I live a dozen or so miles south of Warrington. The M6 southbound is always snarled up in the mornings from the M62 approaches to Thelwall Viaduct and beyond. It’s the opposite, late afternoon onwards, when travelling north. You also have to factor in the smart motorway work on the M6 inbetween Wigan and the M62. In short, it’s a fecking nightmare and, if you have to use the M6, the earlier the better.

Hmmm…😂

Open them legs! 😆

Some of what you say, I agree with, in particular the wages to turnover ratio. In your hypothetical situation, though, the Trust could also look to replacing Waggott and employing a more competent CEO with a remit to growing the fan base and, most importantly, the number of season ticket holders. In short, to increase revenues. It wouldn’t just be getting the wages down to a more manageable level. Clubs of a general similar size to us like Bolton, Wigan and Blackpool have all recently been close to folding but have managed to find new owners. Blackpool and Wigan have also managed to come up from League 1 and Bolton will no doubt achieve that feat within the next few seasons. It can be done and I would certainly take a relegation if it meant getting rid of Venky’s. One step back to take two steps forward. Nothing will change whilst they remain in charge.

Your best bet is the first large car park you come to on Stadium Way (off Scot Lane) but leave a few minutes before the end of the game. It’s a ball ache trying to get off any of the car parks there, if you walk back to them with every one else and end up in the ‘free for all.’

Just seen that you’ve put the above link on the Adam Wharton thread, Tony. 🙂

Saw on Twitter, a collage of Adam Wharton from the Blackpool game. An absolute joy to watch and can’t believe the lad is only 17 years old. We have a real asset on our hands here. Can’t do the link but it’s on this Twitter account. @freflchampvids

The Giakoumakis story is a non event really, just a reporter saying the player has been ‘scouted’ by Premier League and Championship clubs since the turn of the year. No links and nothing concrete. He was signed from the Dutch league in September last, for £2.1m, rising to £2.5m based upon appearances. They are chatting about Giakoumakis on one of the Celtic forums, nothing relating to the above story, just speculating about the possibility of him becoming cheesed off if he continues to be used sparingly. As I mentioned earlier, he’ll get more game time shortly when the Champions League and domestic cup games start coming thick and fast. He seems happy at Celtic and has a good relationship with the manager there. I don’t think Rovers would be able to better his wages and wouldn’t be able to bid anywhere near what Celtic may see as tempting to let him go. Non starter.

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.