1 minute ago, darrenrover said:

Hey Leonard, I'm as wary as anybody but I'm also a realist and have considered the alternatives or lack of them!

I agree with everything you've said but you know that already.

It's an hour later over here and I've worked my proverbial knackers off for 14 hours a day for the past 3 days after driving 920 miles the day before, so my mind's a tad slower than normal, please do tell, wtf has Henry Fonda got to do with owt?

I really do hope people think about the situation sensibly, 'park the bus' for now and go out and buy a season ticket.

I don't disagree with you either!

Enjoy, mate, it's a compliment..

Just now, darrenrover said:

I'm far from a Venky apologist but I'm getting increasingly sick and tired of the debate of 'put us back where they found us' or 'I'm not setting foot in Ewood again'. It's @#/? but I accept everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Yes Venkys name is over the door and yes there has been one monumental feck up after another for 5 years or so BUT they've stuck with it and poured cash into the club to both keep it afloat as the natural revenue streams have significantly reduced. Ah but it's increased 'the debt' was the cry. It's about time folk took a step back and think where the CASH has come from? It's Venkys cash and 'the loan' is merely an accounting function on the balance sheet, it's not a millstone around Blackburn Rovers neck as is frequently bandied about. If we were sold for £200 million if we were lucky enough to get promoted to the PL, 'the loan' would be repaid as part of the sale consideration and would be offset against any Capital gain as a consequence of the sale versus the original financial consideration when they bought the club almost 8 years ago. That is a fact. Who's to blame for Stoke going down this season and probably West Brom and one other? It's what happens every season and would inevitably have happened sooner or later under The Walker Trust.

I then read about a multitude of people being up in arms about increases in season ticket prices for next season (they're still extremely competitive in The Championship). How the hell are Rovers to become competitive in The Championship next season, Mowbray get a decent transfer budget and pay decent enough wages, without increased income through the turnstiles and season tickets, commercial support or more hand outs from Venkys, which further increases 'the debt'??

It then also begs the question of where does the working capital come from to meet the expectations (see above!)?

I stopped going for a period when Coyle was appointed, I took that as the ultimate insult and where the decision to appoint him came from I'm fecked if I know. I can only assume it was a final swansong from 'those who can't be named' and I have it on decent authority that they've since departed the scene.

I realised that it was only me that was suffering not attending for the first time for 51 years and I relented after 6 months.

I'll never forget Venkys initial 6 years tenure but I'm prepared to cut them some slack for now and let's see what they do over this summer.

In the meantime, I'd ask those that are 'boycotting' to think about what I've said and perhaps reappraise and rethink their viewpoints. Perhaps at the same time if they remain steadfast in their view, I would love to know what the realistic, alternative solutions are?

It might have only been the 'third division' but it's been the most enjoyable season for a decade and a half. Tony Mowbray may have his faults but his qualities far outweigh them in my view. The way that he has galvanised the club in the past 18 months, he deserves every Rovers' support.

WE ARE The Rovers!!!

Henry Fonda, I presume!

They had a very harsh lesson, when we scraped survival at Wolves.Despite all the promises made to loyal fans in Pune, they continued the destruction and down we went.-the first time!

So many more harsh lessons followed with many decent people saying they have learned from their mistakes, then so many more of the same ..er.."mistakes.."

Even after all that mayhem...., Coyle over Warnock...so we must remain wary.

Worst case is that this brilliant promotion merely reduces the pressure and dilutes the resistance.

Obviously, I am hoping and praying for better..this time.

Leopards and spots etc and beware "the rule of optimism"

The next few weeks will speak volumes, I believe.

Rant over.....

3 hours ago, DE. said:

Comparing Tan with Venky's is pretty disingenuous imo. At what point did Tan hand over control of the club to an agency? Who was his Steve Kean, or indeed his Owen Coyle? Who on Cardiff's staff asked for  transfer targets on Facebook? Which board members there staged a public power struggle? Which random TV pundit was brought to Cardiff as a 400k pa global advisor? Granted they had the issue with the kit colour changing but Tan ultimately listened to the fans and changed it back. What's happened here is far more insidious than anything that's happened at Cardiff. 

Lest we f***ing forget!

52 minutes ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Any word on Nyambe too? Don't seem to get much in the way of fitness updates out of Rovers. Ben 'you should see what he does in training' Gladwin seems to have been on the comeback trail since October.

I saw Ben waiting for Vince Grella outside the bank.

20 minutes ago, mrsusan said:

theres a starman playing on the right, his  name is harry chapman and his hamstrings gone all tight.

Take your probation officer's advice. Put away the computer.Come out of the shed and let your sister go!

1 hour ago, Hanks said:

A lot of my mates went to St Augustines and to a man they said he was a miserable sod and a strict disciplinarian. As an entertainer though he really found his true vocation in life. Good article from the independent here :- https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/bullseye-jim-scores-again-hes-smashing-lovely-super-and-the-oxford-union-crowd-roared-at-his-40-year-1561392.html

You know whose story that was, don't you, Hanks!

Jim Whittaker! He taught at St Augustine's in the early 70's/possibly late 60's

A mate of mine always talks about "Jim" caning him for walking across the gymnasium floor in what was his sister's school.

At the time, my mate said he hadn't yet started to attend  the school..

I wonder how that would play in today's world!!

42 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Rarely and harmless stuff, I would say 

Still the best ever fanzine headline, when Mo Johnson signed for Rangers.

  "Forgive me father, for I have signed!"

6 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Always seemed to be a very nice bloke and completely devoted to his beloved Blackpool. They dont make them like Jimmy, Finney, Ronnie and Duggy anymore more's the pity.

Didn't Bill Bancroft want him as manager at one point in the 70's? He turned us down but helped the Club in an advisory capacity for a period as I recall.

I heard we wanted him as a player but he took the Bolton manager job.

4 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

To be fair the majority of people on here were dismissing him before he signed as an injury prone crock and another dodgy signing by Coyle in that he was just handing a contract to one of his mates who'd never be out of the treatment room.

So perhaps it's understandable he went through some sort of trial process.

Got to hand it to Coyle on this one. Great signing.

I think that was the very reason Celtic did not offer him a new deal.

57 minutes ago, Stuart said:

And whose fault is that!

The supporters' of course!

55 minutes ago, Mike E said:

So why play it at the moment fans actually DO make noise? Counterintuitive to create noise that drowns out the only noise fans may make.

Counterintuitive indeed! That word sums up so many decisions throughout the club over 7 years

On 11/21/2017 at 15:46, Dreams of 1995 said:

The sterile environment of Ewood Park is only exacerbated by continuing to charge 20+ quid for walk ons. I took a few friends on early doors this season and they all begrudged paying that amount for the dreadful football and atmosphere.

It really is awful right now and a far cry from our away support. It is as if roles have reversed. We used to travel fairly well compared to some other clubs when in the PL but was never the largest of away followings but Ewood always seemed to have a good atmosphere - a bit of back and forth between the away fans happened whenever a well travelled club came.

Odd how things change

Well it needs a dose of leadership and communication, alongside good results.

This damage hasn't been done in a day, so it would require something special from the top..(cue hysterical laughter!)

5 hours ago, meadows said:

From a 2004 article about Ian Currie. He was 42. 

Thanks. That explains it.

Well I hope you enjoy your day.

The honest truth is that a home game has a strong sense of Napoleon's beaten army . Hardened stragglers, trudging back from Moscow in the cold. Loss, malaise, grumbling resignation etc

Away from home, you would have no doubt that the flame still burns. You might enjoy our old sense of togetherness and "us against the world" camaraderie!

A prospective owner -and there are reported to have been at least five over the last few years-might watch the scenes at Rochdale and Bury and think this to be a worthwhile investment. 

A visit to Ewood? Think ruins after indiscriminate, dirty ,Venky bomb...

Happy Seventh Anniversary!

16 hours ago, Biz said:

Is this your flag Len? If so, I was stood behind you first half on Saturday 

A flag upon a marble arch? -47er

Just now, MCMC1875 said:

LT poll in 2010: 52% said Venkys were a good thing

They might have trusted the Walker Trust to have carried out a decent process! They might have trusted the Fit and Proper person test..or whatever it is called. 

Can't blame the supporters for the twisted, greedy actions of crooked Indians and their partners. FOV...

2 minutes ago, MCMC1875 said:

8 years from FMC to Prem title and we've had 7 years of this shit.

We went up fast but we've come down quicker.

Watch the process, though. Managed decline/dumbing down expectations along with everything else. So much so that even I enjoyed an away win at Bury in the Third Division.

How would any of us have responded, if someone had told us in 2010? I guess we might have had a significant boycott.

Our fans were superb at Bury. They don't deserve this regime!

7 minutes ago, tomphil said:

Very pleased for them the way they've stuff at it and stuck to their guns they deserve it and it shows karma does always get served eventually, I hope the vile Oystons end up in a B&B in a stinking Blackpool back street somewhere.

Sadly for us and handily for them they've been able to target those responsible on almost a daily basis but at the end of the day it did take one wealthy business man going after another to end up with this result.

Let's hope it ends positively with a sale to some decent owners. But...many a slip twixt cup and lip etc

5 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Now the fact mowbray rarely played him looks to be an even bigger waste 

Unless he was worried about the hamstring problem!

20 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I thought he had all the physical attributes and athleticism needed to become a ferocious or even merely a half way effective midfielder but the energy work rate and mentality were exactly what he did lack.

Anyhow enough about him. The "King" is dead. Long live the King.

Yes, I had the exact same expectations of him. I certainly expected him to come to the fore in the Championship.

I think we have had to endure a crap, dysfunctional midfield for almost seven years and Lowe seems to have typified that.

This year it does look more solid and creative.

Elvis will be spinning by the way! 

55 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Yeah it was a real screamer, I remember it well. Just a shame he didn't do it more often.

Haha. It does happen. Tony Finnigan against Burnley, anyone?

3 hours ago, Stuart said:

Much like everything else about our decline.

By and large, fans have been more than happy to accept our lower grade status at each drop in quality, stature and division.

Rovers fans have been so disappointing when it comes to taking any affirmative action and have instead accepted, nay cemented, our fate. The excuses to ease consciences are nearly as galling as the excuses for inaction.

But don't confront it any more, because that's just 'willy waving'.

Ian McGregor would have called it "managed decline".

Rage, rage against the dying of the light...

47 minutes ago, blueboy3333 said:

I don't know much about any of this so don't want to pre-judge BUT...

I can handle us selling players, and even the relegations, but it's this shyte that really puts me off the club.

Mowbray was talking the other day about how pre-season was organised like a pre-season at a Prem Club, a no expense spared training camp etc, yet when it comes to things that the fans really value, like a bit of commentary for visually impaired fans, money suddenly becomes an issue. If true it's disgusting. Those fans deserve a lot more respect than that.

Yes. It all seems a bit "shabby" (in the Terry Thomas sense) It smells of people, who have never owned the ethos of a small town club, steeped in tradition and who don't give a *** about Blackburn Rovers.

I am sure Jack would have sacked the lot of them.

Then there is someone like TM, who does seem to be a decent bloke.