Most underrated player in the team? After the Fulham disaster, Wharton returned for the first time since his injury. Playing every minute we have won 4 and drawn 1 game, conceding 2 goals.

Looks like it'll be a good crowd. Hopefully I can watch it abroad and it's one of of few games where I would pay €10 to watch. 

Going for 2-0 win, Dolan to score after coming on as a sub. 

27 minutes ago, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

Cardiff worked us out very quickly here.  

🙂

Just seen that we are currently 8th favourite for promotion with odds of 8/1. I'm not a betting man, but things can't be going too badly, at least on the pitch! I'm predicting 11-14th at the end of the season. 

23 hours ago, islander200 said:

Trybull has had his contract terminated.Hope we stay clear of trying to bring him in 

Just signed for Hannover 96. Could say our German equivalent in many ways! Except they have the trophy winning success of Newcastle. Selling star players to balance books, little investment, 8000 fans in 50 000 seater stadium....but a young up and coming manager.

Linton Mania from Hannover 96 would be a good value buy in an attacking position. Was heralded as the next superstar and Hannover wanted 10 million for him 2 years ago. Werder Bremen can have him for €1 million now. Still only 22. Next Sane apparently.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/linton-maina/profil/spieler/335103

On 2nd thoughts, BREXIT may have killed this one.

Strong team. Be interesting to see how pickering gets on as a wing back. Thought he played well against Swansea, although got caught the wrong side of his man a couple of times.

Good to get a few extra pennies in prize money too....

Good fighting performance by the kids! Be even better when the reinforcements arrive

Where are the Swansea fans? Can see about 6 in the lower tier

Tomorrow's game isn't available for overseas fans on RoversTV, but it'll be on DAZN. At least in Germany. 

Quite looking forward to this game. No idea what to expect for either team! Hopefully we can get some points on the board whilst Swansea are sorting themselves out.

Guess 3-2 for Rovers.

If I read it correctly it'll cost £10 per match or £170 for a season ticket For overseas viewers. £10 a match is quite an increase on last year's prices! 

On 26/07/2021 at 13:15, Stuart said:

Sources please, including the percentage reductions

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2107717

Uk based study showing that even after 1 shot of either Oxford-AZ or BioNTech-Pfizer, transmission was reduced by 40-50%. It'll be even higher after the 2nd shot.

On 25/07/2021 at 20:34, Stuart said:

That’s a real strawman. (Also, I can’t believe your previous post - it’s “only” a QR code - you really need to read up on your history).

Don’t introduce passports at all. Which fans are going to refuse to attend if they aren’t? You are advocating relegating unvaccinated people to second class citizens and you seem to just see them as an expendable minority.

Children won’t have them. Why does an 18yo need a jab (and evidence of such) and their 17yo mate doesn’t? Is the latter less of a risk?

Your arguments are built on sand considering even with a jab and a passport you can still carry and pass on the virus.

If I don’t have a vaccine it doesn’t make any difference to you - as long as you’ve had yours.

I really worry about the direction of the world under Gen Z.

I'm English (not that it makes a difference), but yes like with all technology it needs carefully regulating by an independent body.

The idea is that by grouping vaccinated people together, if/when one is infected, this person has has a lower chance of passing it on to their neighbour and their neighbour has a lower chance of becoming infected and subsequently passing it on through their community.

I've just read that the plan is to only allow vaccinated people into stadiums. I disagree with this and I would also allow recently tested people in too. This would allow people who don't want to be vaccinated for whatever reason the chance to attend.

Health and freedom debate aside, I was assuming that more fans would be willing to attend with the passports than would be lost due to them?  I'm assuming a certain % of the population will still want to join in but be cautious too.

It would be a mess if Ewood had to close again over winter.

On 25/07/2021 at 19:35, Stuart said:

Scientifically vaccine passports make sense?

It’s not science, it’s 100% political.

As for breaking the chain, you would need the entire world vaccinated. It’s not going to happen. So you just hand over your freedom instead? How long for? Forever?

Yes they do. If a group of people are vaccinated, the virus can't continue to circulate within the population. It's a political decision supported by science.

The UK or any segregated population of people will be fine when a certain % of people are vaccinated. Just like with polio and measles. There will be community immunity soon, followed by herd immunity when the whole UK has reached this level. The whole World is a different issue. Time scale: more like years than months, but depends on how the virus and vaccines evolve.

Giving over freedom is surely too far, it's only flashing a QR code whilst entering the turnstiles!? Unless by freedom you mean you are barred from going into crowded areas because a) you don't want to be vaccinated and b) you don't want to be tested. I suspect these measures won't be need when an area has fewer than a certain number of cases per 100 000 people. Germany uses 10 at the moment.

On 25/07/2021 at 16:35, Stuart said:

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

I agree, lots of good and some valid points. I'm speaking as a virologist living in Germany where these passports have already been introduced. Its part of the app that you show/get scanned to gain entry. 

Going to a football match should not require anybody to share their medical history. The more we consent the more they will take. What next, HIV status added to your ‘passport’? Mandatory flu vaccines and your status updated? Your ability to take part in society dependent on vaccination waiting lists?

you are 100% correct, it shouldn't, but in an ongoing pandemic it's probably the best way to have maximum attendances. Ability to take part is dependent on being either not infected or vaccinated. I agree with the slippery slope and in theory a flu pandemic (last one was 1918) could Iin theory lead to similar actions- although hopefully not!

On 25/07/2021 at 16:35, Stuart said:

Too many people have been given paid holidays through the furlough scheme, with test kits and vaccines thrown at everyone for free. What if they eventually start charging for vaccine boosters? Still ok, still moral acceptable?

I doubt this would apply in the UK with the NHS.

Anyone who doesn’t feel safe going out in public with other human beings has the choice to stay at home. The rest of us need to get on living.

And what if someone rocks up at the football after having a positive test? Sent away? Prosecuted for biological warfare? For what, to avoid someone who has been vaccinated from having a headache?

I would hope after what we have learnt as a society that these questions won't even be asked. If I'm sick I don't mix with other people....

I assume you mean headache as in hassle of missing the game and going into quarantine!

 

The vaccine either works and prevents death or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t then how is it that deaths are a fraction of previous, despite the continued correlation-based 28 day rule?

The current vaccines are working brilliantly against the current variants. I think you are 66% less likely to become infected and roughly the same in infecting someone else. 

On 25/07/2021 at 16:35, Stuart said:

Meanwhile, being vaccinated also doesn’t stop you carrying and spreading the virus so what is the point of a passport? On the basis that the only person it protects is yourself, getting one should be a matter of personal choice.

Minor inconvenience indeed.

True, however if everyone is vaccinated (or approx 90% of society with SARS-CoV-2) then the chain will be broken. I agree vaccination should be a personal choice.

Scientifically it makes sense, it's just what each society and country wants to do.

On 25/07/2021 at 09:32, arbitro said:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/vaccine-passports-football-matches-coming-24610700

I'm not sure which thread is the best but this one seems appropriate.

I think it's a good idea, but only if free tests are available for the 10-20% who have decided not to get vaccinated. You can easily argue that the minor inconvenience of an extra 30 mins for choosing not to get vaccinated is morally acceptable. Will also make economic sense with fewer people isolating and not attending matches/working, plus more cost effective for the NHS. People unable to be vaccinated should initially be classed as vaccinated, but encouraged to get tested.

This should allow everyone to attend and create a safe environment. Maybe more people will attend if they know their neighbours who they are rubbing shoulders with during the game are also less likely to infect them. 

Even though I'm fully vaccinated, healthy and youngish, I wouldn't want to be in the middle of the blackburn end at the moment. Would be Riverside for me like the good old days :-)

Nice kit. If it's not 50 quid I will get 1 or 2. Odd to get Armstrong to model it if he will leave before he actually wears it....

Season tickets prices are OK, but walk on prices are a bit steep. If/when I can travel and make it back to Ewood I would pay 36 quid for a ticket. But this is more of a novelty/special occasion. If I was living locally and didn't have a season ticket, I probably wouldn't pay that much for a ticket.

Maybe I've been spoilt by German prices. Should have a membership costing 20 per season (or 2 per month!?), which knocks off 10 per ticket. Membership gives additionally benefits eg 10% off food, drink, merchandise etc.

If I'm honest I've never heard of Chima Okoroji. I asked my mates who have seen him play and they said that he's young (24!), with potential. Would be interesting to see how he gets on in England. 2nd division here is of a lower quality than the Championship... Schalke may have a few interesting players though. Although currently injured, Nabil Bentaleb would be a good option for midfield. A better experienced left back would be Bastian Oczipka. Also shame Huntelaar has just retired :-(.

1 hour ago, Kie_BRFC said:

The orange one in awful is a travesty

I quite liked it, but at the same time it should never be make again. As a one off it 'special'. Red and black stripes would be nice

1 hour ago, Meesh said:

I'm overseas but recently used a British issued MasterCard (debit) on the Rovers Store website. Have you used your Visa with foreign online vendors before? It's possible that your bank is blocking it, so I'd contact them first and foremost.

Thanks, yes I've never had a problem before. Just seen that the L and XL sizes of the home shirt are now sold out :-(. Guessing they won't get restocked again now.

Any idea why I can't pay for my shopping on the online roverstore? I'm living in Germany and trying to pay for something using my German visa credit card. Do any other overseas fans also have this problem?

Genki haraguchi will leave hannover 96 in the summer. He's a good attacking midfielder who will want more than 10 000 a week (that's hannover's wage ceiling and one reason why he's leaving). He would be a very good experienced attacking midfielder who would be upper championship level and available on a free.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/genki-haraguchi/profil/spieler/79377

I'm going to try to watch it. I'm still behind Mowbray, but I've only managed to watch 2 games this season. A one sided victory against PNE and a rather frustrating 1-1 against Sheffield Wednesday. Maybe my view will change after watching a third game...