Rovers Reserves continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool Reserves tonight at Christie Park, Morecambe. Liverpool took the lead, in the 5th min through Mark Smith, however, thanks to a Matt Jansen free kick Rovers equalised before taking the lead, thanks to Jemel Johnson when the Liverpool keeper let the ball fumble through his fingers and into his own net. Unfortunately Liverpool got an equaliser through Partridge and with Jemel Johnson failing to convert a penalty the points were shared. Rovers: Yelldell, Peers, Morgan, Douglas, Jones, Bruce, Danns, Harkins, Jansen, Johnson, Byrom Subs; Derbyshire, Drench, Welch, Nolan, Hodge Attendance 1188.

Assistant manager Alan Murray first team coaches Phil Boersma & Dean Saunders are to leave the club to join Graeme Souness at Newcastle.

Welcome to the board, a good first post. Sorry but I merged it but we try not to start new posts when there is an existing topic regarding the same item. cheers Alan

I hope the Georgies have good memories. One of the most succesful managers in the club's history In his first season at the club he guided them to the League Cup Final and the Sixth Round of the FA Cup; and in the following season he guided them into the top six of the first division. Yet he is also one of the most unpopular managers to sit in the hot seat. Why? Because he sold the star players and replaced them with also-rans, he encouraged negative football and he walked out on the club when he was offered better money elsewhere. No I'm not talking about Souness, although the cv is very similar. I'm talking about the previous Rovers manager to join Newcastle. Gordon Lee.

I wonder what the odds are, regarding when He'll be banned from the dug out.

Tony Parkes must now be a candidate for the Guiness Book of Records as once again he takes up the post of Caretaker Manager at Rovers for the sixth time.

We are working on it. Just let the dust settle will you

Reid wants him at Coventry.

Whats bid Ron doing these days. ok ok I was only joking

How long before a Souness v Shearer confrontation

Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd has now confirmed to Sky Sports News that Souness has agreed to take over at St James' Park. Souness will take charge from Monday September 13, after Newcastle have ironically faced Blackburn in The Premiership. "Graeme Souness leaves Blackburn Rovers today to take up the position as team manager of Newcastle United," said Shepherd's statement. "Souness has been in talks with Newcastle over the weekend and he will take up his position next Monday 13. "There will be a press conference on Monday 13 when Souness will be officially unveiled as the new manager."

Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd is thought to be locked in talks with Souness about his new contract. It is understood that Souness is set to take charge of Newcastle after Saturday's match when, ironically, they face Blackburn in The Premiership.

bbc sport are confirming Graeme Souness has quit as Rovers manager to take over at Newcastle. Blackburn have revealed Souness has left Ewood Park and that he has agreed terms to succeed Sir Bobby Robson.

Sky Sports News is reporting that Souness has told his own players that he has quit as manager and is on his way to St James' Park.

After the weekends blunder by England keeper David James, the press are full of criticism for the England managers team selection. One however, only has to look at the current premier league statistics and you can count on one hand the number of English keepers getting first team Action. James at City, Robinson at Spurs, Martyn at Everton, Green at Norwich, Hoult at West Brom. After years of having world class keepers, ready to take up the number 1 shirt, England now appear to have caught a disease once the domain of Scotland. Where have all our keepers disappeared to and what is the underlying cause of this decline. During an interview last April, with Tim Flowers, the former Rovers and England keeper, responded to my question regarding whether the trend by Premiership clubs to having foreign keepers, was detrimental to the National team by stating. No disrespect to non-English keepers, but with limited English keepers getting premiership experience it doesn’t help. However there are a number of good English keepers about. However a frightening response to my question on who in his opinion were the best Premiership Goalkeeper not one English keeper was mentioned. Tim’s response being. There are a number of good keepers in the premier, Friedel at Rovers, Given at Newcastle, Niemi at Southampton and I was impressed on how Howard adjusted so quick to the premier league. The lack of top class English keepers and the performance of the England team is currently being discussed on the messageboard forum. Link David James Topic

try page 15.

Why cut and paste Dale Johnson's profile on Souness, it would have been easier to have posted a link to the full article, instead of taking comments out of contect. Dale Johnson - Graeme Souness Profile.

Agreed, topics merged.

R.Brown 30 appearances, 3 as sub. - goals 0 arent I a little fellow.

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Just like Souness, who didn't give a post match interview, I went into retreat on Saturday night and set off into the wilderness in search of calm and solitude, away from the doom and gloom of fellow Roverites and the gloating banter of my local Man U, affiliated barman. I'd started in fine spirits on Saturday morning, it was a bank holiday weekend and after all the recent rain storms the sun was shinning down on Ewood. Souness had selected a team, for a change, where each player was in his rightful position, Thompson was back after a lengthy injury in place of the "butterfly", we had a new signing, M.G.Pederson, making his debut and to top it all United had a number of players out injured. Maybe, just maybe, after Wednesday's second half collapse against Arsenal, we could salvage a draw against United, when all said and done the stats were in our favour, not since 1998 had United come away from Ewood with maximum points. Oh joy of joy, Ewood erupted as Dickov lashed his shot in to the back of the Darwen End goal, right in front of the United supporters. With the Reds silenced the Blackburn End bounced and for the first time this season we out sang the drummer. If you're a Rovers supporter optimism is removed at birth, so the main point raised by the bloke whose sat next to me for longer than I can remember, was "It's going to be a long second half". Little did he know that those words would come back to haunt him as we ended up having to play "Fergietime" as well. When I'd arrived at Ewood, I would have happily accepted a share of the points but on leaving Ewood I was physically and mentally exhausted, feeling cheated. The result wont change despite all the media coverage regarding extra time and the hand ball, but it is was a bitter pill to swallow following D'Urso's controversial penalty at St Mary's last week. Having had time to reflect on the game, what was evident, was the change in attitude by both fans and players. Last season the team would have laid down and capitulated to the ever increasing United pressure and the fans would have accepted the inevitable defeat. On Saturday it was apparent that the players performed with passion, wearing the shirt with pride, recognised from all quarters of the ground by the fans as they stood singing their support until the very end. After last season's disappointment and under achievement this crop of players gave the supporters something to cheer about, it wasn't a case of going home complaining about the Rovers, it was a feeling of sorrow for the players who had given a 110 per cent. My man of the match was Friedel, who showed the form that won him the top keeper award two seasons ago, without his world class saves United could easily have won by four clear goals. But credit must also go to Barry Ferguson, who wears his heart on his sleeve and to Bret Emerton who on Saturday started to show why so many clubs tried to sign him prior to joining Rovers. However for ever plus there is a minus, Amorus's blatant shoulder blocks, once was bad enough, but having been already booked the second time was just plain stupid and as for the rejuvenated Yorke, you have to be joking. How Jansen can be behind Yorke in the pecking order is beyond belief. After this weekends performance I'm more optimistic, the team is taking shape and looking more balanced with players in their natural positions. I just hope that Souness doesn't start rearranging the team again, trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Short, Amoruso, Matteo, Thompson (Emerton 17), Ferguson, Tugay, Pedersen, Stead (Yorke 64), Dickov (Johansson 71). Subs Not Used: De Pedro, Enckelman. Sent Off: Amoruso (71). Booked: Stead, Amoruso, Tugay. Goals: Dickov 17. United: Howard, Gary Neville, O'Shea, Silvestre, Spector (Miller 75), Ronaldo, Djemba-Djemba (Bellion 80), Kleberson (Saha 45), Giggs, Scholes, Smith. Subs Not Used: Phil Neville, Carroll. Booked: Kleberson. Goals: Smith 90. Att: 26,155 Ref: A Wiley

Totally agree Capt. Financially the club where better off unloading Cole, Dunn Duff, but on the field we have lost creative players and a proven (when he wants to) striker. As for Jansen, there is no way he's going to regain confidence playing in the reserves. Souness either has to give him a run in the first team (a big gamble in our present position) or allow him to try and resurect his career elsewhere. Unfortunately Rovers cannot these days afford the luxury of carrying passengers.

The Premier League has suspended referee Andy D'Urso for 28 days for failing to apply the laws of the game after failing to send off Barry Ferguson after showing him two yellow cards in the away game against Southampton. Ferguson's second yellow card was awarded for kicking the ball away following D'Urso awarding a controversial last-minute penalty, which gave Southampton a 3-2 win. What the fans have to say Messageboard Link

Solathar, I'm not having a go at you, but I had to smile at that comment on two accounts. 1st - Man U, havent been that successfull since the departure of Beckham. 2nd - Souness sells Cole, Dunn and Duff, (for the benifit of the club) and he gets slated. Its a no, no win situation being a manager

just for the record. Goals Kevin Hird 21 Chris Price 14 Bob Crompton 14. Keith Newton 10