What do you mean by that? Are you getting at me Tris? So it is Sally Gunnel? Or was it Diego Forlan who phoned Radio Lancs? All very confusing and I've only been gone a day. For what it's worth I still don't know who it is - and that's the way I like it baby - thank you very much, I'm bound to fall out with someone for knowing or even for not knowing, in fact even by posting in this thread I'm leaving myself open to all sorts of accusations. Saunders: "You know too much Mr Fleming. You must die." or "You know too little Mr Fleming. You must die." or even "You know as much as the next man Mr Fleming, You must die anyway." You can't win with him. He's Welsh see isn't it. Where's Yorke gone? Pins for tea mother? Black! Black!

Yes, Souness is, he also got rid of Gillespie, Dunn, Curtis, Hignett, Berg the list goes on. None of whom were black. Weren't they? Not what I heard. It was all done with loads and loads of make up. Souness started to get a bit embarassed with the number of black players he had in the team at that time and this was the only course of action he could think of to avoid being called a racist against whites. He got away with it an all until now. 92er - Posted on Jul 18 2004, 23:49 Did he? It's all happening today. Thanks for that. Perhaps Souness didn't see the effort that you saw and therefore didn't see fit to mention him? Which would be a real shame and maybe one of the reasons why he left the club. Oh well.

tchocky = friend of evil. I'm not getting involved in any of this.

You in league with him or summat tchocky?!? It's been nigh on 18 minutes now since Cole has left - any sign of a replacement?

Fair do's Waggy. But surely that's just people saying who they think our starting 11 will be (as picked by Souness) - rather than actually stating Dickov is a better player than Gallagher. I'm splitting hairs anyway - I'll give you that one! joey_big_nose -

Thought as much.

Go on then Waggy I challenge you to that. Find one quote from someone, anyone on here who says that Dickov is a better player than Gallagher. Go on..... I'll give you thirty seconds.

Yes - of course it bloody well is. What do you expect? 101 reasons why he should stay when clearly he's going anyway? Sorry but I'm hardly likely to talk a player up when he's leaving our club am I. Isn't it called human nature or something. Fine. He's going. Whatever. He put a really good contribution in at the back end of last season but if anyone would like to explain why we should pay someone in excess of £50k a week (oh yeah, that only came out last week didn't it- perhaps that's another reason for this predictability) for what probably amounts to 15 good performances a season then I'm all ears. 11 goals last season. In the amongst the Top 15 strikers in the Country!! Goodness me - go get another wheelbarrow and quick. Reasons for not jumping on a "Cole out" bandwagon have already been discussed. Personally I see little point in this sort of thing at the best of times, but what makes this departure so frustrating is that we know he can do it. Only a brave man would drop Cole - knowing darned well he'll probably score next game anyway (and you may come in for a bit of stick on here as well ). But...... Potentially he's still up there with the best of them. But you get nothing for potential - he's got to produce - by and large he hasn't. I just happen to think that the money can be best spent elsewhere on another forward.

Good spot Alan. First thing that strikes me are his pretty boy good looks, we might be trying to tap into the Cristiano Ronaldo market for people who like their players slightly effeminate, he's not the tallest though I must say, which must be a concern. Is this picture taken during transfer talks? Good move by Saunders to keep his face covered and not reveal his true identity. No one in their right mind would sign for the The Most Evil Man in World Football (Worse than David Pleat). (although I must say he’s done a good job with the DeanoCard Season Ticket thingy). Saunders is clearly playing hard ball during the negotiations when this picture was taken….. “£55,000 a week, take it or leave it” at which mystery player is saying “Make it £60,000 and I promise I’ll talk to you in training”. Deano “Leave it with me” he then turns to the camera and shouts "Gaffer!! Has Coley gone yet?!?".

I'd have to say so LeChuck, yes. Not only is he blowing a kiss when volleying from 10 yards out but he's also insisting on having his hands on his arse - makes a change from his hips I suppose (damn you alank). Some people aren't going to like this, but this is how I feel and after all it's a messageboard for opinions OK? So what's he waiting for then? Is he haggling about money with Fulham? Time to go Andy. You don't want to be here and personally I don't want you to be here either. Thanks for the memories, mostly distant. Thanks for doing a bit at the back end of last season and keeping us up (although not single handedly). Appreciate that. Sorry about the lack of service and not having players of the same quality as Manchester United to suit the exact requirements of your game. Sorry about you having to run around and create space and your own chances now and again. I hope Fulham are good enough to give you extra time off when you want it. I'm sure Chris Coleman will be all too accommodating in that department. Still, if Fulham are in a relegation battle come next March/April and he won't give you time off (whilst still earning X thousands of £'s a week) then you can always report him to the PFA as well. There have been many threads, talk, over the last few months about “heart”, “passion”, “determination” and people having an affinity with the players. Last season I went to Man City away. Sat in the home end, got tickets off a mate. Anyway, the game was insipid. I turned to my mate after all of 10 minutes and said – those two up front are having a laugh. Just watch them. Cole and Yorke. I went for a pint (as I normally do, admittedly – before you say anything Kayos) but this time at 3.20. I believe I missed nothing, they don’t show the game in the concourses at the Council House like they do at Ewood (take note alcoholics). I think they call that sort of performance “taking the pi$$”. The second half was marginally better but I could see that nothing of note was going to happen in those first 45 mins. I’m sorry but I don’t understand where all this gnashing of teeth is coming from with him leaving (probably – almost certainly). This is no Alan Shearer. Sure £7 million has gone in a little under 2.5 years – not good. But we’re saving a reported £4 million (wages and “bonus” for seeing out his contract – JHC). The Souness stuff can wait for another day – this is Andy Cole. (Briefly in Cole's defence, I never thought he was the same player once Yorke arrived at the club) Hopefully we’ll get someone else in – surely we must? (maybe there is £4m to play with??!) I tell you now though – I doubt I’ll be walking off for a pint at 3.20 (I’ll wait until 3.30 – alright Capt?) when Dickov is playing. You know what you’re going to get – and so do the defenders - a hard time of it. I wouldn’t like to play against him and hopefully we’ll see someone who’s going to put a full shift in for BRFC. That's how I see it. It differs from most I'm afraid it would appear but that's football! Those who say he's our best player, that he runs his socks off every game for the club, Sorry - I just don't see it.

maradona anyone? I asked Admin on the official MB and he says his identity cannot be disclosed. So in summary. Rovers aren't saying - and they've done a good job... 1. Orvil Jordon Esq - "Andy Welsh" 2. John Pittard Esq - "Mounir el Handryer" 3. Radio Lancs - "Pato Banton" 4. Sky Sports - "Anwar Patel" 5. Sky Sports again - "We don't know" 6. Lancashire Evening Telegraph - "Who cares? burnley have signed a keeper" Tremendous stuff. Well done to all concerned.

I thought as much Den. Fortunately I used blanks. Similalry I've just been on www.cnn.com/blackburnroverslive - nothing. Nice one Tris.

Well really. Have we learnt nothing from last season?!?!? We don't even know what position anyone's playing in! What are they doing? 4-0, 4-0!! is that it? Against a bunch of pig farmers from Austria?! Where's Brad? Where's de Pedro? Are they injured? Is Nissa playing left wing??! What's wrong with Thompson? Where's Amoruso? What's happening? Someone get a message to one of our guys on the ground and find out what the heck is going on!! and quick!! Was Saunders on the plane? I can't stand this much longer!!!! Tris - can I get CNN on tinternet?!? Where, where!! Stead's injured - pass me that gun.

Great post Hughesy. Well done lad. Sorry for repeating what has already been said but I can't stop laughing at this. Brilliant Chesh. Didn't Ferguson also fall out with Cole and Yorke. How strange? Whatever happened to those managers we used to have - who never fell out with anyone, you know, the likes of Kidd and Hodgson?

I believe Paul Mckinnon is at a bit of a loose end.

Hughesy - I wrote this the other day about Tuesday's LET. I wish I'd kept the paper now and got a proper quote but those pescky bin men have been - damn them and their efficient refuse collection service. So I'd take a guess and say that he will look to replace Cole - although as with most thing's - there are no guarantees - I can guarantee you that.

It's a tricky one Jim. Seeing how we finished 6th and still lost season ticket sales then I'd say no. Dunn (who most on here at any rate, slag off as not being good enough) was sold at the beginning of that close season, Duff at the last minute at the end. So we'd have probably lost ST sales anyway. You say that Boro have sold 25,000 Season Tickets this season. Let's call that £11 million worth. I wonder what they're paying JFK and Viduka? £50,000 each a week? That's £5.2 million a year. Plus they still have to pay the rest of their squad. Was there a fee for Viduka? Can't remember for the life of me. It doesn't add up. Steve Gibson is bank rolling them big style - and good for him. Unfortunately, it would appear that we are now operating in something called "the real world" as it appears to me that the money from Jersey isn't what it used to be. Don't get me wrong Jim - I'd love us to go out and buy a "big name signing" or someone to "excite" the fans. But if the money isn't there what should we do? Gamble the long term future of the club in an attempt to bring back ST's holders who even then might not come back anyway? These missing fans certainly wouldn't give confidence to the board to go down this route. Or maybe Jim, the Board have been reading your posts and aren't prepared to back him anymore? Perhaps they've set aside some money to pay his contract up when they sack him.

Read last weekend that since 1996 'Boro have spent £50 million on strikers alone. That obviously includes those mentioned above plus some other rubbish. Then of course you've got wages on top as well. So, take Ravenelli (Steve Gibson was daft enough to), let's say he was on £30,000 a week (sounds about right I'd imagine) on a four year contract - that's another £6 million. Let's just say that since 1996 'Boro have spent well over £100 million on strikers who by and large have been pony. So it stands to reason that any striker that Blackburn Rovers buys, who doesn't cost a huge amount of money, is bound to be a bad player. Let’s not even give Dickov a chance eh? Let's go and buy an "exciting" player, who costs an absolute fortune, he's just bound to be successful - as 'Boro have shown over the years (I'll not mention Davies or Grabbi as I don't feel that way out).

I doubt it greggy, although I'm sure if he (Stead) was banging in x20 plus goals a season we'd have to look at upping his wage - maybe not up to £55k a week though.

Den r.e. Germany - Oh. That'll be it then. Den r.e. Terrified - Surely he has to leave before we can replace him? Ace - I'd have thought so - but I'm no expert. I'll try it later today and let you know (and I can't see any wheelbarrows round here).

LET Blimey! I could have sworn that the first game was tomorrow! What are they planning on doing? Parachute onto the pitch after getting changed on the plane? I thought they'd already left to be honest. Well, unless what the LET is reporting is a load of nonsense, then there's no option. See you Andy, and take your mate with you please, if you can find someone daft enough to have you both.

Yeah - he did score more goals than Mr Cole. I can't see how we can presume Dickov will be our number one striker next season anyway (J. Stead?). Not when Souness said in the LET on Tuesday, as I've previously pointed out, that if they release some players it would enable them to "go again" into the market. I would have thought reducing the wage bill by £55k a week (or even half of that figure as is rumoured) would enable us to go looking for a replacement for Cole. Whether there is time to get one in - or indeed Cole does actually leave anyway - of course remains to be seen.

SteB - and the rest of the guys who run this site - Cheers for getting it sorted (even though it may well only be temporary). Your efforts are really appreciated. Without getting too melodramatic - players come and go at BRFC - it's the fans that make it all happen. Enjoy Germany SteB (and whoever else is making the trip) - watch out for their lager - terrible kick to it I seem to recall.

Maybe he isn't modes - I doubt Andy Neild was there when they boarded the plane.

Cole on £55,000 per week ?!? There's your LET link. I'll be first to say it then. If he goes and we get a suitable replacement (I have confidence in Stead, Gallagher, Dickov and a lot of hope for Jansen - but I'd sooner get another experienced striker in as well) then I'm not too bothered. How very controversial. If you read the LET last night I'm sure you'd have seen this coming. Sorry I don't have the exact quote but Souness did say something along the lines that if one or two left it would give him the opportunity "to go again" into the market. It's another falling out though - but with a player he's already fallen out with so at least he's showing some consistency. Finally, in a complete departure to what appears to be the vast majority on this MB, Rovers fans who I've spoken to over the last few days about Cole's possible departure seem quite pleased or indifferent. Certainly not incredibly fed up. It's all about opinions. Interesting times ahead.