Unbeleivable. I've never read a bigger load of toss. Get out of here.

Missing two penalties is simpy not acceptable at this level. However, what I find even more shocking is the complete over reaction to the defeat on here - we've lost one game for gods sake !

Not Sure, but I remember I used to pay £5 cash to go onto the Blackburn End around 88/89 and was under 16 then.

Could be good for the pure comedy factor

This really is fantastic on behalf of the club. For me, the chips are well and truly down now - with the ball firmly in the court of the supporters. The club are bending over backwards to help boost the gates, and it is now time for all those stay away fans to do their bit by taking the bait. If this doesn't work, we may as well just give up now and resign ourselves to playing in front of 17K week in week out. Come on people, do you bit !

Maybe, if it was anywhere other than Newcastle United. For me the reputation they have as an employer (particular when it comes to managers) would certainly put me off.

Still got my Wembley Play Off final 91-92 Shirt - made by the classic sports wear company Ribero I beleive , thing is its a bit on the tight side now so I could let them have it I suppose Remember that at school, there was always the little fat kid hiding from the ball in the corner trying to cover himself up, oh, mmm that was me wasn't it

There's quite a few I've enjoyed watching over the last 20 years or so: Scott Sellars - Fantastic on his day, could single handedly destroy teams and very skillfull. Anyone remember the slot on Kick Off when he landed the ball on a 50p from 50 yards or something. Simon Garner - For obvious reasons - the 30 yarder he scored in a 5-0 destruction of Barnsley still sticks in my mind. Steve Archibald - Gave the club a lift and a certain buzz around the place from what I remember. David Speedie - Excluding the Champsionship season the 91 - 92 season we got promoted has to be my favourite. Speedie was lethal that season. Travelled down to Plymouth on the last day on a dodgy Aspdens coach which got a puncture on route. Still worth it though to Speedie stick three away. Alan Shearer - Enough said. The two goals on his debut at palace showed what was to come. Stuart Ripley - Old style winger who always got his cross in. Paul Warhurst - Probably a strange inclusion, but for me a player who had huge ability and potential that was never really fullfilled. On his day again great to watch. If it wasn't for injury and being lazy could have been great. Still really enjoyed wathcing him play though. Batty - Joined rovers and showed he wasn't just a battling midfielder. Chris Sutton - In particular after Shearer had left. Lars Bohinen - Brought some much needed skill and flair to our team. Duff - Probably the greatest player the acadamey has produced. Matt Jansen - Fantastic spell for us and totally comitted to the club. I could go on with more but I better do some work !

Agree totally, can't see that happening. Think that providing Hughes continues to get the full backing of the board to assist with his ambition the only serious threat would Man Utd. With regards to our start Longsider, we started very slowly but we're now into our stride. A few people on here were panicking after the first few games but as I said its better to start slowly and build into rythm rather than go out of traps like a greyhound. Clubs that do that tend to falter towards Xmas, just hope the same doesn't happen to you. Must say, it does make a change to check the results and see that you've won though! How do you see your position, do you believe you can sustain it?

Sorry guys, but the facts are that we had a great season last year, we're through to the group stages for the UEFA Cup, we have won four games on the bounce, we are playing attractive attacking football at the highest level and we have some great players. THAT SHOULD MARKET THE CLUB TO SUPPORTERS ON ITS OWN. No need for marketing campaigns. For me as a supporter our attendances are becomming worrying, so god knows what the board and Walker Trust must be thinking. I don't honestly think that the problem lies with the club - its down to the supporters who continue to choose, for whatever reason, not to attend Ewood. The club can do little else to increase the gates other than giving away tickets for free (and I'm honestly sure that if we did that some people would still not attend!). The gate against Salzburg was just short of 19K, made up of 13K season ticket holders and 5.5K paying spectators. Prices for this game were £15 for adults and £5 for juiors - so for me this scheme attracted a decent gate for this game, bearing in mind it was on TV. Rovers have allways struggled with gates in the cup matches for years (even in the Dalglish era). The very worrying trend is that this is now breeding into the prem fixtures as well. Take the Wigan game, a local derby played on a Sunday afternoon and not on TV. A gate of 17.8k is frankly pathetic. I would estimate that there were probably 2.5k fans missing from the previous game against Salzburg. Now I have no doubt that the reason behind this was probably the difference in price. But now look at this from the clubs point of view, if slashing ticket prices is only going to add 2.5k onto the gate it is simply not worth doing. The revenue generated from a 16.5K home attendance paying full price will be greater than a 18.5k home attendance paying reduced prices, so whats the point. What needs to happen (and I can't honestly ever see it) is for the club to reduce the pricing and the supporters respond. A home turnout of 23-25k should be what we get when prices are reduced, and then and only then will the club consider a long term reduced pricing strategy. It is about time the Blackburn public showed some committment to the club by attending Ewood.

With ticket sales standing at £17K last night, I expect that this will be roughly the gate, todays ticket sales simply making up for those ST holders who don't attend. 2-1 Rovers.

That was also the target of my post. I have no issue at all with any person who cannot afford to go to watch Rovers. If you haven't got the cash you can't go, simple as that. I'm sure there are many people who would love to go to Ewood on a regular basis but just can't afford it. For me, that only serves to make the "whinge brigade" out there even more frustrating, becuase the group of people I directed my post at can afford to go to watch Rovers and choose not to. That is fine, it's their decision and nothing to do with anybody else, if you don't want to go, you don't go. If they would say that then I'd have no problem, but its the fact that they bleat on continuously about how they love Rovers etc etc and just can't afford to go to watch them. As I said before, resolve the pricing issue and they'll simply find another reason not to go. To sum my view up: (1). If you can't afford to go then you can't afford to go, so you don't. These people were not the target of my post. (2). If you work shifts, look after children or are otherwise engaged when matches are on, then its a simple fact that you can't go. Much as you probably would like to. Again not what my post was directed at. (3). If you don't want go, then bloody well say you can't be arsed to go, don't big yourself up as a massive Rovers fan who cant afford to watch the club they "love". Sorry, but there are large number of these people out there - and I know quite a few personally. They won't pay £30-£40 to go down to Ewood, but whilst the game is on they'll sit in the pub and spend the same amount of money on drinks and cigerettes. This is just my view, and is not directed at anybody individually or on this board. For me, if people get rattled by his view then they maybe fall into this category and don't like it. Otherwise they'd not find the comments offensive. :ph34r:

This will rumble on and on. I posted a while back, stating that although the so called Rovers fans who don't attend Ewood on a regular basis will lead you to believe it's because of the pricing - for the majority it simply isn't. Yes, football is an expensive event to attend these days, but the people we are dealing with here would be unlikeley to attend Ewood on a regular basis unless you give them a free ticket, free taxi to and from the ground and complimentary food and drink at the ground, and even then you'd be lucky to get some of them to go more than once. The fact is they sit in the pub (drinking beer and spending money) on a saturday afternoon bleating on about how they are a big rovers fan but just can't afford to go. Resolve the pricing issue and they'll simply come up with another reason not to go. Fact is, they just don't want to. This theory has been pretty much proved, the club offers certain games at £10 a ticket for example, and where are these people then - you guessed it, not at Ewood! This post is not directed at those people who genuineley can't afford to go to watch rovers, so please don't take offence. It is directed at those whinging so called rovers fans who could afford to go to a handful of games but don't. If we really want a top six premiership club in Blackburn I think that it is about time the town showed it, by getting behind the club and attending matches. Rant over, sorry....... :ph34r:

That made me chuckle Bob. They hadn't seen the game and said he had a terrible game. They didn't see it so they must be right, and the reporter who was at the game wrong

Fully agree with you Hughesy - compare Emertons performance last night to that of Lucas at Pompey - different class. I for one, will be very dissapointed if Hughes brings Neil back in for Emerton after the way he played last night.

Granted, things need to improve, but come on we're only two games in. If you'd posted that comment after six or seven I would agree. For me I saw enough last night to show, with a bit of luck and hard work we can have another good season. We played reasonably well for long periods, just tailed off towards the end. Remember, we still have Nelsen, Ooijer and Tugay missing (sorry but I'm not incuding Neil in the list of absent players - still haven't forgiven him for Saturday). Also we are starting the season with a completely new strike partnership - this will get stronger as the game mount up. The only slight concern for me is that with Chelsea at the weekend we could end up three games in with only a point (especially after seeing Jose's comments after their defeat). But I really think some people on here are going overboard (why am I not surprised by that). We are far better starting slowly and building into a rythm and producing a decent run. No point in coming out of the traps like a greyhound and then wilting like a dead flower mid season. We'll get things right - I'm pretty confident of that.

Remember neither Zurab or Nelson were playing yesterday - the defending should improve ten fold when they return. Neil and Todd as a central defensive pairing is not good enough at this level - just think ourselves lucky its not our first choice central defence or we really would be in trouble !

Not for me. Zurab and Nelsen every time. Todd maybe able to pass the ball, but his prime reason for being in the team is to defend - which for me both Nelsen and Zurab do a lot better.

Why am I not surprised that when I log onto here the reaction is as though we're half way through the season, rock bottom and without a win. Yesterday's performance was a shambles, no doubt about it. We were very poor, but one thing we must remember we were without both of our first choice centre backs, and no matter what anybody says about strength in depth etc etc that is a major blow for any side. To lose one, we should be able to deal with, but two will (and did) cause a major problem. When was the last time the Axe and Todd played together at this level ? Also, Neil was awful and I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that I think until he sorts his future out he should not be in the side - he doesn't look interested and his inclusion is only going to cause unrest amongst other players who are committed to the cause (supposed to be anyway!). At least he'll be out whilst he's suspended. Everyone has the right to feel dissapointed after that performance and making the long journey, but lets not over react, give it a few games before you all blow you stack !

Maybe we need to send the drummer to Music Lessons, at least if he beats in time it might not sound as bad

Agree with you. The problem does not lie with Rovers, it is football in general that is bloody expensive. Compared to what you have to pay to watch most other clubs Rovers pricing is competetive. Remember we are the 6th best team in England based on last years performance. To see that level of football costs money, and for the club to retain that status costs money. I think the question of ambition lies with the people of Blackburn, not the club. The club are very ambitous but I don't think this is matched by the town. Do we want a top 6 prem team or not ?

Whilst it can be annoying if they are sat near you, I personally think the atmosphere would be worse without them.

Very difficult one this. People used to always say sureley we'd be better off having 25000 at £20 per ticket than 17000 at £30 per ticket for example. Ticket revenue is roughly the same for both, but taking into account the far better atmoshphere for a start, increased merchandising and food / drink sales due to the extra people inside the stadium it would sureley be better to price tickets at £20. HOWEVER, this for what ever reason does not seem to suit the Blackburn public, its been proved time and time again that ticket prices have relativley little impact on the attendance. Unless of course we do somehting silly like putting price at £5 then people will flood in. Although we all seem to moan about prices, when the club do offer reduced pricing the public of blackburn don't take it up. Can't blame the club really for getting fed up with reducing prices for no reward. The so called floating fans who may or may not decide to go to Ewood will sit in the pub bleating on about prices and why they're not going and can't afford to pay that, I gaurantee you that if the game the following week is £5 he / she will still be sat in the pub rather than at Ewood, this time bleating on about either the price of beer in the ground and the parking problems for their reason for not going. Most people on this board have one thing in common - they love Rovers, and yes we may moan about prices but most of us will still go 'cos we support Blackburn. The problem lies with the thousands of so called Rovers fans who don't go to Ewood because, although they won't admit it they dont bloody want to go!, they basically expect something for nothing and will give one reason after another for not attending. Sort the prices out and they'll simply move onto another reason for not going. I think that making games like Everton A+ is bang out of order though, and needs to be looked at ASAP by the club, and I understand that there are people who support rovers and don't go to Ewood for good reason and also many people who genuineley cannot afford to go, this post is not directed at you so please don't take offence. If we want a top 4 side for Blackburn we must do our bit. Simple. :ph34r:

Its on Teamtalk as well now. Signed a four year deal. Well done to all at the club, an excellent signing.

We could SIGN Duff, Eidur and John Terry and still not sell more season tickets if some of the comments on here are anything to go by We've just finished 6th, in the UEFA and played some great stuff yet still people believe the club must do more to get peoples interest and therefore attend games. If we won the league next season no doubt next summer there would be people on here stating they would renew their season ticket if we'd won the FA cup as well !!