Wheelton Blue

Mick Speight?

I've been going on Ewood since 1975, a ST holder for the vast majority. I've thought long and hard about whether to boycott or not. I rarely miss and it goes against the grain, but I've decided to swerve tomorrow's game. They have totally ruined our club.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c70ll21rk79o

I've been thinking about these 4 cohorts and perhaps there is a fifth, which I would include myself in. I'd describe this as an extension of #4. ie those of us who are genuinely torn as to whether to boycott the Watford game or not, but are amenable to other forms of 'protest'. For example, since the boycott announcement, I've refused to buy any drink or food from the outlet. Arguably, that's trivial in the grand scheme of things, but I feel like I'm at least doing something. At the moment, the commentrary seems to be mostly about attending the game or not, with little discussion of other mechanisms of protest. There's a trick being missed here IMO.

You made some good points in your initial post. But whether folk attend or not is a personal decision for them alone, and is no one else's business. Calling them 'complicit' should they choose to attend, is basically just name calling and serves no purpose.

It always makes me chuckle when I see accusations of 'complicity in the regime' should people choose not to boycott one game. By extension, anyone who has attended any game over the past 15 years is arguably also complicit. Yes, it's a ridiculous thing to say.

Even with injured players coming back, the vain hope that we'll signing anyone half decent in January, and not withstanding the likelihood that further injuries will occur, our achilles heel is the manager. He's only won 7 games all season, so expecting this to sufficiently improve is wishful thinking IMO.

That's exactly how a chap at the ground described him to me yesterday. 'A fraud. A blagger'.

I think the point being made about the players still playing for Ismael is a valid one to a degree. But that's sort of becoming irrelevant now; football is all about winning games, and this guy just can't do it. Once the transfer window closes, and should results carry on as they are, then the only thing left which can be changed is the manager. By then though, it will be too late.

As much as new signings, we need a new manager. Every game he's in charge of, is a game closer to relegation.

We can't go a fourth game without even a hint of a goal can we? Can we? Oh yes we can! 0-1

Plenty of people there yesterday on an annual family get togethers, I'd wager. Not to be seen again for another 12 months. I was sat in front of a Chelsea fan(!) meeting up with family who themselves openly talked about getting to Ewood 'a couple of times a season', and a group of Americans who thought we were Bolton Wanderers (seriously).

The injuries certainly haven't helped. What is catching up with us far more though, is the self inflicted absence of sufficient depth or quality within the squad.

Whatever signings are made, they need to add at least 10 more goals to the side over the rest of the season, either directly or assists. Failure to do this, and we're in the mire.

Henriksson on a 4 year deal? That beggars belief.

The 'prediction' was 3 last night IIRC, so perhaps expectations are being tempered 🤣

I watched Wrexham beat Sheff Utd the other night and thought they were terrific; full of purpose, energy and attitude. If they turn up like that, we're in for a hard game. Us, on the other hand, look knackered, can't score for toffee, and have minimal options to rotate. Our biggest chance I feel is to play as the away side; let they come at us and try and snatch something. 0-2.

Miller often plays us into trouble. He has a habit of marauding forward, misplacing a pass, finding himself out of position, thus leaving us open to a counter.

I hope that the appearance of the shirt is greeted with a loud rendition of 'What the frickin hell is that?'. It is NOT a Rovers shirt.

We retain an inability to win games. When push comes to shove, we'll have to dig out some wins. I'm not sure we're capable of doing so, basically because the team as a whole doesn't score. I thought from the season outset that we'd be a relegation candidate, and this still stands in my mind.

Think of a Rovers shirt, think blue and white halves. Why did it have to be anything different to that?

The onus will be on us tonight, which we're not good at. This will be a far harder game than perhaps some expect, their crowd will be right up for it, so an early goal is crucial I think. I won't be surprised with a draw. Is that better? 🙂

And not giving a toss.

Right on the home page @jim mk2

They think we were born yesterday, yet some will still take it all in.