A lot of fans prefer away games to home matches anyway. Better atmosphere, lots of singing...At Ewood it's just lots of shouts of "Gerrrintoemmm". The problem of this is that, other than in the cups, Rovers don't see a penny of the money.

Watching the game on TV used to be a poor second to watching it live because the best thing about going to Ewood was the atmosphere. Lots of singing, funny chants being slung towards the opposition end and being able to walk around. These days with the drummers and many half empty and soulless stadiums going to the football just isn't the same for many. It's been sanitised, moved away from the preserve of the working man and repackaged as a family-friendly product. This may be a good thing...yet it does mean that many of those who used to the backbone of football support are happier in the pub. Maybe the craic there is just as good as at the ground now?

Why shouldn't he? Came here and run his socks off for us...then buggered off just in time to make us a few million in profit! Good luck at the Eagles Shefki!

Transfer deadline day deals... Ben Burgess has moved from Hull to Blackpool for £250,000. Dwight Yorke is back in England at Sunderland. Jonathon Douglas has left for Leeds. and Kuqi has gone in a reported £2.5million move to Crystal Palace.

Kuqi to Palace...for £2.5million?!? If Sky Sports have it correct then we have made a £2.5million profit on Kuqi in just one year. As well as that, he did ok for us when filling in and never seemed to complain once. Talent-wise he might be no twinkle-toes but Kuqi has turned out be one of our best signings! Excellent work by Sparky.

Of course it is...because you are a glory hunter...or at least sounding like one Gordon! You like to think deep down that you aren't (and keep reminding yourself of the sacrifices you made in the years after 1966) but there it is in your own words. I'm not saying it's a bad thing...but come on, let's be honest about your Lancashire United idea. It is all about being still able to compete at the top. Nothing to do with Blackburn Rovers as an institution or supporting your local team and its heritage. The truth is though that the world already has a LANCASHIRE UNITED...go over the Stretford way and you'll find it... ..you're about a hundred and ten years too late I'm afraid!

I've just realised...that's one hell of a punch the fella behind him has! It's gone right through Nonda! No wonder he's been troubled with injury problems ever since...

Now that was quick - about ten minutes after the transfer happened!

Rovers seal Striker deal - Shabani Nonda? Sparky obviously isn't too happy with at least one of his three signings as this is the fourth striker he has brought in this summer. Nonda comes on loan. Couple of thoughts... 1. Who are likely to be our starting two? 2. At least something good came out of all those discussions with Mido 3. What a scoring record the lad has! and 4. Wonder how much he'll cost if we make the move permanent? From Wikipedia Professional clubs* Years Club Apps Goals 1995-1998 - FC Zurich 75 games 36 goals 1998-2000 - Rennes - 62 games 31 goals 2000-2005 - Monaco - 116 games 57 goals 2005- AS Roma - 16 games 4 goals Welcome to Ewood Shabani!!!! EDIT - Whoops! Link works now...

Let's just hope they have the brains to send the letters by recorded delivery and so can actually prove its receipt! "What letter??? I never received no letter your honour..." Except for the very few games when there is a large away support (generally, the North West clubs) we should be trying to maximise the numbers for the other games. Hopefully that will have a knock-on effect and get along more of them for the A+ games. Back to the letter again...it won't have much clout unless it is actually followed up in some cases.

Neill on brink "Blackburn rejected Liverpool's first bid for the 28-year-old Aussie, but negotiations continued overnight with Mark Hughes demanding a fee plus Warnock. "

Liverpool clear the decks to make way for £4million Neill The Independent here suggests that Benitez will come back in for Neill with an improved bid. It also mentions the possibility of Stephen Warnock or Pongolle coming to Ewood as part of the deal. Thought I'd post it on here as otherwise it'd most likely get lost in the transfer thread.

Gresko joins Nuremberg Hmm...maybe my 'wishful thinking' as in hoping for a move for Emerton to Middlesbrough was a bit early! Only take three years to find his form...for two whole games anyway!

Well...Lucas never did sign that contract extension after all... Here is what 'The Fiver' the free email from The Guardian, think of the events of the last few days... "The Fiver doesn't know much about Australia. Well, apart from the fact that it's the home of flamin' galahs, a rubbish cricket team, bar staff who can't count or pour, hats with corks dangling from the brim, Alf Stewart's bait shop, Yahoo Serious and a load of whingeing Aussies that couldn't take their beating in the World Cup, the Fiver doesn't know much about Australia. But we are reliably informed that everything there is upside down. Houses are built from the roof upwards, people walk on their hands and even rational logic is turned on its head. This last point is crucial, as it not only helps to explain the antipodean tendency to move to Earl's Court at the first possible opportunity while loudly insisting everything is better back home, but may also shed some light on why Lucas Neill has his heart set on a move to Liverpool just three years after knacking Jamie Carragher's leg in spectacular fashion." To read the rest click on the link below... An amusing take on the events of the past few days

There are some interesting points in what he has to say...shame they get lost amongst all the venom!

Has the Fans Forum actually managed to tell John Williams anything about what the Rovers fans think? If there are people on there (as has been revealed) reporting that the fans are pleased with the drummers then it is pretty obvious ithere are problems with it. If it can't tell the board what the fans think then what is the point of it? At least Brisa can claim to speaking on behalf of their members.

Agreed but while the other factors are in place then Rovers aren't helping matters by having £36 tickets against teams like Chelsea. Fleece the opposing fans when possible sure but also try and get more home fans to attend...and just don't try it (as usual) against Charlton and Fulham at home. It's a bit like Tesco advertising their store by showing their stick that has almost gone off that has now been reduced. They don't...they advertise decent stuff as reduced then hope to hell the customers will respond by buying the more expensive stuff while they are there! Rovers have been doing loss leaders on their unattractive matches for years, why not try it for the better matches? Not Man U or Liverpool, but Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle etc. Against Arsenal a few years ago the ground was packed and the atmosphere was excellent. Did they have any kind of offers that day? Blue Phil's suggestion about buy a full-price ticket and bring a kid along for free sounds well worth trying. Then it won't affect the season ticket holders so much and we can try blooding in the next generation. Of course we may all just be peeing in the wind discussing this...

OK SG194 - it's nothing to do with price you say. Yet when we were relegated we did get good crowds...tickets were cheaper, there were far more Saturday 3pm kick-offs and the games weren't being broadcast in all the local pubs for the price of a pint. Now I agree ticket prices aren't the only thing that stops people going but they are one factor. When they put the prices down for a game then, such as Huddersfield, the ground was packed. If the price was a factor then, why isn't it now?

Definitely email the club Darth if you think it is something the club should be looking into. It's true that too many of us complain on here but don't let Rovers know.

Even after all these years...I've still no idea why anyone would want to do it in the first place.

Unfortunately it might make the season tickets less attractive and it is the season ticket holders that must always be considered first. However ticket bundles for three or so games may be worth looking into.

That is a good idea...it'd also mean that if any away fans did make it into the home areas then they'd have to buy two tickets to do so! Rovers should make sure there were no refunds after the United game and before Spurs however...

Are those the same season tickets I praised as "excellent value for money" in the post above Stu's? Stu - It all comes down to what is best for the future of Rovers. If short-term income is most imporant then ticket prices might as well be put as high as possible to maximise it. The problem in the long-term may be many disillusioned ex-fans that Rovers have now lost. Putting up prices for the walk-ons at a time when every match can be watched in a pub thanks to foreign TV simply doesn't seem very clever. John Williams is right...it is 'killing them'...but something needs to be done to stop every home game being on TV all over the borough sooner rather than later. People are lazy...if you give them the opportunity to walk down their road, have a couple of drinks and still save plenty of money then many will do so rather than go through all the bother of actually attending the game. They are thinking short-term too. In the long-term...it's surely bad for Rovers. As for "much as it is a good idea, even if we sold 26000 of them we would still take significantly less than we do now in ticket income", I don't disagree. Is it better to have 26000 fans every match or is it better to get the cash in? Mind you, as long as there are pubs everywhere showing the game I can't imagine us getting 26000 in for every game no matter what Rovers do.

Good days out for the family... Haworth Saltaire Martin Mere A walk up Pendle Hill! All free, well except Martin Mere...until they see the ice cream shop!

It does come down to Ooijer...not for holding Terry as such, but for milking it! Those kind of things happen all the time but he just held on for so long that he made it easy for the ref. It's a difficult situation for any defender; whether to let someone go past them or not that is, but you can't hold onto someone indefinitely. Show them that you are there but let go after a while. Carvalho was much more...clever? sly? Quick pull of the shirt then let go. Advantage gained and play moves on. Still, Ooijer I'm certain will show just why he is so highly rated by Hughes. It was always going to be difficult for him, being shoved into a team like that immediately after signing. EDIT - I also think Scotty and Rev should GET A ROOM! It's getting embarrassing!