Don't agree with that at all ossy.

Name me another "town" a comparable size to Blackburn with better attendances.

Solidness, solidity - whats the difference

But yeah, I agree. Someone who can partner Amo, who isnt actually one of the few people in the country who is slower than him, like Craig Short.

I'd rather see Matteo and Short.

Good signing on a free, at the £1.5m quoted in the National press it would have been overpriced given Leeds situation, his age and injury record.

And the mention that nothing official has been heard from Celtic concerning the Andrew Cole rumour made me wonder if there had been 'unoffical' contact...........

Sounds as though the club are hoping there will be official contact soon.

Every time Souness is quoted regarding the strikers he praises Dickov to the heavens and pointedly avoids making any reference to Cole.

I'm afraid I can only see one outcome.

Show us the quotes.

Oh you can't - it's another bee in the Revidge bonnet.

There was the one LET article the day we signed Dickov and suddenly you've turned it into a vendetta by the entire management structure at Rovers against Andy Cole.

Which would be completely understandable given the Lazy One's pick-and-choose attitude as to when he wants to perform rather than moan at his colleagues or test the hips with his hands, or jet off to Dubai on the back of a stupid red card, but it's not happening so don't invent things to suit your increasingly ridiculous agenda.

Been on the sherbets by any chance?

We'll wait and see who's wrong then.

And the mention that nothing official has been heard from Celtic concerning the Andrew Cole rumour made me wonder if there had been 'unoffical' contact...........

Sounds as though the club are hoping there will be official contact soon.

Every time Souness is quoted regarding the strikers he praises Dickov to the heavens and pointedly avoids making any reference to Cole.

I'm afraid I can only see one outcome.

On Saturday night I chatted with 3 ex ST holders - had six between them - about why they are no longer ST holders. The conversation broadened to Rugby League ( a sport I know little about), each had stopped watching Wigan following the advent of the summer game. The view regardng Rovers from these casual rather than die-hard fans is:

1. The players earn too much money

2. The bulk of the players are mercenary

3. None of the players have a real interest in the club or fans and fail to understand the supporters perspective. The players are viewed as distant from the support

4. Even local players, Dunn was cited as the example, ultimatley are swayed by money and ambition.

5. The players know if they fail in their job they can simply walk away and pick up a fat signing on fee at another club. In no other walk of life does this occur.

6. There should be a salary cap with performance related bonuses introduced

Each of these people has Sky, none mentioned the ease of getting a match day ticket or that it was simpler to watch on Sky. The ST cost was not an issue nor, surprisingly, was last season. Each of these potential ST holders took children, have good incomes and often took wives along as well.

In the instance of RL, the major point was that this is a winter sport and that in the summer there are many other alternative activities. RL is seen as a winter sport, the mud, blood and cold all being part of the event. What else can you do on a wet January Sunday was the question?

My point, and I do follow Revidge's arguement on finance, is the Sky money has created the financial problem clubs like ours face. It is the Sky money that funds multi-millionaires who know they can under-perform, walk away and pick up another signing on fee. The bulk of Sky money ends up in the pockets of those with the least interest in the club. This cannot be right.

The more football appears on TV and the more reliant on TV money the game becomes the weaker the clubs position. Look at the transfer market, big fees are becoming a thing of the past as clubs know that money must be retained for the player's salary. In another thread it's suggested JFH is a bargain on a free beacuse all the Rovers have to do is find his salary

Yes, it's a good thing we can see more of the Rovers away from home.......but all good things must come to an end.

Excellent post as usual Paul but does this not tend to suggest that the problem lies with the clubs and chairmen themselves and not Sky?

Not one of your mates has cited Sky as a reason for not going to games more the players commitment and attitudes.

Sky simply pays the money to the clubs. No-one forces them to pay out nearly all that dosh in players wages.

Alan Sugar isn't usually someone I have much time for but he was correct when he called this "the prune juice effect". i.e. all the Sky money completely bypasses the clubs and ends up straight in the players wallets.

Personally I like watching as much Premiership football as possible on Sky.

Neither do I mind if our weekend games kick off at 12.30, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00 or 5.35 etc.

If the time came (and I wouldn't be that surprised to see it) when we were kicking off against ManUre at 1a.m. on a Thursday morning to satisfy a huge far eastern TV audience I think you could then say that things had gone too far.

I'm not too sure but I thought we get about 250 grand for each Sky appearance, not too sure about PPV.

I think it's £600k - £700k for a "normal" Sky appearance and £200 - £300k for a PPV.

So to put it in perspective just one "normal" Sky appearance equates to the income from 1500 season ticket holders. Which is why it's so important for a Club like Rovers size. One or two extra TV games make a huge difference.

Usually in complete agreement with you on everything Paul but don't agree at all on this.

Really don't see why people are complaining about Sky - in the post Jack era with the Trust seemingly having firmly zipped their wallet up for the time being, the TV and place money is the only thing which allows us to compete on such relatively favourable terms.

As far as the televised highlights are concerned, again I think this is a good thing for us. If the product at Ewood is actually any good it will potentially encourage a far wider audience than would otherwise have been the case to come along. And we have the unique advantage of being just about the only side who can accomodate new fans.

As for the match times, I know that it is occasionally difficult when faced with a long away trip, but does it really matter whether a game at Ewood kicks off at 12.45p.m. or 3p.m. or 5.35p.m. on a Saturday?. Doesn't to me. As long as you know the kick off time well in advance you can plan your day and family arrangements accordingly. I'm sure a lot of people complaining use the same argument in reverse criticising the Riversiders who leave early - (What do they do with that extra 15 minutes etc?.)

Bottom line is we can gladly take the Sky money and kick off as and when required. Or don't and scrap around in the lower leagues. Not even an issue for me.

According to today's LET sales are not as bad as initially feared.

Already broken through the 10,000 barrier which is slightly down on the same stage last year. Club hoping for a "late surge." People who haven't so far renewed being targeted.

There is also a picture of new skipper Bazza holding up the new season ticket cards. They're in blue and white halves with the Club crest and look very snappy.

Right, given the date change, is anyone flying out from Blackpool Saturday lunchtime returning Sunday morning?

I know a few ST holders who have not renewed so they could go to less home games and afford to go to more away games.

Those people are sadly misguided IMO. What state would the club be in if everyone followed that example?

Anyway lets not forget that at the beginning of last season Flitty was only offered a one year contract but he dug his heels in and in the end got a two year deal,

Am I alone in thinking he was originally offered a two year deal which he turned down and the club caved in and offered him a four year deal which now has three years left to run?

On checking the LET archive I was one year too long and tnr one year too short.

He was originally offered a 12 month extension on top of the 12 months his original contract then had to run.

He declined and was given a three year contract running until 2006.

With the benefit of hindsight not a particularly good deal for the club in light of his performances last season.

Anyway lets not forget that at the beginning of last season Flitty was only offered a one year contract but he dug his heels in and in the end got a two year deal,

Am I alone in thinking he was originally offered a two year deal which he turned down and the club caved in and offered him a four year deal which now has three years left to run?

After the team's inability to get motivated for so many home games through the middle of last season you have to look to the captain as well as the manager & the bench.

Its nothing to do with motivation - we were just crap!

...........Because much of the time we weren't sufficiently motivated IMO.

There seems to be quite a lot of varying guesses over how many ST holders we have/have had.

2 seasons ago we managed 16,000 which historically I think was one of our best ever figures. The best ever was I think a tad short of 20,000 the close season after we won the Championship.

That 16,000 figure dropped by 1500 overall 12 months ago. That actually consisted of 2500 people dropping off but encouragingly1000 new uptakes as well.

I think anything anywhere near that 14,500 figure will be a major achievement given the season we had but to their credit I must say the marketing department are pulling out all the stops with their advertising campaign, at long last extremely prominent in the LET, and a 200,000 leaflet drop in Blackburn and the surrounding areas. (One dropped through my door 2 days ago.)

I know some people when they’re kid can’t go they take a mate. I know someone who’s said that they’ve used the child’s season ticket and said that the child has used his season ticket and already gone through.

hmmmmmmmm.....interesting (cletus little brain starts to tick)

I couldn`t....could i?

Possibly in seasons gone by, but probably not this season with the new credit card type season ticket.

All the turnstyle steward has to do is to look at what colour light flashes up on the turnstyle to ascertain what grade of card has been fed in.

All you would be fraudsters have been warned!

But then again, I've always done my best writing whilst drunk. That's what 4 years at Uni teaches you.

Ditto.

Nothing like getting in at 2a.m after a night on the lash and starting an essay to be handed in for 9a.m.

Or I thought so anyway. Many will probably disagree!

Smiffy, as you probably know, that guide dog picture was one of a few examples of works by internet wags published in the Sun today.

I liked one picture of Romeo on Posh's knee underneath the caption

"Romeo, dad can only score behind our backs...."

Cant see it happening but the poor performers notably James, Beckham, Owen and Heskey should be dropped forthwith and told that only improved personal performances will allow them to get their place back.

Extremely good call.

Can't see it happening as long as Sven is in charge though.

I am fascinated by Johnny H's academic explanation. Must just be me then.

Simple as that. Patriotism doesn't even come into it.

You may mock my "academic response" to your point. I made my point of view known and I make no apologies for my tone. If your an academic basher that's your bag. I however stand by my completely valid view point and it seems to be mirrored by many on this site.

I have no issue with you and your views but I don't expect to be dismissed merely on the fact that many of my points are based in academia rather than a Blackburn lad point of view. I am from Blackburn, I love my team and my country yet you dismiss my argument because I balance my argument with what I've learnt outside b'burn town centre.

And to completely counteract your point, PATRIOTISM has everything to do with it. Please see my earlier post. And I think that I've earnt enough respect not to be patronised like that. I look forward to a reasonable,valid debate in the future.

With respect

JonnyH

PS: I apologise my dismissive sentence of "pointless thread", although I stand by my balanced support theory and my previous posts. It was wrong however to dismiss an argument. (Happy Don? )

What made you think I was mocking your post?

When I said I was "fascinated" by your post I was trying to be complimentary. I said it was an "academic" one as a matter of fact rather than intending it to be in a derogatory way. I thought it was an excellent explanation which answered my original question extremely well.

P.S. I have been to University and ventured outside B/Burn town centre in the dim and distant past myself you know.

I repeat, it must just me be who's at fault here as jim seems to think. I got togged up in a couple of new England tops to watch the games and wanted them to win as much as the next person.

What I couldn't do would be to do the same to watch an England team in a SPORT I DON'T LIKE.

That's why I was wondering originally if all these previous football indifferents must really have some latent interest in the sport which could be tapped to rovers benefit - as DB suggests

Anyone thinking I am suggesting people should be more reserved for England, or that if you support England more you're not as good a Roveers fan etc is entirely missing the point. What everyone does is entirely up to them.

I was merely observing the level to which people seem to have got frothed up compared to club football.

I am fascinated by Johnny H's academic explanation. Must just be me then.

Nothing would possess me to purchase an England rugby shirt, and sit in the pub watching the rugby world cup because I DON'T LIKE RUGBY. All power to those that do though.

Simple as that. Patriotism doesn't even come into it.

Just because there are more people watching England in pubs does not mean that the interest in football has increased. It is the mentality of the nation, the media driven euphoria of nationalistic identity embodied in a sporting event.

I bet that if you watch an England friendly in a pub there would not be the same number of people by a long way. People go to watch the games in the pub to join in with the atmosphere of the competition and International tournbaments provide that atmosphere.

It is not a reflection on the trend of football's popularity in the area. It is merely a measure of the scope to which people affected by the atmosphere of the tournament.

I remember watching the curling final in the Winter Olympics. I never thought of myself as a Rhona Martin fan. It was a social fad and nothing more. Exactly like what you describe seeing in the pub, though on a much larger scale.

That's me told.

A+

Greetings orcan,

I agree with you, things are looking up for england. So they should with a forward line of Owen and Rooney.

How did this season go for Genscher? Hope you're looking after that Rovers shirt!

Good move.

Hopefully we see a few less of those lacklustre performances in "low key" games we 've suffered at Ewood over the last 2 seasons.

For all of these people that don't care about England, but care passionately about Rovers, let's have a hypothetical question.

Let's say England win Germany 06, how will you react? Personally, I think I'd probably drink myself to death, and generally go bonkers. Will you lot be joining in, or will you be sat at home with a sixpack droning on about how "winning a World Cup is alright, but it doesn't compare to Rovers beating Bolton on a wet Wednesday in November"?

Well as you rightly say you wouldn't be overly bothered aout rovers as you've only been to one game in the last five years.