[Archived] BRFC v villa MARCH

[Mattyblue]

A meet with Paul Hunt? You might as well have a meet with the Brockhall canteen lady, bet she knows mire gossip than that nomark.

Unlikely I know, but what we really need is a group of fans to actually have a face to face with the owners, to tell them a few home truths like... Oh wait a minute!

[PLJPB]

Not saying any dialogue is easy. But the door was opened. But because brag shut the door, it may take awhile for it to be opened again.

People went to pune. Nobody knew what to expect. But they had to go just to see if it achieved anything. It hasn't. But they had to try all the same.

I just can't believe how you can defend the club over this.

I think the first promise of a meeting was made by Kean himself on Sky Sports before Christmas. Kean then renaged.

Paul Hunt promised meetings again before Christmas. He renaged.

Banners are banned from the ground.

Music is turned up to drown out protesters.

Quite simply the club and their mouthpieces are scheming liars.

Anyonewhp defends them is either a WUM or does not care about the future of the club.

[ABBEY]

And you can add to the list how the darwen end was stewarded yesterday apparantly

[Stuart]

And you can add to the list how the darwen end was stewarded yesterday apparantly

The stewarding seemed OTT anyway yesterday, doubled up pitch side with 10 minutes left and then all stood up for the final 5.

What in particular did you hear about the DE yesterday, abs?

[gumboots]

And you can add to the list how the darwen end was stewarded yesterday apparantly

Was that just Rovers fans or all Darwen end fans, including away fans? Reason i ask is cos wasn't it Villa who smashed the toilets up last season or the season before?

[glen9mullan]

All home fans entering Darwen end where searched, they put up barriers leading up to turnstyles, which was not evident at other stands despite the other stands being more high populated. There also a massive steward pressence in Darwen end,

Yesterdays protest march

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BuK1uMPDzU&feature=share

All home fans entering Darwen end where searched, they put up barriers leading up to turnstyles, which was not evident at other stands despite the other stands being more high populated. There also a massive steward pressence in Darwen end,

Yesterdays protest march

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BuK1uMPDzU&feature=share

[Pedro]

I just can't believe how you can defend the club over this.

I think the first promise of a meeting was made by Kean himself on Sky Sports before Christmas. Kean then renaged.

Paul Hunt promised meetings again before Christmas. He renaged.

Banners are banned from the ground.

Music is turned up to drown out protesters.

Quite simply the club and their mouthpieces are scheming liars.

Anyonewhp defends them is either a WUM or does not care about the future of the club.

Yes but you aren't really taking into consideration all of the other fans who get peed off with inside stadium protesting. Agreed, one side of the arguement is it is positive to voice your concerns, but the other is that it fuels a negative atmosphere.

From my own perspective and whether you care to accept it or not, it ruins the matchday experience sitting behind someone who is holding up a banner or holding up A4 paper with Kean out. From my own recollection there have been times when organised protests happened during the game regardless of whether the team was winning, losing or drawing...again, much to the annoyance of a massive part of the rest of the paying public. This often fuels disagreements or fights so in my eyes it is a logical decision by the club to recognise the feelings of the majority who don't want to protest for whatever reason they choose and then ban banners etc. from the ground.

As unfair as it may seem to you, you'll have to accept that the stadium is the property of Rovers/Venkys so you will have to abide by their rules or take the protests outside or your business elsewhere - which has effectively happened when you see all of the empty seats. The club have compromised by allowing the protests to centre around the Jack Walker statue and could very easily have prevented that too, so fair play to them.

As for meetings with certain sections of the fans, I don't blame them for cancelling because they wholly understand your concerns but too many fans don't recognise the fact that as employees they either don't know what to say or often can't address questions without breaching confidentiality and losing their jobs... and to be fair, the way that some people on here hang on every wrongly spoken word from Kean or Hunt and obsessively believe that they are purposefully trying to "divide the fans" I wouldn't want to open up further dialogue with such nutjobs either.

PS. I am not a WUM and care deeply about the club.

[Stuart]

Yes but you aren't really taking into consideration all of the other fans who get peed off with inside stadium protesting. Agreed, one side of the arguement is it is positive to voice your concerns, but the other is that it fuels a negative atmosphere.

From my own perspective and whether you care to accept it or not, it ruins the matchday experience sitting behind someone who is holding up a banner or holding up A4 paper with Kean out. From my own recollection there have been times when organised protests happened during the game regardless of whether the team was winning, losing or drawing...again, much to the annoyance of a massive part of the rest of the paying public. This often fuels disagreements or fights so in my eyes it is a logical decision by the club to recognise the feelings of the majority who don't want to protest for whatever reason they choose and then ban banners etc. from the ground.

As unfair as it may seem to you, you'll have to accept that the stadium is the property of Rovers/Venkys so you will have to abide by their rules or take the protests outside or your business elsewhere - which has effectively happened when you see all of the empty seats. The club have compromised by allowing the protests to centre around the Jack Walker statue and could very easily have prevented that too, so fair play to them.

As for meetings with certain sections of the fans, I don't blame them for cancelling because they wholly understand your concerns but too many fans don't recognise the fact that as employees they either don't know what to say or often can't address questions without breaching confidentiality and losing their jobs... and to be fair, the way that some people on here hang on every wrongly spoken word from Kean or Hunt and obsessively believe that they are purposefully trying to "divide the fans" I wouldn't want to open up further dialogue with such nutjobs either.

PS. I am not a WUM and care deeply about the club.

Don't you think that the "matchday experience" has been ruined far more by Venkys and Kean than by protesters?

Don't you also think that if the "matchday exprience" hadn't been ruined, that there would be protests at all?

Your own recollection about protesting when we are winning might be correct, but if fans only protest when we are losing, they are called fickle and not take seriously. If they protest regardless of the result, they are seen as either idiots or Bad Fans^TM.

You are only going to ever get to an "agree to disagree" position with the points you are making because protesters will not accept doing nothing and anti-protesters will never accept taking a stand.

[adopted scouser]

All home fans entering Darwen end where searched, they put up barriers leading up to turnstyles, which was not evident at other stands despite the other stands being more high populated. There also a massive steward pressence in Darwen end,

Yesterdays protest march

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BuK1uMPDzU&feature=share

All home fans entering Darwen end where searched, they put up barriers leading up to turnstyles, which was not evident at other stands despite the other stands being more high populated. There also a massive steward pressence in Darwen end,

Yesterdays protest march

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BuK1uMPDzU&feature=share

You losing your hair Abbs ?!!

[McClarky]

When you arrived at the DE yesterday there were massive queues with everyone being searched before they could get in. There were also quite a few police around which is unnecessary and probably very expensive. I asked 1 bloke what it was all about and he just shrugged and said he had no idea but it was a joke. Even in the ground there were quite a few police which must be costing the club a fortune. All very well to get the £2/hour brigade there on mass but police don't come cheap, we could probably pay Simon Yukovic's appearance fee by having a few less coppers at each game. It must be just to give the impression that we need controlling and restraining as there are no real reasons for all this. Another excample of fans being smeared by our own club and of the huge scism being built up between the club and the fans.

[ABBEY]

The stewarding seemed OTT anyway yesterday, doubled up pitch side with 10 minutes left and then all stood up for the final 5.

What in particular did you hear about the DE yesterday, abs?

Lots

[Mattyblue]

Aye, I could see a line of stewards all the way down the aisle of the end DE block where the singers are based.

Really is unreal what has gone on this last year.

[roversWASmylife]

Never attended a march before but did yesterday to see what it was all about and that.

Seems to me there's a lot of negativity about these marches. Yes, these marches aren't going to remove Kean from post or Venkys to sell up now.

I pay my hard earned cash like the rest of us who go to Ewood and have the right to voice my opinion as we all do. I felt i should turn up, there are a number of individuals who have tirelessly worked on these demonstrations and feel that I should bother to turn up 40 minutes earlier to show my support.

The marches are all good nature, Grandparents, parents, young men, women and children. No disorder, abuse and the like.

It's the first home game I've been able to turn up to since the Stoke game and having attended the West Brom and Bolton games (remember how we all felt after that) I felt it was about time I bothered to turn up.

Maybe these marches aren't doing anything. But there's a lot of people who have bothered to organise and stick up for the fans here. We all don't like Venkys' involvement and I certainly can't stand the sight of Kean on that touchline.

[ABBEY]

You losing your hair Abbs ?!!

Teeeeebooooooow

[Tom]

Abbey can't handle his ale either, literally, it was all down him!

[AggyBlue]

Abbey can't handle his ale either, literally, it was all down him!

Did he have a big number on the front of his garish coloured shirt yesterday?

[ABBEY]

Abbey can't handle his ale either, literally, it was all down him!

You pushed him into me

[Stuart]

Never attended a march before but did yesterday to see what it was all about and that.

Seems to me there's a lot of negativity about these marches. Yes, these marches aren't going to remove Kean from post or Venkys to sell up now.

I pay my hard earned cash like the rest of us who go to Ewood and have the right to voice my opinion as we all do. I felt i should turn up, there are a number of individuals who have tirelessly worked on these demonstrations and feel that I should bother to turn up 40 minutes earlier to show my support.

The marches are all good nature, Grandparents, parents, young men, women and children. No disorder, abuse and the like.

It's the first home game I've been able to turn up to since the Stoke game and having attended the West Brom and Bolton games (remember how we all felt after that) I felt it was about time I bothered to turn up.

Maybe these marches aren't doing anything. But there's a lot of people who have bothered to organise and stick up for the fans here. We all don't like Venkys' involvement and I certainly can't stand the sight of Kean on that touchline.

+1

[den]

Just to be clear den, I'm not a member of BRAG but I am glad there is a group of people who have formed this group. Although they are not leaders, the likes of Bob and Dawn epitomise what BRAG is about (even if they aren't members - as I don't know that for sure). However, they are the types of people I think represent the majority of fans' feelings.

You are right I haven't met Paul Hunt, and he may be a good guy. However, I allow myself to believe that he doesn't have Rovers best interests at heart because he is one of the people employed to do Venkys bidding, and what has happened to the club has happened on his watch.

My view of him is much the same as my view of Kean.

If you have information which suggests otherwise, please let me know.

Yes, fair do's to that Stuart. Like you, I say good luck to BRAG and anyone else who's willing to stand up and be counted. Paul Hunt has done nothing to earn my respect either, but really my only point is that if BRAG want to meet him and he's willing, - then meet him. The only chance that BRAG has of getting anywhere near to a honest and frank meeting with him though, is in a meeting that's off the record.

[Stuart]

Yes, fair do's to that Stuart. Like you, I say good luck to BRAG and anyone else who's willing to stand up and be counted. Paul Hunt has done nothing to earn my respect either, but really my only point is that if BRAG want to meet him and he's willing, - then meet him. The only chance that BRAG has of getting anywhere near to a honest and frank meeting with him though, is in a meeting that's off the record.

I can see your point but how can there be an honest and frank meeting, if the terms of the meeting are changed at the last minute? It hardly breeds trust, and this following several other planned meetings which were apparently reneged on?

[Pedro]

Don't you think that the "matchday experience" has been ruined far more by Venkys and Kean than by protesters?

Don't you also think that if the "matchday exprience" hadn't been ruined, that there would be protests at all?

Your own recollection about protesting when we are winning might be correct, but if fans only protest when we are losing, they are called fickle and not take seriously. If they protest regardless of the result, they are seen as either idiots or Bad Fans^TM.

You are only going to ever get to an "agree to disagree" position with the points you are making because protesters will not accept doing nothing and anti-protesters will never accept taking a stand.

Honestly,

1. No, as stated quite some time back I hated watching Big Sam football and was all prepared to throw in the towel through boredom. Totally appreciate that other people might be able to watch that style of play but for me, apart from an increase in defensive mistakes, I can stomach the style of football much easier.

2. No because I don't agree with your definition of the matchday experience in question 1. I appreciated changes would happen and expected changes would happen. Some I'd agree with, some I wouldn't, and some that I still struggle to see sense/method in. If you mean though that had say Sheik Monsoor (or whatever he is called) took over, then there would be absolutely none of this going on and Rovers fans would be giving it the big 'un.

3. Name calling and labelling happens regardless, doing what you feel is right is all you should believe in/care about so I appreciate that side of it. From my own point of view I thought the timings, changing reasons, conspiracy theories and the way people voiced their anger and opinions in the earliest protests set the standard for people thinking protestors were merely idiots, and I agreed at the time. I also don't appreciate people inciting people to stand up etc. during games and then give them ###### when they don't believe in the exact cause or simply don't want to follow suit. Now people are protesting down the line in a more organised fashion, with a solid purpose but unfortunately the vast majority of people just make that same connection because it is the same mouth pieces talking and in my opinion the bridges have largely been burnt between fans->protesting fans->club...in that order.

4. Totally agree, just wanted to make my point of view known to the OP. I don't think for a minute he will take it on board because he has a concrete opinion on things which differs greatly from mine - eg people who disagree are WUMs or don't care for the club...which is utter ###### and very presumptuous.

[Mattyblue]

I've no real issue with your post Pedro, but you honestly think we are watching palatable football under Kean?

[Pedro]

I've no real issue with your post Pedro, but you honestly think we are watching palatable football under Kean?

I knew you'd be onto that Matty!

For me mate yes, it is much more palatable than before. I'm not going to turn the clock back 6months and start ranting but I genuinelycouldn't bear it and was 100% going to stop going to Rovers because of the style of play. I can't argue with the results Sam got but for me, the football style was unbearable.

[Stuart]

Pedro, this is the team which Allardyce played against Villa in his final season (and beside it the team Kean sent out yesterday):

Robinson (Robinson)

Salgado (Orr)

Samba (Hanley)

Nelsen (Dann)

Givet (Olsson)

EH Diouf (N'Zonzi)

Dunn (Formica)

Jones (Petrovic)

Pedersen (Pedersen)

Hoilett (Hoilett)

Roberts (Yakubu)

Aside from Yakubu, out of the two teams I'd prefer to watch the line up Big Sam fielded every day of the week. If Sam had the luxury of a transfer budget and been able to bring in someone better than Benjani then it might be a fair comparison. The fact is Venkys and Kean have sold off our better players and brought in, in the main, dross. The first half yesterday was worse than anything Allardyce ever served up - Petrovic and N'Zonzi looked well of the pace (being kind) and disinterested (being unkind).

This is all my opinion of course but what is a fact, and seems almost incidental, is that under Sam against Villa, we won, Peds scored two goals and kept a clean sheet. Damn good going, still in my opinion, when you consider Villa's team that day: Friedal, L Young, Dunne, Downing, A Young, Ireland, Agbonlahor, Clark, Bannan, Hogg. (Although you can see why they got nil).

In any case, I, and thousands of my fellow fans, went home happy.

Yesterday I just went home.

[Mattyblue]

My view on Samuel is well documented, I was a big fan, others wernt.

But, let's take the Kean reign on it's own, we have been an unbalanced, disorganised rabble for its enterity, I'm amazed folk find it watchable, I suppose it's watchable in a crash on the other side of the motorway kind of way.