RevidgeBlue

If we carry on in the current vein at home for the rest of the season we'd end up with about 12 points from our 23 home games. Meaning we'd need at least 38 points from our 23 away games to be reasonably confident of staying up. I'd imagine that's something akin to automatic promotion form or even better required away from home.

Looked like there were about 6k on on TV.

Just to reinforce the above, I checked and we've only been in front in ONE out of 8 games at Ewood this season at HT. (Sheff Utd. which we went on to lose 3-1) The one game we won (Southampton) we were behind until the 76th minute. Put another way we've only been ahead for 74 of the 720 minutes (plus ET) of League Football at Ewood Park this season. 40 of those were in one game (Birmingham) which we contrived to lose right at the end anyway. How on earth is the atmosphere meant to be rocking, or even vaguely positive, under those circumstances?

Again, I dont think that's fair. A core group will always go no matter what - whether it's 3k or 8k - and I applaud them for their loyalty and dedication. I mean 2k even bought tickets for a season they couldnt attend and even after Waggott put prices up.! Arguably however, having a smallish number of fans in attendance who've been brow beaten into submission by watching absolute shite over a period of years and knowing that at the end of the day there's no ambition within the Club for things to improve is the worst possible situation. Hypothetically a complete boycott might have a better chance of shifting the owners and their acolytes as might a stadium packed to the rafters every week with 30 thousand people screaming non stop dogs abuse at the 2 stooges and displaying anti Venky's messages. For the present however it's 100% for the players to entertain the fans and give them something to shout about, not the other way round. The players are being paid very handsomely to do a job and the fans are paying good money to watch them. At the moment they can't even be bothered putting in any effort in the first half of games at Ewood and any improvement generally only comes in the second half or late on in the game when trying to retrieve the situation and salvage a result. At least, regardless of ability, come out on the front foot and give the fans a bit of something to get their teeth into.

They started the ball rolling in that respect.

Disagree. Appointing someone who is a cut above the norm is the only way we'll keep our heads above water in the short term imo. Stick with Ismael, a guy on the downgrade who was never all that to start with and we're looking at League 2 or beyond imo.

My comment about feeling sorry for fans who have bought a season ticket wasn't intended in any patronising or critical way whatsoever. I have the utmost respect for the dedication of those fans who still go down to Ewood to witness such rubbish. You all deserve so much better. Personally Mowbray and Waggott finished me off, the sense that we were no longer a normal Club with any aspirations of success was there even then. There were only so many annual collapses starting every December and instances of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory I could take. Despite it all if proper people were put in place and I felt there was a genuine desire somewhere within the Club to succeed I'd probably be back. I nearly bought a half season ticket twice when we were going well under both JDT and Eustace and ended up being exceptionally glad I didnt after the twats in charge effectively forced them out.

I'd say so yes. They've gone from a position of "We will never ever sell this Club" not that long ago to Suhail conceding that Clubs are always up for sale at the right price.

Maybe at one time, maybe 7 or 8 years ago, but they're concerned enough about us financially now to cut costs to the absolute bone so it must be having an impact on them or registering somehow.

There will be talented guys in the lower Leagues about who are on the up and would still see us as a decent opportunity. Whether of course we could identify such a candidate is of course a completely different matter. We need a new Ken Furphy and to get rid of the 2 stooges.

Running out of assets to sell. Hypothetically, although it would never happen, if NO-ONE turned up they'd have to sell wouldn't they?

Nail, hammer, head.

I think that's harsh. I would never criticise anyone for exercising their freedom of choice and continuing to support the Club that was around for 135 years before Venky's and their assorted stooges turned up. Whatever happens, it's not their fault. They deserve much much better.

That hoary old chestnut "who could we possibly get in that's better than him?" raises its' ugly head yet again and it's no more compelling an argument than it ever was in the past. For me it's quite simple. If a manager clearly isnt working out, he has to go - at least at a normal Club. I liken it to a situation with a broken light bulb, you can come in every day hoping that bulb will suddenly start to work, but it won't. The only alternative is to change the bulb and hope that the new one doesn't go wrong before you expected. We had this for years when Mowbray was here, "Who could we possibly get in better than him? Errr......predictably as it turned out, the next two guys who came in immediately after him and with Gary Bowyer after which I think most people would say Lambert was an upgrade. I didn't want VI when he was appointed and I think we're going down if he stays. For me he has no appealing features whatsoever and at a normal Club I think the powers that be would be rolling the dice and taking a chance on someone else. Unfortunately we know we're not a normal Club and we know results on the pitch are secondary to cutting costs so I suppose he'll be completely safe for the foreseeable. Maybe a token gesture will be made to replace him when it's too late to try and deflect some blame away from the 2 stooges. Happy Days.

As someone who is normally one of the best posters on the Forum, I think you're way off the mark blaming the fans in any way, shape or form. This season is it one win, one draw and six defeats at home in the League plus a defeat at home in the League Cup this season? (The latter of which we were told doesn't count) I actually feel desperately sorry for anyone who's forked out good money for a season ticket this season. Where's the attraction in trailing down to Ewood every game to see us get beaten? The players need to give the fans something, anything, to latch on to. But they're not doing. To rub salt in the wound, this fraud of a Head Coach who has been complicit in the destruction of the squad and Miller (who imo is playing several levels above his actual ability) have had the gall to infer its the atmosphere in the stadium which is to blame. Finally, if you can't see the reason why more people turned up for a one off game to celebrate our 150th anniversary on a Saturday (against a former manager a few could cast as the pantomime villain) than for a midweek night fixture on the red button at the end of November I despair. As a side issue, was the £17 offer in the Riversjde even publicised? Im on this site every day and wasn't aware of it.

I've also seen us fold countless times under the weight of expectation of playing in front of a bigger than normal home crowd over the years. I dont think it should make any difference either way. They shouldn't bottle it in front of a big crowd and they shouldnt be demotivated by playing in front of smaller crowds. At the very least if it does happen, hold your hands up after a poor performance and don't use it as an excuse! We obviously dont agree on this and that's fine. No point going back and forward all night.

If you accept the above then Im not really sure what point you're trying to make in the first place. They're paid to do a job. It's irrelevant whether there's 10 people, 1000, 10,000 or 30,000 in the stadium. Or the underlying reason behind it. We all know it's the owners and management's fault but that's a different argument altogether.

We are worse at home, but that's because the limited talents we do have are better suited to counter attacking than unlocking teams at home. The crowds or atmosphere or lack thereof at Ewood should have no bearing on performances whatsoever. What if we went into lockdown tomorrow? Should we just give up and concede the remainder of our games?

Sorry, not having that for one minute. If there were 1000 in, or we were back in lockdown conditions and playing behind closed doors, thats still no excuse whatsoever for not performing.

This is a major problem under Ismael. Why are we so flat and lethargic in the first half of games at Ewood? We're not brilliant in the second half either but usually better than the first.

Good to see you posting Blue Blood, I'm amazed you think we look "comfortable" though. Wednesday obviously look like they'll take up one of the relegation spots. You might argue the same about Oxford to a lesser degree. After that Id expect Sheff Utd to finish above us and it wouldnt take much for Norwich to suddenly click either. Are we significantly better than either Swansea or Portsmouth? Our home form will be crucial. If we can't sort that out I still think we'll go down.

Barnes is kissing the Club's arse.

This excuse of blaming the home crowd/atmosphere for shite displays at home has to stop and needs calling out if Ismael or any of the players allude to it in future.

Weren't even that for the first ten games!

I thought the other way round. The first was absolutely unforgiveable for a professional footballer. The second was very good goalkeeping although he probably shouldnt have given him the chance.