jansen : Souey Rushed Me Back...

Well if this lad is as good as Rooney was at 16, then he should certainly be in the first team picture at Arsenal, even if it's starting every one in five games and just coming on for 20 minutes to half an hour in the other four.

Walcott has signed for Arsenal,.. Can only be good for Englands' future... Outside chance of World Cup I wonder? We made the mistake of not taking an unknown yet effective wildcard to the last World Cup (I'm refering to Jansen) and were exposed against Brazil.. Hope Arsenal keep him for the remainder of the season and give him some action.

Better news for Brucey and big club today, Martin Taylor has picked up an injury that could keep him out for some time.