Nah mate... they're just arrogant Confidence and high self esteem is easily confused by many without it to be arrogance. The English have to be near the top of the pack in the arrogance sweepstakes, all things considered.

Don't know don't care I hate golf. No-one at work has mentioned it but if America lost then that would be normal. That could also be 'cos they would be afraid I would bring up the relay at the Olympics. They all thought they had that Gold before the race had been ran.

And here's me thinking Souness said he did not like wingers in the modern game.

Come on, let's give this lad a chance. He's had 3 games, one against Man U under the old boss, one against Newcastle with Parkes and one against Pompey with the new boss. Three games, two against top notch opponents, each game with a different manager and on top of that he has to adjust to Premiership pace and standards as well as acclimatising to a new Country. Give the lad a break, at least give him a couple of months to get his feet on the ground, his head must be spinning with all the changes he's had to go through.

Huh?? I did know that, am I missing something 1864?

Good to see the result, good to read someof the encouraging reports on some enthusism from the team. Best of all is the read about Matt. I was one of the ones who had him written off, I hope that can be shoved right down my throat. I know he scored, I saw the goal really quickly and one time only, it looked like a good goal. That aside, how was Matty's overall play, did he do well or was the goal the only ting, more info please.

When you say JH do you mean Jimmy Hill? If so next time you write him remind him that he in part is responsible for clubs like ours falling from grace and the Monopoly enjoyed by the big city teams.

Well I won't be around tomorrow, heading for the hills (again) So good luck Mr Hughes I hope your first game in charge is a good one capped with a victory. Get stuck in.

Rubbish Bryan, acting a bit holier than thou I think. Just yesterday you slammed me for my opinions, basically told me to shut up. No hidden agendas either mate.

I like it. It's as if he is making the statement that staying in the Prem is a goal that goes without saying. That that is expected and does not even need to be mentioned, that it is a redundant statement. This is good.

Mr Bubble, I am really not sure what positive post you are referring to. this id the only one I responded to.. "So usa blue!! who would you have wanted appointed since you know the football world in side out!!! All i want is for people to get behind the team. People like you would complain if mr wenger had been appointed," I am sorry but I don't really see anyting positive in that do you? My reaction is based on the assumtion you make as to how I might react regardless of who was appointed. Very naive I think, as for growing up there is a strong possibility I am way ahead of you in that aspect. Try not to make this a personal thing OK. We can all share opinions and we do but when you try to tell me what sort of personality I am you WILL get a response if you are wide of the mark. Accept that.

Just listened to Mark Hughes on TV. He sounds like a straight talker, spoke his mind and was clear and concise. Could it be I am already warming to this fella.

That's what worries me. Are we going to give him a chance? We've effectively given the teams we should be matching up against anything from a two point to an eight point headstart. He should be judged on how well he does over the rest of the season, not on the next few weeks. However, I can easily see some turning on him very, very quickly. Spot on Modi. Finishing 17th this season would be a fantastic success for Hughes. He isn't going to be able to turn things around instantly. It will be a long slog. Be careful Scotty, you'll have people whining about lack of ambition. Curious the already lowered expectations though. Souness finishing 17th= simply not good enough. Hughes finishing 17th = Fantastic acheivement. I am now totally confused with this double standard. We are barely starting this season we have time to actually accomplish something if the man is that good. (Yes, it will be good enough for me if we finish fourth from bottom)

I will be delighted if I have egg on my face and I will be in no way smug if this does not work out Rovers are my team and have been for almost 40 years. I was opposed to us hiring Souness ( yes I actually wanted Hoddle) As it turned out and as is recorded on here I became one of Souness' most vehement supporters. Gally and playing Matteo on the left wing had caused me to begin to question the mans sanity though. Rovers through and through so I look forward to that egg, scrambled sounds good.

Pretty good that, they seem to like Emerton, even a few nods for Pedersen. Whats with these Geordies?

jim, one question. Will you feel the same if Hughes neglects to say hello to your boy or will Hughes be faced with a Souness type hate obsession. I wish Mark Hughes all the best too, I have he's managing my team. Interesting that some folks have taken the stance that it is wrong to criticize Mark Hughes before he has even sat in his office. Two points, 1) I am not criticising Hughes I am saddened by the Board. 2) How many of you taking this stance gleefully bad mouthed Dickov, Amoruso, Stead, Friedal etc etc before they even kicked a ball. Now, back to reality.

Bllx, people like me? What do you know about me? You don't know who I preferred for manager do you. Was you not reading any posts I had stated in several who I wanted. Also you missed the thread when I clearly stated I do not know all there is to know, so your sarcasm is misplaced. So, in future, before you start spouting off please come at least somewhat informed, if you wish to enter into a war of wits don't come unarmed.

Or Italy 4 Wales 0 even.

USABlue, go and look at the Welsh defence. Also look at some of the journeymen and never-will-be men who pad out the rest of the Welsh squad. Jones, Delaney, Collins, Gabbidon, Thatcher, Oster all played against NI. not any of these players would get a sniff of an England B side. I don't care how good a manager you are. With that defence you will have bad results such as the two Wales have suffered. The thing Hughes has been able to do is also produce good results such as those against Italy, Germany, Argentina and the Czechs. The fact that Wales were disapponted not to qualify for Euro2004 after a playoff defeat just shows how far they have come since the mid to late 90's. I can understand your concerns with Hughes with regards to lack of club managerial experience and a step into the unknown. It's for these reasons I would rather have had Dowie. However I think throwing the last 2 Welsh results as examples of Hughes managerial shortcomings is unfair. As regards to how long will he stay how long will anybody stay. Souness was quick enough to drop us and leave and he wasn't even doing that well. Any successfull manager will eventually be eyed up by supposed bigger clubs and it's naive to think that a love of blue and white will keep them at Ewood. Sven was quick enough to drop us for a better opportunity and he never even managed 1 game. Dowie and Strachan would be no different. At least from reading your posts over the last few years I know you will hold your hands up and admit your fears were unfounded if that proves to be the case. Let's hope for all our sakes it is. Would any of our defence get in the Welsh National team. It was not just the last two results either the Welsh choked when it was theirs to win. If you remember when we struggled we did well against Arse Man U Chelsea but the little boys stuffed us. Bit like Wales. When the chips were down the Taffs were annhialated.

A few people are calling me on the mat about Hughes' lack of Premeirship experience, throwing around names like Wenger and Ferguson. Come off it for every Wenger there are a hundred Sturrocks, for every Fergie there are a hundred, Houlliers. My complaint, if you have been keeping up is not about PREMIERSHIP experience it is that he has a total lack of ANY CLUB experience at ANY LEVEL. Running a Club side is a whole different kettle of fish. I should end this now and just see what Sparky does, remember many of you backing him to be boss berated Souness for signing him as a player a la' Dickov, Let's see and let hope you all get to tell me I told you so rather than me telling you . BTW Mr Fleming, the jim comment was below the belt and un called for . jim's issues with Souness were of a strictly personal nature and little to do with football.

How can you say they had no Prem experience some of them worked day in day out along some of the all time greats. One of the "pluses" I have seen bandied around here for Hughes is he has played under great managers. Well the aforementioned Mssrs Kidd etc were assistants to great amangers and failed miserably. You say this ..."He will unite the team and is much more of a players manager than souness ever was and that will go a long way with the players." Ho wdo you know that? What do you base that argument on, could the downside then be that Sparky will be too soft. Do we want a boss or do we want a bloke in a track suit who will not upset anyone?

USABlue. Would you prefer a situation in which the fans had no voice ? Would you prefer a situation like Tottenham when David Pleat was appointed? Or a Southampton limbo situatiuon where they have no manager? Our board has acted swiftly and competently. They have appointed a manager that they knew posessed great managerial potential from his time playing here. Hughes was also the players favourite choice for next manager, in addition to being the boards first choice, and certainly a top 3 favourite amongst the fans. We could have been like every other club that replaces a manager mid-season and gone with the usual suspects that may have seen us safe for this season (if we were extremely lucky) but would have had us struggling the next season forcing us to repeat the same managerial merry-go-round then. Reid, Hoddle, Houllier, Gregory, just think how much worse it could have been! I doubt that the fans had anything to do with this appointment but if they did it was certainly not a detriment to the process. You contradict yourself a bit there mr ozzy. You start out asking if I prefer the fans had no voice and end up saying you doubt the fans had anything to do with it. I am simply saying, for the last time I hope, that based on QUALIFICATIONS Hughes is one of the least qualified, it is a feel good appointment. Williams has been swayed by the masses and I feel it is a mistake, but if it deosn't work out then John does not look too bad cos everyone else wanted him too. I have strong reservations. ( Where's W. Bancroft when you need him, that bloke always seemd to have the balls to go out on a limb and found GOOD managers for us.) I will give him a fair crack, I have no option. How long will you lot give him before you turn on him. What is it you all know in football terms that makes him MORE qualified than say Glenn Hoddle, who no one wanted. Nothing, it's simply a popularity contest driven by fear of ridicule. Same thing with Strachan a fun guy talks good and everyone likes him but when push comes to shove what has he done (apart from take over from Hoddles good work) nothing. I just think it is sad when all you self proclaimed football experts based the appointment of our new boss on nothing more than how he does on camera. It better bloody work, no one wants to be proved wrong but in this case I do. I HAVE NOT written him off, I will give him credit where it is due, you will not see an obsession of a jim/Souness nature. I simply feel we missed the boat. I hope Hughes can find time to say hello to jims kid or we will have more of the same from Mr Personality. My crystal ball says many of you will be crying in you champers come New Year.

Great job??? Fight and hold their own?? against Azerbjain and N. Ireland, wow, that's me suitably impressed. Oh he NEARLY got to the Euro's it was theirs to lose and they did. Will we all think it's so great if he NEARLY saves us from relegation.

Before you ask I'm number 3. I have stated my reasons. This is nothing more than a cop out by the Board, it was a popularity contest rather than scouring the length and breadth of the football World to find the right man. It reeks of a self preservation type appointment by John Williams and show him to be less of a forward moving CEO than I thought of him being. Our club should not be the one to see if Hughes can cut it at this level. I fear relegation, and I fear the man has no savvy to rebuild this club from the grass roots level. Then again what do I know. Good luck Mark Hughes, welcome and please save my Football Team. If you should happen to be a success, how long will you stay?

As 1864 says we almost certainly will have interviewed him, however without permission. We can't simply appoint him so if we want him we have to ask for permission. Unless the Welsh FA refused there was nothing else the conference could have been about. It should be done and dusted by tomorrow now as Rovers wouldn't have approached the Welsh if it wasn't already a done deal. That all sounds a little bass ackwards if you ask me. First we interview him and THEN we ask permission to speak with him. Hmm... novel concept, I might try it. Take a day off work and upon your arrival the next day ask your Boss if it's ok to have yesterday off?? Might work