Any 'risk' associated with Dunn returning to Ewood could be mitigated by the type of contract he would be offered. If DD is keen enough and the signing suited Sparky's plans, why not? As RotR puts it, <Got to trust Hughes' judgement though I suppose, he hasn't let us down yet.>

Great trip - prematch pubs full of Rovers fans paying vocal tribute to King Kenny! Speedie was magnificent... Seem to recall a massive inflatable crocodile bouncing around the open away terrace. Also, after the momentous victory, we were back in Blackburn having a pint in the Woodlands well before 9:00pm (I wasn't the driver of the nippy Ford Escort, I hasten to add)!

Get the prodigal one back to the Rovers for sure, a very useful acquisition and his 'injuryproneness' might make him a snip! As for those condemning his supposed party animal lifestyle and appreciation of pubs and niteklubs, it never did the likes of Lee Richardson, Andy Kennedy, Scott Sellars, Simon Garner and even Damien Duff any harm! (Also, he's never been fat, just big-boned!)

<Bob F had a blinding idea yeaterday. Make it £1 a pint in all areas of the ground.> This idea definitely has merit and would certainly improve the atmosphere in Ewood's 'active supporting zones' . That said, all the Riverside really needs is double Bovrils down to 20p.

McClarky It was on in Prague yesterday too, a reliable source informed me! Apparently there was a bit of Gooner-baiting done too. As I've said on here before, there should be a threatened fans boycott of the Blackburn pubs showing our home games on the dodgy satellite. Rather than reporting via the official channels, maybe somebody can have a quiet word with the landlords concerned ( ie tell 'em there pubs will be patronised more on matchdays if they stop or for the away BRFC fixtures they show)? Doubt very much if the free tickets incentive for the bar stewards would work either. That said, don't think naming and shaming on here now is a particularly good idea ( I don't find it uncomfortably hypocritical to take advantage of watching some Rovers away games on dodgy sat TV)

From Exiled Rover < Sometimes I just think we don't deserve Premiership football. > Why do I not deserve my team to be in the Prem just because you are a bit miffed that gates aren't at some theoretical level you deem appropriate for our current success? There was a fairly good home crowd on yesterday (seemed more kids than the Man U game with it being a 3pm kick off). However, how many Blackburn pubs were screening the game on their dodgy satellite again and how many potential Rovers fans chose to watch it on TV there rather than actually pay, attend and support? I'm not necessarily blaming them, I just think it is a choice that shouldn't be available (unless Ewood's home areas were full to capacity). Another bugbear I have is with those who keep decrying the Blackburn public - are we fussy where our success-seeking, glory-hunting fans who come down to Ewood actually live? Personally, I'm not bothered where the person who might fill the empty seat next to me hails from. Every floating fan attending Ewood's home stands is a potential diehard in the making. We have to be able to convert spectators into supporters and can most easily achieve this by allowing more choice of matchday experience for fans.

What about occasional airhorns/klaxon sounding instead (always used to help get the Blackburn End going when there was a lull in vocal support)? Maybe the drummers are being made a scapegoat here for the current phase of lazy supporting / more passive spectating? The Riverside Rumble (from the old stand upper tier's wooden boards with accompanying hoading-rapping) used to be used to the same effect but was more spontaneous. That said, the drummers do impose limitations on the repertoire and how chants start and develop eg why is 'Come On You Blues' no longer sung (a coincidence it died out with the rise of the drumming)? Perhaps it is the dilution effect of the support demographic behind the Blackburn End goal? Perhaps the relationship between fans 'with drink' and crowd atmosphere has not been fully researched ( at the Rovers v Newcastle VE Day fixture there was a huge number of home fans 'under the influence' and it figures top of everyones list of games for vocal support and atmosphere (OK, admittedly we had nigh on 30,000 on and were shortly to win the title!)). Interesting to see that BRFC are picking up on the Improving Matchday Experience agenda item that BRISA's committee have touched on briefly in their analysis on Attendance issues. Other than ticket cost (initiatives around which now appear almost exhausted), it is one area that the club could do a lot more to help in improving (as opposed to stifling)... Also instead of singing about footwear and stewards, how about getting back to basics (see sig below for a prime example)!!

Definitely rest the drummers for a while... They have helped diminish the frequency and effort fans put into clapping at Ewood....good play by Rovers players rarely commands much in the way of applause these days.

Fantastic game and atmosphere, always remember watching the TV highlights after the match (probably Granada) - there was a lad of twelve or so clinging onto the Blackburn End fence. As the camera panned past and went in close, you didn't need to be a lipreader to appreciate his ecstatic if foul-mouthed appreciation of Rovers getting back level with Newell's wondrous strike!

One of the earliest abusive chants from Rovers v Burnley games I recall was the suggestion that Steve Kindon's wife was rather promiscuous. Now the News of the World never got to the bottom of this allegation, nor the suggestion that the Welsh international Leighton James was a gay (or homosexual, in old money), or the truth behind whether Bob Lord, BFC's then chairman, was a sight to behold when he wore his butcher's hat back to front .....

Archibald Leitch just followed the obtuse angle of Nuttall Street, hence the cranked stand (thought he'd have told you that ).

Fantastic night and result - well done Bentley. Also, for all his clumsiness, we did win with Kuqi and not in spite of him! Anyone catch what the Darwen End were singing as Robbie was stretchered off? They certainly are sanctimonious, arrogant and hypocritical.

<Something has been puzzling me regarding this "Souness Out" campaign. On Saturday, why were our fans singing "We want Souness Out" - Surely the last thing we want is a team below us in the league getting a new manager, probably with more funds, and potentially pushing on and eventually climbing above us in the league - costing us financially as well as possibly a place in Europe.> ngreewo - Rovers travelling support were not simply singing 'Souness Out' up at St James.... I also heard (OK, chanted a few too!) from both sets of fans (quite a few Rovers fans afterwards acting as fifth columnists fomenting unrest amongst the natives): Souness in, Souness Out, Souness-shake-it-all-about, Taxi for Souness, Knighthood for Souness, Souness for Burnley, Souness for Sunderland, Souness for England, Souness for Scotland, Sack the board, One Fat Freddy, Shepherd Out etc etc

Always used to go in the Strawberry (incognito at first)...then again, the Gallowgate ain't the same these days!

SG194 You constantly rail on this forum against the Blackburn public for what you see as the current poor level of support... Are you doing anything constructive to get more people (from wherever) to fill up Ewood Park? Do you feel your constant berating has a beneficial effect on attendance or is it some form of catharsis for you personally ?

The report is great, hope it provides the basis not only for improvement in the number of fans attending Ewood Park but a better supporting experience and choice for those who already go.... One possible addition, especially after our recent Wigan JJB jaunt, is to foster the 'Fernhurst Factor' for away fans, especially with the apparent dip in numbers of travelling support nationally. For many supporters of other clubs (apart from Burnley), a trip to Ewood is said to be particularly enjoyed because as well as being reasonably priced they can have a few beers in a convivial atmosphere. Perhaps a 'Marquee-like' beer tent behind the Darwen End for big games would provide some competition for the Fernhurst pub and encourage away supporters to Ewood to return next season? Nowt wrong with a bit of Lancashire hospitality, off the pitch though.

QPR in the cup on Saturday - cheap tickets - how many people who were at Ewood tonight were made aware of that? Not many, I'm sure, especially if they didn't get a programme... As for the the support - respect to Pompey but completely disagree that tonight's game vindicates a drummer. Their two drummers and bell-ringer were on ultra rhythmic form but it is the clustering factor of a small away support that sustains the intensity seen tonight - keep your messageboard shame protestations to yourself and get your top off and bells out if it troubles you so much..... The thing for me is the naivety of our current support - like judo, you should use your enemy's strength against them as in days of yore - ie substitute <Pompey> for <Rovers> in the various chants. <Also fair play to the pompey fans after travelling all that way on a Monday night they didn't shut up all the way through the game even being 2-1 down. Put our fans to shame and thats why we need the drummer>

<Lovely guy. Could have been a great player. Ruined himself by stupidity. Got 3 years of wages for no return. > How many games has he played / goals has he scored since his accident in Rome? Defo more than none so the <no return> is nonsense... Time for him to move on but let's not stick the knife in any more than is necessary... (Legend is overstating things too....certainly a great player/ scored vital goals but keep the hype under control)

Should have posted this here - asked for at the club shop- no car minikits - <dunno when we'll get them or even if we stock them>

The ticket office are hardly pushing the cheap tickets for the QPR FA Cup tie....no obvious promotion for the small queue yesterday buying Carling Cup semifinal tickets. I'd half forgotten about who we'd even drawn in the FA Cup tie ( and so had the others in the queue !). Found out and got them too when I reached the counter.... On another note - at the 'club shop' - no car minikits - <dunno when we'll get them or even if we stock them>

http://middlesbrough.rivals.net/default.as...=2&stid=8399034 Check the link - Fly me to the Moon praises the Rovers following at the Riverside last night (even if Wez let the side down - see ejected thread!)

My attempt to hijack the mundane soft drinks thread failed...there hasn't been enough discussion on here about proper drink, especially with the festive season upon us... A few question/observations... The Thwaites draught bitter (not the Smooth or Bomber) in the West View on Revidge is on excellent form (for any potential Rev runners) ... Where can you find out what particular pubs opening hours are? Which regular Blackburn pub serves the latest (ie into the small hours) or earliest (how close are we to being able to sup around the clock?) Returning victorious from last night's Boro game, I was really tempted to seek out draught ale but wasn't sure what options were available... Why do people choose smooth, cream-flow, cold keg and wee lager over real ale (I'm not a Camra beardie, I just can't understand it, although limited consumer options and marketing has got to be a factor ) Why did Blackburn council (in conjunction with Thwaites) never market itself and its pubs as Beer Town? With Matthew Brown / Lion , Duttons / Whitbread and Thwaites and newcomers like 3Bs and BBC it would have been better than going for William Woodruff or Jessica Lofthouse country (actually, they haven't really capitalised on associated famous authors either). Fell free to post your drink related Q / A s here

EIT I think you are making your point very lucidly and those involved in the BRISA committee or BRISA activists will have to continue to make a real effort to be inclusive and open, especially now they are endorsing the priorities of JW and TF. They have no real way of making themselves heard or being readily represented by BRISA but surely regularly attracting the 'fairweather fan' is our best hope of improving attendances at Ewod Park?

Anybody know how many pubs in Blackburn and its immediate environs showed the game against Charlton live yesterday? I know for a fact a few did. I’m not trying to out them here, just interested in estimates on numbers. Perhaps those that did put up a few trays of free sandwiches or sausage and chips at halftime for those who braved the wet weather to get to their local or nearest pub screening live footie? Now I’m not necessarily knocking those who took this option and who couldn’t make it to Ewood Park for domestic, travel or financial reasons but this has surely got to be a major factor in deterring the less committed Rovers fan from actually going to the game. Also, those fans that have previously enjoyed a fair portion of the match with a pie and a few pints standing in the smokey concourses below the Ewood stands may be starting to do the same (for free) in nearby pubs. I also understand that some landlords cannot afford not to take advantage of this as a means of getting punters spending money in their establishments. However do others on here think that this is a particular problem (over and above the Sky saturation coverage of live football anyway)? If this is knocking x hundred (or even x thousand?) off the Ewood gate, is there not something we could do about it? How about a BRISA-led Rovers fans boycott threat to pubs that show live non-Sky home games or offering to patronise pre and post home match those that could but don’t. Perhaps the pubs that got on board could even help BRFC publicise their ‘half season’ season tickets – stick a poster of Jack Walker in General Kitchener style pose on their TV screens on home-game Saturday afternoons! I know it is slightly hypocritical but I have no problem with Rovers away games being shown on ‘dodgy satellite’ (and regularly take advantage). I feel if the club or the authorities decide to act on these match screenings locally, which they may at any time, it will have to be for all games and the more casual fan (although a season ticket holder, I’m including myself in that) will miss out. That said, some might justifiably say that would be no bad thing and might give a boost to away travel numbers!

I was in the Stadio delle Alpi for the 1990 semi-final...apart from interest when there were Rovers players involved in the England set-up, my national team have become increasingly irrelevant (the Sven and hideous-player factor probably)