[Archived] Rovers Vs The Pool Fa Cup

[Tom]

ONE game Parson?

I won't be going but I won't lambast anyone for doing so.

They didn't agree to a boycott so you can hardly hold it against them too much for not going along with it.

If they announced a 'everyone in the ground' protest would the people boycotting come back? I doubt it and this is the issue you can't dictate to people with an opposite opinion.

A full boycott however would be nice but we've had poor turnouts for this sort of game for years so it will be easy to brush off I think. Would have been good to have those Blackpool fans that had a sit in on the pitch!

[Rover_Shaun]

Its just one game. A game that has no bearing on the future of the club. Just say you have no intention of ever doing anything at all to rid the club of this disease and carry on.

[Stuart]

It's about not walking away and letting the club simply fade away for those who keep going. And that, for me, is a real positive in these difficult times.

The thing is, those fans not taking part in any protests ARE letting the club fade away. There is no fight against Venkys, yet there is no genuine support on the pitch - certainly not vocally. If anything the more people sat in silence, the less support the players will feel. If it was a core of 2000 fans passionately cheering the boys on every game then you'd have a point but as it is it's just about not breaking a habit, or a run of consecutive games.

There is every chance that Blackpool will have a handful, literally, of fans in the DE. We meanwhile will show our condoning of Venkys by having a 'normal' League One size crowd. Because after all our current position is "all part of the normal run of football". Wonder why Blackpool don't feel that way...

[blue kiwi]

well the away support at ipswich was 295,so i reckon there cant be more than 200 fans who go every game,time to think about the bigger picture.VENKYSOUT

[chor808]

You don't think people who buy businesses look at customer base? It's not difficult to see why many have left, but it's difficult to argue that a better supported club with higher revenues is a more attractive proposition to any new owner.

The reason it is empty is glaringly obvious, any buyer would look historically at the attendance/customer Base to see what was on offer.

[tomphil]

Blackpool won't bring more than a handful who'll actually go in the stadium i don't think. Coventry v Charlton are going for a full boycott in their game against each other, it'll never be total anywhere but sub 3k gates isn't normal so that can be considered a serious boycott.

It's one game folks and never a better time to do it and make your statement. It won't make any difference overnight but the message will be loud and clear despite what the detractors might say.

I certainly won't be turning up in the next round v Liverpool/Utd or anyone else if they go through either but that doesn't matter it's not the point. The point is a one off statement and a clear warning of how it might be in Ewood next season regardless of division if this farce continues.

[chor808]

Is this organised, I might drive up if is an organised protest. Sorry if I have missed the WAR statement.

[arbitro]

You don't think people who buy businesses look at customer base? It's not difficult to see why many have left, but it's difficult to argue that a better supported club with higher revenues is a more attractive proposition to any new owner.

Of course that is one of the factors but I believe overriding that is the potential to grow the fan base back to the 15k mark and beyond. Why? Simply because it has been done before and anybody checking the facts would find this out.

[Al]

Sorry - we've crossed wires here. Heartbreaking that there's 3,000 people willing to continue attending.

Not many want the Venkys but it is selfish to expect everybody to give up watching their chosen team that many have been supporting for half a century because you want them to do it. I still enjoy going and will not allow the owners or the boycotters to stop me from going to Ewood whenever I can.

[Neal]

If Venkys leave and we get decent investment and a decent manager there will be 16 thousand down there, if we get closer to a promotion push maybe a thousand more, if we get promoted then around 20 thousand.

[Parsonblue]

Not many want the Venkys but it is selfish to expect everybody to give up watching their chosen team that many have been supporting for half a century because you want them to do it. I still enjoy going and will not allow the owners or the boycotters to stop me from going to Ewood whenever I can.

That is exactly how my friends and I feel Al.

[Athlete]

Quite the reverse, I'm sure that those attending realise that they are helping to keep the club going for future generations.

In a cup game were the twohat oyston gets a cut get real Parsonblue

[47er]

You two really think the owners can't stop you from going to Ewood? Get real.

There won't be an Ewood to go to if things carry on like this for much longer. Or alternatively there will be an Ewood but inhabited by tumbleweed, rust and flaking paint.

Deluded the pair of you.

[Parsonblue]

You two really think the owners can't stop you from going to Ewood? Get real.

There won't be an Ewood to go to if things carry on like this for much longer. Or alternatively there will be an Ewood but inhabited by tumbleweed, rust and flaking paint.

Deluded the pair of you.

If that's true we might as well enjoy it while we can.

[gazsimm]

all about protesting against are clueless owners this game and blackpools. I think if the world and the FA are to take us seriously we have to some how stop the game peacefully and let them know what both set of fans want!! All fans should join in for the sake of their club

[47er]

"Enjoy"? Are you freaking joking?

[JBiz]

The reason it is empty is glaringly obvious, any buyer would look historically at the attendance/customer Base to see what was on offer.

Of course that is one of the factors but I believe overriding that is the potential to grow the fan base back to the 15k mark and beyond. Why? Simply because it has been done before and anybody checking the facts would find this out.

Is that obvious to those who aren't as aware of our plight? I'm with both of you in terms of the "right" potential owner, they'd only have to look to previous to the owners or just speak to John Williams. What I'd want is an owner who directly speaks to fans - who better to explain?

Reality is not quite as simple. Currently, we are in serious amounts of debt, still losing money and have a dwindling revenue. That's going to put many potential owners off without even going any further. A bit more diligence would see a playing staff worth barely anything and serious costs like facilities, a level above what the club can afford.

Unless the club is literally given away for free, (which opens us up to all types of shysters) I can't see a way forward with a positive new ownership. Putting Venkys ignorance and perceived "pride" into the mix suggests they won't entertain anything but their investment back - which despite being completely ridiculous, seems like something realistic for the Rao's.

Still, to this day - the idea of filling the stadium as a defiant one off has been the best one for making any difference. That's just my opinion based on my perception and the above. I feel it would bring a more positive media reaction, cut any excuses from the playing staff, potentially encourage any of the "right" kind of owners and maybe even convince the owners into some action - 15,000 "lost" fans reminding them what they destroyed.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

I won't be going but I won't lambast anyone for doing so.

They didn't agree to a boycott so you can hardly hold it against them too much for not going along with it.

If they announced a 'everyone in the ground' protest would the people boycotting come back? I doubt it and this is the issue you can't dictate to people with an opposite opinion.

A full boycott however would be nice but we've had poor turnouts for this sort of game for years so it will be easy to brush off I think. Would have been good to have those Blackpool fans that had a sit in on the pitch!

Not lambasting anyone for attending. I just can't get my head round a 'one off' that has no direct impact on our critical league position. Especially when those 'attending' are as sick as of the regime as everyone else.

Personal choice I know.

Interestingly, my mate who never goes, has actually bought a ticket for this one. When he saw the operation Ewood tweet, he has decided not to go!

[MGAndy]

#OperationEmptyEwood

If you have bought a ticket already then please return it for a refund.

https://mobile.twitter.com/KnightTangerine/status/822830420161155072

[arbitro]

Is that obvious to those who aren't as aware of our plight? I'm with both of you in terms of the "right" potential owner, they'd only have to look to previous to the owners or just speak to John Williams. What I'd want is an owner who directly speaks to fans - who better to explain?

Reality is not quite as simple. Currently, we are in serious amounts of debt, still losing money and have a dwindling revenue. That's going to put many potential owners off without even going any further. A bit more diligence would see a playing staff worth barely anything and serious costs like facilities, a level above what the club can afford.

Unless the club is literally given away for free, (which opens us up to all types of shysters) I can't see a way forward with a positive new ownership. Putting Venkys ignorance and perceived "pride" into the mix suggests they won't entertain anything but their investment back - which despite being completely ridiculous, seems like something realistic for the Rao's.

Still, to this day - the idea of filling the stadium as a defiant one off has been the best one for making any difference. That's just my opinion based on my perception and the above. I feel it would bring a more positive media reaction, cut any excuses from the playing staff, potentially encourage any of the "right" kind of owners and maybe even convince the owners into some action - 15,000 "lost" fans reminding them what they destroyed.

Its incredible to think that the Indians pretty much had a get out of jail card in the form of the Seneca bid. Many people thought it represented their best chance of clawing back some of their losses but at worst they wouldn't have had to prop the club up financially. They even had the temerity to lie about having received the bid.

My point is that two successful businessmen knew the potential of the club (albeit from a local base) and were willing to take along investors who trusted them. Even as two keen Rovers fans I don't believe for one second that they would have bid if they didn't feel that the club could be successful. Ultimately they are professional people and as such usually back the right horse.

[MGAndy]

Is this organised, I might drive up if is an organised protest. Sorry if I have missed the WAR statement.

please drive up and take part

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/blackpool-and-blackburn-fans-to-take-part-in-joint-protest-1-8346387

Its incredible to think that the Indians pretty much had a get out of jail card in the form of the Seneca bid.

Maybe selling the club would open the can of worms and be a go to jail card....

In that case you wouldn't sell in any circumstance.

[Mike E]

Is this organised, I might drive up if is an organised protest. Sorry if I have missed the WAR statement.

There is a statement from BRFCAG, who are more directly involved in this protest, alongside the Blackpool Supporters Trust and the Tangerine Knights.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/blackpool-and-blackburn-fans-to-take-part-in-joint-protest-1-8346387

Says a lot that the Gazette covered it immediately and the LET haven't touched it.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Not many want the Venkys but it is selfish to expect everybody to give up watching their chosen team that many have been supporting for half a century because you want them to do it. I still enjoy going and will not allow the owners or the boycotters to stop me from going to Ewood whenever I can.

Or is it selfish to go 'just because you want to' whilst others give up something they enjoy? Only to see their efforts spoilt.

[Stuart]

An Empty Ewood?

Once again we find ourselves trying to support an initiative that WILL NOT WORK. At least not as intended.

The reason it won't work is because we do not have a united fanbase.

Coventry, Charlton, Pompey et al all united once they dropped to a level that they believed was far enough and they genuinely feared for their future existence. Sadly it will take the same thing for Rovers but going out of existence could happen first. There was no real fight to save our twenty year long Premier League status. There is still no real fight to save our forty year long tier two (and above) status. You have to conclude that our fans deserve what Venkys have done; that something we have had for so long can be taken away from us so easily without so much as a whimper.

With half of those who watched our Premier League times proving themselves to be plastics and 95% of those who remain believing that protesting is futile, and more gallingly are prepared to do absolutely nothing (a 100% chance of failure strategy) than try to adopt a strategy that might have a 10-20% chance of success. Every single time the question has been asked, every different approach offered, has seen the same response. "No I'll never join in any protests". It doesn't matter what we do some people will go out of their way to not help. Proudly displaying their (1986) Rovers badge-adorned peacock feathers. without even a little shame in not helping. These people SUPPORT what Venkys are doing. There is no hiding from it. If you cannot do ANYTHING that demonstrates otherwise, aside from mumbling (under duress) "I don't like Venkys but..." then there is not other explanation. Yes, I know that won't sit well with some people but that's the only way to see it:

Boycott - NO

March to the ground from the town hall for 40 minutes - NO

March to the ground from one of the local pubs for 10 minutes - NO

Visibly demonstrate outside the ground for 10 minutes - NO

Enter on 18, leave on 75 (missing 33 minutes of football - that you could even watch on the concourse TVs) - NO

Chant "WE WANT VENKYS OUT" - NO

Refuse to buy merchandise - NO

Speak out on social media - NO

Miss ONE cup match (when even the opposition are prepared to) - NO

Offer an alternative protest idea that you are prepared to get behind - NO

Watch and clap as Venkys destroy OUR club, whilst piously looking down your nose at anyone who protests - YES

Selfish protestors? It's really hard to believe that anyone who does this has anything but their own interests at heart.

[Parsonblue]

Or is it selfish to go 'just because you want to' whilst others give up something they enjoy? Only to see their efforts spoilt.

If you want to give up something you enjoy that is your personal choice because you believe it will have some sort of impact. Others believe differently and therefore choose to do differently. If everyone is doing what they choose to do and what they believe is the right thing to do there really shouldn't be a problem.