Hello all. I've been reading this site for at least seven years now and am familiar with most of the characters on here. The Shearer-worshippers and the "He dumped us" brigade, the Souey-ites and Souey-despisers (Jan? ), the various Clarets bringing good tidings, the "9-post wonders" whose grammar and punctuation could be bettered by a stoned chimp on a typewriter.... I'm 21, my Dad used to work in the Blackburn area and got me into following the Rovers circa '92. I've been over to many home and away games at this stage: The Good (VE Day 1995), The Bad (0-0 Man United at home 98/99) and The Ugly (0-2 QPR at home 99/00).
Having just got back to Dublin this morning after yesterday's game I feel compelled to make my first post. What a fantastic performance, unrecognisable to some of the dreck served up by the end of Souey's reign. What impressed me particularly was the HUNGER of the team - which is not something that has not always been the case, particularly since Damien "I Love The Rovers" Duff left. Right from the word go there was fighting for every ball and a real drive to get forward. Emerton shed his usual head-down, Forrest Gump routine down the wing and made a lot of intelligent passes, not to mention the peach of a strike. Reid and the sublime Tugay totally bossed the midfield and apart from a few shaky moments second half the back line was very assured. Dickov, never short of 100% but lacking in quality, had a very effective game and Bellamy is showing a trickery up front we've been lacking since Jansen's accident. His work-rate is tireless - even before his one clear-cut chance (resulting in the goal) he was dragging the Charlton defence all over the place with intelligent runs. After the lacklustre first few games to the season, it looks like we mean business.
Pity to see the gaps all over the stadium, but from where I was sat (Row 23 BBE) the place was buzzing - almost non-stop singing and a pleasing reception for Jay Bothroyd. Even in the nervy few minutes after they scored the crowd was very vocal and didn't get on the lads' backs. The way the team approached both halves got people going. Compare that to some of the first halves at Ewood we've seen this season - WBA and Brum come to mind. With performances such as yesterday, and the ticket deals, there's not much else the club can do to entice supporters back.
I'd already booked my flight over for the West Ham game before yesterday, and since getting back home I've been looking at flight prices for the dates of other home games. I'm quite happy to spend my limited student funds on Hughes's rejuvenated Rovers. It was a joy to watch. Long may the resurgence continue!