I'd never have thought this but I really hope Big Mac scores a couple on his debut this weekend!

He's treated the club and fans like ###### for a good 2 years and your wishing him well.

I hope his hamstrings snap in both legs in the warm up.

Whilst I don't wish ill health on anybody, I'm delighted that Bill Toland is retiring from drumming.

I remember a couple of years ago at an away game I tried to engage Mr Toland in a polite conversation to let him know that many supporters found his drumming quite infuriating, but he just gave me a blank stare.

I rather hope that his severe arthritis and his admission that his joints are completely worn out through the constant thumping of drums, may serve to act as a warning to other unscrupulous individuals who might be tempted to indulge in the mindless pursuit of drumming.

John Williams and Tom Finn seem to be living in cloud cuckoo land if they think that the constant thudding of drums is hugely popular with supporters. On the contrary, many fans found the drumming completely vexatious.

I'd be interested if anybody could confirm the rumour that Bill Toland benefited from free football tickets as a drummer. If that rumour is true, I find it quite disgusting that somebody so deeply unpopular could get free tickets - somebody who has ended up with arthritis as a result of it.

Anybody thinking about taking over the drumstick from Mr Toland, please do NOT engage in this activity, which will eventually play havoc with your joints.

You have been warned....

Nice, very nice.

Keegan gives Barton yet another chance

Keegan talks about Barton "deserving a second chance" - but the scouse lout has had numerous second chances and he continually fails to change and improve his thuggish behaviour.

Keegan says of Barton: "He's had his problems" - but they are "problems" entirely of this selfish thug's own making. Nobody else is to blame except himself.

Do we say that the Yorkshire Ripper had "problems", that Ian Huntley had "problems"? They are criminals and Joey Barton is a criminal too. He's not a murderer, but he's a drunken thug and after his disgraceful street violence, he doesn't deserve my sympathy for his so-called "problems".

Keegan says that Barton is "a much-changed character" - but that's been the rhetoric of other managers too in recent years. Stuart Pearce claimed that Barton was "a changed character" after the appalling incident when he thrust a lighted cigar into the eye of a youth team player. Sam Allardyce claimed that Barton was "a changed character" when he signed him for Newcastle last summer.

But each time, Barton lets down his manager and lets down his club and his team-mates. I'm frankly sick of the number of "second chances" that this vile scumbag gets and the number of occasions that this so-called "changed character" proves himself time and again to be a selfish thug who doesn't change and learn lessons.

If Newcastle FC had sacked Barton it would have sent out a clear message that thuggery and violence is not acceptable in the community. But by continually giving this selfish lout chance after chance, the message Newcastle FC are sending out is that they don't give a damn about morality and decent standards of behaviour - clearly they care more about money than about the victims of drunken street violence.

Shame on you Kevin Keegan and Mike Ashley.

£3.00 entry into the Blackburn End !!!

[/quotee

5 shilling entry into the Blackburn End!!!

He's black, he's white

we do not give a sh!te

Paul Ince, Paul Ince!

Thats the best yet,but don't get too creative these are Rovers fans remember so the first home game

Ewood will be ringing to,

"Paul Inc'es blue and white army, boing boing boing boing".

Its safe,no swearing,you can sit down and chant it,tap your feet nod your head,perfect for the whole family.

JOSE MOURINHO.

anyone remember which season the drummer started to turn up??

1904,05 season.

To the tower with the drummers.

Darwen tower.

Big congratulations to Bentley,excellent news.

As for Beckham well thats simply desperation from McClaren.

Personally, I feel gutted for Big Sam. how about a bir whip-around for a foot-square "hard luck" card and a tin of quality street?

WELCOME BACK DUNNY! WAYHAY!!!!

Or a tin of Pedigree Chum,big chunks for big chunky Sam.

does anybody no where abouts in germany it is?

Its a suburb of Cologne.

Talking of 'taking' the BBE USABlue, he's one of the Chelsea Headhunters doing what they did best circa 80/81.Glad to say one of the matchday experiences not missed today.

I was at this match with my late father......shyte scared was an understatement!!!

Anyone in the pic btw?

Another embarrasing photo from the ever reliable Simon.

What tosh! Do I miss the old ground? NO. It was fast becoming an embarrassment. Every year the capacity was being whittled down and we had no bunce to correct the situation.

Yes it had a feeling as a child waiting for KO on the Darren End, zigga zagga, rattles, Aye Aye Yiy aye Else is better than Yashin, changing ends on't cinder track. But like anything else it had gone well past it's sell by date and I am hugely proud of the 3 rebuilt sides of Ewood now. The quality of work and the finishing touches ooze quality and show up the concrete crap of the likes of Pride Park, Deepdale, t'Turf and the Breezeblock no end.

I remember Everton coming on our first season up chanting '###### ground' at us. How nice to see that we now make Goodison look like a shabby air raid shelter.

Everything comes to an end and old Ewood's time had long passed. I'll go along with the suggestion of making the BBurn End lower terracing again but feeling nostalgia for anything else is for losers.

btw I'd wager Leamington Road wit back yard door oe'r puddle was prob best of all

Agree totally,the old Blackburn end was a dreadfully designed lump of concrete,the riverside and Darwen end early 1950s second division terraces.

To all the 20 year olds reading this topic,do not believe any of the sentimental dross being posted.

The new Ewood is fine we just have to fill those useless corners in.

Section 25 this Saturday night,at the underground,(Worlds end pub)

Camden high st,N1.

Leaving huge gaps probably does help create the most beautifull of playing surfaces.But the gaps look crap,

and I will continue to insist that by filling them in the atmosphere would improve dramatically along with

attendances.I have also been to Old Trafford and Saint Marys both of then have great playing surfaces,

Old Trafford is ten times noisier than Ewood St Marys probably twice as noisy.

This idea will work, to see how it could look have a gander at FC Copenhagens ground.

Where would these extra fans come from. The moon. And if you sit in the riverside Mr Maureen, contemplate singing. That would make the atmosphere better. There's more atmosphere on the moon than in the riverside.

By filling in the corners you create a greater atmosphere thus enticing those floating Rovers fans back to Ewood.Fans want excitement on matchdays.Lets be honest Ewood is probably the dullest ground in the Premiership.

What about our lovely pitch? Surely you have seen how bad other teams pitches get when they have no gaps. eg Man Utd. We need wind coming from all directions to maintain the state of our pitch, not just from the riverside.

And personally i would rather see the money spent on a replacement for Tugay.

Give me a fantastic atmosphere and 5000 more fans to a snooker table pitch.Bothered.

Did anyone notice FC Copenhagens ground on TV last night.

Very similer design to Ewood Park but with the 4 corners filled in, unlike Ewoods badly designed gaping gaps in

the 4 corners.My point is fill in the gaps at Ewood, that will then improve the atmosphere 100%,thus turning

Ewood into an exciting place to be on matchday.

Within 3 seasons and with Mark Hughes still there, gates would increase by 5,000.

As easy as that folks.

The football media all week have been in a state of panic over the serious state of affairs on the pitch at West

Ham.Talk sport dedicated 3 hours of airtime on Thursday evening to the worrying situation at Upton park.

Match of the day 2 last night, West Ham v Rovers post match studio comments this is how it went.

"Blowing bubbles,Teddy Sheringham,Emotional,Pardew,Fantastic fans,Hurst Peters Moore,Blowing

bubbles,Upton park,First goal,Unsettling the team,Chesterfield,East end,Second goal,A little bit choked,

Immense pressure,First win in 12,Blowing bubbles,Ron Greenwood,Drop zone,40 year old,Blowing bubbles"

No mention of Blackburn Rovers nothing.

why does everyone feel the same about this?!!

i am normally reasonably accurate with my gut feelings,and i feel like a loss.

but if we can keep things tight 4 the 1st 20-25mins then w.h.u WILL get demoralised.

if we concede early then...well then i dont know what il do!

DOES ANONE KNOW WHICH UNDERGROUND STATION WE NEED FOR UPTON PARK??

IS IT WEST HAM OR UPTON PARK??!!

UPTON PARK ON THE DISTRICT LINE.

I listen to Talksport all the time. Hawksbee and Jacobs show in the afternoons is quite entertaining, whereas Mike parry can annoy intensley. I also agree with Billy Castell to a point when he says "I get the feeling that there are a load of self important tabliod numpties who still tow the 'dirty Blackbburn' line after that FA Cup semi final."

Is the Hawksbee and Jacobs show the one were they both try and guess the age of random celebrities.

Entertaining ?

You cant beat the atmophere(apart from their knuckledraggers) and tension of the East Lancs derby,so as long as we retain our Premiership place is there any real problem?

Cant believe I have just posted the above.

Any chance of getting rid of that photograph Simon,everytime you post I am reminded that not even one Rovers player managed to give the Burnley turd a good kicking.

Just been told that the Rovers are on TV tonight,"British Euro sport"

can anyone confirm this please.

i'll PM you

Thanks but what is PM,do I need to do anything?

only chance of seeing the game is via your PC, i've spent about 5 hours tryin to sort it out today...fingers and toes crossed now.

Come on Tony,if you have sorted it out,how can I sort it out,help please.