I’ve been a vocal critic, but more than happy to be proved wrong if he can start banging them in. 

37 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

This is nowhere near as simple as some, including Waggott, seem to think it is.

We need to get more fans through the gate, broadly let’s put these in to two categories: New and Lapsed.

As @JHRover pointed out in his superb post, you can’t compare crowds now to the 80s. There was a huge surge in footballs popularity in the 90s, but 20 something years on, it’s all change again. I know lads who love football... talk about it, play it, watch it, spend vast amounts of money on it... but to them it’s a television program. Kids are increasingly going to grow up thinking this way. The exposure to football on TV, not to mention online services is mind boggling. Not only do we (and all clubs at all levels for that matter) have a real fight on their hands to get people to break their habits, they have to offer an experience that people want to repeat.

There is no quick fix. It’s about being innovative, inclusive and engaging over the long term. It shouldn’t be a 2/3 times a season thing, it needs to be constant and targeted towards the entire community. A few suggestions off the top of my head:

- Missed the boat in this one, but go to freshers fairs at UCLAN, Lancaster Uni etc. Offer a package to freshers £30 for tickets to 3 games and put some coaches on. It’d take a couple of iPads and a couple of people to shift a few tickets and to potentially add loads of names to the ticket office database.

- Go to some of the big employers in the area, offer them some heavily discounted match tickets. £25 for a family of 4, or maybe a tenner a pop. Make it so they can buy them direct from the employer... can’t see many companies turning down free perks for their staff. Might get a few workmates deciding to give it a go. Rotate it around to give each one a few opportunities a season

- Become far more visible in and around Blackburn - get to events, support the community more. Have a word with Gaz Aspden about the upcoming Spezial exhibition he’s doing, send a few players along, sponsor it. Saw a post on social media from the organisers of Darwen Live looking for people to get involved and potential sponsors. Just have some visibility and presence around Blackburn, Accy, Darwen, Clitheroe... nobody in any of those places should be able to organise an event or anything without getting a phone call from someone at Rovers asking how they can get involved. If you want the community to support you be more involved in it.

There is a whole other massive discussion around improving the match day experience. Again, something we don’t see enough proactive attempts at. 

Lapsed fans Probably need to be broken down further into those who have drifted away, and those who are making a conscious decision not to attend. I fall into the latter, so feel I can give an informed opinion on this. 

I can get a free ticket to any home game, but this means sitting on my own, in a stand I don’t like. It’s not the Rovers experience I know and loved for 20 odd years. I told Steve Waggott that I am still very distrustful of Venky’s, and while I can’t see my stance towards them changing, I wasn’t a million miles off deciding to get a season ticket again this year since I got to the point where I’d had enough about 4 years ago. He was making the right noises about understanding what the fans had been through, and needing them back. I told him I didn’t have the answer, but felt that I needed some sort of gesture from the club. I don’t feel I’ve had that and still feel a disconnect to the extent that I don’t want to part with my money. Coming out and saying “we’ve done all we can, it’s down to the fans now” isn’t only stupidly divisive, it’s also a load of bollocks. Judging by the thoughts of others on here there are as many barriers being put up for lapsed fans to return than pathways for them... if not more.

Lots of good ideas in this post, as well as the thread as a whole (the discount on loyalty I particularly liked - 5% in year 2 etc.)

Just goes to show the boys in the job really don’t have a clue. Just pick up their handsome salary with no affiliation to the club at all and in the grand scheme are doing absolutely nothing to engage fans (it’s their bloody job!)

17 minutes ago, JoeHarvey said:

1. Selling season tickets earlier shouldn't lead to more sales, it literally makes no sense.

2. Matchday tickets are dirt cheap if you buy in advance

3. If you mean the on the day increase in price its not complicated to avoid

4. There's transport available, not through the club, but its not exactly hard, and I can't see that improving attendances at all

5. Again how does this increase season ticket sales?

6. Why abolish the 1875 club it's been a great success? And how does abolishing it increase attendances.

7. Food prices definitely don't affect attendances either, but could be cheaper, the Sodexo deal hasn't helped at all. Bad move really.

8. Why? That original family stand is up in the heavens, and the new one provides free fruit and face painting, has the strikers lounge pre-game and has been a major success.

9. Restarting Radio Rovers isn't financially viable for Blackburn clearly, whilst it may bring back some, it wouldn't have a significant impact on attendances.

10. The Club don't move kick off times or treat supporters like idiots, that's a silly one, Sky move games, and the league and the police.

11. Yeah, I agree, beer choice could be better, as could prices for food in general, but same as point 7, it shouldn't and wouldn't affect attendance in ANY way

12. Seriously? There's 90 minutes of football where the crowd AND the tannoy are silent, that's not the clubs fault

13. I sit in the Riverside and the sightlines are absolutely fine.

14. The category pricing is something they could do something about 100%

15. So you think that by not doing freebies for the kids like the Stoke game will INCREASE attendances?

16. Yes there are weeds and the brick is a bit dirty, but if there's a single supporter out there not attending Blackburn games because of weeds outside the stadium, they aren't a real supporter AT ALL.

Lost all validation after “2. Matchday tickets are dirt cheap if you buy in advance”

Strange that someone who can barely kick a football takes the penalty. From what I remember penalties don’t involve running fast. 

Any away win in this league is cause for celebration. Thoroughly enjoyed the match, thought we dominated the 2nd half in particular.

back to back clean sheets the icing on the cake.

Downing was immense, He’s a clever footballer and almost always makes the right decision.

Williams and Cunningham also stand out performers at the back.

Walton was solid, cant think of any real mistakes, and a penalty save to boot.

Travis and Johnson, yes they may give the ball away occasionally but I thought they were superb, what an upgraded pair that is on the last few years. Great drive going forward, picking positive passes. We played some great football at times and these two were the hub of that.

The spine of the team looks good, we’ve just got to fill the gaps now (Bennett was roasted today), what’s the answer on the right wing?

So frustrating that he persists with this 4-2-3-1 when we have never had 2 actual wingers!

Cunningham is defo an upgrade and is keeping Bowen quiet. Everything coming down our right hand side an Bennett is getting shredded, so often out of position.

Armstrong should have took it round the keeper for a penalty, showing the lack of football brain he really has.

The game is screaming for DG. We’re getting space with the ball and our midfielders feed off him so well. Bring him on and a Dack goal will follow. The game is there for the taking.

Just now, RV Blue said:

Christ. Can someone please remind Tony what Sheffield Utd did in their second season after coming up from League 1? Sooner this guy goes, the better.

Norwich and Southampton did back to back too within the last 10 years or so.

The year in league 1 shouldn’t have any relevance to what we can achieve/aim for.

11 minutes ago, PeteJD13 said:

I think this is spot on, I boycotted during the Kean reign and soon occupied myself on Saturdays with things non rovers related. Came back when he left, Coyle's appointment then pushed me over the edge. Its only this season I've renewed as I take my daughter to the games now. I wonder how many others simply just got sick of everything at the club and just walked away. The club could do more to attract fans back everything they try is all a bit safe and beige. There is a real lack of dynamism in the senior management to do anything outside of the box fan initiative wise. Jacks zone is a prime example its a good idea until its pouring down, the beer pricing is another. Strikers lounge for people like me with kids needs freshening up a more healthy kids menu better toys etc but they won't do it ( I know as I asked the club ).

They seem to have given up on getting fans back so will rinse the ones that come. The ground is starting to look shabby and run down, the whole club has that air about it.

 

Agree with all of this. There is no initiative being taken by the club to move with the times.

Food and Drink - Same crap every year, the amount of good quality street food available on the high street now why are we still serving the same rubbish. I know Beavertown is a north london brewery but more clubs should be going down the route like Spurs to mix up the beer on offer rather than just Fosters, Smiths etc. Don't Brighton ship in the local ale for away fans, if they can do this surely we can sell some decent stuff to our home fans.

Cashless bars to speed up the current shocking service

a lot of fans did turn up to the Oxford match 2 seasons ago though, that base is there and could be exploited with continuous cheap tickets (£1 for a kid or £10 a match) rather than just the occasional one off (which we don't even do anymore).

If we have 3k walk ons a week and charge on average £15 a match instead of £25 for example it'll cost <£700k for the season, and that's before even looking at the guaranteed uptick in sales on continuous cheaper tickets. If you could get an extra 1k walk ons each week through the cheaper tickets (some weeks less some more  e.g Preston) then this cost would drop to <£350k a season (or £15k per home game). 

It's barely a sacrifice when you consider long term uplift (future season tickets and atmosphere).

The obvious concern would be that walk ons become cheaper than season tickets and season ticket sales then drop. But realistically the same thing should be happening with season tickets! Drop them to £250 instead of £350 and aim to sell an extra 2000 instead.

Let's be honest it's a drop in the ocean considering we've spent £12m or so on strikers in the last year!

Then again we never get this stuff right since the days of Williams. Singing section now gone, atmosphere is on it's arse, areas of the ground closing. It's a shame as the we used to be the most popular town club in the outskirt villages and a lot of these will be the punters who could be swayed with a better price/atmosphere.

Kept hold of Dack

Upgrade at LB

Upgrade at CM

Depth upfront

It was a poor day for us, but over the whole window it isn’t as doom and gloom as many are making out. 

I think one established CB to go alongside Tosin would have made the window a decent success, so it is a shame we couldn’t get anyone in for whatever reason that may be. 

Anyone think it’s a bit strange that we announce the 3rd kit bang on the minute the window closes? 

Strikes me that nobody is coming in and they’re trying to break some “good news”

At a minimum we need a LB and dominating CB.

Nyambe has to start the next game.

We have to find a way to play Dack and  Rothwell together, ideally without converting Rothwell to a winger. 

The best I’ve seen us perform for a long time was 70 mins Stoke Away where we played Dack upfront with Graham, perhaps we could go back to that with a Rothwell in the hole and stop this “chuck any non-winger onto the wing where they can’t cross or play wide”  

I’ll give Tony the benefit of the doubt for a few more games to sort it out. Mainly because I’d be afraid of what came next with Venkys in charge.

Just now, JHRover said:

Micky mouse pre seasons playing Barrow and Bury trialists whilst rivals are off in Europe playing top division clubs.

It’s a good point and very frustrating. It’s been the same for a few years now. 

We simply don’t have a championship level full back in the squad (Nyambe the best but doesn’t get a sniff).

Bell and Williams are L1 level and that’s been clear since we were in that division. 

Armstrong seems to do no wrong, always starts but the guy is simply not a good footballer, just has speed which is fine in preseason against part timers but he’s also not championship level. 

I’d say the only area of strength we maybe have is through the centre; Johnson/Travis/Dack/Rothwell. 

We need a RB, LB and CB before the window closes. We cannot start Armstrong and Downing as we’re weak on both wings then. 

Just now, West Yorks Rover said:

The bookies obviously don't care about recent history.

Rovers last 8 years opening day fixtures  W 0 D 4 L 4

Tony Mowbray's record ain't much better Last 9 years W 1 D 2 L 6

However I believe Charlton's record isn't too good either on opening day.

So 1-1 or 2-2 it is then.

Opening day fixture record is an absolutely meaningless stat without context and righty isn’t taken into account when odds compiling. 

For what it’s worth, Rovers are the shortest priced favourite in the Championship today. 

Anything less than a win will be disappointing. 

I live and work in Leeds and i've not met a single Leeds fan that rates him. Looks like a poor mans Jordan Rhodes: slow and weak, but doesn't even score as regularly as Rhodes did. 

Would be terrible business given the likely cost + wages.

Rothwell gets a start......but unfortunately with a midfield of Armstrong, Evans, Smallwood and Bennett around him!

Our team seems to look weaker and weaker each week. 

Just now, Paul Mellelieu said:

8 points off sixth.

Crazy to think after losing to Reading and Rotherham in the latest calamitous run. Could have been much closer, albeit we’re nowhere near good enough to be up there.

Nice to be relaxed at the end of a game for a change!

Rothwell impressive again with his cameo. Plays one touch football, pass and move. He’ll make the odd mistake as he’s trying to keep the ball moving, but no worse than the others we play in similar positions. 

I just don’t think Mowbray wants to play him alongside Dack. He doesn’t change from the 1 up front and two out wide, and he doesn’t trust Rothwell wide it seems. 

I’ve no idea what people see in Armstrong. He appears in almost every starting lineup on this forum. 

Nothing but a top half League 1 player at best. 

Positives:

-Reed and Travis in CM together (not sure we’ve had it this season yet but it should be that every week)

Negatives:

-Williams

-How is Armstrong still starting each week.

A few essentials for me for the rest of the season and looking ahead to next year:

- Nyambe has to start at RB, Bennett is a utility squad player. Lots of graft but little quality. He isn't a RB

- Williams should never play for us again if we want to progress. The red wasn't helped by Mulgrew but regardless he isn't good enough. 

- Reed and Travis have to start in the centre together if Tony is going to persist with this formation. Similar to the above, we will never progress if Evans and Smallwood continue to play. 

- Armstrong is a league one player at best. His end product is similar to Chorleys level. He's fast but that is his only outlet. When Chapman is up to speed let's give him a go in this position and find a winger for the opposite side (again if Tony is persisting with this formation)

- Mulgrew isn't up to the Championship. Saved with his set pieces too often he simply cannot defend. We really need to strengthen here in the summer. Our defence is woeful. 

- Dack isn't a premier league player, but he is key to when we play well  

- Raya, Nyambe, Travis, Reed, Dack and Graham are probably the only players worthy of must starts. One is getting too old and another is on loan.

it may all sound harsh or negative, but in my eyes it's the reality. We've a long, long way to go. 

Despite occasional good spells and getting close to the playoffs, xG has consistently had us down as a bottom 8 team throughout the season. We simply allow far too many shots/opportunities and create very little. 

11 hours ago, Silas said:

How many were on the board?

Missed it.

It was out of play "lost" for about 2 mins in injury time tho. 

4 on the board

Resting Graham, Dack and Reed in a game where we'll see plenty of possession and space is very bizarre.

Only 4min30 of added time played also bizarre.

Pretty much ends the excitement for the season now.

Lots of work neeeed in the summer if we want to continue moving forwards.