1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

Unlike a few years ago, if they came next week they’d get a largely decent reception, but as they don’t give a flying feck, they won’t come, so won’t get any reception.

Not sure what else there is to add and why we have this debate every season. The ball is in their court, there’s nowt stopping them - the fanbase doesn’t need to roll out the proverbial red carpet (though the nouveau riche cretins would expect the pleb staff at Ewood to lay one down anyway).
 

Even if one of the just turned up, to an away game in London, when he makes one of his trips to the capital. At least it would show the fans that there is the slightest bit of interest still from these ever so humble people.

I would settle for 7th and think 7th to 13is realistic. 

5 hours ago, TimmyJimmy said:

Fair comment, I get that. I guess it comes down to whether we think they are incompetent or malicious. Agree that after so many years the second option has a lot going for it.

Still though we really don't know them and there's a possibility that they're decent people who just mess up by trusting others - they clearly don't have a clue about running a football club themselves.

To make progress I'd vote to welcome them to Ewood and see where we get to, you never know, they might become fans.

I respect other views, this is just my two pennies worth.

I would add a third reason here which is disinterested. They were sold this in the first place and the rumors it was not their money that bought the club, could well be true. Fortunately for them they are rich enough to carry this and for some reason continue to do so. They have placed an employee in Pasha here, who says nothing ever to anyone. 

22 minutes ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

You seem to be under the false illusion that the powers that be in football haven't already been made fully aware of the shady shenanigans that have gone on at the club! Especially in the early sem years anyway. 

They did nothing about it then (because they know they'd come out of it with just as much egg on their faces) so I cant even see them entertaining it now 10+ years on.

SEM and the football authorities were very conveniently doing lots of business together, when the takeover happened. They were also pretty much in bed together, for the first few years of the the current owners tenure. 

My business partner is a Burnley fan. He quite often comes trips away and plenty of nights out with me and a group of pals who are all Rovers fans.

One memorable trip was in Benidorm, when on one night out he felt a bit sick early doors and went back to the hotel early. He had been holding the kitty, so he passed it on to one of the other lads. The problem was the kitty was in a Burnley wallet.

Within minutes of him leaving, the money was transferred to a pocket and the wallet set alight and a video made.

He probably realized his mistake before he viewed it the following day.

We are great mates, but have plenty of fun and banter, about our football rivalry. 

1 minute ago, JHRover said:

Seems to be an assumption or suggestion that it is either Venkys and their money, or no money and the club has to be self-sufficient and deal with all the issues that comes from that.

Of course there is another option - getting new owners who want to invest and develop the club.

Then we get the 'yeah I'm sure there are loads of rich people out there wanting to buy a 2nd division club losing money'

Well we had all this bollocks when Bolton, Wigan and Blackpool were going bust under previous ownership and all found new owners and have bounced back. We've had countless takeovers across the divisions in the last 10 years at non-PL clubs.

So it doesn't have to be Venkys or bust. It can be someone different to Venkys, perhaps not with as deep pockets but deep enough to fund a loss making club and more importantly people who actually want to be here and want the club to succeed.

The new reliance on the academy I don't think is a Venky strategy. I don't think the owners care enough to take an interest in such things. I just think it is the inevitable consequence of their cost-cutting that the academy grows in importance.

If the club ever end up in the ‘hour of need’ scenario, there are plenty who simply would step up and sort it. A few short weeks ago Derby looked deemed, but are still going.

Another era granted, but I remember taking part in a sponsored run around the Ewood pitch to raise funds, when the future looked bleak. That was at least 45 years ago and we have been crowned champions of England since.

It’s a funny old game.

12 minutes ago, Claytons Left Boot said:

Some of what you say, I agree with, in particular the wages to turnover ratio. In your hypothetical situation, though, the Trust could also look to replacing Waggott and employing a more competent CEO with a remit to growing the fan base and, most importantly, the number of season ticket holders. In short, to increase revenues. It wouldn’t just be getting the wages down to a more manageable level.

Clubs of a general similar size to us like Bolton, Wigan and Blackpool have all recently been close to folding but have managed to find new owners. Blackpool and Wigan have also managed to come up from League 1 and Bolton will no doubt achieve that feat within the next few seasons. 

It can be done and I would certainly take a relegation if it meant getting rid of Venky’s. One step back to take two steps forward. Nothing will change whilst they remain in charge.
 

We thrived at championship level long before Venky’s and will do so again without them.

Granted we make not make it into the prem, but I doubt we will with them either.

12 hours ago, blue_and_white said:

For 10 years now since relegation, our wage budget has been about 150-200% our club income. If you don't have rich owners, that can't happen, running it at even 80% is pushing it.

So if Venkys sold the club to say the Rovers Trust for 1p tomorrow, the first thing the Trust would have to do is work on halving our wage bill. And you generally get what you pay for in football, so that would leave us struggling to stay in the Championship.

Obviously Venkys made the biggest mistake in Rovers history swapping out Williams and Allardyce for Anderson and Kean. And for those of us who were Allardyce fans, I think we've more reason to be livid than most as our argument was relegation for a club Rovers size is a financial death sentence, so its insane to take such a risk in the name of pretty football.

But you can't turn back time. Without Venkys 10 years ago we might still be a PL club, but without them now we might be a League 1 club, so I just think we have to forgive them.

Maybe that’s the exact reason for not forgiving them. For owners to take away our premier league status and maybe at the same time, condemn us to never getting back, is one hell of a hammer blow. 

21 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

It won’t work because the minute you get a decent player they’re taken off you.

I think that’s the biggest problem. It remains to be seen how the Phillips situation develops, but if he signs for a premier league team and we lose him for peanuts, it is a hammer blow.

It was good to see Buckley extend his contract and others such as Travis have been tied down. Possibly the Wharton brothers next, which gives m a degree of comfort. 

1 minute ago, Mercer said:

 

Get a grip man!

Lol 

58 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

They literally scored two sucker-punch goals on the break and a third where the ref had blown his whistle before the ball crossed the line.

Wharton looked tired today, so did a lot of our players - thats where the lack of depth comes into play.

Disappointing result, I thought we were good enough for a draw, but that's the Championship for you - Bristol City are built for it - big, strong, allowed to kick lumps out of you and look to hit you on the break. Mid-table mediocrity beckons for them.

Interesting your comment about Wharton being tired. I had a look back at the first few pages and every poster who selected a side chose him. Sparks suggested leaving him out, so perhaps has a point. I think it would have been brave of the manager to do that mind given his performance on Wednesday, but maybe that was a decision that would have worked!

1 minute ago, Gav said:

Your bookie counting his money again Mercer, home banker wasn't it?

Is that three lumped on in a row that have lost?

3 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

I'd say he bloody lucky to be on the bench in a Championship game.

Glad he was today, as at least he gave us something to cheer with a goal and an assist.

3 minutes ago, Tom said:

Pleased for Dolan to get a great goal and assist but sounds like that’s where any positives stop 

Seem’s that goal and assist gone unmentioned by his critics mind 

I’m delighted for the lad. Shame his contribution counted for nothing in the end. 

3 minutes ago, broadsword said:

The first three games it looks to me were a new manager bounce. 

It's only just turned September, so I don't want to start extrapolating a season from the last five games. But if you put a gun to my head I'd say we've had a new manager bounce and are now falling to pieces. 

I'm trying to overcome my natural cynicism and give them a chance but after twelve years of nonsense, I'm finding it hard. Certainly though at Christmas we'll have a much clearer picture 👍 

I agree that we need to wait until Christmas. I can see an up and down season and hope we can be around the play offs for most of it. 

3 minutes ago, rovers11 said:

I don't think the defence is entirely the problem - there are huge gaps on the transition. That won't change even with new personnel in the defence.

I do agree that we're not relegation material, we'll be around mid table. Is mid table championship and getting battered by teams like Bristol City and Reading good enough though?

I can accept the occasional thrashing, bet we're getting well beat most weeks at the moment. 

As quite a few of us have said for a few weeks, the midfield is the big problem at the moment. 

We were pretty solid in the first 3 games with Wharton and Ayala in the middle. Travis will add a bit more bite in midfield, when we get Brittain back. Everyone is quite rightly disappointed tonight, but think we can get this right, once the injured players are back. Still sixth and a win next week, would still represent a decent start. 

1 minute ago, broadsword said:

Losing for our of five seems consistent to me? 

Won 4 lost 4 plus 2 league cup wins. Very inconsistent season so far. 

2 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

Conceding too many goals, only going to lead one way. 

Worrying times.

It’s a makeshift defence and think we would be a lot more solid with the missing players back.

Some severe over reactions on here again today. We are inconsistent, but are NOT relegation material 

3 minutes ago, BigBar said:

Why are you looking for aggro the whole game...nothing wrong with that post. Give it a break.

Think there are a couple on the wind up today. 

1 minute ago, Sparks Rover said:

Got to question the management here.  People now going on about Wharton isn't the messiah etc...what a load of shit.  He's 18 and should not be playing 2 games in less than a week, simple as that.   He mismanaged Phillips and now Wharton.

Sort it out Tomasson

In fairness, I think he would have got some stick had he left him out. May sub him at half time though.

Very open game, but Rovers second best. Doing to us, what we did to Blackpool. Big half coming up. 

It’s on Bein sports France and Australia 

1 hour ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Yeah I was pressing the red to see if I could get the other games for future reference. Matty cleared it up for me

No worries 

34 minutes ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Does anyone know what’s happening with the red button on sky this season. I tried it when we played Blackpool to see if it worked but it didn’t. I thought all midweek games were on the red button ?

The Blackpool game was on a Sky main channel.

1 hour ago, AllRoverAsia said:

https://m.livesoccertv.com/match/4363988/blackburn-rovers-vs-bristol-city/

For those living abroad who subscribe to Rovers TV this is the reason the match isn’t on today. Disappointing as this is, I still think £140 for the season is good value. 
 

Any games being shown live, either in the UK or abroad are not included, but as shown on this link, a subscription to any one of those channels will give you official coverage of the game.