bob fleming

I bet Rovers are well made up that their fans aren't mainly South American - Season Ticket sales would be down to about 3,000 this season. Passion! Don't talk to me about passion! When I was a lad, Arkwright who used to live next door came home and shot himself and his dog after a 1-0 defeat against Blackpool. Night game and all - woke everyone up. And he was happy to do it. Proper fans in them days, not like now. It's all messageboards and namby pamby moaning on tinternet. You don't know you're born you lot.

I believe to a point you've hit the nail on the head there. Bearing in mind the way that Souness played, I cant for the life of me understand the lack of passion shown by his players. I fear that to many of the squad are mercenaries, their only concern being how much money they pick up at the end of each week. OK thats what everyones aim is to pick up as much pay as possible, however in the real world that we work in, if we didn't perform, our employers would quickly show us the door. Maybe Souness has recognized the fact that a large per centage of his players are fat cats with heavy pay packets and they aren't hungry for success and these factors have been instrumental in why he signed the likes of Dickov and Mateo, players who may not be world class but play with commitment and passion. In my opinion, Steads rise to fame at Ewood has been down to his hunger to succeed. He has become a fans favorite not just because of his goals but also his willingness to chase for the ball. I've just spent 20 minutes writng a post which pretty much says what roversmum and Alan75 are saying here. Which is a bit annoying but when they've already said what I wanted all I can do is agree with them. I'll just leave this bit in.... Paul started a thread last season - something along the lines of Rovers needing a hero. This said it all for me. Before Stead arrived there wasn't really one player in that team who you could say you could choose to be your hero. Hopefully these new signings will show all the things that have been missing and give us something to believe in then we may start to get an increase in gates again. Our supporters have seen a hell of a lot over they years - they know when something isn't right. You can't kid people who have seen the players we've seen over the years. They know when someone is giving their all and when someone isn't. (P.S. We'll finish above Bolton this season - we nearly always do.)

What about to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody.... "Dom, Dom.... Dom, Dom, Dom, Dom Dom, Dom, Dom, Dom, Dom, Dom, Dom... Dom, Dom, Dom, Dom Dom, Dom, Dom" etc Get mine while your there will you TonyD.

That'll do for me Jim - the other lot were just being silly.

I think we should leave the intricacies on any transfers to John Williams really Bryan. Plus I don't think we need two tea ladies - just one for cover.

I agree Philly. A cheeky bid for Scott Carson (Goalkeeper) would be a good move, perhaps we could also sign one of their tea ladies as well, just as cover, in case one of our TL's comes down with flu in November. I heard that their Tea Ladies were on as much as £25,000 a week - just shows what a crazy world they lived in up there for a bit. I blame O'Leary, Ridsdale - and of course Saunders.

Can it get any worse for them? Actually every time I think that - it does (maybe it's my fault). How would we feel if we'd just let our Club Captain walk away on a free transfer? A player who was one of a select few to come out of last season with any credit and held in high esteem by their fans.

Well done again Kamy. Never far wrong when it comes to BRFC. You've gotta be pleased with the transfers we've made (so far?) - Spanish International Left Winger, Top scorer for a Premier League Team last season and Captain of a Premier League Team last season. How much would that lot have cost 12 months ago? Anyway - £150,000 can't be bad. Of course there are these guys wages to consider which means that the term "free" doesn't exactly count for much these days when it comes to transfers but personally I think the club's done really well. If Mr Yorke would just do one - who know's? there might be a couple of quid left over for another signing.

Don't cry T4E - wait until the season starts for that sort of thing. Alan - I think anyone in their right mind would make that trip to watch the Rovers. Fortunately I live 10 minutes walk from Ewood Park so we'll just have to presume that I too would make that sort of commitment to the club. Actually it amazes me some of the distances that people do travel to get to Ewood. Whilst at the same time a lot of people in Blackburn are totally apathetic, a case of not realising what they've got. Still, it'll give people something to moan about (which is when a lot seem to be at their happiest) when our attendances are the worst in the league. The number of times I've heard this sort of thing is incredible... So called Rovers fan: "Have you been down there then?" Me: "No - I always wear a Rovers shirt on a Saturday and don't bother going when they're at home" "Alright clever lad. What was the gate?" "22,000" "That's really poor, how embarrassing" "Did you go?" "No, I can't be bothered"

Nice one American. Gutted with second. Travis sneaked it with the final game. I need to take a good look at myself between now and whenever and make sure I don't make the same mistakes again. I've learnt a lot about myself and the players I chose in this competition. Well done Travis.

Well thanks for that Shaddy - actually it's been playing on my mind. Just like Tony Hancock, I'm turning into a manic depressive. Actually I PM'd 'Sox earlier today. He recently suffered a nervous breakdown and hasn't been near a keyboard in weeks. Something to do with "the pressure" (not sure what he was on about to be honest). That and the fact his desk has been moved next to his boss and all his PC output is now shown on a 12 foot projector, as well as his own 14" monitor, means he hasn't been posting as much as he used to. Get well cards etc should be sent to: - Mr N. Sox Bedlam Blackpool Nr that there Lytham Lancs FY7 9NS Sorry - I appreciate that this is totally off topic but I think you should know.

Believe it or not, at the fore front of mind mind when I'm posting something that is somewhat off topic, shall we say, is "is this going too far?". As everyone is no doubt aware my style varies from down right off the wall to the down right sarcastic. Both styles probably grate with many posters. What I don't want to happen is for this "style" to turn people away from the board. How do I know if someone is annoyed at what's I've posted unless they tell me so? I've looked at other Rovers messageboards, including the official site, and they don't even come close - damn - I'm repeating what someone else has already said and I will do again in a minute. I too see it as an extension of the pub, just past the snooker room and into the car park. Just like the pub there are people here I often don't agree with, but I put up with them and wouldn't want them barred. As Al (and now Steb - this is getting out of hand) has pointed out this is the close season after all - the quality of posts will no doubt improve once the new season starts. In the interim the discussions about Matteo and whether he's good enough or not, Souness (should he go), season ticket sales and the new kit are probably as good as it's going to get. That's the problem with a Blackburn Rovers Messageboard - less to talk about when they're not playing. Whilst there is always room for serious discussion there should always be room for a laugh and a joke IMO. If the mods aren't happy with certain posters why don't they just name names or send a PM?

Can't believe Chelsea have signed Davids. Central midfield was surely one area that didn't need strengthening. I agree with JBN we should make a cheeky enquiry to see if we can get the likes of Parker or Cole on loan - who knows if we ask Chelsea to think about it long and hard enough they may have some other central midfielders that they don't want / need. Rovers "Can we have Alexi Smertin on loan please?" Chelsea "Who?" R "Alexi Smertin" C "Never heard of him, Are you sure he's one of ours?" R “He’s a central midfielder, was on loan at Portsmouth last season, played in Eur……. *deep sigh* never mind, it doesn’t matter”. We must feel a bit sorry for Tottenham today though. They nearly signed Davids after being linked with him for the last three / four weeks. What bad luck.

If this is the case, £33 extra per game, then it won't matter about the numbers renewing. If we only get 12,000 season ticket holders next year it'll be the equivalent of 24,000 if we end up having to pay again in order to get out. Of course you'll get some clever ST Holders going to the WBA game and not leaving until after the Fulham game in May, I doubt they'll be many though. Clever stuff by the Rovers but I'm not sure if I'm altogether happy about it. I'll sleep on it.

Have Bolton no ambition? Why can't they buy an "exciting" player rather than this fella who'll come in and do a good job for a season? What's wrong with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink? Next Sam will be talking about "budgets" and "wage structures".

I have classes three times a week... But the class content is to become soooo braindead I forget them.. Well said bellamy11. RoverDrake - these classes you're going to? Do you have to pay? If so can I recommend you knocking them down to just the one a week? I think you've cracked it already.... "It either fails or it works" - and the consequences of it failing? Blackburn Rovers wouldn't exist. You don't seem either bothered or aware. Hat's off to your teachers, they must be very proud of their star pupil.

Are yes - these young players with their whole Premiership future in front of them. You can pick these up for a couple of quid each at Clitheroe Car Boot on a Sunday - you just need to ensure you get there before Arsene and Alex though - they don't half push. I'm glad you were excited about John Stead signing. The majority of us (OK I'm guessing) didn't know anything about him. I wasn't excited I was bemused but prepared to give the lad the a fair crack of the whip. Hey! and guess what? I'm prepared to do exactly the same thing with de Pedro (who I hadn't heard of but remember seeing his ugly mug in a match before somewhere) and Dickov before I start slagging them off and saying that they're not good enough or "exciting".

I agree in that JFH would have been a good signing - if you like signing players who would probably cost in wages for the term of his contract what our entire transfer budget is for this summer and who are in a similar situation to the one that Dwight Yorke was in when we signed him and we aren't going to learn from previous mistakes and we hadn't already signed Paul Dickov (cheap) and we didn't already have five other strikers plus Dickov and I'm living in cloud cuckoo land - then yes - I think he would be a great edition to the squad. Really exciting.

Flitty may have fallen from grace, but I don't think he's behind Jemal Johnson in the pecking order...yet. I really do need to stop doing that. I keep referring to Jonathan Douglas as Damian Johnson. It's poor and I shall seek councilling to beat this thing. It's not even as though they're similar players or anything. At this point I'd also just like to apologise for any distress caused for any viewers who thought we'd bought Seth Johnson. It must have been awful - sorry Joey.

Flitty may well decide to leave - he might not. Who knows? He's put one hell of a good stint in for us for 8 years and as far as I'm concerned he's always given us (a massive cliché) 110%. All this about him being p***ed off really should be put into context. Souness has bought the Captain of Scotland and the former Captain of Glasgow Rangers to the club for 7 million pounds. If you were Flitcroft would you really be that surprised that this has happened? Second thing here is, whether he likes it or not, I would say that Flitty is no longer an automatic first choice. Thompson, Ferguson, Johnson, Tugay, Reid (?) and Flitcroft. If he's fit and up and running and showing the same form that he did before his injury I'd suggest that Fergie is the only automatic first choice. The others can fight it out amongst themselves. As TROOPER said - I'm sure Flitty is big enough to take this on the chin and get on with establishing himself as the second central midfielder. I really hope he does. Who knows, now he's not Captain, he may go from strength to strength. As an aside does anyone know Flitcrofts statistics in winning the toss for Rovers? I’d suggest no better than 50/50. Not good enough in my book.

I can't believe Duff's going to United...... Anyway - for all the money they've spent on players I can only think of one player who is more or less guaranteed a start, and that is Lampard. Who was already at the club! Sure the boy Duff was getting a lot of games but when he was injured, as he is now by all accounts, Chelsvich nip out and buy van Robben. I'm sure Duff is delighted and looking forward to next season no end. Why would any "top" player go to Chelsea? Not guaranteed a game, may never start (Scott Parker anyone?), no continuity of selection, no "team" understanding, and perhaps most importantly, no semblance of an overall long term strategy as to what they are doing. I'd imagine that the players who have turned down moves to The Bridge have down so because they don't see any credibility in the club. Raul: "Who are they trying to buy this week? Oh me. I don't think so, what was I? 4th choice Galactico on their list?" (Of course there is the small matter of £90k a week to ease the pain for the likes of Veron - now on loan I believe - so they're probably still paying some of his wages.)

Well they would be wouldn't they? It'll be nothing on the DeanoCard. Anyway I didn't mean Bolton - I meant Queen of the South.

Have they given any indication when these balsa wood "DeanoCards" are being sent out? By my calculations there are only 7 Saturdays left until the season starts? It's an absolute shambles of the highest order. I've never known anything like it. What if there's a mail strike or a war? Bolton sent their Season Tickets (the old type, you know, a book *snigger*) out in March for heavens sake - before anyone had actually received renewal packs. Why can't we do that? What were we doing?!? *namby pamby voice* "Waiting to see which Division we'll be in" ! It's nothing short of pathetic. A nonsense. I'm that angry I've a good mind to write an e-mail to someone irrelevant. I blame Beckham.

Flippin eck Bob !!! Do you have Saturday's lottery numbers ??! From the LET today ... I had no idea. Really I didn't. It's this PC - it keeps going back in time. We should put a bid in for that Steven Reid if you ask me. One things for sure he'll not be injury prone. Has Duff gone to Chelsea yet?

Is he not so good Billy? I agree with you. My only defence is that he started it.