I'll be on stage that night

I was only trying to make the point that Barry Ferguson continues to be as anonymous with Rangers as he did for the most-part with us. That and the fact that I enjoyed (along with the people around me) giving him dog's abuse- which he deserves, given his treatment of us, and the fact that he's a Rangers player. Some may not agree with the second reason for the abuse, but anyone who doesn't agree with the first is a very strange Rovers fan indeed.

And I've supported Celtic since I could say the word. When I moved down to England I needed an English team to support (no Scottish football on the telly at the time and it's very dry watching football from an academic point of view), and as I was deciding, God became our manager (Dalglish). Decision made.

That's not nice Jan, that's brilliant. I didn't hear any other manager say they weren't interested in European football - they know that at the end of the day, the whole reason for existing, is to win football matches.

I was being understated and slightly ironic.

I was on a plane to Sofia when I opened a paper to see a headline in the vein of "this is a distraction from the league". No guesses who from. Had I been on the ground and reading it, I'd have cancelled the trip. If they're not going to bother, why should I?????

Early team news

I certainly have the impression that there's a lot more interest in this European tie, than any previous tie. Including the Champs league. I thought that after the first leg in Salzburg. The interest on this site was higher than ever before, but I suppose some of that was down to the fact that it wasn't on TV.

and the reason? Souness, of course.

Well, as that nice Mr Hughes HASN'T said that this competition is a waste of time and that it's just a distraction from the lofty ambition of getting 40 points to avoid relegation, my friend and I are making the trip up (from London via Oxford).

Apparently that nice Mr Hughes has said again today he wants to WIN the UEFA cup. That's nice.

Is that right? you'd not expect many more I guess as teams on mainland Europe don't travel like the English.

Or the Scots

Jan, that is why we're campaigning for seperate areas; we're just as much about those who wish to sit and enjoy the game as we are about those who wish to stand.

As to your comment that you're happy for "either to happen" from the feedback we get, I don't think it is too dramatic to say that football could potentially be losing a whole generation of supporters. Of course ticket prices and other factors play their part in fans not attending live matches but there are plenty of people out there who can afford the prices and aren't put off by kick off times to suit TV who are choosing not to attend because of the increasing sanitisation of the game. It seems to be that you can only support your club now on the terms of the club, joining in with blaring music 10 minutes before kick off, celebrating a goal with Tom Hark drowning out the roar of the crowd and so on.

Of course some clubs can afford to lose supporters and clubs lower down the leagues are perhaps benefitting from those turning their back on the commerciliasation of the Premiership but what about the rest of them? one day I can see plenty of scratching of heads as the world of football wonders where the fans have gone..

Finally, Reading FC recently stated that for every "yob" they can get rid of, they'll attract a family of four. (Ok, you do the maths!) Trouble is, one persons passionate fan is another persons yob and therein lies the problem, in my humble opinion.

Glad Reading, for one, are getting it right.

Yobs are easily defined. They're unpleasant little oiks- almost exclusively male, who are drunk going into games, insist on standing despite the law, get lary and give the ever-endearing "£2 an hour" chant to the stewards, and come on here claiming victimisation when they're thrown out.

You can be a passionate football supporter without being any of the above, and it's much more pleasant when you're surrounded by people displaying none (or at least very few) of the above tendencies.

However if you want to put them in a cage similar to the one above to keep the rest of us safe (because allowing people of such "minds" to stand together unfettered by seats is bound to encourage trouble) then I'm for it. In fact if you just don't unlock it and throw food into them occasionally, that would be better still!!!

I'm sure the fans around you who had to endure this hysterical onslaught were glad you only noticed him five minutes from the end ...

And you think there's a SINGLE Celtic fan who doesn't hate Barry Ferguson with a fiery poison? Not all atmospheres are as dead as Rovers!!!

i still dont understand why they are so strict on it

its ######, what is the problem if the people behind you are cool with it

The trouble is, a lot of the time they aren't and feel intimidated by the yobs doing it ( when politely asked to sit down they're more likely to spew out invective than say "that's fine"). There are seats there for a reason. Once there aren't you can stand up. Till then, obey the law or get thrown out. Happy for either to happen.

The Ryder Cup was Europe, not England.

I particularly enjoyed verbally abusing him yesterday. Unfortunately as I only noticed he was playing about 5 minutes from the end of the game (and I was on row 10 of the lower part of the North stand (that's the one that the camera points into) IN Celtic Park that's probably a bit of an indictmant of his play) it was short but not very sweet!!!

On the "worst transfers" front........................

Don't know how this works but earlier in this thread Paul informed us that the AVERAGE amount paid per ticket at BRFC is just £13! Makes you wonder where the 'can't affords / can't be arsed cos it's too dear / I'd rather spend it on ale' brigade expect BRFC to go next with admission prices.

btw I read the earlier pages on this thread and it's now become just a revolving argument and pointless waste of time. The novelty of watching top level football has simply worn off for many of the less interested.

I think you're right, but the stay-aways still want to keep bragging righta about being Rovers supporters so cover up their disinterest with price whinges.

Just thought again it's worth pointing out that Fulham's lowest price for a category C game is £25; Tottenham's is £27; Bolton's £21; Wigan £22 even BURNLEY'S is £17. Ours is £15.

Why on earth can't you people be satisfied? We're the cheapest premiership ground by a country mile, yet you whine. It's not the club's fault your circumstances don't let you go to games, the club have- as a previous contributer said- protected Rovers fans by freezing prices. I appreciate it costs a lot to go to football, but if you want to watch a Premiership club, you have to pay Premiership rates. Them's the rates- get over it.

Matty just made you smile and feel good. He represented good things in our game and we loved him for it. I hope he can get a game somewhere.

He is a lovely bloke. Wasn't overly impressed with him as a player until quite late on, but it was a tragedy he was struck down when he was. However it's sad to see him trying to hawk himself around the world. He hasn't been good enough for any type of senior football since he was injured. He should just go and find something else to do.

Is it just me, or does anyone feel slightly detached from this now? I mean if we still had our old manager I think we'd be at the very least, nervous, but (and I could be wrong) I just feel that Mark Hughes has too much integrity for us to be bothered by it.

Eh??? Forget what we already have in season ticket sales. That’s already in the bank.

It’s the extra that are being attracted that is the problem – but just to show you what I mean il show you below.

Firstly 20,000 @ 17.50 = £350,000 – not 320k

18,000 @ £28 (a rough ave of price for sunday) = £504,000

But what im saying is - @ £17.50, rather than £28 you are going to get a hell of a lot more fans in the ground.

If the price for an adult ticket was only £17.50 then without a doubt we could have got at least 25,000 on for that game – because for starters City would of sold there full 8000 tickets. So @ 25,000 it would be worth £437,500. So to start we are a total of £66,500 down – but there is an extra 6,597 at the game - spending money on pies, hotdogs, beer, programmes and club merchandise. You then also have a better atmosphere and a better feeling around the ground when there are more bums on seats.

And that should hopefully help more fans want to come back to Ewood Park.

So you're saying that the price for the "walk-on" fan should be cheaper than that for those who regularly contribute to the club (ie the season ticket holder)?

Forget it- I'd ask for my money back if that were the case. the lowest price that should be sold is at least 20% higher than the season ticket equivalent- otherwise the season ticket numbers will fall next year disasterously.

What makes you think that Hughes agrees?

We bid for Dunn in the close season

He's been fit since the start of the season. Best guess is he'll be fit (as I'm sure he's told Hughesy) until he comes home.

It's just so nice that yet again Mark Hughes and I see eye to eye on another decision by our ex-manager. I SO like Mark Hughes.

No more allegedlies necessary. The first one covers the whole first sentence.

Lucas has been giving all he has as a left back. Unfortunately, as he isn't one, that's not enough. He's also never been a leader. However, as Savage would have to show restraint as captain- and it would probably hamper him- Lucas is the next best until either the lovely Andy is reinstated or Nelsen gets fit!

Hold on!!

I remember when he was sold to Brum you said he'd be a fitter and better player away from Rovers as Souness' training methods bore some responsibility for his poor fitness and injuries!!

And if "he's honing his fitness for us now" - why didn't he bother five years ago if he cares so much about the club he supports?

I'll repeat the type of arrangement he should return to - if at all:

How disappointing it must be to find that someone that you were so vested in was a corrupt individual whose only motivation while at the club was to see how much of a bung he could get for each of the players he off-loaded- allegedly. At least it makes sense at last that he was so keen to get rid of Duff- something that a few members of this board pointed out was nonsensical at the time!!!

Nice to see Dunny there today supporting his hometown club, the same one he will return to in January (fitness permitting).

Unlike some, Dunny is a true supporter. He'll be back- as soon as he can. Definitely in June, but in January if he possibly can.

And it wasn't good business. He'd have been fit a lot more for us than he has been for Brum- there's no doubt. He's honing his fitness for us now- it hasn't mattered to him until he can come home. Maybe it is unprofessional but he doesn't care about Brum.

Because of one game in the fizzy pop league.

I do like Dunn, I think we miss having a player who takes men on, but I think getting that much money for him was one of the top moves that Souness made.

nothing

The Express seem to be having a bit of a downer on rovers- that's the second lump of dirt coming at Ewood from their direction.

Will be interesting to find out what the club will do if it transpires Souness deliberately contrived to force Dunn out to take a dodgy transfer deal. Then there are the large payments to Rangers for Ferguson, Man U for Cole and Ternana for Grabbi...

Quite a few million there. Not forgetting the Amo purchase.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/...1873952,00.html

The Guardian taking a sanguine view of the forthcoming Panorama programme.

And you all wondered why I thought a certain manager was bad for our club.................. Last laugh city!

From BBC gossip Column:

What does this mean then?

Means that not only did the f*ckwit humiliate and hassle Dunn to get him out of Rovers, he also got a large bung for doing so- allegedly. I hope they throw the book at him.

Yeah but 3 or so years ago, Boro had an 8m offer accepted only for it to fall through on work permit problems (thats what I remember anyway, it might not be true)

He cost us 2m+ and has already scored 2 goals, without playing well.

It's definately not doom and gloom

2 goals- that equals Grabbi and Fat-boy Davies already, doesn't it? That makes him a top signing

Regarding the West End reference...that was meant to show that it was seen like a special one-off performance whereas football was much more regular and much more accessible to all. If the usual price is £55 then it is still under £20 more for what we expect is guaranteed entertainment.

den was saying that it can't be compared to a West End show - the prices are no longer that different.

Oh dear

£27 (JWL price- decent seat) is less than half of £55. (27+27=54)