Dreams of 1995

Buckley got pelters but he'd be much better in that "10" position than anything we have in the club at the moment imo. His better performances were always when played higher and asked to pinch the ball back JRC at wing back, potential, but his lack of pace would have made him suffer in an Ismael system, where basically you are required to run more than you are required to play football. Leonard could have been given another year for me. But again, I reckon he'd have broke down in an Ismael team, where rotation does not exist and the effort required is enormous. We have a much worse team than last year, no doubt. I can't think of a single player who has improved what came before him. Alebiosu is a good signing but on a par with Brittain. Gudjohnsen is a good signing but we have had better. The only thing I can say about Gudjohnsen is that he would have scored a stupid amount of goals under JDT imo. We were carving teams open at times and putting that ball into the danger area with few people to get on the end of it. JDT was crying out for a Gudjohnsen and, as always with Venky FC, it came years after we needed it

The 'official attendance' will be the same as it always is, as it counts tickets sold not bums on seats The true figure will come in the FOI request to the police, who will release actual data In any case, you will be able to see, visually, if there is a reduction in attendance. What Pasha points to is irrelevant.

Very well produced video. Let’s hope it cuts through - needs sharing absolutely everywhere

Didn’t work out with Pape but he got some important goals for us under Eustace. The header in the drab affair at Sheff Wednesday to pinch a 1-0 win being a memorable moment, followed closely by his other headed goal being about 1 foot off the floor in front of the travelling Nobbers I always think back to that West Brom game for an understanding of what he is capable of Generally though, he didn’t show the ability to step up to the Championship. Eustace got a better tune out of him and knew how to use him but Ismael is inflexible and it never worked with Gueye. To be honest, people look at that YouTube video of him missing the open net, and I am seeing a player devoid of all confidence - not helped by his captain ridiculing him in national TV and his manager calling him out also. During his time here he won us some important points - 9 by my reckoning - and had the whole Eustace debacle not unfolded those points may have meant we made the play offs. We then sold him for a profit. It could have been a very successful affair but it probably leaves on a disappointment, for a player who had the potential to be a fan favourite but whose ability would not allow it Good luck to Pape in China. He gave Rovers fans some memories - good and bad

I wouldn’t take RF99 that seriously when it comes to the players. Pretty much everybody is shit or a kid. His record on players is about as good as Mercer’s on score predictions

Ismael runs his players into the ground. It is very easy online to sit & blame head coaches or club staff for everything and anything, knowing you never really have to prove it. Lovely to moan isn't it. Yet when you look at our injuries this year, you would be daft not to question exactly what has been going on both during training and within the match day itself. The way we set up puts a lot of strain on our forward / midfield players. Our defence begins quite deep for a team who is tasked with pressing so high, and we don't seem to push up until a press looks like it may come off. That space between the back 3 and the front 3 is enormous at times, which means that either the wing backs or the attackers have a hell of a lot of ground to cover basically running around like headless chickens Wrexham found us out with this one. They really drew us on to them, ran us into the ground and then pumped long when the centre halves eventually pushed up to shrink that space. It was amateur really. Parkinson is a shrewd manager but there's no way he does a number on Eustace the way he did on Ismael. We looked amateur that day Then there is the training. I know quite a few baggies fans and they have all said that Ismael is supposed to be fanatical on running & distance & sprints and recoveries. I am saying this with zero authority here but it would not surprise me if we are running ourselves ragged in a training environment. The amount of muscle injuries point to that for sure I have to be honest and say that I have never warmed to Val. I always try but we have had some fantastic coaches previously - and yes, I count Mowbray in that - but this chap has come at the wrong time for me. Right at the end of an era that looked like it may result in a play off place; right after the drama with JDT & Eustace and the commencement of the PashaRudy show; and, to top it off, a tired and young squad that he can't appear to get a tune out of I just don't see our identity which after this long in charge is criminal really. For me we should change head coach and soon. A loss against Ipswich on the weekend would be my tipping point

This could be a fun game of trying to guess I had a look last night and came to the conclusion it could have been the Pelligra Group, owners of Perth Glory

I think you can add Gregg Broughton to that list of good faith also. Say what you would like about the success of his signings, you felt that during his time here the ambition was re-sale and re-invest and then promotion. Hence why Broughton did not last long, and the end of his time here coincided with JDT telling us that the project had changed Broughton and JDT aspired too much for this lot. It panicked them and since then Suhail has crushed any and all opposition to him within the management structure of Rovers

Blackburn Rovers is now a club where apathy is endemic I do not think that anyone can blame you. There is a malaise at boardroom level; a club and owners that see no real benefit in ambition. Instead, it is simply a case of moving from one account to the next, ensuring the portfolio of far flown billionaires is ticking over without any unusual activity required from the Chairs. The Venkys have shown no interest in anything Rovers since they embarrassed themselves on an international level. I think back to the visit of the Queen, over 10 years ago now. As far as we know, this is the last time an owner stepped foot in Blackburn. They came for their state visit, rubbed shoulders with royalty and then flew home before the Rovers kicked off only the following day. Can anybody blame fans for disengaging when our owners cannot be bothered to attend or engage? The family feel of Rovers is all but gone. Long-term staff moving on with allegations of less than friendly behaviour behind the scenes; Suhail Pasha, faceless for over a decade, but now front & centre in all manner, has systematically ripped this club from the town. The truth is that under the Venkys nothing will ever change. The fans will continue to disengage and this element of their portfolio will wind down. It feels like such a hopeless task at times, to follow and remain engaged with Rovers, but at the same time it is impossible to shake both the joy or the unbridled sadness that comes with the final whistle and end result I do not like using the word 'hate' but I hate the Venky's for what they have done to this club. A once great source of pride, trodden in to the dirt, and left in a position where an apathetic fan base have succumbed to this suggestion that we have 'found our place', that nobody else better will come along and that we should be grateful for the owners for paying their way. It is the most fantastic piece of business management that Suhail has provided the Venkys - one in which he is greatly recompensed for - to etch away the ambitions of an entire fan base and deliver a most extraordinary example of Stockholm Syndrome. I am 32. I have confidence I will outlive Venkys. What condition the club will be at the end is the part that worries me.

Confidence - you don’t feel confident when out of position. Soon as you’re out back, every touch is easier

Toth showing why he’s a million times better than Pears. Saved that follow up from McBurnie - phenomenal

I think Coyle was beat as a child. Played against too many men like him - he has a niggle at every person he comes in contact with. The surname must mean something

Disappointing line up for me. I wanted to see more of the academy I don’t think we need to see any more of De Neve or Henrikson up front. The bench lacks any real ambition and the fact that, given a free hit, we have gone with two left backs and two centre backs on the bench tells me we have no ambition whatsoever of progressing in this cup All of this talk about giving the academy a chance is nonsense. We may well win this match, but this line up is just crap. I hope I eat my words. I am hoping Hull put out an equally poor 11

Excellently summed up there wilsden. You will never convince cynics

Is there a difference between thinking we would be buggered without them and thinking they have been bad owners generally? It can’t be that big a portion of the fan base. I don’t have much conversation with Rovers fans but when I do it is always unanimous that the Venkys are bad for this club. I guess it is the company that you keep There is a message to get across but from the sounds of some posters here - Matty, yourself - there appears a belief that message is nigh on impossible to make. Unless, of course, the events on the pitch during the 90 minutes spark a sudden burst of frustration It is a shame really but this is the hand Rovers fans have been dealt

And you will be thinking that is the fault of the fans?

I have to be honest, I am really struggling to understand the intentions of those who are clearly out to find fault with the coalition’s strategy. I am of the opinion that all supporters have the same opinion - that the Venkys have been nothing short of a disaster for Blackburn Rovers. With that in mind, what is with the level of vitriol? The faux outrage at the production and sharing of memes. I haven’t read the comments around the Jack Walker meme but any outrage of his use - or criticism that one is appropriating and exploiting a “dead man’s image” - is surely so over the top it borders on performative. I don’t think there can be any doubt that Jack Walker would want something different for Rovers than we currently have. Although I do understand that it is an assumption he would support a boycott Is this about not wanting to listen, wanting to object, or is it a genuine belief that Venkys are the best we can hope for. Everyone has one thing in common - the want for Rovers to be better tomorrow than today - so what is with the vehement refusal to collaborate and, more important than the collaboration, the outright rejection of all things boycott or coalition from this very loud minority of fans?

It probably needs to be reminded to a few that football is unlike any other business. The owners can’t simply “wind the club down”. This isn’t a retail store The owners could, if they wanted, place the club in to administration and the league will penalise us - usually points deduction. However the league then mandates the sale of the club and appoints an administrator The idea that BRFC could cease to exist at the whim of Venkys is wrong What could be said, is that by not going you accelerate that process. It is harmful in the short term but again, the end result is something that we all want - an end to Venkys I have stopped using Twitter but I always had Jim Wilkinson down as a bit of a rage baiter who has a strange obsession with cats. It strikes me as pretty normal thing for him to find offence at the use of Jack Walker One thing we can all agree on is that Jack Walker would not abide by the standard of ownership that Venkys have produced. Say what you want about paying the bills, the financial struggles of EFL clubs or who may be a potential new owner but the amateur way that Venkys control this club and the contempt they show the fans and the town is a total reversal from what Jack wanted here. I don’t think he would object with his image used - why would he? Afterall, 135 years of pride and 15 years of shame. That statement resonates with every single fan of this club

I don’t know about this one. Sorry for being pedantic but………… Using the word “and” after a comma is ok, providing they are two complete sentences By your logic the use of the word “but” after comma is grammatically incorrect. Like in your post 😉 The “-“ are a huge giveaway though. Always something I’ve used fairly often to provide emphasis so I am now gutted they’ve become synonymous with AI

To be honest, I don’t think it’s as big a deal as the microcosm of people who post on here and Facebook are making out. The majority of supporters don’t post on here or follow the fan groups on FB with any regular interest. It is those people whom which the success of this action rests with - the silent majority I have some faith that, actually, a lot of people do engage with fan groups one way or another. And all fan groups are behind this action. Simply by membership, I’d wager at least 1-2 current match going fans are paid up members of groups contained within the Coalition. It only takes another 1-2 to 3 before you’re almost at 40-50% levels of typical home fans. If few who usually buy walk ons don’t bother, then the boycott will be visibly seen I think the cliff edge moment you allude to is driven firstly in good faith. By that, I mean that fans are disagreeing not with the end outcome but with the road one takes. This disagreement causes much frustration and the desire to persuade leads people to embellish. “This is our last chance”; “this has no chance of succeeding”; “they are billionaires - who cares”; “if you do go, you are complicit” The above are statements of persuasion more than anything. And human nature is such that when persuasion fails, it usually hardens people in opposition rather than changing hearts and minds I would disagree a statement to remain means the boycott has failed. They would provide that statement anyway and so usually when discontent occurs. Suggesting this is a sign of failure would mean that you are of the idea doing nothing and plodding on is more likely to see Venkys leave. The boycott won’t be the nail in the coffin, but it will help no matter the outcome as it is another sign that the club is not operating correctly

Exactly this. Our recruitment team are forced to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. We consistently let them down on the better, more quality acquisitions & the budget they have is limited to say the least Although, this season it strikes me that the power is now out of the hands of the football department. Suhail rules this roost and cash is king. Rudy is told what to do.

I don't quite agree with this. If I am correct, the coalition is made up from every official supporter group, without exception. The only way to make it any more 'official' is if the club announced it itself. You are of course free to consider yourself as part of a different supporters group - the unrepresented, maybe - but nevertheless this is as official a call for a boycott as one could expect Your last paragraph would stand true had you been involved or took the lead on a separate supporters' group yourself. You could do. You could also then oppose the boycott I won't go down the childish route of calling you complicit. The various supporters' groups have come together and have not demanded but instead requested that all fans stand together, whether you are part of the dozen or so groups which form the coalition or not. That choice is entirely your own and many will exercise that choice, each for different reasons For some, time may simply be slipping away from them and the chance to watch Rovers week in, week out is a hobby they will cherish each and every time they can For others, it will simply be a case of contrarianism and a "you cannot tell me what to do" attitude In this respect, no boycott will ever be everyone. Sheffield Wednesday came the closest that I have ever seen but they were really difficult circumstances for the club What I would disagree with here is your suggestion that the coalition is trying to force you to do anything or that the coalition has decided on an action that is divisive. From what I have seen online, the divisiveness has come from those who oppose the boycott; insults and posts such as this, where it is clear that fans who do not join any supporters' group at all, also really dislike the idea of being spoken for. What I would say is that it is always harder to be represented if you do not join a group to represent you. I'll caveat all of that by saying - I don't attend. I live too far away, I have other commitments, and I am well aware that if I was to try and convince anyone to actually boycott it would be hypocritical. But I think you're being unfair in your dismissal of the coalition aims here. I am guessing they want the same thing as you - for Venky's to sell - it is just the road chosen to get there

The comparison with the last previous 3pm games will be a good graphic.

Do Lancashire Police release official attendance figures for the games? The Clubs attendances can never be trusted

The board were embarrassed at home by Rangers. He was never going to see the week out