Boycott Or Not?

[Hasta]

12 minutes ago, ... said:

How do you respond to those around you just out of interest? Or how do others respond if they're say out of range? I think it's one of the more frustrating moments seeing some around you mocking or jesting but unaware of the current situation we find ourselves in

Depends on the situation. I’m not going to start shouting back across a couple of rows to correct them, nor do I want to spend 10 minutes during a game trying to outline all of the Venkys wrongs they don’t know about. But I heard it said (about the chants / pitch) in the pub after the Sheff Wednesday game and I had a long conversation chatting to two lads. They didn’t know half of the issues, but I also felt like they didn’t believe it either as I couldn’t really prove much on the spot.

[Mattyblue]

And it will continue to be like this whilst they pay the wages.

You heard a lot of the same within the Sheff Wed fanbase until he stopped paying the players/staff.

Edited 10 hours ago by Mattyblue

[Dreams of 1995]

1 hour ago, Hasta said:

If people choose not to boycott a single game with the Watford game, I doubt the same people would protest in the ground. For example turn their backs for 5 minutes, show red cards etc.. Any protest inside the ground will occur next to people who think it’s stupid / pointless and many people will naturally be less confrontational . Therefore an in ground protest as well on the 24th would be spun as “most people are happy”, as the majority who would take part won’t be in the ground.

The other point is @Dreams of 1995 says “I am of the opinion that all supporters have the same opinion - that the Venkys have been nothing short of a disaster for Blackburn Rovers.”, but we have to accept he is wrong. Not on the opinion, which I agree with, but there is a significant portion of attending adults who do not think they are doing that bad a job. For the abandoned games, a group around me were laughing at the Venkys out chants, saying Venkys cant control the weather whilst being unaware of the lack of investment in the pitch. Those people don’t read sites like this or social media. They won’t be aware of Brockhall, FF minutes, payday loans from some guy in Bolton, court cases in India etc..  They just think they put the money in and the managers fail.

Is there a difference between thinking we would be buggered without them and thinking they have been bad owners generally?

It can’t be that big a portion of the fan base. I don’t have much conversation with Rovers fans but when I do it is always unanimous that the Venkys are bad for this club. I guess it is the company that you keep

There is a message to get across but from the sounds of some posters here - Matty, yourself - there appears a belief that message is nigh on impossible to make. Unless, of course, the events on the pitch during the 90 minutes spark a sudden burst of frustration

It is a shame really but this is the hand Rovers fans have been dealt 

 

[...]

35 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Depends on the situation. I’m not going to start shouting back across a couple of rows to correct them, nor do I want to spend 10 minutes during a game trying to outline all of the Venkys wrongs they don’t know about. But I heard it said (about the chants / pitch) in the pub after the Sheff Wednesday game and I had a long conversation chatting to two lads. They didn’t know half of the issues, but I also felt like they didn’t believe it either as I couldn’t really prove much on the spot.

Agree its hard to prove a point which is why I think being reflective is the better angle. What have we achieved in last 15 years. Look where we where compared to now. 

Look at the quality of players we were bringing in compared to now...etc

[Mattyblue]

It is what it is, you can’t convince the 3)’s whilst wages are being paid.

So just work around them.

[...]

35 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Depends on the situation. I’m not going to start shouting back across a couple of rows to correct them, nor do I want to spend 10 minutes during a game trying to outline all of the Venkys wrongs they don’t know about. But I heard it said (about the chants / pitch) in the pub after the Sheff Wednesday game and I had a long conversation chatting to two lads. They didn’t know half of the issues, but I also felt like they didn’t believe it either as I couldn’t really prove much on the spot.

Agree its hard to prove a point which is why I think being reflective is the better angle. What have we achieved in last 15 years. Look where we where compared to now. 

Look at the quality of players we were bringing in compared to now...etc

[Gav]

Can we understand the ‘Formula’ what does it take to boycott a match? Anyone know a dingle? Can we get the answer please?

[DE.]

45 minutes ago, ... said:

Agree its hard to prove a point which is why I think being reflective is the better angle. What have we achieved in last 15 years. Look where we where compared to now. 

Look at the quality of players we were bringing in compared to now...etc

Yeah but then they'll just fire back with Uncle Jack being an anomaly, we're at our natural level now, nobody else would fund us, etc. Heard it all before unfortunately. As Matty says, you just have to work around them. These supporters have no ambition for the club beyond it existing in some form or another. As long as they get to go and see eleven lads running around in blue and white each week, things are good. 

[speedies gonna get ya.]

For those of you that are willing to boycott the Watford match, please please please let people know about it.

To be clear, I am not asking you to try and persuade or argue with people. Just let them know it is happening. 

If people know about it and attend thats up to them, if attend because they didn't know I would be really disappointed. Thanks 

[simongarnerisgod]

1 hour ago, Gav said:

Can we understand the ‘Formula’ what does it take to boycott a match? Anyone know a dingle? Can we get the answer please?

was the annual "run your sister a bath day" 

[wilsdenrover]

Convince the sceptics, ignore the cynics.

[Dreams of 1995]

38 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

Convince the sceptics, ignore the cynics.

Excellently summed up there wilsden. You will never convince cynics 

[B16Rover]

In 1922, Kafka wrote a novel entitled 'The Castle'.  How much of it is still relevant in the modern world?

The book follows K., a land surveyor who arrives in a village governed by an opaque and seemingly all-powerful bureaucratic authority centered in the Castle. Determined to justify his presence through reason and procedure, K. pursues permits, explanations, and official recognition, only to encounter contradictory rules, endless delays, and unclear chains of authority. Messages from the Castle are filtered through minor officials and messengers whose roles are ambiguous and whose statements often conflict, giving the impression of a meticulously ordered system that nonetheless resists logic. K.’s insistence on rational clarity exposes the gap between the bureaucracy’s formal appearance and its fundamentally irrational operation.

Crucially, the villagers themselves reinforce the system’s power by deeply respecting and rationalizing it. They accept bureaucratic confusion as a sign of higher wisdom, assuming that any apparent inconsistency must have a reason beyond their understanding. Rather than question the Castle’s authority, they internalize its rules and defend its officials, often viewing K.’s demands for clarity as naïve or disruptive. This collective belief sustains the illusion of bureaucratic order and allows the distant higher-ups to maintain their dominance without direct intervention. 

Edited 6 hours ago by B16Rover

[Hasta]

4 hours ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

There is a message to get across but from the sounds of some posters here - Matty, yourself - there appears a belief that message is nigh on impossible to make.

Not at all. I only tagged you in as you don’t seem to believe there generally are fans who think that Venkys have done OK and the criticism is over the top. 

Now if the Lancashire Telegraph did a 5 night special expose listing everything that’s happened, people would either be exposed to the truth for the first time, or believe it more than reading it on here or twitter. But that’s not going to happen. We have to accept that there is a portion of fans out there like this and any protest isn't going to be unanimous agreed with and followed. 
 

Therefore anything that is done needs to be as successful as possible by involving those who are aware and possibly aren’t happy with Venkys, even if they still attend. Which is why I don’t think doing something inside the ground as well on the 24th will work, as it just dilutes the protest. I also think that as many people against the owners aren’t there, it would be difficult for someone like @Wheelton Blue (possibly , I don’t know) to face away from the pitch holding up a red card for 2 minutes, when the majority of the stand may not want to take part in that protest. That would only work if there were enough people in the ground to take part. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Hasta

[StHelensRover]

10 minutes ago, B16Rover said:

In 1922, Kafka wrote a novel entitled 'The Castle'.  How much of it is still relevant in the modern world?

 

Supporting Rovers under the Venkys has made me feel more like the main character in The Trial at best, or the main character in Metamorphosis at worst.

[wilsdenrover]

12 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Not at all. I only tagged you in as you don’t seem to believe there generally are fans who think that Venkys have done OK and the criticism is over the top. 

Now if the Lancashire Telegraph did a 5 night special expose listing everything that’s happened, people would either be exposed to the truth for the first time, or believe it more than reading it on here or twitter. But that’s not going to happen. We have to accept that there is a portion of fans out there like this and any protest isn't going to be unanimous agreed with and followed. 
 

Therefore anything that is done needs to be as successful as possible by involving those who are aware and possibly aren’t happy with Venkys, even if they still attend. Which is why I don’t think doing something inside the ground as well on the 24th will work, as it just dilutes the protest. I also think that as many people against the owners aren’t there, it would be difficult for someone like @Wheelton Blue (possibly , I don’t know) to face away from the pitch holding up a red card for 2 minutes, when the majority of the stand may not want to take part in that protest. That would only work if there were enough people in the ground to take part. 

Apologies if this has already been suggested:

Perhaps a match should be chosen where those who no longer go to Ewood return ‘en masse’ to carry out such a protest.

The impact could be two fold - an obvious spike in crowd numbers and the protest ‘moment’ itself (both of which the coalition would publicise).

After all if those who don’t wish to boycott are being told it’s just one match (to miss) isn’t the reverse, it’s just one match (to attend) true as well?

 

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by wilsdenrover

[Hasta]

5 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

Apologies if this has already been suggested:

Perhaps a match should be chosen where those who no longer go to Ewood return ‘en masse’ to carry out such a protest.

The impact could be two fold - an obvious spike in crowd numbers and the protest ‘moment’ itself (both of which the coalition would publicise).

After all if those who don’t wish to boycott are being told it’s just one match (to miss) isn’t the reverse, it’s just one match (to attend) true as well?

 

 

 

As a season ticket holder I wouldn’t have that choice to make. That would be up to non-attendees. But if you want someone removed, financially rewarding them would be a bit odd. Other than to prove to the rest of the fan base that there is a significant number of people boycotting, what impact would it have on Suhail and the owners?

[wilsdenrover]

1 hour ago, Hasta said:

As a season ticket holder I wouldn’t have that choice to make. That would be up to non-attendees. But if you want someone removed, financially rewarding them would be a bit odd. Other than to prove to the rest of the fan base that there is a significant number of people boycotting, what impact would it have on Suhail and the owners?

Rewarding them financially would be an unfortunate byproduct - the aim would be to have a visually impactful protest - 1,000s of fans (potentially a majority of the crowd) turning their backs/holding up red cards (other options may be available).

The only thing (imo) which will have a chance of impacting Pasha/Venkys is bad publicity. I (maybe wrongly) see a very low crowd and a high crowd full of protesters as equally achieving this aim.

I (again maybe wrongly) think persuading people  to return for one match should be easier than persuading people to miss one. 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by wilsdenrover

[speedies gonna get ya.]

If we tried a one off " come back if you would return after the Venkys sell" match, the size of the increased crowd would be gauge of feeling. If a noticeable increase, along with a successful boycott on the 24th, that sends a clear message. It would also demonstrate to potential buyers that the fans are still there, they just need hope. 

This has been discussed as a potential idea, much is reliant firstly on the boycott being  success and secondly some form of clear indication from the Roas thst they would entertain a sale. We could then sell it as a form of hope to the stay aways. Come back to show a new buyer what we can be again. That is a strategy I have long been in favour of. We really would need the contrast in numbers between the 2 events to be stark. The Coalition have stated clearly that if the Raos made a clear statement they would consider selling  we would work on a sort of reverse boycott. The 24th would be phase one of this strategy and it is vitally important as many people stay away as possible. 

[wilsdenrover]

2 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

was the annual "run your sister a bath day" 

wears the soap.

[RevidgeBlue]

28 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

wears the soap.

Yes it does doesn't it.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

This is a passionate plea to all of us who know fellow fans. I’m 62, supported since late 70’s, and was a ST holder for years. Since day one I was sceptical of the present owners appointment, and have to say the Walkers Trust getting the dark lord and Kentaro to make hay whilst the sun shined was the worst ever decision in the club’s history. 
We have suffered enough!

The time is now. We are out of the FACup, in danger of relegation (again), and have experienced the dumbing down of the club over 15-years (players/managers/ground/pitch/relations with fans/ignorance of us).

I hate it. I hate watching it unfold before our eyes.

When is enough enough?
 

When will the people of our town and surrounds wake up. Do you want this forever?
 

Is it acceptable to say, well they give us £2 mill/month, is it fuck. It’s actually an insult!

Think about it? What is the point of a crutch, if it never helps you to get better?

We need to have an empty Ewood. It’s the only way. Shame the fuckers. Show them they cannot continue to treat us with contempt.

They have no place in OUR CLUB, OUR TOWN, OUR HISTORY.

SHAME, SHAME SHAME them.

Please do not attend,

Let’s get rid once and for all.

FOR OUR SANITY, OUR CLUB, US!
 

[...]

2 hours ago, wilsdenrover said:

wears the soap.

Dad's dropped it again

[speedies gonna get ya.]

12 minutes ago, Proudtobeblue&white said:

This is a passionate plea to all of us who know fellow fans. I’m 62, supported since late 70’s, and was a ST holder for years. Since day one I was sceptical of the present owners appointment, and have to say the Walkers Trust getting the dark lord and Kentaro to make hay whilst the sun shined was the worst ever decision in the club’s history. 
We have suffered enough!

The time is now. We are out of the FACup, in danger of relegation (again), and have experienced the dumbing down of the club over 15-years (players/managers/ground/pitch/relations with fans/ignorance of us).

I hate it. I hate watching it unfold before our eyes.

When is enough enough?
 

When will the people of our town and surrounds wake up. Do you want this forever?
 

Is it acceptable to say, well they give us £2 mill/month, is it fuck. It’s actually an insult!

Think about it? What is the point of a crutch, if it never helps you to get better?

We need to have an empty Ewood. It’s the only way. Shame the fuckers. Show them they cannot continue to treat us with contempt.

They have no place in OUR CLUB, OUR TOWN, OUR HISTORY.

SHAME, SHAME SHAME them.

Please do not attend,

Let’s get rid once and for all.

FOR OUR SANITY, OUR CLUB, US!
 

A great post and sums up the lived experience of many of us. I keep hearing an argument about this not being a cliff edge situation used to imply we shouldn't boycott. I really dont understand that logic, I would much rather be proactive and try stuff before we get to that stage. If it prevents it great, if it speeds it up then I can live with that too. What I cannot stomach is more of this long painful demise.

[M_B]

4 minutes ago, speedies gonna get ya. said:

A great post and sums up the lived experience of many of us. I keep hearing an argument about this not being a cliff edge situation used to imply we shouldn't boycott. I really dont understand that logic, I would much rather be proactive and try stuff before we get to that stage. If it prevents it great, if it speeds it up then I can live with that too. What I cannot stomach is more of this long painful demise.

 That wasn't the meaning of a cliff edge moment, it was me who said it and I wouldn't suggest that anyone should or shouldn't do anything.