[Archived] Flowers

[Bluemonday BRFC]

Untill today I didn't get involved with any of the protests, I always felt they were too concentrated around Kean. But today I added my contribution to the other flowers next to Uncle Jack's statue. Got to disagree with anyone who thinks the gesture of putting flowers by a statue is disrespectful, what is disrespectful is banning supporters from displaying their own banners and thereby censoring the majority of opinion around Ewood. It's only about £2 for a bunch of flowers from Asda, so hopefully more of us will add their bit to send a strong message to Venky's - We want them Out!

[darwenblueswearehere]

I have already mentioned an idea from somebody on twitter. Which I think is good. ROVERS SUPPORTERS WAVE THE QATAR FLAG AT WIGAN

Rovers fans waving claret flags? WTF has the world come to?

[CarlRH]

Timing of this flower protest wss badly thought out imo.

It was nothing to do with rememberence week the 'flower protest' was the anniversary of the Venkys taking ownership nothing more.

[PAFELL]

It was nothing to do with rememberence week the 'flower protest' was the anniversary of the Venkys taking ownership nothing more.

I did not say it was. I said I can understand why some would relate the two, only because remembrance day was the day before. But from a personal point of view, I do not believe for one moment that those who organised it had any intention to insult etc anybody. But with any protest, you have to expect a counter reaction.

[CarlRH]

I did not say it was. I said I can understand why some would relate the two, only because remembrance day was the day before. But from a personal point of view, I do not believe for one moment that those who organised it had any intention to insult etc anybody. But with any protest, you have to expect a counter reaction.

very true mate as with many people I didn't connect rememberence Sunday to what Glen has organised until the Sky interviewer mentioned it. The people who got interviewed all spoke for about 3-4 mins each and a lot of points were edited out. Guess you gotta dance with the devil sometimes.

[Gav]

(I apologise for not participating myself. Unfortunately I am in a job where I cannot ask for time off as and when I want it - sorry, Gav, but those professions do exist. Frankly, I’ll only get time off for personal reasons if an extremely close relative kicks the bucket or if I’m about to lose a limb!)

I was making a more general point about protests, not so much the flowers, more the walking down the hill from the Brown Cow, clearly I didn't make the point very well!

[ABBEY]

Aye twas a scary and angry owd march dahn thill! Lol

[3rdpillar]

My link

this is my mate James Farrar being interviewed off Sky. He has been on every protest with me and is usually pictured near me as well

MAY AS WELL HAVE THE PROPER VERSION

My link

Just had a quick flick at some of your pics (only a few after the Rovers ones). What camera were you using for the Grasmere photo?

OLYMPUS E-PL1 with Lumix 20mm f1.7 lens

[3rdpillar]

A simple thought and one that may go a long way to making happiness in the world.

Everyone who bought flowers for the protest, should buy flowers for a loved one this week. Wife, Daughter, Mother, Grandma OR just to say thank you to someone.

[Emge]

India's love affair with flowers

[47er]

I did not say it was. I said I can understand why some would relate the two, only because remembrance day was the day before. But from a personal point of view, I do not believe for one moment that those who organised it had any intention to insult etc anybody. But with any protest, you have to expect a counter reaction.

Its a fabricated and confected connection. It never occurred to me that there could be a reaction following Remembrance Day. As somebody pointed out there would have been hundreds of funerals,weddings and other ceremonies involving flowers since then.

We should treat it with the contempt it deserves and get on with doing what we want to do.

[Amo]

Just occurred to me that Venky's will see this as fans putting Jack's ghost to rest and embracing their new overlords.

You wouldn't put it past 'em!

[PAFELL]

Just occurred to me that Venky's will see this as fans putting Jack's ghost to rest and embracing their new overlords.

You wouldn't put it past 'em!

Correct. Any protest can be 'twisted by those you protest against'. I said recently I think this particular protest is going to backfire on the protesters.

[roverwhelmed]

Just occurred to me that Venky's will see this as fans putting Jack's ghost to rest and embracing their new overlords.

You wouldn't put it past 'em!

You can't put anything past them! Its like living in your worst nightmare.

[Gav]

I said recently I think this particular protest is going to backfire on the protesters.

Its already achieved its goal in my opinion, the media have picked up on the story, job done.

[John]

Its already achieved its goal in my opinion, the media have picked up on the story, job done.

Agree.

[matty1875]

Its already achieved its goal in my opinion, the media have picked up on the story, job done.

And what is that goal exactly?? It was ridiculed by Sky yesterday, causing more embarrassment for the club, inadvertently strengthen Kean’s position of just 1% of supporters are against him and divided the Rovers supporters even more. If the goal was those things then yes it worked.

Regardless of it being remembrance Sunday before, it was the wrong timing given the Wigan game coming up and on the back of a good performance against Chelsea and when the plane stunt did not go down well with at least half of the supporter’s in the stadium. Sadly the protesters are in danger of becoming a laughing stock and losing respect day by day, which means the protests have much less of an impact with the media and fellow Rovers supporters. A defeat in the next two games will see people naturally protest but it all coming across very forced at the moment. It is time to stop for now and crank up the atmosphere in the stadium to see if by some minor miracle we can get some results by fully getting behind the team (Before you say we are always behind the team, these protests have dampened the atmosphere and meant the “Rovers Fans” who only sing when others do, i.e. follow the crowd are not clapping at the moment, creating a bad atmosphere). I do feel that Saturday will different and we will be more vocal than ever given the enormity of the game.

[booth]

And what is that goal exactly?? It was ridiculed by Sky yesterday, causing more embarrassment for the club, inadvertently strengthen Kean’s position of just 1% of supporters are against him and divided the Rovers supporters even more. If the goal was those things then yes it worked.

Regardless of it being remembrance Sunday before, it was the wrong timing given the Wigan game coming up and on the back of a good performance against Chelsea and when the plane stunt did not go down well with at least half of the supporter’s in the stadium. Sadly the protesters are in danger of becoming a laughing stock and losing respect day by day, which means the protests have much less of an impact with the media and fellow Rovers supporters. A defeat in the next two games will see people naturally protest but it all coming across very forced at the moment. It is time to stop for now and crank up the atmosphere in the stadium to see if by some minor miracle we can get some results by fully getting behind the team (Before you say we are always behind the team, these protests have dampened the atmosphere and meant the “Rovers Fans” who only sing when others do, i.e. follow the crowd are not clapping at the moment, creating a bad atmosphere). I do feel that Saturday will different and we will be more vocal than ever given the enormity of the game.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Even if we win the next game we'll still get relegated with Kean in charge. Statistics prove that he cannot do the job. The guy can't string two wins together. He has trouble stringing two halves together.

[OJRovers]

And what is that goal exactly?? It was ridiculed by Sky yesterday, causing more embarrassment for the club, inadvertently strengthen Kean’s position of just 1% of supporters are against him and divided the Rovers supporters even more. If the goal was those things then yes it worked.

Regardless of it being remembrance Sunday before, it was the wrong timing given the Wigan game coming up and on the back of a good performance against Chelsea and when the plane stunt did not go down well with at least half of the supporter’s in the stadium. Sadly the protesters are in danger of becoming a laughing stock and losing respect day by day, which means the protests have much less of an impact with the media and fellow Rovers supporters. A defeat in the next two games will see people naturally protest but it all coming across very forced at the moment. It is time to stop for now and crank up the atmosphere in the stadium to see if by some minor miracle we can get some results by fully getting behind the team (Before you say we are always behind the team, these protests have dampened the atmosphere and meant the “Rovers Fans” who only sing when others do, i.e. follow the crowd are not clapping at the moment, creating a bad atmosphere). I do feel that Saturday will different and we will be more vocal than ever given the enormity of the game.

Even if it is only 1% then I would be happy to be part of the 1%, because the protests and other actions are being done in the hope of saving the club from what appears to be relegation and possible worse financial consequences.

The 99% and the media can do what they want and say what they want, but at the end of the season only one group is going to be proved right and justified in their actions.

[Exiled in Toronto]

While the goal of 'doing something before it is too late" is praiseworthy, to an outsider (which I consider myself on this issue) the problems are cleary with the "something" and the "it"

It is totally unclear to the average person what is being protested about, not least because the "it" keeps changing. From Kean (perm any from results, drink driver, lier, crook, conniver), to possible relegation, to Venky's, to alleged criminality behind the scenes and now to "the death of the connection most of the fans feel with the club" It's hardly "Tear down this wall, Mr Gorbachev" is it?

Secondly, the protests are being, imo, over-organised and badly executed. To date they have been no Arab Spring of spontaneous uprisings but a collection of PR stunts. PR stunts can work but they can also backfire, and most do unless very tightly and professionally managed. PR is a highly skilled task and very few do it well.

All the emphasis seems to be on coming up with something deemed "newsworthy" and pushing that to the press to get coverage. What the press are seeing, which is what they are now reporting, is that the goals of the protest are unclear and that not many fans take part in them. So instead of the desired goal of the owners being humiliated in public, we now have the protesters being gently mocked and an increased wave of sympathy for the manager and to a lesser extent the owners. In short, the protest strategy and execution are fatally flawed.

The third problem I see, and it is the biggest one imo because it leads to the others, is that the protest leaders are protesting about completely different things to everyone else, and this is at the heart of the divide between the fans. And it comes from this "I have been told things so terrible", "I have seen things which" rumour-monging we have seen so much of recently. People simply cannot get outraged about things they don't know about. Manipulating the protestors cannot possibly work in the long haul.

The outrage of the ITK's might be genuine and fuelling the desire to do "something", but until everyone else knows what that is, I'm afraid I cannot see anything other than a continuation in the current trend in coverage: less of it and less sympathetic, which will be music to the ears of those in Pune and the manager's office.

My advice would be to first stop thinking about stunts and coverage - they are a huge distraction. Secondly, focus on one goal, one simple message that everyone can agree to and get energised by. Thirdly, get the dirty washing out by whatever means possible. Fourthly, protest in a way that communicates the strength of feeling - that;s what will attract followers, not hopeless PR stunts that either look silly or are misleading (the fatc that the flowers at Jack's statue needs explaining as to what it actually means says it all) Or if you want to continue this route then hire Max Clifford, because that's the standard required to succeed.

[PAFELL]

While the goal of 'doing something before it is too late" is praiseworthy, to an outsider (which I consider myself on this issue) the problems are cleary with the "something" and the "it"

It is totally unclear to the average person what is being protested about, not least because the "it" keeps changing. From Kean (perm any from results, drink driver, lier, crook, conniver), to possible relegation, to Venky's, to alleged criminality behind the scenes and now to "the death of the connection most of the fans feel with the club" It's hardly "Tear down this wall, Mr Gorbachev" is it?

Secondly, the protests are being, imo, over-organised and badly executed. To date they have been no Arab Spring of spontaneous uprisings but a collection of PR stunts. PR stunts can work but they can also backfire, and most do unless very tightly and professionally managed. PR is a highly skilled task and very few do it well.

All the emphasis seems to be on coming up with something deemed "newsworthy" and pushing that to the press to get coverage. What the press are seeing, which is what they are now reporting, is that the goals of the protest are unclear and that not many fans take part in them. So instead of the desired goal of the owners being humiliated in public, we now have the protesters being gently mocked and an increased wave of sympathy for the manager and to a lesser extent the owners. In short, the protest strategy and execution are fatally flawed.

The third problem I see, and it is the biggest one imo because it leads to the others, is that the protest leaders are protesting about completely different things to everyone else, and this is at the heart of the divide between the fans. And it comes from this "I have been told things so terrible", "I have seen things which" rumour-monging we have seen so much of recently. People simply cannot get outraged about things they don't know about. Manipulating the protestors cannot possibly work in the long haul.

The outrage of the ITK's might be genuine and fuelling the desire to do "something", but until everyone else knows what that is, I'm afraid I cannot see anything other than a continuation in the current trend in coverage: less of it and less sympathetic, which will be music to the ears of those in Pune and the manager's office.

My advice would be to first stop thinking about stunts and coverage - they are a huge distraction. Secondly, focus on one goal, one simple message that everyone can agree to and get energised by. Thirdly, get the dirty washing out by whatever means possible. Fourthly, protest in a way that communicates the strength of feeling - that;s what will attract followers, not hopeless PR stunts that either look silly or are misleading (the fatc that the flowers at Jack's statue needs explaining as to what it actually means says it all) Or if you want to continue this route then hire Max Clifford, because that's the standard required to succeed.

Very good post.

This particular protest of flowers has been a terrible own goal. How many flowers are there - maybe 100 wreaths / bunches. So that shows that maybe 100 supporters not happy with thing - even though there are more supporters who want new owners / new manager etc. Visually it looks like there are only a few.

It is winter, the flowers will die and rot very very quickly.

The organisers have also alienated some Rovers supporters. The banner - as wrong as it was - shows this.

[forumquizmaster]

While the goal of 'doing something before it is too late" is praiseworthy, to an outsider (which I consider myself on this issue) the problems are cleary with the "something" and the "it"

It is totally unclear to the average person what is being protested about, not least because the "it" keeps changing. From Kean (perm any from results, drink driver, lier, crook, conniver), to possible relegation, to Venky's, to alleged criminality behind the scenes and now to "the death of the connection most of the fans feel with the club" It's hardly "Tear down this wall, Mr Gorbachev" is it?

Secondly, the protests are being, imo, over-organised and badly executed. To date they have been no Arab Spring of spontaneous uprisings but a collection of PR stunts. PR stunts can work but they can also backfire, and most do unless very tightly and professionally managed. PR is a highly skilled task and very few do it well.

All the emphasis seems to be on coming up with something deemed "newsworthy" and pushing that to the press to get coverage. What the press are seeing, which is what they are now reporting, is that the goals of the protest are unclear and that not many fans take part in them. So instead of the desired goal of the owners being humiliated in public, we now have the protesters being gently mocked and an increased wave of sympathy for the manager and to a lesser extent the owners. In short, the protest strategy and execution are fatally flawed.

The third problem I see, and it is the biggest one imo because it leads to the others, is that the protest leaders are protesting about completely different things to everyone else, and this is at the heart of the divide between the fans. And it comes from this "I have been told things so terrible", "I have seen things which" rumour-monging we have seen so much of recently. People simply cannot get outraged about things they don't know about. Manipulating the protestors cannot possibly work in the long haul.

The outrage of the ITK's might be genuine and fuelling the desire to do "something", but until everyone else knows what that is, I'm afraid I cannot see anything other than a continuation in the current trend in coverage: less of it and less sympathetic, which will be music to the ears of those in Pune and the manager's office.

My advice would be to first stop thinking about stunts and coverage - they are a huge distraction. Secondly, focus on one goal, one simple message that everyone can agree to and get energised by. Thirdly, get the dirty washing out by whatever means possible. Fourthly, protest in a way that communicates the strength of feeling - that;s what will attract followers, not hopeless PR stunts that either look silly or are misleading (the fatc that the flowers at Jack's statue needs explaining as to what it actually means says it all) Or if you want to continue this route then hire Max Clifford, because that's the standard required to succeed.

Take a bow. IMHO the best post I have seen on here for quite some time. In fact, so good I'm going to share it with my FB friends.

[Mattyblue]

Excellent post EiT, these stunts are not working, organisers need to take a deep breath, step back and ask 'what are we trying to achieve?' and 'what is the endgame?'

As the sub heading of this very thread says, 'the slow death of the club', yet this changed to 'the death of communication from the club'. It has veered badly off course in my opinion and less and less fans are identifying with the protests and protesters, creating a situation in which people broadly agree with the organisers but refuse to follow.

There is only one thing left for us fans to do- chant, chant and chant some more when results go badly.

Dissent from the crowd against Man City this season and Ince at Wigan, they were passionate and wholly spontaneous displays of anger and nothing else has come close.

[Al]

Very good post.

This particular protest of flowers has been a terrible own goal. How many flowers are there - maybe 100 wreaths / bunches. So that shows that maybe 100 supporters not happy with thing - even though there are more supporters who want new owners / new manager etc. Visually it looks like there are only a few.

It is winter, the flowers will die and rot very very quickly.

The organisers have also alienated some Rovers supporters. The banner - as wrong as it was - shows this.

You must be congratulated for the number of ways you have contrived to be negative about the protests. Stay comfortable on the South Coast and let the club sink slowly into the mire and do nothing!

[rebelmswar]

You must be congratulated for the number of ways you have contrived to be negative about the protests. Stay comfortable on the South Coast and let the club sink slowly into the mire and do nothing!

And there was me thinking it was just me noticing this.