[Archived] No fight left?

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

A season ticket thread with fans appearing to relish the annihilation of our support, a thread with a timely price offer being met with negativity and scorn, and a thread about who's gonna manage us in the Championship next season.

Is there noone else who's main priority right now is to keep a stiff upper lip, sing their heart out, and create two Newcastle-95 type atmospheres to try and help us stay up? There's 15 points left to play for and we're 3 behind Wigan and QPR. I mean christ, why have so many given up already?

This season will go down in future years as the one where the true colours of the worst owners in the club's history were shown, and the season where one of our worst managers put his pride before the good of Rovers. But at this rate it'll also be known as the season where the fans couldn't even be bothered to stay behind the team for the last few crucial matches. Personally I'd find that last one the hardest to explain to future fans.

[Roverall]

A season ticket thread with fans appearing to relish the annihilation of our support, a thread with a timely price offer being met with negativity and scorn, and a thread about who's gonna manage us in the Championship next season.

Is there noone else who's main priority right now is to keep a stiff upper lip, sing their heart out, and create two Newcastle-95 type atmospheres to try and help us stay up? There's 15 points left to play for and we're 3 behind Wigan and QPR. I mean christ, why have so many given up already?

This season will go down in future years as the one where the true colours of the worst owners in the club's history were shown, and the season where one of our worst managers put his pride before the good of Rovers. But at this rate it'll also be known as the season where the fans couldn't even be bothered to stay behind the team for the last few crucial matches. Personally I'd find that last one the hardest to explain to future fans.

It's the context of all this that is the problem. Agree with them or not, most fans do not feel it is Blackburn Rovers any more.

[Mattyblue]

A season ticket thread with fans appearing to relish the annihilation of our support, a thread with a timely price offer being met with negativity and scorn, and a thread about who's gonna manage us in the Championship next season.

Is there noone else who's main priority right now is to keep a stiff upper lip, sing their heart out, and create two Newcastle-95 type atmospheres to try and help us stay up? There's 15 points left to play for and we're 3 behind Wigan and QPR. I mean christ, why have so many given up already?

This season will go down in future years as the one where the true colours of the worst owners in the club's history were shown, and the season where one of our worst managers put his pride before the good of Rovers. But at this rate it'll also be known as the season where the fans couldn't even be bothered to stay behind the team for the last few crucial matches. Personally I'd find that last one the hardest to explain to future fans.

Don't be daft, if the players give their all in their remaining games, they'll get backed to the hilt by the fans.

[1864roverite]

Sadly its a team that isnt good enough because the manager is a clueless fool who thinks he knows better, is delusional and who thinks that the table doesnt tell the truth.

There needs to be a miracle and in this day and age miracles are short on the ground.

I am sick of hearing how young our team is what I want is to see heart, soul, effort and pride and when I do I will sing until my voice is gone.

Until then its KEAN OUT

[onlyonejackwalker]

"But at this rate it'll also be known as the season where the fans couldn't even be bothered to stay behind the team for the last few crucial matches. Personally I'd find that last one the hardest to explain to future fans."

This season will become known in future as the one in which our fans sat around apathetically whilst the club was decimated from top to bottom.

[bobsterbrfc]

It's the context of all this that is the problem. Agree with them or not, most fans do not feel it is Blackburn Rovers any more.

Bingo.

[AggyBlue]

But at this rate it'll also be known as the season where the fans couldn't even be bothered to stay behind the team for the last few crucial matches. Personally I'd find that last one the hardest to explain to future fans.

When the owners and the manager aren't doing all they can/could to save the club from relegation, there's sweet FA the fans can do.

[m1st]

A season ticket thread with fans appearing to relish the annihilation of our support, a thread with a timely price offer being met with negativity and scorn, and a thread about who's gonna manage us in the Championship next season.

Is there noone else who's main priority right now is to keep a stiff upper lip, sing their heart out, and create two Newcastle-95 type atmospheres to try and help us stay up? There's 15 points left to play for and we're 3 behind Wigan and QPR. I mean christ, why have so many given up already?

This season will go down in future years as the one where the true colours of the worst owners in the club's history were shown, and the season where one of our worst managers put his pride before the good of Rovers. But at this rate it'll also be known as the season where the fans couldn't even be bothered to stay behind the team for the last few crucial matches. Personally I'd find that last one the hardest to explain to future fans.

I've just looked up Mike Jackman's "Complete Record" book for the details of the first relegation I can remember; 1965/66, the season which had a delayed start because of the polio outbreak.

That's probably why 5 of our last 7 games were at home. We were so far behind the other teams fighting to avoid relegation that those 5 home games weren't as crucial as our 5 most recent have been. [in the era of 2 points for a win and only 2 teams going down, we finished 13 points behind Northampton Town, who came down with us and 15 behind Fulham, who avoided the drop.]

So I know this can't be an exact comparison because, as others have pointed out, the times and the context are different; but the attendances for the last 5 games of that season [against West Brom, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Manchester United and Tottenham] "attracted" attendances of 7,637, 7,683, 7,487, 14,513 [united must have brought a lot!] and 7,256 respectively.

That compares with the figures for our 5 most recent home games: QPR, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Manchester United and Liverpool which are 20,252, 20,717, 20,056, 26,532 and 23,571 respectively. At least, there's nearly three times as many of us still going to Ewood than there were then.

I still lived in Blackpool in those days so I don't know if, in the pre-internet era, there was as much correspondence about what was happening to the club in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, The Pink or the Blackburn Times but I'll bet there was a fair bit of grumbling about what was happening to the club.

[Pedro]

A season ticket thread with fans appearing to relish the annihilation of our support, a thread with a timely price offer being met with negativity and scorn, and a thread about who's gonna manage us in the Championship next season.

Is there noone else who's main priority right now is to keep a stiff upper lip, sing their heart out, and create two Newcastle-95 type atmospheres to try and help us stay up? There's 15 points left to play for and we're 3 behind Wigan and QPR. I mean christ, why have so many given up already?

This season will go down in future years as the one where the true colours of the worst owners in the club's history were shown, and the season where one of our worst managers put his pride before the good of Rovers. But at this rate it'll also be known as the season where the fans couldn't even be bothered to stay behind the team for the last few crucial matches. Personally I'd find that last one the hardest to explain to future fans.

You are right on the money there.

It has been like this all season. The team and the players need our support. Why should they bust a gut for the fans, when the fans don't even get behind them?

I'll be there next season regardless of who is in charge and what league we are in, it has been soul destroying but I live in hope of change of manager or fortune. Take for instance Newcastle - their owner was criticised, their choices of managers were ridiculed...but two years later they find themselves flavour of the year again - anything is possible.

...and I still think we will scrape up with 36 points!!!

[AggyBlue]

So I know this can't be an exact comparison because, as others have pointed out, the times and the context are different; but the attendances for the last 5 games of that season [against West Brom, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Manchester United and Tottenham] "attracted" attendances of 7,637, 7,683, 7,487, 14,513 [united must have brought a lot!] and 7,256 respectively.

That compares with the figures for our 5 most recent home games: QPR, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Manchester United and Liverpool which are 20,252, 20,717, 20,056, 26,532 and 23,571 respectively. At least, there's nearly three times as many of us still going to Ewood than there were then.

If we had the same number of season ticket holders this season as in 65/66, the gates would be no where near what they have been.

We had three front row season tickets for the Nuttall Street stand, there were very few season ticket holders around us. Most fans paid on the gate.

[47er]

I've just looked up Mike Jackman's "Complete Record" book for the details of the first relegation I can remember; 1965/66, the season which had a delayed start because of the polio outbreak.

That's probably why 5 of our last 7 games were at home. We were so far behind the other teams fighting to avoid relegation that those 5 home games weren't as crucial as our 5 most recent have been. [in the era of 2 points for a win and only 2 teams going down, we finished 13 points behind Northampton Town, who came down with us and 15 behind Fulham, who avoided the drop.]

So I know this can't be an exact comparison because, as others have pointed out, the times and the context are different; but the attendances for the last 5 games of that season [against West Brom, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Manchester United and Tottenham] "attracted" attendances of 7,637, 7,683, 7,487, 14,513 [united must have brought a lot!] and 7,256 respectively.

That compares with the figures for our 5 most recent home games: QPR, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Manchester United and Liverpool which are 20,252, 20,717, 20,056, 26,532 and 23,571 respectively. At least, there's nearly three times as many of us still going to Ewood than there were then.

I still lived in Blackpool in those days so I don't know if, in the pre-internet era, there was as much correspondence about what was happening to the club in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, The Pink or the Blackburn Times but I'll bet there was a fair bit of grumbling about what was happening to the club.

Attendances in the old First Division at that time were startlingly low cf today. When we were doing OK a gate of 16000-17000 would have been average.

It was really hard for us to get above 20000 after the Wembley debacle unless it was a local derby. 1950's on the other hand the ground was packed and we were in Div 2!

[Mattyblue]

All about the FA Cup then, wasn't it?

[47er]

All about the FA Cup then, wasn't it?

Definitely a big factor but attendances at other clubs were not that great either. Nothing like today.

[roverandout]

sorry predro, why should they bust a gut??? cause they get well effing paid to do so, thats their job, why should i bust a gut at work if the customers dont say thankyou? because im paid to do it, they should bust a gut because we pay our hard earned money to come and watch them, theyre in a privileged position that most would give their right arm for,

[Parsonblue]

It has been like this all season. The team and the players need our support. Why should they bust a gut for the fans, when the fans don't even get behind them?

Could it be that they are paid to bust a gut for the club? I didn't see any evidence of protests at the Emirates, or at City or, indeed, at West Brom on Saturday and the players hardly busted a gut in any of those matches. The bottom line is the players aren't good enough and those that are decent know full well that if we go down they won't be playing Championship football next season. Come the summer there will be a rush to the door marked exit.

[Bluemonday BRFC]

It’s a matter of 'Que sera sera' at present, the real focus should be on getting Venky's out of our club come the end of the Season, regardless of what League we are in.

Whilst we are by no means down, if we do find ourselves losing at Swansea, whilst our relegation rivals continue their plight and pick up points, you can't blame the fans for losing their belief.

All in all, we have never been under a foreign, ignorant, arrogant, absentee ownership as we find ourselves in now. For everything that has gone on, no wonder people are losing the bond that once held up the club as a beacon of the community. Going to Ewood now just isn't the same. Money and success are irrelevant, it’s as though the heart and soul has been ripped out.

Whilst we give our full backing to the squad in a last attempt to rally us on to survival, things need to begin to be stepped up against the administration, ready come the end of the season. Because, if the worst occurs, and we go down, I can't see many going to Ewood in the Championship, not merely because of the fixture list and lack of coverage on the box, but because people can no longer watch their baby being abused by a smug stranger.

Blackburn Rovers as a mid table Championship club, or whatever else, doesn't bother me, but one under Venky's ownership and all the negativities which inevitably come with it certainly does.

Wherever we find ourselves following the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, the fight is by no means over, and a blitzkrieg offensive needs to be launched, to get our Rovers back.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

sorry predro, why should they bust a gut??? cause they get well effing paid to do so, thats their job, why should i bust a gut at work if the customers dont say thankyou? because im paid to do it, they should bust a gut because we pay our hard earned money to come and watch them, theyre in a privileged position that most would give their right arm for,

I suppose its the whole should the team lift the fans or should the fans lift the team argument. Most of the time I'd say it should be a bit of both, in situations like these it should be more of the second. But you look at our support in the last few games, pre-occupied with hounding Pedersen and groaning with impatience at any non-forward pass, and you'd have to say its more of the players having to lift the fans at the moment. And looking at some of the comments on here I'm not even sure thats possible in some cases.

Its hard to imagine a bigger 2 home games than the ones we've got coming up. £7.50 a game and half our support sounds totally uninterested, while the other half seems to be concentrating on how much stick they can give Kean (and Venkys if they turn up). I'll fully admit the team has been shocking the last couple of games but thats exactly why the fans need to make it deafeaning against Norwich and produce the same effect Muamba had on Bolton. I just wanna see us go out with a bang if we are going out.

[roverandout]

we have given them support all season and every game we say this is the big one, this is the game that could turn our season around and it hasnt happened and i dont beleive it will happen, we can clap and cheer them all we want but whilst we have an imposter for a manager at the helm, nothing is going to change, by the time we play wigan, it could be all over anyway, we need to conserve our energy for the fight against the owners!!!

[Kendalrover]

When I saw the title of the thread I thought it was about the players. In my view the players have given up. Either through frustration, lack of leadership, lack of tactics, lack of ability. They are not bothered most of them will be away in the summer if they can. I suspect most of them (except for the overpromoted youngsters) are probably thinking 'only a few more weeks of working with this a*****e and we can be away'.

The fans still care and will always care but as posted above to me this is no longer Blackburn Rovers. This is not the club I have supported for 45 years through thick and thin and made personal sacrifices. This club is corrupt, has corrupt management, it has deliberately cut itself off from its fans. It is now just a self serving business for the egos of Kean and the Venkys (and you can also throw Agnew, Hunt and Silk into the mix). They are not bothered whatever happens they will all make sure they make money out of the venture.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

You are right on the money there.

It has been like this all season. The team and the players need our support. Why should they bust a gut for the fans, when the fans don't even get behind them?

I'll be there next season regardless of who is in charge and what league we are in, it has been soul destroying but I live in hope of change of manager or fortune. Take for instance Newcastle - their owner was criticised, their choices of managers were ridiculed...but two years later they find themselves flavour of the year again - anything is possible.

...and I still think we will scrape up with 36 points!!!

Why should they bust a gut ! Jesus Christ ! What's beating under the badge ? A carraway seed ? Have they no personal pride the spineless bleeders ? The minute you walk over that white line it should be game on. I've played in friendlies on my best behavior but if somebody took the ball off me or roughed me up that was it, the gloves were off ! Have they given up ? Yes they have. Have Wigan or QPR given up ? No chance.

[rhodie]

"This club is corrupt, has corrupt management, it has deliberately cut itself off from its fans. It is now just a self serving business for the egos of Kean and the Venkys (and you can also throw Agnew, Hunt and Silk into the mix). They are not bothered whatever happens they will all make sure they make money out of the venture."

Says it all for me,I`ve always thought that this is the owners outlook and therein lies all our problems.Football second and money first.Mrs V is indulging the brothers ,she is not interested in football and unfortunately she is running the show.No amount of fight is going to change that.

[winstonsmith]

..the first relegation I can remember; 1965/66, the season which had a delayed start because of the polio outbreak...I'll bet there was a fair bit of grumbling about what was happening to the club.

Well, m1st, as a teenager in 1966 I was at those final games. Everybody else remembers 1966 for the World Cup win but for me it was Rovers going down ! Can't remember too much from the papers, but where I stood on the Darwen End there was grumbling and also a fair bit of anger too. I can vaguely remember someone burning a scarf and chants of 'Sack Jack' and smashed windows down Bolton Road.

I recall a very funny end of year review in the LET titled ' Drovers go down in a sea of mud'.

Btw - I think the LET's sports paper on a Saturday was called the 'Last Sports'.

[Stuart]

This thread is a bit like meeting your mate in the pub who you KNOW has just lost his job, his wife has left him for another bloke and taken the kids and is reading through his repossession order letters for his house and car, and saying:

"Cheer up mate, it might never happen"

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

This thread is a bit like meeting your mate in the pub who you KNOW has just lost his job, his wife has left him for another bloke and taken the kids and is reading through his repossession order letters for his house and car, and saying:

"Cheer up mate, it might never happen"

Who's saying it might never happen ? I'm saying it will happen any day now.

[Majiball]

"Cheer up mate, it might never happen"

I'll bet that's what your friends said as your hairline receded.