Despite having spent many of the last dozen years as a member/administrator at East Lancs, I can't really answer any of your questions, the asian players themselves would have to answer those questions. Admittedly I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to hear some, if not all, saying they experienced some sort of prejudice whilst playing Lancashire League cricket.

Absoltuely BigUts, no offence taken, we're all desperate for Rovers to do well. I respect your views wholeheartedly. The Labore part in particular is extremely valid. We're all hurting today, no matter where you feel the buck stops. Last night was as tough a watch from the Riverside as I'm sure it was from anywhere else...be it Clitheroe, California or Australia!

I did refer to that underneath the graphic, I'm not condoning or forgiving the attitude or commitment of the players and the manager, it was very poor, unacceptably so. Just looking at the statistical facts.

Some interesting stats from last night's two teams I thought I'd share. This in no way is a reason to excuse or forgive a 0-7 home result, but I just wanted to have a look at the various budgets and experience of both sides. The fact these two sorts of teams are even in the same division (and Rovers were only 5 places away from Fulham before the start of play) shows the real problem with the Championship, the behemoth the Premier League is and how far away promotion actually is. Top 5 Stats (Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue One and Serie A - largely accepted as the biggest 5 leagues in world football) Values courtesy of transfermarkt.co.uk

Love that stat MarkBRFC Don't remember any sixes in the league either!

Thanks for all the positive feedback, pleasure to write the preview! An addition '' 19th April 1986 - Blackburn Rovers 6-1 Sheffield United - Garner, Patterson 3, Thompson and Barker. In front of just 4,736 fans. Was anyone from this forum there that day? '' This fixture jumped out for both the scoreline and the attendance!

A bit before my time, but my apologies!

Blackburn Rovers vs. Sheffield United Its preview time once again! This takes me back to when previews were the norm on BRFCS, a simpler, pre Venkys era, where mythical figures like ABBEY, Bob Fleming (still of this parish?) and the nodrog ran riot. The glory days of Premier League mid-table obscurity, where fans bickered over the ambitions of the Walker Trust and hierarchy to push the club forward and how tepid the tactics and football had become under the watch of Big Sam. Self indulgence alert, I think this is the first ''proper'' preview I've done since the Norwich City home game in the fateful relegation season of 2011/2012. On that occasion we were victorious, a 2-0 home victory with goals from El Gato Formica, our OG South American star and Mr days away from signing the contract....Junior Hoilett. With an undefeated run in previous previews, lets hope we can continue the trend! Fast forward nearly 10 years and this bring us to the match this Saturday, Sheffield United at home, and, in a shameless nod to the ''good old days'' I'm going to party like its 2007 and try and give you a classic BRFCS preview. The Form (last 5 games) *Pre the midweek Fixtures Rovers - L D L W W Sheffield United - L W L W L The Opposition The feel good story of the recent, pre pandemic, Premier League. The 2019/20 version of the Blades under stewardship of local manager and boyhood fan of the club Chris Wilder were the team everyone outside of the top 7/8 clubs aspired to be. Powered out of their six year purgatory in League One, by the brilliant man management skills of Wilder, a style, culture and philosophy was born in their historic 2016/17 campaign. In came John Fleck and Jack O'Connell, along with the goal scoring Leon Clarke, plus a solid core of Billy Sharp, who scored 30 goals that season and club captain Chris Basham, along with a crucial switch to the fluid 3-5-2 formation and an EFL juggernaut was born. 2016/17 - League One Champions, 100 points, 14 clear of second placed Bolton Wanderers and 18 clear of 3rd placed Scunthorpe United. 2017/18 - Championship consolidation and a top 10 finish, further shrewd signings of John Lundstram, George Baldock and Enda Stevens laid the foundation for the 2018/19 - Championship runners up and automatic promotion that followed. Oliver Norwood, John Egan and David McGoldrick joined an already well oiled machine to power United back to the Premier League for the first time since 2006/07 and the whole Carlos Tevez affair. Anyone who was at Ewood on 3rd October 2018 will remember that team and their ruthless efficiency as the Blades ran out deserved 0-2 winners thanks to a Billy Sharp brace, in my opinion, one of the most impressive displays I've seen by an opposition Championship team at Ewood in the last several years. 2019/20 - Premier League, after a shaky opening few fixtures, Wilder's men settled impresively into their new surroundings and began to thrive. A top half Premier League team from the middle of October and sat in 7th position in the table with ambitions of Europe as the pandemic struck. Cue the collapse? Yes, but it maybe wasn't as bad as you'd think. Sheffield United's post lockdown record P10 W3 D2 L5 Pts 11 But three defeats in a row at the end of the campaign foreshadowed what was to come. 2020/21 - Premier League, including the last three games of the previous season, the Blades went 20, yes TWENTY, Premier League games in a row without a victory! Not only that, but in that time a home draw against Fulham and a point at the AmEx Stadium was as good as it got! 2 points out of a possible 60. In the relegation zone all season and duly relegated back to the Championship with six games remaining. Wilder was dismissed after 28 games. 2021/22 - Championship, Back to the second tier, now under the stewardship of Slavisa Jokanovic, the Blades have had a mixed start, but remain a real threat due to their talented squad. At some point you feel that the team will 'click' and go on a run of victories, lets just hope its after this Saturday! The Team The lineup vs. Blackpool last weekend. Not to forget squad players Chris Basham Oli McBurnie (Scottish international - £17.5m signing) Billy Sharp Rhian Brewster (England u17 World Cup winner in 2017 - £23.5m signing) David McGoldrick (Irish international striker) Ben Davies (on loan, former Preston defender, signed by Liverpool in February 2021) Rhys Norrington-Davies (Welsh international and part of their EURO 2020 squad) Sander Berge (Norway international - £20m signing) Connor Hourihane (Irish international) Adlene Guedioura Oliver Burke (Scottish international - £6m signing) You really do get the sense of the squad depth and under achieving talent they have at their disposal. A Foot in Both Camps A forum favourite, players who have played for both teams. This one may be harder than most to put a decent team together? Matthew Kilgallon, Jack O'Connell (youth for Rovers), Jordan Slew, Keith Gillespie, Alan Kelly Jr, Nathan Blake, Mark Patterson, Marcus Bent, Andy Morrison, Frank Talia (never made a full appearance for Rovers, but plenty as sub), John Curtis, Alan Wright, Ashley Ward, Craig Short, Garry Flitcroft, Jon Stead, Colin Kazim-Richards, James Beattie, Lee Williamson, Andy Taylor (youth for Rovers), Jay McEveley, Harry Chapman. Managed both Ken Furphy, left Rovers to manage Sheffield United in December 1973. Howard Kendall Coaching connections Brian Kidd, Lee Carsley Famous Fans As you'd expect with a big city like Sheffield, the club has several famous fans. Most famously Sean Bean. Jessica Ennis-Hill, Joe Root, Kell Brook and Paul Heaton amongst other famous Blades. From the archives 146th Anniversary Credit to the club who have made the tickets for this game, the 146th Anniversary of Blackburn Rovers Football Club. £14.60 for Adults in all areas £10 for Seniors £5 for 18-13 year olds £3 for 12-17 year olds £2 for 0-11 I wonder what Messer's Lewis and Constantine would think of how far the club has come since the inception in in 1875. Overall record vs. Sheffield United (1875 - present) 149 previous meetings Rovers 54 victories Sheffield United 59 victories Draws 36 Memorable matches 15th January 1894 - Blackburn Rovers 4-1 Sheffield United - Chippendale, Haydock 2 and Calvey with the goals (first ever meeting) 29th March 1907 - Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Sheffield United - Aitkenhead (the score from the black and white footage above) 3rd March 1930 - Sheffield United 5-7 Blackburn Rovers - Bourton 4, L. Bruton, Puddefoot and J. Bruton (highest scoring match between the two) 19th April 1986 - Blackburn Rovers 6-1 Sheffield United - Garner, Patterson 3, Thompson and Barker. In front of just 4,736 fans. Was anyone from this forum there that day? 16th March 1993 - Sheffield United 2-2 Blackburn Rovers - Sheffield United won 5-3 on penalties. FA Cup Quarter Final Replay 15th January 1994 - Sheffield United 1-2 Blackburn Rovers - A fine Shearer double, as United finish with 9 men! 1st April 2000 - Blackburn Rovers 5-0 Sheffield United - Duff 2, Ward, Ostenstad and Jansen (the first of back to back 5-0 victories on 1st April, see 1st April 2001) 9th September 2006 - Sheffield United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers - Brad Friedel saves two penalties at Bramall Lane! (Neill also missed a penalty for Rovers) 3rd February 2007 - Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Sheffield United - Morten Gamst Pedersen with a dramatic last minute free kick winner (the last time Rovers beat Sheff Utd) Predictions I'll leave that for you to discuss. I hope Rovers can continue their good home record in a tough week against Fulham and Sheffield United. Two victories would really kick start a playoff push! Here's hoping!

As an East Lancs lad myself for many years, a lot of what has been said is somewhat true, but there are lots of factors that have contributed. Changing demographics is definitely one, but the club simply would not survive without its Asian members, East Lancs would have gone years ago. Some fine cricketers like Nas Iqbal or Mini and Mo Bhada have all graced the 1st XI with distinction in the recent past, Sohail Mohammed being another. Volunteers, the ones who are there at the club do an admirable job (I was in that role myself for almost a decade) but finding willing helpers across the age ranges seems to becoming harder and harder. Losing people like the late Tony Rose (RIP) or Larry Pearson, who (deservedly so) decided to step down, after a lifetime of service to the club, 50+ years boy and man. These people are so hard to replace, if not impossible! Look at the successful Lancashire League clubs and you'll find an army of helpers behind the scenes that keep the club going. See Stan Heaton at Lowerhouse, I'd argue if Stan was at East Lancashire, he'd turn the club into a powerhouse (excuse the pun) in no time! The 'traditional' Lancashire League as a whole, the expansion has shown their shortcomings, 9 of the 12 Division 2 teams are the old Lancashire League teams. With 6 of the bottom 7 being ex LL teams. Talk about history and how East Lancashire are struggling....the bottom 4 teams in Division 2. Rawtenstall, East Lancs, Rishton and Nelson combine for 52 Lancashire League titles and 37 Worsley Cups! Players appetite and commitment. This is a huge factor in any modern day amateur sport. Tales of players cutting their holidays short to fly/drive home to play a doubleheader away at Colne on a Saturday and then Ramsbottom on a Sunday in the cup are very much a thing of the past. Work pressures, family commitments and the added value on free time is so much different than it was, even 25 years ago! You will see huge lineup changes in any double header now. With this, squad depth is tested and players naturally don't want to be seen as uncommitted to the cause, so you see huge swathes of cricketers walking away from the game. Standards naturally drop as players are then chosen to ''make up the numbers''. I ran the third team for two years, and it was almost like a full time job just trying to get 11 lads out on a Saturday! Even then you'd find most where 14-18 and were playing Saturday and Sunday at senior level, then an under 15s match on a Tuesday and/or Thursday! The professionals debate, another where, to be honest, I don't mind East Lancs not having a professional! Great league pro's like Ockert Erasmus are a rarity these days, but the figures quoted on South African list A players, without any experience to their name, are huge! Once of a day the gates/bar/socials would cover the cost of these pro's, but for 20/24 LL teams I'd guess this isn't the case. Gone are the days of Viv Richards, Allan Donald and Michael Holding. That standard of professional just isn't available any more. Shaid Afridi was my dream East Lancashire pro! If I win the lottery, I'll see what I can do! Just my thoughts, but East Lancs is full of great people, trying their very best against all the odds. The fact that the club survives is testament to their work alone!

Haha that was mine from the old boards. With the modern day substitutes encouraged to leave the pitch at the nearest side they're on, I'd imagine Tugay would have adapted his style to suit the modern game. A walk towards the traditional side (after taking the applause from the Riverside obviously) then reach just over halfway, before realising he can leave at the Riverside. Preferably close to the Darwen End, so he could milk the adulation whilst heading the "long way" back to the dugout via the Blackburn End. Still love Tugay

Bloomin heck @glen9mullan a bit of balanced analysis! You might get kicked off here! 😁 Fine post. Things are never definitively one way or another when it comes to football clubs.

Its just an opinion, but I think that's where we are at. In terms of ambition, we've wasted the last four seasons, I don't see this one being any different. If the stars align for a club at this level (ala Barnsley last year) then maybe a playoff push is within reach, but in a post Covid world, survival is the priority.

Whilst its hardly a thrilling transfer window when you lose your best two players (Armstrong for money and Elliott to a loan return) I think its important to try and see the bigger picture. Going into the season, some four weeks ago, mine and plenty of forum members fears where that we'd be relegated. The fear we'd be cut adrift and face a season like the one under Coyle in 16/17 with us battling from a home thumping by Norwich on the opening day, to the heartbreak at Griffin Park months later. With signings like Gordon Greer, Tommie Hoban, Anthony Stokes, Wes Brown, Stephen Hendrie, Jack Byrne and Martin Samuelsen.......shudder This season has been surprisingly pleasing so far, we've put 8 points on the board, shown a togetherness, team spirit and most refreshingly of all have shown a willingness to dig in, scrap and stand up to the physical battles, which was missing from last seasons squad in abundance. It took us 9 games to get 8 points in 16/17 The squad we have is good enough to better last seasons dismal performance of 15th place, but lets face it, we're more than a striker away from pushing for the playoffs! And with that said I'm happy to sit tight, let the FFP clock restart next season and take things from there. We've bemoaned the fact Gallagher has played as a right winger for two seasons, now lets see him down the middle. BBD similarly, the challenge has been set to both of them to get 10-15 goals this season, which they should both be capable of. Who of last seasons squad (bar the aforementioned Elliott and Armstrong) would anyone actually want at the club? Harwood-Bellis perhaps, but we were never going to be able to match the lure of Champions League football. Williams, Mulgrew, Bennett, Downing and Evans were all too old and ready to drop down the divisions, or move to new leagues. The collective cheers around Blackburn when Bell, Douglas and Trybull departed were palpable, whilst the youth fringe players also had proven that their futures were at pastures new, see Grayson, Lyons, White, Mols et al. Lets see how good or bad Poveda, Khadra, Edun, Clarkson, van Hecke and Pickering are? This board and other Rovers fans are also quick to criticise loaning in players from other clubs and not giving our own youth a chance... Carter, Magloire, Cirino, McBride, Pike, Garrett, Annesley and Vale all should see time in and around the first team squad this season (bench time or playing) lets see how good they are. Dack, Rankin-Costello and Johnson to return also. Hopefully some of the cash from Armstrong can be spent on tying down Nyambe, BBD and Rothwell to extensions. This season was always going to be a transitional year, its proved to be so far. We have a squad that should finish between 12th and 18th, which is where we are at present.

Yes!! this takes me back. Probably 10 years since I last did a preview, so I'll take one @Mike E Sheffield United (home) Saturday 6th November

Can we reach 350 pages before any official announcements?

My bad. Didn't see it! Delete thread

Ignore

Personal thoughts, maybe I'll put my tin hat on. I think its a worthy effort at a reconnection. Some fans will never want to see them walk through the door ever again, whilst some fans will want to see the owners back at matches, showing passion and engaging once more with Blackburn Rovers. If a letter like this offends or strikes a level of hatred/vitriol/anger then the club and thus the owners are probably beyond redemption for you, under any circumstances, and that is absolutely fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Personally I think it is another small step in the right direction. The Rao family at Ewood would be another and that at some point between 2011 and now I've made a conscious (or subconscious) decision that they are here to stay, we need their investment on a year by year basis and that maybe, just maybe, there is a happy ending to this story. Of course I and us will never forget the circus around their early involvement in the club, the nefarious characters that were involved at all levels of the club, from the boardroom to the pitch. But it is history, we can't change that, they can't change that. We can change what happens today and what happens tomorrow. What they can do, is commit to the club financially, upkeep the academy and provide the best tools they can (FFP allowing) for the manager of that time to flourish. Which is what they seem to be doing. Maybe I'm being naive, but I think the club can come back together, a period of healing needs to be done on all sides and bridges rebuilt (or at least attempts to rebuild) from the owners and the fans. I do think that then and only then, can the club look upwards and back towards the Premier League. We need the fans back in numbers, we need the owners engaged, we need that optimism and spirit back in the town, the community, the fanbase. Its a long road back, but maybe their return could be the first step?

Absolutely, I went in with pure skepticism and whilst some things are obviously a touch revisionist, I can see where he's coming from and the mercenary aspect of that team that got relegated. The trickle down effect of toxic leadership from Jerome/Kentato/SEM or whoever was pulling the strings at that time. Orr was a player out of his depth ability wise, but others with far greater ability (see N'Zonzi and Givet) let the side down as much if not more so. Nice for him to acknowledge that he knew when he was giving the interview, that he was burning his bridges with the fans. Amazing loyalty from him to Kean when you think about it.

I don't actually remember that incident.... So many around that time!

Each to there own, respect the decision.

Bump to the thread. I was down in Bristol last weekend at a family party. My cousin is a big Bristol City fan. He was mentioning to me a podcast that some fans do down there, called ''One Stream in Bristol'' https://onestreaminbristol.libsyn.com/ Similar to our very own BRFCS podcast @Herbie6590🙌 and brought my attention to a couple he thought I'd like/be interested in. 1. Frank Fielding (a mate of mine, I went to school with Frank) https://onestreaminbristol.libsyn.com/a-cider-with-frankie-fielding 26:50 onwards to about 31:42 (interesting early Venkys era) 2. The infamous Bradley Orr https://onestreaminbristol.libsyn.com/a-cider-with-bradley-orr 1:44:50 onwards (some very interesting claims/statements, particularly against Givet and Nzonzi, plus Henning Berg....oh and Shebby Singh) Having had the chance to listen to both now, worth a listen. To save some time, time stamps for both are.

Maybe this is me trying to be a bit optimistic. But I think 2021/22 will be an eye opener of a year in the Championship and perhaps the start of a new age for the league in terms of the haves vs. the have nots. The Premier League has long been dictated by the top 4/5 teams that challenge for the title/Champions League spots, with a handful left to scrap for the Europa League spots, whilst the majority look for 40 points and survival as soon as possible. I think this season you'll see a clear gap, much like last season, and a new trend set for years to come. Expect Fulham, West Bromwich and Sheffield Utd to be dominant with their parachute payments, whilst Bournemouth will live off their recent Premier League status also. The dial backs from Huddersfield last season and seemingly Swansea City this year prove as much. This brings me to the Rovers. On paper we look up against it. Whilst I think we're in an unenviable position all things considered, at least we have a strong academy to fall back on! This will become even more important I'd have thought, with squad depths at an all time low. Its amazing looking at the players who've been released from clubs at this level that are still free agents! A hypothetical squad that is still available two days before the season starts, made up of players who played in the Championship LAST season. All these are still Free agents! Thus facing dropping down the legaues/moves abroad/retirement GK - Kieren Westwood, Luke Daniels Def - Adrian Mariappa, Sol Bamba, Joe Bennett, Tommy Elphick, Billy Jones Mid - Jack Wilshere, Lewis Holtby, Junior Hoilett, Jonny Williams, Florean Jozefzoon, Nathaniel Mendez-Liang, Marco Stiepermann, Kadeem Harris, Joey Pelupessy Att - Jamie Patterson, Marley Watkins, Jordon Ibe, Oumar Niasse, Yaya Sanogo, Marvin Johnson, Kyle Vassell, Elias Kachunga This doesn't include the players who are obviously surplus to requirements either, see Tom Trybull. Squad depths are fragile across the league. My thoughts are probably concluded by the fact that...yes whilst it does feel bleak at Rovers, the COVID crisis is only now hitting the clubs in the pockets. This plus Brexit, reduced revenues, the disparity between the parachute clubs and the rest... Its probably going to be an eye opening season for many teams. Can Rovers better last season and finish 15th? Absolutely Can Rovers finish in the bottom three? Absolutely My prediction would be a big gap between the top 3, and big gap between the playoff teams and 7th place and then a bunch of teams from 10th-23rd (sorry Derby) seperated by a handful of points for most, if not all of the season.

Ideal scenario? Cash Extensions for Nyambe, Rothwell, Brereton (even if they include release clauses next summer) hopefully we can cash in on them also. Funding for a big PL loanee. A Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Liam Delap or someone of that ilk. Also funding a couple of longer term Harry Pickering type targets from League One/Scotland/Europe Then money in the funds against FFP Wishful thinking I know, but that has to be the ultimate win for us this season.

Stock of the shirts selling out can only be a good thing, particularly at a time where apathy towards the club seems rampant. That said, I'd hope, someone in the club, have the foresight to hold back some stock left for the opening match of the season.