JHRover

An amazing coincidence that the fixture computer throws up Kompany's dingles at home v City for the first game of the new season and Sky Sports just happen to have a documentary on the dingles that they are ready to release the same week. Funny how these things work out.

For all the 'woe is me' routine from Mowbray I can't see there's any way at all that he's going to walk away from a gig like Sunderland. He stuck at it here for over 5 years and admitted he would have stayed on for more if he had been offered the chance. That's despite Venkys, cost cutting and the really difficult long journey down from Teesside. Now at Sunderland I suppose his nose might be a bit out of joint if he's got an owner and director of football imposing a certain structure or criteria on him. His signing of Dack however suggests he has some sway over transfers. He probably wants more like he had here with him and Venus running the show. But no he's not one to throw in the towel. He did it at Coventry but that was only when results and their crisis made it untenable. As long as results keep ticking over he'll hang about.

I think Sheffield United are in dire straits financially. They were supposed to be getting a takeover from some Nigerian businessman but that has gone quiet and looks to have collapsed. Their existing Saudi owner has been looking to get out for a while. Beyond risky if they sell one of their best players to the likes of Burnley. You'd think they'd just take the risk to try and stay up and above the dingles. My worry is that with Sheff Utd in a mess, Luton looking weak and Bournemouth likely to struggle there are already three clubs who Burnley can be relatively confident about finishing above.

I was a little baffled by only 1 minute being added at the end of the first half between City and Arsenal yesterday. Other than that it does seem as though a good amount of time is being added both at half and full time in games. Moaning Mowbray thinks it is ridiculous that 13 minutes gets added from a 45 minute second half. I agree it is ridiculous. But this just shows how much time has been lost over the years with cheating from teams and officials not cracking down on it. It will be interesting to see how long it gets sustained because no doubt there will be pressure from certain managers and players to drop it.

One thing I think is abundantly clear and has been reinforced by his interview is that the owners have no expectations or targets when it comes to winning football matches. It is clear that by extension Waggott does not have any expectations or targets when it comes to winning football matches. His focus appears to be on the hand-to-mouth existence these owners have reduced us to and patting himself on the back when he manages to pay the bills on time, together with individual player development. I now suspect he's on some sort of bonus for raising funds in doing so reducing owner input. That won't do because it runs contrary to us achieving the best we can and building as strong a squad as possible. He is a tin pot operator, essentially a box ticker who is in place to try and make ends meet with whatever cash the owners decide they are putting in each year. I'm embarrassed that he's the most senior staff member and representative of Blackburn Rovers. I'm flabbergasted at the number of fans on here and Facebook / Twitter who are now hailing him as a great communicator and an important conduit between owners and fans, trusting in his every word as an accurate and true reflection of reality. Whilst he has spoken it doesn't seem to occur to people that what he says isn't necessarily the reality. This is a bloke who has misled fans on multiple occasions in the past (example one being the Covid ticket refund fiasco). A bloke who has barely uttered a word in public (his last club interview being after the sneaky training ground plan was rumbled some considerable time ago?) and a bloke who has allowed confusion and speculation to run rampant all summer long, finally deciding to do an interview 24 hours before the new season starts. It seems to be that he is surprised and almost uncomfortable with JDT and his ambition. It is clear that JDT is not an operator content to go around in circles for years on end whilst the club meets whatever agenda the owners and cronies have in mind. It is clear that he wants promotion and that looks to me to be at complete odds with the amateur hour operation above him. Waggott is probably wishing he had his old mate Tony back and then we can go back to the good old days of putting up with whatever rubbish these owners make up each season. Thankfully, at least for the time being, we have JDT who clearly won't put up with that. I'm pleased with JDTs comments about the interview and about expecting new signings before the end of the month. Not because I think we will get what he wants, but I think he is being slightly sarcastic and is directing pressure towards those above him. I think the onus is on them now and if they don't get done what he wants I think he'll walk, and they're aware of this.

He mumbled something about getting money out of India. Don't think he said anything beyond the speculation already in the public domain. What new facilities did he specify at the academy? The stitched pitch still a long way short of the full pitch replacement he told us we were getting 2.5 years ago.

Maybe I missed it but what did he say about 'Indian tax law'? I thought he conceded that the budgets had changed, but stopped short of actually specifying what the issue was. Good grief, I hope you aren't falling for the old trick of confusing routine maintenance with investment in new facilities?

So a lengthy interview that actually tells us very little. I say interview because after the interviewer has set him off there are barely any questions, Waggott just goes off on one almost as through his is reading from a script. It is amazing how he manages to make out as though the basics of operating as a professional football club - paying tax, paying wages, paying bills, relaying the pitch, getting ready to host games - is some sort of special achievement on his and his staff's part. It kind of sums up his mentality that on the eve of the new season one of the first things he talks about is how well we've done to pay our bills and tax. The interview of a bloke panicking and throwing whatever he can out there in a bid to protect himself and his bosses from any criticism by having to remind everyone listening of just what a stellar job he's doing. No wonder the owners keep him on if they believe everything he comes out with.

He's had a couple of weeks to get his lines together and of course treated gently by the in house media. It's a bit close to lunchtime for me to stomach that interview. I'll save it for later.

If that is correct just how exactly are we LOSING £20 million a year?

Still leaves too much discretion in the hands of the referee for me. Would prefer an independent timekeeper (4th official) tasked with measuring it. Hopefully a step in the right direction but worry they are more bothered about appearing to be doing something than they are actually doing it. FFP rules testament to that.

He's all about being accessible is Steve Anyone know what happened to the 'mandatory' bi-annual fan consultation meetings or shareholder meetings, both of which were ditched under the cover of Covid and yet to be reinstated?

A word of advice to anyone bothering getting the 1875 membership, If you look on the twitter advertisement it states you get 20% of matchday hospitality. If you look on the club website it is only 15% off matchday hospitality. Yes that's how ad hoc and made up this whole thing is.

I'm still trying to work out the difference between basic 1875 Membership and 1875+ Membership. It looks to me that the latter costs £40 extra, with the only noticeable benefit being that you get 'audio commentary'. Given the vast majority of potential purchasers will be season ticket holders I don't really know what benefit that brings. Are people going to listen to 'audio commentary' whilst sat in the crowd on the BBE? Or is it for away games in which case why not just listen to Radio Lancashire? I'm also not clear - do + members get priority over normal members when it comes to buying tickets as surely they will need their own priority window?? So conceivably it could be: + members and season ticket holders normal members and season ticket holders + members not season ticket holders normal members not season ticket holders everyone else Getting very complicated this buying a ticket routine. The pitfalls of trying every trick in the book to screw your own fans out of money, it gets hard to keep track and cover all eventualitiies.

The kit fiasco where we run out of stock and have none to sell before Xmas each year. Where we have limited stock of a few hundred to sell and the rest simply get to pre-order for a later date. Same applies for training gear. Austria travel mayhem having players sat stuck at Frankfurt Airport in the middle of the night after playing in tough conditions 15 hours earlier. Maybe one day you'll actually use the eyes, ears and brain you were given and reach your own informed conclusions rather than just swallow the company line each and every time without question. Just because the club want you to believe a certain narrative doesn't make it correct.

I had a feeling of optimism and relief when I heard that both Broughton and JDT were going to India this summer. The first face-to-face meet with those that really matter. I hoped this would re-engage the important people and secure JDT some transfer cash as it did Mowbray. Unsurprisingly yet concerningly that meeting did not happen. I find this alarming. Why were they expecting to go, why did it not happen? If it makes no difference to budgets etc then why arrange it and commit time and money to such a trip? It's been brushed under the carpet since, I'm yet to see any explanation as to why it didn't happen. Anyhow, at the very least it suggests a rather chaotic way of operating. I think the talk about FFP and Indian tax affairs to be red herrings. Ultimately the only way of getting cash from India is to go out there and state a case for it face to face. JDT and Broughton know this. This is why they hoped to do it this summer and probably why JDT was willing to stick at it. The cancellation of the meeting and the lack of funding that inevitably follows will not only make his job almost impossible, likely forcing sales just to generate any chance of funds, but also delivering a message to JDT as to where he and Rovers are on their priority list to still be waiting for a meeting after more than 12 months. He's probably wondering why he bothers at a club that stinks of indifference and incompetence from the top down. I know I'm asking myself why I bother The kit fiasco and Austria travel mayhem just the latest nonsense.

We just need to be rid of them. Until then its damage limitation Still amazing how it is never their fault or responsibility

There are actually very few options to get from NW England to Austria at the moment other than Ryanair to Vienna at inconvenient times. In the past we've done Stuttgart with Ryanair but that doesn't exist at the moment. Stansted a few more options but add a night and 4 hour+ drive on to get there Rovers advertised the game as free entry to fans. Arrive at the ground at 10am to be told it is 7€ to get in. An enjoyable few days away as it always is in a great country with friends but unfortunately not easy and not made any better by Rovers' woeful communications. Just seen that the players were stuck at Frankfurt Airport waiting for their connecting flight to Manchester at 12:17am after kicking off in Hartberg at 10:30am. Going to be anyone's guess what time they get home and to bed. Don't think they will be impressed by that or happy with the logistics involved nor will their bodies after such a tough effort in really hard temperatures.

And with a littany of excuses and deflection at every turn who can blame him? Contracts of key assets run down and they walk for nothing? Not my fault, we did our best Any footballing issue - not my department, ask Gregg or JDT No money spent - well we tried but FFP Season ticket sales stagnate - but remember the 80s!

Stagnant sales despite two good seasons behind us and despite the ludicrously named 'super saver' which has clearly achieved nothing but treading water. Stagnant an appropriate description for the bloke overseeing such woeful figures. If you can't increase numbers after two promotion pushes there is something seriously wrong. But bonuses achieved means he won't care.

Unfortunately they seem to have abandoned efforts at getting the most knowledgeable or informative pundits on and instead pursue those who are 'funny' or tick certain boxes. The product inevitably deteriorates as a result and then this leads to more and more changes, most of them for the worse. It isn't just football, its the same with Sky's cricket coverage.

Looks like Waggott's running a bit short and needs a 'top up' now that season ticket sales have effectively run their course. Solution? Turn to the good old 1875 Membership scheme, exploit the most dedicated of supporters for some more cash because paying top end season ticket prices just isn't enough. Make them pay to get priority on away tickets. Whilst trying to extract more cash from the regulars I'd love to know what efforts - serious efforts - he has made to get new people into buying season tickets. Running a bus for primary school kids doesn't count as they won't be buying tickets. Of course zero mention of such a scheme when selling and advertising season tickets. I'd say it's pretty unreasonable to sell season tickets with no mention of running a membership scheme and then subsequently dilute the benefit of having such a season ticket by establishing a scheme where people can pay for priority over season ticket holders.

Last season it was announced on 12th July, shortly before the start of the season and after months of season ticket sales. Clearly a desperate late bid to boost his numbers knowing the anticipation for the dingle game and possibly Blackpool / Luton too. It was done after promotion in 2018-19, presumably to 'cash in' on the feelgood factor of promotion. Can't remember whether it was in place other seasons.

Yesterday

Indeed but it is his tried and tested go-to option to raise a quick few quid through little effort, so even without the Burnley game to screw people over he can still try with some "added benefits" such as club cash, priority sales and special events. Of course not worth it to most but still worth a try. Nothing screams short term and making it up as you go along more than an annual alternation between running a membership scheme and not running one dependent on the fixtures.