Scotty - whether it is 1, 2 , 3 or 4 doesn't matter as whoever decided to release the information at this moment is either a moron or just incompetent. Season ticket renewal time...let's say we have no money! Many of the posts on here miss the point- it isn't about whether we have any money or not, it is about telling the local paper we have no money and dampening enthusiasm just as the club wants people to cough up some dough. It's just doesn't make sense! The question is- what possible good can it do us to release that information at this time? The only people who automatically renew season tickets are those who can either easily afford it or those who have no other commitments, particularly family. It's all about putting across a positive, go-getting image of the club, regardless of what the actual situation is. As for the comments about the LET- those who read it can see they are the mouthpiece of Rovers. Who on earth buys the thing except for the football? How many people care about who has been done for shoplifting? If it is in the LET you can bet it has come straight from Rovers, as the quotes in the article prove. Don't shoot the messenger...

Have to agree with Rev on this one (and I often don't agree with him) but I can see no real reason why this story has to come out just now. Tromso sure as hell won't be dropping the price just because of a piece in the Blackburn local rag. It could affect some fans not too sure whether or to pick and choose their games. Whether it's true or not I don't mind either way, with Ferguson and Thompson returning I don't think we really need to spend anymore (although a left midfielder would still be nice) but I still don't understand why such a negative piece should appear now. Who runs the PR at Ewood? Bolton fans are all upbeat because they merely talk to Rivaldo yet Rovers fans are told they have no money. We may be skint but even if we can't walk the walk let's at least talk the talk and sell the damn product like every other business.

I blame the scapegoats. The big smelly gets. Oh yeah and Amoruso, out of habit as much as anything.

Have to disagree that France deserved to win. If you can name one decent opportunity they created then I may change my mind but the only attacking threat they posed was at set pieces which we needlessly gave away. Sure they passed the ball about nicely but as Rovers proved at Celtic Park that's not much use if you have the attacking strength of a plastic spoon. Which was some going for England to keep the likes of Trezeguet, Pires, Henry and Zidane (until injury time...) so quiet. Not too sure about Rooney looking tired either; as he'd just been on a fantastic run from the half way line to earn us a penalty that doesn't hold up too well. Maybe I'm just thinking that though after what happened. Besides, why put on someone to hold the ball up? The French defenders when tiring would have been susceptible to some pace and a ball knocked over the top and a pacy striker could leave them for dead. Probably because Sven decided to take Heskey to Portugal instead of Jermaine Defoe that's why... Oh well...turd happens so let's not be all depressed....we can save that for when we get knocked out on penalties by the Germans!

Sol Campbell tonight if we are being fair as he was far and away the best Arsenal player on the pitch. We were leading France in injury time so why you think we don't have the players I don't know unless it is a gut reaction to the disappointing last couple of minutes. While France had a lot of the ball they didn't do that much with it. A great moment from Zidane and a bizarre loss of control from Gerrard (who shouldn't even have played the ball and instead left it Ashley Cole) does not mean there is something wrong with our league. You're disappointed but it's only a group match, let's just pick ourselves up, stiffen our upper lip and get on with it. It's the English way....

It's not quite all doom and gloom, a win and a draw will almost certainly be enough to see us through in second place as I certainly can't see either Switzerland or Croatia beating France. England always produce their best results when they are up against it. One thing though- I now think France are on to win the tournament. They are the luckiest national side there has ever been. They won the World Cup in 98 and Euro 2000 thanks to shedloads of luck. which of course you do usually need. If they weren't getting though on goalden goals or penalty shootouts then Ronaldo was having a fit before a game or Del Piero was missing easy chances to finish them off. Another win to France, the best teams often are also the luckiest as well. Although France controlled the game I don't remember them creating too many clear-cut chances which is why I thought a draw would have been fair as on the occasions we did attack we looked dangerous. Overall we were beating an excellent side in injury time and only a good team can do that. We always do best when up against it so.... Roll on the Swiss!

HEY, HEY, HEY..... WE rescued Europe twice!!! Oi! It weren't for us you Yanks would be speaking German!

Eddie- you were right in the first place, philipl just used an Americanism.

England fans are big news. Tales of rowdy misbehaviour sells papers as people like to vicariously live the thrill and the "buzz" through a newspaper. When it come to hooligans...England fans are the star attraction. Spanish fans rioting? Big deal....English fans rioting? Oh not again!!! Those thugs etc etc... Which is also why tales get blown up out of proportion....it fills papers!

What did poor old Ronnie Clayton do to get dumped from his second XI?

So there's no update on the Fred Walker money then? Can someone else's grandad maybe go out on the pop with him as he may be wavering...

I'd love to see a bitchfight between lofty2k2 and soueyisgod. As for my favourite XI, well I'll only include those I have seen although if what was a real all time Rovers XI forgotten greats like Tommy Briggs, Eddie Latheron and Ted Harper would have to be considered but most haven't heard of them never mind seen them. Anyway... Goal - Terry Gennoe Right Back - Chris Price Left Back - Greame Le Saux Centre Back - Colin Hendry Centre Back - Stephane Henchoz Centre Midfield - Simon Barker Centre Midfield - Mark Atkins Left Wing - Scott Sellars Right Wing - Stuart Ripley Centre Forward - Simon Garner Centre Forward - Alan Shearer Subs - Flowers, Berg, Duff, Dunn, Cole.

When's Fred Walker sticking that money in the club?

Why is everyone in disguise? Is it a fancy dress do? Nobody bothered to tell me so I'll just have to go as FourLaneBlue... unfortunately....

It's about time we had a bit of discussion as I was very disappointed how dull the Matteo thread turned out to be. No handbags at all on there. As for us having a bad season, it depends what you expect. Our wage bill is now only about the tenth highest in the league (down from eigth highest last summer, although that was before Duff leaving/Ferguson arriving etc apparently). Although I can't seem to find the link so sorry about that. Anyway, if it is now tenth highest then anywhere midtable will do for me, as long as we don't have a relegation battle on our hands and actually have A BLOODY CUP RUN LONGER THAN ONE ROUND this season i'll be happy. Not ecstatic but happy. Especially if we some of the youngsters given a chance as well like Douglas and Gally have been.

I'd rather we didn't go after too many young players via the transfer market. They are expensive and a big gamble. Why go out spending money on players when we can give lads coming through the Academy a chance? If they are not good enough fair enough but usually it isn't possible to see their potential until they are given a chance in the first team. I'd certainly hope the likes of Donnelly were given a chance this coming season.

Yes but if he played those games while carrying an injury then it obviously doesn't answer the concern. Leeds may have been forced to carry passengers last year but we shouldn't be buying them if not fully fit. If his injury problems are over and in the past (and I presume they'll have to be to pass a fairly rigorous medical) then no problems, I was just concerned that they are in the past, as far as we know, that's all. herbergeehh - Apparently Leeds are going to pay 70% of Michael Duberry's wages for the next two years after getting rid of him to Wolves. They really are as desperate as a team can be...

I'm amazed, I thought this thread would become just like the Dickov one but there hasn't been anything negative said at all really. Oh well...Personally I don't think it's a particularly good move considering his injury-riddled past few years. I'm not sure but I thought I read that he gets pain from an injury and each game is played through the pain barrier. Might have only been a temporary thing though... Added to that we already have two injury-prone central defenders in Short and Amoruso who aren't getting any younger. Apart from concerns over his fitness and apparent draw towards the treatment table it seems another way to bolster the squad and a decent move for the money. I'll see how he does in blue and white halves first before commenting fully...

Someone will complain about this soon no doubt... I'll just wait a while for it to happen...

I'd prefer the irony of them being relegated as a result of our lending them players. That probably wouldn't be irony though, just as a successful undercover mission. Infiltrate and destroy. Personally I wouldn't be surprised if that was the original plan but Andy "Thicko" Todd had to mess it up. Not for the first or last time.... Special Agent McEveley was injured in action and couldn't complete his mission.

Yes but the town and surrounding areas isn't given enough credit for its support of the club. Jack Walker invested in Rovers because he knew it was a hugely important part of the town. To pay back the place he grew up in he invested in the club as he knew that would make the whole town and its surrounding areas happy, if he'd been born in Manchester or Birmingham he'd probably have built a museum or library or something. As wonderful as Jack Walker was for Rovers he wasn't the first benefactor (nowhere near the first in fact) the club has had. There is something about the place that has always worshipped the club. As he was Blackburn born and bred he knew it was the club that the townspeople cared for most. As for bought the title - Jack gave the club a big helping hand with money but so what? It's only a big deal to those jealous of the success with how we spent it. The declining season ticket sales are worrying but nobody seems to know the exact reasons and it could only be a temporary decline. Even with that decline we get better support from the surrounding area than nearly anyother club. So don't let anyone tell you Blackburn isn't a football town just because of a bit of a slump over a couple of years. Blackburn is still THE football town. Rovers fans do themselves down too often. When I said we were "punching above our weight", I meant that we are doing so compared to Man Utd/Liverpool/Arsenal. The likes of Southampton, Birmingham or Charlton need to start winning some cups and leagues before we think of them as "bigger" than us. Those clubs may be able to point to a few empty seats at Ewood to show how they are a bigger club than us. We can point to our trophy cabinet to show what a real success of a club has to show for itself.

Blackburn Rovers are not a small club, never have been, never will be. Their history is too great to ever accept that. They do however "punch above their weight" in terms of resources and local area to call upon when compared to big city clubs. There is no particular reason why this should end though. 'Punching above our weight' does not not mean we are a small club, just that we organise what we have better. It's no different comparing us and Man Utd/Liverpool as there is between comparing Deportivo La Coruna and Real/Barcelona really. Well...except that they are better than us obviously but there difference ends there, they still have to compete against teams representing huge cities. We cannot compete with the attendances of the big clubs or the revenue that brings them, we can however compete them on the pitch. Not always maybe but we have our moments. That's why we punch above our weight. It's not an excuse, just means we need to be patient and take the rough with the smooth. All town teams 'punch above their weight' to some extent. Crowds are the tip of the iceberg; more fans means more income from outside football. MOre fans wanting the tickets mean higher prices can be charged because of market forces. Just means for town clubs that their acheivements are so much more impressive than teams who spend over £10million on various players and have countless fans to call on. PS- What would have happened without Jack Walker is debatable. We don't know. We could have ended up like Bolton/Charlton or down in the third along with Derby. We can only guess.

Fortunately I don't think many Rovers fans will be comparing him with Duff (as they might have if he had arrived a year ago). Rather they will be comparing him to whoever was on the left hand side in the past season, from which you can take your pick of about five or six players. None were any good at going forward. Douglas, for example, posses all the attacking threat on the left wing as broken pea shooter. Not that I'm having a go against Douglas, just saying that left wing isn't his position.

I thought it was Brett Emerton who T4E thought was a God? Or am I getting mixed up?!?!

SG194- Read my post again. The comment that seemingly sickened you began with the word 'if' and I did NOT suggest that Rovers did not try to entice fans. Quite the opposite- I've not moaned and groaned once about the deals Rovers have put on, in fact I'm very impressed that they are trying to reach those fans we lost despite finishing sixth. It was in reply to your suggestion "believe me the club wont ever bother again". You're wrong. The club will bother - they do not share your outlook thankfully or those fans will not come back.