FULL-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0 Stoke City 0 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

4 points from 3 games (albeit 2 of the games were away) against teams around us in the table just isn't good enough! I see we reverted to the single striker again at home, instead of the more aggressive and attacking style of TUF ....what a very poor and negative decision that was, whoever made it. We should be blowing teams like Stoke away at Ewood! Chelsea and Liverpool up next BFS - sort it out or we risk ending-up with more embarrassing high scores against us!

I sent we played absolute garbage again. Any other season we would be prime relegation fodder. Our best player is an overweight injury prone drunk. What's the score with Kalinic ?

An absolute shocker of a game, If Rovers are trying to kill football they are being successful. Sam Allardyce may not have been present, but If this is the best we can come up with under his tenure I suggest we start looking for a replacement and fast. Two teams out there today and neither of them deserve to be in the Prem...Sorry this post is so negative, but this was football of the worst kind, a point yes, but dire to say the least!

Let's get Bentley back on loan. I bet he regrets behaving like a big time charlie and would relish first team football. I think him supplying the crosses to Kalinic and Di Santo

As soon as I see the teamsheet and the 4-5-1 formation I know its going to be a terrible match. The only good thing about this game was that the SCRUFF got tonked again!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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......and Emerton.
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We need to spend 10 million on aproven quality, pacey, creative midfielder who can score goals

i think a forward that can score goals is more important!

bentley back? a ten millon pound midfielder ? i think rovers have the most disillusioned fan base in the entire country, but at a guess id say that these comments come from the same half hearted fans that boo keith andrews off the pitch. lets get behind our team and players, and lets hope that big sam learns to s**t pound notes. £10 mill my ar*e

a bit aggressive, fraybentos, but at least you talk sense!

Stoke are no dummies and came with a plan not to lose the game. As everyone says they are hard to break down. We never looked like doing that with an under-confident Franco up front by himself.

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I would have liked to have seen us start with Benni and Roberts. We need to push on and try and beat teams like Stoke. If we get one up we can close things down.

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It seems to me that we are prepared to go one behind and then send the troops on to get back into the game. Let's give ourselves the chance to win a game!

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I thought we looked more of a threat when MGP came on and I would like to see him start ahead of Diouf who seems to be giving himself a bit of a rest at the moment. If not MGP how about Olsson in an advanced position?

fraybentos wrote:
bentley back? a ten millon pound midfielder ? i think rovers have the most disillusioned fan base in the entire country, but at a guess id say that these comments come from the same half hearted fans that boo keith andrews off the pitch. lets get behind our team and players, and lets hope that big sam learns to s**t pound notes. £10 mill my ar*e

Totally agree.
What a bunch of pr**ks half the fans are who sit around us in the blackburn end as well.
Booing and grumbling after all of 5 mins and then singing beni macarthy after 10 mins? Have they not seen the lazy sulking get play recently, hes NOT interested.
Get a grip or f**k off and support manure.
Oh, and how dare stoke not roll over and let us beat them.

yeah sorry for the outburst mate, but sitting in the most incestus section of the riverside this season has really ground me down. i cant belive what a dissilussioned bunch we are. we have over performed for a number of years, truth is, a point to stoke IS a good result for us. i hope this small section of the ground dose not reflect the thoughts of other fans.

I didn't boo or grumble or sing for Benni, however what i watched was total manure. I'm Blackburn through & through but this is painful.

Not a classic by any means !, I was dragging my hair out with Diouf , He did not want to Run ,Tackle, And when the ball came to him he just wanted to get shut of it, And i dont mean in the good football sense. I did not like this man before he came to Rovers, And i like El spit even less now.
On the other hand Brett really was man of the match, You can see his fittness coming back ,And he does look like he wants to play for this club.Chris Samba also put a good shift in.
You could see why he brought Vince on , He gave us some grit ,And got stuck in more in the midfield.
The only thing i think we can take away from this is, That we did not give away a goal in the opening minutes, Or the dying minutes.......

tonto wrote:
I didn't boo or grumble or sing for Benni, however what i watched was total manure. I'm Blackburn through & through but this is painful.

Good, niether did we.
It seems like some just go to moan and criticise instead of supporting them, which is what they need.
After all, the home form is pretty **** good.
At least we didnt concede an early goal!

fraybentos wrote:
yeah sorry for the outburst mate, but sitting in the most incestus section of the riverside this season has really ground me down. i cant belive what a dissilussioned bunch we are. we have over performed for a number of years, truth is, a point to stoke IS a good result for us. i hope this small section of the ground dose not reflect the thoughts of other fans.

If you think and others on here think that a point at home to Stoke Bleeding City is a good result for us, then you must be Allardyces love child! Getting a point away at Stoke would be a bit of blow, I know we have to be realistic about our team but what you just said is plain silly and totally defeatist.

Emerton was superb today - Samba made some good tackles and Robinson kept us in the game in the first half but after that the rest were absolute sh**e.
The negative, dire, boring, predictable c**p that we serve up week in week in out is just not good enough.
Grella, Andrews and N'zonzi are all too similar none willing to get forward and all pass sideways and Di Santo whilst running around a lot is not an out and out goalscorer and neither is Roberts and neither is Dunny. So the why the hell are we not giving Benny (fat, lazy or whatever but can score and can deliver good balls into the box) and Kalinic a go. If Kalinic is not good enough to dislodge the muppets in front of him then he must be C**p.

NEGATIVE TACTICS, BORING PREDICTABLE FOOTBALL - SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

Even the most positive of us are becoming 'ground down' with this.

Weary !!

I didn't get on today si I can;t comment but, I personally have seen some great comments on here.

Of course their are positives but, it's hard work in other area's.

Dunny possibly out? :(

But as the sec word say's : 'Good Blue'

Arte et albore

Everyone who raves about how good our defence is... we have conceded more this season than we had at this point under Ince and Winterburn.
They cannot hold their line - the captain should be ensuring this happens. They are all over the place. They got the run around off Ricardo Fuller today. Terrible. Good job stoke were as woeful in front of goal as us.

Di Santo is like roberts. Good worker, bad finisher. He was played in for the second game in a row by public enemy number 1 (who also did very well after our inept defense failed miserably to play the offside trap) and squandered a good chance.

We are terrible at set pieces. Pedersen should not be allowed to play, let alone take them. When we get a corner, there is barely any movement. Maybe 1 player will make a run and attack the ball. Far too static.

Our midfield are INSTRUCTED TO STAY BEHIND THE BALL. Watch them, they always look to move into space at the side, not forward. This is down to Allardyce. When defending, their only objective is to get men between the ball and the goal, not to close down players.
Central midfield is the least of our worries. Grella and Andrews have their limitations (which are increased thanks to Allardyce's preffered tactic of bypassing them at every opportunity), but are good at the basics and breaking up play. N'Zonzi is young and still learning, he drifts in and out of play at the moment, but has a bright future, and is proof that young players can be bloodied into the first team (lets see Hoilett get a go!) Dunn is the attacking option, and we all know what he is capable of... so long as he stays fit.
Good to see Emerton playing well. Get him playing in a proper 442, as a proper winger, and he will really shine.
We have nothing on the left. Pedersen is finished. What the hell is van Heerden all about? Brown envelopes would be my guess!

Kalinic is looking a worse signing by the day. McCarthy must be totally disillusioned. Roberts mk. 1 has been replaced by a younger, newer model, Roberts mk. 2 who we have borrowed from a big, glamorous team, so he must be better, eh?

Ince was vilified for bringing in Andrews and Fowler. There were accusations of an "old pals act" and a past it player coming for a pay day.

Andrews contributes far more to the cause than Diouf, and was a far more economical purchase, who is paid a comparitively modest wage. Fowler was on a pay as you play, short term deal, as opposed to a 60k per week basic wage like our 7th choice right back from spain!

The day when our management team are pleased, or at least content with a 0-0 draw at home against Stoke City is a bad one!

Everyone who raves about how good our defence is... we have conceded more this season than we had at this point under Ince and Winterburn.
They cannot hold their line - the captain should be ensuring this happens. They are all over the place. They got the run around off Ricardo Fuller today. Terrible. Good job stoke were as woeful in front of goal as us.

Di Santo is like roberts. Good worker, bad finisher. He was played in for the second game in a row by public enemy number 1 (who also did very well after our inept defense failed miserably to play the offside trap) and squandered a good chance.

We are terrible at set pieces. Pedersen should not be allowed to play, let alone take them. When we get a corner, there is barely any movement. Maybe 1 player will make a run and attack the ball. Far too static.

Our midfield are INSTRUCTED TO STAY BEHIND THE BALL. Watch them, they always look to move into space at the side, not forward. This is down to Allardyce. When defending, their only objective is to get men between the ball and the goal, not to close down players.
Central midfield is the least of our worries. Grella and Andrews have their limitations (which are increased thanks to Allardyce's preffered tactic of bypassing them at every opportunity), but are good at the basics and breaking up play. N'Zonzi is young and still learning, he drifts in and out of play at the moment, but has a bright future, and is proof that young players can be bloodied into the first team (lets see Hoilett get a go!) Dunn is the attacking option, and we all know what he is capable of... so long as he stays fit.
Good to see Emerton playing well. Get him playing in a proper 442, as a proper winger, and he will really shine.
We have nothing on the left. Pedersen is finished. What the hell is van Heerden all about? Brown envelopes would be my guess!

Kalinic is looking a worse signing by the day. McCarthy must be totally disillusioned. Roberts mk. 1 has been replaced by a younger, newer model, Roberts mk. 2 who we have borrowed from a big, glamorous team, so he must be better, eh?

Ince was vilified for bringing in Andrews and Fowler. There were accusations of an "old pals act" and a past it player coming for a pay day.

Andrews contributes far more to the cause than Diouf, and was a far more economical purchase, who is paid a comparitively modest wage. Fowler was on a pay as you play, short term deal, as opposed to a 60k per week basic wage like our 7th choice right back from spain!

The day when our management team are pleased, or at least content with a 0-0 draw at home against Stoke City is a bad one!

Message to Sam Allardyce:

Why the hell do you continue to start with one up front???

I'm sick of seeing such a negative formation when we're playing the teams that we should be destroying at Ewood.

Did you learn nothing from the Portsmouth game Sam?

I want you to resign as soon as possible. I would rather attack and lose as play that **** and get goal-less draws against the likes of West Ham and Stoke.

Bring back Ince!!!

The game was awful yesterday, we get a good performance/result at bolton, surely after that we should stick to the same team/formation? but no, we totally change it 2 games running.
Di Santo, im afraid is out of his depth. works hard, but far too lightweight, and wont score. but of course he scored againt Burnley (a pretty poor side may I add) so we can't drop him, can we? just like it took 5 years to drop Pedersen after scoring vs united
Out wide MGP and Diouf are the worst wide men in the league, put Dunn on the left (like @ Bolton) and Emerton on the right. Failing that Hoillet, Van Heerden or even Chimbonda (our most creative wide man this season) can't do any worse.
I actually felt Nzonzi had a good game yesterday, him and Grella are our best middle 2, and Benni is by far our best striker, and if he is not fully fit, then he won't get fit sat on the bench.
Dreading wednesday night.

I see yesteday's result has got the moaners in full flow again. Not the best game but why do we have god given right to play 'teams like Stoke' off the park. French Rover - why is 4 points from 3 games against teams around us not good enough. They are around us because they are as good as us. Stoke finished higher than us last season and are in that position again, and who the hell is suggesting we get Bentley back or spend £10 million on a midfielder. Come on, let's get real! I think there's a reallity check required for some of you on here and as a negative as it sounds, in the current climate we will not be any better than a mid table team. Perhaps if a few more of you went, the board would have more money to spend. Look where we were this time last year just before Allardyce took over and look at the league table now. I challenge anyone to put up an argument to say we not in a substantially better position. God if we have the same improvement again in 12 months, we'll be challenging Europe.

Should also mention - TUFters - We played TUF for 2/3 of the game yesterday.

hawaii 5-0 wrote:
Should also mention - TUFters - We played TUF for 2/3 of the game yesterday.

yeah, but the wrong two!

Duffer is playing out of his skin again (amazing what a good manager can do) IF ONLY -we didn’t waste 6m on a “Croatian wonder kid” and spent some of it on a winger that the team is crying out for. For all those armchair fans that say we didn’t need a 30 year old and buying for the future is the way -what future! Id sooner be watching Duffer dribbling and scoring goals right now instead of seeing a 6m 20year old jogging up the track!

hawaii 5-0 wrote:
I see yesteday's result has got the moaners in full flow again. Not the best game but why do we have god given right to play 'teams like Stoke' off the park. French Rover - why is 4 points from 3 games against teams around us not good enough. They are around us because they are as good as us. Stoke finished higher than us last season and are in that position again, and who the hell is suggesting we get Bentley back or spend £10 million on a midfielder. Come on, let's get real! I think there's a reallity check required for some of you on here and as a negative as it sounds, in the current climate we will not be any better than a mid table team. Perhaps if a few more of you went, the board would have more money to spend. Look where we were this time last year just before Allardyce took over and look at the league table now. I challenge anyone to put up an argument to say we not in a substantially better position. God if we have the same improvement again in 12 months, we'll be challenging Europe.

Good stuff Hawaii.

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Fans need to realise that the team is a work-in-progress. There are no magic wands and it will take time to get to where we want to be and it is absolutely true that we have no God-given right to breeze past the likes of Stoke. Stoke fans will be ruing two points dropped just as we are.

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I must say however that we always look more likely to win a game when we have two up front. Let's get our money's worth out of Benno before Sam kicks him out in January. Then let Nikola take the limelight.

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When nhe finally gets a run Nikola will need the fans behind him 100% and no moans!!!!! Sam is probably protecting him from the miserable gits who get a kick out of moaning and destroying players' confidence - as witness the purile treatment of Gamst, and Andrews from so-called fans at the game. It will not be long now before Franco gets the treatment.

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What a boost it would be for Kalinic to hear Niko! Niko! Niko! if he gets on against Chelsea.

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As Hawaii points out things could be massively worse.

French Rover wrote:

fraybentos wrote:
yeah sorry for the outburst mate, but sitting in the most incestus section of the riverside this season has really ground me down. i cant belive what a dissilussioned bunch we are. we have over performed for a number of years, truth is, a point to stoke IS a good result for us. i hope this small section of the ground dose not reflect the thoughts of other fans.

If you think and others on here think that a point at home to Stoke Bleeding City is a good result for us, then you must be Allardyces love child! Getting a point away at Stoke would be a bit of blow, I know we have to be realistic about our team but what you just said is plain silly and totally defeatist.

I suggest that your views about Stoke are out of date French Rover.

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They are a decent side doing better than us in the Premiership.

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I wish we had the quality of their fans' support instead of the moaning morons by which FrayBentos is surrounded.

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Supporters? By definitiion, no.

I would also like to express my disgust at the treatment some of the so-called 'fans' direct at Keith Andrews. They're probably from the same line that used to boo Mark Atkins and Jason Wilcox in days gone by.
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I personally thought he'd had an excellent 1st half and put in his shift which was more than could be said for some of our 'heroes'.
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Stoke I thought were unfortunate not to have taken all 3 points, a mixture of laughable finishing and good goalkeeping keeping them at bay.
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They soaked up our woeful, at times, attempts at attack and caught us on the break time and time again. They demonstrated something which Rovers don't have and that's PACE in their attack. They're arguably a better side than us at present.
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Chelsea on Wednesday? Scary.

@ Hawii 5-0.

What you fail to accept is that it's not the result that upset the fans yesterdasy, it's the way we set up for a draw from kick-off.

We showed quite clearly against Pompey that we are capable of steam-rollering teams to get the 3 points at home. Yesterday we saw none of that effort.

Sam is probably the most stubborn manager that we've ever had and I've had enough of his tactical style.

For the record, I am a season ticket holder and if we continue to play the same style of football for the rest of the season, then I won't be renewing.

I hope you are listening to the fans Mr.Williams!!!

We got the point that we set out for, just as we did in the home game against West ham.
If we'd have gone for it in each of these games we could have rolled over the opposition.
4-5-1 at home isn't close to working.
Far too negative & an awful spectacle. Having travelled to Fulham away & then sat through this, it isn't getting any easier. We looked better when Grella came on & allowed Nzonzi to move further forward.
Things can only get better!!

kevin e wrote:

French Rover wrote:

fraybentos wrote: yeah sorry for the outburst mate, but sitting in the most incestus section of the riverside this season has really ground me down. i cant belive what a dissilussioned bunch we are. we have over performed for a number of years, truth is, a point to stoke IS a good result for us. i hope this small section of the ground dose not reflect the thoughts of other fans.

If you think and others on here think that a point at home to Stoke Bleeding City is a good result for us, then you must be Allardyces love child! Getting a point away at Stoke would be a bit of blow, I know we have to be realistic about our team but what you just said is plain silly and totally defeatist.

I suggest that your views about Stoke are out of date French Rover. . They are a decent side doing better than us in the Premiership. . I wish we had the quality of their fans' support instead of the moaning morons by which FrayBentos is surrounded. . Supporters? By definitiion, no.

The "quality" of our fans is not in question, remember the 18th oct, or were you not there? we've had two seasons of dross to contend with. even "morons" as you call them are entitled to voice their displeasure. As for Stoke being a decent side you must be easily satisfied....outside of the top five I don't think I've seen a "decent"side at Ewood this season or last for that matter. The football under Allardyce has taken a definate turn for the worse,If this entertains you, you have my sympathy. I for one think we should strive for...... and deserve better!

Stoke this season have scored 4 goals and conceded 8 this season this suggests that they are very good at doing what they set out to do,get a point away and maintain their premier status.As for opinions everybody is entitled to their opinions but why in a game filled with poor performances is Andrews singled out for the boos and a lazy selfish McCarthy has fans chanting his name.

not a benny fan then ed-i agree with you.

spyderleg wrote:

kevin e wrote:

French Rover wrote:

fraybentos wrote: yeah sorry for the outburst mate, but sitting in the most incestus section of the riverside this season has really ground me down. i cant belive what a dissilussioned bunch we are. we have over performed for a number of years, truth is, a point to stoke IS a good result for us. i hope this small section of the ground dose not reflect the thoughts of other fans.

If you think and others on here think that a point at home to Stoke Bleeding City is a good result for us, then you must be Allardyces love child! Getting a point away at Stoke would be a bit of blow, I know we have to be realistic about our team but what you just said is plain silly and totally defeatist.

I suggest that your views about Stoke are out of date French Rover. . They are a decent side doing better than us in the Premiership. . I wish we had the quality of their fans' support instead of the moaning morons by which FrayBentos is surrounded. . Supporters? By definitiion, no.

The "quality" of our fans is not in question, remember the 18th oct, or were you not there? we've had two seasons of dross to contend with. even "morons" as you call them are entitled to voice their displeasure. As for Stoke being a decent side you must be easily satisfied....outside of the top five I don't think I've seen a "decent"side at Ewood this season or last for that matter. The football under Allardyce has taken a definate turn for the worse,If this entertains you, you have my sympathy. I for one think we should strive for...... and deserve better!

I have no problem with fans voicing their displeasure as long as it is done in a way which is not going to spread disaffection amongst the crowd and, thereby, on to the pitch.

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The football under Allardyce may be 'worse' than under previous managers but the man needs time to build his team. Some people have short memories.

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Had it not been for Sam we would have been in the Championship and there would have been no Oct 18th - we would have been looking up with envy at Premiership Burnley. Think of that next time you moan about Samnand his tactics.

eddie the eagle wrote:
Stoke this season have scored 4 goals and conceded 8 this season this suggests that they are very good at doing what they set out to do,get a point away and maintain their premier status.As for opinions everybody is entitled to their opinions but why in a game filled with poor performances is Andrews singled out for the boos and a lazy selfish McCarthy has fans chanting his name.

...and why do fans think we should have breezed past them?

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Incomprehensible.
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Stoke played a good game and stopped us from doing the same. All credit to them.

Miller11 wrote:
Everyone who raves about how good our defence is... we have conceded more this season than we had at this point under Ince and Winterburn. They cannot hold their line - the captain should be ensuring this happens. They are all over the place. They got the run around off Ricardo Fuller today. Terrible. Good job stoke were as woeful in front of goal as us. Di Santo is like roberts. Good worker, bad finisher. He was played in for the second game in a row by public enemy number 1 (who also did very well after our inept defense failed miserably to play the offside trap) and squandered a good chance. We are terrible at set pieces. Pedersen should not be allowed to play, let alone take them. When we get a corner, there is barely any movement. Maybe 1 player will make a run and attack the ball. Far too static. Our midfield are INSTRUCTED TO STAY BEHIND THE BALL. Watch them, they always look to move into space at the side, not forward. This is down to Allardyce. When defending, their only objective is to get men between the ball and the goal, not to close down players. Central midfield is the least of our worries. Grella and Andrews have their limitations (which are increased thanks to Allardyce's preffered tactic of bypassing them at every opportunity), but are good at the basics and breaking up play. N'Zonzi is young and still learning, he drifts in and out of play at the moment, but has a bright future, and is proof that young players can be bloodied into the first team (lets see Hoilett get a go!) Dunn is the attacking option, and we all know what he is capable of... so long as he stays fit. Good to see Emerton playing well. Get him playing in a proper 442, as a proper winger, and he will really shine. We have nothing on the left. Pedersen is finished. What the hell is van Heerden all about? Brown envelopes would be my guess! Kalinic is looking a worse signing by the day. McCarthy must be totally disillusioned. Roberts mk. 1 has been replaced by a younger, newer model, Roberts mk. 2 who we have borrowed from a big, glamorous team, so he must be better, eh? Ince was vilified for bringing in Andrews and Fowler. There were accusations of an "old pals act" and a past it player coming for a pay day. Andrews contributes far more to the cause than Diouf, and was a far more economical purchase, who is paid a comparitively modest wage. Fowler was on a pay as you play, short term deal, as opposed to a 60k per week basic wage like our 7th choice right back from spain! The day when our management team are pleased, or at least content with a 0-0 draw at home against Stoke City is a bad one!

Andrews is worst player at rovers i have seen, even Matty Holmes were better, I cringe when his names on the team sheet

BlueSkies wrote:
I would also like to express my disgust at the treatment some of the so-called 'fans' direct at Keith Andrews. They're probably from the same line that used to boo Mark Atkins and Jason Wilcox in days gone by. . I personally thought he'd had an excellent 1st half and put in his shift which was more than could be said for some of our 'heroes'. . Stoke I thought were unfortunate not to have taken all 3 points, a mixture of laughable finishing and good goalkeeping keeping them at bay. . They soaked up our woeful, at times, attempts at attack and caught us on the break time and time again. They demonstrated something which Rovers don't have and that's PACE in their attack. They're arguably a better side than us at present. . Chelsea on Wednesday? Scary.

Andrews excellent 1st half you been on crack? or are you his dad??

kevin e wrote:

spyderleg wrote:

kevin e wrote:

French Rover wrote:

fraybentos wrote: yeah sorry for the outburst mate, but sitting in the most incestus section of the riverside this season has really ground me down. i cant belive what a dissilussioned bunch we are. we have over performed for a number of years, truth is, a point to stoke IS a good result for us. i hope this small section of the ground dose not reflect the thoughts of other fans.

If you think and others on here think that a point at home to Stoke Bleeding City is a good result for us, then you must be Allardyces love child! Getting a point away at Stoke would be a bit of blow, I know we have to be realistic about our team but what you just said is plain silly and totally defeatist.

I suggest that your views about Stoke are out of date French Rover. . They are a decent side doing better than us in the Premiership. . I wish we had the quality of their fans' support instead of the moaning morons by which FrayBentos is surrounded. . Supporters? By definitiion, no.

The "quality" of our fans is not in question, remember the 18th oct, or were you not there? we've had two seasons of dross to contend with. even "morons" as you call them are entitled to voice their displeasure. As for Stoke being a decent side you must be easily satisfied....outside of the top five I don't think I've seen a "decent"side at Ewood this season or last for that matter. The football under Allardyce has taken a definate turn for the worse,If this entertains you, you have my sympathy. I for one think we should strive for...... and deserve better!

I have no problem with fans voicing their displeasure as long as it is done in a way which is not going to spread disaffection amongst the crowd and, thereby, on to the pitch. . The football under Allardyce may be 'worse' than under previous managers but the man needs time to build his team. Some people have short memories. . Had it not been for Sam we would have been in the Championship and there would have been no Oct 18th - we would have been looking up with envy at Premiership Burnley. Think of that next time you moan about Samnand his tactics.

So allardyce saved us did he? Looks like he'll have to do It again this season....but more likely the thing that will save us is the fact that half a dozen teams are actually worse than us. Also my memory is fine, I actually remember when the Rovers tried to win each and every home game....thats what I'll be thinking next time I moan about tactics....along with the the majority of our supporters!

I think some Rovers fans have unrealistic expectations.

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Sam worked miracles to rescue us from the brink of the Championship last year. It was brilliant and exceptional management.

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We are now halfway through a different season with different objectives and we are in mid-table.

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Sam is reportedly working to bring in a striker and a creative midfielder in January. Presumably the Board is backing him with new money as well as what can be raised by Benni, who refuses to get himself into condition whereby he can be selected to play by the manager. (Benni has done this at the last two clubs he played for - he spent 18 months not being picked for Porto and sulking and whinging to the Press) and the return of di Santo who is clearly not yet ready to play in the Premier League. Some posters complain that Santa Cruz has not been effectively replaced. To do so is to bury one's head in the sand and ignore everything they have read about our finances and small-town club status.

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The tactics employed to get us into this position of relative safety have not been pretty.

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However, would we really swap for the open attacking style of a Burnley or West Brom with the inevitable relegation that awaits? Absolutely not. Perhaps some posters don't remember how appalling the Championship is.

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Let's give Sam the time it takes to see us safe and sound in the Premiership and push on from there.

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In any event there is nothing to be done so why not stifle the moans for now and get behind the manager and the club and show the support that can help to make a difference?

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Since we won the Premiership Rovers fans have been spoiled. In the dark old days of the second and third divisions we had small crowds of under 10,000 but at least they got behind the team home-and-away. In those days fans felt that they had a role to play in getting the club up the divisions. Often it was truly dire but we kept the faith.

Perhaps there is a difference between fans and mere observers?

Sorry Kevin, do you actually go to Ewood-or do you watch the games via internet/sky etc.. in sunny Portugal?

...because of course, if you go to the games, you MUST have a good football brain

like u hehe

marghen wrote:
Sorry Kevin, do you actually go to Ewood-or do you watch the games via internet/sky etc.. in sunny Portugal?

I try and watch on the internet whilst also listening to Radio Rovers.

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I usually get to a couple of games per season and can't believe the negative attitude and comments at Ewood. I think these people want to convey to those around them the impression that they are above watching the quality of football on offer or even even that they know better than the professional staff picking the team and choosing the tactics.

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I usually get to a couple of away games per year also and the away fans are a breath of fresh air.

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I guess some people get a kick out of moaning and trying to depress everyone else. It certainly works at Ewood.

Hi Kevin,
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Look -if people haven’t the ability to come to their own conclusion about how the club/team is run, then that’s their problem, if they are influenced by other fans around them in the stands, then more fool them. At the end of the day its their choice and no matter what you or I say will change that.
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Its obvious that there’s two camps at Ewood..the For’s & the Against’s Allardyce brigades -I’m in the latter camp-A supporter of Allardyce doesn’t automatically make them positive and at the same time being against Allardyce doesn’t make them negative- You, me or anyone else doesn’t know for certain which option is better for BRFC.
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At the end of the day fans vote with their feet -which doesn’t necessary apply to you or a few other on here (not a dig, a fact) the Club can’t afford to lose those fans that do attend Ewood on a regularly basis, those are the same fans the club have got to listen to and take notice of- not, with all respect to fans that don’t attend games and don’t support the club financially in anyway.
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From my perspective if, this type of football being served up at the moment continues and doesn’t improve, I most certainly will consider not renewing my season ticket(s) for next season and I wont be alone!

marghen wrote:

Hi Kevin,
.
Look -if people haven’t the ability to come to their own conclusion about how the club/team is run, then that’s their problem, if they are influenced by other fans around them in the stands, then more fool them. At the end of the day its their choice and no matter what you or I say will change that.
.
Its obvious that there’s two camps at Ewood..the For’s & the Against’s Allardyce brigades -I’m in the latter camp-A supporter of Allardyce doesn’t automatically make them positive and at the same time being against Allardyce doesn’t make them negative- You, me or anyone else doesn’t know for certain which option is better for BRFC.
.
At the end of the day fans vote with their feet -which doesn’t necessary apply to you or a few other on here (not a dig, a fact) the Club can’t afford to lose those fans that do attend Ewood on a regularly basis, those are the same fans the club have got to listen to and take notice of- not, with all respect to fans that don’t attend games and don’t support the club financially in anyway.
.
From my perspective if, this type of football being served up at the moment continues and doesn’t improve, I most certainly will consider not renewing my season ticket(s) for next season and I wont be alone!

Hi Marghen,

I respect your views and admire your commitment to the Club. It cannot be easy making the journey you are faced with when you are not enjoying the fare on offer. It must seem like a lifetime getting back to Devon after a poor performance or a defeat. Thankfully, this season, there have been very few of those at home.

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As you will have gathered I was a season-ticket holder for many years and, latterly, used to travel to Ewood from Leeds for every game. I have served my time on the terraces at such exotic grounds as Grimsby, Carlisle, Millwall, Cardiff etc and have witnessed some very poor Rovers teams down the years. Did I ever consider abandoning my hometown team - never.

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My particular beef is with those 'fans' who complain loudly in the stands and on these sites to all within earshot and seem to thouroughly enjoy spoling the game for everyone else with their negative remarks. Chants for Benni after ten minutes can do nothing for the confidence of di Santo and Roberts - it's a self-fulfilling process and ca n only harm the club.

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It is so easy to pick on players who are having a poor spell and we have seen players destroyed by the fans down the years.

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In reality the moaners will achieve absolutely nothing positive for the club they profess to support but can do a lot of harm.

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Allardyce is not a favourite of yours and I can thoroughly understand why. However, should we not, as supporters of the club, play a role in trying to improve matters by avoiding openly critical rabble-rousing and instead offer our unequivocal support of what, as fans, we currently have to work with?

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My life has taken me away from the only football club I have ever and will ever support but I have lost none of my passion for it. My weekend is ruined as is yours when we perform badly or lose. My complaints are unheard and do nothing to damage other supporters' or the team's morale. There is only our son who complains about my negativity! Cheeky person.

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I hope that by trying to promote a positive attitude towards all things Rovers I can still do something to help the club. Realistivally I accept that I have no ability to change what happens at the club, nor do I have any right to try and influence anyone else. I truly believe that Rovers fortunes are in good hands and I have the patience to wait for the results of current efforts.

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In any event why tear ourselves apart by seeking out the negatives all the time. How good was Brett on Saturday? Robbo looked great and we kept a clean sheet. Nzonzi had a good game etc etc. The result was predictable. Stoke did their job well.

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I am a glass half-full man and can see that things could be infinitely worse - ask a Pompey fan! We are moving up the table and have got through a phase of some really tough games that Spurs, Liverpool or Villa would have struggled with just as badly.

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For me, the time to judge is at the end of the season. Nothing is going to change before then in any event so why not just get behind the management and playing staff and try and help things on the pitch?

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It seems so logical to me.

If someone had said to me a year ago that in December 09 we would be in mid-table I would have been so relieved.

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So far so good and better to come.

Nice reply Kev-just hope your football knowledge is better than your geography …hehe

marghen wrote:
Nice reply Kev-just hope your football knowledge is better than your geography …hehe

Hi Marghen

I realised as soon as I hit the submit button that Taunton is in Cornwall - no, seriously, I know / knew it is in Somerset. Anyway it is a heck of a long way to Ewood.

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By the way 'our' bit of Portugal is not blessed with year-round sunshine and we are currently in the middle of pretty nasty weather. On Sunday we had a power-cut which spanned both Premier League games. Very frustrating given the quality of the games on offer!

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Also, we are not retired out here. We have a business which keeps us pretty busy.

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Have a good week - enjoyed the 'chat' and the exchange of views.

Bring on the Cockneys!

Hi Kevin,
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Haha-actually we live about 8 miles from the Devon border- “nasty weather” took me 15 mins defrosting the car this morning- wife not well pleased she nearly missed her train to London -so I’m not in her good books.
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Admire you having a business in another country , hard enough in the UK at the moment. So you’re not on the sunny Algarve - West coast ? Lisbon or Porto area? Anyway keep warm and good luck with the business.
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Is their good coverage of Premier league games in your area?

Hi Marghen - sorry to hear about your bad weather. At least we can count on many more months of sun than you can even in the tropical south-west. Having said that I hate the heat and we never get on the beach even though it is only five minutes away!

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It's not easy being in business here as the bureaucracy one has to cope with (or ignore and pay the fines) is diabolical. We have a property management business which is probably the largest of its kind in the country. We are 100kms north of Lisbon so well away from the Algarve - thank goodness.

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Portugal is a nothing country going nowhere but it is a pleasant place to live and do one's own thing. We brought our kids up here and, missing football, countryside and libraries apart, it was the best thing we ever did.

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You would not get me back to the UK for anything. It seems like Alice in Wonderland stuff to me now looking at the TV and reading the press. Nobody seems to want to take responsibility for their actions and whatever comes to pass always seems to be someone else's fault. ( A small child was mauled to death by a dog in Liverpool yesterday - will the parents be censured for their irresponsbility in leaving the child with the elderly grandmother? I think not.)

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I do miss the football and you will understand that distance does not diminish the passion one feels for the Club. Nowadays there are so many ways of keeping up with events and, of course, opinions. It is frustrating not being able to contribute from the 'terraces' but I am honest enough to say that sorting out the right kind of life for the family came first.
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You should see our place on a match day where we follow the game on two computers and with Sky Sports on the go as well. The tension is massive and my wife knows to keep silent or make only sympathetic noises. Our son is as mad as I am for Rovers and got across for the Burnley game. I was not able to make it. Maybe next season if they are not relegated which I suspect they will be.

Hi Kevin,
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“property management business” very interesting- I assume that includes rentals? Been looking at Portugal for next years break….After a villa/apartment for 3 weeks from around the 11th June-walking distance to beach/bars/restauran
ts-swimming pool-A/C -& most importantly -a decent size telly with sky/English tv(someone told me it’s the world cup) Can you help?
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Sorry everyone in advance for using this site as a travel agency.

marghen wrote:
Hi Kevin,
.
“property management business” very interesting- I assume that includes rentals? Been looking at Portugal for next years break….After a villa/apartment for 3 weeks from around the 11th June-walking distance to beach/bars/restauran

ts-swimming pool-A/C -& most importantly -a decent size telly with sky/English tv(someone told me it’s the world cup) Can you help?
.
Sorry everyone in advance for using this site as a travel agency.

Hi Marghen - are you inclined to let me have your e-mail address? I will get in touch with some details. I am sure that we can help you.

Hi again Marghen - check out our web-site at www.portugalholidayd
estinations.co.uk

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You can contact me / us through the site. Identify yourself as Marghen in the subject line and I will look out for your mail.

thanks-will check the site

thanks-will check the site