Crimpshrine

"Andy Holt, Owner and Majority Shareholder of Accrington Stanley Football Club said: “So far almost 4,000 local school children have received an official Stanley shirt over the last few years and, as a club, we committed to do this for 5 years in total. It may not be viewed as the best financial move but for me it's a key part of my responsibilities to Accrington, as majority shareholder of the club". Can you imagine someone currently at Rovers saying or doing something like that ?

My personal view is that the owners should 'swallow their pride' and start treating the fans as equals. How about some real communication? how about having a real representative at Ewood who is accessible for press conferences etc? How about giving some indication that they are actually interested in the Club and it's fans other than as a side note at the Venky's AGM ? How about some assurances for the future ? What are their ambitions ? I know they pay the bills and have provided transfer funds but it feels like a token effort. When the club gets it's soul back, with or without Venky's, then enthusiasm and pride ( that word again ) might return and with it some of the missing fans.

Not always a bad thing. Remember Speedie ?

A friend of mine got a phone call from the ticket office asking why he hadn't renewed his ST. He was honest with his answers - lack of atmosphere in the ground, lack of feel good factor generally. Hopefully Rovers will take note of any responses to these phone calls. I heard 1,700 ST holders didn't renew this year and there were about 500/600 new STs sold. So a net decrease of 1,200 / 1,100. They have a lot of phone calls to make!

Could be interesting. Armstrong scored a nice goal against them last year so he may be in confident mood. Asking a lot of Buckley to produce some incisive passing as it's not Johnson's strong point. Crosses from out wide aren't going to be much of an option given Millwall's height advantage. Don't really know what to expect.

Very quiet on here for a match day so I just checked a Millwall message board to see what they think. Seems they are, in the main, confident of at least a draw. Very few predicting a defeat. I also learned that they were originally called Millwall Rovers when they were formed back in 1885

Just out of interest, what persuaded you two guys to return this year? Were you boycotting or just had other commitments ( or lost a bit of interest)? Any other boycotters out there, are you determined to stick it out until Venky's leave or tempted to return because it's really not making any difference ?

Haven't got over last January window yet! Just outside the palyoffs and we decide we don't need to strengthen. Then the inevitable slide down the table. Missed opportunity that may not come around again for a while.

When did you give up fighting and become apathetic? They are still here and the club is going nowhere. Don't care that they pay the bills, they have no interest in Rovers.

Oh that's fine then! Don't know why we even bothered turning up!

Not unlike last season at the back. You don't pick up many points when you give 3 goals away.

2 -3 sounds like we are not doing too bad. But in reality...?

I can see what you and Herbie6590 are saying - run a tight ship, maximise income - with customers ( fans ) being fair game for fleecing. Look after your player assets and make sure they are tied down on contracts. Don't spend if you don't need to. Have a discussion at the next AGM ( ad infinitum..) However, is that any different to what was happening before the accountants came in ? As for keeping on top of players contracts, I think they were a bit too hasty when it came to Smallwood, Evans and Mulgrew. So, that's all business strategy which is simple common sense. The football strategy is cross your fingers and hope Mowbray does OK. Sell players at a profit if possible. If we are seriously aiming at promotion 20/21 then next summer's transfer window will be fun!

Could you elaborate ? I don't see much difference in their behaviour since summer 2017. Same regular cash injections ( share issues ) to pay the bills, similar transfer/loan policies, no change to the infrastructure at the club. What's the new strategy ?

Slightly condescending statement, especially when you follow it with an inaccurate fact of your own ! Maybe you could fill us in with some accurate stuff about Rovers' situation.

No need to read anything else in this thread. This sums it up perfectly.

10 is quite high if Graham is going to be mainly a sub. 4 for Brereton is also a bit hopeful. Puts more emphasis on Armstrong and Gallagher getting maybe 20 between the pair of them.

Everyone wearing balaclavas!

I'm fairly sure match day catering and such things are Greg Coar's area of responsibility.

Seems unlikely that Chapman will even make the bench. It's shame after 6 months at the club and a full pre-season he's still in that position.

Well done, gold star. ( assuming no interest on loan repayments !)

Today's puzzle: Blackburn Rovers charge £4.50 for a pint of beer and £3.60 for a pie, They have an average attendance of 14,000 at a home match. If 1 in 5 fans buy a pint at each match and 1 in 4 fans buy a pie, how many matches will it take to recoup the £7,000,000 spent on a non playing striker ?

Yes that is the extent of my evidence and argument. It's an expression ! My opinion is that they won't be paying all his wages. Sorry if that offends you.

No way Wigan are paying the full wage bill. I bet they got a good deal that late in the day at the end of the window

Apologies if this has been posted before - Mowbray's explanation of Mulgrew's departure. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4595261/tony-mowbray-charlie-mulgrew-blackburn-wigan/