My own two cents. I feel all we were guilty of was some poorly timed tackles. It's a man's game, it's the English game and not intended for little nancy boys from abroad. I grew tired of listening to the bias but I am proud of Rovers. We go for the ball we go with our feet what I get tired of is seeing the Arse's etc get away with the pulling, holding and constant elbowing. No one whined when Keane sliced Reid down a OT from behind, no one will bitch and moan when the Arse and Man U are fighting and clogging each other. Then it is simply described as healthy competitiveness. For me I'd say more of the same. Show 'em we won't be manipulated.

Settle down Tris, it's just a discussion about the bloke who single handedly put us in the crap then walked away. To me it makes a nice change from the excuses for not going to Cardiff type posts.

Interesting reviews on the game. Poor to watch, Liverpool set out their defensive stall but yet they have been described as "heroic defending" Why is it that Liverpool are heroic but we are bullies, physical, etc etc.

Are you actually going yourself? The reason I ask is that generally it seems the people who make the most noise about our level of support don't go themselves. People who find the club "embarrassing" because of our followings really get on my nipples. It's all about supporting your team, your club. What does it really matter to you if x thousand people you've never met choose to go or not? It's a matter of choice, it's not compulsory, and you can't force anyone to go. More to the point where were all these people "embarrassed" now by 20,000 gates when we were getting 7,000 gates in the 80's in division 2 or even 4,000 in division 3 in the 70's? Probably not even born then but if they were no doubt they wouldn't have supported us because it would be far too "embarrassing" being associated with such an unfashionable club or being seen in such a small crowd. A "proper" fan (God I hate that phrase) would support us no matter what and wouldn't be particularly concerned if there were 3,000 or 30,000 like minded souls alongside him or her. (Although obviously the latter is nicer) And if I read once more that someone going to this one off game is more of a "proper" fan than a season ticket holder who forks out his money season after season I think I'll scream. RANT OVER: P.S. After all the hot air expended on this thread it's a 4am start, it's live on TV, it's mostly £45 per head with no reductions for kids, we currently average only 19,000 at home with 14,000 season ticket holders. Yet we're now looking like taking a respectableish 16,500. Much ado about nothing? If you must have a moan direct it at the FA not your fellow supporters. NOW CAN WE FINALLY GET DOWN TO TALKING ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY MATTERS? TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WIN THIS BLOODY GAME OF FOOTBALL!!! Yeah yeah and yeah again. Way to go Rev. My Alarms going to be set for 3 am, course I don't have to travel or pay. As for getting up early what about in the old days when you had to travel on the coach overnight to get to places like Brighton and Southampton.

Do we have word on how many tickets Arsenal have sold?

Other than that how did you like the game, was the result to your liking? Should we have scored more? Or do you just prefer to stick with the negatives? Were the pies cold, too hot. We all know the attendance is slipping I am not even sure if a good season will bring back the missing few thousand or so but hey, it was a good result, semis next week, possibility of a bright future with the right players added. It seems most teams around Lancs are seeing declining numbers in support, even the almighty Burnley, worlds most loyal fans, can only just scrape over 10K now, even with the gap closing . Nob end, with a real shout of Prem football, Wigan even better shout are not exactly packing them in are they. Just try to enjoy the result, if you can that is.

I think you mean to say that you cannot be arsed to wake up early and pay a little extra But no doubt you'll be one of those people trying to get the 18k Cup final tickets and take it from those who can be botherd to go for the semie So if you are boycotting the game you won't be watching it on telly either then. Am I right.

What can I say? You are in Texas.

Just plonked my $20 down to watch em on PPV over here, a tough decision given Mr and Mrs USABlues current financial climate.

Excellent points Rev, my feeling exactly. I think If I was undecided that article would have put me off, it came across all wrong. I can clearly understand any fan who chooses not to go to this one, the FA have cocked it up on a grandiose scale. They clearly, very clearly, have not got a clue about the Football fan in general, are we not after all their employers. They have added to the downhill spiral of the spirit of the greatest domestic competition in the World. It has been the way it had for 100 years why did they have to go mess with it, semis at two neutral grounds and the Final on the big stage. It is the ONLY way it should be, the only way. I can imagine the out cry here if the AFC and NFC championship games were held at the same venue as the Superbowl. It detracts from the final.

As I said earlier, because the LET is not the club's PR mouthpiece. If there are negative articles, it is because they reflect the general feeling of the Blackburn public. Rubbish. It's because the newspaper industry in this country has grown fat on negative reporting and has no idea how to report anything positive. Seems as though it creeps into all areas of the media's life. Paul, I think if one sits and thinks for a mo' one will realise just about ALL news is negative. Murder, rape, natural disasters, oil prices, feeding tubes, wars, robbery and so on. Unfortunately negative things seem to be deemed newsworthy.

You could add me to that "list" I remember reading that thread too.

'Officers also discovered what they think is a cannabis factory" What they THINK is a Cannibis factory, jeez, what could there be to give 'em a clue.

No way is Todd dirty, competitive, strong and determined yes but dirty no. I can't really even remember the last time I saw Todd execute a rash or unsporting challenge.

Though over recent weeks we have put a little bit of daylight between ourselves and the bottom three I am still very concerned. With our total lack of punch, imagination and flair up front I have no idea how we are going to score goals. A few losses coupled with a few good results from the clubs below us and we are right back in the mire. I don't think I will feel at ease unless we can dispatch both the Saints and Palace.

Did you see the goal he scored against Norwich at home?? or Burnley home??? Point taken but as a wide player he only seems to me to beat a man when the defender is tight on him. There were several opportunities yesterday when MGP was running at a defender and he chose not to take him on. I haven't he does not beat his man, he is also still lightweight with the ball at is feet, easily stripped of possesion. That said, he's come on well but perhaps not so much the last two games.

Well fairs fair CC, if you consider Burnley to be the centre of the Universe then Leyland can be what ever he wants. Me mum lived in Leyland for several years, when I went to visit I found it to be a very nice place, not sub tropical though I'll give you that.

Doesn't matter - good things come in threes and we will have been to Cardiff twice this year. Third time very lucky? Yeah, let the games begin. Hughesy 1 Wenger 0, love it. That is a great "up yours" in my mind.

Had a fair night out in Bristol once when we played Bristol Rovers, also great night in Chipping Sodbury if you can believe it or not. Local plod followed us all night had a great time though, bout 9 of us in 2 cars (we walked fo rthe drinking) nice pubs. Toward the end of the night though they started ot only allow us one drink in each pub then moved us on. (USAblues eyes become glassy reminiscing)

Nelsen had a fine match but he did have a couple of slips, letting the ball bounce once or twice when he perhaps should have dealt with it. Nothing became of it so I am admittedly being overly critical, no doubt eyebrows would have been raise and moaning would have ensued had it been Nissa or Amo. Not knocking Nelsen but the law of averages says he has to drop a clanger sooner or later, I just hope we continue to support him then. He is one of the best defnders I have seen for sometime, anywhere, and definately in Blue and White halves. the man has it in him to become a bonafide rovers legend. That ball he took down over his shoulder in the penalty area and cooly spun and cleared at Anfield was sublime and took extreme confidence. Of course if I remember correctly the commentators could only say how stupid it was to try that. Had it been Mr Rio Ferdinand they would still be wetting themselves and gushing ooohs and aaahs. Very very impressed with ryan Nelsen, very.

Too bad Seaman's not still with 'em MGP could have a hat trick from the corner flag. I can still see him giving Lehman the slip with one of them.

I still don't understand the bearing of Newcastle and their EUFA cup involvement on all of this. Could someone please be kind enough to explain why concessions have to be made for Newcastle in this instance.

The solution seems simple to me. Kick Off at 3:00 and don't bloody televise the match. Duh done deal. Won't happen though will it. Surely there is a budding reporter soemwhere would like to have a go at the FA in the papers for selling out it's fans. The game is dying and our very own governing body is the one that is supplying the poison. Could someone also explain to me what bearing Newcastles game had on the scheduling of our FA CUp semis, I for one just do not understand that one.

Will Arsenal fans have the same logistical travel problems as our lads and lassies do? Can the club put on transport to help our fans get there. One train pulling in a few minutes before kick off is ludicrous. I expect there will be quite a poor showing from Rovers. Talk about peeing on someones Cheerios

Nice to see the FA have listened to all the fans and their concerns about a noon kick off, NOT. Arseholes.