[Archived] New Article -> New Rovers Manager

[mustard]

I hate our fans. The number jumping to defend Coyle and acting positive stating what we need to 'get promoted'. Eurgh. Apparently, it's Lambert's fault we have no money to spend as he spunked it all in January (don't ask me how)???. Whilst we have proper fans who are clearly unhappy but still attend for whatever reason (Parson, etc), we also have a huge number who are completely and utterly oblivious to what is going on and would sooner blame anyone else (including fellow supporters) for the last five years, except the Venky's of course.

There was more passion/disgust/fight from the three chaps on TalkSport in ten minutes than you'll get from the majority of our fanbase over the course of the season. Shameful.

[den]

It is frustrating when you can see what's happening - and you also see fans quite accepting of it and not questioning it.

Even on here, from the days of being top ten Premier League, posters have defended the selling of our best players, the sacking of Allardyce, the removal of Williams/Finn and everyone else, the appointment of totally unsuitable coaches, the idea that paying high agents fees is no bad thing, signing eight portugesers. Fans have settled for the dumbing down of every expectation. It's not just the commentators on the LT that accept absolutely everything thrown at them. For some fans there is nothing the club could do that would stop them supporting it.

Within two months we've gone from having a manager who wants top six minimum, to having a manager simply wanting to be competitive. Doesn't that tell us everything?

[jim mk2]

It is frustrating when you can see what's happening - and you also see fans quite accepting of it and not questioning it.

Even on here, from the days of being top ten Premier League, posters have defended the selling of our best players, the sacking of Allardyce, the removal of Williams/Finn and everyone else, the appointment of totally unsuitable coaches, the idea that paying high agents fees is no bad thing, signing eight portugesers. Fans have settled for the dumbing down of every expectation. It's not just the commentators on the LT that accept absolutely everything thrown at them. For some fans there is nothing the club could do that would stop them supporting it.

Within two months we've gone from having a manager who wants top six minimum, to having a manager simply wanting to be competitive. Doesn't that tell us everything?

Surprised at you Den. Fans know there are deep seated problems at the club - but that doesn't stop them supporting the team. Love is not unconditional but when you're smitten you embrace it warts and all.

[mustard]

Surprised at you Den. Fans know there are deep seated problems at the club - but that doesn't stop them supporting the team. Love is not unconditional but when you're smitten you embrace it warts and all.

However, I think there is a real difference between supporting the TEAM and supporting what's going on at Rovers.

[Gav]

It is frustrating when you can see what's happening - and you also see fans quite accepting of it and not questioning it.

Even on here, from the days of being top ten Premier League, posters have defended the selling of our best players, the sacking of Allardyce, the removal of Williams/Finn and everyone else, the appointment of totally unsuitable coaches, the idea that paying high agents fees is no bad thing, signing eight portugesers. Fans have settled for the dumbing down of every expectation. It's not just the commentators on the LT that accept absolutely everything thrown at them. For some fans there is nothing the club could do that would stop them supporting it.

Within two months we've gone from having a manager who wants top six minimum, to having a manager simply wanting to be competitive. Doesn't that tell us everything?

Football always polarizes opinions den, thats just part and parcel of being a football fan, the real issue for me is that the fans can't unite on the glaring issues staring at them in the face.

The clubs been in serious decline for 6yrs, the fans, town and some players have had their noses rubbed in the sh1t, yet we can't unite, can't agree who's to blame in some cases and thats a disgrace.

[ABBEY]

It is frustrating when you can see what's happening - and you also see fans quite accepting of it and not questioning it.

Even on here, from the days of being top ten Premier League, posters have defended the selling of our best players, the sacking of Allardyce, the removal of Williams/Finn and everyone else, the appointment of totally unsuitable coaches, the idea that paying high agents fees is no bad thing, signing eight portugesers. Fans have settled for the dumbing down of every expectation. It's not just the commentators on the LT that accept absolutely everything thrown at them. For some fans there is nothing the club could do that would stop them supporting it.

Within two months we've gone from having a manager who wants top six minimum, to having a manager simply wanting to be competitive. Doesn't that tell us everything?

Now this made laugh .. Den your slating fans for being happy at selling our best players .haha ... Er Jordan Rhodes .

[den]

Now this made laugh .. Den your slating fans for being happy at selling our best players .haha ... Er Jordan Rhodes .

Exactly.

[47er]

Surprised at you Den. Fans know there are deep seated problems at the club - but that doesn't stop them supporting the team. Love is not unconditional but when you're smitten you embrace it warts and all.

Love makes fools of us all Jim!

And there's no fool like an old fool.

[ABBEY]

Exactly.

Aye and its left us with an abundance of strikers

[den]

Surprised at you Den. Fans know there are deep seated problems at the club - but that doesn't stop them supporting the team. Love is not unconditional but when you're smitten you embrace it warts and all.

I'm not telling anyone to go or not Jim. I'm just saying that every decision they've made has had support from some fans. It's not just on the LT that it happens. All those points I raised has had support from some people on here.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

However, I think there is a real difference between supporting the TEAM and supporting what's going on at Rovers.

And there lies the quandary - how do you support the team, but boycott matches ?

[martonrover]

All this rhetoric about supporting the team, when we all know there are two possible scenarios on matchdays at Ewood next season.

1/ Ambivalence & virtual silence.

2/ Hostility & toxicity.

Due to the ridiculous appointment of Coyle, I would say 2/ is more likely.

[Amo]

Surprised at you Den. Fans know there are deep seated problems at the club - but that doesn't stop them supporting the team. Love is not unconditional but when you're smitten you embrace it warts and all.

Again, says the guy who wants fans to invade the pitch and get games called off. Mind boggling.

[roverstdt]

I fail to comprehend this in fighting between fans. Everyone wants the same thing of VenkyOut yet there is constant between groups. Everyone should respect the other individual stand on the situation. If some people get excited about Owen Coyle then so be it. Football plays a huge part in everyones life and for some people it is a way to escape from other things. Even I and devastated by the appointment of Coyle, and I am running out of patience with Venky's but my footballer fan side wishes to get excited about the new season regardless as to what is going on. I will do my protest, I will contribute towards any campaign with regards to getting VenkysOut but I will always be on the look out and excitement with regards our latest signing no matter who they are.

[ABBEY]

No chance of 2 in afraid .. Too many Venky sympathisers and Rovers Fans . No.2 didn't happen even when ke@@ was here .(apart from10 Mins v Wigan )

[tomphil]

All this rhetoric about supporting the team, when we all know there are two possible scenarios on matchdays at Ewood next season.

1/ Ambivalence & virtual silence.

2/ Hostility & toxicity.

Due to the ridiculous appointment of Coyle, I would say 2/ is more likely.

I'd say number one certainly till about Christmas as those turning up now know exactly what to expect so can hardly moan. What we also have these days is loads who just buy STs because they are still cheap enough but they've no real intention of attending every game, particularly if it is average to crap.

I wonder how many of them run around social media giving it the big one over those who are refusing to attend. They can say they've done their bit by buying one fair enough but they shouldn't take the moral high ground over those who don't if they aren't going to grin and bear it at every game they can get to. That's not getting behind the lads either !

[RevidgeBlue]

However, I think there is a real difference between supporting the TEAM and supporting what's going on at Rovers.

Indeed there is.

Unfortunately those now encouraging people to boycott and deriding fellow supporters as not proper fans if they choose not to do the same seem unable to see the distinction.

I can't imagine anyone is happy with what has happened over the last five or six years or with the appointment of Coyle. However we are where we are, we had no control over whether the Walker Trust sold to inexperienced owners or not, and therefore until someone with a spare 150 or 200 m to burn comes along with a credible offer to buy the Club we are stuck with them as owners.

I met a longstanding fan last night whose reaction when I asked if he was renewing his ticket was "I'll still be here when they're long gone" and I hope that's the case for me as well.

Continuing to support the team or Club is not an endorsement of the owners or their track record. The fans didn't appoint Venky's as owners, that was a decision made by other people that was completely out of our hands so for those that continue to attend, continuing to support the team is not an expression of support for the owners its an expression of support for the team they've supported all their lives in many cases.

For those that have decided to boycott it's difficult to be critical given all that's gone on but the reality is that those fans are sick to the back teeth of everything that has happened and they've reached their own personal threshold of how much crap they're prepared to put up with. You can't blame anyone one iota for reaching that point but the reality is that relatively few of the fans who boycott now will ever return to Ewood on a regular basis just as very few of the 10k fans who boycotted when we went down will ever return on a regular basis. You find different interests and other things to do.

It's a personal decision and I don't think either side should blame the other whatever they decide to do.

[jim mk2]

Again, says the guy who wants fans to invade the pitch and get games called off. Mind boggling.

It's called protest - something a bit more meaningful than staying at home and hoping the problem will go away.

[AggyBlue]

It's called protest - something a bit more meaningful than staying at home and hoping the problem will go away.

The problem wont just go away, ever. It needs to be forced.

I'd rather watch the club die now than spend the rest of my life watching a slow lingering painful death.

At least I could watch the rebirth and some years of growth.

[Amo]

It's called protest - something a bit more meaningful than staying at home and hoping the problem will go away.

You can't lecture people on how boycotting is damaging to the club, whilst supporting pitch invasions.

I'm sure this point isn't lost on you and you're just being disingenuous on purpose.

[Mattyblue]

the reality is that relatively few of the fans who boycott now will ever return to Ewood on a regular basis just as very few of the 10k fans who boycotted when we went down will ever return on a regular basis. You find different interests and other things to do.

That is exactly what has happened since 2012- though most aren't 'boycotting' now (not that many were anyway), they just do other things with their time- I can imagine plenty of those can't work out how they ever used to fit it in at all.

Cue the likes of gumboots saying 'but I am boycotting, I'll be back when things change'.

Don't doubt it for a second, however most fans aren't brfcs.com-ers, chewing the fat every day on the (lack of) board, the owners, SEM etc. etc. Once they stop bothering going to Ewood, they have in practice cut their ties to the club, I personally know dozens that have given up their STs at one stage or another (many pre Venkys), they haven't stepped foot on Ewood since.

So when I see our crowds collapse from 20000+ to in all likelyhood 5/6000 ST holders next season, I don't think 'that'll show those clowns in Pune', I think 'that is a large part of 15000 people never to be seen again'.- How does BRFC, with its large, expensive infrastructure but limited fanbase ever recover post Venky's with 5000 paying customers?

Of course, people should only do what they feel is right and my view is that we must try and keep the club going, and that my £299 is keeping the lights on, not going into Balaji Rao's back pocket.

[AllRoverAsia]

I fail to comprehend this in fighting between fans. Everyone wants the same thing of VenkyOut yet there is constant between groups. Everyone should respect the other individual stand on the situation. If some people get excited about Owen Coyle then so be it. Football plays a huge part in everyones life and for some people it is a way to escape from other things. Even I and devastated by the appointment of Coyle, and I am running out of patience with Venky's but my footballer fan side wishes to get excited about the new season regardless as to what is going on. I will do my protest, I will contribute towards any campaign with regards to getting VenkysOut but I will always be on the look out and excitement with regards our latest signing no matter who they are.

Its personal anger at how we've been corn-holed aka b-ummed. Family violence is always extreme. It's the weakness that the C-UNTS in PUNE and those who pull the strings take advantage of.

My first game was '63, I don't post much these days, yes it is depression, I read here every day, and 99% on this MB are Fans/Supporters of Rovers same as me.

I haven't done too good with this post - we all just want Rovers back.

[den]

Indeed there is.

Unfortunately those now encouraging people to boycott and deriding fellow supporters as not proper fans if they choose not to do the same seem unable to see the distinction.

I can't imagine anyone is happy with what has happened over the last five or six years or with the appointment of Coyle. However we are where we are, we had no control over whether the Walker Trust sold to inexperienced owners or not, and therefore until someone with a spare 150 or 200 m to burn comes along with a credible offer to buy the Club we are stuck with them as owners.

I met a longstanding fan last night whose reaction when I asked if he was renewing his ticket was "I'll still be here when they're long gone" and I hope that's the case for me as well.

Continuing to support the team or Club is not an endorsement of the owners or their track record. The fans didn't appoint Venky's as owners, that was a decision made by other people that was completely out of our hands so for those that continue to attend, continuing to support the team is not an expression of support for the owners its an expression of support for the team they've supported all their lives in many cases.

For those that have decided to boycott it's difficult to be critical given all that's gone on but the reality is that those fans are sick to the back teeth of everything that has happened and they've reached their own personal threshold of how much crap they're prepared to put up with. You can't blame anyone one iota for reaching that point but the reality is that relatively few of the fans who boycott now will ever return to Ewood on a regular basis just as very few of the 10k fans who boycotted when we went down will ever return on a regular basis. You find different interests and other things to do.

It's a personal decision and I don't think either side should blame the other whatever they decide to do.

What's the difference between a fan and a supporter? - A supporter supports the club financially.

The bottom line is - if you're buying the product, you're supporting the owners. I mean that's just a fact. We all know what's happening at the club, but you can't say "I'm paying money to them, but I don't support them". All that says to me is as upset as we are, we're not prepared to make the ultimate stance. AND I INCLUDE MYSELF HERE, so it's nothing personal against anyone.

[gumboots]

That is exactly what has happened since 2012- though most aren't 'boycotting' now (not that many were anyway), they just do other things with their time- I can imagine plenty of those can't work out how they ever used to fit it in at all.

Cue the likes of gumboots saying 'but I am boycotting, I'll be back when things change'.

Don't doubt it for a second, however most fans aren't brfcs.com-ers, chewing the fat every day on the (lack of) board, the owners, SEM etc. etc. Once they stop bothering going to Ewood, they have in practice cut their ties to the club, I personally know dozens that have given up their STs at one stage or another (many pre Venkys), they haven't stepped foot on Ewood since.

So when I see our crowds collapse from 20000+ to in all likelyhood 5/6000 ST holders next season, I don't think 'that'll show those clowns in Pune', I think 'that is a large part of 15000 people never to be seen again'.- How does BRFC, with its large, expensive infrastructure but limited fanbase ever recover post Venky's with 5000 paying customers?

Of course, people should only do what they feel is right and my view is that we must try and keep the club going, and that my £299 is keeping the lights on, not going into Balaji Rao's back pocket.

I will be back too

but not yet and possibly not for a long time

[Neal]

What's the difference between a fan and a supporter? - A supporter supports the club financially.

The bottom line is - if you're buying the product, you're supporting the owners. I mean that's just a fact. We all know what's happening at the club, but you can't say "I'm paying money to them, but I don't support them". All that says to me is as upset as we are, we're not prepared to make the ultimate stance. AND I INCLUDE MYSELF HERE, so it's nothing personal against anyone.

Well said, some just can't bring themselves to accept it. As discussed on the boycott thread, there are other reasons for those who choose to attend but that aside...