6 - No professional in their right mind would go anywhere near Newcastle at the current moment.

Beckham, a professional in his right mind?

I think it's cobblers, but I'd be well chuffed if he lands here.

Simon

The missus just said she's buying a seasn ticket if he signs. He'd better not then ;-)

Our gates are that poor, we should take anyone!

Mind you, she'd do nowt for the pie sales.

Simon

Edit: ignore that, I thought you meant Posh!

Yes, thanks for pointing that out Simon. Having been a Rovers fan for 60 years this month, I do understand that. My point however was, if the population of Blackburn and surrounding area is not much less now than then, were did they find the numbers that used to turn up for every home match? Almost half the entire population of Blackburn on occasions, with only a small percentage of them being away fans. And in addition those that did attend then were about 95% male adults and less than 1% female. The difference being boys under 14. Which must mean that very nearly every adult male in Blackburn used to be a Rovers fan and regular attender at Ewood.

OK. No need to take it the wrong way. I reckon the difference now is telly and folks "supporting" other, bigger clubs. When I still lived in the town, there were a lot of [spit] Man U fans around the place. These days it'll be Chelsea and Arsenal, too (at least it is where I live).

Simon

Are you being serious?

At times we make a bloody good noise. It goes a bit quiet if the game's crap, but compare it to a lot of grounds and we do alright.

Simon

Lets be honest Ewood is probably the dullest ground in the Premiership.

Wash your mouth out!

We sound quieter on telly, because Sky turn the mics down (because of the drummers), but in the middle of the Blackburn End, you can barely hear yourself think at times.

Simon

I am puzzled. Surely the population of Blackburn cant have fallen that much in the last 50 years. Back then it was not unusual to get attendances anywhere in high 30k's and for selected matches right up to the mid-50k's. I wonder why it has changed so much, considering we now have a Prem team playing lovely football and in Europe as well. There must be another reason; now what could it be? Maybe it's a cost problem? There aren't too many people in Jan's position where they could think that £15 is just a suitable tip for a waiter or a shoe-shine boy!

50 years ago, the only way to see the game was to show up at the ground. No telly, probably no full radio commentary either. The choice was simple: pay your money or get it second hand from mates or the paper.

Simon

12th man? We've sold nearly 12 tickets? Should be booming.

When I phoned up last week I was 14th in the queue, so we must've sold at least 15

Simon

1 - 0 Rovers.

Were this an away game, I'd be predicting a Basel win.

Simon

He's absolute class!

He's been lacking service the past couple of games (especially on Sunday), which is why he's not looked quite so good.

Simon

So was it just me that on hearing "Your position in the queue is 14" thought "blimey, that's never happened to me before, we must be doing well: 14 other people want tickets"?

Normally the season ticket holders have their tickets sorted in August, there's 2 blokes and a stray dog at the away games and the Rovers Ticket office is quieter than the STD clinic in a nunnery.

It's the price of success I suppose

Simon

Normally I'd go for a goalless draw, but since Bolton have started to play some decent football and we play like donkeys after a European night, it's a tricky one.

So how about 2-2?

Bolton to tear us to shreds first half, much grumbling about the defence (and MGP if he plays), then a half-time rollocking from the gaffer and a couple of late goals from Bentley (for England) and McCarthy.

Simon

Since the police have recommended that everyone stay in Amsterdam, do you think there will be special pre/post match trains laid on to get everyone back on the night?

I think someone a while ago said that the last scheduled train was only 30mins or something after full time. Plus there will be about a thousand people, could be a good laugh if/WHEN we win.

Trains run between Amsterdam and Rotterdam throughout the night. We'll be grand.

Simon

It certainly was Simon.

I was going to text you yesterday to see if you had gone or not.. (I'm hoping it's the same Simon now)

Hi Ricky. Yup, it's the same Simon. I couldn't go to this one cos I'm at a wedding do tonight. I'll be at all the other group games, though.

Are you fancying any home games soon? I'm thinking ManUre is coming up in the not-too-distant

Simon

Should have seen me for the Sav goal. I couldnt work out what was going on. He headed the ball, the ref blew the wistle like it had beenj disalowed and then sav seemed to stop - I couldnt tell what had happend

Heh. Same here. My (Geordie) housemate jumped up and shouted before me.

I blame the ball hitting the keeper's towel.

Simon

PS dunno if this has come up yet (only halfway through the thread) but wasn't that the BRFCS flag on show as Sav celebrated?

Edit: Looking at the excellent photos, yes it was! Roll on Feyenoord away!

Villa. Despite it being the easiest for me to get to (since Birmingham got relegated), I hate the place.

The facilities are crap, there are more empty seats than even we have and the away stand is too shallow.

Get a seat anywhere near the goal and you can't see a bloody thing.

Absolute garbage!

Simon

No Krakow for me as I've got to go to a chuffin wedding

Feyenooord flights and hotel booked.

3rd place sees us get into the knockout stages. We should manage that!

Simon

Well they start with a bit of a handicap if you compare Salzburg to Blackburn, don't you think?

I dunno. We've got the canal, the waste ground where Mill Hill flats used to be, the Mall...

I'll get me coat.

Simon

2-1 Rovers.

They've got to score. Chances are they'll grab one, too. Especially that big bugger who came on at the end. Howver, they'll leave gaps at the back and we've got the talent to exploit them.

As mentioned before, their keeper's bobbins.

So I'm expecting a great game and a crap attendence.

I wonder if their fans can even come close to the great trip the Rovers had.

Simon