OK, fair point. But if someone walks into a store 1 day after a sale ends, the new prices are normally sorted out & advertised. Very few stores will turn a potential customer away saying "sorry, come back another day because we don`t know what to charge you.". It`s not hard to say:- "1st - 30th April....last seasons prices. 1st May onwards, the new prices will be out." It`s taken probably 18days of lost (yes lost) potential sales in a closed season of about 3months, (that`s approx a fifth of the closed season.) What i am trying to say is Blackburn Rovers cannot afford to turn punters away. We are not a big city club with a seemingly endless supply of season-ticket holders in waiting.

Yes, exactly. The club are trying to sell a product, that product being football. It`s their duty to sell, not the customers duty to buy. The customer can chose to take his business elsewhere, whilst a club like Blackburn Rovers cannot afford to lose custom. 'forgot' doesn`t come into it. A premiership club like Blackburn should be striving for peoples custom not f#####g them off with lame excuses. Amateurish.

Yet again, well done Bob!

Here`s a table of the top gates between Rovers & Wigan during season 2005/6:- Rovers v Liverpool.....29,142 Rovers v Man City.....25,731 Rovers v Man Utd.....25,484 Wigan v Liverpool.....25,023 Wigan v Man City.....25,017 Wigan v Arsenal.......25,004 Wigan v Chelsea......23,575 Wigan v Man Utd......23,574 Wigan v Spurs..........22,611 Rovers v Arsenal......22,504 Rovers v Spurs.........22,375 Wigan v Newcastle.....22,374 Rovers v Villa...........21,932 Wigan v Everton.......21,731 Wigan v Pompey.......21,126 Rovers v Newcastle...20,725 Rovers v WBA...........20,721 Wigan v Rovers.........20,639 Wigan v Bolton..........20,553 Rovers v Wigan.........20,410 Rovers v West Ham...20,370 Rovers v Chelsea.....20,243 Rovers v Pompey.....19,521 Wigan v West Ham...18,736 Rovers v Boro...........18,681 Wigan v BIG club......18,669 Rovers v BIG club.....18,341 Rovers v Sunderland.18,220 Rovers v Bolton........18,180 Rovers v Charlton.....17,691 Wigan v WBA............17,421 Wigan v Villa.............17,330 Wigan v Fulham.........17,266 Wigan v Sunderland...17,223 Wigan v Charlton.......17,074 Rovers v Fulham.......16,953 Wigan v Boro............16,641 ....The fact that Ewood Park is bigger than the JJB helped alot, with the top 3 Rovers gates being bigger than Wigan can actually fit in to their ground. Wigan`s top 3 gates were near (if not) sell outs & could`ve probably attracted a few more punters. I think this table also shows Rovers where they can 'opt' to drop prices for future games, albeit the less attractive sides & the 'live' on SKY games (are you listening Rovers?) I should imagine next season`s UEFA cup game will be on channel 5 or somewhere on TV. I fear what Rovers gate would be if they price the game at the higher end of their structure. A less than half full stadium would look awful on telly.

**sigh** For every Alan Shearer, there`s a Corrado Grabbi & a Kevin Davis. You live but you never learn.

The final:- ***GAV`S £50 BET UPDATE OF SEASON 2005/6*** A triumphant GAV is £50 the richer after his beloved Blackburn Rovers (& it`s supporters) won him a £50 bet...that Rovers would have a higher league gate average than our neighbours just down the M6 (the cobbled bit) Wigan Athletic. Granted, Wigan have never had a great support for it`s team but promotion to the premiership for any team always tends to 'bring in the fans'....even if for only a season or two. A crowd of 25,731 saw Rovers beat Citeh & celebrate a UEFA cup place at the end of quite a remarkable season....one we will all remember for a long time! So, here`s how the whole shabang finished up :- Rovers average home league gate finished off on 21,015 (up 262) Wigan`s average home league gate finished off on 20,610 (rovers won by an average of +405) Rovers total home league attendances finished on 399,288 Wigan`s total home league attendances finished on 391,587 (Rovers won by 7701) So, the question is "what or who next?" Will our other neighbours Preston make to the prem? If so, next season we could have a mini Lancashire league, involving ourselves, Notlob, Nobend & the pie eaters....& who will the dingles have to look forward to? Bloody no-one i hope! A more indepth summary will follow shortly.....

I couldn`t go on Tuesday. Prior engagement . Managed to catch the 2nd half in a pub. Cannot go on Sunday either. Working. Does this make me a bad fan?

Nothing against McLaren, but as usual the FA are surrounding themselves with 'yes' men. I actually feel a tad sorry for who-ever gets the England job, cos they suddenly become the media`s public enemy number 1. England (& it`s media) will destroy McLaren & any credibility he has, with it.

Heard that Peter Ebdon is to be sponsored by Dulux.

***GAV`s £50 BET UPDATE*** Nearly there now.... A crowd of 20,243 saw Rovers clinch a European spot with a glorious victory over the Champions Chelsea. here`s how it affects Gav`s £50 wager:- Rovers average home league gate now stands at 20,753 after 18 homes (down 30) Wigan`s average home league gate finished on 20,610 after 19 homes (Rovers are an average of 143 ahead) Rovers total home league attendances stand at 373,557 Wigan`s total home league attendances finished up at 391,587 A final home league attendance above 18,030 will officially see Gav win his £50 bet with the unbeliever.

Easy. 6points for Brum every time.

**snore** Oh! has it finished now?

I wouldn`t think that is a problem. Extra income & a large crowd for Accy Stanley pre-season. I`d bet there`d be a few Accy dingles who`d think it an opportunity for a spot of bother though.

My thoughts exactly. I`d love it LOVE IT if Arsenal won the european cup. Spuds fans would be gutted....which in turn would make me happy

Taking both Rooney & Owen to the world cup, when they`re both not fit could end up being the single biggest England disaster ever! What do you do? take a gamble with them or play safe by giving other fit players a chance in the squad? Both Beckham & Gerrard were carrying injuries during the European championships & they had poor performances by their standards. Sven gets paid a hell of alot of money to make these decisions. At the end of the day he could end up being remembered as a great England manager or the man who took a gamble & lost big time. What will Sven do? I`d take the safer option & take two fit players as i fear the gamble is too big.

***GAV`S £50 BET UPDATE*** Pompey`s visit to the JJB saw Wigan`s final home game of the season attract a crowd of 21,126. It affect Gav`s £50 bet like thus:- Rovers average home league gate is 20,783 after 17 home games Wigan`s average home league gate has finished at 20,610 after all 19 homes. (Rovers are an average of 173 ahead) Rovers total home league gates are 353,314 Wigan`s total home league gates finished at 391,587 (Rovers are 38,273 behind, with 2 games left to play) 2 final home gates exceeding 19,137 per game will see GAV reign triumphant over his Wigan supporting colleague/mate/associate.

Yet again Bob, i heap an abundance of praise upon you!

They`ve been doing that at Ewood for years.........alas, no luck yet.

On the topic of MGP, i think Spuds £5m is looking better & better every game! . . . . . . .(only joking)

I hope Arsenal win the final, but i fear Barcelona will be too good. I`m always up for the British club in Europe.....except when it`s man ure. BTW...last nights game was awful to watch

Took my nephew to cardiff. Great day out! Still haven`t seen a video of the game on telly. Anyone know if it can be bought?

I agree, two different types of player. Rooney is a powerful, strong player. Henry has silky skills & great vision. Both are great footballers, but i just prefer to watch Henry when he`s on his day. I`d also pay to watch Ronaldinho, but i was mainly talking about prem players. I`d also believe Rovers fans have had the pleasure & privilage to watch one of the greatest English footballers in his prime & in the famous Blue & White shirt....Alan Shearer. A player who`ll be remembered in these parts as 'up there' with the best.

***GAV`s £50 BET UPDATE*** A crowd of 17330 watched Wigan & Villa in their penultimate home game of the season. It`s affected Gav`s £50 bet like thus:- Rovers average home league gate is 20783 after 17 homes Wigan`s average home league gate is now 20581 after 18 homes (down 191) (Rovers are now 202 ahead) Rovers total home league gates stand at 353314 Wigan`s total home league gates stand at 370461 (Rovers are 17147 behind...with a game in hand) Rovers have Chelsea & Man City to play Wigan have Portsmouth. In all likeliness Pompey will bring a huge following to Wigan, as it looks like they`ll still be in with a good chance of premiership survival. It is also Wigan`s last home game of a tremendous 1st season in the big time. I expect a near to full house (23k-25k) at the JJB.

I couldn`t agree more. If Thierry Henry left the premier, it would be a far far duller league. He`s the only player not in a Rovers shirt i`d pay to watch play football. Head & shoulders above Rooney.....in my view.

It`s all done with mirrors