It depends on the fanbase too. Sometimes as people on here should know it's sometimes better to have one fan with a strong mentality. Fans fall out all the time it's just asking for trouble. You need someone to keep them in line without constantly disrespecting and and insulting them even if they might deserve it. Also I don't like the way Dietmar Hopp was treated after all the money he put into his club and things like medical research and foundations for curing cancer. I believe Wolfsburg are an exception due to ownership circumstances which as far as I know works out OK. Then you have Red Bull of course though their main insensitivity extends to Salzburg. New York to a lesser extent though Metrostars was a much better name. They also insist on naming every one of their stadiums the same and that's what they are. Stadiums. Not arenas.

These movements (often led by "wish I was in La Bombonera" types) need to accept some aspects of capitalism and stop pretending they are more noble than they are. Clubs like Union Berlin have grown rapidly from seemingly nowhere but they have made concessions and they are going to have to make more and more. The only top tier club in major European leagues perhaps which has stuck to some unique principles is Athletic Bilbao. That wouldn't work as well for everyone signing players on regional basis. It would be better too if UEFA and their cartel sycophants accept that owners can spend their own money and stop throwing corrupt obstacles in the way. Fans should speak out about it more especially those who have had benefactors or have them now. You have hypocritical exceptions of course like Gibson and that oaf Whelan who were happy to spend when it suited them. I believe in 2003 before Abramovich appeared it was Middlesbrough who were top of the losses table over a number of years. Gibson wasn't the only one who saved them from liquidation either as he likes to let people think. 

It appears that another club is the latest target of a "celebrity" takeover...Tranmere. This one might be true one of the people said to be involved is connected to the Italian club SPAL. Incidentally some of you might know what SPAL stands for. They also play in blue and white.

Is this the latest trend? It may very well be. I thought others would follow Abramovich and I was right. Hence one of the reasons for my desire of a takeover 20 years ago once the severe neglect became more and more apparent and proved to be true. Guess I was "the oracle" after all.

With FUP owners should try and get more sports figures or actors on board. People were saying that singer Swift's endorsement was a huge deal for Harris (though probably not huge enough). Hypothetically if she had an interest in football would a ton of her fans follow like sheep? Is that the way forward when owners can't spend their own money? Don't think anyone is going to spend 500 million in the Roverstore without any ownership stake anytime soon. Look at Wrexham they had TikTok sponsor on their shirt though I don't think much of their current one. Sure Waggott loves it.

If Venkys eventually sell (certainly if something happened to Balaji as he might be the only thing keeping Madame and third wheel around) maybe they could look to one of their Bollywood friends as they are big on "saving face". Early on they were called "celebrity chasers" with the Maradona link perhaps that's the way forward for you. One of them anyway.

Not much of a show at the new Coop Arena tonight. Wasn't expecting that much from an untelevised show but as the first event at a new building there was a slight hope for a little more. Steel cage match main event was a bit slow (sometimes a good thing with so much flippity flop) with Cody R v Sikoa but once again there was the feeling that you don't go "all out" at an untelevised event. Obviously wasn't expecting a major title change but something noteworthy enough to mention on TV perhaps.

Think they were trying to break a world record with how long they played Orton's music after his match.

Only one women's match (a so called street fight) which is always a good thing.

Facility is fine. Didn't take too long to get in and left right away when the main event concluded so the metro wasn't overcrowded. I like it when the lighting is "stripped down" you don't need 20 boards all repeating the same thing.

Wouldn't have happened with Pol Pot Pegden and Kim Jong SteB.

If there was some sort of statue Waggott probably would have slapped a red devil on it anyway.

36 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

And Klopp's chosen a vodka mixer

It's a strange move and unnecessary. As someone from Dortmund put it "a great career and then he does this at the finish line". Reminds me of someone else who just this past April pissed away his legacy to a far worse extent for absolutely no reason. 

On 05/10/2024 at 17:48, DE. said:

🤣 Brilliant. 

Plymouth fans will feel absolutely robbed, but at the same time a lesson to them and Rooney that you can never rely on a 1-0. Need to be ruthless when you're on top, or this is often the end result. 

Rooney and learning lessons. That's always been his problem. 

An unbeaten run that consists of a few games proves nothing. It's yet another false start for you (addressing the forum here).

On 05/10/2024 at 17:30, West Yorks Rover said:

I don't understand all to criticism of Rooney, I thought his Derby team played some excellent football.

May turn out to be a top manager, who knows. Certainly has a football brain and I'd rather give him a try than the last few

losers we've had at Ewood.

As most people have figured out it was Rosenior who was responsible though it wasn't enough to overcome Rooney's idiocy.

The biggest reason you stayed up last season was Rooney and that ex assistant you had Uranus.

11 hours ago, tomphil said:

Such naive crap again there's very little excuse for it.

As for Rooney not only does he look like a fat headed bell end he really is one.

It just proves that the club is still a basket case and midtable all the way again. The longer Rooney is there the more trouble they are in. The same applies with Venkys and Waggott is probably of comparable intelligence to Rooney.

I would have called him a pig but not disagreeing with your description!

On 20/09/2024 at 14:40, Silas said:

In terms of money, opportunity, level played/playing at? 

It's a fine balancing act in terms of perceived 'success' (i.e. wealth + a Prem League player) vs happiness and a good, healthy work/life balance. 

Phil Jones should serve as a warning to those that come after him:

https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news/man-utd/phil-jones-manchester-united-injury-mental-trauma-interview-590255-20240917

"Phil Jones opens up on 'mental trauma' he suffered at Man Utd in incredibly honest interview"

I wonder how much happier Jones's career could have been on an alternate timeline well away from the pressure cooker mess of Old Trafford.

Money isn't everything, (the World doesn't always work this way), but give me the choice of the 'Phil Jones' route and being worth £40M, or playing for a Championship club where you're idolised, appreciated, and minus the abuse, and end up only worth £10M, it's a no brainer for me. 

While I'm not usually opposed to casting blame towards Manchester United that grotesque face pulling idiot only has himself to blame. He's the biggest laughing stock you will ever find. Mental trauma? Good. I was mentally traumatised by the 7-1 defeat he didn't give a toss about.

What goes around comes around. 

FUP is a load of corrupt nonsense. I hope the Premier League gets annihilated in court. 

Fulham are going to be taking a media battering from the Fayed fallout. It's unfortunate they have always been an inoffensive club though I've never liked their stadium name. It's a bit too twee for me. 

Of course there's one rule for the likes of Fulham and another for the likes of Man United. At least Giggs has had to resort to awarding himself a job at the egofest that is Salford City.

4 minutes ago, Vinjay said:

 Nobody deserves a terminal illness

Certainly not Eriksson anyway.

2 hours ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

This allowed the press to portray the club, as an undesirable place to work. I saw it it as giving them a stick with which to beat Rovers, in the context of press resentment that this "upstart" club  had dared to topple Man Utd. 

Hell of a lot better working for someone like Jack than kissing Ferguson's ass every day. 

2 hours ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

I remember Rovers saying that too. Not sure I believed them though...

Owner wasn't a liar then. You have to remember that Hodgson was friends with Eriksson and may not have been pleased about his friend being sued however justifiable. 

That being said Eriksson was a good manager and there's a lot of people who clearly held him in high regard. Nobody deserves a terminal illness but overall he had it pretty good didn't he?

On 13/07/2024 at 16:08, JHRover said:

 the ones who suffer, as usual.

You might not be able to rely on Rooney this time. He will probably be fired again by end of year. 

15 hours ago, matt83 said:

That’s exactly how I feel. It’s why I can never forgive them or move on until they’re gone. They’ve made me feel ashamed and embarrassed about just wanting to support my team.

There was a time I would speak to fans of any club from Man Utd to Liverpool to anybody and argue that rovers are a better club than theirs. Once I made it clear I didn’t mean team or success I meant club I never once came across anyone who said anything to convince me otherwise. Fast forward to the present day I barely like to admit who I support to people I do not know. 

That's not saying much. 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Has anyone checked on @Vinjay

Not exactly the best day in British football history.

I agree with him too. 

1 hour ago, Upside Down said:

Small time mentally of small time fans of a small time club.

I don't believe winning the European Cup is the pinnacle of achievement. It's a knockout competition and the PL is judged over 38 games which is usually enough to say you're the best side in the country. Leicester would be the freak instance as they most likely wouldn't have won if it was 76 games.

That being said Tottenham reached a major European final not long ago and have what is said to be the most valuable stadium facility wise in the country. They aren't a small club. How do you fix a big club with small minded fans is the question. Are they beyond repair or any attempts at help? I wouldn't say so. They could win a domestic trophy or the Europa League next season and progress from there.

6 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

Their odds weren't long. 2 pts behind Villa who were away at in-form Palace

Indeed. They had an excellent 4-0 victory in their last home game. You would think it was Villa playing Sheffield United the way some people are talking.

Not many things worse than that Norbert. Astonishing really considering the chance of finishing 4th was still there. Haaland of course is an enigma and it's so unfortunate that he will miss out on Euro 2024.

What a effortless job Man City have done replacing legends like Aguero, Kompany and Silva. Arsenal have done well to sustain their challenge this far.

5 hours ago, K-Hod said:

In the scheme of things, it doesn’t even matter, tbh.

Of course not. It's cruel really. Should they just throw all their trophies away? Get rid of the 1971 memorial? 

On 18/08/2022 at 13:37, Mike E said:

My favourite thing, as younger fan at the time of his death, was always that he had a name that was ours. As Blackburn as you could get: Jack Walker 

It might have been different regionally when he was born but Jack is an extremely popular name now. Walker does not sound stereotypically Northern. You're making it sound like he was called Bert Oates.

On 17/08/2023 at 16:59, SuperBrfc said:

I don't think anything in English Football will ever beat the Uncle Jack and Rovers story. I've shared this previously on here, but think it's most fitting today and for this thread:

 

Jack Walker Vs Ferguson = good Vs evil. You could write a Disney script comparing them.

11 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

The Director of Football isn't 'Chief Scout'.

You'd also have been better citing Wilcox 

I'm trying very hard not to lose my temper here. Just to make it clear it wouldn't be him.

No luck of the devil again?