Thanks for that Lee, after looking at the Spanish League Table it could be one of 15 teams. However, after reading between the lines and studying that yellow winking smilie thing you posted it's obvious that it'll be a "Best XI" from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Or Getafe.

Started watching Blackburn Rovers in 1981 through no choice of my own. Never looked back really, it must have been the halves. So that's 24 years, seems I'm merely playing at it compared with some others on here. Every credit gentlemen!

More bad news today in that Vinjay still intends to renew his season ticket. No doubt this'll go down particulary badly with those people still in two minds over whether to renew - those people who have to sit near to someone who spends all his time at games moaning about the lack of money spent by the Walkers, stamping his feet and shouting "It's not fair, it's not fair" in a tantrum will no doubt not be renewing now.

Any more news on the second (possibly German side) game?

Ah yes, that old chestnut den. Exactly the question that I've asked on a couple of occasions already - funny that the Stead fans didn't answer then either. I'm pretty sure that if Hughes had just signed him then there would be general up roar on this board questioning Hughes' sanity. You'd have thought we'd just sold Shearer or something not a striker who scored twice last season.

Others have mentioned this before but I'll mention it again 'cause I can. "Other" clubs start selling their Season Tickets when the season is still in full swing. Why don't we? I believe the answer is something like "We don't know which division we'll be in". Is that going to make a difference to the price? (It didn't last time - was it four extra games for the same money?). So what you'll have is the Blackburn public stating that there is no way in the world that I'm buying a season ticket as we might be relegated yet. Then, when the near miracle happens and Mark Hughes keeps us up with games to spare, everyone is swept along on a wave of enthusiasm and renews and buys season tickets! It's easy! But that "wave of enthusiasm" doesn't last long in Blackburn. Next thing it'll be the end of the season and people will want that big signing, want to know how much we have to spend, before considering S/T's. (BTW the club announcing that they have a transfer budget of (e.g.) £5.798 million isn't going to help us sign a Benni McCarthy or Craig Bellamy on the cheap) They should at least give people the chance to buy ST's in March, April - just on the off chance that they might sell more, I very much doubt that it would have a negative impact on sales.

Yes and no re your more funds/st ratio Bob F - as EIT has said previously - its relatively small play as part of income nowadays - problem is that we are paying big bucks to average players (lesser product) which is what annoys - maybe not our fault but the state of Football at the moment. I go on holiday tomorrow and am still undecided yet what to do about my S/T - but MB has hit it on the head when he says the club haven't really done anything to entice the floating fan to buy (regardless of price) never mind the exisiting S/T holders. 322574[/snapback] 1. It is small fry compared to the Sky money - but it all adds up. Another 2000 drop off in ST sales equates to approx £800,000 (£400 x 2k) - or half a Jon Stead. Or a players yearly wage. Yes it does annoy and I can see why people are getting fed up with it (me included) - but this is Hughes team is it? He hasn't bought these "average" players has he. And he intends to sort it out - but it'll take longer than this close season I'd imagine. BTW More than half the Premier League has average players. 2. I agree with that second paragraph. I suppose that when the club is left with 12,000 ST holders we'll eventually find our level. Maybe it needs to happen. Maybe Williams simply doesn't have anything positive to say after all - but then neither does anyone else other than Chelsea and two or three other teams. And that's what make the Premier League the "Greatest In The World" - apparently. Look, I ain't rushing to finish that fence and I'm sure there are things that you need to put off as well. Have a good holiday and I'll see you next season Capt.

Good post Alan. I'm sure I could sit around for a while and think up some more reasons for not getting a season ticket as well. It wouldn't be too hard. But then again - this is what I do every other week - have a few beers, go to Ewood and watch the Rovers. Done this since 1981 (well not the beer thing - it's hard to get served when you're 11). There have been worse times than this and there have been better times, ultimately we're still in the Premier League and Hughes wants to make us more fun to watch. I'll believe him - although I notice that it's now June 10th and he still hasn't finalised his first team squad before next season starts - and there's only two months now before the first game. Wages, kick off times, "it's on in the pub", Emerton, the ledge, prices. It's all there if you want it - every excuse going - they've all been listed here before or down the pub or at work. Still, I can think of no other place I'd rather be than Ewood on match day. I can't imagine what else I'd be doing to be honest. Nip to B&Q perhaps? Have a walk around our lovely town centre? Paint that ###### fence in the back garden? Listen to the match on the radio perhaps? Blackburn Rovers Football Club is still the best think about Blackburn the town by a country mile. If you're still undecided Alan then try avoiding this messageboard for a couple of weeks, it really is a depressing place at times. Oh and there's another thing - the more season tickets we sell the more money for the club and the more chance of buying that striker(s) we all want. Funny how no one mentions that chicken and the egg scenario. (Flopsy - what's Tom been up to in Blackpool?)

Blimey! That's not playing games. Fair play though, I wouldn't do it. The way she's plucked that over weight seagull from the sky (rats with wings you know - they all deserve to die) and is about to break it's neck with her left hand (1st picture) all in one movement. She seems quite pleased with herself as well (2nd picture) - maybe it's worth a "conversion" or something.

Shefiield Wednesday are taking 40,000 to todays game.

But! But! But it's only gone up £2 a month more!! Don't do it Capt! Best thing to do is to wack it all on one of those credit card things, it's free then and you can forget all about it. We've loads of 'em at home. It's steep and no mistake but was to be expected really I suppose after last years price freeze. I'll be getting one again, saved most of it up over the last twelve months - I certainly couldn't bear the thought of shelling out £32 for a football match when it's on the flaming television. Best get it all out of the way in one fair kick to the testicles I suppose.

That's never been proven. My solicitor will be in touch.

I've sat in the same place on the BBE since it went all seater Paul - in that time there's probably only been around three "bad" incidents. Generally they're a good bunch where I sit - and Capt Kayos sit's behind me as well. Having said that there seems to be a much higher percentage of "dickheads" in the BBE and if you're stuck next to a SHITTO for an entire season - well you wouldn't be would you? You'd have to take "action" and that probably isn't the best thing to do. Whereas on the old terracing (here we go) if someone was acting out of order they'd probably get a smack - it policed itself to a certain extent. These days some people will no doubt get you into trouble. Perhaps you could ask the ticket office to let you know where abouts you'd be sitting on the BBE? This may help. I'm sure if you asked "These people sat around us, are they dickheads?" that they'd have the information stored on their database. "Nah, it looks OK where your sat, You'll have SHITTO and his mates in front of you, Lofty and his mates behind you and a bloke called Vinjay sat next to you who last season spent a lot of the time crying - it's a much sought after location with fantastic views and lovely neighbours." IMO it's a big risk. I wonder if the club could do something whereby you could purchase tickets for the first match of the season to see what the people were like sat around you? - and if you're happy you could then buy season tickets there. I supose a lot of it would depend on demand (in which case you shouldn't have a problem I suspect). You could always try calling John Williams - although he probably has an extremely important meeting to attend this morning....

What a tremendous game that was last night! Brilliant stuff. Started reading the paper at the start of the second half - waiting for Milan to get another 2 or 3 goals. It really was all over. Sky reported this morning that some people were placing bets at half time on Milan to win - something like £20k on - to win - wait for it - £200 ( ) - not a good move. Liverpool were 100-1 to win the cup at half time. Pleased for Liverpool as they're an English team. As an aside it really has been a bad few weeks for Manchester United fans hasn't it? That's 5-2 isn't it? So well done to Liverpool - that game will live long in the memory. Finally all this nonsense about "Oh it's bad news, Liverpool / PNE are in our catchment area for fans". Bolloks. Fine. Let them go. Someone please explain to me how that works then? "Oh I've been watching Blackburn Rovers for the last couple of seasons but now I think I'll switch my allegiances to Preston North End" or "Liverpool won the European Cup last night - think I'll not go again to Ewood". Does anyone know anyone like this? Do you like these people? Do you care that they won't go to Ewood anymore? Will you miss them? I won't. Do people actually exist like this - who change allegiances? As for attracting "new" fans - well don't worry about that - Vinjay will be sorting it out for us - just look in the "Incoming Players" thread - the only way we'll get the gates up again is via success. Good luck Vinjmeister.

"Go on lend us some of those sleeping pills" ? C'mon now stuwilky - don't start bringing up things like "facts" into this. Play fair. You rung him yet Vinjay?

Vinjay - go and have your meeting with Mr Williams and find out what's going on. Then come back and let us all know. If the Walkers aren't prepared to invest the right amount of money so that BRFC can become a team that can compete for the title again then perhaps you can start looking elsewhere for that sponsorship on Mr Williams behalf? I mean with our gates and profile I'm sure that there is no end of multi millionaire prospective backers. Until then can I suggest that you're not actually going anywhere with this thread? (or perhaps I don't care and I can sleep at night and your a bigger fan than me etc) BTW Vinjay what's BRFC's wage bill?

I think this new forum is slower as well. But then again I'm not reading it as quickly. Thanks for the U/G everyone - looks good. However, could someone compile a list of all the questions that have been asked though and put them together in one post or release a DVD or something?

yes Now he says! I've gone and bought a ticket now! Prediction time: 0-0. Hughes should go with a 4-6-0 formation - keep this one real tight. Sure it's a testimonial but let's not get giddy just 'cause we've stopped up. We should stiffle the opposition and then hope to sneak a corner or something on the break. Whatever happens though, surely we can't lose this one.

I laugh in the face of Soccernet. Thanks Philly. I had no chance beating Scotty though. I've heard that he has a room with all the stats of all the Premier League clubs covering each wall, every July he locks himself away in this room and goes into some sort of trance like state, he doesn't sleep, he just stares at the squads, analysing in minute detail the pros and cons of each player (age, previous injuries / hair cuts), manager and team - (a bit like the goalkeeping player manager in Dream Team - in fact exactly like him - but even weirder) he even looks at their horoscopes as well, nothing but nothing, is left to chance. At the end of July he then puts all the team names in a bag and pulls them out one at a time - first team out wins the league. As I said - no chance - the man's an absolute genius.

Stop that with your non-argumentative rubbish. I had figured that one of the unwritten rules of this place was to berate and generally be single minded on as many subjects as possible... Oh, and I can help you understand a little bit, being an armchair supporter myself. Money. Cambridge is just to far away on my meagre part time salary Fair enough. That "Not that I want..." line is pretty feeble, mainly because I removed half of the post at the last minute (like you believe me). Too late now though eh? However, seeing how you mentioned it I'd better do some berating.... That's bloody pathetic - Cambridge! Cambridge?! I remember going there for a mid week match many moons ago (the one where we wanted "proper footballs" and the pitch was left long in the corners to suit their ball over the top approach) - didn't get back until the wee small hours - but I did it. And I was at College at the time. So don't give me all this crap about having a "part time salary" - it just won't wash. You should steal, borrow and beg - heaven knows you've had long enough to get the funds together. That better for you?

I find that incredible. £10 for Tony Parkes - who I'm sure was paid handsomely - but not as well as the likes of Davies, Blake, Dailly, Grabbi etc (I could go on for a while here). All Parkes did was get us out of the @#/? on umpteen occasions. Not that I want to criticise BRFC supporters for not turning up - it's just something that I'll never understand.

Can't wait - it's going to be a brilliant night. Those of you who aren't going -just what the hell are you going to be doing that night? Wifey type person "Aren't you going to the Rovers tonight? Isn't it Tony Parkes testimonial, that fella who got them out of the ###### on numerous occasions and was at the club for 35 years, and isn't the Championship winning team turning up? Alan Shearer, you used to worship him, and "King" Kenny Dalglish, and Mike Newell and Colin Hendry, they'll all be there, I thought you'd have liked all that, only a tenner as well. I can't believe you're not going. Or are you stopping in to watch Eastenders and play with those razor blades? Fair enough, there's a cracking sit-com on later on BBC3...." I'd have thought that if you were a Blackburn Rovers supporter then there can only really be one place to be on Tuesday night.

So the key to success for the deal appears to be the Television rights? As things stand 14 of the Premier League clubs have to vote in favour of a change. Can't see that happening in the short term. Long term the likes of Manure, Chelsea and Arsenal may well go and form a European Super League - well that's a shocker - I'll get the door. See ya! philipl - "The figures suggest that Mr Glazer could need to quadruple United's profitability to keep the club financially viable." That's not going to be easy is it? Don't Nike own all the merchandising rights to the Manure brand? Haven't the people at OT already bled this area dry?. I mean, I wish the fella all the luck in the world, I really do. Just in case, I'll get some more nails. Have a nice sleep Manchester United - (I'll not mention the "Football Club" bit - that went a long time ago).

Makes a lot of sense to me, save the majority having to travel so far. Well I'm not getting too excited just yet. Will this really mess them up long term? Sure they're going to lose a lot of Season Ticket holders but so what? I'm sure there are plenty more sheep queuing up to replace them. MUTV is the most watched Television Station in the world (even more than Channel 5 ) perhaps they could pay a little more over in Japan and Outer Mongolia for the priviledge of watching it? Why would the fella (who looks like a villain from a Scooby Doo episode) buy the club and then run it completely into the ground? (Other than to cheer me up). Surely he still needs some level of success to protect his investment? Maybe I'm just being naive. Anyway, surely it's better for them all to start supporting Chelsea now at this stage by way of "protest"?

Quality Sox! You should do these full time! Spurs away last game of the season, again. 4-0 Rovers. Rob Savage with all 4.