That *was* the January Window

[Blow-in]

1 hour ago, alex l said:

How dare you provide a fact-based argument. 

We've had it with experts.

[RoversClitheroe]

9 minutes ago, JHRover said:

We have a big catchment area, just a lot of competition in it.

Makes it all the more important that we do our damned best to retain and grow that catchment area without PL football to offer, and all the more unforgivable the approach Rovers have taken in the last decade which is to do absolutely nothing to promote the club anywhere outside of Blackburn with Darwen.

Sides like Ipswich and Norwich don't need to do very much to pull them in - a couple of decent seasons and promotion pushes will do it - the people out there have little else to do other than go back to them

Here people have many other options ranging from Accy Stanley because it's easier and cheaper, to City because they can watch a quality product for less, to everything inbetween.

The advantage we accumulated under Walker and 20 years of top flight football is being eroded and I think the club could and should do a lot more to stop or reverse that.

Outside of us fans, everyone sees our fanbase as embarrassing. Harsh truth of where we are at.

Not many fans inside and outside at all understand the impact Venkys have had on us.

Have no understanding of the fans we have lost at all.

[JHRover]

20 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Outside of us fans, everyone sees our fanbase as embarrassing. Harsh truth of where we are at.

Not many fans inside and outside at all understand the impact Venkys have had on us.

Have no understanding of the fans we have lost at all.

Pretty much every club that has endured turmoil under inappropriate / unfit owners in recent times has relatively quickly come through it and moved on. Bolton, Blackpool, Portsmouth, Derby etc. etc.

We're into year 13 or 14 of this with no end in sight.

A fanbase and club can cope with a short sharp battering, and when you come out the other side of it regroup and reunite. But when the battering is sustained over decades the long term damage done to the club and support is so much more severe, albeit probably less noticeable because it is gradual over the years where numbers dwindle and people move on.

With everything in the world it comes back to cash. Because Venkys pick up the tab for it and we avoid admin many fans and the wider football world just assume all is fine. Nobody really stops to think about the actual impact their negligent ownership continues to have, and those that do just get the usual cop out of "ah but back in 1982 we only had x thousand on, it's better than those days"

Edited January 29, 2024 by JHRover

[only2garners]

2 hours ago, joey_big_nose said:

I think there are 12 pro clubs within 30 miles of Ewood - Rovers, Burnley, Liverpool, Everton, man Utd, man City, accrington, Preston, WIgan, Bolton, Blackpool, Fleetwood

My figure of 15 within 40 miles, as a direct comparison with Ipswich, had Tranmere, Stockport and Morecambe in. And it should have Bradford City as well. And Huddersfield is only 41 miles.

[wilsdenrover]

21 minutes ago, only2garners said:

My figure of 15 within 40 miles, as a direct comparison with Ipswich, had Tranmere, Stockport and Morecambe in. And it should have Bradford City as well. And Huddersfield is only 41 miles.

https://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/AreaMap.asp?view=ENGLAND

Edited January 29, 2024 by wilsdenrover

[K-Hod]

4 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Cardiff battling us for Nat Phillips.

Something tells me that’s a battle we won’t win….

[Tugayisgod]

Palace back with £22m bid for Wharton

18m + 4 m in extras

[bluebruce]

3 hours ago, Hasta said:

There's nothing 'firm' about Ennis.

I didn't realise you were intimately acquainted...

[BankEnd Rover]

11 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Something tells me that’s a battle we won’t win….

Down to the player apparently, hopefully he'll want to stay close to home instead of moving down there.

Edited January 29, 2024 by BankEnd Rover

[BankEnd Rover]

1 minute ago, Tugayisgod said:

Palace back with £22m bid for Wharton

18m + 4 m in extras

Don't think we'll accept that personally.

[TugaysMarlboro]

1 minute ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Down to the player apparently, hopefully he'll want to stay close to home instead of moving down there.

I don't know much about Cardiff's back line, but you'd imagine considering our back line problems, he will get plenty of games as JDT also alluded the club needs to address experience at the back .

[RoversClitheroe]

Just now, BankEnd Rover said:

Don't think we'll accept that personally.

How will Venky fund the club?

[Rover8T4]

6 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Down to the player apparently, hopefully he'll want to stay close to home instead of moving down there.

Would of thought so, specially when Cardiff manager released statement in past few weeks stating he doesn't know wether he's going to stay on 

[joey_big_nose]

9 minutes ago, TugaysMarlboro said:

I don't know much about Cardiff's back line, but you'd imagine considering our back line problems, he will get plenty of games as JDT also alluded the club needs to address experience at the back .

Yeah, youd think given definite game time, and our relationship with Liverpool we should be in the driving seat?

[Rogerb]

Ipswich bought Ali Al Hamidi from Wimbledon perhaps curtails their interest in Sam Gallagher 

[BankEnd Rover]

1 minute ago, Rogerb said:

Ipswich bought Ali Al Hamidi from Wimbledon perhaps curtails their interest in Sam Gallagher 

They want both.

[rovers11]

21 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

Palace back with £22m bid for Wharton

18m + 4 m in extras

No, thank you. 25 + add ons and then we accept. 

[Exiled_Rover]

43 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Down to the player apparently, hopefully he'll want to stay close to home instead of moving down there.

Unfortunately Cardiff is a fantastic city, so let's hope he's very settled in the North West. 

[bigbrandjohn]

Goodbye Ipswich interest in Gallagher. Same old model. Ask too much.  

https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/29/town-sign-striker-al-hamadi-from-AFC-Wimbledon/

[roversfan99]

1 minute ago, bigbrandjohn said:

Goodbye Ipswich interest in Gallagher. Same old model. Ask too much.  

https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/29/town-sign-striker-al-hamadi-from-AFC-Wimbledon/

Its been covered, Ipswich want 2 as per their local paper and retain an interest in Gallagher which is dependant on us replacing him.

[Polky]

2 minutes ago, bigbrandjohn said:

Goodbye Ipswich interest in Gallagher. Same old model. Ask too much.  

https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/29/town-sign-striker-al-hamadi-from-AFC-Wimbledon/

 

Local reporter says they still want another striker.

[Rover8T4]

7 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Unfortunately Cardiff is a fantastic city, so let's hope he's very settled in the North West. 

I would say there's more up your way than Cardiff. Wouldn't compete against the likes of Manchester 

[Exiled_Rover]

7 minutes ago, Rover8T4 said:

I would say there's more up your way than Cardiff. Wouldn't compete against the likes of Manchester 

Of course not, Manchester is the best city in the country - but Cardiff is really lovely. 

[roverandout]

29 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Of course not, Manchester is the best city in the country - but Cardiff is really lovely. 

Cardiff is in a different country 

[Mattyblue]

Roverandout Ing-er-land klaxon 🚨