[Archived] Premier League Happenings

[DE.]

Anyone watch MOTD?

Why has Alan Shearer suddenly changed his voice to some daft university hybrid accent with an upward infliction?

Probably a reaction to the newspaper articles over the past couple of years criticising him as a man-child, etc. Trying to sound smarter I suppose, but if your words still lack genuine content it's a pointless endeavour.

Murphy sounded totally bored and like he'd rather be anywhere else.

[Stuart]

Anyone watch MOTD?

Why has Alan Shearer suddenly changed his voice to some daft university hybrid accent with an upward infliction?

Inflection?

I've not heard him yet but, as it's a pet hate if mine, it would only be out of masochistic curiosity if I did.

He's probably trying to stop being so dull and boring in his delivery. Well Alan, it's no good going for style over substance - particularly if you go for an annoying style, and continue to have little substance!

[T4E]

Sven Goran Eriksson says he signed a contract to manage Man United in 2002 but United went back on the deal when Ferguson changed his mind.

#Karma

[Guest Norbert]

Pretty much what I thought when I heard it T4E. Funny how he doesn't remember signing for us.

[Waggy76]

Murphy sounded totally bored and like he'd rather be anywhere else.

Think we have seen that before !

[rock steady]

Do people actually watch the "analysis"? I skip it every time. I've also been finding lately that football is a lot more enjoyable with the commentary muted. Even when it's not Michael Owen.

[Amo]

Oh, Joe...

Joe Kinnear ‘tried to sign midfielder who already played for Newcastle’

[DE.]

Shebby has a rival... at least Joe can cite senile dementia as an excuse, though.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

Do people actually watch the "analysis"? I skip it every time. I've also been finding lately that football is a lot more enjoyable with the commentary muted. Even when it's not Michael Owen.

I do these days. Well only when it's Shearer or Lawrenson. Shearer's accent was really strange this week. I can't get my head around why he was doing it.

[Audax]

There was a thread not long ago, can't remember the name but this table on the "Traditional Top Flight" reminded me of it.

Based on seasons in the top flight:

• Everton 110
• Villa. 102
• Liverpool 98
• Arsenal. 96
• Man Utd. 88
• Man City. 84
• Newcastle. 82
• Sunderland. 82
• Chelsea. 78
• Spurs. 78
• WBA. 75
• Bolton. 73
• Blackburn. 72
• Sheffield Wed. 66
• Derby. 65
• Wolves. 63
• Middlesbrough. 60
• Sheffield Utd. 60
• Birmingham. 57
• Stoke. 57

[Stuart]

I'll be called a killjoy but said at the time of the previous thread, the picture looks very different if you take the post-WW2 timescale and ignore the Jack Walker years.

There were fewer clubs and (a helluva lot) more fans pre-war; back when it was a working man's game and Blackburn was a thriving mill town.

If we could get the town back to it's pre-war economic climate, then we would be one of the PL teams I'm sure. It'd be a lot easier to convince people to fill Ewood Park too. Sadly there's not a chance - especially when anyone with any prospects leaves (or has to leave).

The cotton trade took our town, FFP took our Jack Walker. Let's hope Venkys don't take our club.

[West Yorks Rover]

I'll be called a killjoy but said at the time of the previous thread, the picture looks very different if you take the post-WW2 timescale and ignore the Jack Walker years.

There were fewer clubs and (a helluva lot) more fans pre-war; back when it was a working man's game and Blackburn was a thriving mill town.

If we could get the town back to it's pre-war economic climate, then we would be one of the PL teams I'm sure. It'd be a lot easier to convince people to fill Ewood Park too. Sadly there's not a chance - especially when anyone with any prospects leaves (or has to leave).

The cotton trade took our town, FFP took our Jack Walker. Let's hope Venkys don't take our club.

Must be remembered we managed to stay in the PL for 11 years after Jack died, with only a little help from the trust,

and if we had'nt been sold to the Indians, we'd probably still be there.

The small debt we had would have been mostly covered by the sale of Phil Jones to Man U which was going to happen anyway,

as Fergie had his eye on him, also lets not forget under Big Sam we had 2 years of 25,000 average gates, not bad for a town

of 106,000 population with so many other clubs in the vicinity, yes we reduced the ticket prices but many other clubs have

special offers too.

One thing also to remember about our history, we often matched or bettered much bigger towns and cities for attendances

when in similar league positions to them.

[jim mk2]

I'll be called a killjoy but said at the time of the previous thread, the picture looks very different if you take the post-WW2 timescale and ignore the Jack Walker years.

The picture looks very different too if you took only the Premier League period. You cannot be selective with data just to suit your own argument.

[Stuart]

Must be remembered we managed to stay in the PL for 11 years after Jack died, with only a little help from the trust,

and if we had'nt been sold to the Indians, we'd probably still be there.

Without Jack's money, there wouldn't have been a Trust and we wouldn't have been a PL team.

We were also suffering death by a thousand cuts when the Trust sold us (down the river). We would have been eventually relegated under the Trust, once they stopped putting their cash in but Venkys doing what they did gives the Walker Trust a massive get out of jail card.

The picture looks very different too if you took only the Premier League period. You cannot be selective with data just to suit your own argument.

The overwhelming evidence is that, post-war, we would not have been a top flight club for 20 years without the vision, willpower and money of one man.

[jim mk2]

The overwhelming evidence is that, post-war, we would not have been a top flight club for 20 years without the vision, willpower and money of one man.

His money helped us to get promoted but we stayed there long after he died thanks to good management on and off the pitch. It can be done again.

[Stuart]

His money helped us to get promoted but we stayed there long after he died thanks to good management on and off the pitch. It can be done again.

Another one who thinks Jack's legacy was independent of Jack.

A one season maybe two stint possibly. Not a twenty year run.

Not unless FFP restrictions are reversed and another rich Rovers fan turns up. We simply don't have the income stream and fanbase to pay the wages.

I want to believe it could happen, Jim, not least for my kids sake. But what more right or means (or likelihood) do we have than a Barnsley or even a Preston?

[jim mk2]

Look 10 miles down the road. Look at Swansea, Cardiff, Norwich, Southampton. You're too defeatist.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

Look 10 miles down the road. Look at Swansea, Cardiff, Norwich, Southampton. You're too defeatist.

And Blackpool. It can be done. Of course it can. Realistically as well. We know this league is devoid of quality, we say it all the time. Get promoted, use the masses of tv money money wisely and there you go.

Easier said than done I know but it's better than throwing in the towel.

[Amo]

News flash: Ashley Young is a diving tart.

[Stuart]

Look 10 miles down the road. Look at Swansea, Cardiff, Norwich, Southampton. You're too defeatist.

I've already said several times that Burnley are a freak team at the moment. Their small squad is managing to stay fit and defying gravity. It can't last. They may get promoted, but that won't last either.

The rest are all city clubs.

Our only chance to have a team representing us and compete organically now is the L word that you don't want to hear.

[West Yorks Rover]

I always think WBA are a good barometer for us,they are a similar size club with a similar history.

Fortunately for their fans they have had proper people running the club for quite a few years now.

That's all it needs and a bit of luck !!!!

[Mike E]

I've already said several times that Burnley are a freak team at the moment. Their small squad is managing to stay fit and defying gravity. It can't last. They may get promoted, but that won't last either.

The rest are all city clubs.

Our only chance to have a team representing us and compete organically now is the L word that you don't want to hear.

You're right, they're city clubs. How are their attendances compared to ours in similar positions though?

(Genuine Q, not a barb).

[West Yorks Rover]

I've already said several times that Burnley are a freak team at the moment. Their small squad is managing to stay fit and defying gravity. It can't last. They may get promoted, but that won't last either.

The rest are all city clubs.

Our only chance to have a team representing us and compete organically now is the L word that you don't want to hear.

Bollax !

Swansea have done it on 20k crowds.

The rest of those teams don't fill their grounds unless they sell cheap tickets.

BTW there was a phone-in on BBC a couple of months ago about ticket prices, virtually every club has been selling

cheap tickets for at least 2 /3 seasons.

Just proves it's all about TV money these days anyway, so you don't need to be a ' big city ' club at all, just like

Rovers have been proving for centuries.

[Stuart]

I don't understand why people can't see that the world have moved on and let Rovers behind.

[jim mk2]

I've already said several times that Burnley are a freak team at the moment. Their small squad is managing to stay fit and defying gravity. It can't last. They may get promoted, but that won't last either.

The rest are all city clubs.

Our only chance to have a team representing us and compete organically now is the L word that you don't want to hear.

So they are "city" clubs. What difference does that make ? Their attendances aren't much bigger than ours a few years ago.

I don't understand why people can't see that the world have moved on and let Rovers behind.

No it hasn't. The principles of good management and confidence and ambition are still the same. Swansea et al have all shown what can be achieved without much money.