THE season is still weeks away and already the knives seem to be out for Rovers.

All I seem to hear in the wake of Craig Bellamy's signing is how Rovers are going to be the most hated team in the Premiership next season.

Well I sincerely hope that is the case because it will mean the club is on the right lines!

Having the likes of Bellamy, Robbie Savage, Lucas Neill and Andy Todd in your starting line-up is enough to let most opponents know they are in for a rough ride.

Shefki Kuqi also looks like he could rough a few people up, doesn't he?

But all those inches should all add up to Rovers not being the pushovers many people are hoping for this season.

Rovers were not short of their critics last season, with allegations of ill-discipline and an over-physical approach making the headlines on several occasions.

But I don't think there is anything wrong with being competitive. It's all good and well winning fair play prizes, but teams like that tend to get relegated.

I would rather play, within the law, really competitively. I was competitive myself, and sometimes even went slightly over the top, and although the game has changed and things like tackling from behind are slowly being outlawed, there is nothing wrong to stop players being truly competitive.

It should be everybody's job in the side to try to win the ball back, but every now and then that means you are going to fall foul of the rules of the game.

So to moan that Rovers are going to be a rough side is unfair. To say they will be competitive is nearer the mark and I would expect nothing less.

I always think teams tend to represent their manager's make-up and if you look at Mark Hughes, certainly in terms of being a competitive animal, he was no wallflower.

I only ever played against him a few times, but he was a very difficult opponent to play against.

Not dirty. I would never label Mark as dirty, but certainly robust and I think that is something he has succeeded in bringing with him into management.

The thing I like about his competitiveness is it is very controlled. It needs to be and it will help the squad next season.

Bringing in the likes of Kuqi and Bellamy, the squad looks as though it has a stamp about it and I would like to think if they can defend as well as they did when Mark got them organised, they will have a season that might surprise a few people.

If I was Mark, my initial target would be a top ten finish with Europe as a bonus, but also an aim.

I wouldn't say it was beyond them if everyone can perform. In fact, I'd be prepared to bet on it!