: hangs head in shame : It's ONLY a cup, my priority is the PL

Good, 'cos I could do with a weekend in Wales

As ever bob you can get all the info you need at brfcs.com Nice light! Instruction Manual as a PDF Come on you Blues, and don't forgrt to cheer our Tom. Another shameless plug for tomorrow's mascot.

Well I regard myself as a dedicated, home, fan. I can't go away often for numerous reasons that are irrelevant here. On Saturday after about 30 minutes I found myself reading the instructions for the new set of bike lights I had purchased enroute to Ewood. Ashamed to admit that? No, we were just as bad as ever, again I was watching a crap game from two crap teams. OK second half was different but I was distracted by a bicycle light! Why are crowds decling? Simple. For the last 16 months we have watched garbage with hardly a note-worthy performance in that time. Now the decline is long-term but in recent history the complete lack of ambition coupled with appalling performances from a bunch of players that have a couldn't care less attitude has sown the whirlwind. Premiership survival is the target - INSPIRING. Before Souness left I had decided NOT to renew the STs for next year. Currently I've changed my mind on that one. Saturday had three big plus points for me: Mark Hughes Matt Jansen Jay Bothroyd - this is a cup Blackburn want to win Until the club demonstrate a more positive attitude to winning things the crowds will not return. I know we can't win the PL, I know the best I can hope for in the league is stirring performances, a decent position and beating Utd, Arsenal etc. from time to time. Blackburn Rovers MUST let me BELIEVE we can WIN a cup - if there is no dream, there is no point and if survival is the target it tells me we don't WANT to win a cup. EIT and jim make good points above. The key is to present a POSITIVE image. I believe we will see this from Mark Hughes but it will take time to restore the doubters faith.

He didn't say that on Monday. He was asked about it at the Press Conference and said it was something he said a while ago when he didn't have any plans to leave Wales at that time......... If that's the case Mum, I stand corrected. Thanks for letting me know. I was under the impression that Hughes had said those words earlier in the week because it was widely reported in some of the more 'informed' broadsheet newspapers as well as the tabloids. It was reported on Five Live that Hughes had been quoted out of context. I only heard this in one report and every other source took the headline grabbing view, "Hughes to stay with Wales". This of course then gives them plenty more options in the future: Hughes deserts Wales Traitor Hughes etc. Club before Country The only sporting news I believe these days is on the BBC.

What was it last year? Dunno - had to check the FL web site to find out for this year.

I could be totally wrong here but I believe it is the club that are responsible for the costs of policing a match. So it's unlikely to be the police attempting to justify their presence. I would have thougt both Rovers and the police would be working to reduce the police presence on match days?

So that's it, Brett's been sneaking off and playing in Europe

That's interesting dave because I can't recall him doing this with any real consistency or the power and directness he showed yesterday in the second half. My expectations have always been that he would go down the touchline and knock in a cross. Presumably if we have someone overlapping on the right and a striker moving towards the right or centre of goal Emerton could create lost of chances? If this is how Brett likes to play it would be interesting to know if he told Hughesy where he feels comfortable or if Hughes told him where to play?

To date we haven't been able to contact anyone from Bournemouth for a pre-match preview. I've searched around on the web a little for some links and information on a club I know nothing about. I've been looking forward to Wednesday for weeks and now that Hughesy is with us I feel there should be lots of interest in this game. Why am I excited? Our Tom will be mascot We could win this cup - it's the Carling Cup this year Hughesy's first real opportunity to tinker with the team and look at the fringe players Bournemouth are 18th in League One with 11 points from 9 games. They seem to have had an indifferent start to the season. losing their first game and then drawing the next two. The Cherries then went on to win three on the bounce, followed by three straight defeats. Yesterday's 1-0 victory at Hillsborough beiong their first win since August 28th. Match report from official Cherries site - if you are registered with rovers.co.uk use the same log in details for this site I've had brief look at one some independent sites plus the usual rivals.net stuff etc. and it seems this match is not creating a great deal amongst the Bournemouth faithful! Hmmmmm.

The first time I've seen Cole this season, looked to me as though he was playing very well indeed. A very big mistake to let him go, but the club could not have foreseen events of the last two weeks.

It's true Emerton played well in the second half. Most of his attacking play was running directly at the Pompey defence about 10-15 yards in from the touchline. I don't think his play produced a traditional cross, which isn't to criticise just an observation, but clearly worried the Pompey defenders. I'm as delighted as everyone and really enjoyed a relaxed Saturday night for the first time in months - this bloody game really does get to you. I feel this game was the perfect start for Hughes in every way. In the first 45 minutes we were as bad as ever againast a poor Pompey team - if anything Rovers made them look good. Better for Hughes to see the reality from the start than have an all guns blazing, new manager performance. Clearly Hughes had points to make at half time and this made a difference but I think we played far better against Utd. The players still have a lot to prove. Lots of positives from the game: Emerton played well two home games in a row Bothroyd looks like he could add something to the attack Amo played well In general we were prepared to run at the opposition In another game we would have conceded in the last ten minutes Jansen Friedel got very lucky with a clear penalty There is a long way to go before we have a team but at least we have begun - Charlton away will be a big test. We must be looking for a point from that game. Alan - I heard Hughes comments about Jansen. I hadn't thought of this in relation to Jansen but posted in the "Good Choice" thread I thought Hughes would bring a fatherly approach to the younger players. Seems he has done. Another really encouraging remark I picked up from Jay Bothroyd's interview on RR on the Bournemouth game "this is a cup Blackburn are looking to win" . Yes, yes, yes - that is the attitude I want to hear, none of this PL survival nonsense.

Me too....just so pleased for Matt. Lets hope he plays on Wednesday and gets three. Paul, you two faced sun of a ........, I remember talking to you about Matty on the last game of the season last year and you said that he was finished and there was no way back. Anyway, your foregiven today cos I dont care Quite right, I did think he was finished and realistically so did half the board. That doesn't stop me being pleased fro him and Rovers, or does it? Just a word of warning though one goal doesn't make a season. Matt may have been told to drop back in the last ten minutes but I thought he looked very, very tired after just 30 minutes or so on the pitch. I'm very pleased he got the chance but he still has a long, long way to go.

Me too....just so pleased for Matt. Lets hope he plays on Wednesday and gets three.

What constitues 'reasonable'?!? Wearing a replica shirt and staying away from alcohol, maybe even taking a rattle and a scarf with you? So Paul what if YOU were wrongly accused? Would you just sit back and take it on the chin? Or would you protest your innocence? Especially when the accusation means you can't watch the team you support. Dave, of course I'd protest my innocence but I also know I wouldn't get into the situation in the first place. Now I also realise this is a topic I should have kept out of, I'm dipping out because I know I'm at least 25 years too old to appreciate the younger view. Left to myself I'd avoid the situation, my son is 18, and I know how young people feel about that view so it's best if I just try to bow out gracefully. It's the difference between youth and experience, that's all. OK?

Yes I read it and I agree that every individual is entitled to justice. It seems neither right or wrong that the police are using the civil court rather than the criminal court. Do I care? For a bunch of football hooligans, who are innocent until proven guilty, it doesn't worry me one way or the other. This is a circular arguement with a 17 year old. I don't need one of those, I know how they end up, so I'm backing out. cheers

Yes that's very true American, both those wrongly arrested and those prosecuted and shown to be innocent. In this case it seesm to me BRFCC protests too much, simple as that and gives me the impression he may not be entirely innocent.

Yep I understand. You're on the list, presumably the police have a reason, if you get banned tough. The police have a job to do, the type of individual who acts in a manner to be brought to court for a banning order at club or international level has the potential to disgrace club or country. In my view that makes you unwelcome at any football match. All my life I've heard people complain about how innocent there actions are. The problem being those same people don't understand or do not wish to understand the impact their actions have on society. Consequently the police will look to ban such individuals if they can. There's a simple solution - behave in a reasonable manner.

I have a question for BRFCC; why are you bothering to raise this subject on here? Did you expect to find some sympathy?

I voted "yes". I don't really know who my number one choice would have been. I did not want the club to appoint: Hoddle Houllier Reid Keegan ( I know) Newell Jewell Robson Venables Graham Gregory Sturrock and a a host of others So that left Hughes, Strachan and possibly Dowie. The fact Hughes played for us doesn't really come into it other than we've had the opportunity to gauge the type of man he is. Hughes strikes me as being hard-working, decent, honest and, I think, could be "fatherly" towards the younger players. While I don't follow international football he seems to have taken a bunch of disparate players - 1st, 2nd & 3rd division plus Giggs and Hartson (I don't know any other Welsh footballers) and moulded them into a team capable of beating anyone on their night. Also capable of being stuffed on occassions. The Welsh public seem delighted with his achievements with near sell-outs at the Millenium stadium. When I look at Blackburn Rovers, we seem to have a few very good players plus a bunch who don't really know where they are going. I don't believe Souness deliberatley signed bad players so I'm inclined to feel they have the potential to do well. The crowd is declining, voting with it's feet - we couldn't sell-out against United, and I hope Hughes can endear himself to the Blackburn public and get the ground full again. Hughes worked well with a pretty motley collection at international level whom he was able to train infrequently. It's to be hoped that daily contact and influence on our motley collection will have an even better result. This is why i'm happy with Mark Hughes as manager of my football club. My son is mascot for the Bournemouth game. I'm looking forward to shaking Sparky's hand and wishing him well................and he better speak to my lad!!

Rovers text service confirmed Bowen's appointment at 10.54 this morning. Should have posted this earlier but I thought everyone realised it.

My impression of mark Hughes is of a quiet and decent man. I would hope he will understand the stress and strain on these younger players, recognise their potential and bring them into the team. I don't doubt a little "fatherly" advice will be dispensed if any of them should wander off the rails. Stead, Gally must get a chance, IMO.

A few links for you all, nice to be in the spotlight for a while: Media Watch

No pressure then Graeme?

I hoped for Strachan or Hughes and I suppose Dowie would have been OK. Very happy the club have moved decisively and appointed the man they appear to have targetted. Hughes showed plenty of passion when he played for Rovers, I hope he's going to bring that same passion to the manager's job. Looking forward to Saturday for the first time in months