John

He will be on nice, high wages as well. Clearly a Souness panic buy when he thought the MGP deal was off. Going back to our wingers- I am wondering if the thinking behind having Reid on the right is to protect Lucas Neil better. On the left Jay doesnt seem to push forward that much, probably due to Emerton's constant forward runs.

Just to sum up Rovers related performances on this match. Emerton looks in fine form and willing to try anything at the moment. Neill did well nothing special though. On MGP, scored a goal but as said earlier pushed off the ball all too easily. Possibly a reason why he is not featuring for us at the moment. However some nice touches but was a difficult game for him. I like the runs he makes at the back post, seen him do that in previous matches and it can be a useful position to take up. Also, wish we got Cahill- he looks excellent and was the best player on the pitch.

They are combining well down the right. The whole team seems to be playing with a lot of confidence. MGP just scored from a free-kick, think it was meant to be a cross, not sure though.

They had a laugh about it after though! 2-1 to Australia now- Emerton still playing well, Neil quite good. MGP- still looks lost and weak...

Emerton's confidence looks sky high at the moment. Trying a lot of things in the match so far, some working some not. One good run. MGP helped in the Norway goal, nice pass- he gets pushed off the ball far too easily, looks a bit lost at times.

On the decision itself its upto the manager who his backroom staff are. The board will always support the manager on issues like this. Hughes feels Parkes qualities are working with players of first team calibre not developing a nucleus of young players from reserve team football to being able to handle first team action. Pity no role for Tony at academy level but I certainly under-estimated the mess the club was/is in. Fundamental changes were needed are they are happening.

Le Chuck- I posed the question to the Sky Sports's Gulilem Balague recently. It seems you like others on here have this false impression of De Pedro. He said that De Pedro has always been an over-rated player who looked good in flashes in the World Cup. To suggest he has been good or a star for Spain was incorrect. He also stated that the only offer he had since January was our one in the summer and the wages he is getting always ensured he would come to us. He summed up by saying he thought De Pedro was too slow to make a meaningful contribution in the Premiership.

I fell into the propaganda about De Pedro when he first joined. However from what I have heard he will never make an impression in this league. He is acutally enjoying the English way of life but he is unlikely to fit in our team especially in our present situation. He is a decent passer, crosser of the ball but that is all he offers. I dont see why not for now put Reid on the left as he played well there in his days at Millwall.

Looking for forward to seeing Gally lead the line tonight for the Scotland Under 21s. Hughes has told him he will be watching so there is a good incentive for a decent performance. Then after it will interesting to see MGP play for Norway again, seen him a couple of times and seems to play well for his national team. Could be a opportunity to impress others for him as well... Also the Australia team looks quite good- should be a good match.

Interesting stats they were giving on Sky's Monday night football. Newcastle have the joint worse defensive record in the Prem with ourselves. The presenter when talking to a Newcastle fan made the point that it must be bad if its the same as us.

Blackburn striker Jonathan Stead will not be making the Under 21 trip because of an ankle injury, he was substituted at half-time during the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at Eastlands. Rodney Marsh's view- http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article...1159830,00.html

Well you anti Dickov's- do you think we need him now?? We are not a top five team so I think we can say he is proving to be a good purchase. Of course there are still doubters but I must say I question how much you people actually know about football. Ask most managers and they would take Dickov and they would take him, even just to have him in the squad alone- but of course we have people on here who have managed businesses before...same thing. Sorry a drink fuelled rant but seeing the performances he is putting in makes me proud for him to be a Rover

Penalty... Am I dreaming- come on boys!!

Saturday afternoons such a depressing event these days. 4 games until Xmas and the signs are bad, very bad.

Just saw an interview with Parkes- he looks very sad, shellshocked and angry about the fact he read it in a newspaper. He said its just not Blackburn Rovers and he thought they could never act like this. Says he will try to stay in the game and he has no axe to grind with anyone at the club.

I can undertstand why Hughes is doing it. It is not about which side I am on, if its in the best interests of the club I will back it. Along with others the way it has come out and been handled is appalling for Tony. It is a disgrace in the way he has been treated not a disgrace that Hughes has sacked him. I can see what Hughes is trying to do and all I have been doing here is saying why he has done it- if you look at one of my previous posts I pretty much predicted the reasons why he has gone before they were made public.

Hughes has a lot in common with Souness. He is a winner, ambitous and aggressive as a person. However as we saw on the pitch he can control himself in his actions(apart from a few times). I feel the decisions he makes are balanced and measured. He recognises that we have one of the best academies in Europe and he wants to get more out of it. Also think Eddie N would of had some input on this from his background. Remember Henry Winter saying prior to Hughes taking the job here that he is regarded as a very intelligent man and whichever club gets him will benefit.

I think whats happened is that Hughes decided that he wants a coach who can develop young players controlling the reserves. The thought of re-structuring has come about through Kelly's departure to Leicester. The board meeting took place on Tuesday when Hughes revealed his plans. The board have since been looknig for an alternative position for Parkes at academy level but nothing is available. News broke unexpectedly overnight in the press as Williams was due to tell Parkes this morning.

Just in on Sky!! Hughes wants the link between the academy and first team to be better than it is. We have an excellent academy and it is not being utilised. The board were trying to find a position for Parkes at the academy but nothing is available.

John Williams was meant to tell Parkes this morning. Mark Hughes said today he is sad at the way the situation has been handled.

Parkes learnt of his departure from reading The Sun this morning. Nice way to go...

Reporter on Sky Sports News just said. Board meeting on Tuesday when Hughes made his proposals to the board -over night the news leaked to the press. However the news is not official yet. What an insult.

Absolute disgrace!!! Parkes has not even been told yet- media all talking about it and the man himself doesnt even know. Not even told face to face, what a shambles and a brutal end. Reason for Parkes leaving is that Hughes regards Parkes as a first team coach and there are no positions at the club for him.

Cannot forget the times when he stepped in the breach and saved this club. Thank you Tony you will not be forgotten and you are a true blue and white. Time to move on though Glyn Hodges (former Wales Under 21 Coach) takes his place.

Dont know if anyone mentioned Malcolm Macdonalds comments in The Sun today on the tactical mystery of what went on in Newcastle's game v Fulham, he was amazed. Like for us he was correct when he said you can only revert to three at the back when you have quick, athletic centre backs!!! Also what a joke on Your on Sky Sports last night- Peter Beagrie was talking about defensive troubles at Newcastle- then mentioned that Blackburn had major defensive problems as well under Souness for a while but Souness and his coach Saunders managed to sort it out! When was this exactly....