Mike E

I’ll have a look tonight!

Linford on BBC IPlayer. Documentary about Linford Christie, really well done. Would love a similar type of documentary about Rovers once Venkys have left. Would be too far-fetched even for the big guns like Netflix, surely?

I spoke to previous Chair, John Murray, at his home last night and we discussed quite a few of the points raised re: election, ‘Save our club’ etc and I think he’d be okay with me adding some responses here on his behalf: - When taking over RT in 2018, it was a case of resurrecting the Trust. At the time the board had three members, two of whom wanted out. At the point JM left, there were 8 board members. - JM is the last person to be elected by votes. Over the last 6 years the Board has consisted of those elected unopposed, plus co-opted board members. - Despite Wayne W’s considerable hard work, the Trust had also at that point lost around 700 members. - JM received 100+ member emails per year and visited a number of people who pledged monies, with whom he regularly touched base to ensure this remained the case. - JM also kept (and continues to keep) a file on what to do in event the Club goes into Admin, with his personal UK and International contacts. This was kept largely a secret, mind. - The "Critical Friend" concept was deeply held, and a general rule in all relationships with Club. After all your best friends are the ones who can and will tell you the hard truths. - JM insisted to Steve W that any MoU meetings had to have Sohail P as in attendance as Owner Representative, and not just the Management. Alas, he has attended none as yet. - JM still working away a lot so whether he resigned or was pushed out does not apply. He believes Mike G has done very well to get 14 on the Trust Board, a solid achievement. - The new Regulator and the National swell of opinion is part of his legacy (alongside Andy Y and others), particularly as much of the wording for Tracey C’s announcement/proposal of the Football Independent Regulator legislation was lifted directly from Trust Member and Trust Board Member testimony. - There is still a lot of work for the Trust to do, however. Eg: state of ground; stopping PL plundering youth from lower Leagues; at least getting Raos to engage and/or look at diluting their share of Club etc etc

Left-sided needn’t be left-footed. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Batth play the left can before at Sunderland.

One thing I’m cautiously pleased with. Gueye, Fadz, Batth addresses a height issue that we’ve been missing for a long time. All three also seem to be relative ‘hardmen’ which should nicely add to Tronstad and JRC. Mafoumbi and Ohashi seem to add a bit of pace to our ranks as well. Seems to me like we’re planning for a battle. Hope we’re up for it.

Be nice if we could play them together…

Wow, shows how many hidden posts there are if you think there’s only 442 pages 😅

As much as I agree, Spain is a very different style of football. You don’t really hear of target men doing well there.

He hates Burnley!

Inappropriate language (especially coming from you) is what made it!

But me some Doritos…

Fucking superb

Big Mak is a great nickname!

Senegal I think. Gueye?

If Gally had developed to use the attributes he genuinely has (height, strength, and decent speed for that height), and been a bit more canny, he should’ve been a player in the Kevin Davies mould.

Hopefully more like that and less like Murphy, Etuhu, Campbell…

Some of us (me) were too young to remember Shearer in Rovers colours. I remember age 8 (1999) telling dad how much I liked Shearer and he had to convince me he’d played for Rovers.

Nathan’s reliability honestly makes me wonder if he’s flown back home.

My favourite is THAT volley for Newcastle vs Everton. Even better than that Scholes one they always repeat imo.

A good one too. No measure, purely my reading of membership emails/questions from my time as membership officer vs my modding of this forum. When we last did a proper consultation meeting, representatives of this forum asked more direct and pressing questions than myself or John (then Chair) did in representing our members. Though I must say I personally preferred the questions asked by BRFCS members. I’d say that (again, my reading of the room) the WATR membership doesn’t approve of Venkys ownership any more than the average BRFCS member, BUT the general consensus of WATR membership is to try and influence things for the positive before going full nuclear. Until getting my new job, I would personally support going full nuclear. With my new role I would impartially observe from the sidelines with a wry smile on my face when Venkys finally leave.

Are they a group of Venky Sympathisers? Based on what? One complete arse newly elected to their board? You don’t have to, of course not. But if you want them to change their member-led stance (whatever you believe it is), then your only option is to become a member and offer that voice. Or even stand for election so that other candidates have to fight for their positions. FWIW, every board member I’ve known of from 2010 (until this Gary Smith bloke) wants Venkys out passionately. But as ever with a democratically voted upon organisation, the board’s individual views matter much less than the views of their membership. I only tell people to stfu when they won’t do what they claim others should do. For example, I know that YOU (independently of WATR) have done plenty of protesting etc, so you HAVE put your money where your mouth is. My stfu remark is to those types of people who demand the volunteers of WATR (all with significant and professional jobs and families, giving up their free time) organise a pitch-storming protest who wouldn’t themselves dream of even telling Waggott what they think of him in an email, let alone committing the crime of pitch encroachment to do so. Those people SHOULD in fact put up or shut the fuck up.

Nicko was his username on here, til he had a paddy because none of us voted for his daughter’s handbag in a design competition. Seriously.

Regardless of your view on them, yes. If you want to have the influence of being a member, you need to be a member. I do think survey idea posted above should be a more regular occurrence in terms of gauging views. Remember that WATR represent a wider scope of fans than is on BRFCS.

My dad often remarks that Shearer’s injuries robbed of the 300-goal mark, and nobody will ever do that. Closest to ‘how Shearer played’ (in his opinion) was Rooney at Utd, and with two of the world’s best wingers helping him, he couldn’t touch Shearer.

People need to read this bit in particular, take a good look in the mirror and ask themselves this: Before I criticise WATR or BRAG or similar groups, have I given up free time for the cause? Have I turned down extra work shifts or missed some important family events because I wanted to focus on doing something (for NO personal benefit) to help my club? Only if the answer is an honest YES do you get to throw any shade their way. I have my own criticisms of WATR which I’ve discussed with them, but my message to naysayers is if you want them to take a certain stance then put your money (less than £1/month) where your bollocks are. Put up or stfu.