Heysel, Hillsborough, Bradford, hooliganism all contributed, to some extent, to the outcome of the Taylor report recommending all-seater stadia. I can't recall people dieing in numbers at rugby, rock concerts, festivals, theatre etc. I don't have a problem with people wanting to stand, I just don't think it's going to happen and can see the reasons why.

Bloke behind you slips. pushes you forward, simple really. I know it's hypothetical but isn't that what Health and Safety is all about?

Go and have a lie down, Mr B! You've actually paid Ferguson a compliment?! Your founder membership of BFIS will be revoked soon. I might get to like him if this carries on I thought he played really well. My only major concern was when he had a long conversation with Youri, who came away looking very confused Even started to call Emerton "Emo" and Brett today. Makes me feel good when I see they CAN do it.

Paul, couldnt this situation happen now? Yes of course it could. I don't really mind if people sit or stand, I like to sit, just wanted to point out why the clubs can't allow standing. If you persistently stand and break your leg the club have a reasonable arguement with the Health and Saftey people and the insurance company.

Just been re-reading this thread Amanda. I admire your organisation for arguing for what some fans want but if the basis of your arguement is as posted here it seems to ignore some real safety issues. The only occassions I've been frightened at a game were many years ago in large terraced crowds. Get yourself in the wrong position and it can get very uncomfortable. Standing in front of seat risks physical injury. I think any plan to allow fans to stand in front of their seats is lunacy. If fans chose to do this now it's their risk and they would probably not be compenstaed by the club. If the clubs allow fans to stand the potential for legal action following injury is enormous. I'd like to give you two examples. The crowd tips forward as a goal is scored, a fan slips and gets his feet stuck under the seat in front, the crowd continues to push forward, the fan could easily break a leg. Many years ago at Maine Road my lad leapt in the air as Rovers scored, jumped on his seat and then slipped between the tilted up seat and the seat back. He was trapped, if someone had pushed forward or lost balance they could have fallen right over him causing serious injury. Another question for you. Segreagted seating and standing areas for away fans. The seated area sells out, the standing area is available but I still want to go with my kids. How are you going to solve that one? Leave the seats empty? I'm afraid the solutions you put forward are full of holes.

Difficult isn't it? I heard about this letter at half time and my first reaction was "look at the Villa fans". Right now we don't need the club to alienate a single fan, but the club have a duty to ensure safety and compliance with the ground licence. What I do not understand is why there is never any apparent effort to ensure visiting fans sit down? To constantly harrass the home support yet do nothing about the away fans is utterly unfair. This situation can't be allowed to continue at any PL ground. If the rules say fans must sit and those rules are to be enforced it has to be done so equally. Surely the PL can sanction away support by fining the offending club. Personally I no longer want to stand but I see why some do. Have to say I think you're fighting a lost battle BUT you are right to argue the club is not treating home and away support equally. This is very unfair. Standing will not return to football and all those arguing for it really are wasting their breath. Can someone post the text of this letter on here?

PS. When we kept the ball on the ground we looked a team that might start playing some good football.

One of the most entertaining games at Ewood for many moons (Utd last season execpeted and that was just pure tension) so I've enjoyed my Saturday for a change. Seems to me Hughes is taking things in the right direction but he has a lot of defensive problems to resolve. The more creative players are being encouraged to do just that - create. Dickov, Ferguson, Emerton, Youri (can't spell his name) played very well. I thought Jansen was a bit too deep throughout the first half yet in the opening period of the second half he started to get forward, made a couple of chances and was promptly subbed. Tugay was missing for most of the game and when he did appear passed to the Villa. Defensively we were a shambles. I'm hoping the positive effect the new manager has had on the midfield and forwards will translate to the defence. Seems to me we know Neil and Gray can do it, perhaps they just need to gain a little more confidence. Matteo and Amo just didn't work as a partnership today and on the basis of this performance Short/Todd should be the centre pair. There is plenty to work on. Brad pulled off some good saves but seemed a little nervous. Someone on RR made the point he doesn't dominate the penalty area. I've never thought of that before but it may be true. He needs to be more positve in collecting corners, crosses etc? I thought John Stead unlucky, his confidence seems low and a couple of times he got the ball stuck between his feet when last season he would have scored. I hope Sparky will be able to persevere with him, Gally, Pedersen and Jansen as these players can be an exciting part of our future. I wouldn't be surprised to hear MGP has been allowed to return to Norway early just to help him settle and perhaps sort out a few things at home. Have to say the crowd figure is very worrying. I'd put the Villa fans at 4,000 which puts the home support at around 16,000+. Still after Bournemouth it can't be a great shock. We need plenty more games like this, open attacking play with chances and goals if we are going to get the crowds back. Rovers so often flatter to deceive it's vital we get in a whole season of consistent performances.

Thought Ferguson was excellent today , just what I expect to see from him. His post match interview suggested he was happy with the role and was being encouraged to get forward. Good stuff Hughesy.

I haven't had time to check my facts but it has just occurred to me there really is no comparison between Rooney and Shearer at this stage. At his prime Shearer scored 30+ goals a season four years running for Rovers. Rooney hasn't even begun to nibble away at that. The comparison may be valid in 2 or 3 years time but until then Shearer is still the finest English centre forward of the modern era.

Yes, he's good, very good and I had my doubts like many others.......but I am now sick to death, already, of the words Wayne and Rooney. The TV coverage last night was almost vomit inducing. Five Live ran a "greatest debuts" feature throughout the breakfast programme. At work all the Mancs, I'm the only true believer, have been singing "Rooney" all morning!! Sooner he goes to Madrid or somewhere the better. We've got years of this ridiculous hysteria ahead of us. :boring old sod stomps off to corner:

Depends which way the engine is facing and you're sitting London Euston and the tube to, I think, Fulham Broadway. Haven't been for years.

Approaching Blackburn from the Preston direction it can be easier to leave at Exit 3, down the slip road and take the second exit off the roundabout. At the lights bear right and after about one mile turn right at the mini-roundabout on the outskirts of Feniscowles. You can now follow Livesey Branch Road all the way to Ewood Park. After passing the church with the witty posters on your left, go over two mini-roundabouts and watch for two signs on your left advertising Match Day Parking. Both car parks are good, secure and cheap at £3. Getting out is OK. Close by you will find the Brown Cow, a popular drinking establishment with Rovers fans. Alternatively head further towards the ground and park on Albion Road car park for £4. This will later provide you with the pleasure of sitting in your car for 40 minutes listening to Radio Rovers as you attempt to join the nightmare jam around Ewood Park.

There's a lovely sign in the Gents' toilet warning against "improper use of the wash hand basins"

Amanda, I edited your post to make the links work. Paul

Much the same thought crossed my mind as I left. He might not have been sacked but I'm sure "Souness Out" would have echoed around the ground.

Paul - how much have we got in the funds ? Slightly fewer 000s than that Nice thought, we could all take turns as manager. The championship would be over by Christmas

I'd say there were 29 - 30,000 there. I seem to remember a few people on here couldn't get tickets. Dunny was captain that night, a very good time. Yes - we are going . Me, Tom, Matthew and maybe the biggest one.

It's pretty much all been said, for me the positives were: Hughesy knows the situation and he was honest about it. Jansen played two hours and didn't appear to tire. I feel there is hope for him and the fans that he can make it back. I, for one, thought we'd seen the last of Matty and it would be great to be wrong on that. Emerton - if he keeps this up we could have a very exciting player on our hands. I say this as one of his biggest critics. The last three games I have seen Brett has really tried to perform. perhaps we could have a chant for him by the Villa game? Pedersen - yep, I think he could develop into a player Gally/Stead/Jansen/Pedersen - there were a couple of moments when all four of them played together with speed, control and exhilaration. If this can be built on - I know we probably won't have all four on the pitch often - we may see some of the younger element coming through to create real excitment at Ewood. Emerton/Neil - again moments when they worked as a good combination One quick question - I can't catch the Hughes army song. It sounds like Sparky Hughesy Blue and White army but I get the impression there's something else in there as well? Glad the light helped bob and Sox.

Well that's ###### the attendance for the next home game - whoever it is!

Yep it was me Capt. In firm agreement with what you say there. BTW my interest in televised football has increased since the return of MOTD which is worth watching. As an aside which is vaguely related I learnt something about MU's marketing strategy yesterday. The corners are to be completed at OT, taking capacity to 75,000. None of these seats will be released to potential ST holders. Why? Utd do NOT want any more ST holders. utd have 50,000 ST holders It's very simple really an ST holder goes every week to watch the game and not much else. Maybe buys the odd shirt or a hotdog. This leave potentially 25,000 people who will be able to buy a ticket by ballot for a home game. When these people visit OT, perhaps 2-3 times a season, they arrive hours early, do the tours, spend a fortune in the shop, etc. Clever or what? Means nothing to us other than to demonstrate the ever-widening gap

I'm e-mailing JW right now asking him to abandon that idea.

We do have a decent Business Development Officer and both he and JW are putting a great deal of effort into marketing the club. They are very frustrated by the lack of response.

Correct. We have probably recahed saturation now. I only bother to watch if it's Rovers.

The problem with this approach, and I agree Souness had great initial success, is it ignores the total and utter rubbish he served up for the last 15-16 months. Regretably fair-weather fans don't live on past glories, or take great joy from the return of Jansen, they just want to see a thumping good game of football and a Rovers win. Fortunatley the board recognised this and allowed Souness to go at the first opportunity. Harking back on his success will get us nowhere and, IMHO, is a little blinkered. When you can't sell out aganst Man Utd there is a very, very serious problem to address. When the excitment of Saturday dies, visiting Ewood had become a chore, it's time for action. I reckon JW couldn't believe his luck when Freddy Shepherd rang.