Souness must go ?

[tchocky]

John Coleman? Or Chris Coleman?

Anyways, even if I have doubts over Souness the solution is certainly not to sack him at this point. That would be disaster. I cannot see us surviving with Tony Parkes in charge for the last games... or anyone else. The time to evaluate is at the end of the season, and that is when the major changes must occur. It will be interesting now to see how we handle the nerve wrecking run in, can the players / management handle the pressure?

[Exiled_Rover]

Out of interest who is for Souness to stay if we stay up?

[T4E]

And I think I'm being proved right about Amoruso and Yelldell.

Explain. What did you say about them that's been proved right?

[rover6]

Explain. What did you say about them that's been proved right?

Well, I thought neither was going to be good enough for the Premier League.

And, yes, I know they haven't exactly had a lot of time on the pitch to make it conclusive to all that they're not good enough; but as we stand now, their performances haven't impressed.

Amoruso has been dodgy in a lot of the games he's played in. He was good in the matches Wolves at home and Pompey away - but I can't think of any others. And the Genclerbilirgi first leg was a disaster for him and the whole defence.

Yelldell was brought in as number two (from the German amateur leagues where Pelzer hailed from) but clangers in preseason friendlies and reserve matches have forced Souness to bring in Enkelman as cover for Friedel. And Yelldell has been demoted to the reserves.

Both may come back to succeed with Rovers first team, but I personally doubt it.

[Jordan]

Our best chance of staying up is sticking with what we have. We are NOT in the relegation zone and we are still a few points adrift of that. With the players we have we have the experience and flair to keep us in the premier-league and the return of Barry Ferguson will add to that. We were in exactly the same position two seasons ago and we still survived. Last season we lost to a West Ham team who had not won at home all season and we still came good. What-ever we say wont influence anything. Keep the faith and back the team, we are all in this together and if we dont show support to the team we love, it makes it far more likely we will go down.

[Modi]

Amoruso has been dodgy in a lot of the games he's played in. He was good in the matches Wolves at home and Pompey away - but I can't think of any others.

Bolton away. He was the only player on the pitch in the first half that stopped us going in more than 2 down.

[Ste B]

Bolton away. He was the only player on the pitch in the first half that stopped us going in more than 2 down.

Chelsea Away him and Babbel defended very well, and this fool thought there was a defensive partnership that would see us do ok this season.

[Tom Pringle]

Yelldell was brought in as number two

Was he? I thought Alan Kelly was our number 2?

[American]

Was he? I thought Alan Kelly was our number 2?

He was brought in as Brad's understudy to take over the number 2 spot next season.

[Tom Pringle]

He was brought in as Brad's understudy to take over the number 2 spot next season.

Ahh, R6's wording confused me. It sounded as if he was saying this year was yeldells year to be number 2.

[American]

Ahh, R6's wording confused me. It sounded as if he was saying this year was yeldells year to be number 2.

He was, but he's an idiot....

[booth]

I cannot see us surviving with Tony Parkes in charge for the last games... or anyone else. The time to evaluate is at the end of the season, and that is when the major changes must occur. It will be interesting now to see how we handle the nerve wrecking run in, can the players / management handle the pressure?

I'm in two minds about Souness, I've had some good times watching his Blackburn Rovers team, but on the other hand it seems like he's run out of ideas and there's a lot of players who aren't playing for him. Not only that but some of those players must still believe that they are too high a class to be battling in the relegation zone - which reminds me of when the club went down last time. I think I'm the only person to feel sorry for him - he must feel like he's trying to get blood out of a stone, but then again some of it is his own doing (eg, we STILL haven't got a left sided player to replace Duff! Dwight Yorke should have been long gone by now! And WTF was he doing taking Gray and Stead off at the weekend!) That and all season he appears to have been undecided about who his best eleven has been.

If he did go, Parkes has done us proud in the past and I'd like them to put Parkes in as caretaker - there's no frills but he certainly gets the players playing for the club that's for sure. Then after that evaluate who would be the best choice to bring in as manager.

[BRFC4EVA]

Can this thread p1ss off until the summer. Lets pull together for Blackburn, the players, town and fans.

Edited March 30, 2004 by BRFC4EVA

[broadsword]

If he did go, Parkes has done us proud in the past and I'd like them to put Parkes in as caretaker - there's no frills but he certainly gets the players playing for the club that's for sure.

I still remember that 5-1 defeat at Barnsley. Ouch!

I don't think TP would help this time.

[booth]

I do believe we have better players than back then though Bryan - if someone could get the best out of them they could get a decent set of results. We had some good young players I suppose, but they weren't ever presents back then - though Duff was still a handful.

Back then we had (if I remember correctly)

Filan, Grayson, Short, Dailly, Kenna, Dunn, Carsley, Wilcox, Jansen, Ward, Ostenstad, Davidson, McKinley, Mcateer,Peacock, Duff, Johnson, Gillespie, Gallacher, Blake, Croft (can't remember anyone else who I should be mentioning).

Just typing Ward, Blake and Peacock made me want to cry... Not to mention Davidson

Edited March 30, 2004 by booth

[ad0102]

For the first time after saturday's game I questioned Souness position as manager of BRFC. I have always been a fan of his, although I have for quite some time questioned his subsistutions.

But no way would I prefer Tony Parkes to be in charge, and until I can think of somebody better to replace him, I will support him.

I believe we will stay up, but only just. If we only just stay up, I would expect the board to seriously review the managerial position at the end of the year.

What Souness has to do - is pick his best 11 and stick with them. He needs to give enough confidence to 11 players to win the games against leeds & leicester.

If we win those two games then 37 points will be enough. If we lose either game then more may be needed.

[percy]

But no way would I prefer Tony Parkes to be in charge, and until I can think of somebody better to replace him, I will support him.

Well put, ad0102, welcome to the messageboard - hope you've got plenty of anti-depressants !

I've been trying to stay out of the topics regarding saturday's results and the usual scapegoat hunt on the grounds that it's just too depressing.

For me, it's fairly simple - everyone needs to put all their bad feelings and problems aside and concentrate on working together in getting the points we need to ensure we get another go at Premiership football next season. They can have the biggest barney they like at the end of season as long as we're still a top flight team, but now's not the time.

We, as fans, need to try and support the team, no matter how much we disagree with player selections, formations and tactics and try and give them our full support in their remaining games. We're happy enough to sing, shout and cheer when things are going our way - let's try and remember that whether we like it or not this is OUR team and they deserve OUR support when things aren't going the way we want. We'll be here come rain or shine next season, because we love Blackburn Rovers - it's not necessarily about cheering on the the individuals that are involved - it's about making them realise that they happen to be playing for the team we support. We need to give our all for the rest of the season, no matter how upset, disappointed and angry we are.

The players and management need to realise that it isn't the time for arguing and turning on each other - they need to show some solidarity and spirit (and a bit of pride would be nice too !). We aren't going to find it easily trying to fight our way out of trouble if we're too busy fighting within ourselves !

As for Souey's future ?? I think he'll still be in charge until our future's determined for next season. If he can turn this team around and get us looking like we want to play the likes of Man Yoo, Arsenal and Chelski next season then he may get a short repreive for the start of next season. However, even then, I think if he fails to address the basic problems that have so badly affected our performances this season, then the board may start to look elsewhere. I hope it doesn't get to that point, though, I like the squad that Souey's putting together and think it isn't too far off being a capable Premiership team.

[Kennysuperbuyer]

Out of interest who is for Souness to stay if we stay up?

NOT ME.

[Gav]

NOT ME.

I'm behind the guy all the way, can't think of a better manager to replace him considering we have no money and its Soueys team in place at the moment.

He's worked miracles over the past few years and despite some Rovers fans having short memories he's good for the club and is a winner at all costs.

Great man and long may he reign.

[Tris]

NOT ME.

One of the great things about this new board is that you can click on someone's profile and read all their posts ever - in one place.

Tom007 would have made a great test case, but I couldn't resist checking KSB's recent agenda - as expected 99% anti-Souness diatribe.

Its enevitable with the current regime. If not this season, Rovers will give Souness another extension to his contract and he and his pals will take us down later

Change the record Souness and realise that it is more your poxy management and poxy coaches that turn a match

Yorke should have stuck one on him

Just three quick examples, but click on the profile and check it out - KSB has only one agenda.

It's relentlessly anti-Souness and has precious little else to do with Rovers.

[Neil Weaver]

One of the great things about this new board is that you can click on someone's profile and read all their posts ever - in one place.

Tom007 would have made a great test case, but I couldn't resist checking KSB's recent agenda - as expected 99% anti-Souness diatribe.

Just three quick examples, but click on the profile and check it out - KSB has only one agenda.

It's relentlessly anti-Souness and has precious little else to do with Rovers.

Him and Jan must be cousins Tris . Can this wonderful new board reveal family relationships too?

[FourLaneBlue]

One of the great things about this new board is that you can click on someone's profile and read all their posts ever - in one place.

Tom007 would have made a great test case, but I couldn't resist checking KSB's recent agenda - as expected 99% anti-Souness diatribe.

tom007 is a great test case- almost everyone single post about the saintly John Curtis. Even posts seemingly about other matters are in reality an attack on those who were deemed in the way of Curtis' rightful position in the first team. Since Curtis left tom007 has posted once- to tell us of the rise and rise of his 'man' at Leicester. Been a bit quiet since has tom.

The most instructive post from him was to even have a dig at Souness for holding out for a fee from Leicester rather than giving him away (which he more or less did anyway). A Rovers fan irritated the manager is trying to get in funds for the club instead of throwing money away? Hmmmm...

Kennysuperbuyer- just look at the name for crying out loud! Why would a Rovers fan chose a name to denigrate our greatest achievement? That's the kind of thing a 'Dingle' would do to have a dig at 'moneybag Rovers'.

There have been topics on a Dingle site (I know i shouldn't read it but I do and USABlue posts on there to wind them up at times) about the Burnley fan posing as a Rovers fan to 'stir things up'. Unfortunately KSB was too unsubtle and not intelligent enough to do it properly. A constant tedious diatribe against Souness was hardly going to work....

[tcj_jones]

does anybody reckon this thread needs a poll? or would that be a mistake as the thread will most likely continue atleast to the end of this season and if souness stays throughout next season as well.

[Exiled in Toronto]

<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.

[joey_big_nose]

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.

Funny that you should bring up Rover 6's early posting career, I had just been noticing his mellowing on the old Souness out mantra. Its still there mind.

My own opinion is that Souness' has done little that is drastically wrong, his tactics, transfers and so on have been on par or better with most other mid table teams over the last two seasons. He has never on the other hand made a team that copes well in a fight like we are now (which seems odd when compared to his personality). That is the central problem- we cannot grind things out. We prefer controlled possesion footbal but we dont have the personnel (mostly due to injuries, but the lack of a left sided player is a big issue) or the confidence to suceed in it. Man management has recently been a bit dubious with the COle/Yorke thing and some funny comments by Short, and more importantly than anything Souness not actually looking in full control himself. He looks quite rattled.

Some of the attacks made on him by some board members seem unfair, yet my confidence in him is shaking.....

Edited April 2, 2004 by joey_big_nose