[Archived] "walk With Birdy" - 18/75 Protest - Wolves Sky Game

[tomphil]

I was in the supermarket yesterday in Lancaster and bumped into a fellow Rovers, ST holder like myself, we had a brief chat about Saturday's game and he said he's probably see me on the walk to the ground next Saturday. I said I'd be getting there earlier than normal to take part in the protest, he looked at me like I had 2 heads and said "oh, so you're one of them then eh, I thought you had more sense". I was pretty taken back to be honest, this is an intelligent fella by all accounts, former headmaster at a local high school. The more I look at attitudes on social media the more they seem to reflect his view. Its terrifying, people outside of this MB seem to genuinely be buying into Coyle's garbage about improving and going in the right direction. We're getting relegated there are no bones about it.

Sadly a lot may only become aware of the protests from reading about it via some agenda driven 3rd party who's hell bent on painting protesters as hoodlums and wants to turn it into fan v fan.

[rovers11]

Sasha P won't even take the time to meet with Rovers fan in England, why the hell would he facilitate a meeting between fans and the owners in their own back yard.

That's my point. All efforts should be on forcing him to meet the fans. And then you work on him once that line of communication is open. This whole thing needs to be smarter.

[tomphil]

But he's been told by the big chief to keep a low profile and say nothing so even if he wanted to he can't. Like everyone else at Ewood he'll be on a cushy number he doesn't want to spoil, although he risks a dark room and bull whipping when he gets back to India as well if he doesn't obey orders

[mhead]

Anyone know any Charlton fans to ask how they managed to galvanise enough people down there.

Surely a role for the London branch(still exists?)?

I keep arguing that the 20% have to do the hard miles for the 80%, but its still disheartening seeing any leadership or any coherence out of WAR and especially the Trust.

Are we disheartened? NO NO NO

Could be some extra surprises on Saturday evening!!

[Lancaster Rover]

That's my point. All efforts should be on forcing him to meet the fans. And then you work on him once that line of communication is open. This whole thing needs to be smarter.

Surely the best way of forcing a discussion is bringing our issues into focus in the wider public domain, getting people to question what is going on?

I dunno, we could maybe protest to raise awareness and get people asking those questions........................

Because the softly softly lets all sit around a table with Mr Cheston and all play nice approach doesn't seem to be working, christ, Pasha couldn't even be bothered to turn up to a meeting that is a requirement of the football league.

[rovers11]

But he's been told by the big chief to keep a low profile and say nothing so even if he wanted to he can't. Like everyone else at Ewood he'll be on a cushy number he doesn't want to spoil, although he risks a dark room and bull whipping when he gets back to India as well if he doesn't obey orders

Part of his job is to open communications between the fans and the owners. Pressure has to be put on the club to get a meeting arranged with Sasha. That is a very achievable aim imo, particularly as it's one of his remits. Protesting and hoping Venkys sell is never gonna happen. Getting dialogue opened with them and speaking to them directly will have an impact.

I worry that this new fans group WAR are going in the wrong direction. It's nice for the fans to feel like they're doing something to vent their anger but WAR should be the strategic brain looking at the optimum way of getting access to the owners.

[rovers11]

Surely the best way of forcing a discussion is bringing our issues into focus in the wider public domain, getting people to question what is going on?

I dunno, we could maybe protest to raise awareness and get people asking those questions........................

Because the softly softly lets all sit around a table with Mr Cheston and all play nice approach doesn't seem to be working, christ, Pasha couldn't even be bothered to turn up to a meeting that is a requirement of the football league.

Football fans are aware of our plight. So are the media. Sad truth is the media only care about the likes of Man Utd, and fans only care about their own clubs.

Making sure Cheston organises a meeting with Sasha has to be number one priority. Are we seriously saying Sasha has no time in his diary for a one hour meeting with an official fans group for the club his employers 'love'. That's the pressure I'd be exerting if I was leading WAR.

[Kamy100]

I did a twitter poll. Had 700 votes and just 30% said that they would participate in the 1875 protest. That figure shocked me as I would have thought that it would be much higher than that. There were close to 20% undecided.

Given those figures I would cancel the protest and do something else. The media will be expecting a large proportion of fans to take part and come the 75th minute if the majority stay seated then it will lead to ridicule and venky's/the club claiming it is a "minority" of fans.

Any protest of this kind needs majority participation which this clearly does not seem to have and going ahead with it is likely to just result in further negative headlines about our fans and damage any future protests.

[Lancaster Rover]

Football fans are aware of our plight. So are the media. Sad truth is the media only care about the likes of Man Utd, and fans only care about their own clubs.

Making sure Cheston organises a meeting with Sasha has to be number one priority. Are we seriously saying Sasha has no time in his diary for a one hour meeting with an official fans group for the club his employers 'love'. That's the pressure I'd be exerting if I was leading WAR.

He has loads of time to do it, its that he/the owners have no interest, that's the issue.

[tomphil]

I did a twitter poll. Had 700 votes and just 30% said that they would participate in the 1875 protest. That figure shocked me as I would have thought that it would be much higher than that. There were close to 20% undecided.

Given those figures I would cancel the protest and do something else. The media will be expecting a large proportion of fans to take part and come the 75th minute if the majority stay seated then it will lead to ridicule and venky's/the club claiming it is a "minority" of fans.

Any protest of this kind needs majority participation which this clearly does not seem to have and going ahead with it is likely to just result in further negative headlines about our fans and damage any future protests.

If there is 7k in the ground and 2000 take part though ? Hmm........

[mhead]

Kamy....now you are an apologist! never expected this. Sad.

If 20% protest then that is a good result.

I am against Boycotts because people do not return. We need the people currently sitting on their hands in the long-run. In the short-run(6 months/to inevitable relegation) we need concerted action at Home and Away(India mainly)

[Roverall]

Screw 'cancelling' the protest.

If there was only one man and his dog protesting, I'd join them.

It's called principle.

Who cares what the media say?

[4000Holes]

Whatever happens it doesn't really matter, it's just chip away, slowly, slowly in order to get Venkys out.

I was talking to a guy who was from the North West at Ashton Gate over the weekend, not a rovers fan. Asked him what was he doing there and it turned out he was meeting Bristol City football club to discuss putting some new training pitches in. Turns out his company specialises in putting new pitches down. He told me they had done Brockhall and Ewood years ago but had not touched them recently as Venkys would not spend money and he was worried about Ewood in particular as it had reached its sell by date some time ago and needed refurbishment.

Says it all really, these sharks are only interested in taking out.

They need to go!

[sambo]

So many fans saying we should cancel the protest for the following reasons:

• People won't join in
• We're in the relegation zone

These people offer no alternative. Their viewpoint is 'it will make no difference' or 'we need to get behind the lads', despite the fact that those naysayers are usually the type to sit on their hands for 90 minutes, generating no atmosphere anyway.

I think the players are well aware of how bad Venky's are, and I'm sure those precious darlings won't be too upset by fans leaving early and singing a few renditions of Venkys Out.

By Kamy's logic above, we shouldn't ever protest. There is always a large element who won't join in. I, however, would much rather be on the right side of history.

[Lancaster Rover]

I think its important to reiterate at this point that WE ARE NOT THE PROBLEM

[47er]

I did a twitter poll. Had 700 votes and just 30% said that they would participate in the 1875 protest. That figure shocked me as I would have thought that it would be much higher than that. There were close to 20% undecided.

Given those figures I would cancel the protest and do something else. The media will be expecting a large proportion of fans to take part and come the 75th minute if the majority stay seated then it will lead to ridicule and venky's/the club claiming it is a "minority" of fans.

Any protest of this kind needs majority participation which this clearly does not seem to have and going ahead with it is likely to just result in further negative headlines about our fans and damage any future protests.

Whereas cancelling the protest will reflect well on our fans?

[sambo]

Whereas cancelling the protest will reflect well on our fans?

Exactly. Cancelling is admitting defeat. Seems a lot of our fans will be happy doing that if it means the 8,000 there 'get behind the lads'*

*sit on their hands for 90 minutes, clapping if we get a corner

[47er]

That's my point. All efforts should be on forcing him to meet the fans. And then you work on him once that line of communication is open. This whole thing needs to be smarter.

Well you sound a born leader, get on with it then.

[Kamy100]

Sheesh I am not being an apologist.

The problem is that the press are expecting the majority of fans to take part in this protest (as per what has happened at other clubs). It appears from my poll and reading stuff on social media that this will not be the case so what will happen is that the press will take this and run with the minority of fans lines which is the last thing that we need.

I am boycotting and am in favour of protests but not ones that will ultimately do more damage to the cause.

[sambo]

Sheesh I am not being an apologist.

The problem is that the press are expecting the majority of fans to take part in this protest (as per what has happened at other clubs). It appears from my poll and reading stuff on social media that this will not be the case so what will happen is that the press will take this and run with the minority of fans lines which is the last thing that we need.

I am boycotting and am in favour of protests but not ones that will ultimately do more damage to the cause.

It won't do more damage. Have a feeling that when we go 2-0 down things will get nasty anyway, like Wigan/Bolton under K*an.

[PeteJD13]

It won't do more damage. Have a feeling that when we go 2-0 down things will get nasty anyway, like Wigan/Bolton under K*an.

aye and we will get the blame for not backing the lads for the first 18 minutes !

[Mike E]

Sheesh I am not being an apologist.

The problem is that the press are expecting the majority of fans to take part in this protest (as per what has happened at other clubs). It appears from my poll and reading stuff on social media that this will not be the case so what will happen is that the press will take this and run with the minority of fans lines which is the last thing that we need.

I am boycotting and am in favour of protests but not ones that will ultimately do more damage to the cause.

Kamy, EVERY protest in football history (in fact, naybe actual history) has been by a minority.

Blackpool fans on the pitch was around 50 fans.

Charlton pigs on the pitch was around 500, in a 11.5k crowd (a joint effort with Cov fans).

Don't be disheartened by a low number. The correct REASON and explanation is more important than the number.

[Paul]

I did a twitter poll. Had 700 votes and just 30% said that they would participate in the 1875 protest. That figure shocked me as I would have thought that it would be much higher than that. There were close to 20% undecided.

Given those figures I would cancel the protest and do something else. The media will be expecting a large proportion of fans to take part and come the 75th minute if the majority stay seated then it will lead to ridicule and venky's/the club claiming it is a "minority" of fans.

Any protest of this kind needs majority participation which this clearly does not seem to have and going ahead with it is likely to just result in further negative headlines about our fans and damage any future protests.

Sorry Kamy but I am surprised by these numbers and think they need questioning. The key question is are the 700 respondents fans who still attend matches? If "yes" and 30% is extrapolated across the official attendance against Forest, 10462, that suggests 3000+ will take part. Even at the more realistic attendance of 8000 it still gives 2400 taking part.

My guess is the organisers would be delighted if 2400 - 3000 took part. Personally I think this unlikely.

The 700 voters though are all Twitter users, I doubt 25% of current attenders are users, and probably not all current match goers. With that in mind I can't see how this poll can predict the likely outcome of 1875. I think participation will be low but also that it is too late to consider cancellation despite many fearing it will be a damp squib.

When I looked up the attendances I was astonished to see there were 21452 at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

[tomphil]

That's a one off for Bristol City unless they start topping the league but there's a potential big club there.

When Newcastle fans protested around a thousand marched, they get 45k in a catchment area of around four hundred thousand probably.

Anfield had about 50k on and around 5k walked out in protest mostly from one area of the ground.

Some perspective is needed here and calling it off can be dressed up far bigger to those in India than any actual protest no matter how small. It's a start and it's a warning shot if nothing else i suppose.

[OJRovers]

The majority are protesting in boycotting the game completely.

I'm sure the 20,000 empty seats will be noticed by Sky.