Very well put.... for a Canuck You've made a good point perhaps we are being over zealous, but us lot are the same when it comes to getting players in too. We should consider ourselves fortunate that the quality of candidates has been high.

I wouldn't. A successful six-month spell gaining promotion for Palace on the back of a gruelling fitness regime a Premiership manager doth not make. He's also not the big name that the club needs to attract the better players. Dowie, Jewell and their ilk are non-starters as far as I'm concerned. Remind me please jim, who did you want?

He can work for a terrific CEO who is part of a stable and non interfering boardroom.

If Martin O'Neill shows interest in the job we should snap his hand off. Let's think about it, is it really that ludicrous to think he may be interested. The man likes a challenge what greater and more satisfying challenge can their be than bringing us to glory. The groundwork is there, the facilities rival even the big clubs. Imagine the personal glory in taking Blackburn Rovers to the top with little or nothing.

Interesting. Well, they're not going to be Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, Bruce, Souness, O'Leary, McLaren, Wigley, Keegan, SteBenetiz or Santini. So that leaves 3 from Allardyce, Moyes, Worthington, Curbishley, Megson, Dowie, Coleman or Redknapp. Most of those would be ok by me. Of the will not have applied list, Wigley is highly likely to have applied given his limited knowledge of rugby whilst things might well be bad enough at Villa after O'Leary had been so publicly keen on the Newcastle job that his hat could be in the ring. Keegan might want out of City before he gets fired. Of the possible list, I would expect that Allardyce would have to be approached and Coleman is probably earning more at Fulham than he would at Ewood. Moyes is facing less turmoil at Goodison than he has for at least twelve months and has every prospect of having a bumper transfer fund come January by when the financial restructuring at Everton should be complete. Would Redknapp come north and Megson leave the Baggies after being the fouth highest spender in the Prem? Realistically, two from Dowie, Curbishley, Worthington, Wigley and a third who is a bit of a surprise. Who in the hell is this Wigley character?

I'd be extremely happy if it was Dowie. I said he was the only replacement I would have before Souness even left. I thought he was under a new contract and therefore sort of discounted him. Thanks for the info Mr Palace fan. Please please please not Mark Hughes.

If Hoddle is handed the job I will never go to Ewood Park again. And I mean it. Will you stay off here too jim, if so, Hoddle for me. I maintain I would not mind Hoddle, not a bad manager. I maintain I am not keen on Hughes or Strachan. I can not beleive people can be so blinded by emotion on this, neither are really anything special. That said I would welcome either with open arms. No Advocaat's, No Robsons, No ex players, no former heroes a la Dalglish. New fresh approach. Curbs, is not that ridiculous, he may have not recovered from Parker being sold and could be looking for a fresh challenge. Martin O' Neill Still like Dowie or Worthington(1) Who is this Hitz???wotsit. I have never heard of him. I just hope whoever it is has ambition, is frugal, knows tactics and will pay very close attetion to our young uns. Good attractive football is also a must. On top of all that we must win games. Should be pretty easy huh?

That should narrow it down a bit.

Are you sure he is not just injured. It'll be good that Gally gets a clean slate now, I was more than a bit concerned after Souness' "big head" comment and the fact he has not figured much since. Jeez I am actually starting to get all excited again now.

Why would he go for our Academy stars he never really gave 'em much of a look in here.

They have these things over here called FAX machines you can send things like job applications in seconds. I'm surprised they have not caught on over there yet.

Dick Advocaat, no, I would not want any manager named after the reason he was born. One Dick and too much advocaat. Now, what I was going to say is let's try to keep this serious with realistic rumours. The O'Neill one wound me up too much (thanks Brownie) Gonna be one heck of a ride. I have found it very interesting that some of Souness' strongest critics are now nowhere to be found, could it be that when called on the mat they crap themselves or are they staying out of it because they have ALREADY made up their minds that whoever the new boss is he's crap? For some strange reason I think that is the case. The tossers are all too quick to criticize but when asked to put their omniscient reputations on the line they hide. Prefering not to share with us their choices but wait till the man is in place then WHAM let 'em have it. BTW, Jewell is a good bet, thinking about it. He's done well, with a small critical crowd, nice ground, stable finances etc. Let's not forget this too... there is a Rovers connection. Mr Whelan is still an avid Rovers fan, perhaps Jewell comes with his recommendation, sort of shooting yourself in the fooot, but never the less a possibility? Not a bad choice either.

When I say "passionate faithful' I was talking about the geordies no disrespect intended to anyone here.

That post is exactly the reason i tend not to come on this site anymore Wee wee taker or not! Aren't you one of "them" now GAV. Word has it you joined the dingles.

Didn't it all start with Gordon Lee? I wonder how many of the "passionate faithful" even remember him? NEWCASTLE UNITED the BLACKBURN ROVERS wannabees.

yeah, under Strachan. Lets face it, when he inherited Soton, while being good, it wasnt GS style (hhmm, this could get confusing, with the ginger scot having the same initials). When he improved the side, and moulded it to his liking, he got a decent prem finish, and an fa cup final, and europe. Level pegging i think with rovers WC winning year (we wernt playing Arsenal in the final, lets face it). Anyone with a recent record in the prem like that has got to be considered. Yes but it is easy to ignore (or deny, your choice) the fact that Hoddle had laid some groundwork too isn't it. If anyone put the saints ON the ascendency it was Hoddle. Strachan took that springboard and worked it well. Made a few good signings. Do not discount his role in the demise of Coventry, yes he had to sell his best players, so do we, but his replacements did NOT get the job done. Many of you dogged Souness for his signings but he DID NOT take us into the first division without even the groundwork for a quick return. Strachan was VERY responsible for the demise of the Sky Blues. IMHO of course. I can see why GS, Gordon Strachan that is, would be a popular choice, whether he's winning or losing people like him, you lot would not get as much stick down the pub would you? That said would I be disappointed if we signed him as boss, a bit but he may make it work. Allardyce, come off it he would sell all our best players and replace them with borrowed players, over the hill has beens, REMEMBER you lot don't like that. Anyway should be fun, sort of spices up the closed transfer window period. Lot's to talk about now.

Not quite "don't let the door hit you", but the fact that permission given to talk to Newcastle yesterday afternoon, then compensation settled Monday morning, says it all really. Rovers didn't put up much of a fight, did they? No they did not. I do like Williams, that's that over with now let's move on attitude. I am feeling better and better about this as the day goes on. Now it all depends on who we appoint. I imagine Parkesy to be in charge while all the applications come in then if the right man is not there I expect us to make a move for the man we want. Williams- "We have an excellent squad of players and have a lot to offer the new manager, not least a financially stable club, and we expect considerable interest in the position". I think Rovers really want to get it right.

Just read John Williams' statement. Is it just me or does that statement sound almost like Mr Williams is over the moon he's left. If he was close to being fired I can understand why, we now made money getting rid of him instead of it costing us money. It does sound very "don't let the door hit you" like don't you think?

First point, sort of like here. Second point Saints a force? they had one good seaon didn't they.

Nigel Worthington (My first choice) or Martin O'Neill, that leaves Nigel Worthington though he is most likely happy where he is. Strachan? See Coventry City. Shearer? See Colin Hendry (one many here wanted before) Newell? Has Possibilities of success and the same possiblities of going tits up Dowie? Like it. Megson? Thought you lot did not like demonstrative touchline managers, he would drown out the Blackburn End. Venables, Not no, but HELL NO Hoddle, I would not mind, he was actually my first choice when we appointed Souness. Does bring some bad press but I don't have to hear the pisstakes like you lot do. Hughes, No did well at first but utimately failed when it was theirs to lose, and lose it they did. Ternent, good bloke for a specific job, we are not that job. Can build a solid squad for a while but dull dumb and boring football is not what we want, plus we have a youth system and Stanleh has a reputation for not liking youth. Steve McMahon, mmm bit of a gamble did OK at Blackpool but is OK good enough for you lot? Steve Cotterill, Well he's already been at BUrnleh longer than Stoke has'nt he? (Just Kidding)

Do you mean Parkes will coach us and Souness will not be involved as Newcastle manager. Either way you can bet the Geordies will have the scoop.

My fear is that he will try to poach Ferguson. I hope not because he is the only class player we have. Yeah, and Brad and Stead. That would be us done for then. At least we get to keep everyone till January, whetehr they will put in full effort till then is anyones guess. I imagine the lure of Newcastle would be too much to resist for Fergie or any of our players really. I wonder how the players just brought in are feeling, like Bothroyd, and Dickov who went on record as saying souness was one of the reasons he came.

Well well well, I go away for a couple of days and look what happens. I have only just got the news and have not read anything, somewhat disturbed by this. I feel we will only go down hill from here. I wonder if this was in the cards since Souness enquired about Shearer. Well the detractors now have their way, let's see if they were right shall we. Who is Souness going to poach from the club now, which players will follow and which will remain loyal to BRFC. Well I wll start catching up on the reading and the views of you all.

I am getting really really tired of this give Jansen a chance crap. Is my memory playing tricks or was Jansen given a chance at the beginning of last season. I memory sreves he got a few games but he was totally ineffective. With the exception of one flash of brilliance against L'pool. THe lad has lost the instinct, the ability to do what he did best without having to think. Now he has to stop and ponder what he is going to do with the ball and at this level it just won't get it done. I saw that on several occasions when he came up to a defender with the ball he just did not seem to know what was supposed to happen next. The lad has had a chance, I dont know how many other clubs would hold onto a player after something like this after doing what he did. So, all you knocking Souness for not giving him a chance SHUT UP you are out of line. Souness has given him over two years worth of chance, can't think of another manager in the World that would, except perhaps Mother Theresa.

Oh jim jim jim, how long was Johnson gone before you started to rate him? jim I think there may be one or two you have missed