Vinjay

Good thing they didn't do one when Adam Johnson was around.

I'm not sure how he's a "guest" when the family owns the club. Someone said to Ken Bates early in his Chelsea reign "come as my guest" and you can imagine the response. Wouldn't get my hopes up (and anyone can see the pic with Mowbray is blatant propaganda) but you can't always assume people are awful human beings because of their relatives. Look at Jack.

Good.

Which makes a mockery of Jack Walker.

UEFA continuing to look back at previous cases of so called FUP "cheating". Wouldn't surprise me if they try to strip Rovers of the 95 title win just make up the rules as they go along. Terrorists.

If you're playing Newcastle in a cup competition it's not usually much to worry about ?. If you insist on attending every game it's not the worst place to visit is it? It's the most recent away game (the 1-0 win 2 years ago) I attended actually. Kinda laughed at the Boring Name FC v Barnsley draw. Battle of the marketing goldmine names.

Well I'll be surprised if no games ended in draws for the entire 2nd round. I can understand why Accrington might be convenient but why do people want to see them at Ewood so much? Playing at Ewood should be seen as a privilege and considering Accrington's lacklustre announcement of the pre-season fixture on their website it's almost as if they feel playing Blackburn Rovers is their divine entitlement. So I don't think they deserve to be drawn for a fixture at Ewood. I don't disagree that the FA Cup should be a chance for clubs to play at venues they wouldn't have a hope in hell of visiting under normal circumstances. That however is the exception. Look at this article it's pathetic. https://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2018/05/blackburn-friendly-announcement/ They can't even be bothered to say "Blackburn Rovers" in the headline. They are used to playing Rovers and have become ungrateful rather than thankful. Of course I don't expect anyone on here to understand (or anyone at the club for that matter) but you don't look at things from a marketing/image standpoint. I do. I don't like it when charity games, etc are played at Ewood either with supporters allowed to participate. Well "it's for charity" people say. So what's the line exactly? Should a fan be allowed to play in a league game "for charity" too? I guess it's hard to say people should turn down the chance to play on the Ewood pitch but I would end such practices immediately. I don't care if other clubs do the same. Some things are supposed to be sacred not just open to anybody. Though considering some of the people to have turned out for Rovers (Lowe, etc) some of the supporters probably had more business being there!

So Jack Walker was a cheat?

Turns out this was in the news again during the past week. "Community is in shock after a "popular" pub closed its doors last week". Overstatement much? https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/17264936.calls-for-new-licensee-for-uncle-jacks-pub-after-closure/

Freeman just signed a deal not that it essentially rules anything out. From what I've read (and what you perhaps meant to say) they have stated NO ins OR outs in January. Though someone would have to leave if they wish to bring in any free transfers. Have to say it's good to see a club crippled by the evil UEFA doing OK (at the moment) though can't exactly see them making the playoffs. The key thing is avoid relegation trouble then get back to normal. Or as normal as you can get with corrupt oppressive administrators.

Probably hire someone who he feels is better. That's how it usually works unless you're...erm...Venkys. I don't know if absolute madness is the right phase (especially considering the playoffs are somewhat of a lottery at times) but definitely have some similar reservations. I don't think promotion bids should be built on the basis of "might scrape through the playoffs". Though as Shaun emphasises there are rebuild stages and at this point it's unjustified to demand promotion. Does that however make it unjustified to have doubts about the all important next stage? I don't know how many (or any) Fulham fans had doubts about Jokanovic after promotion but they probably wouldn't have been wrong if they had. It would have been much harder to judge Jokanovic though whereas Mowbray failed to do with Middlesbrough what he's trying to do here. I guess you can point out that his period at Coventry was misleading (and I certainly thought he was better than that at the time of his hiring) but not so sure his time at Middlesbrough is. Lots of managers get promoted to EPL once and never manage it again. I don't think Mowbray hides his weaknesses well and people can exploit that. Do I think he should be sacked now? Not essentially no. Then again if that's simply to "buy time" and work out who the replacement should be perhaps that's weakness as well. Or clouded by distrust of Venkys and refusing to ever let your guard down. Makes it harder to look forward with crystal clarity.

Always good to see the likes of Fury get a screwing.

With the Dyche thread continuing to be prominent guess I'll admit it's not.

https://www.economist.com/game-theory/2018/11/30/rich-clubs-are-bullying-footballs-administrators-into-submission Any club that disagrees with FUP should bombard UEFA with relentless litigation. Some people hate the notion of a European Super League, etc but UEFA will have themselves to blame. Appalling administrators in so many ways.

As Mowbray said it's "good to a point" and I agree. There has to be a balance though. I remember a post on here mentioning 97-98 and what was the catalyst for the downturn in form. Some people put it down to the intense training philosophy at the time but as we saw quite a number of players started to fall out with Hodgson. The aforementioned post mentioned the loss at Old Trafford in November 97 and arguments between the players AND the manager afterwards. Which created a rift which never quite healed. Now the form didn't collapse right away but by March it fell off a cliff. Then it continued the following season not entirely helped by a truly disastrous injury list. It looks like the players didn't argue with Mowbray here. The arguments with each other are something the manager needs to keep an eye on. Make sure it does not create rifts and divisions. It won't help in January if there's interest in Dack and he starts being unprofessional (not entirely unheard of with him) if the club don't accept the first bid that comes in from anywhere that interests him.

Who's the title referring to?

Kean will be the definite exception. I saw a quote from an interview somewhere (after 2000) where Iley said he thought his sacking was unfair (probably based on number of games) but older fans on here clearly don't agree. Aside from that seems to have held no grudge but can't blame him if he had no great memories of the place. Whatever people thought of him as a manager haven't heard anyone say he was a bad player. Of course he didn't play for Rovers but over 200 appearances for Newcastle plus stints at Tottenham and Forest. Sounds decent to me.

Not sure if it's "ambulance chasers" or not. Some firms specialise in a variety of legal causes. I guess lawyers tend to be alerted when someone is arrested though. After all whatever the legal outcome is representation has to be paid for. I know enough about legalities to be under the impression this isn't one for the "no win no fee" crowd.

Neither are most poker players by online standards. At least they shouldn't be.

Yeah that's why I don't care for him either. Even though I'm teetotal and dislike pubs that's entirely the reason. ? Now that he's a "business consultant" ? wonder how much time he spends in them these days. Since that basically means "I lent Flitcroft some money and he gave me a halfway important sounding title" probably the same as always. I don't know why he hasn't purchased a pub but perhaps even he realises what a state the pub industry is in. Flitcraft sounds kinda like a beer name (one of those craft beers whatever they are) perhaps he should start his own brand/factory or buy a stake somewhere. They seem to be quite popular investments on Crowdcube and a few have been successful. Telling though that many of those investors are male and some consider "fanboy investing" a worse investment than most forms of gambling. At least with gambling there's unlimited form stats available in many areas. Difference between that and backing someone who might have no previous businesses.

DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA BATMAN. It's times like this you can almost forget someone saying it's illogical to hate Manchester United. Or insulting me on the recent Hoddle thread. For all the countless arguments I've had on here the vast majority have some redeeming features. Then there's one or two people but I better not mention them.

It's the same Paul Stretford who was Rooney's football agent yes. This claim however is by another Wayne Rooney of professional croquet fame. In my haste to make a sarcastic joke responding to that rhetorical question should point out Rooney isn't listed as one of the claimants. Rooney was a client of Kingsbridge though. Stretford left Formation Group in 2009 after which he was involved in litigation with them. Kingsbridge, Formation Group, whatever it's not of enough importance to me to obsess over details on this issue. Battersby isn't with Seneca anymore. At least while the legal issues are ongoing it's hardly a stretch to assume that's the reason he left. If he's found innocent perhaps he will be welcomed back. Who knows? Guess it would depend on just how unequivocal the verdict is.

Hey Battersby hasn't been found guilty of anything. That's what J*B is warning people about you're making him sound guilty. I couldn't even mention he was arrested without being censored last time this was brought up.

Assuming we are allowed to state facts without the site getting legal e-mails I'll bring up the previous story. That was related to a group named Kingsbridge Asset Management which included Colin Hendry as a client. Wondered why Hendry wasn't mentioned in this article which is related to a group named Formation Asset Management. FAM under it's previous name of Proactive Sports purchased Kingsbridge in 2003. Kingsbridge ceased trading in 2010 but FAM continued to operate. So how many court cases are there? Just this one or others impending/ongoing as well? All pretty much adds up to the same accusation but what if there's different conclusions?

Yeah that's an obvious link right there with Boring Name FC, deaths of 71 people and countless lifes ruined. Completely relevant. Stuart won't be calling you asinine that's for sure. ?