Platini should find out later this week whether his suspension will stand. So will Blatter (and people can say what they like about him) but as long as Platini gets suspended I don't really care what happens to Blatter. Unfortunately the FA appear to be backing this piece of garbage for the FIFA presidency. That's not mentioned in this particular article more his FUP views. http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2014/12/30/7513542/uefa-doesnt-want-a-level-playing-field-infantino

Here's an "exclusive" from the Express with quotes from Bryan Douglas. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/644359/Exclusive-Blackburn-legend-Bryan-Douglas-Messi-Suarez-penalty-i-1960s

Don't really like the look of the shows either. Too many bright lights and glossy, simplified logos. Thought the look of the show was especially great in 98/99 but I guess you need all these pointless "extras" in Tv production these days. Of course WWE do a brilliant job of producing Tv and are up there with anyone in that respect though the shows look too similar. The videoscreen they have been using for about 8 years certainly wasn't cheap so they won't stop using that anytime soon. Or replace it with a plainer version like the old Titantron. Still there's nothing Raw about Raw. Forget Raw is War more like Raw is Disney On Ice.

Suspended Uefa president Michel Platini arrived at his appeal hearing on Monday saying that he is fighting not for his future but "against injustice". Even if it does turn out to be an "injustice" at least he will know how we feel. Oh wait I forgot he's a sociopath so he won't. More on whether the spending from Chinese clubs will put FUP under even more pressure. http://www.insideworldfootball.com/david-owen/18856-david-owen-will-chinese-transfer-splurge-be-the-death-of-ffp-in-europe

Don't sleep well at all. Anyway to quote the late Mike Dickin "my health is not in question". So back to FUP if you don't mind!

Someone on twitter says Rovers did that once in League Cup 1966. Bryan Douglas to Mike Ferguson.

Absolutely. Even the "death of WCW" book apparently names the head of the network (Jamie Kellner) as the guy who "killed" WCW. Yet Kellner isn't even on the cover!

That's the main problem no major competition and good profits. Of course being profitable is good for the company but combined with lack of competition its not good for the fans. Not including 99-00 when WCW were being destroyed and WWF(E) were still putting on a great product. Funny thing is I never watched WCW and miss it more now! Unless you count their dreadful Channel 5 show which (and I'm seriously not making this up) included Batman style KERPLOW, WHAM, censoring for weapons shots! I do think that was a C5 decision though at least Sky just cut to the crowd on the Sky 1 morning Smackdown broadcasts!

No wonder the Chinese clubs are investing so much seems obvious they have taken advantage of UEFA's moronic rules. Galatasaray recently had to sell their top scoring striker to Bejiing to stay within FUP regulations. http://www.todayszaman.com/sports_canaries-lions-gear-up-for-europa-but-are-they-ready_412108.html

If Lambert does fail I really will start believing everything these people touch is cursed.

League games you mean?

Decided its about time we have a thread on this. If one already exists this title is more appropriate. This way I won't need to get my point across by putting FUP in big bold capitals on other threads LOL. So any FUP news or general opinions (about any team as well as Rovers) should be posted here! I'm not going to keep dragging this thread up (as with takeover threads in the past) so its up to others as well to keep it active! Lets start with Guus Hiddink commenting on Chelsea's FUP problems ahead of next season. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/12/guus-hiddink-chelsea-newcastle-united-premier-league Also Cardiff to publish their financial accounts on Monday following Tan's recent debt waiver. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-publish-financial-accounts-10885330

Balaji will probably give him a call now...

Speaking of Michael Cole I remember Rovers had a youth player with that name a few years back. What did Rovers do trade him to Smackdown?

Saw this posted on twitter for anyone who hasn't seen it...

Idiot "setting the bar high" in the prestigious Singapore league. http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/kean-setting-bar-high-defending-champions-dpmm Unfortunately I guess Kean's presence there rules out the Sultan of Brunei being a Rovers fan. Hopefully next time he comes to UK and goes back there someone slips some drugs in his suitcase.

For anyone who lives in a cave and hasn't seen the goals...

http://www.lep.co.uk/sport/non-league/no-dunn-deal-yet-but-brig-hopeful-1-7703553 Seems that the sons of David Dunn and Lucash Neill are enrolled in the Academy. No real surprise with Dunn who probably has his own keys to come and go as he pleases. I would have thought Lucash would have tried to enroll his son at the "prestigious academy of football" since he spoke so much higher of West Ham. Guess its because he's returned to this area. Pretty sure the kids aren't anywhere first team age yet though Dunn's son is at least 10 years old. Hopefully they haven't just been given a position because of who their Fathers are. It wouldn't do them or the club any favours.

Eric Bischoff thought Austin was just a "bald guy in black trunks". There were a lot of people who thought Austin had star potential before he joined WWE. When he did it was with the reputation that he couldn't talk but Vince soon realised he could. As for Mick Foley he wasn't hired for years because Vince felt "he didn't look like a star" but he certainly looked different. Its like Vince Russo has said who would turn heads more in public? Someone who looks like Owens or Foley who looks nothing like most people. I always thought Reigns would be Vince's guy and he does have a great look. Maybe his mic skills will improve and I read about his match with Sheamus on Raw recently. I think Ambrose has higher potential too if he was more edgy. Would be better than throwing ketchup over Kane or whatever it was he did. Its Dean Ambrose not Doink Ambrose. It will be difficult with too many writers scripting everything and the "watered down" nature of the shows. As for Rollins it seems like he just did the same promo week after week. AJ Styles and Samoa Joe have been around too long so its unlikely they will be major stars. Joe has wasted a lot of his potential and it wasn't just TNA's fault. The Hardy Boyz had appeal with their look and with people like the Dudleys did some great stuff in the tag team division. They did however become big names in the WWE when the shows were already drawing huge ratings. People praised their matches in 99-2001 but they were not the draw for most people. CM Punk wasn't as big as some people think but he could have been bigger. Bray Wyatt has a great entrance and some interesting mic work but he's in a watered down environment. Daniel Bryan as I've already said did not draw Tv ratings and apparently house shows featuring Cena on top outdrew those with Bryan. I'm not a big Cena fan (though I don't hate him like some do) but he's certainly been the biggest draw. I don't particularly dislike any of those guys but they just haven't interested me enough. The best they have is The Undertaker and Lesnar but they aren't there often enough. Lesnar is so good that even in a PG, watered down product he looks like an absolute killer. Always liked HHH and Kane though they are shadows of their former selves really especially Kane. I don't mind Cole though he was actually better earlier in his career. Doubt anyone other than Lawler has been on WWE Tv as much as him in the past 20 years. Saxton offers nothing and JBL should be a total heel. People have been praising the new announcer Ranallo on Smackdown (though a lot are the "smart" types) and I've heard King is acting like a heel again which he is FAR FAR better at. King has come across as bored and unenthusiastic in the past few years and I can't really blame him. In the 90's and early 2000's he was brilliant. As for JR its been a no win situation for Cole in some ways following him. JR is over 60 though and would have had to be replaced at some point though I wish he was still there.

Can't agree with that at all and Kevin Owens in particular does not look like a star. Vince should remember what he wanted to do with Christian (never a big draw either) and put a blue dot over his face. As for NXT its correct I haven't watched it much. Maybe "too much flippy floppy" stuff is wrong to describe the whole NXT roster. There's far too much emphasis on high impact moves (not meaning just top rope) at high speed for no real reason though. With the likes of Austin in particular at least the matches looked more like an actual fight in the 90's/early 2000's. There wasn't as much technical stuff after Bret Hart left but he was much better as well. OK the Undertaker v Mankind cell match (as an example) was mostly 2 big moves but it was absolutely unbelievable (JR's commentary at its best too) and won't ever be forgotten for the drama and violence. To say Undertaker gave Mankind the beating of his life would probably be an understatement! Speaking of JR how about this for a spotfest!

Don't think some people rated Jason afterwards To his immense credit he didn't react to the abuse for several seasons. Its telling of course that he was the last of the 94-95 squad to leave. With the exception of Jeff Kenna who joined Rovers very late that season. Scored a very crucial goal too though rather oddly took some penalties in 98/99. Didn't help dropping points like Kenna's missed penalty against Newcastle in the league (and actually missed one against the same club in the League Cup) Parkes knew when Wilcox left that Duff was a better player. I could see he was going to be a top player during 1999-2000. He was player of the year that season and certainly stood out. There was probably interest in him even then from Premier League clubs. When Chelsea made the huge bid in 2003 it was probably just the right time. He probably wasn't quite ready before 2002 for a title challenge or champions league club. Unless you count some appearances in 97-98 when Rovers were still top 3 in February. Despite all the problems that season (player morale, managers, etc) still think Rovers wouldn't have been relegated if there hadn't been a crippling injury list. Wasted money on Davies/Dailly of course but some of the money wasted had to cover a massive injury list. Jack wasn't short on financial backing that season but I don't think he intended to spend such colossal figures. Had to cover all the injuries Wilcox even had to play upfront on his own away to Lyon.

I don't know if it will be that good again but it certainly could be better than it is now. People like the Undertaker are great whatever era it is and Paul Bearer (he was hilarious) was always a total cartoon. Just don't want constant corporate stuff shoved down my throat. When I started watching was under the impression (more from seeing slightly dated video games) that it was still a cartoonish product. If it had been probably would have liked it at that age. Its true that I've never been a fan of lengthy matches though I don't mind them on PPV/Network. Raw and Smackdown should be about storylines and characters that's what interests me far more. That's just how it was then matches on Raw (and later Smackdown) were nowhere near as long. I don't think there was ever a match on Raw in 98 that went beyond 20 minutes. The longest matches were usually around 12 minutes at most and that would have been for main events. Far more kids watched then as well though clearly there were more adults in the arenas. I'm referring to a certain section of fans on the internet. Those who visit the Observer/Torch websites not so much the ones on twitter. NXT is only so popular on there because its new. Marketing the product to them just makes wrestling more of a "niche" product. The 1998/1999 stuff does not get a lot of viewers on there but that's only because its over 10 years old. As far as mainstream Raw is far more popular than NXT. I started becoming more "smart" to the "business" from 2001 onwards (thanks to the internet though maybe that should be no thanks) and know lengthy matches just don't draw. NXT is more like "independent wrestling" and a lot of great moves don't make a great match. I'm a fan of ringwork from people like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Brawling is my preferred type but some technical stuff isn't bad. I'm not interested in flippy floppy independent style wrestling. Most people on the "smart" internet sites wouldn't agree. They would probably just call me a Vince Russo fan. Which I am.

Yeah but the problem with NXT is wrestling isn't really a draw. Storylines and characters are and really none of the NXT characters interest me. All well and good being popular on the internet but its hardly "revolutionizing" wrestling. Raw is too long as well but obviously that's down to commercial/tv reasons more than quality product. Too many long matches as well they should be cut to a minimum of 12 minutes on Raw/Smackdown. If you look at WWE's most popular periods they haven't exactly been critically acclaimed online for the quality of matches. Lesnar is great even with the PG constraints and the Undertaker is always a welcome sight. The Rock will be at Wrestlemania of course but he's more "Dwayne Johnson" than "The Rock" these days. Other than that I can't say I have much interest at the moment. I still watched long after the late 90's having to endure the likes of Rey Mysterio. Its not just the "family entertainment" it was better than this in the mid 90's though I watched from autumn 1997 onwards. Its just far too corporate and looks more like Disney on Ice than a wrestling show. Did see a bit of the Royal Rumble match though wasn't even interested in seeing that through to the end. I don't really care that much about Bryan either it really does not mean more to me than some random hockey player, golfer, etc retiring. His apparent popularity as well hasn't shown in arena attendance or increased Tv ratings. He's not even comparable to Austin/Rock even in past few years Cena has been a bigger draw than Bryan has. I've never exactly disliked Bryan he just hasn't generated much interest from me. Unfortunately if they keep making good profits not much is likely to change. As people have said fans seem to follow the "brand" now more than the wrestlers. I certainly think Vince is a brilliant businessman but he will only change things if the fans finally get tired of how stale it is. WWE's difficulties in the early-mid 90's (albeit partly due to non Tv events as well) it took big financial losses and beatings from WCW for changes to be made. I certainly don't want the company to ever go out of business but things might need to get a lot worse to get a lot better.

Can't really say that sounded like a great ending to Raw. Maybe should have been at the start or in the middle they do have 3 hours to fill after all. Not really a fan of the current product preferred when Raw was all about mayhem, carnage and antisocial attitudes. Not to mention some real cliffhanger endings. Things do move on though and I guess the current overly corporate/PC WWE is more a reflection of the present times.

Its only February don't think we really need to be worrying about such things at this stage. Already made my thoughts on the chances of relegation clear. I'm looking for Rovers to pick up points not relying on other teams.