I am not unaware of any unrest at Celtic. They play 4-3-3 with a central striker and two wide men. Kyogo is currently starting up front (and scoring regularly) with Giakoumakis tending to replace him, part way through the second half (and also scoring regularly). It’s a bit of a dilemma for Celtic but, with Champions League games on the horizon, together with the two domestic cup competitions, both players will probably start to play full matches but obviously not together. Again, they will both be needed to cover injuries and suspensions etc. It had crossed my mind what could possibly happen if Giakoumakis was unhappy with the situation but coming to Rovers never entered my head. He is quality alright and I would be delighted if we got him, should the situation ever arise. I do think he is mid to lower half Premier League though.

My lad was at the game. Said Rovers played well, especially first half and were a level above Bradford, even with the youngsters playing. Only one turnstile open for ‘cash on the day.’ Missed the first 15 mins and the Bradford goal. Still 250 Rovers fans outside at that point.

Wtf was Van Dyke doing there? Should have moved out to Sancho to attempt a block or get a tackle in. Instead he stood there bowing slightly with his hands behind his back.

Had the good fortune to spend a pleasant half hour or so in the company of Mick McGrath and his lovely wife, a few weeks ago after seeing them in the Ribble Valley. His wife is a real character, a typical Darrener and it turns out she knew most of my family from way back when. Interesting to speak to Mick about Ronnie and Bryan and the wages that were typical (for top flight footballers) in the late fifties and early sixties. I could have sat and chatted to them all afternoon.

The first team game, also versus Carlisle, on the following day, was my introduction to Blackburn Rovers. Life was so much simpler then, as was the football. Fifty six years later, our patience is being tested to the full.

A notable mention, also to Inverness Caley re 11) which, looking at Google Satellite, appears to be next closest to the sea, after Arbroath. Re 3) I bet the b*stard thought he’d got away with it. Seventeen years for a life!! Good quiz, SC. All this about you being a Claret. You’ll be switching allegiance soon, if you haven’t already done so. 😆

Terrible news. RIP Lenny.

That would work, with ‘The Rovers!’ at the end 👍 Used to be played at Wigan (rugby).

A catchy tune, no doubt, but it’s a friggin Burnley song. When they played it at Old Trafford, I couldn’t believe everyone was singing along to it. I think the bar stuards played it on purpose and we’re pissing themselves behind the scenes. I’m sure Irish Rover by the Dubliners/Pogues could be adapted to suit us. I may just have a go myself. Watch this space..

Oh yeah, baby…😉

Good job Roy Keane wasn’t in the studio. His gaskets would all have blown. 😆

A big problem that the town of Blackburn continues to face, is the fact that unlike some other towns, it has barely grown over the last sixty years or so. My dad used to have an AA atlas from the early 1960s, with information in it from 1960. At the back was a list of all the cities and towns in the UK, together with respective populations. When I followed Rovers away in the 70s to places like Swindon, Peterborough etc., I liked to see how big these places were. Then, they were slightly smaller than Blackburn but now, they are roughly double the size. I remember Northampton, as well, as having the same population as Blackburn but it is now over 225k. Blackburn in 1960 was 107k and now (without Darwen) it is only 117k. The other thing to factor in, is that whilst the Asian population of Blackburn continues to grow, the whites are effectively moving out. In 1960, the Asian population of Blackburn was probably just a few hundred, whilst now it is approx 40k. That’s a lot of folk who have moved out to places like the Ribble Valley, the Preston to Chorley conurbation and further afield. The Asians are more than welcome to attend Ewood, by the way, and a percentage of them do. The point I’m making, which is relevant to season ticket sales, is that the further afield Blackburnians choose to live, the harder it is to entice them back to the town every other Saturday to watch Rovers. The club can rightly be applauded for the work they do within the Asian community but does Steve Waggot even know about, or recognise, the complexities within the town’s demographics, as highlighted above. Even more reason to have implemented early bird season ticket prices in line with those at Preston and Bolton.

Ashlah Bawnes Claret and Blue Army!! 😂

Quite agree and I’m as sure as I can be that they, JDT and GB, would go along with that scenario. It’s the outcome that I want to be honest.

Looking back to what Glen was saying a couple of weeks ago, the Venky’s model would be to keep him and let his contract run down, come what may. The difference now, is that we have Greg Broughton and a much more forward thinking head coach. Obviously, Greg and JDT will have sat down with Ben and discussed the various options. Yes, it will be difficult to keep hold of Ben if Premier League teams come knocking and I am sure if the decision is to sell now, we will wish him well and not stand in the way of his progression. From what I have seen of GB and JDT so far, I am more than happy to go along with whatever those two think will be for the betterment of the club, assuming they can get Venky’s singing from the same hymn sheet.

Quite right. Jack’s philosophy was ‘think big.’ Heart says 2-1 Rovers. Head says 2-1 Rovers.

PNE had 15,800 on today, so 1,500 more than our gate against QPR. Possibly a few more Hull fans there, than there were QPR fans at Ewood. Not much in it then, despite their encouraging season ticket sales. If we carry on the way we’ve started (early days, I know) our walk-ons will increase and I’ll wager we’ll finish with a higher average than them.

It mentions the girls training up at Blacksnape. Obviously a typo but, anyone who has played in the Darwen League, will realise that Blacksnape is actually 859 ft above sea level, and not 80 ft. (Just checked on the OS map). The only other pitches in Lancashire, of a similar height must be those at Trawden.

I’ll do anything for the cause John and, whilst I’ve no reason to doubt your excellent memory, that pie throwing episode has been erased from the memory banks. 😆 Must have had some liver in it, to waste it on that lot.

Probably. No self respecting Darrener would be seen within a load of Nori though as most terraced houses in Darwen are made from stone 🙂

A good old fashioned Accrington Nori will do. Younger fans on here, just Google it.

And the comedians tonight were…

We should be aiming for a scenario like that AND keeping Brereton. We were told that we had a healthy budget and from Glen’s discussions with the CEO, confirmation that we don’t necessarily have to sell Ben, so why would folk want to get rid of a 20 goal a season man at this level? Kaminski, the above defence, Travis and Buckley in midfield, Brereton and Gallagher our main attackers, Dack and the other fringe players, the youngsters coming through, together two or three loan signings and we have the basis of a very good squad. One that, with the new Head Coach and team, should be pushing at least for a play off spot. Aim high.

There seem to have been several different problems with the online system so far. I gave up trying to buy my Celtic tickets online and simply rang the ticket office and did it over the phone. They are quite helpful there, so probably easier to do the same mate.

They reckon 7,820 have been sold on the other site. No explanation or source, just the aforementioned figure.