The final programme from 1994/95 ⚪️🔵

He’s struggling to differentiate between a league with the ‘most expensive players’ and a league that is the ‘best competition’.

This actually sounds like a good idea. Not that Rovers will benefit, as income doesn't affect the budget https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25160312.proposed-rule-land-blackburn-rovers-windfall-uefa/ UEFA has been urged to consider a new rule which could see a percentage of prize money distributed to Rovers and other clubs. The policy, known as the Player Development Reward, has been proposed by the Union of European Clubs (UEC). It would see at least five per cent of prize money from the Champions League and other UEFA competitions distributed to non-competing clubs who have developed players. For example, Rovers could receive a reward for producing David Raya after the goalkeeper helped Arsenal reach the semi-final. The Gunners overcame Real Madrid en route to the last four, where they were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain over two legs. Raya progressed through the Academy ranks at Ewood Park and went on to make more than 100 appearances for the first team. The goalkeeper was snapped up by Brentford in the summer of 2019 and was promoted with the Bees in 2020/21. He headed to Arsenal in the summer of 2023, initially on a loan deal before completing a permanent switch to the Emirates. The proposed rule would see funds distributed to clubs based on the minutes played in UEFA Competitions and prize money earned. Only clubs who are not competing would be eligible to ensure that “support goes to clubs whose work often goes unrecognised”. UEC claim that simulations based on recent seasons show nearly 1,500 clubs across Europe would have received payments - from top divisions down to sixth tier teams - and more than 400 clubs would have received north of €100,000 each. A statement read: "This policy has the potential to deliver meaningful, long-term financial recognition and reward to clubs that fuel the professional game by developing its talent. "As football continues to evolve, the UEC remains committed to advocating for a fairer, more inclusive ecosystem where every club, regardless of size or budget, has the opportunity to thrive. The Player Development Reward is an important step toward that future."

Oh right see what you mean. I can’t imagine they’d stoop so low as to blatantly deceive the fan base on matters of fact. Then again….

Dolan’s grown on me this season. I think he’s learning more about playing to his strengths. He is a goal threat and he is capable of putting in some really good crosses. His pressing and work rate are excellent. His weakness is losing possession too easily, either through trying to be too clever, trying to run his man on the outside, or poor quality passes. We got him on a free and have probably been paying him peanuts. He’s been a really good signing based on that alone.

I think they will lie and try and infer it's being done to comply with FFP. There are already plenty of people citing this is a necessary reason on social media and I think the club, being quite content to mislead will allude to this without quite saying it.

I think he meant what club he’s going to, not what social function.

Apologies if I’m missing something but why would that be the clubs angle? That guidance quote has them bang to rights. Supporting women’s football has no impact on FFP.

From what I've seen Serie A has been the best league around in terms of competition and exciting football. The premier league was probably the most boring one ever. The title was all but wrapped up in November and the three relegated teams were pretty much confirmed by Christmas. Woeful.

JDT spent much of his time publically calling out the owners because when he called for an actual competent striker, he wasnt given one, just a crap freebie from Plymouth, a german 4th division player and a rubbish loanee. Hence why he had no other option but to play Vale and Leonard. He had no alternative but to use the likes of Garrett and Markanday too. That weirdly was the season we may have hit these stupid targets but also the one we slid down into relegation danger and he got so pissed off he walked. This is why communication is so important from the clubs perspective. They can talk any old shite and some will swallow it up. There were 2 reasons why we hit those targets a year or 2 ago. One was that we had two talents capable of playing Championship football at such a young age purely on merit, one exceptional one in particular. The other was because cut backs meant that we didnt have enough players not to fill the squad full of graduates even though most werent ready. If you genuinely believe in a "footballing plan" here then you must have lived under a rock for a number of years. Its purely a plan of cutting costs glamorised to appear to have the best interests of the team in mind. Padding out the squad with kids means you dont have to sign as many. Who cares if they are all ready to play.

The problem is that when sky repeatedly say the best league in the world, those lacking critical faculty swallow it up and assume its constantly the case. All I know is that this season, the Premier League has been shite. A title "race" and relegation "fight" all done and dusted with so many games still left to play. The main supposed talking point from the weekend just gone was a player being booed by his own fans. That isnt down to the growing financial inequality that makes it harder and harder for teams to avoid embarassing relegation once they go up. Its because one of them signed a poor quality keeper.

Well, a cursory glance at the Serie A table shows that, with two games to play: - One of two teams can still be crowned champions, with a play off to determine who still a possibility. - Two points separate 4th from 7th, which includes the final CL spot and singular spots for the Europa and Conference Leagues. 7th get nothing. - Two from (realistically) three teams at the bottom are still to be relegated. Italy might not have the snazzy packaging of the Premier League or allure of Pep or Salah or whatever shite Sky are peddling this week, but if I wanted to look at something pretty I'd go for a wallk in the country. 'Perfection' does not necessarily equal 'Intrigue' or 'Entertainment'.

Having any kind of minutes target for playing academy players is an outright admission of wanting to play young players for the sake of it rather than when they're ready.

If we're floundering due to having an inexperienced squad and Ismael says this is the reason, you'll be the first to say we should bring in experience and claim you said this all along.

Pears wasn't involved!!

Only one winner. Sheffield United!!

Lampard's face at the end was worth tuning in alone!

Good header by Ballard. Should be good final

What league is better? Maybe those teams should have bought better instead of overpaying for players Muric. Forest done excellent this season. Deserved their European place. Pleased for that club.

JDT picked Barnes in his first match day squad over Phillips. Injuries to Barnes cost him his career here. Hopefully he can find a new club and rebuild his career. Always rated Garrett and thinks he offers alot but these 2 loan spells have been disaster for him and his career

I wouldn't get excited about any new signings coming in as it looks like the running down of the rover continues its looking like they are pulling the plug on the womens set up

You never cease to amaze!

Ask that pillock Terry what the gates were when the women's team was started, allegedly at the request of Mrs D.

Soft, ugly goal to concede that. Couldn't happen to a nicer club - fuck Coventry and all who sail in her.

Not in the slightest.