bob fleming

Dickov has been signed as an older head while Gallagher and Stead get a bit more experience. Matteo will do a job for us. He was Leeds Capt last season and according to Leeds fans (unleaded posted a link in the Matteo thread) is one of only a few to emerge with any credit last season. He can also play as a holding midfielder. That would presumably leave us with just a left winger to find with whatevers left of the budget. So maybe, just maybe, we don't have any money to spend. Or what we do have will have to be spent on picking up bargains. Take a look at the AGM thread (which should be stuck at the top of this MB IMO) and you'll recall we have a wage bill in excess of £30 million. Sure it would be nice to make a big signing, someone to excite the fans and all that. Encourage people to buy season tickets. I doubt it's going to happen. A lot of football clubs are on the verge of financial metdown. Let's not go there. (Bolton : Free tarnsfers or loans - massive wages I'd imagine. Bridges?!?! Fulham : ? Have they got their own ground yet? Spurs : Large share issue. Short term fix?)

It's either Fulham or Andy Cole. Both have been left out. Probably on purpose. No - I'll say it's Fulham.

I'll be using that from here on in if I may "foremost hands-on-hipster " It'll never catch on though. Tom - your face isn't grumpy enough, you're clearly not shaking your head or looking for Dwight Yorke / Gordon Taylor.

Mr Blue! In brief response: - 1. That's arguable IMO. Some games yes, some games no. Some games the last 10-15 minutes. (Not that anyone remembers those last 10-15 more than the rest of the game or anything). 2. He was innocent! 3. I doubt anyone will offer £2million for Cole let alone £17million. If someone came in with the right money for the club (again) he'd be off. It's slightly different to our wanting to sell him. I agree that it was a poor omission by the LET in not including Cole in their article. It only adds fuel to the fire for those that want to say he'll be sold.

There you are then. Just as I said. There's no problem there at all.

Perhaps Graeme would be better off pointing Stead and Gallagher in the direction of Andy Cole then? "There you are lads see how he stands about with his hands on his hips like he's totally ****** off" - "there you go lads see how Andy is now reporting me to the PFA" - "there you go lads see how Andy wants more time off from training even though we're in a relegation battle". It's all been said before Rev but at the end of the day I'd imagine that Souness and Cole will get on because they have to - for the good of the club. I doubt they're ever going to be the best of buddies so it's hardly surprising that Souness hasn't mentioned Andy as a role model. As for the Cole leaving Ewood story - you did well to conclude that from yesterday's LET. Williams has already said that he'll be here next season. Stranger things have happened of course - but if someone comes in with £3million (when he'll walk away at the end of next season for nothing) what would you do?

If we can award ourselves goals I forecast a memorable but controversial tournament I think we'll all be pleasantly surprised at the number of goals Gerrard awards us in this tournament. His influence shouldn't be underestimated.

We're fourth favourites with the bookies - due to the amount of money that is put on England you can take it that the odds have been shortened somewhat - so we're probably 5th / 6th favourites, which to me suggests we have a chance. I've got it all mapped out - it seems obvious. Sunday 13 June 19.45 - France 1 England 1 - Beckham penalty. Thursday 17 June 17.00 - England 2 Switzerland 0 - Owen, Rooney. Monday 21 June 19.45 - Croatia 0 England 1 - Lampard. We qualify in second place because of goal difference (France beat the Swiss 6-0) Thursday 24 June 20.45 - Spain 1 England 2 - Scholes, Rooney. (UEFA try, but fail, to expel England from the tournament after this game as 1. They realise we have a chance of winning it and 2. There is a disgraceful incident in one of the bars after the game when an England fan drops, and smashes, his pint glass. The fan pays for another pint and pays for the broken glass but it is too late as the pub is surrounded by 300 riot Police. Sven arrives on the scene. He calms the Police down and says in that cool way of his, with a cheeky smile, "Don't be so silly, it's not a big deal" - peace is restored and all is soon forgotten) Wednesday 30 June 20.45 - Holland 0 England 1 - Beckham Free Kick. The Final - Sunday 04 July 20.45 - France 2 England 4 - Owen hat trick, including one that may have crossed the line / may not - but it's given by the Russian fourth official (who wasn't even looking) and Gerrard. Either that or we'll not even qualify from the group. Anything could happen. Law of averages suggests we're due to get to another final one day. Why not now?

£ 13 MILLION !!! Gallas and Johnson on loan it is then - I can't see there being any problems in getting those two up here. What has Gallas done wrong? I think he's a fantastic player. If we get those two we may as well ask what they're doing with that little Irish one as well. In fact why don't Chelsea just get rid of all their players, give them away for free (to us), and start again. It's only fair to Jose Mourinho that he gets to build his own squad - it's not as if they can't afford it.

No positive vibes coming out of Kennysuperbuyer as yet - so no change there then.

Spot on USAB - at the end of the day though the lad has to show some ambition. So he stops and wins the league in Norway. Great. Reminds me of the Duff transfer, we'll get there eventually, if we're that keen. Sorry Tromso fans, but if he's that good, it's just a question of time. If not us, someone else. He'll me a Rovers player soon enough

Ah yes - but Johnson was only £6 million - which the Russian probably found down the back of his sofa one evening. Should we try for him on loan? £13 million for a right back?!?! Never mind different league - different planet. If it wasn't ridiculous before.....

Can I correct you bob please..the MAIN reason for having a season ticket is to financially support the club. SG194 - I did actually say the "only reason" - which was a mistake as I also put "but at the end of the day the money does actually help the club if it's provided up front." which in my book constitutes financially supporting the club. There, that's some more hairs split. Having read further posts the benefits can be summarized as follows:- 1. (Financially) Support Blackburn Rovers Football Club. 2. It's actually Cheaper than buying individual tickets! (I was renewing anyway and haven’t read the blurb to be honest - but have the club made as bigger deal of this as perhaps they should? Stick that in your talking bus shelter – you never know) 3. Less Hassle. 4. Guaranteed tickets for Cup Games. 5. What else are you going to do with your time? Decorating? Shopping?

I don't think there is one. I got the pack through yesterday and it was completed in a couple of minutes and sent back in the post with a cheque. (So there's no escape Kayos) As Paul said they're an improvement on last year as they already have all the details on the form. An idiot could fill it in in a matter of minutes, as I prove to myself. The only reason for getting a Season Ticket is the lack of hassle. Lack of hassle in not having to ring up and order every other week, lack of hassle on knowing whether or not you'll get to sit where you want and also the guarantee that you will indeed get to see the team. Sure we never sell out but what if we do one day? It offers peace of mind. Plus if we to go on a Cup run of sorts the ST holders get first choice for away games plus we can all avoid the mad rush for tickets. Plus - we could all not get ST's but at the end of the day the money does actually help the club if it's provided up front. The thought that the club can now pay another 1.54% of Dwight Yorke's weekly wage cheers me up no end. Joking aside the club needs the money, it may even go towards buying another player in (or at least paying one off). Who know's? The downside is that we won't be able to come on here or write to the LET and moan about a. "the amount of time I spent holding on the phone trying to get through to the Ticket Office" b. "I've been going to Ewood for 97 years and I'm disgusted that I can't get a ticket for the Quarter Final of the FA Cup at Shrewsbury due to the fact that they've only given us an allocation of 550" c. "I ordered my tickets from the TO yesterday and asked them to be posted out, this was at 4.55pm on Friday - it's now 7.35am Saturday and I still haven't got them - it's a disgrace Rovers."

Jan, just out of interest, is the reason that your not getting a season ticket purely down to the fact that Souness is still manager, or are there other reasons as well?

Bryan - as we all know, sometimes it's the most far fetched ideas that prove to be the best.

Why not think "More Chelsea Transfer Madness - that's not about Blackburn Rovers - I'll give it a miss". And then cleverly avoid reading it by not clicking your mouse on the thread title. Just a thought. It might just work.

I think your over reacting a bit too quickly there in deciding not to be too critical, too soon. All the noises coming out of Ewood suggest that Cole will be here next season. Cole wants to stop and we don't want to sell (WBA were told to take their interest elsewhere I think I read). So, as I've already said: - Dickov is a good signing IMO (+10 PL goals, £100,000, 8 other clubs after him = a bad player?). If he turns out to be a load of rubbish, doesn't try, and adds nothing to the spirit of the squad then I'll hold my hand up (again). If Cole was to leave (let's be honest anything could yet happen) I can only presume that we'd be in the market for a replacement. For those saying we need a signing to "excite" the fans. I agree. But as Brian Potter once said "I want to moon walk son, but it ain't gonna happen". We haven't got a load of cash to blow (a similar situation to a lot of other clubs) if we can pick up a couple more signings (left winger/midfielder / centre half / right back / replacement for Tugay - er, hang on...) then great, we'll have done well on a limited budget. Unfortunately our going out and blowing £7.5 million on a player, such as Kevin Davies have gone. Now that would have been exciting.

Ruddy hell! - pass the oxygen!!

So there were nine Premier League clubs who wanted him? Just wonder how many are preparing bids for our Dwight? AndyC - "Oh well - 90% of the rovers faithful will be happy. They will see a player dieing for the cause. A player prepared to crash though the advertising hoardings to save a throw in. Someone who will kiss the badge and really really mean it. Someone the fans can relate too?" Besides the badge kissing, which is so last year, Yes - I bloody hope so - it will make a nice change from the behaviour of a certain striker currently on our books. AndyC - "I'd rather have Yorke any day than dickov" Yes - that one.

http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsD...0.html?ptvParm= He's not wrong. Good spot Baz.

It's a tricky one and no mistake. Is it.... 1. Leicester is the only one to have an unnecessary gap of two spaces? (between Leicester and "city") 2. Leicester's name is the only one spelt incorrectly with the use of "city" instead of "City"? 3. "Rovers" is the only team name to have an unnecessary lower case "r" in front of it? 4. Paul Dickov has played for Leicester and not the others? 5. They all play in blue? (no - that can't be right) 6. Blackburn Rovers are the only team to have won the Premier League? 7. Blackburn Rovers are the only team to have played in Europe in recent years? 8. Fulham? 9. Are Blackburn Rovers the only club to have made an official bid for Leicester player Paul Dickov? 10. Top TV funny man Frank Skinner supports West Brom but not the others? 11. (Back on topic - sort of) Blackburn Rovers are the only club trying to secure the services of Norwegian International Pedersen? Who knows? I'm at a loss. It's probably No. 8. I doubt we'll ever know the answer.

Come now, bob. For the last time, it's DamiEn. You know, like AndREsen. And GallaGher. You're a disgrace. I'm Glad you weren't my English teacher at School Too right. I hold my hand up with the constant miss spelling of Damien but I thought I was getting the hang of Andresen and Gallagher. To be honest Philly you've completely shattered my confidence - instead of encouraging me you've knocked me for six. I'll be afraid to make another mistake now. Oh well.

Unfortunately that is quite a big difference isn't it? Thing is we've been in exactly the same situation before with Damian Duff so we know how you feel. Sure it might not happen this summer but eventually, if he is good enough, he'll be off to another club. If it's any consolation if he does eventually come to Rovers and proves to be a fantastic player then the chances are eventually we'll lose him as well. Hopefully he'll be brilliant - but not too brilliant - or Abramovich will be back again. If he stops with Rovers he won't become a multi, multi millionaire...... thats the only difference.

I think it's great, I bought the album off the back of that song and it's...well, utter rubbish. Great song though. It's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" isn't it? Sorry for being pedantic. Tis a great tune and no mistake. The album is average at best though - hopefully they'll improve on the next one. It's all been done better before - try Powerage or Let There Be Rock - in fact any album by AC/DC when Bon Scott was the singer.