Playing devils advocate here.

Blackburn and Darwen council insist that Blackburn Rovers enforce the no standing law throughout the season. Yes the away fans stand up but not the same people week in week out like in the home areas if you get my drift.

What people must understand is that it’s not a club directive but a local council directive and like elsewhere in the country local councils must ensure that this rule is enforced or risk sections of the ground closed for future games.

Don't blame the club.

Closing sections of the ground?...........row 20 seat 1 please 

I cant disagree with that. the Clubs hands are governed by the Safety at Grounds Act and Local Bye Laws.

However heavy handed ejection of supporters, ie throwing them down steps, will alienate the club from the people who pay their wages.

Continued practices of this nature by the stewards and the club wont have to worry about breaking regulations as there wont be any fans in the ground.

As the chant this afternoon suggested the club is s######'on its own fans. No action is being carried out against away supporters. And before someone says its difficult to control a thousand or so away supporters, they could start by sending stewards into the hospitality boxes.

I for one am sick and tired of the abuse given to Rovers supporters by the prawn brigade protected by their glass screens.

Didn't go today so am pissing in the dark here........................But

Like anyone who gains overnight power, someone is going to suffer and I understand the cr@p that has been going on.

Second Class citizens is an appropriate label. No Rights as a football fan is a disgrace and having seen my innocent girlfriend smacked in the face by a GMP Robocop I know where we're coming from.

"Outside the ground just seemed to be a group of yobos who wanted to have a go at the police in a way that was not a credit to the kids that took part."

I thought we'd banned those hooligan types but maybe not...........Where they meeting next game as debs is interested in fronting the police.........

Trooper, Rovers fans reacted to Boro fans in box backing on to BBE where those in the box were taking the michael out of the Rovers fans when when Boro scored (twice). Police reacted, very slowly mind you, and picked on rovers who in turn reacted. One rovers lad was then thrown down the steps to the concourse. The major issue is a few stand up every game and get instruced to sit down when the visiting fans stand en masse and get left alone; there is also the general issue of being treated like scum.

I realise it may sound somewhat pathetic but a lot of rovers fans are sick of the garbage football and being treated like 2nd class citizens. The result is the fans are deserting in droves. This is a very dangerous downwards spiral with no end in sight.

As stewards find a few faces week in week from the home support and you've got something to aim for.

Mugs stay standing up as a matter of principle and get thrown out.....why? .........sit down for a few minutes.

Sit the f**k down and you'll not get thrown out like that complete prick behind me against Villa who never closed his mouth on the subject and I wanted to throw the b*****d myself.

Mugs stay standing up as a matter of principle and get thrown out, no leg to stand on as far as i'm concerned.

Playing devils advocate here.

Blackburn and Darwen council insist that Blackburn Rovers enforce the no standing law throughout the season. Yes the away fans stand up but not the same people week in week out like in the home areas if you get my drift.

What people must understand is that it’s not a club directive but a local council directive and like elsewhere in the country local councils must ensure that this rule is enforced or risk sections of the ground closed for future games.

Don't blame the club.

Closing sections of the ground?...........row 20 seat 1 please

The first half last night was again shocking in my opinion. We've lost the ability to pass the ball and this must be addressed asap.

I felt that both Jansen and Flitcroft looked closer to full fitness last night and contributed to a decent second half performance.

Emerton still lacks the ability to pass the ball or go past a player and is very frustrating to watch. It’s clear he has the ability to beat players but my guess is he's suffering from a lack of confidence.

Ammo I thought was excellent last night despite a dodgy miss kick in the first half. The amount of headers he won goes unnoticed I’m sure but he's getting better by the game but I agree with some fellow posters, he does switch of at times. His distribution is far better than any other defenders and he will always pose a threat from a set piece.

Dickov, a real gem and does everything you could wish for from a player in that position.

Tugay looks lost and some way of the pace. Let’s hope the Djorkaeff rumors are true because we need a creative midfield player and quick.

All in all not a bad second half performance and given time it looks like Hughes can really do something with the current crop

Well i wanted to let the train take the strain but at almost £300 return for the three of us i think i'll pass.

To fly to Stanstead from Blackpool then hire a car for the weekend is going to cost £150! for three adults.

Wonder why nobody travels by train these days....

THREE ??!

Don't tell me Mr G Goat is being allowed out for the weekend ?!

You must be joking

'J' is coming i think, i'll ask if she'll bring her daughter if you like

Well i wanted to let the train take the strain but at almost £300 return for the three of us i think i'll pass.

To fly to Stanstead from Blackpool then hire a car for the weekend is going to cost £150! for three adults.

Wonder why nobody travels by train these days....

I lived in inner City Sheffield for 14 years in an area that was 35% Asian. My son went to a school that was 48% Asian. Since moving to Blackburn I have been amazed how completely separate the two communities are compared to where I lived in Sheffield and I do think it's unhealthy.

I suggest that it can only be something to do with guidance, policies and qualities of the respective councils down the years then.

You're right, local authority policy will have contributed to the different situations in Blackburn and Sheffield.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't have to be like it is in Blackburn. There aren't these levels of segregation everywhere that has significant Asian communities.

Looks a good shout Scotty as long as the pubs not to far away.

Tris you're not coming

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.....

I think that lots of people have highlighted plausible reasons for the decline in attendances and I think we have to have some empathy with them. But now is maybe the time to encourage these people to come back-the dawn of a new era.

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.

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.

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.

We've been spoon-fed for years now and it's time this club stood on its own 2 feet. Other clubs manage to get by without a cash injection from outside sources, so should we.

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.

Looking at that list of available managers, how about Carlton Palmer?

He has good knowledge of the premiership and must have experienced many different stratergies and tactics at all of the different clubs that he has been at. H ewill also obviously be keen and available cheaply

His managerial experience at Stockport County can't damage his credentials too much?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.