😂😂 yeah, I did feel that was personal! On a serious note though I know people who split season tickets due to work commitments, as well as parents who take turns in taking their kids. #milkthedwindlinghardcore

Wow!

That’s really poor. Am I right in thinking you didn’t get ifollow codes last year as a young adult either?

Add to that this modern day obsession fans have with players joining the coaching staff or “staying on in some capacity”.

The term ‘Legend’ once again being overused today. Bennett was a decent player for a spell during his time with us, but a liability for the last couple of years due in no small part to Mowbray playing him at right back. Decent servant through the clubs lowest point in decades. Seems a very good bloke, but I’m not sure there’d be this outpouring if he wasn’t so active on Twitter.

Liked this post, but it’s the wrong reaction. It’s awful that long-standing fans are now feeling like that, though completely understandable given the last 11 years. The fact you still care enough to come on here is a good sign though.

Apologies in advance for the length of this… Towards the end of the Bowyer years I just got up and walked out of a game in February because I realised I’d had enough at that point. Couldn’t tell you what tipped it, not the worst situation we had been in before or since, but I’d had enough. I had some health issues and stuff going on in my personal life and Rovers were exacerbating my worries rather than providing any escape, let alone enjoyment. From being active in groups, protesting etc I just walked away for the remainder of that season and into the beginning of the next. My season ticket went unused - couldn’t give it away. I barely kept up with what was going on in the papers and here, didn’t even listen to games, only really checked the results. I went the longest I’d ever been without setting foot in Ewood despite living abroad for several years (until Covid at least). I attended the meeting at Blakey’s the following September and that reignited my desire. I was attending meetings, protests and games again, a lot of my time and effort went in to this primarily because I was completely pissed off with the whole situation. The anger is better than the previous numbness though. For 6 months or so I just didn’t care. I’ve only actually bought only a handful of tickets since then and now. Members of my family or friends don’t make their plans to revolve around Rovers games these days and more often than not there was a spare ticket. On at least 3 occasions someone I know has spotted me in the queue at the ticket window and given me a spare they have had going begging. This suited me as I did begrudge parting with my money when the club was being mismanaged like it was. At times I’ve had stick from some quarters for that stance, from people who had been supportive to me previously. That’s fine, but it’s also part of the reason I won’t pass comment on anyone else’s decision to attend or not. Besides, the people who have just drifted away into indifference are the ones everyone, especially those within the club, need to be worrying about. At least when people are protesting/boycotting they care enough to make an emotional decision. I know loads of people who have just stopped bothering even before covid. It’ll be even more now. For what it’s worth, I’ve found my boycott pointless for the most part. I’ve been quite stubborn with it, and when I did nearly waver and buy a ST 2 years back but I felt that Waggott failed to follow up with assurances he gave. Lots of times I felt I’d cut my nose off to spite my face… Times I haven’t been able to sit with my brother, my Dad (who is adamant he isn’t renewing this time) and my mates. Missing out on away trips. Then a very slight upturn after the lowest point the club had sunk to in my lifetime was enough for “boycotters” to be widely criticised. It became hard work. Having barely left the house in the last 18 months, and despite being in a poor financial situation due to Covid I really want to have something of a social life again and am fully intending on buying a season ticket (my “not a penny more” approach is gone as I bought every game on ifollow this season). Things are crap… not the worst they’ve been. I think Mowbray is past his sell by date and Waggott is useless, but it’s just more of the same under Venky’s. But I do want to go at this point. A boycott makes as much difference as £300 for a season ticket makes to the black hole that is our finances - none. Barring any idiotic decisions on pricing - a distinct possibility, I know - I’ll be buying one. I’d have done so by now if they’d pulled their finger out.

Yeah, they will need to take down all the Umbro signage and replace it with Macron.

She also failed to follow through on any of her promises or assurances made on and around that night and blocked me on Twitter!

One Tugay goal that never gets the credit it deserves was the one against Basel in the UEFA cup at Ewood when we wore red at home. The touch, the turn, the way he just lifts it in the top corner from 25 yards. Ridiculous goal. Doesn’t get the hype that some in the premier league do, but probably his best.

The Walker family certainly contributed. Couldn’t wait to offload us and practically gave the club away to the idiots. If they’d continued to put in £5 million a year for another 3 years, or even just allowed us to increase the debt level from 20-35 million things could’ve been oh so different. They didn’t even need to be benevolent, just respectful. I’m confident John Williams would’ve ensured we retained our top flight status even if he was instructed to make savings, and 2013 saw the TV money go to absolutely mental levels. The deal doubled from 1.5 to 3 billion. Their short sightedness and lack of respect for Jack’s legacy opened the door for Venky’s complete incompetence to set us back decades and cause probably irreparable damage. Shameful from all involved.

I don’t know why I put myself through it, but here’s a selection of comment from Twitter. I expect Facebook is even worse.

It’s been a few months since we’ve had to hear sections of our fanbase saying “thank god for Venky’s, we’d be doomed without them”, so there’s that to look forward to for the next week or so.

Would a lot of that fall into the category of technology rather than data? Either way I don’t disagree with much of what you are saying, and of course the data gathering is reliant on tech. Every facet of our lives is heading more and more in that direction. How many times during this pandemic have we been told decisions are being made due to “the data”. In terms of both tech and data, I’ve seen first hand it’s use is increasing at a very quick rate at the bottom end of the pro game. It is definitely here to stay, and definitely has a place, but I worry that the focus on it is getting towards being too heavy. It’s certainly in vogue at present and that is reflected in the UEFA coaching licences. From a purely personal point of view, the increased reliance on data analysis has coincided with the decrease in my overall enjoyment of the game. It’s one of several factors though.

Can’t argue with that. I’d put £5.3 million Christian Dailly at number 2 as someone who ticks all the same boxes.

The idea of Brereton as the main man through the middle frightens me to death. I think he is the one player suited to Mowbray’s preferred system and particularly at the start of the season he looked a real outlet. I think his unorthodox but effective running with the ball is his strength. I don’t think he will ever have the end product to justify his fee though. I’m not that up on world football these days, but I’d have thought he was miles away from being of a standard to play for Chile. I read some comments from their manager and it seemed his height was a factor... in all honesty I think his inclusion was more to do with the buzz on social media than merit. Still, will be a good experience and should aid his development. However, if there is an additional fee due to Forest if he gets a cap I’d really rather he didn’t get his token appearance.

Thank god for that! One down, several more to go. I’d really like to see JRC play in a more advanced role this season. Can see him having a similar impact to Harvey Elliott with the added bonus of some tracking back! Could get excited to the point of getting carried away about our young lads with a better manager in charge of them.

I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. It’s a ridiculous way to run a football club.

This is a quote from Slopey Shoulders Steve Waggott at the last consultation meeting on 6th Feb 2020: "My view was that I went to bat for the supporters in India, urging the owners to have a price freeze on a price freeze, knowing how sensitive it is in Blackburn.” He’s admitting that the season ticket price is set in India. By billionaires who are indifferent to £15 million being pissed away year after year and are seemingly happy enough to let a £5 million house go to rack and ruin. The financial reality of the supporter base will not and cannot play a factor. As useless as Waggott is, it’s ridiculous ST prices don’t fall within his remit. Similarly, he has to go cap in hand for pitch upgrades, youth team players and academy staff. I wonder if Mrs Desai has to sign off every time one of their chicken takeaways needs a new fryer, or if some fencing is knackered on a chicken farm.

Let’s hope the one year option actually exists on paper rather than just in the minds of Mowbray and Waggott like the Chapman one.

So no new pitch due to “the economic situation in India” Must be devastating for Venky’s seeing their share price at its highest in 3 years and absolutely dwarfing where it was at when they first darkened our door. Also interesting that Waggott “was surprised that it was felt that the owners were inexperienced after 10 years of owning the club.” For once I agree with you Steve. I’m sick of supposed naivety and inexperience being used as an excuse for their incompetence.

Which, ironically, is what Darren Rover was forever doing

I don’t think there’s anything to suggest Brereton has ever lacked confidence, it’s technical ability he lacks. That’s not to say his knack of running with the ball between the halfway line and the edge of the box can’t be effective though. His inability to not fall over when he gets in and around the box might even get him more free kicks and penalties in The Copa America than it does in the Championship.

I’m led to believe a similar situation occurred with Raya. Painted as the villain of the piece for “wanting to move to Brentford”, he had asked for an increase in wages to take him from from a first year pro to something more befitting of a first choice keeper and was knocked back. Nyambe has apparently been offered a long term deal on the same money, so basically an extension to his first proper pro contract and an amount far less than he’d be able to command elsewhere. Presumably he’d be even worse off as Mowbray likes denying him an appearance bonus wherever possible.

Mowbray has without doubt outlived his usefulness and underachieved massively this season, but he’s the tip of the iceberg. Substandard appointments in the dugout and boardroom is a constant of the Venky reign.