The rumor mill is working overtime and whispers have reached sunny burnley that a number of message board members have already arranged a horse and cart to take them to Norwich in November? Myself and Debs are going by Choo Choo and staying Friday and Saturday hopefully and wondered if the rest of the usual suspects fancied making the trip and booking the same hotel? Everyone welcome apart from Tris who can't be bothered to empty his mailbox! Hotel ideas?

PS, The 15k hardcore is 7k more than we had 15yrs ago so thats something to be greatful for.....

Without wanting to get into a major debate on this subject the way I see it is a certain section of our support just don't care. If we signed Zidane and Ronaldo we'd still struggle to get 25k home fans in the ground. It was interesting to see the riverside last week in the UEFA Cup, full to capacity against a team of no hopers and it was live on TV. Those supporters care, a section of ours don't. Treating the current position with contempt is a very dangerous business and the 15k hardcore is all we can rely on if things go tits up.

Real brains trust in action there then! Bottle of Gin and put the world to rights.........

The gate debate is one that can't be explained and having talked about it until 6am one night last season with Tris I’m still at a loss to explain the stay away fans. One theory that doesn't hold water is the entertainment theory mentioned above. We finished 6th in the Premiership yet gates were going down and got worse the following season. Was the football that bad? And we finished 6th? I've give up caring because its going to put me in an early grave

Hughes to consult Souness Just reading through the news sections this morning and came across the link above. Got to say I think it’s a good move by Hughes and shows he's open to other people’s opinions. Although Souness will have his views on certain individuals I’m sure he'll just chat on a footballing level and hopefully that information will be invaluable in the coming weeks. First time in a long time i've actually looked forward to a game, roll on tomorrow.

To support a merger of Lancashire clubs is just plain stupid in my book despite the advantages of such a scheme. We're Blackburn Rovers and long may that continue. Simple facts of the matter are we've come a long way in the past 14yrs and maybe the fans were not ready for the ride in terms of continued support on a grand scale. Don't get me wrong the support is excellent for the size of the town but we need the floating fans to stay loyal and not drift away as has been the case. The ride has been fantastic but without continued support from the Blackburn public we'll not continue down the same road. That's a shame because if I felt we'd done one thing over the past 14yrs it was secure a fan base that would support the club whatever the circumstances for the foreseeable future. That support has dwindled for many reasons but we need them to return as it will help us survive in the Premiership. Look no further than the Blackburn public for continued support, that's where our future lies and the sooner people realise that the better.

Absolutely spot on. This club of ours needs a whole new bread of supporter and player, this needs coupling with a complete change in attitude which is thankfully happening thanks to John Williams and his staff. For all the good Jack Walker did for our club his millions created the spoon fed brigade and until attitudes change we'll struggle to stand on our own two feet as a club. I'm sure that at least 25% of our current support believes we're still in the market for 10 million pound players which is astonishing to me. Cash injection? No, what we need is the support from missing 4-5000 that enjoyed the good times but crawl back under their stones when times are hard.

Really don't understand the hysteria around Curbishley. The guys currently at a club that’s bigger in both fan base and finance, why would he give that up? Also he's constantly being linked as the next England manager so that would leave us in more strife if it happened. Advocat isn't a bad shout as far as I’m concerned. The guys certainly got the pedigree having managed at both club level and national level extensively. I'm not saying he'd be my first choice but I’d much rather have Advocat than Jewell, McCarthy or IAN BLOODY DOWIE??? How anyone can see Dowie in charge of our club is beyond me! Bring back Kenny.

That post is exactly the reason i tend not to come on this site anymore Wee wee taker or not!

They always say never look back in football but wouldn't Kenny’s return be a real shot in the arm for supporters? I'd guess another 2500 on the gates to start with but surely just a pipe dream. Newell would be a disaster as far as I’m concerned and his 'troubles' at Hartlepool would surely rule him out of the running. Hughes would be a decent shout but lacks Premiership experience and wouldn't give up his job with the Welsh national side. So only one man for the job then......Strachan. Proven premiership manager and all the attributes to continue the good work his fellow Scot Souness put in at Ewood. Penny for John Willams thoughts right now

Well I’ve got to say I’m absolutely stunned by this news but don't blame Souness for one minute in taking up the post at Newcastle. On paper the job is one of the best in the country but I think he'll certainly have his work cut out doing anything with the current crop and setup. The most disappointing aspect for me is the stability Souness has brought to the club. By that I mean we've been operating quite happily as a club for the past 4 1/2 years and now we've been forced to change the man at the top and that could make or break our season and ultimately our future in the premiership. I would class myself as one of his biggest supporters during his reign at Ewood but must admit that recently even I’ve been puzzled by some of his decisions. I think his no nonsense style was a breath of fresh air for our club though and will be sorely missed. The focus now should turn to who will replace him? We don't have the finance we once had to attract the big names and this appointment will make our break this club of ours in terms of league status. I have the utmost respect for John Williams and the way he runs our club. Let’s hope that faith is still intact after the new appointment. Onwards and upwards.

And that is the funniest thing I've read on this messageboard in a long time!!! Got your season ticket for't Turf then Gav? Not only have I got my season ticket DP, but I’ve also received the customary membership to both the BNP and KKK (if every I’m over in the states again). I'll be cheering on my beloved clarets in the coming season and keep watching over your shoulders fellow posters as we'll soon be on a level playfield mark my words. I've been introduced to whole new way of living and coming back to blackburn and supporting you lot just doesn't cut the mustard I’m afraid. Up the clarets.

This thread, and numerous ones like it, is the sole reason I’m now a burnley fan. Oh yes and 'WE' are the best supported club in the WORLD! Up the clarets.

Because it's better than spending time in B & Q I'm convinced, see you in Bray via Dublin hopefully

Why spend all that money travelling to worthless friendlies when you can what them over here or on video.

Grass

Absolute Rubbish. The Dutch especially have a terrible problem with hooliganism at club level so are you telling me they don't follow the national side and don't get involved? The Germans like the English have improved domestically but to say those nations don't get involved is just rubbish i'm afraid. If the English acted as a whole it would like D-Day because of the numbers.

The actions of a few are indefensible so I’m not going to even try to put a case for their defense. I like many others feel that the gutter press and TV hype is nothing short of disgusting. How ITV and BBC can lead for the past two days on first of all 4 Englishman being arrested then some dodgy amateur camera footage of Portuguese police battering anyone is site is beyond me. Having been in the very situations seen over the past two days I can tell you that on many occasions the police just arrest individuals to show strength. This tactic is affective and doesn't really tell the whole story in terms of numbers arrested. Look at the 900 or so English fans deported from Holland and Belgium? Women and a 70yr old man also? It’s clear to many that this situation in albuferia is going to continue until the English leave the resort of the local police close down the 'Strip'. As tension remain high after the heavy handed tactics a few nights its just going to play right in to the hands of the ring leaders and expect more trouble and arrests in the coming days. As for UEFA well those crocked b******s are just looking for an excuse. German and Holland fans clashed on Monday and last night but not even a mention of expulsion. One rule for the English and one rule for the rest. In summing up we don't get praised for having 50,000 supporters in Portugal with 99% being well behaved. We get hammered for having around 200 people from various countries fighting with police in a tourist resort miles from the football stadiums where England are playing.

If the figures are correct and we're only paying 750k - 1million for him then he's a steal. I won't dwell on his ability as a defender because having played at the highest level for many years now that’s not in question. But one thing I feel he'll bring to the team is leadership. We've struggled in that department in recent seasons and Matteo will bring that in abundance. Good signing for me if it goes through.

I stick with what I said at the outset, very disappointed we're going for players like Dickov but after seeing his goal scoring record last season I did have a slight change of heart. For the money you've got to take a chance and he's a real awkward customer for opposition defenders to deal with. Also I think to beat of the competition for his signature should give us all cause for optimism. Lets hope this signing paves the way for a couple more aditions, younger and season ticket sellers.

When will players like Smith learn to keep their mouths shut? If he was indeed Leeds through and through he'd have stayed at the club to help them back in to the Premiership. As for his England chances, well if he's good enough he'll play regardless of what division he's in. Sutton is obviously the closest player to Smiths situation but at least Sutton wasn't a fan of the club. It’s hard to say how you'd react in similar circumstances but it would take a hell of allot to prise me away from the club I love.

Burnley...............new job................no holidays.....................enough said. Enjoy lads i'll be there next time. BLACKBURN BOYS WE ARE HERE.............

I can't praise highly enough the people working behind the scenes at Ewood because they're doing a terrific job on all fronts. Whilst attendances and ticket prises are rising around the country, at Ewood ours are falling on both counts which is very disappointing indeed. Let’s hope the fans show as much desire to take Blackburn Rovers forward, by buying season tickets, as the people running the club. If nothing else we should sell as many season tickets as last season but I fear the worse. Simple fact is that you can now more than ever before buy tickets on a match to match basis so why do people need to pay £400+ just before the summer holidays. Great news for all supports lets hope its not thrown back in John Williams and his colleague’s faces.

I guess you're talking about my finely chiselled torso Abbey