“If you read the article”... bud, I literally posted the thing. Did you even read my post? When a manufacturer or distributor feels they need to acknowledge the issue in that way then it has to be a cause for concern. Even if they are the best/safest. All this does is prevent legal action being taken in future. You knew the risks and used the product anyway. If vaping was a means to quit smoking I’d agree that it would be a service but it isn’t, that’s just one of the markets. There certainly doesn’t need to be the range of flavours offered, particularly sweet shop type ones, and they DEFINITELY shouldn’t be advertising these at cinemas before films aimed at children. There are kids who have never smoked tobacco in their lives who are vaping.

That and his very public spat with Elliott Bennett.

Thanks Mark. So hard to get excited about anything football related at the moment.

Whether you think a vape product, for which we haven’t yet seen the long term health effects (although some early research suggests it isn’t good to breathe in certain chemicals used in their manufacture*) is an good club partner, is subjective at the moment. Personally I think it is as bad as having tobacco products (currently banned) and I agree betting isn’t right either - the idea that kids won’t be indoctrinated into gambling because the junior shirts don’t have the logo is absurd. Anything endorsed by childhood heroes will sell to kids. Other than that this particular sponsor has been a source of embarrassment since the tacky ads went up at Ewood. “What the fucking hell is that” was the preferred chant of the away fans who spotted it early on. It’s not even as though the money they put in makes a huge difference (see our debt and current struggles) so as to ignore any moral arguments. However, I don’t expect there is a queue of alternatives though so we are being paid by the piper! * I’m sure you already know but some vape products contain Diacetyl, a chemical that researchers have linked to popcorn lung. You know it’s serious when disclaimers are given in the form of advice so that ‘you know the risks’. Don’t take my word for it though, make your mind up: https://www.totallywicked-eliquid.co.uk/vaped/is-diacetyl-in-eliquid/

Elliott Bennett front and centre. Things aren’t going to improve this season are they? Same old problems. Plus a few new problems.

Everything a team does and doesn’t do determines how they will do this season. I’m less worried (but still worried) about our pre-season warm up schedule than I am about our threadbare squad. Team spirit is going to be vital this season - particularly as it’s very likely to be at the wrong end of the table. The loss of Graham and the dynamic he and Dack add to the set up needs to be replaced. If Arma goes I can see optimism being very low going into September. A goalkeeper needs to be signed this week so that we can start thinking about other weaknesses in the first XI, never mind the squad. The idea that we can just throw Fisher in for friendlies and see how he gets on is a recipe for disaster. There should have been some succession planning in this area. If our reserve options weren’t close then Raya should never have been allowed to leave. If it was about the cash it should have been Dack.

Is there a sweep-stake going yet on who will be first to say that Dack is like a new signing...?

Seems to be a ‘China thing’ rather than a ‘Rovers thing’

If you had a time machine and could travel back in time to watch just one match live (even if for a second time), which would it be and why?

Who plays (who is recruited, trained and selected) affects the results in matches.

I think that’s what they call putting the cart before the horse.

Can you explain that again?

Given the apparent precarious nature of our finances, losing the final year of the 10bet sponsorship would be a huge blow. But even so, a club with fans onside could generate the income - even if through sponsorship of local businesses - to see us through a bad year. Maybe WW / WEC Group will reach into their pockets to help out again?

The question was “why are they here?” with an implied still. I agree that they had some original plans which included marketing. Presumably the bright lights of the PL was also a draw. All they had to do was listen to John Williams (who had successfully steered the club for over a decade) instead of SEM (who had worked their way into the Raos affections after 10 minutes: like a family member) and they would have had their wish. In a parallel universe, home and away fans alike are raving about the Venkys Express outlets at the “Venkys Ewood Park” concourse during half time at a Europa League match. “Best chicken in Europe”. As it is I wouldn’t put their logo on my wheely bin.

Logic says (yes, I know!) that it’s because it is in their interest to do so. Kudos? None. Not at this stage - there could have been but that ship sailed long ago. Financial? This means either they make money elsewhere by showing losses against Rovers. This would be my guess. Cultural? Possibly, at first. Saving face and all that. ‘We are so rich we can stomach the losses’ might impress elsewhere. Not the worst option? In other words there could be something bad which the accounts might show if dug into in any detail. Are the any statutes of limitations on how long a business has to keep records before they can be destroyed?

All very familiar... ⬆️ Mowbray, Brereton, Gallagher ⬆️ Williams, Finn, Goodman, Matthewman, Silk, Desai

Lol (Sorry)

To be fair mate, I’ve regularly seen K-Hod ask people to report stuff via the button. It’s rare I do because I think the forums should mod themselves to an extent. It’s funny you say that posters are a big part of the site. I’ve said it many times. We are the bulk of the content creators - good or bad - but we are only part of “brfcs.com / forums”. The site has other content and site hits do include other parts of the site. Anywho, you can tell what time if the year it is just by the way the conversation goes from football to transfer (hope) to frustrations! Seems to be happening a lot more under Mowbray.

@Blue blood that takes research and opinion to new levels! There's a job waiting for you at Top Trumps!

Mowbray has made clear his plan to focus pre-season on friendlies, rather than fitness, believing the work his players put in during lockdown, and after the re-start, will stand them in good stead. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18648940.need-know-rovers-plans-2020-21-season/ Hard not to be anything but bemused by this. Friendlies are even more pointless this pre-season than ever. Gaping holes in the squad. The team (and therefore formation) in these games will be (I’m very worried if not) hugely different by the end of the window than now. No fans. Results irrelevant. Does Mowbray really think our fitness levels are where they should be? So much so this can be de-prioritised?

What is happening to Wigan, nearly happened to Bolton and happened to Bury is exactly why we need to keep the Rovers Trust going. The big fear is of course elimination from the EFL but the bigger fear is not even being able to start again in non-league. Thanks again Venkys.

It’s like we now have the owners we have because of the mistakes, arrogance and general uselessness of the previous owners, and we need to pull together to make the best of it. Except the current owners are still the previous owners! As a result there is no cathartic rebuilding, no Phoenix from the flames, no new dawn, no fresh start. At a club level, and ignoring the turnover of players, it’s like a predator guarding the carcass of it’s erstwhile prey. Fans I speak to who play the “Venkys are keeping us afloat” card are not only stating the bleeding obvious and ignoring all of the reasons why in their pious faux-gratitude but are clinging to the “badly advised” rhetoric to pretend (as much to themselves as anyone else) that we are under some kind of new regime who pay the bills (aka add to the debt) and not the one that got us here.

Not exactly reassuring words there.

Good post. Lambert is vilified by Rovers fans but left because he wanted assurances from Venkys that didn’t materialise, and because his hands were tied behind his back on the playing front. He had every right to expect the Rhodes money to be reinvested and it wasn’t. I’m more suspicious of managers who are happy working under these conditions than the guy who wouldn’t. Shame really because Lambert and his team was the most optimism we’ve had in 10 years. And I include the temporary sense of momentum after promotion from the third tier, which was the only thing extinguished quicker.

What odds there was no sell on fee or it has already been spent/mortgaged?