M_B

35 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

In years to come when Blackburn Rovers are playing in non league or the club is getting wound up by the owners as it isn't deemed financially viable, people will look back and see that there were some that tried to do something about the situation and there were others who were happy to sit back and do nothing as the club was systematically demolished.

How are you going to be remembered?

There's a lot of contradiction on both sides of the argument, but that post has to take the biscuit. 

16 minutes ago, Penwortham Blue said:

It is a fact that we tend to associate with like minded people ! I’ve asked a lot of friends and they all see the bigger picture and are prepared to make the sacrifice of missing a game in an effort to save our club.

It is a fact that none of them are associates

2 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Would need a decent take up amongst matchgoers though.

Before I start, I'm not trying to start an argument, I'm just providing you with the information so that you've got some anecdotal stuff to consider.

Since new year, I've asked at least 7 (2 today) if they're boycotting and not one is. One of them goes  from a pub in Darwen and doesn't know anyone from that pub who is  boycotting. Nobody I've asked even seemed to consider it. 

Maybe someone else has any info 

Was it last season Martinelli was off the pitch "injured" and Arteta urged him to roll back on to get the game stopped ?

Just hope they don't win it, not a very likeable club. 

2 hours ago, Mercer said:

and if he's as bad as the Brummies say, we will still have to play him or very likely suffer a financial penalty!

Madness!

Don't listen to what other fans say, he'll probably end up slumming it at Espanyol with Dolan. 

13 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Answer the question I put to you then instead of swerving it:

Would you personally actively participate in (for example) a yellow/red card protest inside the ground?

I've already said around the time of the Derby fixture, I'd come down to a match to participate in a protest if something suitable were to be organised.

I can't boycott, having already voted with my feet some time ago.

 

Swerving what? Are you going a bit mental ?

Why would I suggest it if I wouldn't take part?

It was only a suggestion though that I thought up in about 5 seconds. Maybe someone could think of something better, maybe something that didn't require "props". 

10 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

So that's a no then.

So to summarise 

You won't boycott (even for one game)

You won't consider not renewing your ST next time round

You won't actively participate in any in ground protest.

That's absolutely fine. Im sure there's a lot more like you. My view would be you're not going to change your stance no matter what is said, it's unrealistic to expect you, or others of a like mind, would.

It was me who suggested the red card,did you actually read what I said ? It was my idea, I was the first to suggest it after the Leicester game. 

How about you change your stance and come and do an in ground protest? You could even lead it, or is it unrealistic for you to even consider changing your mind ? 

6 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Would you personally hold up a yellow or red card saying something like "Venky's Out!" then?

Red card was a suggestion I made but whatever the message, it would have to be spread widely. 

I'm not on twitter or anything else, but it's pointless just a few on here suggesting something. 

Just now, Hasta said:

The best ally the coalition could have on the 24th is the weather.

It only rains when we're winning, 

Rains when we're winning.... 

26 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

This isn’t exclusive to this topic but I’d rather see a healthy debate than find myself in an echo chamber. 

Not bad for you 😁

23 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

They're not going to leave because of people boycotting for the Watford game or even for the rest of the season. They've got the Season Ticket money already.

Imo though the only thing that rattles them is them not hitting their appointed targets for Season ticket revenue. (And presumably to a lesser degree, individual matchday revenue.)

Which again would be achieved by a boycott. Just as a matter of interest, would you be prepared to consider not renewing your ST next time round in an attempt to try and force them out?

 

I won't stop going so there's no point discussing the likelihood,and I haven't come across anyone who will stay away, and I've asked a few.

The other night when I mentioned the option of doing something inside Ewood, Speedie dismissed it as he believed it would detract from the boycott.

The conversation has changed direction over the last couple of days and it would seem there's a realisation that it would be better to get match goers onside, rather than "alienate" them.

Got to say Matty's number 4 struck a chord with me. 

9 hours ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

I don't quite agree with this.

If I am correct, the coalition is made up from every official supporter group, without exception. The only way to make it any more 'official' is if the club announced it itself. You are of course free to consider yourself as part of a different supporters group - the unrepresented, maybe - but nevertheless this is as official a call for a boycott as one could expect

Your last paragraph would stand true had you been involved or took the lead on a separate supporters' group yourself. You could do. You could also then oppose the boycott

I won't go down the childish route of calling you complicit. The various supporters' groups have come together and have not demanded but instead requested that all fans stand together, whether you are part of the dozen or so groups which form the coalition or not. That choice is entirely your own and many will exercise that choice, each for different reasons

For some, time may simply be slipping away from them and the chance to watch Rovers week in, week out is a hobby they will cherish each and every time they can

For others, it will simply be a case of contrarianism and a "you cannot tell me what to do" attitude

In this respect, no boycott will ever be everyone. Sheffield Wednesday came the closest that I have ever seen but they were really difficult circumstances for the club

What I would disagree with here is your suggestion that the coalition is trying to force you to do anything or that the coalition has decided on an action that is divisive. From what I have seen online, the divisiveness has come from those who oppose the boycott; insults and posts such as this, where it is clear that fans who do not join any supporters' group at all, also really dislike the idea of being spoken for. What I would say is that it is always harder to be represented if you do not join a group to represent you.

I'll caveat all of that by saying - I don't attend. I live too far away, I have other commitments, and I am well aware that if I was to try and convince anyone to actually boycott it would be hypocritical. But I think you're being unfair in your dismissal of the coalition aims here. I am guessing they want the same thing as you - for Venky's to sell - it is just the road chosen to get there

I honestly don't oppose the boycott, people can do whatever they feel is right. It does make me wonder though, why it has taken an official one for people to act,i mean come on, they've had 15 years. 

Also how it is now being seen as some cliff edge, do or die moment, and if you don't comply(not saying that the coalition have said this) you are somehow responsible for the ills at the club. It's absolutely ridiculous. 

You're right, I obviously do wish they'd go, but I don't think for one second that they'll be forced into it. The result of what's happening, in my opinion, is much more likely to result in a statement confirming their intentions to stay, rather than an intention to leave. If that does happen, you can guarantee that the boycott hasn't helped, quite the opposite. 

8 hours ago, Upside Down said:

What a completely ridiculous childish thing to post. 

Fucking embarrassing.

If you're not prepared to try and join in with taking action against the scum that own the club then that makes you complicit. 

Stop being part of the problem and help to try and be part of the solution.

It doesn't make me or anyone else complicit, stop peddling this ridiculous rhetoric , how old are you? 

9 minutes ago, speedies gonna get ya. said:

A visual show of frustration? 

Could you elaborate please?

What exactly would it be and how would you spread the message?

I explained it in a reply to TugaysMarlboro, there are 2 posts 

18 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Childish response.

If you dont want to boycott that's up to you but dont get arsey about people trying to do their best for the Club.

( Im not part of the Coalition BTW Im just sick of all the sniping from the sidelines already and work hasn't even started yet)

Don't try to turn this on its head, we both know how this goes. 

14 minutes ago, speedies gonna get ya. said:

@M_B what is the suggestion please? 

And the coalition is made up of virtually every fan group including the trust (WATR). Please dont make out that we are not legitimately acting on the will of recognised fan representatives. The idea, the open letter is all run past every member group. We do not act unilaterally. 

Boycotting is not an act of hate. It is an act of love. A sacrifice for our precious club. 

I've replied to TugaysMarlboro on p16 with the suggestion. 

7 minutes ago, ... said:

But why go if you aren't happy with the owners?  Trying to make an Impact is surely the more proactive thing to do rather than keep going expecting things to change. Turning up during a boycott is just going against all the people that aren't happy with the club. Its aiding those who haven't stuck to honouring Jack's legacy. 

Look, just because a few people who I don't know have come up with an  idea doesn't mean it becomes gospel. Who are they to call it "Official" anyway ??? They didn't ask my opinion, did they ask yours? 

Tell you what, the boycott is OFFICIALLY OFF and everyone has to attend the Watford match. There you go, 25000 crowd against Watford coming up, don't forget, you have to turn up because it's OFFICIAL because I said so. 

3 minutes ago, 47er said:

Just not willing to do anything about it!

On the contrary, I've just posted an idea. 

Just because it isn't your idea doesn't mean it's wrong. 

39 minutes ago, TugaysMarlboro said:

@M_B would you mind having a look at the quoted post and adding your thoughts. You seem like a good alternative person to ask.

 

Edit: I posted this prior to seeing you'd read my mind and almost responded to it entirely!

I'd just add, there were a lot of comments on here about the number of absentees at the Leicester game last night.

Imagine if there was a visual show of frustration, running alongside the boycott, from the ones who actually attended. 

6 hours ago, MarkBRFC said:

I was just about to post similar and is the exact same as where I am at.

It seems to me that the coalition don't want constructive criticism, the "the action has been chosen and that's that" comment I find disappointing.

I think it was yourself earlier in the thread that said the coalition don't seem to understand the mindset of the majority of the remaining match going fanbase, and I agree.

I truly do hope this works and is the start of something, but the numbers for this game I think will be no more noticeable than it was the game against Milwall a few weeks back.

I'll definitely be attending, and everyone I've asked, and there's been a few, is also going. 

That's not to say I'm happy with what is happening at the club.

The way this has been organised has become extremely divisive, it's being portrayed as some do or die cliff edge moment when we all know it's anything but, and the ridiculous rhetoric will only be ramped up even more as next weekend approaches.

It should be obvious to anyone that most will still attend, a lot won't even know about the "boycott".

Rather than attempt to drive a wedge between the two factions, which was an obvious consequence of the whole idea, if there was a visual protest inside the ground to run alongside the number staying away, it would have been a way to unite the whole thing, holding up a red card at a certain time for example. 

The whole boycott thing is riddled with contractions, but I could get on board with showing frustrations within the ground. 

9 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

It’s about publicity for the cause and as few bums on seats as possible..ergo there’s a reason why everybody else choose night games.

I know what it's about, but I said if you want a true reflection. 

As I've said before, if you weren't going anyway, it isn't boycotting, it's just not going. 

7 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

A night game is always a better option. Sheff Wed should have been the one. Very apt with their issues (and their own league game boycott was midweek against Boro, so is Leicester’s tonight).

Not really, not if you want a true reflection. 

23 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

The club are clearly pushing that narrative.

We have a number of urgent priorities.

Ismael said a week or 2 ago about our business being done by Hull. Lets see.

I didn't get that from his interview on the way home, he was obviously asked about the injury situation and he gave answers to the questions.

His usual answer I've heard is that it opens the door for someone else. It's obviously going to be a topic of conversation when it's such a long list of absentees. To think otherwise would be strange. 

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

Rovers will have to be willing to pay the fee which is far from a given based on past history and realistically the player will also need to be happy to come here.

Apparently, again according to someone the other day, the deal is sealed, it's in the club's hands, it's up to Rovers whether or not it happens.