Anti-rovers Setiment

[thenodrog]

Some sense at last, Clickety

Great read and sensible article by someone who knows and understands the game. We should email the article and write more in support to the FA the press the media the most importantly the sports minister as well as d uncle tom cobley and all with this condemnation of the Prem and the Champions league monopoly by 3 teams. The competions commitee would'nt allow the situation in industry would it?

They have turned our national sport into the farce that has existed north of the border for decades, and look at the state of scottish national team as a result.

[RevidgeBlue]

Does anyone else think that the club make some sort of counterattack to all the nonsense that has been spoken since Sunday? I read Reid`s comments today and the players are very angry and upset by it. Lets hope that Palace suffer tomorrow.

I was thinking that Tony, the Club has been very quiet in the face of all the unjustified flak that has been flying around, even if not defending the on the pitch happenings, a spirited defence of the club's supporters wouldn't have gone amiss.

Having had a few days to reflect the level of criticism the team has been subject to is totally uncalled for. There is nothing at all wrong with the team's overall style of play. However there is no need for the sort of studs up knee high challenges perpetrated by Flitcroft and Savage, and on another day Thompson's unnecessary petulance would have seen him enjoying an early bath. I'm sure we can cut those sort of things out without in any way compromising the team's competitiveness.

The most unjustified attack in the National Media was that on the fans. When the hysteria finally settles down, fair minded analysts might just recognise the occasion as an imoportant day. It was a day that the average football fan finally drew a line in the sand and refused to be taken advantage of any longer. To me it wasn't so much the early kick off time, or the venue, but the refusal of the FA to make available adequate numbers of reasonably priced tickets particularly for kids. For those who had to disappoint little Johnny, it must have been a desperately difficult decision to make but they may just have done the game a favour in the long term.

[jim mk2]

Revidge, Hughes held a press conference today, only part of which was published in the LET, in which he expressed his outrage at the Sunday newspapers' coverage and in particular their criticism of the club's fans.

Would agree that a statement from Williams and/or the board should be forthcoming also.

[Glenn]

I heard some of Hughes comment from the press conference on TalkSport, however it seems that all the big football websites use the PA Newswire and the offending comments have are not included (not surprisingly).

The comments were along the line of "We don't get treated like this when we play Everton, Man Utd and Liverpool, only big London clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea. It seems to be only the London based media that respond like this".

If anyone can find the actual quote I'd be very very grateful.

[P.E.]

Christ this is starting to annoy me somewhat now.

Being honest technically Arsenal are better than us, even pace wise they have the faster players. One way to upset that is by harrying oppnents and trying to outmuscle, outrun and (wait for this word) out-organise teams. From what I can tell Hughes has made us into a high tempo, high pressing team. Which results in more fouls. Simple logic says the closer your are to player the increased chance of making a tackle but with this brings an increase risk of making a foul. Hughes has set the team up to work hard chasing the ball and there being no gaps at the back. But because we don't have the players to produce sexy football we are lambasted?

If this is so why were no players sent off? Why only four (IIRC) bookings?

I'd rather have my players booked for mis-timing a tackle not petuantly kicking the ball away....

[jobo380]

great post cletus!

how dare people say that we dont deserve to win the cup or even try and stop arsenal from winning it easily!

c'mon the rovers!!!

[Ginger]

Sorry folks, I've removed my post - second thoughts about putting it on here.

PS - the reply to my sister's email was genuine but we probably shouldn't have put it on here. Apologies to the subsequent posters who've referred to it.

Edited April 19, 2005 by Ginger

[Flopsy]

Brilliant - I love the last Paragraph.

Least the gentleman had the manners to reply

[jim mk2]

This is the PA quotes story in full

HUGHES RESPONDS TO CRITICISM

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport

Unhappy Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has vowed to change people’s negative perceptions of his side.

Hughes has been stunned by the criticism levelled at Blackburn following Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was among those critical of Blackburn’s physical approach, accusing Hughes’ players of making a number of

“atrocious tackles.”

The first three of Rovers’ four bookings, for David Thompson, Garry Flitcroft and Aaron Mokoena, were all for cynical fouls on Arsenal skipper Patrick

Vieira. Yet Hughes feels the retribution that has followed has been unwarranted and has resulted in his side being given a ’health warning’ label that may take a while to remove.

But Hughes is determined to do so, taking his first step yesterday as he called in all the players and staff for a meeting.

“When I read the papers on the Sunday, I was astounded by the level of criticism, and to have to withstand that is not on,” said Hughes.

“Some of the comments were quite personal, not only to Andy (Todd, involved in an incident with Robin van Persie), but also to a number of the players and it was disrespectful to the club because even our fans were thrown into the mix.

“I just felt they were totally unbalanced, bordering on hysterical. It was out of order and completely at odds with how I viewed the game.

“It’s been difficult to take and understand because in no way did I feel we overstepped the mark. I just felt we were competitive.

“We weren’t going to go into a game as important as that and not try to make an impact. We tried to do that, but we came up against a good side and we weren’t good enough on the day.

“Since then it’s been a case of putting some perspective on it, so I had a meeting with all the players and staff first thing yesterday, and it was important we did that because of the criticism from all angles.

“It was important we steadied ourselves and realised we have had a great season this year up until this point, and we need to finish it off, starting tomorrow against Crystal Palace.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll ever get credit for what we do. That’s the situation we find ourselves in because we’ve been labelled and mud sticks, which is going to take a long time for it to drop off.

“For it to it do that we will continue to work hard and we will have to turn people’s minds around, if that’s possible.

“In the short term we won’t be able to do that because their views have been shaped, which we have to accept, so we will just get on with it.”

In many respects, a siege mentality is developing at Ewood Park, with Hughes adding: “It felt a bit like that at the weekend.

“But at times like this you become stronger as a group. The people involved here at Blackburn, and the fans, know what effort we put in.

“We also have a certain way of playing that’s been successful in the situation we have found ourselves.

"But next season, with a few additions to the squad, I feel we will have a good season and we won’t be struggling at the wrong end of the table.

“I think the work we have done this season will stand us in good stead and we will kick on. We just need to get through this season and then next season you will still see a competitive Blackburn side, but one that’s at the top end.”

Hughes feels one more win is required to guarantee safety, with the hope of picking up those three points against a relegation-haunted Palace side.

“The teams below us are running out of games, so if we win it will make it difficult for those teams to get anywhere near us,” he said.

“Palace are obviously desperate for points. They’ve shown great spirit, so we will have to play as well as we have done of late, and if we do then I feel we’ll have enough.”

[jim mk2]

[

I know that some people from within the Blackburn boardroom were embarrassed

by some of what went on and actually apologised to their Arsenal

counterparts.

Interesting if true.

[blue phil]

Interesting bit ( in the Express hack's reply) about members of our board being embarrassed by our manager's tactics . Just shows that Martin O'Neil isn't the only manager to be held in such high esteem by his board

[greggyk]

Well as long as it aint John Williams. After all the positive things he's said about Hughes and the team in recent weeks. That really would be a kick in the teeth.

[Glenn]

That PA news article is all over the net. Sadly it doesn't includes Hughes dig at the London press.

Anything in tonights LET anyone ?

[John]

Dont know if its on this thread but you know Todd has been charged by the FA.

Got until 6pm tomorrow to reply- sorry if its on here already!!

[Glenn]

It's been on the front page for a few hours

[John]

Sorry guys- just came in straight to the mb! Could not see it... now I do though!

[eddiewac]

[

I know that some people from within the Blackburn boardroom were embarrassed

by some of what went on and actually apologised to their Arsenal

counterparts.

what a load of sh1t! If thats the case then why hasn't it been mentioned anywhere?! Surely Arsene Wenger would have loved to say, even the blackburn staff agreed with me!

[blue phil]

I suspect that even Arsene Wenger appreciates the notion of confidentiality . The Express bloke doesn't seem to , though ...

[grizfoot]

Lawro predicts a Rovers loss for something like the 20th game in a row.

[Cheeky Sidders]

My sister had a chat with Rob Coar today and she described him as "frothing" over the media's representation of the match on Sunday and described two prominent TV pundits in far from complimentary terms. He also rattled off a list of offences carried out by Arsenal players during Wenger's reign and she said it was clear he was geared up for a scrap if the FA decided to take it further.

Now that Todd has been charged, it looks like the chairman will get the chance to let off some steam.

[jim mk2]

Found the missing Hughes quotes:

......"the whole angle on the game was shaped by one unfortunate incident at the end of 90 minutes.

"We played the likes of Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United and competed in exactly the same way and there was nothing like this.

"But we go up against southern-based teams like Chelsea and Arsenal and we cop all the flak going........"

On another theme, Steven Gerrard has cancelled plans to buy two £2.2 million properties in West London.

Seems like he's decided to stay at Liverpool.

[AlanK]

So Jim, what is your angle on events? You`re very quick to link to other peoples views.

[americanrover]

On another theme, Steven Gerrard has cancelled plans to buy two £2.2 million properties in West London.

Seems like he's decided to stay at Liverpool.

with a-holes like chelsea you may never know. anyways the fans are starting to look at him as a big dollar sign. 50 million, id take that

[Rovermatt]

Lawro predicts a Rovers loss for something like the 20th game in a row. 

Because we've had a 'kicking in the press' (such poetry) we'll lose?

What a prat.

Edited April 20, 2005 by Rovermatt

[Glenn]

Found the missing Hughes quotes:

......"the whole angle on the game was shaped by one unfortunate incident at the end of 90 minutes.

"We played the likes of Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United and competed in exactly the same way and there was nothing like this.

"But we go up against southern-based teams like Chelsea and Arsenal and we cop all the flak going........"

On another theme, Steven Gerrard has cancelled plans to buy two £2.2 million properties in West London.

Seems like he's decided to stay at Liverpool.

Jim, you're a star, thank you very much.