[Archived] Rovers vs MAN CITY FA Cup **NO TICKETS AVAILABLE ON DAY**

[Salgado Is A Hero]

I hate how people think others owe them an explanation as to why they didn't attend. Their answer should be, "Because I didn't feel like it, what's it got to do with you?"

Anyway, back to the game as I'm sure I'm not the only one bored of all this.

Is Spurr's long throw usually that dangerous? I was genuinely getting excited when we won a throw in 40 yards from their goal.

[RevidgeBlue]

Missing the point completely Salgado. Anyone can have a day when they don't particularly feel like it and that's not a problem at all but if half the fanbase feels like that all the time then eventually that has to be.

As for Spurr, I watched the game from a different angle yesterday, towards the front of JW lower and I was amazed how much action Spurr puts on the ball. He gets the ball looping and rotating violently sideways at the same time . It must be a nightmare to head out cleanly.

[gumboots]

What Simon doesn't seem to get is that people like me are not stay away fans. We have season tickets. We go to matches and support the team. We sit through boring games like Boxing Day. We are excited by performances like the second half against Birmingham even though we couldn't manage to win. We are there supporting most of the time but just couldn't squeeze out the extra cash to watch the FA Cup game this week, regardless of who we were playing. It wasn't because I thought we'd get beaten; it wasn't because I have BT sport; it wasn't because I could't be bothered, that i held a grudge against Venkys or anything of that that ilk. It was just genuinely that I couldn't afford it when my food bill for the last 2 weeks has been 4 times normal, we've used 4 times the amount of washing up liquid, loo roll, etc, we've paid for tickets for the Boxing Day match for the whole family, we've paid for panto tickets for most of the family, etc etc, etc and on top of that it's been Christmas and we had a huge party to celebrate Ruby wedding/60th birthday/ a wedding/ an engagement and the fact that we were all together again. I'm not a stayaway fan - I chose, in the light of economic reality, to start the year by missing something I would have liked to do and I'll be missing a lot of other stuff this month to make up for what I've already spent. Money only goes so far, and we have to eat for the next 26 days. I don't care who was in town. I couldn't be.

[thenodrog]

...........But, sadly, the last three years have seen supporters lose a connection with the club and find other things to do with their leisure time and money. As John Williams always said there is stiff competition for the 'leisure pound' these days but, unfortunately, that is something which Venky's have never understood and hence the alienation of many long standing supporters from the club. Watching Blackburn Rovers these days is something which many supporters can take or leave and it's fully understandable after what has happened over the past three years.

The only way to win the fans back is for the owners to put the club back into the same position it was in when they arrived.

What for though? We have small numbers only willing to pay half price for ST's. Flogging a dead horse as far as funding from our support is concerned. The Premier League average being approx £650.

[Roverthechimp]

Is it just me that still has a hard time classing City as "giants"? Not sure why but i would still get more excited about a meeting with Liverpool, Man Utd or Arsenal...

[ABBEY]

most ...when the chicken interferers cluck off

[Darwen Rover 007]

Our performance yesterday would not have been out of place in the Premiership, absolutely fantastic performance from all of our guys...

My only gripe is why Cairney started out wide? Surely put him in the middle of the 3 and have Marshall and Taylor either side...

That said, not been this excited by a group of players since the MH area... I am referring to recent times, of course class of 94/95 & 2000 were v exciting!

[Tom]

I actually thought it's reminding me of the promotion team with the young keen players Duff, Dunn, Jansen and even Bent firing us to promotion.

Obviously not quite that level mind you

[Stuart]

My only gripe is why Cairney started out wide? Surely put him in the middle of the 3 and have Marshall and Taylor either side...

Everyone knows exactly why Cairney started out wide. Don't they...?

[FGS5635]

Everyone knows exactly why Cairney started out wide. Don't they...?

To frustrate boyata so he'd get get sent off late on and give us a chance of victory

[thenodrog]

some good highlights here:

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video/?vid=a030fda4-32ce-4b57-a311-75321eb273b4

Don't really think their first goal was off-side and they should have had a pen---Spurr. But hey-ho we never get them.

Whether Negredo was offside or not when Djeko headed the ball on is marginal for a linesman with only one angleand no replays to fall back on, however Lescott was way offside and interfering with Robinsons judgement and decisions when Negredo played it into the net.

[rhodie]

Absolutely right there Gordon.

[Parsonblue]

I think the people who took a stand of boycotting Ewood, because of the venkys are probably lost to the club, although will still take an interest from a distance and give opinions on message boards. At the time of the mess I could understand.

But the last few trips I've made down I feel like the players are really trying, we are improving and GB has signed good players while trying to get rid of the deadwood. But we all know this. If we don't get promoted this year I feel we never will. So it's the right time to come and cheer on your team, otherwise what's the point of being a fan.

I'm talking about the choose to stay away fans rather than can't for whatever reason attend. On a side note it costs me more to watch Arbroath than rovers.

At the end of the last 2 seasons we have prayed for the owners and SS to stfu,

Get a football man in place and let him get on with it.

Stop taking advice from agents.

Learn from there mistakes and apologise.

Now apart from getting o there knees and saying sorry they've done everything I wanted. And even if they did sorry these fans still wouldn't come bk. As they most probably do other things on Saturdays.

Plus they continue to pay for there negligence financially. The stay away fans try and justify there absence by claiming once there skint they will go. So will the club, downwards. The lack of fans are hurting our club more than our owners.

In 1970-71 we had an average gate of 8,034, in 1978-79 it was 8,644, in 1985-86 it was 5,826, in 1986-87 it was 6,926. Low attendances are nothing new and yet the club survived because of careful financial management. Of course with the clowns in India in charge careful financial management is a concept which is now totally alien to the club. I couldn't blame anyone for opting to spend their money and leisure time doing something other than watching the Rovers. The fans could never do the same amount of damage to this club as the clowns who sit in Pune.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Playing WHU is not the same as playing City though is it? It's almost like for like. Just as us as the Champions of England playing minnows like Trelleborg is not like us half way down the championship playing rhe Premiership winners elect. If I'm the only one who gets that distinction, fair enough.

No, it'll be because the owners give up the ghost. But continued poor attendances won't help in that respect.

No playing WHU is not like playing City but on paper it looked like Rovers could have taken a pasting from a 2nd or 3rd XI where as Forest really had a chance of overturning premiership oppostion. Which is more appeatising to a neutral or a part time fan?

As it happens both teams gave great accounts of championship football.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I would say 1961

Me too, that was the season a large chunk of fans voted with their feet. Burnley's came a year or two later when they sold Jimmy Mac.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

We did have Gordon I remember forever defending our Premiership attendances against the likes of Philip who was generally scathing about the mentality of Blackburn people from his hideaway in Malta.

What puzzles me though is - if people won't come out for a plum home Cup tie against City (best team in the Country) what will it take for them to come out?

Burnley game? Play off semi final? Play off final? FA Cup Final? Return to Premiership?

Should it need to be a super special occasion before many fans will return?

All of which are far more important and significant than yesterday. Yes we played Man City, but it meant more or less nothing. Regardless of the opposition, it was the first round of the cup.. I couldn't really care if we got through. Only when we get near the quarters does it get remotely interesting. Forget a 'plumb tie', when I saw that we had City I pretty much switched off the TV and wished we had gotten someone else.

We've been playing 'big' teams home and away for the best part of the last 25 years, hell we were even one of them for a few. Expecting everyone to flock down to Ewood simply because a big premiership team is in town is unrealistic. It used to happen every couple of weeks.

I care far more about getting out of this division than winning a cup. I've seen plenty of big teams at Ewood, bigger than City. Its different for smaller teams in lower divisions. We've been successful and competed at the top. We've had the Utd's, Liverpool's regularly come to town. Simply having a big team arriving at Ewood for a one off cup game won't bring thousands more fans out.

Give them a Rovers side that is strong, competes in the premier league and run by competent owners, and that might change things.

[TBTF]

In 1970-71 we had an average gate of 8,034, in 1978-79 it was 8,644, in 1985-86 it was 5,826, in 1986-87 it was 6,926. Low attendances are nothing new and yet the club survived because of careful financial management. Of course with the clowns in India in charge careful financial management is a concept which is now totally alien to the club. I couldn't blame anyone for opting to spend their money and leisure time doing something other than watching the Rovers. The fans could never do the same amount of damage to this club as the clowns who sit in Pune.

Thing is though Parson, back then we werent trying to operate against a massive debt.And back then pretty well everyone was in a similar position.Players wages etc were not likely to run into the millions and millions .The whole game has morphed into a financial juggernaut and some may be able to handle it whilst others simply cant.Our revenue streams are now about to plummet to 1980's levels whilst costs have rocketed beyond any hope of us dealing with it.

Our whole future hinges in these nutters in India writing off /settling the debt or sooner or later we hit the wall.

[yoda]

Thing is though Parson, back then we werent trying to operate against a massive debt.And back then pretty well everyone was in a similar position.Players wages etc were not likely to run into the millions and millions .The whole game has morphed into a financial juggernaut and some may be able to handle it whilst others simply cant.Our revenue streams are now about to plummet to 1980's levels whilst costs have rocketed beyond any hope of us dealing with it.

Our whole future hinges in these nutters in India writing off /settling the debt or sooner or later we hit the wall.

Like Jack Walker did

[Parsonblue]

Thing is though Parson, back then we werent trying to operate against a massive debt.And back then pretty well everyone was in a similar position.Players wages etc were not likely to run into the millions and millions .The whole game has morphed into a financial juggernaut and some may be able to handle it whilst others simply cant.Our revenue streams are now about to plummet to 1980's levels whilst costs have rocketed beyond any hope of us dealing with it.

Our whole future hinges in these nutters in India writing off /settling the debt or sooner or later we hit the wall.

I wouldn't disagree. The point I was trying to make to Rev was that we've never really enjoyed large attendances and when we have many of that support has been rather soft - in terms of falling away when things on the pitch go wrong. The lifting of the maximum wage is what really started the ball rolling in terms of the big city clubs. Sound financial management is vital for clubs like us. I agree that the clowns in Pune have to settle the debts that they have created but I'm not convinced that at some point they won't just walk away. If they do it will be their choice and nothing to do with what supporters have done or not done as Rev seems to imply.

[neophox]

Get behind the team! We really need to go up this season. As I see it with all players fit, there's Rovers, QPR and Leicester who will make it.

GB has worked really hard and the team is starting to gel.....

Rovers - Burnley in a playoff final at Wembley.

[Bucksrover]

I wouldn't disagree. The point I was trying to make to Rev was that we've never really enjoyed large attendances and when we have many of that support has been rather soft - in terms of falling away when things on the pitch go wrong. The lifting of the maximum wage is what really started the ball rolling in terms of the big city clubs. Sound financial management is vital for clubs like us. I agree that the clowns in Pune have to settle the debts that they have created but I'm not convinced that at some point they won't just walk away. If they do it will be their choice and nothing to do with what supporters have done or not done as Rev seems to imply.

So if bowyer can tell them that attendances are growing and people have stopped referring to them as clowns and lunes, you don't think that would make them more likely to keep funding the club?!

I think fan support can only help.

[TBTF]

I wouldn't disagree. The point I was trying to make to Rev was that we've never really enjoyed large attendances and when we have many of that support has been rather soft - in terms of falling away when things on the pitch go wrong. The lifting of the maximum wage is what really started the ball rolling in terms of the big city clubs. Sound financial management is vital for clubs like us. I agree that the clowns in Pune have to settle the debts that they have created but I'm not convinced that at some point they won't just walk away. If they do it will be their choice and nothing to do with what supporters have done or not done as Rev seems to imply.

Totally agree

They are oblivious to the concept of supporters and yep we are at their mercy.Lets just hope balaji doesnt get fed up with the international fame that goes with playing Charlton and yeovil

[yoda]

Get behind the team! We really need to go up this season. As I see it with all players fit, there's Rovers, QPR and Leicester who will make it.

GB has worked really hard and the team is starting to gel.....

Rovers - Burnley in a playoff final at Wembley.

The police would ruin it

[JAL]

Get behind the team! We really need to go up this season. As I see it with all players fit, there's Rovers, QPR and Leicester who will make it.

GB has worked really hard and the team is starting to gel.....

Rovers - Burnley in a playoff final at Wembley.

When the teams attack ranked 12th so far this season and the team having failed to score a goal in a third of the games played so far, with a defence thats also ranked a low 8th over the season. Finishing top three in this league come May is going to be one mighty task, the stats would suggest. Though wouldnt disagree that improvements are being made playing wise.

[TBTF]

So if bowyer can tell them that attendances are growing and people have stopped referring to them as clowns and lunes, you don't think that would make them more likely to keep funding the club?!

I think fan support can only help.

Attendances are growing?? where?? The BBE lower tier yesterday was a joke for a game of that magnitude.And since when have people even slightly indicated they are beginning to accept these morons??

They have killed it and will never ever be forgiven by the vast majority and the longer they are here the worse it will get.