On the nail. I couldn't agree more. Our game lacks any sort of real competition, is quietly dieing on its feet and by the time the PL and the FA wake up to the problem it will be too late. Just watch the season tickets and attendances drop again next year. Over-priced, over-hyped and over-exposed but as long as the sponsors keep pouring in the cash nothing will change. If you can chaps, get hold of a copy of the Sunday Mirror from yesterday - there's a good article along the same lines. In addition there's another small snippett about the FA getting egg on their faces next week re the S/F and a half empty stadium for our game.

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Something else I also mentioned last week about after the horse has bolted. - IDIOTS

I don't see how the club could have done anything different. As you can see Arsenal have sold out and they will now be given the whole West Stand so if we had already sold those tickets against the specific instructions of the FA we could have been in line for all kinds of punishment. Mb - See Ewood Sparks post and think about it

Sorry Stuw - I think it is To me the club must have been aware of this before the tickets went on sale but the information was lacking in it numbers re 'limited tickets' Yet again they have been very quiet on the subject - whether they could have done something or not about is another thing which I think you are trying to say. It's like going into a shop for a new tv and there are two on the shelf - 1 at say £100 the other at £150 - the one at £100 has a damaged box (ie nothing at all wrong with the TV) but they will not sell it to you until the other one is sold - would you then buy the £150 TV? Stu, we disagree, That we do agree on Still think the club could have done more for the benefit of the fans against the regulations though - this won't be the end of it now from the FA though - get away with it once they will continue. The Club can't have any argument about now about fans not attending , but as others have said I honestly don't give a monkeys how many we take. I will be there, like your good self and others on here at least we tried to get something done about it and asked questions and raised worries - but this won't be the last of it. I still say we take 20k

No what the town doesn't need is comments like that from people like you

yes but do rovers have £25 and £35 tickets in there possesion And for the three hundreth time, it isnt relevant - and they have probably been sent back with a copy of John Williams latest interview and a note that says "stupid kick off, stupid venue" The club can ONLY sell the tickets in the order specified by the FA, its rule 26 b of the challenge cup rules. Sorry Stuw - I think it is To me the club must have been aware of this before the tickets went on sale but the information was lacking in it numbers re 'limited tickets' Yet again they have been very quiet on the subject - whether they could have done something or not about is another thing which I think you are trying to say. It's like going into a shop for a new tv and there are two on the shelf - 1 at say £100 the other at £150 - the one at £100 has a damaged box (ie nothing at all wrong with the TV) but they will not sell it to you until the other one is sold - would you then buy the £150 TV?

It's one of the best posts on this board ever. Agreed bar the bit about it being Arsenal and we will get beat anyway - I am always pessimistic about Rovers but always expect a win even though I don't believe it. Don't know what you are meaning there JAL, but if its against fellow Rovers fans IMO you are bang out of order - as some of those not going are of the committed people who where around and followed the club through the 'dark days' of old and where as committed as you can get , and not just for some over glorified SF that has now had its 'special' occasion taken away from it as well as impacting on the glamour and uniquity of the final.

The challenge cuo committe dont make operational decisions, they are a strategic body, they deal with rules and admission criteria etc. If the club had said know one of the tacks the FA would probably have used would be -selling the tickets directly (what a cock up that would be) - letting the club do what they want, but charging them £45 for each of the "extra" £25 tickets in the West Stand. -or of course, removing us from the competition, which they can do at a stroke for failing to follow competition rules. Unfortunately the club are not in the best of positions to dictate to the FA, if only they were..... Maybe not make them Stuw but they can certainly challenge them - hence their name. Still don't think the FA would have done this as it would set a bad precedent - maybe charge all tickets at £45 but then the club could make this known but theyn wouldn't be able to do it with one club and not any of the others - in fact there must be something in this that the Rovers could challenge as Newcastle and Man U fans will certainly be getting tickets for these stands. remove us - don't think so - there would be a major outcry The best would be possibly fine us - but then again what would the club have done wrong - from a legal point of view, unless of course there is a binding contract somewhere that had to be signed.

But really the club is not at fault though, can only blame the FA for another cockup! Directly maybe not - but indirectly yes they are What would the FA have done if the club had said no? I have said previously on here - Rob Coar is on the FA challenge committee, if he couldn't have said/done something then WTF is he doing there - in fact WTF is the Dingle doing at our club>? Its all a complete and UTTER COCK UP or maybe a well planned (or so they think) FA money making scheme.

i'm sorry about that but i would have waited till tomorrow,or the next day,or the next these £25 tickets are there If the case is as Waggy says and the club is not doing anything todo something about it - then they are doing their damn hardest to alienate fans even more therefore increasing the limelihood of even more dwindling crowd numbers. What was it again about the effect on the club after previous cup final ticket fiasco? I just hope my gut feeling that tickets going on general sale will take us past the 20k mark.

Not quite JAN - Its is a load of Bollux really So if we get there next year and are charged £60 next year it will be alright then? I have been to the ends of the earth watching Rovers , 4 days on a coach to Sweden, stood in the pouring rain and cold numerous times mid week, drove all day and night to wherever and back, been arrested , punched, abused , ejected, run into by a horse, been to court, spent a fortune etc following Rovers and would not have missed this for the world - YET I still had reservations - but I am going Not everybody can afford to go or justify it anyway nowadays, regardless of who we are or how long it has been since we where last in a SF This I do agree with and its an absolute shambles completely and IMO shows just how much the FA think its for the fans - we are being conned so if people want to be continually ripped off then let them - some of us won't though and it would appear many others if ticket sales are to go by. I still think we will take 20k + but my opinion is people are justified if they say they are not going. Our martyr - and our Chauffeur - forget the Bristol Willy Wagon ... All aboard the Accy Love Bus

The drummer(s) can go and run and jump for all I care Anyway - extended it for full version WHEN THE DAY IS DAWNING ON A BLACKBURN SATURDAY MORNING WONT’ BE LONG ‘TIL WE’RE THERE AT THE MILLENIUM ARENA IN THE CARDIFF CITY IS WHERE IT’S AT THE LADS WILL SING A DITTY “WE ARE HAVING THAT” IS THIS THE WAY TO CARDIFF MI LADDIO THE BLUE N WHITE ARE ON THEIR WAYO… DREAMING DREAMS WE’RE GONNA WINNO THE FA CUP IT WAITS FOR US SHOW US THE WAY TO CARDIFF OH SPARKYO WE’VE BEEN DREAMING ALL OF OUR LIVES ..SO MAKE IT TRUE AND LET EM ALL KNOW THE FA CUP IT WAITS FOR US SHA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA … ROVERS!! SHA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA … ROVERS!! SHA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA THE FA CUP IT WAITS FOR US THERES A SOUND A RINGING ALL THE LADS AND LASSIES ARE SINGING ON THEIR WAY TO BE THERE AT THE CARDIFF MILLENIUM ARENA DOWN THE HILLS AND HIGHWAYS LIKE THEIR INSANE THEY’LL KEEP ON GOING THROUGH THE SUN, WIND AND THE RAIN SHA LA LA ETC

We will get around 20,000 or so tickets for the final (IF we get there) meaning that they wont need to put any restrictions on S/T holders as every S/T holder will be guaranteed a seat. Correct Ben2000 but from memory and from what I have heardpreviously it will be less than that - more like 18k for normal sale. Therefore if we do get through there would still be enough to cover our S/t - circa 14k This is where priority would probably have to kick in - S/T holders who regularly buy additional tickets /S/T Holders who want additional tickets or regulars who buy on a match by match basis?

Don't know how the hell this would work However, I think the thing about this proposal is 'how cheap' - because if say the home fans are paying £40/50 ala Chelski and away fans pay £30 for example - that is still not cheap in my book. Add to that the likelihood of home fans trying to get away tickets because they are cheaper. However, as you say Scotty it would appear it is case of after the horse has bolted and the damage is already done.

IMO Stu , they should have refused - what would the FA have done? What difference does it make - if the tickets are available they should be available for purchase. I suspect TV have a say in the order the tickets are sold. Sky or the BBC don't want swathes of empty seats on view. Hence, they sell The BT Stand first which is opposite the television gantry. Doesn't make it right of course. If that was the case SS -how do they go on with league games? Its all a con because they know fans will buy the tickets.

IMO Stu , they should have refused - what would the FA have done? What difference does it make - if the tickets are available they should be available for purchase. If this is the case then the fans have everyright to vent their anger and also stick the v's up and not go - and nobody can have any complaints. It just adds another lie to the FA's bow about it all being for the fans - MY ARSE. Maybe some of the Rovers fans calling others for not going , inc some on here may just realise now, that we are being well and truly ripped off as football fans and the FA are just a set of TOSSERS!!!!

Come next weekend Waggy and you may find that this has already begun

Good point Steb but I think that's what people are trying to do and I know for sure will certainly do so come the day. What is happening though is people ple are slagging others for not purchasing tickets yet they actually will be but are waiting for the last phase - and its this that I cannot comprehend, when so many people have already said they are holding back for one reason or another but will be going. Now, if we where still at the same position say next weekend - then I would be lifting an eyebrow but I doubt it very much. I have said it before, you cannot compare Rovers with any other club ( except Citeh if it relates to shooting itself in the foot at the most inappropiate times) compared to our fanbase in ratio to geography and our position in football at the moment. No matter what Rovers do - they get ridiculed Christ we get enough stick from other fans, so why do our fans continue to give grief about each other? CLB - I don't give a flying porky pig how many are there as long as I am ( and yes I have had my doubts purely on a financial grounding) but I still have gripes about everything that has gone on - don't ever feel embarrassed about being a Rovers fan even if you where going to be the only one going - you will be there. As others have said this is one thing I have been been waiting for since I was a nipper and as ypu said trawling the never regions of in the old days. SG - No you can't compare -and I'll tell you why - I'll find you for certain at least 10k of Rovers core support( season tkts) and probably more who have the same attitude and committment as the the geordies - but therein is where it ends. As with any club we have a core support where this means everything. Now as you and many others know - these so called Geordies used to get one of their best crowds of the season when we used to go up ther (17k) if the Mackems or Boro weren't around and we used to take a fair number as well. Now what people seem to perceive is that Newcastle are this mighty club, but that's all it is - its all media hyped and a majority of their fans are brainwashed into thinking so as well as they believe this is their year. I accept they would have have probably be in the same scenario now even if the fixtures where reversed -but it isn't so we may never know , however regardless of the distance - they still have the weekend for travel ie leisurely journey on the Saturday - which I expect alot will do + a decent enough kick off time and no Saturday shoopers- ie plenty of time to enjoy some pre match atmosphere and make something of it - now compare that to ours?

Not quite GAV - personally I think its well off the mark mostly and badly timed in that it is insinuating that the Kick off time is the main reason/excuse for people not going. Wrong IMO - the main reason I feel is the bollux the FA have and the increasing cost made of the whole situation and the comparison with Newcastle is just not comparable. People are peed off with hassle of everything that has in all aspects spoilt what is traditionally one of the highlights for a fan in any season should they be lucky enough to get to semi final. Things like this don't do any good - what they should have highlighted was basically what's in the last paragraph and played on those who might not go, with these comments. Funny, how they have not compared Arsenal - who in all reality would probably have sold their allocation now if it had been at say Villa Park - yet at the moment by all accounts are at the same situ re ticket sales. There are alot of things rolling into one causing indecision in alot of people (and the part time diehards as you state) but I still say that as it draws nearer we will be nearer selling our allocation and sell over 20k as it hits home. Maybe Rovers fans are not as gullible as some and are not having the wool pulled over their eyes and getting ripped off - because as sure if our game was a sellout the FA would be creaming it and adding fuel to their intention of holding all future semi's at the New Wembley.

I don't GAV ....... seem to remember a similar little quirk from you over the Dingle tickets

100% !!!! ITS DISGUSTING PRICES FOR KIDS....I have paid it but dont make it right!!! money grabbing sheep shagging daff huggers! Its a disgusting price full stop for a football match - as we well agree Abbey

Agree MB, however I don't feel its apathy at the moment but more so shock and pd off with the FA. At the moment I am not too worried about sales as I reckon we will sell over 20k - yes some will probably not go as a result of the time/place etc but the nearer the time draws and it hits home to some people I think we will get nearer selling our allocation. In a way which I hope people can understand - I hope the MS is half full in a way (but not really at our expense more the Arsenal) so as to really smack it home to the useless FA.

I can SS You are on about people moaning - why don't you just wait until we see how many we actually sell. The club told everybody in the first instance not to rush for tickets as there is more than likely enough to go around ; add to this other circumstances and they add up to why people are holding back at the moment (payday, need more tickets etc) I for one have not got a ticket yet even though I am in the cup scheme and a S/T holder and I know others of the same, but seeing as we need more are waiting until we can arrange and make it easier re travel arrangements etc I can understand your frustration, but maybe people are just heeding what the club has said for once - a bit ironic really - one minute we have people complaining its difficult to get a ticket and now people are taking their time people are going on about why aren't they getting a ticket. Or maybe, people think it is a total rip off and are shoving two fingers to the FA and are making a stand regardless and risking us winning and saving for the Final should we get there (which is more worthy). Agree with MB second point, but all in all it has left some people with a big decision. Agree with OD as well re Villa Park, but have you considered how many Arsenal have sold at the moment - think you might find along the same lines? At the end of the day, if the MS is half empty we all know who will be to blame and it won't be the fans. Just thank your stars you have your ticket and you will be there.

£30 - Enough said (unless its a one off or Semi/Final)