Luque's out for 6 weeks! Parker suspended, Dyer and Emre likely to be out. What odds on Newcastle's first win of the season and Owen scoring his first goal for the club and Shearer nabbing a last goal at Ewood?

Anyone think Bellamy will be in the squad realistically? I personally hope he can get a few minutes to prepare him for the showdown next week. I cant see Bentley starting in a physical game like this away at the Breezlebok.

I agree about the strikers. Bellamy is more of a supplier himself at any rate. Kuqi is a decent workhorse but I dont think he is a finisher. How did he score in the Championship?!?!?

I think the jury is well out on Savage as a Rover still. Just like it had been out with Ferguson for the whole time he was here. Im still hoping we will see the real Savage.

I would love it if we bury the hatchet with Souey at Ewood on the 18th with Bellamy hitting the nail on the coffin of Newcastle. Oh how sweet would that be... Its about time, we beat them again I think.

Big boost for them, but I see their problems to be more than just something you can solve by throwing money to get in 2 strikers. Big big fall from grace for Owen though. Im sure Liverpools offer was not acceptable or they really didnt want him. It was a choice between Newcastle or being outcast at Real. Im almost certain he will have some sort of clause in his deal and his heart really isnt in this move!

I think Champagne Dean Saunders put on a ball-juggling display for the press conference to distract the press for the time-being, hence the few match reprieve for Souness.

To be honest, I dont wish Souness bad. I was angry at him the first few months, for the way he pretty much abandoned ship rather than waiting to be pushed, cause he had thrown in the towel and he not even once mentioned the unfinished job at Blackburn when he joined the Barcodes. Im over that. Souness did alot for us. BUT I just hate the "big club" syndrome at Newcastle. I hope Souness is still there on Sep 18, when we play them at Ewood but I highly doubt it.

Bet that Souness is out before the next fixture. Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow even.

Maybe cause he is about to loan him out...

Well Stead has yet to score for Sunderland in about 10 matches including pre-season friendlies.

Ya Coley has impressed me this season. Him and Bellamy would have done us nicely.

Bolton will be confident after two wins in a row. Luckily there is an international break which gives our players 2 weeks to recover, ie. Bellamy, possibly Amoruso to add to the squad, Thommo maybe, and possibly a signing or two.

I think Bellamy will easily boost our goalscoring. But, we lack a true goalscorer. Im hoping we have money stashed away for Benni but I am virtually certain we dont.

Well Villa away wasnt a game we should have expected a win from. But a draw would have been something gettable. Disappointed a bit, but not as much as the 3-1 defeat at WHU. I would think our team is still almost the same team as last year other than Kuqi for Dickov which is virtually the same thing except maybe Dickov is a better finisher, if you can believe that. Im still waiting for Bellamy to come back. I wouldnt be realistically expecting European football this season, but a top 10 finish we should get.

Cant see us being lucky enough to nick a goal.

Neill suspended for 3 matches????? Just read that on Teamtalk. I thought it was 1 for the double yellow!?!? That would be a huge blow.

Thats a blow. Looks like the defence will have to get a major re-arrangement. Can see Gresko in for Matteo who moves to center back, where his better position may lie, and Taylor possibly coming in for Neill. Unless Sparky moves one of Reid or Emerton to right back and replaces them with Mokoena in the center.

Didnt red cards apply after 7 days?

2-0 Villa.

The problem is that we lack a quality finisher.

A lot will depend on Tugays mood today.

Well the replacements in Keane and Mendes arent that bad now are they... Glad to see Jansen back on the bench and AXE.

I fear a 1-2 defeat, despite the much improved performance on Saturday. Our problem has been inconsistency, and how fitting it would be for Rovers to crash us back down to earth after such a good performance a game earlier.

Souness of brink of being sacked according to todays Sunday Mirror! Damn it. Wanted him back at Ewood on the 18th.