[Archived] If (And its a big if)we get to Wembley.....

[darrenrover]

It's been festering for a while but I've been growing increasingly out of love with the game for a while. From the sky hype of the vastly over rated premier league, to the dire spectacles of the last few world cups and the pant wetting over countless damp squibs of the so called 'champions league'.

Everything has been about money for two decades now but its been increasing exponentially over the last decade to the point where clubs forsake everything in favour of the league and where finishing a pitiful 4th is more favourable to winning silverware.

The Rovers slump came at a bad time for me personally as I found myself disinterested in (even before the Venky era where I did not enjoy being told that I should be grateful to fall asleep in the cold watching the ball get covered in snow every other week) paying to watch and paying to support an undeserving rabble from a bereft squad who couldn't give a toss over anything more than their wage to the useless owners and a succession of clueless managers (post Sam). I felt they were taking the @#/? out of the fans so I didn't renew for the first time in, god knows, something like 22 years.

I've go

I think it was Hughes' last full season when I last went to Ewood every week with a spring in my step, where the club was actively interested in moving forwards and a feeling that anything could happen and some of it may actually be good and fairly interesting. However I still have interest in seeing the club do well even if I 'presently' do not feel the desire to participate on matchdays and will wait for the club to assemble the staff who's desire is deserving of my finances. The early signs of the Appleton era are encouraging but I will sit on the fence and watch for, possibly the remainder of 2013, before making a re-assessment.

I'm sure I am not alone

I've got to say I don't disagree on any of your points really, just that perhaps I'm a bit more resilient or perhaps stupid.

I too have been falling out of love with the game in general for years, whether that's down to age, who knows.

The jobs keaned.

[Rover_Shaun]

Last season felt like the match got in the way of a nice pleasant afternoons boozing, as well as me dropping more games in favour of camping/walking/socialising than I did in the previous 20 years, then non-renewal seemed the only outcome.

I used to organise my social life around the fixture list

I'm sure it's easier if you haven't experienced football pre-premiership as the clamour for cash over honours is all you know. Different era's and all that. Those forgotten times that old fogeys remember when the FA Cup 3rd round was the biggest fixture in the calendar (I'm sure at 38 I'm an old fogey to many)

[Hasta]

Yes he did. The referee should not base his decisions on scorelines. What if the keeper wasn't sent off and Bradford went up the other end and scored 2 goals? Correct decision in my opinion.

Correct decision but that law is rubbish anyway. It was brought in to stop centre halves hacking the striker down who was bursting clean through 30 yards out.

Too often it just results in similar to what happened yesterday - a gplayer completely undeliberately fouling whilst trying to win the ball resulting in a double punishment - a goal and a man reduction which in many cases ruins the game.

[Stuart]

I've thought that for a while Hasta. It's a rule that spoils many a match.

[Hasta]

Back to the semi-finals, If the decision to hold them at Wembley is a joke then the decision to hold the first one last year - a northwest derby - at Saturday 12.30pm was a disgrace. The second semi was Sunday at 6pm.

The FA will say it's at Wembley for the benefit of the fans so that more of them can enjoy the occasion - then they prove what a load of balls that is with the kick off times.

[Stuart]

The FA will say it's at Wembley for the benefit of the fans so that more of them can enjoy the occasion - then they prove what a load of balls that is with the kick off times.

I think everyone knows the only reason the Semis are at Wembley is "to pay for the stadium" (or wherever the money goes).

Eventually they will stop having them there. Unless they start to enjoy the income.

[cn174]

I think everyone knows the only reason the Semis are at Wembley is "to pay for the stadium" (or wherever the money goes).

Eventually they will stop having them there. Unless they start to enjoy the income.

Well there'll be a bit of a wait until they stop having them at Wembley. I'm pretty sure it is a 30 year deal to have a certain number of games at Wembley which include the semi finals.

[majorstyre]

It's been festering for a while but I've been growing increasingly out of love with the game for a while. From the sky hype of the vastly over rated premier league, to the dire spectacles of the last few world cups and the pant wetting over countless damp squibs of the so called 'champions league'.

Bit of an incoherent ramble but I'm sure I am not alone. Maybe it is just a part of growing old?

Cannot disagree with any of this at all...

I too have felt that over the past ten or so years (definitely 5!), that my love affair with football is dwindling...

Football is not for fans anymore, the whole concept is for the rich to get richer and the rest can sod off...

The premier league (the Greed is Good league), and the champions richmans league just sum up what football is about these days....

i still attend, i still have a season ticket - next year infact will be my 35th consecutive season ticket, since first steps through the turnstiles aged 7...

i have been to more away games this season then for many years (novelty value?)

i still love the Rovers..

yet my love for the game is going.....

i long for the days in the 80`s where i enjoyed the game, the passion, where players played for football, not consortium's.......

i fear for the game in the long term....

but, hey-ho thats my rant and memory lane visit over ;-)

[riverside returns]

Majors and BAWA I agree with your sentiments. I have been saying for some time now that the gravy train that is football needs to hit the buffers and start becoming a real and equitable challenge again. As it stands, what point is there in trying to compete in a league where there are only realistically 3 or 4 possible winners followed by 4 possibles for Europe and then the also rans or makeweights. It is appalling. Add to that, as Majors alludes to, the European gravy train designed to boost the coffers of the already rich or foolish and you have a perfect recipe for nepotism amongst the clubs.

Bring back the 70's or 80's where players played for the club and it meant something. Anyone recall the villification that Andy Crawford got for refusing to play.

[EPF]

wouldnt it be nice if Venkys came out and said sorry for the whole fiasco of the past 2 years and paid for our travel, subsidised our tickets and we all got a food & drink vouch ala Wolves on the last game season before last............then I woke up

[K-Hod]

I think everyone knows the only reason the Semis are at Wembley is "to pay for the stadium" (or wherever the money goes).

Eventually they will stop having them there. Unless they start to enjoy the income.

Thing is though, going to Wembley has always been an achievement for reaching the final, until recently.

Going for the semi's, then again for the final, when it's hardly cheap as it is, is poor from the FA.

Geographically, it's hardly like it's close either. There are so many other big stadia closer to us that could host a Semi.

All because the FA spent a daft amount on our national stadium and the average football fan has to cover their costs.

[Stuart]

Thing is though, going to Wembley has always been an achievement for reaching the final, until recently.

Going for the semi's, then again for the final, when it's hardly cheap as it is, is poor from the FA.

Geographically, it's hardly like it's close either. There are so many other big stadia closer to us that could host a Semi.

All because the FA spent a daft amount on our national stadium and the average football fan has to cover their costs.

Yes, of course.

But, ultimately, it's always the fans that pay.

[CAPT KAYOS]

Yes, of course.

But, ultimately, it's always the fans that pay.

Only if you are prepare to follow like lost sheep and give in to it

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Let Millwall win and put us all out of our 2years and counting misery!

[Stuart]

Only if you are prepare to follow like lost sheep and give in to it

You are missing the point. However ever the money is spent... turnstiles, merchandise, Sky TV, ESPN... it's the fans who foot the bill.

The only alternative is to give up football altogether.

[Mike Graham]

Thing is though, going to Wembley has always been an achievement for reaching the final, until recently.

Going for the semi's, then again for the final, when it's hardly cheap as it is, is poor from the FA.

Geographically, it's hardly like it's close either. There are so many other big stadia closer to us that could host a Semi.

All because the FA spent a daft amount on our national stadium and the average football fan has to cover their costs.

We would struggle to sell 15k tickets for a semi at Old Trafford, I reckon we would take 12 to 15K max to a semi at Wembley

[K-Hod]

We would struggle to sell 15k tickets for a semi at Old Trafford, I reckon we would take 12 to 15K max to a semi at Wembley

Anyone any idea how many we took last time (v Chelsea at OT), granted we wouldn't take that many this time around if we were in a semi there.

[G Somerset Rover]

We can close this thread now if the players put in similar 'effort' to our past two away games.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Anyone any idea how many we took last time (v Chelsea at OT), granted we wouldn't take that many this time around if we were in a semi there.

Around 18,000?

[garnersfags]

Horrible things have happened to our club in the last couple of years. Seeing the blue and white halves (quarters) at Wembley in the cup semi-final might go some way to healing the deep wounds that have been inflicted on our proud club. Should the opportunity arise, I will find the funds, I will attend.

Have I missed a debate about our blue n white quarters or something? That BRFC is approx 200 miles south of Ewood. Not having a go, just not sure where quarters comes from......

[Rover_Shaun]

I think Garners some people are (so amazingly wrong it's unreal) classing the front and back as a full shirt rather than just considering the back to be a copy of the front.

Blackburn = Halves

Bristol = Quarters

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Man Utd V Rovers at Wembley.... oh Jesus!

Night all,sleep well

[DE.]

I can only imagine the pre-match prep talk from Appleton.

"Right lads, just don't concede more than 10 in this half."

[Stuart]

Have I missed a debate about our blue n white quarters or something? That BRFC is approx 200 miles south of Ewood. Not having a go, just not sure where quarters comes from......

Our shirt is (was) quartered. The front and back being halved in opposite colours. Something else that Venkys keaned about with!

[Rover_Shaun]

Blue and white halves. Always has been always will be.

The front is halves. The back is halves.