Conference trucks::football;1

    
    > I live in Australia, so this notes file is my major source of info.
    
    Dave,
    
    What about the newspapers that carry the English results and some
    match reports, 2KY 1017 that carries Radio 5 coverage on Saturday
    night/ Sunday morning, the specialist English soccer papers published
    here (like British Soccer Weekly), the football coverage in the 
    British newspapers published here (Weekly Torygraph, Weekly Express),
    the TV coverage on ABC and SBS, and if you're rich the 0055 telephone
    results service ?    :-)
    
    Not that I'm an addicted Leeds fan desperate for results 2 minutes
    after a game has finished or anything !   ;-)

    
    	Don't entirely agree with the analogy, Steve, but thanks all
    	the same (sic...Ed.)  8-( 

    Whats happened to Blackburn. 
    
    Why they have appointed Moaning Kenny Dalgliesh as manager thats what.
    
    Does have now have too much choice and has no idea as to his best 11.
    
    I have not laughed so much since the snow bound Luton game left
    Liverpool with 5000 meat pies on their hands.
    
    Regards,
    
    Barry.
    

    
    Blackburn's loss of form coincided with the injury to Mike Newell, one
    of Dalglish's million pound men. He bought Roy Wegerle to replace him, 
    a gifted enough player but hardly the sort of man you want in the heat
    of a promotion battle and then, in desperation, went through a phase of
    trying to buy any striker willing to move to Blackburn. Duncan Shearer
    came from Swindon but Brett Angell turned down a move from Southend (he
    obviously thought they had a better chance of promotion).
    
    Dalglish has simply proved that you can't buy an instantly successful
    team; players need time to adjust to a new style and different
    colleagues. And I, for one, don't have an ounce of sympathy for him.
    
    jeff

    
    Exactly. Spending millions on quality, gifted players isin't enough if
    they haven't got either the team spirit or the commitment to do the
    job. Kenny wen't the wrong way about managing Blackburn, and I am sure
    that if he had the same chance over again (Blackburn were in a good
    position even before he got there), then he would not have bought half
    the players he now has.
    	   If they had played with commitment, then they could of held on
    with draws instead of losses, but the players ovbiously did not play
    with enough of it to warrant singular points instead of none.
    	   I also think that he's brought it on himself by signing too many
    players and hope that ('cause I like Blackburn) they can turn it around
    and try to get through the play-offs. 
    
    Greg...

    
    i agree with .7
    this also brings up the case of those people within a team who are not
    stars, but just do their job effectively in order to make the team run
    smoothly.
    it is these kind of people that Blackburn lack.
    
    Ian.
    

    	Well, I REALLY don't want to say this, but I have to:
    
    	"I TOLD YOU SO"
    
    	The playing genius of Kenny Dalglish, IMHO, will probably never be
    equalled by anyone in the First Division. But as far as his managerial
    skills are concerned, better to leave it unsaid. It was good for
    Liverpool that he quit and I think we have a much better manager
    (Souness, when he recovers) now.
    	Dalglish doesn't know how to think long term. He buys players who are
    over the hill now to do the job right at hand, without thinking how
    these players are going to be useful in the following seasons. That's
    how Liverpool ended up with Hysen and Speedie.
	I'm glad Blackburn are where they are. Hopefully, they'll get rid
    of Dalglish, the rest of the league will know just how lousy a manager
    he is and he will never ever get a manager's post again or if he does,
    it will be at a very much lower salary and club (one in the GM Vauxhall
    League, if they're dumb enough !!!).
    
    Just my 2 cents,
    
    Kumar
        

    
    Re .8 and the rest....
    
       I have the feeling that most of ye haven't forgotten what Dalglish
    done to us last season, which is fair enough. But I reckon ye have all
    forgotten what he done for the club in the previous seasons. The way
    its looks at the moment Liverpool will finish either 5th or 6th in the
    league this season. I believe we never finished lower as second under
    Dalglish's management, which speaks for itself that he was also a good
    manager, when did Liverpool ever have a poor one??? I wouldn't run down
    his performance with Blackburn, if they don't make it this season then
    they will have at least a strong squad for next season, and they should
    and will probably get promoted, then the negative talk about dalglish
    will turn positive.
    
         I never recall any negative words about Dalglish in the Liverpool
    notes when they were winning leagues and cups everywhere. I for one
    will allways have a high regard for Kenny as a player and as a manager,
    and it would be great to see him lead Blackburn back to the first
    division, and if anybody can do it then he can.
    
                                                               -dave-
    
    p.s Dalglish left Liverpool because of internal pressure, has this
    internal pressure also got something to do with Souness's condition???

    
    	Excellent note, Dave. 

    Blackburn Rovers is a cobbled together, sorry, 'expensiveley assembled'
    set of journeymen who have come to line their own pockets. They are
    coming apart at the seams like all hastily assembled teams. It isn't
    posible to get out of Div 2 in 1 season with such a bunch of journeymen
    - a V Jones is needed to gee them up. Blackburn may make the playoffs,
    but won't go up. If they did go up, they wouldn't last.
    
    Blackburn will still be in Div 2 at the end of next season, they will
    be playing Burnley, who deserve success (and they get better crowds)
    
    jb.

    My two cents worth.
    
    I think Moanin Kenny left Liverpool for the prime reason, which one
    noter has already alluded to, that being. He had assembled a very good
    team yes I must agree, however they were all getting on a bit, and
    Kenny knew a). He had spent all the money and b). there was not such a
    high degree of quality in Liverpools reserves as in the past.
    
    So to blame Souness for the fact that Liverpool are likely to finish 5
    or 6th this year, whilst they never finished lower than 2nd with Moanin
    Kenny is wrong.
    
    Had Kenny still been there and faced up to the mess he left behind then
    Liverpool maywell have finished 14/15th and not 5/6th.
    
    Regards,
    
    Barry.

    
    
    Right on Barry. Dalglish inherited "the Liverpool machine" but didn't
    maintain it properly. He got out of the way just before it blew up in
    his face.
    
    He's never had to "manage" in the true sense of the word. His first
    managerial job was "here Kenny, take one of the best club squads in the
    world and see what you can do with it". Now it's "have as much money as
    you like and see what you can do with it". Not a recipe for success, as
    he, and everyone else, is beginning to find out.
    
    
    Adam.

    
    Managing a team with plenty of dosh is almost a different occupation to
    managing a team with none. For the likes of Dalglish, Souness, Ferguson
    etc, "managing" involves deciding how you want to play and what players
    to buy to suit that style. In other words, buying the right type of
    players to blend in with the way you want the team to play. For clubs
    with no money, the situation is entirely different; the manager has to
    make do with what he's got and either coach the players to play the way
    he wants or adapt the style of play to suit what he's got. Either way,
    this is a far more difficult task and the best mangers are those that
    succeed under such conditions.
    
    jeff

    Re .13 & .14,
    
    	Well said chaps, well said !!
    	I'd just like to add that Dalglish also had, as his mentor of some
    kind, the great Bob Paisley, at least in 1986. If memory serves me
    correctly, Paisley did offer to quit from the board of directors at Anfield
    after criticising Dalglish's tactics publicly. Yes Dalglish won the
    "double" in 1986, league titles in 1988 and 1990 and F.A. Cup in 1989.
    But never forget that he also contrived to lose the F.A. Cup in 1988
    against of all teams,Wimbledon, the league title in the last minute of
    the 1988-89 season, won nothing in 1987 and was, IMHO, also responsible for 
    not winning anything in 1991. So he quit when the going got tough.
    	Everybody' talking about "the bottle" these days. Well, Dalglish
    ain't got "the bottle" either (at least not as manager).
    
    Kumar

    Re 16.
    
    Even better.
    
    Well said that man.
    
    Regards,
    
    
    Barry.

    
    Re .13, .14 & .16...
    
       After reading these three notes I have come to the conclusion that
    either
    
    a) Ye guys cannot swallow what Dalglish done last season.. or
    b) Every time Liverpool don't win a major trophy the manager is to
       blame..
    
    So it's Dalglish we should blame for screwing up the league a few
    seasons ago against Arsenal, and why didn't he take the penalty against 
    the wombles (-)???!!!!
    
       I wonder who will ye blame if we lose to Sunderland on the 9th????
    Anyway have a nice weekend May 1st is a holiday over here so we have a
    three day break.
    
                                                             -dave- 

    getting back to the subject...
    
    Blackburn did win a play-off place, and in the 1st Leg at Ewood (sp?)
    Park they beat Derby 4-2.  The return leg is this evening.
    In the other play-off tie, Cambridge drew 1-1 with Leicester.
    
    Paul

    results last night..
    
    Derby 2  Blackburn 1   agg  4-5
    Leicester 5  Cambridge 0  agg 6-1
    
    Blackburn to play Leicester at Wembley on Monday 25th May..after
    watching both games on TV last night, it should be good one.
    
    Paul

   I read that Speedie of Blackburn was assaulted by a fan after the
   game.

    Does anyone know his name I'd like to buy the man a drink.
    
    Regards,
    
    
    Barry.

    Me too, perhaps we can ask him to do the business on Paul (w)Ince 
    and Pat Van Den Hauwe. I'd pay to see that.
    
    barry.

	Blackburn Rovers 1 Liecester 0

	A penalty just before half-time. 

	So Blackburn and the great KD back in the first division.

    .....well actually into the Premier division.
    
    -Dom

   Kumar, JB, I thought ye would pop in to congratulate Kenny ( who has bottle)
and (his no hopers) Blackburn on gaining promotion to the premier league. I
wonder what ye have to say now???? and I don't want to hear "they were lucky"
crap. Maybe I will be able to comment on the teams performance next season when
I see them play, but it will allways remain in the history books that Dalglish
brought Blackburn into the Premier league, so he can't be a bad manager after
all..

    Iam looking forward to Blackburns game at Anfield...

                                                            -dave-

    I saw the game live on Granada, Rovers were lucky to win / Leicester
    didn't put their chances away. Speedie was lucky to stay on the pitch
    after he had been fouled by Grayson (?) he then retaliated, he got a
    yellow instead of a red.
    
    There were 4 ex-Leeds players on view, Scott Sellars, Tommy Wright,
    Simon Grayson and Mike Whitlow, all played pretty well.
    
    The nearly men have eventually made it, they'll have to spend some more
    money both on the team and the ground, especially the ground.
    
    
    jb.

    re 28. 'History will show Kenny Dalgleash brought Rovers into the
    Premier League.'
    
    Should'nt the R have been ommitted from brought.
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Barry.

    
    So Dogleash scrapes his men into the Premier. So what if that's what
    the history books will say ? That doesn't make him a good manager. The
    fact remains that there are plenty of managers throughout all four
    divisions who, given half the budget that Kenny has had to play with,
    could produce a team that would play Blackburn off the park week in
    week out.
    
    Adam.

    Re .28,
    
    	Well, Dave, from what I have read in here, it looks like Blackburn
    were lucky to win. So, I'm not going to say anymore about luck. Yes,
    you are right when you say that "History will show K. Dalglish
    b(r)ought Blackburn into the Premier League. But you should remember
    something about history: It is created all the time. So I'm sure at the
    end of the first season of the Premier League, it is quite possible
    that Dalglish may become the first manager to get his team relegated from 
    the Premier League. So much for that.
    	Now, onto the question of "The Bottle". My memory fails me. But
    would someone please tell me when was the last time that a team which
    was leading a league or division for about 3/4 of the season suddenly
    fell apart and only just managed to get into the play-offs ? No, sir, I
    will repeat again : Kenny Dalglish ain't got THE BOTTLE. Only he or a
    team managed by him can contrive to do such a thing. And this in spite
    of spending so much money !
    	So, now he's got his team into the Premier League. Fine. Is he
    going to survive with the same set of players ? We all know that you
    need certain players to get you promoted and a quite different set to
    keep in you the league or division. Are you suggesting that Messrs.
    Speedie, Newell et al are capable of doing that ? Gimme a break ! IMHO,
    that's a team of players, who having failed to make any impact in their
    earlier teams, now teamed up with a manager who could not himself make
    it in the top flight. I reckon that Dalglish will be going shopping
    soon and his first targets will be the second or third teams of
    Liverpool, Everton, Man. Utd and City. Good luck to him because he
    REALLY needs it now. More than he needed it when he was at Anfield.
    	I will make a bold prediction here: If Blackburn don't get
    relegated in their first season, then they will probably end up like
    Watford. For those of you who don't remember or know, Watford were
    runners-up to Liverpool in the league in 1984 (I stand corrected) and
    also reached the F.A. Cup final and lost to Everton. Look where they
    are now ! Need I say more ?
    	Liverpool will do well against this lot from Ewood Park next
    season.
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Kumar  

    
    A very generous parting gift (he's finished reffing) from Mr. Courtney
    to his old pal Kenny me thinks.
    

    Blackburn have had a 3.2 Million offer for Duncan Shearer turned down.
    
    They are expected to increase this offer to 4 mill.
    
    Where do they get their money from.
    
    Nigel

    
    Wake up Nige, it's ALAN Shearer - Duncan Shearer was the bloke they've
    just sold to Aberdeen.
    
>>    Where do they get their money from.
    
    Jack Walker - ex-owner of Walker Steel, he's got loads to spend on
    Blackburn after selling his business for millions.
    
    Paul

    Paul
    
    I cant believe I wrote that. Must be the effects of the vast amounts of
    beer I drunk last night.
    
    Nigel

    
    I heard that Geoff Thomas of Crystal Palace and England ( ha! )has 
    signed for Blackburn at an amazing 3 million quid can anyone 
    confirm this..
    
    Gary.. 

    Yes, I've heard this as well. Disgraceful is'nt it? 3 million lire
    would've been about right. 
    
    barry.

    As an FE supporter, I'm naturally sorry to see Geoff go, if the deal
    eventually goes through, but if you're offered #3m+ and the player is
    offered upwards of #5or6k per week (Shearer is reputed [according to
    Paneso] to be on #9k per week) its hard for both parties to turn down.
    Also, Thomas's agent has supposedly spent a lot of time with Blackburn
    sorting out a deal.
    
    The sickener is that:
    
    a) Blackburn are hugely inflating the market - #3m for Thomas when
    Wright went for #2.4???
    
    b) Palace are now a soft touch for inflated deals for other players.
    
    While I would wish Thomas well, it would be sweet for Dalglish's
    dumbo's to go straight back down again.
    
    Paul

    
>   a) Blackburn are hugely inflating the market - #3m for Thomas when
>   Wright went for #2.4???
    
    I don't think you can lay the blame soley at Blackburn. Other clubs
    know that Blackburn have money and attempt to get as much of it as they 
    can. Their greed is as much to blame as Blackburn's stupidity/naivety.
    
    Tim

         <<< Note 202.39 by ARRODS::OHAGANB "Amos Moses was a Tottenham fan" >>>
                -< So how much for a really good player then? >-

>    Yes, I've heard this as well. Disgraceful is'nt it? 3 million lire
>    would've been about right. 
    
>    bazza.



Barry,

Is this sour grapes, because George Tightwad McWad missed out on the 
bargain of the millenium? Whoops, I forgot, he snapped up Jimmy Carter for
a snip.

Stuart


BTW If G.T has gone to Whingers All-Stars he will of course be stripped
    of his honorary knighthood - what an Antony Blunt.

    Ere, Stuart, you been tampering with my notes or summink? 
    
    barry (definitely)

         <<< Note 202.43 by ARRODS::OHAGANB "Amos Brieley hates M.U.F.C" >>>
                      -< Extracting the p............... >-

>    Ere, Stuart, you been tampering with my notes or summink? 
    
>    barry (definitely)


As if.

Stuart

    
    A bit of humour.
    
    My local team, Stalybridge Celtic of the GM Conference League, were
    staying in the same hotel as Blackburn last Friday, on the outskirts of
    Manchester. 
    The chairman of the 'Bridge', Peter Barnes cheekily asked Kenny if he
    could borrow Alan Shearer, once he has recovered from his knee injury,
    to "help him get back to full fitness."
    
    Peter Barnes is still awaiting a reply!!!!!!
    
    The cheek of it......
    
    mac

    
    ....their season finished versus Sheffield Utd/Wed in just 2 games !
    
    

     Judging by the last entry there aren't many(If any) Blackburn fans
    about...But I'll ask anyway.

     What's happened to Stewart Munro??? He was one of the most consistent
    players at Ibrox when he played there.No matter how many players
    Souness bought none could take his place off him...so where is he.

    SCott

    Scott,
    
    Re Blackburn fans: we tend to keep a low profile, just like the club.
                                                                        
    Incidentally I am told that 75,000 Rovers replica shirts were sold 
    last season, 15,000 of them in Glasgow. Is this down to massive support, 
    the appeal of a classic style from the 1880's or the desire to 
    wander around with McEwans across the chest ?
    
    Re Munro: I cannot remember Kenny ever playing Munro in the first team 
    although he was appearing in the reserves last season. I don't doubt 
    he was a good player but full-backs are something we are not short of.
    
    He may even have moved on, I'll check this out for you.  
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Andy,

            Was he injured at all ??? I'm really surprised that one
     of the lesser teams in the Scot's Premier or the lower clubs in
     The English Premier or even the First Div haven't picked him up.

            I think he would do a sound job no matter where he went.

            Thanks for the help
                         
                         SCott

    
    re.52
    
    15,000 replica shirts sold in Glasgow.........I think NOT !
    
    

    
    It came from a friend of an ASICS rep, not from the club. 
    
    I thought it sounded strange myself but assumed that Kenny had a big
    family up there. 
    
    A second theory would be that looked at out of one eye they could 
    be mistaken for Rangers shirts !  
    
    Could 15,000 glaswegians possibly take a myopic view of life ? 

    
    I believe Stuart Munro is now at Bristol City.
    
    Gary.

        
    Blackburn 1:0 Spurs
    
    My sympathies go out to the Spurs fans who made the journey for this
    one. 
    
    Only two Spurs players even worthy of a mention, Erik in goal made 4
    saves that nobody could have blamed him for missing and the right back
    Sol Campbell who did the work of three down the right.
    
    Basically Blackburn were rampant, this was home form from last season
    and a 3-0 or 4-0 scoreline would have been a fair result.
    
    And THANKYOU LEEDS, I take it all back, that lad Batty can play a bit. 
    He'll have to do it every week to convince me he was worth all the money 
    but I made him MOTM on Saturday as much for his distribution as his 
    ball winning. However its a good job we have Warhurst as well because 
    Batty only got 1 booking for 3 bookable fouls this week, I suspect he 
    will spend a few weeks suspended before the seasons out.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Well, Tim Flowers appears to have succumbed to the blankety blank 
    cheque book and pen and Kenny has now spent roughly the same as his 
    old mate Souness. The only difference is that Liverpool sold the team
    of the 80's, Blackburn are buying the team of the nineties.
    
    As Blackburns best results of the season appear to be not getting Roy 
    Keane, Nigel Clough and Neil Ruddock its obviously having a lot of luck
    as well as a lot of money that matters. ;-) 
    
    I think that about does it for this year, unless somebody has a really
    good centre half ????
    
    So what am I bid for Bobby Mimms ?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

       Tim Flowers made his debut for Blackburn at the weekend and thankfully
they went down. I hope Blackburn & Kenny get relegated. All they have is
buying power in Jack Walker. These people like Shearer, Flowers and the thug
Batty are going there for the money and no other reason. With no character in
the club and small crowds, I hope they fail even with Walker's money. They are
trying to buy the title.


 C U N N O

>	They are trying to buy the title.
    
    Name a club which has never tried to buy their way to success. 
    
    If it wasn't to improve their chances, what was the reason that Liverpool 
    tried to buy Flowers ?
    
    Terry
    

    
    Blackburn have only spent a couple of million more than Liverpool and
    the reason for their small crowds is the amount of redevelopment going
    on at Ewood Park - you're getting very bitter and twisted in your old
    age Cunno...........
    
    Paul

    
    I will report that last remark to John Cronin, who is South
    Queensferry's official Scunthorpe supporter.
    
    Come in John..........
    
    Archie.

    
    Kenny Dalglish recently replied to those who think like Cunno with the
    following point:
    
    Blackburn have brought new money into the game and this is resented
    (fear and envy) by those who wish to protect their control over the 
    current money circulating in the system.
    
    I'm sure that breaking the mould is something that Blackburn,
    Norwich and Newcastle will enjoy achieving over the next few years. 
    
    Cunno, open your eyes and see what has happened to your club over the
    last few years. Liverpool have failed in their attempt to rebuild a 
    team by a Manager who lets his heart rule his head. 
    
    In the same time Blackburn have achieved many of their objectives 
    and are now equipped with a relatively young, predominantly English, 
    squad who will hopefully be in Europe next season and regularly
    thereafter.
    
    Cheers, and thanks to the previous noters who, although  they may not be
    Blackburn fans, could see the stupidity of Cunnos remarks.
    
    Andy

    Andy,
    
    The trouble for Kenny is that he just *has* to acheive something. If
    they don't win anything this year, and/or don't get into Europe then he
    will be under enormous pressure. Jack Walker's money won't last for
    ever and paying silly wages is a sure way to disaster if no money is
    coming in. Blackburn's crowds, even with the new stadium, aren't that
    big a source of revenue.

    Re .65
    
>>   last few years. Liverpool have failed in their attempt to rebuild a 
>>   team by a Manager who lets his heart rule his head. 
				    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    ....and we all know what a dickie heart he has, so it doesn't say much
    for his head ;-)
    
    Rob 
     

    What about last nights result.Your team of highly paid flops toiled to
    beat Shrewsbury.Scunthorpe can at least beat them over 90 mins.
    
    Have feet will TRAVEL.

    <Smileys on>
    
    Its called entertainment, and spreading even more money through the
    football league. 
    
    Let the small clubs have a bit of fun, give them a good night out 
    and a good pay day that should boost their next few home gates.
    
    If it makes a Scunthorpe fan happy then it can't be bad can it. 
    
    And on we go to Tottingham in the next round.
    
    <smileys off>
    
    Luckily I didn't have to resort to cutting and pasting the obligatory 
    "concentrate on the league" note that supporters of big clubs use when 
    dumped out of the 3rd most important domestic competition.
    
    Now that would have taken the smile off my face,
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
     
       
    

I see that Lazio have confirmed that Blackburn have inquired
about bringing the over-hyped crock back to England.

5 million for the walking wounded!!

Actually sounds a bargain, compared to Barnes, Clough, Thomas etc..

Chris.

    
    I like this Gazza rumour, it distracts people from what Blackburn are 
    really up to. It was doing the rounds when Roy Wegerle arrived and when
    Kevin Gallagher arrived.
    
    Still, I'll trust Kenny, despite questioning some of his spending only 
    2 of his 25 signings have so far proved to be duffers.
    
    Maybe the plan is to get Gazza and Jimmy Five Bellies to fill the 
    3,000 seats in the top tier of the new Blackburn End Stand.
    
    But if cuddly Paul does return to this country I would be surprised 
    if Newcastle didn't put in a bid.
                  
    Andy

    
    
    >But if cuddly Paul does return to this country I would be surprised
    >if Newcastle didn't put in a bid.
    
    I would. Can you imagine Keegan the strict disciplinarian and Gascoigne 
    working together?
    
    Tim

    
    Is that 'strict disciplinarian' = sulky git ?
    
    

    
    Quite possibly, Paul.
    
    Tim,
    
    Ps, you missed out ugly.

    
    Blackburns next home game is against, you guessed it, SOUTHAMPTON.
    
    This strategy of buying up the competition worked wonders in the
    promotion year when Duncan Shearer was lured away from Swindon. He 
    couldn't really make the team at Blackburn and was later allowed to go off
    and impress the Scottish Premier League by knocking them in for Aberdeen.
    
    Flowers and Shearer lining up against their old mates will be a good 
    test of Blackburns crowd pulling ability because there will be 18,000 
    seats to fill, unattractive opposition, christmas shopping to do, it'll
    be cold, and it might rain, and you can see the goals on MOTD, but if 
    Gazza's going to be there !!!? (oh what a nice rumour)
     
    Incidentally is there anybody, I suppose a Southampton fan is a little
    much to expect, who can tell me what the saints have done with 
    uncle jacks donation ?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy                 
    

    
>    Well, not much of prediction my old chum (if you are still there !).
 
    Well, I like to stick my neck out. It's backfired before :-)   
    
    I have not changed my opinion on Andersson, although I have not seen
    him play for Blackburn (not much chance of that, was there?)
    
    Maybe the typical English league side can't adapt to a modern style
    international class defender?
    
    I now confidently predict that Blackburn Rovers will be world leaders
    well into the next millenium :-)
    
    	cheers,
    
    		Stefan

    Stefan,
    
    Blackburn will be in Europe next season, (hows that for a prediction !)
    so maybe you'll get lucky and get a look at the team of the millenium
    in the making.
         
    As a season ticket holder I have seen most of what Andersson has done
    and you are probably right, the continental style of centre half does
    not fit easily in the Premier League.
    
    I don't know if Scandinavia is as tribal as Britain but if you are
    interested, Henning Berg, the Danish full-back who we bought from
    Lillestrom at the same time as the Andersson deal, is turning into an
    excellent player.  
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Andy,
    
>    Blackburn will be in Europe next season, (hows that for a prediction !)
>    so maybe you'll get lucky and get a look at the team of the millenium
>    in the making.
 
    You misunderstand me, we see a lot of English Premier league football
    on TV here, and Blackburn have had their fair share of coverage, it's
    just that Andersson has not been playing on those occasions. 
    
>    I don't know if Scandinavia is as tribal as Britain but if you are
>    interested, Henning Berg, the Danish full-back who we bought from
>    Lillestrom at the same time as the Andersson deal, is turning into an
>    excellent player.  
 
    Don't know what you mean by tribal, but if you mean things like the
    healthy rivalry that goes on in notes 13%.*, I guess it's less over
    here. The media seem to have succeded in convincing the unsuspecting
    populace that we should support anyone who's Danish/Norwegian/Finnish
    just because they're fellow Scandinavians. I take the opposite view.
    
    Mind you, I do my best to whip up anti-support for Denmark
    referencing to the Stockholm bloodbath in 1521, but somehow Swedish
    football fans seem less aware of their history than the average
    Celtic/Rangers supporter.
    
    Looking forward to Blackburn's European Cup hegemony,
    
    	Stefan
    
    

    
    BLACKBURN TAKE SIX POINTS OUT OF SIX AT HOME !
    
    Shearer 2
    Southampton 0
    
    I'm not very happy, Alan didn't look at all fit, only touched the ball
    twice all bloody afternoon. 
    
    The first was a dubious penalty - Ken Monkou, who otherwise had an
    excellent game, found guilty of sneezing in the general direction of
    Mike Newell who was so shocked at finding himself in the 6 yard box he
    fell over.
    
    The second was a tap-in, and is my tip for the next set of Grandstand 
    opening titles. Having stood around chatting to Le Tissier all
    afternoon our Alan decided he had 15 minutes to see if he could still 
    sprint and kick the ball at the same time. Watch football focus on
    Saturday to see what happened. 
    
    Basically the blues made very hard work of a game which should have 
    been 3 points in the bag by half time. Tim Flowers deserves a mention
    for restoring the confidence of our defence.
    
    Ian Branfoot must now be history, he has clearly done bugger-all with
    all the money we've given him.
    
    16,700 turned up, not bad considering. 
    
    Shearer 2
    Coventry 1
    
    Now i'm happy, excellent team performance, the blues playing crisp 
    passing football, really deserved to win 3-0 against a Coventry 
    team that, without Wegerle, had little to offer.
    
    First time I've seen Blobby Quinn live, he really is as fat and useless
    as he looks on the telly.
    
    Alan obviously took one look at him and felt like a bit of exercise 
    tonight, he looked pretty sharp. Batty and Marker both deserve a
    mention.
    
    Don't know how many turned up but it looked about 14,000, again not bad
    considering, it really was F-cold.
    
    So here we are, 2nd in the league for 24 hours, breathing down Uniteds 
    neck. I bet they're worried now  :-)
    
    Prediction - as soon as Wilcox is fit again the rest of the team will
    start scoring. At the moment Ripley Gallacher and Newell all seem to be 
    playing "I bet you can't score from a pass like that" with Shearer (who
    can!).  If Shearer got the kind of service that Andy Cole gets he'd 
    get 50 goals a season. 
       
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Blackburn 2 
    Chelsea   0
    
    Basically its bad news for Glen Hoddle, his boys don't have the ability
    to play the way he's coaching them.
    
    For those of you who don't have satellite:
    
    The first half was great, Blackburn playing good football and creating
    chances, Chelsea working very hard to make a game of it and to their
    credit trying, albeit unsucessfully, to pass the ball around and 
    not defending in numbers. First goal from Graeme Le Saux a 25yd drive.
    
    The second half was crap, Blackburn were looking for three points after
    loosing to Ipswich and Tottenham and they were not going to do anything to
    jeapordise these three. Chelsea were starting to sag, on comes
    Cascarino and Chelsea looked a little more threatening by playing more
    long ball stuff. Come the 90th minute 2000 people have left the
    ground, god knows how many T.V. viewers have found something better to
    do, and Shearer pops up to tap in the second.
    
    For Blackburn the result was more important than the performance and it
    showed.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. On a sad note - I remember Chelsea as a team with a good away 
    following, the shower (about 1000) that turned up on Sunday were 
    obviously those  not smart enough to nick, or even operate, a T.V. set. 
    Very quiet, very boring.

    Blackburn 2
    Man City  0
    
    Hardly a classic, but the good news is 3 more points in the bag, 
    Gallagher found his scoring boots and Kenny picked the same team 
    for the third successive week.
    
    The crisis at City continues, the dozy buggers even forgot to pack
    their away kit and Rovers had to play at home in the Red and Black.  
    
    City, without Quinn and McMahon look like serious relegation material 
    at the moment. 
    
    So its all set for a real battle on Boxing Day and I can't wait, its
    time for a turnover at Old Trafford. 
    
    My christmas present: 
    
    Its got to be BLACKBURN 3 : 1 MAN UTD, a result that coupled with
    injuries to Cantona, Ince and Schmeical will mean even Leeds beat them 
    and a classic crisis of confidence starts to roll at United. 
    
    The reds are toppled, Leeds are unable to win away and Blackburn finish
    up on top with Newcastle and Norwich very close behind.
    
    You read it here first.
    
    As I'm the only person who reads the Blackburn note I think I can get 
    away with this.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

Re:- .83


>>    Its got to be BLACKBURN 3 : 1 MAN UTD, a result that coupled with
>>    injuries to Cantona, Ince and Schmeical will mean even Leeds beat them 
>>    and a classic crisis of confidence starts to roll at United. 
    
>>    The reds are toppled, Leeds are unable to win away and Blackburn finish
>>    up on top with Newcastle and Norwich very close behind.
    
>>    You read it here first.


Andy,


....and then you'll wake up...!!

Tony :-)

    Tony,
    
    re: waking up
    
    I've been in something of a dream for two years now and it just gets
    better and better. I would go so far as to predict that Blackburn ( the
    richest club in Britain ;-) ) will win more trophys than MANU in the 
    90's. And we've even given you a little start.
    
    re: where 'ave you been....
    
    As a Student at UMIST I used to stand on the Stretford End, so 
    I have seen the Reds throwing it all away a number of times. I remember 
    the days when the faithful hoardes were flooding out of O.T. with 
    15 minutes to go.
    
    I'm sure you remember a day at the end of last season when we scored 
    first and then decided to let you win because we didn't want to spoil 
    your little party. 
    
    Here's to a Boxing Day classic, I'm sure all the neutrals will be
    willing us to put one over on you and keep the championship alive,
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Can I go back to sleep now ?, this has always been a peaceful little
    note to kip in.    

    
    Andy,
    
    Having only just found this notes file I am sure you will be pleased to
    know that there are now 2 of us loyal season ticket holders to Kenny's
    army in the network.  I'm a top tier Darwen ender with my oxygen mask
    and binoculars.
    
    It's interesting to read the previous notes and listen to all the
    moarners complain about transfer fees and how a unfashionable Northern
    town club are becoming the best team in England.
    
    I don't know if you managed to get a ticket for Old Trafford but I
    managed to get one at the last minute through the back door and it was
    great the the 1500 BRFC supporters in the ground (45000 capacity, 1500
    away fans - disgraceful) completely outsung the MUFC fans.  You got the
    feeling that the MUFC fans were more used to sitting in their living
    room watching tele that actually getting behind their team.  Anyway we
    get condemned for paying to much for players, I wonder how much MUFC
    paid the referee on Boxing Day to CHEAT us out of three points.
    
    Looking to the future, can't wait for the cuptie on Saturday.  Do you
    remember the old battles with Portsmouth, Glenn Keeley v Noel Blake.
    
    
    Roll on Easter Monday when I predict that when we beat MUFC 3-0 at
    Ewood we will go top of the premier and stay there.
    
    Stephen
     
                                                                   

    Stephen,
    
    I'm just back from Christmas and its good to know i'm not alone in
    here. 
    
    As I'm at the darwen end of the Walkersteel stand you buggers up in the
    clouds now keep me in the shade until half time on a good saturday
    afternoon. 
    
    My thoughts on the recent games will follow.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    P.S. Are you one of those on the front row banging on the panels, if so
    keep it up. We still don't make nearly enough noise.

    
    So Christmas wasn't quite what I predicted but I enjoyed it all the same:
    
    MANU 1 Blackburn 1
    
    I'm sure we all saw it on the telly so I won't go on about it but ...
    
    The blues were magnificent, played all the football, refused to be 
    intimidated (unlike the ref) and dominated the first 85 minutes.
    
    Kevin Gallagher again demonstrated two things that I have believed for 
    some time,
    
    o Pallister and Bruce are 'kin useless if anybody runs at them
    
    o He is great down the middle but bloody lost on the wing.
    
    The reds reaction at the end, particularly Fergusons, said it all - we
    scared them to death and now they are starting to look over their
    shoulder. 
    
    Blackburn 2 Everton 0
    
    Another two goals for the messiah, but Everton were poor. All I can say
    is that we took 3 points from a team who were there for the beating.
    
    Aston Villa 0 Blackburn 1
    
    Another good away win. I didn't see the game but on MOTD Graeme Le Saux 
    looked like Englands next left back. I'm told they worked very hard and
    looked a bit knackered in the last 15 minutes so the rest that was to
    come probably was welcomed.
    
    And its that man again, Shearer looks like reaching 40 goals this
    season.
    
    Blackburn P Wimbledon P
    
    I got piss wet through trudging down to this one, it was the right
    decision but it could have been made at 12:00 not 2:55.
    
    The rest did them good but it was an unfortunate interruption for a
    team that was on a roll. Games in hand still have to be won, but
    certainly Newell (and possibly Warhurst ? ) will be back to help us 
    win these later in the season. 
    
    Blackburn 3 Porstmouth 3
    
    Just what we didn't want, a long trip to the arse-end of the country
    for a replay that shouldn't have been a remote possibility.
    
    3 times in the lead and about a dozen scoring opportunities against a
    team who put 5 across the back gritted their teeth and got the miracles
    they were praying for. Portsmouth were dead and buried 3 times.
    
    Rovers goals from Guess who, Gallacher and Sherwood, Porstmouths man of
    the moment was Alan Mcloughlin who got all three (from Midfield !).
    
    May and Hendry spent the afternoon doing a very passable impression of
    Pallister and Bruce (we can head it away all day but please don't run
    at our penalty area).
    
    One point to note, why pay 2 million for Kit Symons when we've just let
    them have Tony Dobson who had an outstanding game for Portsmouth, looks 
    a far better player and is English ?
    
    Kenny will have given them a good kicking after this one, we may even
    see Marker back in as David May appeared to get two very heavy knocks
    during the game.
    
    I can't see us being that stupid again, and Portsmouth really aren't
    very good, I'll predict a 2-0 win in the replay.
    
    Then its away to Charlton in the next round, could have been worse, we 
    should put them away too.
    
    A trip to Sheffield Utd, next week then bring on the LEEDS. 
    
    We let them off the hook at Elland road, lets hope we can take them
    apart at Ewood, JUST LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  
                                       

    Andy,
    
    These Cup replays are just what United ordered! Have Blackburn
    re-arranged their 2 outstanding games yet?
    
    Simon.

    
    Simon,
    
    I suppose its only fair, given that we were having a rest and good
    laugh while you were having your arses kicked by a bunch of Turks
    (could this explain your mediocre form in December ?).
    
    The Wimbledon game will be next month, the Norwich game will probably be
    left until after your Easter collapse. 
    
    Good to see the mighty MANU worrying about whats going on at little
    Blackburn !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  
    
    p.s. You better bring your ref with you when you come to Ewood Park.

    Andy,
      	Great note in conference 32 on the impending plight of the mighty
    reds. I notice the Stretford faithful have inundated the conference
    with their reasons for the recent performances. I guess it's the
    Ostrich Syndrome.
    	I feel also that the press' insistence that it is all over doesn't
    help United's cause. The way Motson for instance was drooling over
    Hughes' goal was sick rendering in the extreme. It was the *only* 10
    seconds of football in the whole game, whereas Newcastle and Blackburn
    score goals like that all the time.
    	I predicted in December (attached) that United wouldn't be
    champions, and it's up to us to make sure it doesn't happen.
    
    Best of luck, may the best football side win.
    
    Cheers......Ned
    
================================================================================
Note 32.3356                  Manchester United FC                  3356 of 3403
SIOG::A_KELLY                                        30 lines  14-DEC-1993 14:33
                          -< Who'll be Champions???? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    re - .3350
    
    >If United are the third best team in the world, one assumes the
    >Shopkeepers XI finished second?
    
    No...they were down at 24th....
    
    ..and yes "World Soccer" is English (surprise surprise)
    
    >Declan (who objectively hapens to think that the grunge in here has to
    >be read to be disbelieved)
    
    Couldn't agree more. United are so far ahead in the League now that
    everyone in here believes the hype that they are a great positive,
    entertaining footballing side to such an extent that, when a poor
    result occurs, it is not even worthy of a mention. No discussion in
    here about "how come Newcastle ran all over us?" or "what's wrong,
    only one win in the last four games?", because all that matters is
    not losing.
    I will make a very brave prediction here.....Manchester United will
    not be champions this season.
    The reason behind this.....simple....they rely more on the other side's
    fear of them than on their own positive behaviour (hence they were
    comprehensively outplayed by the Shopkeepers XI). I think the way was
    shown, last Saturday, to the rest of the Premiership by the Shopkeepers 
    2nd XI (they must be shopkeepers cos they're all English!).
    
    Here's looking forward to a great finale.
    
    Cheers.....Ned

    Ned,
    
    thanks for the support. I suspect those ostriches will be headless 
    chickens by Easter (and Brian Robson will be playing at Sweeper to 
    shore up the middle of the defence).
    
    Re the press: until recently there seemed to be a conspiracy of
    silence regarding Blackburn, it seemed only Leeds and Arsenal were 
    considered valid contenders. Newcastle currently receive the same 
    patronising s--t that Blackburn got last season, the old "haven't they
    done well but they won't stand the pace" story.
    
    Personally I'm quite happy to be 2nd and ignored at this stage, I just
    hope we have closed the gap by the time we entertain MANU at
    Easter.
    
    However, our real objective this year is to qualify for Europe, any 
    more is a bonus, any less brings out the chequebook !
    
    Will you be making the trip to Blackburn next month ? I was a bit 
    unhappy when we only drew at St. James' earlier this season but it looks 
    like a fair result now.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    P.S.
    
    Good to see Scott Sellars back on form, he was one of my favourites at
    Ewood but didn't have the right attitude for King Kenny. I started to 
    suspect that his illness (chest complaint?) was some kind of depression 
    thing because he had the same problem when he couldn't get in the 
    team at Blackburn, Leeds and Newcastle. On his day he's brilliant but 
    if his head goes down he's a waste of a shirt.     

    re - .92
    
    Andy,
    	As I'm based in Oirland I won't be at the game, but will be there
    in spirit. I see note 32 are (understandably) still taking the "crisis?,
    what crisis?" approach, and our attempt to panic them into submission
    is not working. Still a coupla more pathetic performances like last
    Sunday vs Sheff Utd (surely *any* other Premiership side would have
    *stuffed* United!) and they'll start to doubt.....
    
    Oh by the way you forgot about PC Schmeicel in your analysis of what is
    wrong at United. That man's ability to mind everyone's business but his
    his own will land him serious bother one of these days. I thought it
    was particularly funny when he came up for the injury time corner
    against your side. If I'd been Ferguson I'd have kicked his a**e from
    here to hell and back for that piece of crass stupidity. I was dying to
    see a Blackburn defender hoof it one from defence and score the
    clincher.
    
    Agree with you about Scott Sellars playing well, but I wish he'd learn
    to use his right foot.
    
    Cheers.....Ned

    Ned,
    
    We must keep trying to unsettle the mancs. Looking over your shoulder
    while trying to go forward can only lead to one thing ;-). 
    
    I remember when the Stretford End used to shit themselves with fear if 
    Bryan Robson sneezed.
    
    You are right about the large nutter in the goal though, he is an
    excellent goalkeeper but does seem to go beserk now and again. 
    
    Funny that its usually when things are not going to well (like when he
    decided he'd like to be a steward and throw a turk out of O.T.)! 
    
    Just another casualty of the fear uncertainty and doubt at United 
    I suppose.  
     
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    

    ...but not as good as David Seaman

    Stephen,
    
    I agree with your comments in the Portsmouth note about unacceptable
    behaviour but it does raise an issue about crowd control in the Darwen
    End.
    
    I wonder if any other noters have visited Blackburn as an away fan
    recently ?
    
    Last Saturday the stewards and police seemed to have it under control
    but we are talking about less than 100 second-rate trouble makers.
    
    Given that we have Newcastle and Leeds coming soon we have to be
    prepared for some seriously aggressive people (no offence to other
    supporters intended, I know its only a minority). 
    
    Just how safe do you feel protected only by a four foot fence and 
    some lads in bright anoraks ?.
    
    The last time Leeds(boxing day) and Newcastle(FACup) visited we had 8ft 
    iron railings on the Darwen End and the police were still required 
    to administer 'restraint'.
    
    I hope somebody is thinking seriously about changing the current set up, 
    we don't want to get banned from Europe before we qualify !
     
    Cheers,
    
    Andy.
    

     
    RE:  FA CUP REPLAY V PORTSMOUTH
    
    I heard on the local news last night that this has been moved back
    24hrs to Wednesday 19th Jan due to television needs.
    
    Is this now live on sky or is it just for highlights on Sportsnight.
    
    Does anyone know.
    
    If it's on sky I need to book my place in the PUB (very near the bar)
    
    
    Stephen
    

    Its live on sky.
    
    
    
    /GAry

    Thanks Gary,
    
    Major headache on Thursday morning I think and hopefully a place in the
    4th round against Charlton (who beat Burnley but thats not difficult).
    
    Lets hope Sky get some decent pundits (As they normally slag us off).
    
    
    Andy,
    
    With regards to the segregation in the Darwen End, as I'm in the top
    tier which they have now made all Rovers fans I don't really feel it
    but I agree with what you are saying in that potentially we have a
    very serious problem (good job we don't play Burnley anymore).
    
    I think we have got to hope that the Leeds and Newcastle behave
    themselves inside the ground.  I am more concerned about the way
    that they let the away fans out at the same time as everyone else and
    then everyone meets at the bank of the darwen end.  Every other premier
    league and most football league clubs keep the fans inside the ground
    for at least  10 mins to let the home fans disperse.
    
    I think that the club and the police are a trusting lot and
    unfortunatly we may have to learn the hard way.
    
    Stephen
    
    
    
                                                                          

    re -1 
    
    I think that most clubs let all fans out of the ground at the same time
    nowadays. The last time I was held inside was three years ago now. I
    don't think that your police are doing anything out of the ordinary.
    
    Paul.
    
    

    
    RE .99
    
    Just heard that sky are now not showing the Portsmouth replay but the
    good news is that the Rovers are going to beam the match live to Ewood
    Park anyway.
    
    Bad news:  5 quid a seat (limited to 8,000)
    
    
    
    

    
    T.V. evidence suggests that Sheffield United are still blessed with all
    the charm and skill one expects from a Dave Bassett team.
    
    Sheffield United 1 Shearer 2
    
    If there is another god up there then he won't let them off the hook
    this time. 
    
    Good to see Leeds dropping points this week, can't wait for Sunday! 
     

    
    Good result for the alliance last night as Blackburn beat Pompey 3-1
    in the replay.
    
    Mind you they got just a little help from some wicked deflections
    (especially A. Shearer, who was well out of sorts) and Jason 'Maradona'
    Wilcox who literally belted one in with his left arm. Hansen said
    afterwards on BBC, "he could get a game for the England Volleyball 
    Team". =8^))
    
    Cheers.....Ned

    re: .104
    
    >Mind you they got just a little help from some wicked deflections
    >(especially A. Shearer, who was well out of sorts) and Jason 'Maradona'
    >Wilcox who literally belted one in with his left arm. Hansen said
    >afterwards on BBC, "he could get a game for the England Volleyball 
    >Team". =8^))
    
    That Alliance is sounding shakier by the day, eh, Ned? I reckon the
    next Newcastle-Blackburn game could lead to an outbreak of civil war.
    
    Not that we ostriches really need to concern ourselves with these
    things...
    
    Dom
    
    

    re - .104
    
    >The alliance is sounding shakier by the day....
    
    Don't know if you watched Blackburn last night, but (my previous joking
    aside) they were mighty impressive. They were so strong and created
    many chances against a side you have to play soon. If I were a Manc I'd
    be fairly concerned about them creeping up behind. They really are the
    only serious threat to United's hopes and currently the strongest side
    in the alliance.
    
    Cheers.....Ned

    
    I only got radio coverage last night but it sounded like a pretty good
    performance by the blues. Not much quality about two of the three goals
    but plenty of other chances created which can't be a bad thing. 
    
    Hendry went off injured, hope he's back for the Leeds match. Moran did
    a solid job although I was surprised at him being on the bench
    ahead of Marker. A bigger surprise was Dobson being sub after the way
    he played at Blackburn.
    
    7000 had a good time watching it on the big screen down at 
    Blackburn, although I understand 2000 of the faithful didn't arrive until 
    after Coronation Street :-)
    
    After a relatively hesitant start to the season the blues have
    generally been getting better and better. The team pretty much 
    picks itself at the moment but when Newell and Warhurst are fit it might 
    get more interesting.
    
    Things are looking good as we come into a difficult set of fixtures, 
    
    Long live the Alliance...cheers,
    
    Andy
                                                           

    re: .106 
    
    No, I didn't see Blackburn last night. Italian TV has bought the rights
    to show the Premier league matches (encoded) and the F.A. Cup only.
    Don't worry, I do take Blackburn and Newcastle perfectly seriously (I
    saw the Mancs vs. Newcastle on MOTD when I was back last
    August/September). I reckon United will only have themselves to blame
    if they let it slip now, but next season should be a real cracker.
    
    Wharever happens, here's hoping that one of Newcastle, Blackburn or
    Man. Utd can come over here and give Inter or Milan a footballing
    lesson at San Siro next season!
    
    Dom 

    
    I was one of the 7000 at Ewood last night watching the big screen. 
    First time I've seen this idea used but I must admit it was very
    effective.  I don't know how much the blues were paying the commentator
    but it was the most biased commentry I've ever heared.
    
    I must admit it was quite funny watching everyone doing the SHEARER BOW
    to the big screen.
    
    On the match,
    
    I thought we were extremely impressive thoughout although the quality
    of the goals did not match up to the overall display.  Like Andy I hope
    that Colin (show your arse) Hendry is fit for Sunday as I think that
    Leeds will be a somewhat stronger test for the mighty Blues.
    
    So onto the 4th round; Charlton at the Valley; it will be interesting
    what the Rovers do about this one as we will only be allocatted 1500
    tickets and there will be alot of disappointed supportors missing this
    one.
    
    Wembley here we come.
    
    
    Stephen 
    

    
    Please can somebody help me understand the situation regarding tickets
    for away fans. 
    
    I'm sure I read that a 25% ticket allocation is required
    for FA Cup matches, in fact last season (while building work was
    underway) Blackburn were forced to move season ticket holders to 
    allow the necessary Sheffield fans. So whats this 1500 tickets for 
    Charlton crap, does their ground really only hold 6000 ?
    
    And while I'm on this subject is it really at the whim of the clubs
    concerned to allocate league tickets. In days gone by I seem to
    remember away fans generally got an end whether they could fill it or 
    not and when it was full it was full. I guess it still works this way
    in much of the league. It seems these days that some Premier league clubs
    will only give visitors a token allocation of seats and get pretty
    pissed off when they get the same treatment at a smaller ground.
    
    Anybody who ever went to Luton will appreciate that taken to its
    ridiculous conclusion this kind of mentality can ruin football.
    
    Personally I think the atmosphere generated by the crowd when there is
    a good away following really does raise the game on the pitch. 
    
    Any opinions ?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
                

    
    Andy,
    
    My understand of the new Valley; from speaking to some of my mates who
    went down to watch Burnley in the last round; is that the stadium only
    holds 8500 and they allocate on end to the visitors which means that
    visiting teams get 1500.
    
    My understanding if the FA rules is as yours, that is that 25% of the
    ground capacity should be given to visiting fans.  I also believe that
    the police can veto this if they feel that sufficient segregaton cannot
    be provided.
    
    I think that there should be some policy which actually states the
    percentage of tickets that a club has to give to visiting fans, and
    that this should be a percentage of the ground capacity.  I don't
    suppose MUFC would like this idea but they should have thought of this
    when they redeveloped Old Trafford.
    
    Stephen
    
    PS: Can't wait until Sunday.
    
    
    

    
    Well done to the Blackburn half of the McEwans Alliance. Hope you
    weren't relying on any support from the other half. >8^))
    
    Cheers....Ned

    Blackburn 2
    Leeds     1
    
    Blackburn march on !
    
    I think anyone who saw this on Sky would have to agree Blackburn went 
    out yesterday and took Leeds apart. With the exception of a 20 minute
    spell in the second half the Rovers dominated the game with a tremendous 
    fast passing game that provided far more chances than the two that Shearer
    put away. The first goal was a cracking volley from a Wilcox cross 
    about 10 minutes into the game. The second was the injury time header
    again coming from a cross from the left, Le Saux I think.
    
    Batty and Sherwood in midfield made McAllister and Strachan look like a
    couple of old men who to their credit worked hard throughout but
    couldn't live with Rovers use of the flanks.
    
    Leeds looked better in the second half, inspired by a screamer from
    Speed  who found the top corner from outside the box. Unfortunately
    they really didn't have very much to offer up front, I can't remember
    how much they paid for Deane but he's not in the same league as
    Shearer.
    
    A couple of low points from the day:
    
    Probably 1000 of the 2500 Leeds followers showed themselves to be
    IGNORANT SCUM when they moronically chanted about Don Revie during the
    minutes silence for Sir Matt. I'm sure other Leeds fans will be as
    disgusted as their players clearly were with such behaviour.
    
    The referee appeared to be consistantly poor. Although it was always
    going to be a difficult game he managed to alienate both sets of fans
    with some astounding decisions. Once again the problem of inconsistent
    interpretation of the rules was highlighted when Gallagher was dropped
    just outside the penalty area in the course of a clear run on goal. I
    think is was fairclough who was very lucky to stay on the park.
    
    Still looking strong, if MANU do faulter we'll be there, if they don't 
    then Europe is looking a little nearer now. 
    
    News from the building site is that the new stand will be, not
    surprisingly, called the Jack Walker Stand and ready for the start of 
    next season.
    
    Don't know what went wrong at Newcastle but the alliance remain strong,
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    -1
    
    i also found it amazing how Fairclough stayed on the field....in my
    opinion there is no grey area here. Gallagher thru 1 on 1 with the
    keeper and he's tripped. surely he has to be sent off....
    
    and the ref's wonder why they get a bad press....
    
    well done to Blackburn anyway. a hell of a result....
    Ray

    
    Well, the Blues go marching on and on.
    
    I havn't enjoyed myself so much since the play-off final at Wembley.
    
    
    Without dwelling to much on the idiots from Leeds, I would have thought
    that with the video equipment that they have at Ewood they could
    identify the prats (especially the ones with the flag) and then Leeds
    could ban them from travelling.  I felt for the Leeds players and
    management and the majority of normal Leeds fans who keep having their
    clubs name tarnished by the SCUM.
    
    
    Maybe we won't catch United, maybe we will, but whatever happens I
    think a few PD's will be taken next season for midweek trips to Europe.
    
    
    
    Stephen
    Kenny's Barmy Army.
    
    
       

              
    For all the United fans who are looking over their shoulders at the
    moment, Blackburn Rovers have arranged their two games in hand.  
    
    Pleased to see the temperature rising between Leeds and MANU, by rights
    the reds should stuff 'em but I actually fancy Leeds if it turns into a
    highly charged battle.
    
    Anyway....
    
    Blackburn vs Wimbledon  5th February
    Norwich vs Blackburn   23rd February
    
    The big question at the moment is whether Blackburn and Newcastle will
    both make it to the 5th round of the F.A. Cup. If they do then the
    'Alliance' game at Ewood Park will have to be postponed because it was
    scheduled for 19th February.
    
    Now wouldn't that be a nice one to leave until May !
    
    (Ned, You could probably make the trip and call it your Summer
    Holiday). 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy   

    
    Re last couple.
    
    	I watched the game live on Sky and have to say I too thought the
    Leeds guy had to walk. However, the slow-mo replay clearly showed that
    the Leeds guy fell overhimself and into Gallagher without meaning too.
    So, on this occasion the ref was right.
    
    	What did you think of Batty's performance. I thought he played well
    but spoilt it with his greediness. Both times when he took the ball on
    and shot from outside the box, a number of Blackburn players were in
    space. Gallagher also blew a great chance when one of the Leeds
    fullbacks passed the ball to him in space. A bit more discipline and it
    would have been all over by half time.
    
    	Shearer's finishing was excellent - the speed the 2nd one flew in it
    could have been volleyed! Given that Waddle is still out, Bradford are
    looking good to push United very hard indeed. 
    
    Its going to be a cracking few months.
    
    JBG                  

    Well I suppose Jon may have a point. If Manchester United go out on the
    field against Bradford Northern it could quite conceivably throw the
    league right open. Even a squad as strong as United at the moment can't
    afford to have Thirteen players out with broken necks !!!  (I don't
    think shin-pads would help much either !!!)
    
    Jerry.

    JBG,
    
    RE: Batty
    
    You have to give this lad a bit of slack, he spent years at Leeds being
    expected to play the anchor role in midfield behind the more attacking
    members of the team. (his own words, not mine) Kenny is allowing him 
    to express himself a bit more and the world is seeing a much better 
    player for it.
    
    I agree he had a couple of optimistic shots when with hindsight he 
    could have passed but you have to put it in context. 
    
    I don't know if you could see it on the telly but there was 
    a hell of a wind blowing and in those circumstances i'm sure Kenny 
    had told them to have a dip, (as Leeds did in the second
    half). With Shearer and Gallagher ready for anything that comes free
    I would have liked a few more long range efforts. 
    
    Batty is pumped-up and playing tremendously at the moment, when he gets 
    his first goal for us you will see some celebrating !
    
    > Shearer's finishing was excellent - the speed the 2nd one flew in it
    > could have been volleyed! Given that Waddle is still out, Bradford are
    > looking good to push United very hard indeed. 
   
    Er, let me guess, Bradford means Blackburn, and Waddle means "Newell"
    although Hendry and Warhurst were also missing on Saturday :-).
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    	Sorry Andy, I was trying to put a reply in the rugby conference and
    got a bit muddled! Any Castleton supporters about??
    
    JBG

    JBG
    
    I've supported a fair amount of Castle Eden and Castlemaine in my
    time and currently have an Alliance with Newcastle,
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

     
    I finally watched the video of the Rovers beating Leeds and am prepared
    to accept that Fairclough probably didn't deserve to walk in the
    Gallagher incident. However the film did not give an accurate
    representation of reaction of how angry the Leeds players were
    regarding the behaviour of their followers.
    
    Now I know why I keep paying up, the best T.V coverage in the world
    cannot give you the atmosphere and emotion of being there.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy    

    Stephen,
    
    I presume you watched the Charlton fiasco on the outdoor telly !
    
    As Graham Taylor would say " ****ing hell, eh ? eh ? eh ?, we went to
    ****ing sleep didn't we eh ? eh? eh? "
    
    I didn't go, and didn't even get to listen to the radio coverage so I
    have to rely on Newspapers.
    
    Seems to me that you only realise how solid May and Hendry are when you
    realise Marker and Moran struggle against a big centre forward from the
    1st Division.
    
    But from what I gather we didn't even create chances, the title of this 
    note says it all !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Andy,
    
    Unfortunatly I didn't make it to Ewood to watch the tele on Saturday,
    to busy relaxing in the peak district.
    
    Let's hope it was a one off and that we can get back to normal for
    Wimbledon on Saturday.
    
    Theres a rumour flying around at the moment that big AL's due to leave
    at the end of the season to go to Italy????????
    
    
    Keep the Riverside singing.
              
    Stephen
    

    Stephen,
    
    Big Al going to Italy sounds like another load of bull, just like 
    Platty and Fatty coming back to play with Batty.  
    
    I would be very surprised if even Milan could put up enough money to 
    convince Blackburn to let him go at the moment when they are probably 
    the only club in the country who can easily ignore someone elses 
    chequebook. I know nobody is priceless but given Blackburns current
    situation he must be the closest.
    
    But why should he move now when he's still only young ? At the moment
    he's got great prospects, great money and little pressure. The guy is
    having the time of his life !
    
    If he waits until the end of next season he will very likely have won 
    something with Blackburn, put himself about a bit in the European 
    competition, and established himself as a world class centre forward 
    in Terry Venables New England.
    
    And if it is money he's after then what will he be worth after the 
    European Championships ?.
    
    Domestically I understand that Mrs Al has a tiny Al to look after and 
    likes to stay close to her mum, it took her a while to move 300 miles
    let alone 3000. And what has Italy got that Blackburn hasn't ?
    
    So what do I know, maybe I'll have to settle for second best and we'll
    be watching Baggio and Fonseca in the old Blue and White next season.   
     
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    P.S. I hope it keeps dry on Saturday, with the opposite side gone there
    is nothing to protect me from the Tockholes weather !
                                              

    
    When Man Utd lift all three trophys this season how will the European
    places be deceided ?.. I guess the losers of the F.A cup/Coka Cola Cup
    go into the Cup Winners or will extra places be allocated in the UEFA cup,
    if so, third place might be all right for Blackburn...Anyone know.. 
    
    Neil...

    When Arsenal won the Coca-Cola cup and the F.A. cup last year
    (qualifying for Europe twice) the place they had earned in the UEFA cup
    di not go to the Runners-up (Sheff Wed). It wnet to the third placed
    team in the league (Norwich).
    
    Declan

re .127

;And what has Italy got that Blackburn hasn't ?

	Andy,

	I was born in Blackburn (brought up in Oswaldtwistle) and lived 
	in Italy for a couple of years. So I should be able to answer 
	this one. The first thing that comes to mind is the sun, but 
	having seen Blackburn on TV it would seem that Alan Shearer is 
	definitely bringing quite a lot of sunshine to the Blackburn fans. 
	So I hope they don't let him go, or the wind and rain might begin 
	to bite.

	One thing Alan might miss in Italy is the fish n chip shops
	and the friendly "What would you like chuck?".

	Phil. 

    Declan has it right, but if, as Neil says, MANU lift all three trophies
    this season then I hope they will do it wearing that nice Black kit as
    a tribute to all the referees that helped them along the way ;-)
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    

    
    Re: 130
    
    Phil,
    
    what the hell is a man from Ozzy doing outside of East Lancashire ?
    
    and the Sun is only good for wrapping Fish and Chips anyway !
                                           
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

RE .132

	Andy,

	My parents are to blame, fancy moving down south -).

	And it gets worse, I'm now a cider drinker. Well the
	bitter is not the same down south.

	Oh to be back in Accie, I must do it sometime in the
	near future. Maybe pay a visit to Ewood park, though
	my memories of previous visits have not been happy
	ones (that is the quality of football). Things have
	changed and the Burnley fans must be feeling sick these
	days.

	Phil.

    re .131
    Andy,
    I bet you're glad we lent you a ref for the Charlton game :-
    

    
    Simon,
    
    yes, thanks for the ref.  
    
    This is not the first time this season that we had to go through a draw 
    before stuffing a crap team at the next meeting, first Shrewsbury, then
    Portsmouth, next its Charlton and then MANU !
    
    :-) :-) :-) :-)
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Was that you getting set hidden in the MANU note ? or was is alex
    Ferguson coming out with another load of b*****ks.
    
    
    
    

    
    I'm sure I read over the weekend that Jack Walker has pulled the plug
    on any further transfers this season. Having said that in true
    contradictory style they and buy a below average player like Ruel Fox. 
    
    Just a quick couple of questions, and no doubt Andy would be able to 
    answer,  
    1. How many goals have Blackburn scored this season ?
    2. How many has Shearer scored(some ridiculous amount I know)?
    3. Who else has scored for Blackburn and how many?(if any:-)
    
    Curiosity just getting the better of me!
    
    
    mac 

    
    Ian,
    
    have you been sniffing the marker pens again - everyone else thinks
    Ruel Fox has gone to Newcastle.
    
    I don't have the Rovers goal stats in my head but I will check them in
    Saturdays program, suffice to say that Shearers averaging a goal a game, 
    Gallachers got a handful, Newell got a handful before he got injured 
    and theres probably half a dozen of them got one or two each.
    
    Obviously Big Al is the man at the moment but as we don't play much
    route 1 stuff the team has to play well to set up the chances for him.
    
    The difference is that Wilcox is a great provider and he is only just back
    after missing about 15 games through injury. I expect the goal average
    to be much better in the second half of the season.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy                                     

    re -.137
    
    
    Andy,
        sniff!
    <have you been sniffing marker pens as Ruel Fox has gone to Newcaste(or
    words to that affect)
    sniff! 
    I can only admit to sniffing the 'blue' marker pens, as I've run out of
    the other colours. This has obviously hampered the brain cells today,
    that and the fact that Blacky and Newky play in the same colours:-)
    well sponsored by the same company at least.
    sniff!
    I'll say no more!
    
    On the subject of who scores the goals, thank you Brian for the stats,
    it is plain to see that Shearer is the goal king. Where would you be
    without him? I know he has been injured, and has remarkably carried on
    where he left off from earlier in the season. BUT I can't see where the
    source of goals will come from if he gets injured again(I hope not, I
    think Shearer is in a class of his own). You mentioned Newell etc.. who have
    scored a couple or so each, had Shearer been out for the season(eg
    Naill Quinn) then you would be struggling around mid to lower end of
    the table.  Will Kenny have to buy another forward? everyone is on the
    bandwaggon for Ferdy, but he will cost mega-bucks, and as I mentioned
    before will Walker sacrifice another XXX million of pounds to finish
    second in the league. 
    Only Europe to look forward too, the same as Newcastle, and with MANCHESTER
    UNITED at the fore-front England are going to be strong in Europe next 
    season.
    sniff!
     
    mac                                                       

    Ian,
    
    can't let that b*****ks go unanswered.
    
    Shearer is the best centre forward in the country at the moment but 
    Blackburn are not a one-man team. The team making the chances is as 
    important as the guy knocking them in. I am pleased just to know that
    we have someone so consistent at finding the net.
    
    Shearer was out with injury for over half of last season yet because
    the chances were still being created Blackburn were still the top
    scorers in the premiership (and very few had a better goal difference).
    
    Shearer and Gallacher is a pretty good combination at the moment but
    with Newell and Warhurst also in the squad I don't see any reason to
    worry. Its not as if we have to call up Dion Dublin in a crisis :-).
    
    I'd like to see the statisticians come up with the top scorers at
    United over the years, I suppose we'd have to go back to Denis Law to
    find someone with a reasonable strike-rate ! Maybe thats why United
    were so desperate to get Big Al in the first place ;-)
    
    Cheers,                                           
    
    Andy

>    I'd like to see the statisticians come up with the top scorers at
>    United over the years, I suppose we'd have to go back to Denis Law to
>    find someone with a reasonable strike-rate ! 
    
    That may be true, but I feel that one of the reasons for United's success 
    over the last couple of seasons is that they have a large number of players
    who score 8-10 goals per season, rather than rely on one main
    goalscorer.
    
    Terry

    Terry,
    
    great strategy that, keep buying crap centre forwards so that the rest
    of the team have to do the job for them ;-) funny how it took them so 
    long to perfect it.
    
    I'd still like to see the statistics though, I have some great memories
    of watching MANU struggling to find the net especially in Big Ron's era, 
    Garry Birtles, Peter Davenport, Alan Brazil ... all good for a laugh. The
    ones I actually liked were Andy Ritchie, more recently Mark Robins, and
    i'll always have a soft spot for Big Joe Jordan. Poor Joe, I remember he
    went because they wouldn't pay him 2k a week, then Ron went out and
    bought Brazil and gave him the same money Joe wanted.    
    
    Blackburn on the other hand have a history of great centre forwards
    some of whom are known to other noters: 
    
    JIMMY QUINN,  SIMON GARNER  need I say more :-) :-) :-)
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
          

    
    If you don't want to discuss centre forwards, and I can appreciate why
    not, then i'm happy to respond to your taunt :-) 
    
    > where were Blackburn ?
    
    In the lower divisions not achieving our ambitions, spending nowt, but 
    watching and learning. 
    
    Would you believe there was a club down the road spending millions and 
    millions and still not achieving their ambitions either !. 
    
    That was when we decided that if we ever did get some serious money to
    spend we would have to spend it wisely, apparantly if you think you can
    just go out and buy success it takes 26 years before you find a magic
    frenchman to win it for you :-)
    
    Go on, please, look in your big red book and find me those statistics !
    
    I bet Cunno would, but then he supports a team that values goal
    scorers.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Keep smiling, :-)  :-)  :-)
                                  
    A Blackburn note is a what, a happy note, thats right !     
    
            

    
    I'm glad that amuses you :-) I told you this was a happy note. 
    
    Still, you seem pretty determined not to talk about goal scorers, 
    maybe we'll have to rely on Cunno, although I fear a deluge of 
    propaganda regarding Rushie and the great Aldo.
                             
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
     
    p.s. Where is ESSB:: ? And do you go to O.T. ?
    

	Ever heard of Galway???? Well look no further

    Andy,
    
    United fans are quite happy to admit that their purchases of centre
    forwards has been suspect.
    
    We wanted Shearer -- he even promised to join us -- but money talked
    himn out of it.
    
    McClair was our last scorer to get over 20 goals a season.
    
    Usually someone gets 15 or so -- Hughes, Bruce!, Stapleton ..

    Hello Simon,     
        
    > United fans are quite happy to admit that their purchases of centre
    > forwards has been suspect.
    
    Well at least one of you is. 
    
    > We wanted Shearer -- he even promised to join us -- but money talked
    > himn out of it.
    
    Sounds just like the Roy Keane deal to me, with hindsight that looks like
    1-0 to us I think :-)
    
    Oh how I smile when I hear a Manu fan complaining about loosing in the
    transfer market.
    
    > McClair was our last scorer to get over 20 goals a season.
    
    Bet it wasn't very much over. Was it really Denis Law before that ?
    
    > Usually someone gets 15 or so -- Hughes, Bruce!, Stapleton ..
    
    Course, I forgot about Frankie Frankie, he comes in the category of
    those I liked, superb header of the ball and such deceptive pace.
    Unfortunately the only thing deceptive about it was that it made Norman
    Whiteside look quick ;-)
    
    Why doesn't Fergie go and buy Les Ferdinand, with the quality of
    crosses that Kanchelskis can provide I'm sure it would prove very
    effective. Its a shame that such good service is squandered by the
    bicycle-kicking welshman if Old Brucie hasn't managed to amble up to the
    six yard box.
    
    Hey, you are not doing bad for a team that still needs a goal
    scorer and a centre half !
    
    I suppose after that you'll be coming down to see me this afternoon, 
    don't forget to bring your mate ! 
    
    Yours, in sport,
    
    Andy      
                 

	re .147

>	1914 - end of an Era

	"The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit
	again in our lifetime."

	Although I think "the end of civilization as we know it" is more
	normally attributed to the First World War than to Blackburn's winning
	the league.

	Tony

RE: -.1

Tony,
	You've got no time to be answering mails like this - we NEED that OO
IDL compiler (well, at least I do!)...

Good luck

-Steve

Andy,

I won't be surprised to see Ferdinand in a United shirt by the beginning of
next season.

As for us needing a centre-half -- I just can't follow the logic. We have
the best pairing in the country.

    
    re: 153
    
    Simon, if you can't follow the logic is it arrogance or stupidity that
    has you believing that you can go on forever without your centre
    halves getting suspended or injured ?.
    
    re: 154
    
    Mr Blong, I'm impressed that you make the effort to get to O.T. from
    Galway good performance that. Perhaps you could draw Simon a map ;-).
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
     

Blackburn 3
Wimbledon 0

Before the kick off I was a little apprehensive, May and Hendry still not 
back, Marker and Moran in to face Holdsworth and Fashanu. In the past Rovers 
have been put out of their stride by up and under bruisers.

I needn't have worried, Holdsworth didn't play and Wimbledon pushed Sheffield 
United hard for their "crappest outfit in the league" title. 

Goal 1 - Graeme Le Saux plays a 1-2 with Wilcox and is blatantly hacked down 
in the box, up steps Shearer and the penalty is clinically executed.

Goal 2 - Wilcox plays a 1-2 with Le Saux and hits a screamer into the 
top corner from 25 yards.

Goal 3 - Wilcox goes round the outside of the fullback, puts in a vicious 
low cross, Gallacher fails to connect with the ball and ends up in a 
heap with Segers, Stuart Ripley is there to tap it in.

Bad news, Tim Sherwood goes off with shoulder injury, Good News, straight to 
hospital and no damage found, just bruises. 

More good news, on comes young Andy Morrison, Rovers 5th centre half, who 
looks like a Rugby League forward and plays like Alan Hansen !. The big 
black guy with the elbows didn't get a look in.

So its half time and time to reflect. Its all over, but really the
opposition are dreadful, should get a bagful in the second half.

Bad news, Wimbledon come out a bit more inspired, their work rate goes up, 
but as their tactics are still totally predictable the yellow card count 
goes up and up. Blackburn opt for safety first i.e. just try pass it around
and keep out of trouble, Shearer gets a knock on his ankle and comes off.

A little worrying about the injury count at the moment but the strength of 
squad comes through when a lad making his debut snuffs out Fashanu and plays
with confidence. As he has demonstrated so far Kenny will not rush people
back from injury and while the points keep piling up there is no pressure.  

So its three more points in the bag and the trip to Europe is starting to
look more likely. 

I've got my ticket for the Charlton replay on Tuesday, hoping for an injury
free passage into the next round.

Cheers,

Andy 

	re .152

> Tony,
>	You've got no time to be answering mails like this - we NEED that OO
> IDL compiler (well, at least I do!)...

	Not me, guv. Since the end of November I've moved to the UCS RTL project.

	Tony

    
    Are we the only club that asks HOME fans to stay behind for 10
    minutes so that AWAY fans can get away first ?
    
    Luckily its only the Darwen End, bet you are pleased about that Stephen ! 
    
    Charlton tonight, with late fitness tests on May, Hendry, Sherwood and 
    Shearer.
    
    I wouldn't like to bet on the team when there are so many variables but 
    I have no worries about the defence, Morrison looks like a star of the 
    future (I only doubt his speed at the moment).
    
    However i'm not sure Marker is any kind of replacement for Sherwood in
    midfield, I would give Sherwoods place to Lee Makel if necessary
    because of his passing and creativity, he might be a bit small but Batty 
    will look after him ! 
    
    I haven't formed an opinion about Pearce yet, looks a bit like Duncan
    Shearer/Steve Livingstone to me, but Kenny obviously likes to have him 
    on the bench for some reason. 
    
    Even without Newell and Warhurst there are still a lot of options, 
    put Ripley down the middle and give Ireland a run on the right ? 
    or maybe even Super Atko will be back ?. 
    
    My god, how does Kenny cope with all these decisions ? 
    
    Wish I had his problems ;-)
    
    Andy.                      
      

    
    Andy,
    
    Re: Darwen End HOME fans to stay behind for 10 minutes.
    
    Where did you hear this?  I've seen nothing in the local press.
    
    If this is the case it will not make that much difference to me as
    it take us top-tier's about 15 minutes to get out anyway.
    
    Nothing will amaze me at the moment about some of the off-field
    decisions that are being made.  One of my mates offered to go to Ewood
    to get my Charlton ticket and had to queue for 2 hours at 11.00am in
    the morning.  God help us when the stadium finished and we are trying
    to sell 30,000 tickets.  The board then have cheek to blame it all on
    McAlpines.    
    
    
    
    I must admit I'm a bit worried about tonight, half the team injured,
    Charlton will come fancying their chances.  Just hope that Big Al and
    Bat's are fit we can managed without the rest.
    
    
    See you speeding up the M6 at 5.30pm.
    
    Stephen
    
     

Sounds a good idea to keep the home fans in as the
away fans do not want to hang around, you can stick 
them on the buses/trains and get them out of the area
before the home fans are let out.  Can't see anyone
adopting it though!

Chris.

    Stephen,
    
    the Darwen End home fans were asked to stay behind for 10 minutes at
    future games, this was announced on Radio Rovers before and after the
    Wimbledon game, I think there was also something in the program about
    it.
                                    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

    
    Andy,
    
    Was this a request or an instruction?
    
    Must admit I didn't hear it on Radio Rovers on the ground.
    
    Sounds crazy to me, it's not the Rovers support who cause the problems,
    in fact the Rovers support have an excelliant record both home and
    away.  I would have thought it made more sense to ask the visitors to
    remain in their seats as happens elsewhere.
    
    Can't wait until next season when we transfer back into the Blackburn
    End and put some atmosphere back into place.
    
    Stephen
    
     

    Well, Andy, you can now concentrate on the league, as they say, but
    even that's a lost cause!

    
    Well, I'm finally recovering from my self-inflicted headache after
    last nights game.  
    
    Although credit should be given to Charlton for the way they played, it
    should be said that they had their fair share of luck.
    
    	1)	Defected goal
    	2) 	Big Al missing open goals (at least we know he's now human)
    	3)	A linesman who doesn't know what off side is.
    
    We missed Tim Sherwood in midfield, can't understand why Kenny played
    Marker in midfield, he didn't have a clue.  I would have give one of
    the young lads a chance - Makel, Ireland.
    
    
    I know this sounds like sour grapes, it probally is, but we've just be
    dumped out of the cup and I had my Wembley trip all planned.
    
    Looking on the bright side, at least we can concentrate on making sure
    we keep the pressure on Man U, and hope that they start to slip up
    especially as they must have a horrendous fixture backlog, 
    and at least Europe seems a certainity.
    
    
    Some more good news is that Paul Warhurst is making his comeback in the
    reserves tonight.  He might yet find himself on the bench on Saturday.
    
    Sorry to all the Newcastle fans, but I hope Luton turn you over tonight
    so that we have a game Saturday week.
    
    
    Still suffering with a headache!
    Stephen
    
    
    	

    
    Andy,
    	Well there goes the alliance! Now it's Newcastle's turn and the Sky
    cameras will be there hoping for an upset. Man U supporters may be
    laughing at you now but if you can keep your nerve you can focus on the
    real issue....winning the championship. You could even do United a
    favour by forcing them into the UEFA OR THE Cup Winers Cup, cos there's
    no chance of them doing well in the EC next season. Keep gannin for the
    McEwans Alliance.
    
    
    Cheers.....Ned

	LONDON (UPI) -- Charlton midfielder Darren Pitcher moved to the top of
Blackburn Rovers' shopping list after producing a shock English FA Cup
knock-out blow at Ewood Park Tuesday night.
	Pitcher's battling performances for First Division Charlton against
David Batty in the goalless fourth round Valley tie and in Tuesday
night's 1-0 replay win impressed Blackburn boss Kenny Dalglish.
	Now Blackburn, currently second in the Premier League and desperate
to qualify for Europe, could move in with a bid for 1.5 million pounds
($2.25 million)-rated Pitcher.
	Pitcher, 24, will be out of contract at the end of the season and has
rejected an improved Charlton offer.
	``I'm not greedy but it wasn't acceptable to me,'' said Pitcher. 
``I'm happy to say at Charlton but I have a wife and family to look
after. I just want to look after myself.''
	Blackburn asked about Pitcher following his gripping Valley duel with
Batty.

    Blackburn 0
    Charlton 1
    
    Wasn't in the office yesterday, but I'm certainly not in hiding.
    
    Charlton had a little bit of luck early on, Pitchers shot from
    outside the box took a cruel deflection from Andy Morrison on the
    penalty spot and sailed past the already committed Flowers. But
    although they never really looked like scoring again they certainly did a
    superb job in holding onto the lead.
    
    Maybe I shouldn't write notes just before a game but Blackburn lost
    this one largely because Batty was left on his own in midfield. Marker
    was totally invisible and, as I said, no substitute for Sherwood. A very 
    well organised Charlton side chased and harried Rovers out of their 
    stride, picked up all the loose ball and competed for everything.
    
    In the second half Rovers stepped up a gear but the finishing was very
    poor, Gallacher, Wilcox, Ripley and even the great one all had chances
    that should have been buried, but they weren't. Charlton hung on, and
    as Blackburn threw men forward and brought on Pearce and Atkins (Makel
    couldn't even make the bench ?), a second goal on the break might even
    have been on. 
    
    Charlton had done their homework, suppressed Le Saux and Batty, took
    advantage of a bit of luck and worked like heroes - obviously I'm
    dissappointed but really can't complain.
    
    A real bad note, Rovers had about 15 corners and never really troubled 
    Salmon with any of them, missing Hendry or what ?
    
    The good news, as Stephen said, is that Warhurst is coming back in the
    reserves now.
    
    Blackburns strength is clearly not just Shearer, this performance 
    certainly lacked the control that Sherwood, Newell, Hendry and May 
    could have provided had they been fit.
    
    Still Newcastle lost as well so the alliance game will still be on on
    the 19th, sorry Ned but with MANU on cup duty this would be a great day
    for us to pick up 3 points.
    
    Cheers,               
    
    Andy 

    Tottenham 0
    Blackburn 2
    
    Did anybody go to this game ?.
    
    From the radio, MOTD and this mornings paper it seemed fairly even 
    until Blackburn scored, a few chances at both ends, Blackburn winning 
    most of the loose ball and Nicky Marker bloody invisible again (except 
    in the paper).
    
    60 minutes in Shearer pops up at the back post and finishes Ripleys 
    best cross of the season with a header back across the keeper and 
    Gallacher slots one infrom an Atkins through ball 10 minutes later 
    to kill the game off.  
    
    In the absence of Batty and Sherwood maybe we shouldn't sell Super 
    Atko after all but Marker was bloody invisible again. Why can't Lee
    Makel get a game ?
    
    So its 10 points behind MANU and 10 points ahead of Arsenal with a
    game in hand on both. 
    
    Things could be worse,
    
    Cheers
    
    Andy. 
                                

    Looking at the fixtures in the paper on Sunday I noticed that the SWFC
    v Blackburn game has been re-arranged for this Sunday (20th Feb). Can
    anyone in here confirm this.
    
    Cheers, Paul.
    

    No.
    
    I think you'll find its been moved to Sunday 20th March for SKY
    coverage, it was originally 19th March.
    
    We have Newcastle this Saturday.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

    
    RE: this Saturday, Blackburn V Newcastle
    
    Probably a daft question, but are there any tickets left for this game?
    Reason I ask is a friend of mine(who has a season ticket for Newcastle)
    would like to go. 
    
    I apologise if this has been asked before!
    
    
    mac

    
    Re .171
    
    Tickets are very hard to come by at the moment due to the
    redevolopment work thats taking place at Ewood.  Newcastle would have
    been given 2500 tickets and I suppose these would be snapped up very
    quickly.
    
    Non-Season ticket holders could only apply by post and needed certain
    vouchers from previous BRFC games to qualify.
    
    I would suggest that you ring Ewood Park on Friday to see if there are
    any tickets left but I wouldn't want to raise your hopes to much.
    
    Next season should be alot better with 5000 tickets min being given to
    the visiting fans out of a stadium holding 30,000 (MUFC PLEASE TAKE
    NOTE).
    
    Sorry I can't be more helpful.
    
    Stephen   
    
          

     re :-1
    
    Stephen,
    
    
    Ta 
    
    
    mac

    Mac,
    
    If you want to try the number for Blackburn is 0254 55432. But don't 
    hold your breath, we have the most badly organised ticket 
    office in the country at the moment. 
    
    If your mate is really keen and has some good binoculars there is a
    small crowd gathering on the hill (off Livsey Branch Road) since the main
    stand was demolished. Its about 800 yds away and at least 200 yds high
    so theres a clear view over the houses on Bolton Rd. (the occupants of 
    which appear to be renting out bedroom window space on match days). 
    
    But if your mate just wants to see some goals why not take him to 
    Stalybridge, I see everybody is hitting the net down there these days ;-)
    
    Cheers,                          
    
    Andy 

    re .170
    
    >I think you'll find its been moved to Sunday 20th March for SKY
    >coverage, it was originally 19th March.
    
    Ahem,
    
    Ah yes, 20.3 means 20th March doesn't it. Glad it's on SKY though.
    
    Paul.

 Stephen 

	Can you please tell me what has been your average attendances at Ewood
        Park in the last 10 years ?

	The reason being, I suspect this will give us an indication as to why
	next season visiting supporters will get 5,000 tickets out of 30,000
	capacity.

Tony

    
    Preamble to the McEwans Alliance Game: 
    
    Some good news, the top tier of the Blackburn End has finally got the
    approval to be used on Saturday for the first time. This makes another 
    3000 seats available and boosts the capacity up to a mind-blowing 
    21,000 ;-).
    
    The bad news for Mac is that priority for these new tickets will go to
    holders of ticket stubs from previous home games - I think this is a
    deterrant to the geordie hoardes. Could certainly be some touting action 
    on Saturday if you want to give it a try.
    
    Also McEwans have just thrown another 500,000 into the pot to extend their
    sponsorship for the next two seasons. Where were they when we needed
    the money ? 
    
    McEwans will be much in evidence on Saturday, on all the shirts, on the 
    perimeter advertising, on the P.A., on Radio Rovers ... they must be
    really impressed that the executive lounge and restaurant has just been
    demolished and that the Bars around the ground serve BASS.
    
    Good luck to Neds boys, no predictions but I wouldn't be surprised if
    it was similar to the Leeds match.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. We only recently got our license to serve Beer around the ground
    again. Its good to see such things coming back, along with the youngsters,  
    after the dark days of rampant hooliganism and Mrs Thatcher attempts to
    abolish the game as a spectator sport ! I hope this kind of move will
    not be abused. 
                  

He'll need to with Cole and Beardsley getting 4 at the other end. 

Should be a great game - end-to-end and pretty breathless. Not as 
'aristocratic' as those from slightly further south of course, but much more
fun to watch. 

A quick 'hear hear' to Andy's comments on bringing the game back to the 
spectator - let's see similar at other grounds.

grahame

      <<< Note 202.179 by FORTY2::ASH "Mail Interchange Group, Reading" >>>
He'll need to with Cole and Beardsley getting 4 at the other end. 

Cole is not expected to play due to a shoulder injury.

    Mr Blong,
    
    I assumed the 3 goals for Shearer was an attempt to start off loading
    some of that Old Trafford over-confidence on us as that gap starts to
    look smaller and smaller ;-)
    
    I said no predictions and I'm sticking to it, although I might just
    predict Jason Wilcox for Man of the Match. 
    
    I'll be interested to see what Newcastle do without Cole.  I
    would have thought that pushing Fox or one of the other midfielders up
    front would still leave Beardsley leading the line and somehow I can't see
    that working too well. What did they do against Wimbledon ?
    
    Stephen, do you have any team news from the Rovers regarding injuries,
    (if Sherwood isn't fit I think this game would be ideal for Makel) ?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

And I'll be interested to see what Newcastle do without Cole! Not sure if 
anyone played permanently up front on Saturday, as we just added Fox to the 
usual 4 midfielders. Mathie came on as sub (too) late on - perhaps he'll 
start? Or Malcom Allen, if Keegan's on speaking terms with him yet.

g

    
    One or two memories from the Newcastle line up:
    
    I remember Beardsley causing chaos when he was last here with Everton
    probably the best individual performance by an opposition player last 
    season. 
    
    I remember Scott Sellars looking totally unstoppable on his day in the
    old blue and white, (and looking totally under-age in the bar at the
    Woodlands afterwards) I hope gets a good reception from the Ewood crowd.
    
    I even remember Derek Fazackerley trying to hold the Rovers defence
    together in the dark days of relegation, he was a great servant to the
    club. Looking at Newcastles defence maybe he should get his boots on 
    again !
    
    Last years Cup game was a real cliff hanger with Newcastle desperate to
    hold out for a draw but not quite making it, and this year at St. James 
    was a close one with Shearer coming on as sub to get the equaliser. 
    
    I think it will be much more open this time.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    

    
    No, No, please stop bringing that "I expect..to win" attitude around
    here :-)
    
    If we beat Newcastle it will be a new club record (10 straight wins in
    the league).
    
    Even IF we win the next two theres still 6 games before the Easter Show
    down and you will probably have a couple of games in hand on us by
    then.
    
    However if we go into the Easter game within a couple of points then
    psycologically we will be rolling and your guys will be really under
    pressure. Then we'll see how much discipline and bottle your guys really 
    have, win that one and you deserve the title.  
    
    A good fight to the end is what everyone wants to see, probably even
    you !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    I don't know which ******* put that in there but I can guess.

    
    	Blackburn 1
	Newcastle 0

If you read the papers you might get the impression this was a dull game, but 
this was never going to be one for the disciples of Route 1.

The short story:

Blackburn worked hard, played well and got the three points with a still 
depleted team. Newcastle worked hard, played well but struggled to breakdown 
the Rovers defence.

The longer version:

The first hour was a game of speed chess in midfield, with Atkins and Batty 
often battling against superior numbers. There was was some superb quick 
passing from both sides and every loose ball was competed for with passion.

Unfortunately, the two most creative wingers struggled, Wilcox picked up an 
early knock and was eventually substituted by Wright. Fox had the misfortune
to come up against the best left back in England who was determined to make 
a point to the watching Terry Venables. Newcastle persisted in giving Fox the
ball whenever they could but despite his twists and turns he just could not 
get past Le Saux who stopped him every time and invariably took the ball off 
him. When Beardsley switched to playing higher longer balls into the corner 
flag Le Saux proved he could match Fox for speed as well as craft. Le Saux was
MOTM and put on the best defensive full back display I have ever seen.

Both defenses were resolute, Lee Clark, often lacking support as Beardsley was 
back working to dig the ball out of midfield, could make no impression on Moran 
and May. Venison and the big guy in the middle (sorry!) clamped down hard, and
surprisingly well on Shearer and Gallagher. Big Al missed a sitter in the 
first half but was probably in shock from finding himself in the box without
Venison clinging to his backside.

But as the full backs and the wide men cancelled each other out and the 
midfield wore each other out neither forwards really got the service 
they are used to and Newcastle without Cole totally lacked penetration 
or even someone to hold the ball up front.

20 minutes to go and Blackburns stronger forwards were starting to get on top 
and force a few corners. Eventually Batty nods a clearance back in from the 
edge of the box and David May is there to crash home the volley.

Now theres no stopping them and for the last quarter of an hour Blackburn 
went all out for the second but it was not to be.

Good news for our Geordie noters, Hooper is history, the man with a name 
like a bad hand at Scrabble performed heroics. A possible Save of the Season 
to keep a header from Moran out of the top corner and later diving at the 
feet of Shearer to block a second certain goal. But what he can't handle 
is the back passes, KK will have him practising punting this week after he 
nearly threw it all away a couple of times.
 
A great game for football enthusiasts. 

Shearer didn't score, but as he's never gone two successive league games 
this season without scoring I wish I could be at Norwich on Tuesday, the 
Blackburn bandwaggon is rolling south to take on the Canaries and then Arsenal.

Norwich will not be easy, they are still the best away team I've seen at 
Blackburn this season, and a draw at Arsenal is not unlikely. 

A 15 point deficit is now reduced to 7 with 14 games to go ! The team that
had to win their games in hand did ! 

There is also conclusive evidence that the Blackburn crowd are starting to
wake up to what the club can achieve:

" Who the **** are Man United ? " was sung more often (and with the support
of the travelling members of the Alliance) than "No, nay, never" our 
traditional ode to our sad neighbours Burnley.

Cheers,

Andy
    

And a good result for the Premier League. I wasn't too sad to lose this one - 
even though that's 2 seasons running you've done us with a late goal!

All the best for the Championship, but Europe at least must be a near certainty 
now.

grahame

    Grahame,
    
    granted last seasons cup goal was 'timed to precision' but this one was
    nearer the 'only a matter of time' category. 
    
    Had your goalkeeper been Hooper it would have been 3-0 !
    
    Don't give up yet, Newcastle are good enough to make third if the
    target man gets fit quick.
    
    Cheers,
                              
    Andy 

    
    I am now actually starting to believe that we have a real chance in
    catching Utd, especially after the result on Saturday.
    
    When you consider that the team played and won still without a number
    of influencial players; Newell, Warhurst, Hendry (seemed OK up
    Peppermint Place on Saturday Night??), it makes you appreciate the
    strength of the squad that Kenny has put together.
    
    Although the game wasn't a classic by any means the workload that all
    the players put in deserved the 3 points alone.
    
    The next 2 games are now very important to keep the pressure on Utd and
    to move upto striking distance of the No 1 spot.
    
    As Andy said, the people of Blackburn really rose to the occasion and
    the ground was again a sell out (just over 21,000) even though an
    additional 3000 seats only went on sale on Thursday.
    
    This has now resulted in Blackburn reducing the visitors allocation for
    the rest of the season from 2500 to 1500 in order to meet its own
    supportors needs.  This is a shame for the clubs that have still got
    to visit Ewood; Liverpool, Swindon, Aston Villa, QPR and Ipswich and
    just tough Sh*t to Manchester United.
    
    Kenny believes we can do (although he doesn't admit it), the players
    believe they can do it, the supporters are starting to believe we can
    do it, and even I believe we can do it.
    
    I don't think that the MOTD cameras will be moving out of London on
    Saturday; Rovers v Arsenal and West Ham v Manchester Utd.
    
    Come on you Hammers.
    
    Stephen
    Kennys Army 
    
                 

    
    When is Warhurst due to be back??
    
    Tony
    
    

    
    He's now had two reserve team games, injury is holding up, but he has
    got to get match fit. My guess he'll be on the subs bench in another 
    month, maybe Sheffield Wednesday! or Swindon. 
    
    Kenny won't rush anybody back, and doesn't need too while the results
    are going well. 
    
    At the moment it would be Atkins place in midfield he could fill but
    when Sherwood is back,(about 3 weeks) he would be a very good lad to
    have on the bench giving an option to replace Gallacher up front. 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 
    
    p.s. I heard Hendry was still a couple of weeks away and that Newell
    would be lucky to play again this season. If thats true I think the
    Blue and White Cheque Book will be on the team bus going to Norwich on
    Tuesday ! Chase can't resist a long list of zero's and Sutton is not 
    likely to pass up a chance to forge a partnership with Englands 
    centre forward is he ?.

    Andy,
    
    I also think that Kenny will be taking the cheque book with him today.
    
    I've heard that Newell is definatley out for the rest of the season and
    it could be more serious than that.
    
    The interest in the bank would have built up a bit now so a 3.5m bid for
    Sutton should do the trick, especailly as the poor guy is only being
    paid peanuts at the moment.
    
    Lets hope the lads can do it tonight - 90 min commentary on Radio Lancs
    and radio 5.
    
    Stephen
    
    
      

Andy,

Unfortunately I am not going to the match tonight - it should be a good 
game.  I'm sure that it will be on Radio 5.  

Jon

    
    
    	Does anybody know the score of the match against Norwich?
    
    				Stevie,
    

    NO.

    Well, well, well. Kenny's Klowns first real test & they blow it against
    10 men of Norwich. Blackburn now have to win 3 more games than United
    in Blackburns last 13 games - a tall order.

	re: .201 (the contribution from the armchair reds)
	
	Now I would have thought Boxing Day was our 'first real test' but
	maybe you are right, 10 men from Norwich did put up more of a 
    	fight than MANU.

	re: the game

	From the radio it appeared to be a real exciting game with plenty 
	of chances at either end and a referee who was totally out of 
	control. (The poor soul was probably a little confused by not 
	having people in red shirts telling him what to do all the time!)

	So, the victory run comes to an end, but the unbeaten run continues, 
        and 32 points from the last 36 hardly constitutes a crisis. Given 
	that points were going to be dropped at some time then I'd rather they
	went to Norwich than to a lot of others. I am more than impressed with
	the way an enourmous lead has been clawed back to something less 
	daunting. The point is we have now closed the gap to a level where 
	MANU know they cannot relax.  
	
	Alex Ferguson said he thought 84 points would win the Premier League 
	this season, personally I think thats not quite enough. We shall see.

	Congratulations to Norwich, this should give them the confidence 
	to keep playing good football and maybe upset a few other teams.

	Cheers,

Andy

p.s.	Another good result for Sheffield United, I do hope they will 
	finally get the relegation they have deserved for so long ;-)  
                 

    re: 51.1540
    
    >Apologies to the geordies, this was not really relevant to your note,
    
    Yeh, I thought we'd better spare the Geordies this!
    
    Well, you just carry on informing us that Blackburn are God's gift to
    football and we'll keep lapping it up ;-) 
    
    Actually, I don't want to cause you sleepless nights or anything, but
    out here in Italy they have this weird conception that Man Utd. and
    Norwich are the best footballing sides in Britain (admittedly, they
    haven't seen much of Newcastle). Of course, I keep telling them that
    Blackburn are the Real Madrid of English football, but on the basis of the
    Cup games alone, you'd be forgiven for confusing Blackburn with the "other"
    Rovers (Hull Kingston)!
    
    >What's the Italian for armchair?
    
    "Poltrona". The Italian for "blue-and-white tinted spectacles" just
    doesn't render the idea at all, so I won't hazard a translation ;-)
    
    Dom

    Dom,
    
    Next season I hope to fulfil one of my ambitions, that is to see the
    famous blue and whites appear in Europe, it would be particularly
    special if it was one of those big italian stadiums. Maybe we could
    get you out of your armchair for the experience ?
    
    The pope, who also reads my notes, has asked that I stop by his place
    and explain to him how you can treble your number of followers in just 
    two years :-). 
             
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    

    >Next season I hope to fulfil one of my ambitions, that is to see the
    >famous blue and whites appear in Europe, it would be particularly
    >special if it was one of those big italian stadiums. Maybe we could
    >get you out of your armchair for the experience ?
    
    Well, Andy, I sincerely hope Checkbook Rovers *do* make it out here to
    Milan; you'll be assured of my support. It's unlikely you'll be coming
    to Milan though, because AC Milan will almost certainly be disputing
    the Champions  Cup, and Inter are struggling to qualify for Europe ;-)
    
    I do get out of my armchair on occasions (the bovril and meat pies at 
    Italian football stadiums are something else!), but in the present
    economic climate, my finances just don't stretch to a season ticket at
    Old Trafford. British Airways aren't very helpful in this respect
    either ;-)
    
    Dom   
    
                                                                          

    Dom,
    
    I consider your current location as a justifiable excuse for not going
    to O.T. but I'm surprised you don't have a sky dish, the Reds are on
    every week !
    
    However you are not alone, some armchair reds consider the trip from 
    Cheshire to O.T. has been just too difficult since the motorways 
    were built. :-)
    
    So who's favourites for UEFA then ? (apart from Blackburn)
    
    I'd be more than happy with a trip to France, Italy or Spain, but 
    Eastern Europe (or Wales) would be a bit of a let-down.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    >So who's favourites for UEFA then ? (apart from Blackburn)
    
    Andy,
    
    Perm any four (I think) from Lazio (Rome), Sampdoria (Genoa), Parma,
    Juventus (Turin), Inter (Milan), Torino (Turin) and perhaps Cagliari,
    Foggia and Roma. That's probably about 80% accurate.
    
    Sky dish? Given that I've got a two-year old daughter who's absolutely 
    besotted with the cartoons on TV, I'm actually thinking of selling my
    armchair ;-)
    
    Dom
    

    Andy,
    
    You are becoming very boring with this puerile jibes about armchair
    fans. You've already put your foot in it by having a go at Brian [Long].
    If you are refering to me then I freely admit to be an enthusiastic
    armchair fan. My days of standing on the terraces have long gone, but
    in my time I've probably been to over 400 matches (even reserves and
    youth teams). And whilst not being a great traveller, I have been to 
    Aston Villa     Barnsley        Blackpool       Bolton
    Burnley         Chelsea         Everton         Huddersfield
    Ipswich         Leeds           Leicester       Liverpool
    Manchester City Preston         Rotherham       Sheffield United
    Sheff Wednesday Tottenham       Wembley         West Ham
    Wolves and others I can't remember just now.
    
    Simon. 
    

    Woops, looks like you blinked. Still nice try and thanks for giving
    United a bit of a run for their money.....
    
    ....there's always next year.
    
    -Dom :-)

    
    Thanks for that Dom, good to see you are still confident and that there
    is still a sense of humour out there ;-)
    
    Well, things didn't go too well this weekend, but it could have been 
    worse :-)
    
    Arsenal 1
    Blackburn 0
    
    After Boxing day this was always the hardest of the remaining fixtures 
    and by all accounts an unsettled team didn't deserve to get anything from 
    this game.
    
    Most worrying of all is Gallacher going straight to the top of our
    injury pile until next season. To end up with a triple fracture of 
    the leg after falling over without assistance seems to indicate there 
    is not a lot of luck about. Still, somebody was keeping our hopes 
    alive down at West Ham so it's not over yet.
    
    Sherwood must be close to have been named in the squad so at least 
    we can get Marker out of midfield soon, Newell and Hendry have been 
    training at Lilleshall last week so they should be back in contention 
    before Easter. 
    
    I had hoped we'd manage to get over this tough period of injury and 
    difficult fixtures with the current squad and without dropping too 
    many points. However unless Warhurst is very close to fitness the 
    chequebook might have to make an appearance. As Jack Walker last week 
    stated publicly we are not buying Gazza, there is probably something 
    in the air.  
    
    Liverpool at Ewood on saturday, I'll be there hoping for a repeat of
    last seasons splendid performance. 
    
	Cheers,
    
    Andy       

    Andy,
    
    Have Shearer and Warhurst played together up-front? I've got this
    horrible feeling about Warhurst exacting revenge against the Owls when
    we meet later this month. How close to fitness is he?
    
    Paul. 
    
    

    Paul,
                                                           
    Warhurst was actually bought for the midfield but I think that he might
    just be able to do a bit up front if we asked him nicely ;-)!
    
    He only had a run of 5 games before he got injured and Shearer only
    appeared as sub for the first 2, (but scored 4 goals in the other 3).
    
    What impressed most was Warhursts strength, running with the ball and
    shooting from outside the box,(like Shearer did before he realised we
    had two wingers to do the hard work for him!)
    
    It was Warhursts injury that brought Batty to Ewood so IMO we still haven't
    seen our best side yet.
    
    Warhurst has now had three or four games with the Reserves and the
    'A's. The reserves usually play midweek, and when a player is coming
    back from injury Kenny won't let them play the Wednesday before, so if 
    Warhurst is not picked on Wednesday its a good omen.
    
    The bad news for Owls is that last season you beat us primarily because
    (Warhurst apart) Waddle was tremendous and destroyed our full back 
    little Alan Wright, this season Le Saux has been unbeatable at left
    back.  
    
    Regarding your midweek game:
    
    I hope you won't take this the wrong way but I would prefer MANU to
    have a CC Cup Final AND a game against Liverpool in the six days before
    they come to Ewood. So unless your guys are going to get a few Reds
    injured and suspended please let them beat you in extra time ! :-) 
    
    :-)
    
    Thats an extra smiley for anyone who thinks I'm hoping to see people 
    injured, because I don't, O.K. ? And I don't want to upset anybody.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    LeSaux has been drafted into the England Squad, at the expense of
    Dixon, I think....

    re : -1
    
    Le Saux is from Jersey, near enough I presume
    
    Le Tissier is from Guernsey as a point of interest
    
    
    mac

    It was pleasing to see that 4 of the current Rovers team have been
    selected by EL TEL for the new look England.
    
    		Flowers, Le Saux, Batty, Shearer.
    
    It will be interesting how many of these are actually in the team.
    
    		Shearer		-	Certainity
    		Flowers		-	Odds On
    		Le Saux		-	Should be but we will see
    		Batty		-	Lack of goals may go against him.
    					May lose out to Ince and Gazza.
    
    
    Regarding the rest of the squad.  Beardsley and Shearer up front should
    be good supported by Gazza.  
    
    
    Lets hope that eventually the football association come to their senses
    and start playing some England games away from Wembley so that all the
    country has the chance to see the national team.  With all the
    redevelopment there will be some great stadiums available.  (Old
    Trafford, Hillsborough, Villa Park, even Ewood when it's finished.)
    
    
    Stephen
    Kennys Army

    Stephen,
    
    did you also see that Trevor Brooking was saying he would have David
    May in his England squad ! Maybe in a couple of years time May,
    Sherwood and Wilcox might have a chance, they have all improved
    dramatically since they were in the promotion side.
    
    The worrying thing for me is that we cannot afford any more injuries,
    I wouldn't be surprised if the MANU trio drop out !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

    Blackburn 2
    Liverpool 0
    
    Basically a poor game where the crowd had to settle for a tremendous
    result rather than the entertainment we usually pay for. With a ground 
    largely open to the elements neither side really got into the swing of 
    things, the swirling winds turning anything more than a five yard pass
    into a loose ball.
    
    Playing 4-5-1 Rovers were never going to be in charge and it was a
    breakaway by Ripley that resulted in a low cross for Wilcox to slot in
    Shearer style. However as Liverpool started to get on top things looked 
    dodgy with two good Liverpool chances going wide and Flowers making one
    superb save.   
    
    Half time and encouraging news from O.T. then more good news. Hendry 
    comes on for an injured Moran and looks immediately back to his best. 
    The side reshuffles, Marker back to centre half (his only real
    position), May to right back, Berg to right midfield and 
    Ripley down the middle with big Al. Now we're back to our familiar
    4-4-2/4-2-4 and things are looking better. Suddenly its 2-0, Wilcox and
    Shearer combining to put Sherwood through down the middle. End of Story.
    
    No game for a couple of weeks now and it couldn't be better timed, 
    hopefully its a chance for Warhurst or Newell to get get fully fit,
    because with Hendry and Sherwood back now the team already looks a 
    lot better than the one that dropped points last week.
    
    A few word about the once mighty Liverpool - Whelan and Barnes should 
    be pensioned off, RW was running around and getting there just too late, 
    JB wasn't even running around. Dicks looks like a better player than I had 
    previously thought and Jones is sound, the rest look like a very
    ordinary side.
    
    The race goes on !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

Read in the newspaper this morning that Burnley beat Blackburn 5-0!.


This was the Lancashire youth cup semi-final, Burnley now meet Man Utd in 
the final. What I found remarkable was not the scoreline but the attendance,
4518.


Phil.

    Yes its true. I'm not sure how this happened but I can only assume
    Blackburn didn't actually turn up.
    
    However Burnley are renowned for their tremendous support. Its a long time
    since they had even a mediocre 1st team but they still have a regular
    support of over 10,000 and take 3,000-5,000 wherever they go.
    
    But be warned, this is just a tragic social comment on life in the most
    unfortunate of East Lancashire settlements. With little else to do,
    in-breeding is rife and therefore the I.Q. level of your average
    Burnley supporter can be derived by adding the hat size to the shoe 
    size and dividing by three :-). Do not make the mistake of assuming
    there is something worth watching at Turf Moor, this is merely a 
    weekly family get together.
    
    I'm happy for them and wish them well against MANU.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Calling Guy Warburton. Harsh words for the Burnley born lad to digest.
    

    
    RE.222
    
    >> and take 3,000-5,000 wherever they go.
    
    Whats this, another from the Gary Waite school of exageration.
    
    Dave...

    Re 224
    
    I agree that 3,000-5,000 does seem to much for a crappy team like
    Burnley but i've never exagerated in my life, Dave.
    
    
    /GAry

     
      I find it incredible that a Blackburn fan has the audacity to
    criticize a great town and a great football club like Burnley .For 
    those who haven't been there Blackburn is well known as the carbunkle 
    of Lancashire .Its inhabitants are renowned for their ugliness ,and
    their stupidity .
      When the Beatles sung about "Ten thousand holes in Blackburn
    ,Lancashire " they meant the empty skulls of that towns people .
    
    Warburtong

    
    	Nice one Andy, I'll bet you play the banjo real nice ;-)
    
    	I'm always amazed at the passion with which all those who left
    	Burnley will defend them to the last. A mate of mine actually came
    	back from Hong Kong just to see what he thought might be their last
    	game in the league when Burnley were propping up the old Div 4. He
        was totally confused when they stayed up and he realised he'd
        wasted his money. 
    
    	Sorry if you were insulted but old habits die hard and words like
    	Burnley and Manchester United tend to trigger my wind-up muscle.
    	The old Blackburn-Burnley rivalry has really been very quiet recently
        because there is just too big a gap now. Personally I'd like to see 
    	the clarets doing well because I think its good for the area and I
    	always enjoyed the banter.
    
    	I get my Burnley info from a season ticket holder (probably one of
        your cousins) who is related to an ex Burnley Director (but then
        aren't you all ?) Obviously my only appearances at Turf Moor have 
    	been as a Blackburn supporter.  
        
    	Cheers,
    
    	Andy    
    
    	p.s. I'm surprised you know who your real dad is !

    
    	fairy nuff Andy. I wasn't toooo offended ;-)
    
    	Andy.

    Re 227
    
    Brilliant Warburtong.  You've described people from Blackburn,
    Wolverhampton and Aston Villa fans in one note.  Keep it up...
    
    
    /GAry

    
>      When the Beatles sung about "Ten thousand holes in Blackburn
>    ,Lancashire " they meant the empty skulls of that towns people .
    
    ...and it's pretty obvious what they meant when they were singing about
    "Norwegian Wood" :-)

    
    Its actually four thousand holes, coincidentally the title of the
    Blackburn Fanzine.
    
    Yesterdays banter with the scumleys actually diverted me from what I
    originally wanted to say -
    
    Newell and Warhurst both played in the reserves on Monday night, far
    enough away for them to be considered for the first team at Sheffield
    on Wednesday.
    
    I suspect you may see Newell in the team and Warhurst, who is still
    looking a bit lethargic on the bench for a game he really wants to be
    part of,
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

    Andy,
    
    Lets hope that Sheff Wed can do us a favour tonight and try to get at
    least something out of the game at Old Trafford.
    
    
    Also,  all the tickets have now been sold for the showdown on Easter
    Saturday (voucher holders were apparently queueing upto 6 hours
    yesterday) in order to secure their ticket.   
    
    
    regards
    Stephen
    

    Can someone please post Blackburn's remaining fixtures ?

    
    Here we go with the fixtures, its from earlier in the season so the 
    telly boys may have switched some dates but I guess its the quality of
    the opposition you are interested in !
    
    26-3  SWINDON     HOME
    29-3  WIMBLEDON   AWAY
    02-4  MAN UTD     HOME
    04-4  EVERTON     AWAY
    09-4? ASTON VILLA HOME
    16-4  SOUTHAMPTON AWAY
    23-4  Q.P.R.      HOME
    30-4  COVENTRY    AWAY
    07-5  IPSWICH     HOME
    
    Its going to be fun isn't it !. 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Now I'm back some thoughts from Sunday:
    
    Well the Sheffield Wednesday tried their best but anything other than 3
    points would have been an outrage.
    
    Great to see Mike Newell back leading the line, I'm sure Shearer will 
    start scoring again now that he doesn't have to be the battering ram as
    well as the finisher. 
    
    Batty got Man of the Match, probably fair, but for me Ripley had his
    best game of the season. Also good to see Wilcox playing with so much
    confidence, he even had the nerve to give big Al a bollocking for
    trying to head in a cross that he was better positioned for.
    
    Blackburn are starting to look a very professional outfit and I'm sure
    Kenny has had another word about discipline. When Shearers goal was 
    disgracefully given offside he was gutted, but he gets up and carries
    on, the same for a couple of penalty appeals. This is a marked contrast 
    with other teams who are specialising in abusing officials these days. 
    
    For a game we dominated so much I couldn't believe the number of
    chances that went begging but its better than not making chances. O.K. 
    so it was another last minute goal again but thats a tribute to how hard 
    they are working. Those late goals have been worth 2 more points few
    times this season ! 
    
    Great result last night, MANU stumble again and Arsenals charge from
    behind stemmed for a little while.
    
    If this goes on I'll start to think the Championship is really
    possible, the boys are getting fit and playing with confidence because
    they know they are heroes if they get a UEFA cup place this year. 
    
    If we soon get into a position where mathematically we can get more
    points than MANU then there might just be some pressure but what a
    problem that would be ;-)
    
    Can we beat Swindon on Saturday or can lightening really strike twice ?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

Thanks Brian, that makes it,

    26-3  SWINDON     HOME	
    29-3  WIMBLEDON   AWAY
    02-4  MAN UTD     HOME
    04-4  EVERTON     AWAY
    11-4  ASTON VILLA HOME
    16-4  SOUTHAMPTON AWAY
    24-4  Q.P.R.      HOME
    27-4  WEST HAM    AWAY	
    30-4  COVENTRY    AWAY
    07-5  IPSWICH     HOME

Would you like to put the corresponding Reds fixtures alongside ? 

Cheers,

Andy

It's prediction time .........
    
    
Blackburn : 67 pts from 32 games	Man Utd : 73 pts from 33 games

		Pred	Pts				Pred	Pts

SWINDON     (H)	win	3	
WIMBLEDON   (A) draw	1		LIVERPOOL   (H)	draw	1
MAN UTD     (H) win	3		BLACKBURN   (A) lose	0
EVERTON     (A) lose	0		OLDHAM      (H) win	3
ASTON VILLA (H) draw	1		LEEDS       (A) lose    0
SOUTHAMPTON (A) draw	1		WIMBLEDON   (A) draw    1
Q.P.R.      (H) win	3		MAN CITY    (H) win	3
WEST HAM    (A)	win	3		IPSWICH	    (A) win     3
COVENTRY    (A) draw	1		SOUTHAMPTON (H) win	3
IPSWICH     (H) win	3		COVENTRY    (H) win	3

	Total Pts 67 + 19 = 86			Total Pts 73 + 17 = 90
    
    
    Looks like Utd to me ......

    What Battyburn loose to Everton.. I don't think so.. :->
    
    Rick.

    	Whoever made these predictions should have had some money on them.
    	Not totally correct, but some good tries.
    
    
                 <<< Note 311.28 by PEKING::SHALLOMA "Aron Shallom" >>>
                                    -< MAN U RULE! >-
    
    
            My prediction for the coming season:
    
            ChampionS:      Man Utd
            Runner-Up:      Liverpool
            FA Cup:         Man Utd
            League Cup:     Man Utd
            Relegated:      Swindon,Oldham,Sheff U
    
            Best outside bet for a trophy: QPR
    
    
    
            Aron...
    
        =================================================================
    
                   <<< Note 311.39 by REDARO::WLC_IMPROV1 >>>
                                  -< hello >-
    
        Manchester United : Premier League Winners (again)
        Blackburn : Runners Up (coming second means nothing
        F.A.Cup : Manchester United
        Coca Cola Cup : Manchester United
    
    	===============================================================
    
                     <<< Note 311.29 by BUSSTP::DREES >>>
    
    
            My prediction for the coming season:
    
            ChampionS:      Man Utd
            Runner-Up:      Arsenal
            FA Cup:         Newcastle
            League Cup:     Man Utd
            Relegated:      Swindon,Oldham,Sheff U
    
            Best outside bet for a trophy: Sheff Wed
    
        Del.
    
    	==============================================================
    
    <<< Note 311.34 by FILTON::KEARNS_R "OH NO!I'VE GOT THOSE HAPPY FEET!" >>>
                  -< STOP READING NOTES AND DO SOME WORK!!!!1 >-
    
    
            Prem. Title-- Man Utd.
            FA cup    --  Man utd
            Relagation -- Swindon, Sheffield utd, Ipswich.
    
    	==============================================================
    
                    <<< Note 311.39 by REDARO::WLC_IMPROV1 >>>
                                   -< hello >-
    
        Manchester United : Premier League Winners (again)
        Blackburn : Runners Up (coming second means nothing
        F.A.Cup : Manchester United
        Coca Cola Cup : Manchester United
    
         

    
    re: .241
    
    Er, 10 games to go and both finals yet to be played, isn't there still 
    time for that set of predictions to be wonderfully inaccurate ?.
     

    Sean,
    
    I wasn't trying to start an argument or a rathole but while i'm here :-)  
    
    I see your point but if you look at it another way :
    
    IF MANU win little or nothing (which is still a possibility) then those
    predictions may look more stupid than the ones you have left out, 
    so why not wait until the end of the season when you can congratulate
    with confidence.
    
    Any new prediction at this stage is still valid but obviously an earlier
    one (if proved correct) will leave its noter with a greater degree of
    smugness.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. If you want to see some amusing predictions try looking at some 
    of the things being said at the beginning of this note just under 
    two years ago !  :-) 
             

    
    You're quite right Andy, reply .9 is a classic!!
    
    JBG
    
    Ps. I predict that ManU and Blackburn will play in Europe next season! 8-)

    Team news for tomorrow seems to indicate Kenny will be sticking with
    the same team and subs that played last week, I hope so.
    
    Snippet from the reserves - Mark Atkins (super atko to his small army
    of admirers) is now playing up front and scoring ! In the unlikely event
    that Newell and Warhurst don't see the season out then this could be
    the secret weapon. Kenny knows we must stick with 4-4-2 and Atko's
    contribution to the promotion campaign was not insignificant.
    
    Snippet from the building site - The main roof beam of the Jack Walker
    Stand was lifted into place this week, all FIVE HUNDRED TONS of it !
    Uncle Jack doesn't do things by halves !
                                                                 
    C'mon you blues, 3 points tomorrow, 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  

    
    It's interesting to note how many of our remaining games are being
    televised live by sky.  Maybe Andy Gray knows something that we don't.
    
    
    	Wimbledon  (away)	Not televised
    	Man Utd	   (home)	5.00pm SKY
    	Everton    (away)	Not televised  (but I'm going anyway)
    	A Villa    (home)	Monday SKY
    	Southampton(away)	not televised  (I'm going to this one too)
    	QPR	   (home)	Sunday  SKY
    	Coventry   (Away)	Monday SKY
    	Ipswich    (home)	No decision yet - expected to be switched
    						  to Sunday
    
    
    Andy,
    
    Funny you should mention the tout prices for Saturday,  when my better
    half saw this in the local paper she made a dash for my season ticket,
    muttering something about holidays? - silly girl.
    
    Needless to say she lost and my season ticket is now safely locked up 
    ready for Saturday.
    
    
    Will we do it??  Who knows.    I think that it is now all down to who got
    the most bottle.  Utd will suffer through suspensions in the coming
    weeks but they have now lost the pressure of doing the treble.  Rovers
    on the other hand have a full squad; apart from Gallagher; and are 
    on top form although it's all a new experience to us.
    
    
    
    Can't wait for Saturday, should be a cracker.
    
    
    Regards
    Stephen
    Kenny's Barmy Army
    
    

    Steven,
    
    Re: T.V. fixtures
    
    Can there be any doubt about the last game of the season, surely 
    they won't get away with moving this to a Sunday ?. 
    
    Can you imagine if we only needed 1 point, c'mon even that nice 
    placid Mr Ferguson might complain !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Somewhere, I'm sure I heard that all the games on the final day of the 
    season would be pushed back to the Sunday, allowing the TV to show a
    live game without giving any team an unfair advantage.
    
    Terry

    This is in the division of quality (Div 1) not the good ship Premier
    
    Paul

    Andy,
    
    Re last day fixtures.
    
    I think you will find that SKY will shortly announce that both the Rovers
    and Utd's last games will be switched to Sunday, to be played at the same
    time and both screened live on different SKY channels.
    
    Sky actually did this during the season before last when UTD and LEEDS
    were challanging it out, but unfortuantly they have to make all the
    arrangements weeks ahead, and things can change so that in the end it
    becomes totally un-neccessary.
    
    Yes I agree, it's silly, but SKY are putting millions into the game
    and will not miss out on the final games especailly if the championship
    depends on it.
    
    
    I guess you will be listening to your radio like me tomorrow hoping
    that we can turn over the DONS and set things up nicely for Saturday.
    
    regards
    Stephen
    

    
    
    
    What the Hell Happened to Blackburn ?.
    
    
    
    You wuz Wombled.
    
    
    Gazzer

    I think in technical terms... they got stuffed!! :-<
    
    Couldn't believe it... well that'll give Manu heart... but don't forget
    Leeds had a similar result against Man City I think but still went on 
    to win the championship.. so don't give up hope yet.. :->
    
    Rick.  
    

    
    
    Rick, 
    
    
        I prefer the Dons to Moneybags Rovers anyday, being a local lad
    etc.. But as they won't overhaul Utd I was pretty much hoping Rovers
    would.
    
    Gazzer (A Woking Gooner !)

    
    	Lets put it this way.. since Leeds are going to be pretty lucky to
    get into Europe... I definately don't want ManU to win anything so I'll
    support anyone who has a chance of over taking them! :->
    
    	Rick.

    
    Never has it been more true that pride comes before a fall!
    
    Oh well, maybe Swindon couldn't "out-football" Blackburn (see report a
    few notes back), but Wimbledon didn't have too much trouble. Was it
    Alan Shearer who said last Saturday that "nobody is looking past the
    Wimbledon game"? Nice thought, Ally boy!
    
    I smell checquebook coming out of inside pocket. Tell yer what, that
    tall guy with the skinhead haircut in Wimbledon's midifeld looks like
    he could do a good job for Blackburn. Jones, I tink the boy's name
    is...
    
    But don't let this little upset put a stop to your cockiness
    (nay, arrogance) of late. Not before this weekend, anyway.
    
    Dom 

    
    Come on guys, stop the gloating and tell us the score ..... a match
    report wouldn't go amiss either.
    
    JBG
    
    Ps Andy, how's the headache? 8-)

    dons 4 - 1 Blackburn

                    
    I love it when the MANU boys start accusing US of arrogance ! 
    
    ("its not over yet" clearly more arrogant than "gonna do the treble")
    
    But back to the point, a game I find difficult to explain but as I sat
    in my armchair listening to Blackburn and watching Arsenal things
    seemed to get very confused.
    
    Blackburn 1-0 at half time and bossing the game, then in the second
    half it all turned to rat-shit. Drubbed 4-1. 
    
    Total respect to Wimbledon, there are times when I wish we had half
    their spirit ! Lets hope Blackburn will learn something from this.
    
    Its not over yet !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

Well now that the back has been broken on the Blackburn 24 hour threath to
United's supremacy ... 

That's two seasons in a row where you've won bugger all.

All together now(SuperTramp),

Dreeeeeamer, you're nothing but a dreeeeeeamer , can you win the Premiership oh
no .

Peter.

    re .262
    
    
    
    that note could come back to haunt you one of these days....
    
    Ray....

    Match Report:
    
    Blackburn had the better of the play in the first half and went to the
    dressing rooms with a well-deserved 1 goal lead.
    
    Wimbledon looked like a totally different team in the second half. The
    introduction of new boys Enrico Cantina and Marco Hugeso sparked a
    revival of mammoth proportions.  A minor tussle broke out on the
    sidelines when the Wombles' new coaching assistant Alexi Fergerson
    attempted to introduce 9 more subs early in the second half (almost
    exclusively new signings or on-loan players). Alexi seemed confused
    about the referees objections to the different kit colours on the new
    players and then got very annoyed when the ref wouldn't let the boys
    on, even after they changed into Wombles kit.
    
    Inspite of all the commotion, Enrico and Marco got it together and
    knocked four past the 'Pool keeper (who incidently had to change his
    shirt twice during the second half. He claimed that Enrico had trodden
    on his chest, but Enrico denied it strenuously saying "Moi ?").
    
    All in all a good result for the Wombles. Mysteriously, their manager,
    Joe Kinear, was found bound and gagged in the dressing rooms after the
    game. His new assistant, Alexi, disappeared immediately after the game
    along with Enrico and Marco and the other nine Subs. They were last
    seen leaving the vicinity on a large Red bus.
    
    Still, overlooking the strange goings-on, it was quite a good result
    for Man Utd, ooops, erm Wimbledon.
    
    Yours helpfully,
    
    Jerry.

    
    Jerry,
    
    	you forgot to mention that Alex Ferguson has appealed to the FA,
    accusing Blackburn of cheating after he spotted them playing the
    "'Pool" keeper 8-)
    
    JBG

    
    	Picture this scenario...
    
    	United retain the league title.
    	Blackburn draw 4 of their last 8 games and are overtaken on the
    	last Saturday by the Toon, who win their last 37 games to finish
    	runners-up.
    	Hoddsea win the FA Cup, beating Red Card United 0-0 in the Final.
    
    	Result of all this speculation?
        
    
    
    	Chequebook Rovers don't even get to play in Europe next season,
    	and this so-called "Alliance" (ie. United-haters in this
    	notesfile) go to war.
    
    
    	Surely it couldn't happen...
    
    	Andy.

    Re: .265
    
    Sorry Jon,  I always have trouble trying to distinguish between small
    clubs like Blackburn and Blackpool ;-)
    
    Jerry.

    >But don't let this little upset put a stop to your cockiness
    >(nay, arrogance) of late. Not before this weekend, anyway.
                               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    This, of course, isn't arrogance. It's what is know as breeding.
    Knowing exactly your rightful position. Re-establishment of the status
    quo. The Aristocrats spurning the advances of New Money.
    
    It's good to see all the Mancs getting back on their highhorses after
    the events of the last couple of weeks. I'd say that the emotion that
    they're all feeling is one of releif, but I could be wrong (after all
    they have managed to aviod a collapse in the league once in 27 ish
    years haven't they.)
    
    Paul.

    
    Re .266
    
    Peter, 
    
    	if you carefully read .264 again, and then read Jerry's reply in
    .268, you'll get what I was on about in .265 8-)
    
    ......then again, don't bother
    
    JBG

    >>But don't let this little upset put a stop to your cockiness
    >>(nay, arrogance) of late. Not before this weekend, anyway.
                               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    >This, of course, isn't arrogance. It's what is know as breeding.
    >Knowing exactly your rightful position. Re-establishment of the status
    >quo. The Aristocrats spurning the advances of New Money.
    
    Firstly, I don't consider myself a "manc" (I'm a paying member of the
    Schmeichel-loathing club, btw). I just think that from a footballing
    point-of-view, they're light years more entertaining than Blackburn,
    that's all. Then again, the smash-bang-pow Blackburn match reports,
    featuring everyone's favorite comic-strip characters (Super Atko, Big
    Al [a.k.a. God], etc.) might have you thinking otherwise.
    
    I don't think Blackburn will approach the big match in a cocky frame of
    mind (some of their supporters might, though!). There's nothing
    arrogant about saying that I hope they do; it's the best recipe for
    defeat. I won't waste your time citing examples from history. 
    
    Gloating isn't usually my game; I sincerely hope to see Blackburn in
    Europe next year, because I really think they could win something -
    they've got the players. Any gloating here is probable a knee-jerk
    reaction to some of the comments levelled at Man Utd. after Sunday's
    (deserved) defeat. 
    
    You're not a Sheffield Wednesday supporter by any chance, are you?
    
    Dom

    how many games did Aston Villa lose on the trot before last Sunday. It
    just shows that you must really want to win to beat Man United. Chelsea
    had the belief that they could do it after nicking the first of their
    wins over the seemingly undefeatable Man U. I beleve (actually I hope)
    that Blackburn will thrash Man U and win the league. 
    
    Rich.

Calling Dom Turner,

Much more of this and I'm going to take it personally !

I'm just an average football fan really, I like to think my match reports 
on Blackburns home games are accurate and make no bones about them being 
the subjective views of a Blackburn fan who was there. There appear to be 
a number of people who read them, for interest or amusement ;-), either 
way I enjoy the banter it creates for my lunchtime entertainment. 

I'm a bit surprised that you consider my contributions arrogant, I freely 
admit to the odd wind-up but they are not difficult to spot and isn't 
that part of the game ?

Incidentally I'm pretty new to this but two of my noting heroes are 
Jon Button for his reports and Ned Kelly for his humour. 

The one thing I do know is that there are far too many out there who are 
all to quick to jump up and down when their team win or an opponent looses but
    go missing when the reverse happens. Not that I'm accusing you of being
    that sad of course. 

Thankyou for your interest, 

Cheers,

Andy 

p.s. Nearly lost my sense of humour for a moment there ;-) forgive me,
my colleagues are not giving me an easy time today :-)

p.p.s. ITS NOT OVER YET !  

    Andy,
    
    Don't take it to heart - there's nothing particularly *wrong* with your
    match reports. You're a Blackburn fan and it's only logical that you
    prefer to see them win rather than lose. I don't really have a problem,
    in that I don't consider myself a supporter of any one team. Sure, I
    have my preferences, but at the ripe old age of 32 I find it hard to
    get elated/distraught over the fate of a football team. Mind you, I
    recall having to hold back the tears when Leeds (my boyhood idols)
    lost the European Cup Final to Bayern Munich in 1975! Manchester United
    play great football, IMO, but I do acknowledge that they have greater
    resources than (say) Oldham.
    
    I've nothing whatsoever against Blackburn (God knows, I haven't seen
    them play enough to really give an authorative opinion of them); in
    fact, after seeing Shearer and Le Saux for England the other week, I'd
    say that Kenny Dalglish is doing a good job. Perhaps I was harkening
    back to a time earlier in the season when Man. Utd had a 16-point
    advantage and people in this note were helping them understand what was
    wrong with their game ;-)
    
    But who can resist a quick windup at times like this? Far from having
    an adverse effect on Blackburn's morale, I expect them to be raring to
    go against United. It ought to be a cracker, although neither team appears
    to be on top form at the moment. (Shouldn't we be waching over our
    shoulders for Arsenal and Newcastle?!) 
    
    As an overseas Brit, just make sure you win the UEFA Cup next year
    ...preferably beating Juventus or Inter Milan 9-0 en route ;-) 
    
    Dom
    

    
    I think that if we were going to lose a match than it was always
    going to be last nights, I must admit though that the score line was a
    bit of a shock.
    
    Wimbledon always come up with the shock results and we have never been
    able to master playing against the long ball teams.  
    
    With 8 games left, 4 home and 4 away, I still think that the
    championship is still wide open, even if Utd beat Liverpool tonight
    although it is now fundemental that we beat Utd on Saturday.
    
    So tonight it is going to be another night listening to the radio
    hoping that Liverpool can do us a big favour and at least get something
    from tonights game.
    
    
    The dream lives on in Blackburn
    
    Stephen
    Kennys Barmy Army
    
    
    
    
    

    Dom,
    
    passionate as I am about my team I really don't take any of this toooo
    seriously ;-) !  
    
    As I've told you before my job is to educate and inform, and have a bit
    of fun along the way. Just think how impressed your italian buddies 
    will be next season when you can recite the career history of 
    Super-Atko and Big-Al as they both get hat-tricks at the San Ciro.
    
    Save your soul man, get off the fence ! I'm sure your roots are 
    struggling under such repression, come out now, acknowledge your 
    birthright, support the Rovers !. Anyone who follows a sport without 
    following a particular team is missing out on a large part of the
    experience. Don't give me this too old to care nonsense, we're the same
    age, get a satellite dish before its too late ! 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Are you in some kind of Monastery over there ?
                

    Dom,
    
    >Firstly, I don't consider myself a "manc" (I'm a paying member of the
    
    Sorry, I should have used "ManU supporter" there. "Manc" infers someone
    who comes from Manchester: well spotted!
    
    Your sentence did seem to infer, to me at least, that the match on
    Saturday was a foregone conclusion. That they wouldn't be so cocky
    *after* the match. I took this as arrogant.
    
    >You're not a Sheffield Wednesday supporter by any chance, are you?
    
    Yup, and I've always disliked ManU (as any self-respecting Yorkshireman
    should). If you're thinking that my comments are as a result of our two
    thrashings at the hands of ManU in recent weeks then you are wrong. It
    wouldn't be a proper season for Wednesday if they didn't lose at least
    once by a five-goal deficit. If you want to see real sour-grapes then
    try the Arsenal note!!
    
    I just think that some of the ManU supporters have fell for the media
    hype and think that it is a foregone conclusion that they will reign
    supreme as Liverpool did in the eighties. I'm glad that someone is
    giving them a run for their money.
    
    Yours in sport, Paul.
    

    >As I've told you before my job is to educate and inform, and have a bit
    >of fun along the way. Just think how impressed your italian buddies 
    >will be next season when you can recite the career history of 
    >Super-Atko and Big-Al as they both get hat-tricks at the San Ciro.
    
    Tell Big Al to conveniently fluff a few as well, Andy. There are people
    out here with even bigger chequebooks than your Mr. Walker. You
    wouldn't want to see him playing for Lazio or Juventus next year, now
    would you?
    
    No, I really don't *support* anyone. You can quote me on that. However,
    I still manage to get that edgy feeling when I sit down and watch a
    game because I almost invariably have a preference between the two
    sides. Well, OK, I suppose I do have a softspot for Brighton, my home
    town (that should bring a chorus of ridicule from the Palace fans in
    this notesfile ;-)). It's not a question of being too old to care;
    quite simply I don't have a favorite team, just like I don't have
    a favorite colour.
    
    >    p.s. Are you in some kind of Monastery over there ?
    
    Errrr...no. You'll have to explain this one!
    
    To Paul L: Maybe the Mancs (sorry, ManU) fans back in the UK are going
    a bit over the top, but I think they seem a fairly stable lot in this
    conference.
    
    All the best,
      Dom

    Dom,
    
    >To Paul L: Maybe the Mancs (sorry, ManU) fans back in the UK are going
    >a bit over the top, but I think they seem a fairly stable lot in this
    >conference.
    
    I'd have to agree there.
    
    .262 was written with a great deal of restraint, wit and a certain 
    humility. I took it to mean "Bravo, plucky Blackburn. Keep up the good
    show as we're enjoying it every bit as much as you".
    
    .267 is a prime example of how the ManU fans accept with total
    aquinimity any team who can compete with them  on the field and in the
    transfer market.
    
    I must admit, seriously now, that yours was the most level note. I just
    picked on that one because I misunderstood what you were getting at.
    
    Paul.
      
     

Looking at the probable teams I just can't imagine any tactical shocks 
on Saturday, looks like 200 mph down the flanks and open warfare down the 
middle. God help the ref !

		     Flowers 

Berg	 	  May and Hendry               Le Saux
Sharpe	         Giggs and Hughes            Kanchelskis

		Batty and Sherwood
		Ince  and Keane

Ripley          Shearer and Newell            Wilcox
Irwin         Pallister and Bruce            Parker

		   Schmiechel

with McClair, Dublin, Warhurst and Marker as probable subs.

Come on you Blues,

Cheers,

Andy

Blackburn Rovers  2  
Manchester Utd.   0

Tremendous atmosphere down at Ewood Park for the biggest game of the season 
so far, built up by some as big test of Blackburns nerve.

First half very cagey, but encouraging signs for Rovers as the game was 
played very much in Uniteds half. Blackburn probing and United holding back 
looking to exploit a break. Batty and Sherwood dominant in midfield, picking 
up most of the loose ball and their tremendous work rate suppressed Ince and 
Keane. Not much for the neutrals though, few chances to speak of at either end.

Second half Rovers come out and finally the patience pays off, Shearer 
nodding in a Sherwood cross. Now United have to come out and the game opens 
up, the temperature rises and the pace quickens. But Blackburn are not going 
to roll over to United as so many have done this season. Blackburns defence
is resolute and Uniteds forwards get little change. Flowers eventually called 
to make a save from a point blank volley from Kanchelskis, but does his 
job well. United try to push more and more but get totally frustrated as 
Blackburn still dominate all areas of the pitch. Ince unluckily has one bobble
off his knee against the outside of the post but when Ripley puts a ball 
into the path of Shearer 1-on-1 with Pallister there was only ever one 
outcome as he hammered it home from about 12 yds out. 

Shearer got MOTM for the goals but for me Batty proved himself the master 
of midfield and showed just how good he has become at Blackburn.

I could go on and on about this game but on the whole it was a fair result, 
Blackburn once again proving that they have nothing to fear from a United 
side who played only as well as they were allowed to. 

Everton 0
Blackburn 3

The blues really on a roll, only listened to this on the radio but Blackburn
had it in the bag with a goal from Wilcox and two from Mike Newell. A good 
three points and things are really coming together.

Its not over yet and there are no easy games at this stage of the season but 
with Newcastle and Arsenal dropping points that place in Europe gets nearer and
nearer.

Cheers,

Andy
    

    Everton 0                      
    Rovers  3
    
    
    Everton started well in this top v bottom clash, passing the ball about
    well but not having anyone up front who ever looked like scoring.
    
    The Rovers scored on their first attack with Newell knocking in a ball
    from 3 yards which really should have ben cleared by Everton.
    
    In the second half the Rovers started to dominate things with Batty
    especially running the midfield.  The second goal was a thunderbolt
    from 25-30 yrds from Wilcox, who ran with the ball from the half way
    line and launched the shot that beat Southall and went in off the post.
    
    The Everton heads had dropped and the third goal looked likely which
    came near the end again from Newell.
    
    Overall, it was clear who was near the top and who was getting very
    near to the bottom.
    
    One other point that I would like to mention, I have been to Goodison
    on many occasions ususally sitting in the Visitors stand which was
    behind the goal, it is now a building site.  This year we were seated
    in the Lower Bullons stand, which used to be for Everton fans, and I
    have to say I thought the view of the game was disgusting.  Apart from
    the many pillars which completely obstructed my view of one of the
    goals, the height of the roof was laughable which meant that every time
    the ball went over 10 foot in the air you couldn't see a thing.
    
    I would have thought for 11 pound a ticket you would expect to be able
    to see the game???
    
    
    Re the championship.
    
    United must still be the fravourites but we are now putting on the
    pressure.  United to play Leeds in their next league game I think that
    this could be the one which United slip up on.
    
    
    regards
    Stephen
    Kennys Barmy Army

    As predicted, both the Rovers and Utd's final games have been switched
    to Sunday May 8th, kicking off at 4pm.
    
    Sky at the moment have not decided which one to televise, this will be
    decided nearer the time, depending on how things go.
    
    Saturday 3pm kick off's seem to be a thing of the past in Blackburn.
    
    Regards
    Stephen

                     <<< Note 202.284 by WOTVAX::NORTHS >>>
                                    -< tv  >-

>   As predicted, both the Rovers and Utd's final games have been switched
>   to Sunday May 8th, kicking off at 4pm.
    
>   Sky at the moment have not decided which one to televise, this will be
>   decided nearer the time, depending on how things go.
    
>   Saturday 3pm kick off's seem to be a thing of the past in Blackburn.
    
     I read that they are contemplating one match on Sky Sports and the other
     on Sky One.  

     Stuart

    Well its another SKY Sports trip to Ewood Tonight, at least the 
    viewers won't be troubled by the nasty shadows from the building site.
    
    I'm told the highlight of the first half of the United game was a
    crowd scene featuring yours truly !. I will have to re-check my video
    for evidence.   
    
    Team news seems to be that Stuart Ripley, who had been the only ever
    present in the side this season is not fit to play. Alan Wright could fill
    in on the left as he did at Everton with Jason Wilcox taking the right wing.
    
    Kenny has also got the option of bringing in Warhurst or doing the
    Berg to midfield, May to full back, and Moran or Marker at centre half 
    shuffle again.
    
    I expect Villa to try and do what they did against United, i.e. stuff 5 in
    midfield to stifle the game. Maybe Villa will try and extract some 
    revenge for what we did to them last season, maybe not.   
    
    Having just about recovered my voice from the United game i'll be there
    shouting "it's not over yet" :-)
    
    Come on you Blues !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
                       

    Shearer has just scored his 33 goal of the season...
    
    		Battyburn 1	- 	Villa 0

    re -1
    
    And that's how it remained (1:0). Well done Blackburn!
    
    I understand that Ferguson is going to use the Winbledon dressing room
    technique of having a ghetto-blaster playing at full volume. His choice
    of music: Jah Wobble of course.
    
    Paul.
    

    Blackburn   1
    Aston Villa 0
    
    Its cliche time !
    
    Basically it was a game of 2 halves - 
    
    In the first Rovers totally dominated, playing some excellent 1 touch 
    football. Shearer scored again after a long ball from Wilcox was 
    nodded down to him in the area by Newell. Should have been at least 2
    up but it wasn't to be.
    
    In the second half proof positive that - there are no easy games at
    this stage of the season -. Big Ron brought on Houghton for Saunders
    and Villa - who had nothing to lose - started to gain control of the
    midfield. Dalglish brought on Wright and Warhurst for Batty and Ripley
    and in the end Rovers had to be content to hold on to the points.
    
    One excellent save each from Bosnich and later Flowers but not too much
    goal mouth action to speak of.
    
    A coach load of Villa fans turned up at my local after the game
    (strange as I live north of Blackburn?) and they were well pleased
    about the prospect of Blackburn winning the league. Their opinion being
    Blackburn were a good attacking team with a solid defence, while MANU
    were a bunch of flash mouthy gits who relied too heavily on trying to 
    intimidate the officials and the opposition.  - I felt it would have
    been impolite to disagree, particularly as there were about 30 of them
    and 6 of us.
    
    So its still wide open but goal difference and a game in hand doesn't 
    seem like much when we were talking about 16 points at Christmas.
    
    Just 3 more points puts us in Europe !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 
    
    p.s. My reference to being on the telly was the Rovers Vs United game,
    do you really think I would travel all the way to Wembley to watch 
    a mediocre Oldham take on a piss poor team like MANU minus Cantona ;-). 
    
    
     

    Exercise 1:
    
    Notes 202.59 & 32.3905, Compare and contrast.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  

    
    	Brilliant, Andy!
    
    	Let's face it he's a saddo. At least one or other, and maybe
    	even both, of us will be celebrating this season with success.
    	
    	Cunno, on the other hand, will be "shaking his fist" in a pre-owned
    	Tranmere jersey. Really sad.
    
    	Andy. 

    Andy,
    
    Re: Celebrations
    
    I'll be celebrating as soon as we get 3 more points, a place in
    Europe is what matters to me now. Then the pressure is really off and 
    we can go after the league title, having never mathematically been
    ahead its not something we can chastise ourselves for throwing away
    (yet ?).
    
    I can imagine United will not judge a treble of runners-up medals
    (assuming they can beat Oldham) and a UEFA cup place as an event worthy 
    of much celebration but how about if they only win the F.A. Cup, would 
    that be greeted with glee or a gallic shrug of the shoulders ?
    
    (Serious hypothetical question not trying to wind anyone up!).
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

    
    	I think that if we "only" finish up with the FA Cup (and this
    	is in no way meant to be dismissive of Chelsea's ambitions)
    	then it would be a disaster.
    
    	However, the shareholders of Manchester United Plc may view 
    	this differently. I don't know...
    
    	Personally I'd like us to retain the title. Keep the cups, I'd
    	rather see sides like Villa and Chelsea in Europe next season
    	than someone finishing 3rd/4th/5th whatever in the league. I've
    	been saying this all through the treble BS that's been going 
    	around.
    
    	However, I have a strong suspicion that Blackburn's surge is so
    	unstoppable now that we've perhaps blown the league. It may still
    	be in our own hands, but two draws in six games will put paid 
    	to that analysis, even if we could win the other four. On current
    	form we haven't a chance!
    
    	Andy.
               

>    	be in our own hands, but two draws in six games will put paid 
>    	to that analysis, even if we could win the other four. 
    
    That would require Blackburn to win all of their remaining five games.
    Do you really think that is realistic ?
    
    Terry
    

    Re: -1
    
    It certainly seems to be. Balckburn seem to have the same air about
    them now, that ManU had back when they were 16 points ahead and
    cruising. The questions to be answered now are:
    
    1. Can Blackburn keep up the run under the ever-increasing pressure ?
    
    2. Can ManU recover their composure enough to make Blackburn's results
    over the next five games academic ?
    
    
    As a United fan, I would like to say that the answers are Yes and
    Yes. I'ld prefer us to win by virzue of what we do than by Blackburn 
    falling at the last.  Realistically speaking I think ManU will probably
    win four, draw one and either draw or lose one (Wimbledon ?). 
    Blackburn, by my reckoning, should win three and draw two.
    
    My hypothesis and asscoiated mathematics, if correct, then suggests to 
    me that the game on Saturday (ManU .vs. Wombles) will decide the
    destination of the Championship ! Of course, I know sod all about
    football so my hypothesis isn't really worth a damn. Unfortunately,
    that won't stop me from worrying on Saturday (Anyone know how to ask
    for Valium in Swiss German ;-) ?).
    
    Jerry.

    Terry, 
    
    from my perspective, there are just no easy games at this stage
    but the ones you don't want are those against serious rivals, grudge
    matches or teams fighting for survival. 
    
    United must put Wimbledon (for whom every game is a grudge match), Leeds, 
    Southampton and Man City in this category, while Blackburn have Southampton 
    to worry about. 
    
    Given a choice, the games you would prefer are those against sides with 
    little to play for who often give a few young prospects a game at 
    this stage. But then such teams can turn you over because 
    they play a more carefree style !
    
    We both have to play Coventry and Ipswich at the end of the month who 
    should by that time be safe and Blackburn also have West Ham and QPR. 
    
    Another factor is that there's still time for injuries and suspensions.
    Blackburn have been badly hit throughout the season and seem to have 
    coped well with these things, they are currently the form side and looking 
    fairly fit. On the other hand United who have been relatively injury 
    free (except Sharpe) all season now appear to be looking vulnerable
    when the team is disrupted.  
    
    Although the form book can and does get turned over now and again my
    guess (hope) is Blackburn to win by 1 or 2 points but neither side is
    going to get maximum points from their remaining games.
    
    Either way its going to be bloody close, particularly if Blackburn can
    keep winning because United will have the extra pressure of needing to get
    something from the game in hand. 
    
    Its not over yet,         
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Hey Andy,
    
    	I found this in VTX Livewire News today.......maybe there's hope
    for Cunno yet.........
    
    +++++
    
        LATEST FROM THE LAB: AN ARTIFICIAL BRAIN
    
        American scientists have taken the first step towards growing a
        "test-tube brain" to provide the basis for a new generation of
        computers and a tool to enable researchers to understand brain
        disorders.  The original inspiration for the research came from an
        AT&T Bell Laboratories project in which rat neurones were grown using
        conventional chip fabrication technology.
    
        Daily Telegraph, London.  13th April 1994
    
    +++++
    
	8-)
    
    JBG

    JBG,
    
    given that this technology has only been used with Rats I think it would
    be a bit unfair on any innocent rat that might unwittingly find itself
    going around in wheel ranting about Aldo and Ronnie Whelan.
    
    It would however be easy spot as the only rat in the lab that never got
    anything right, and consistently kept going back to where the cheese
    used to be !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    >Notes 202.59 & 32.3905, Compare and contrast.
    
    He must have seen the light (smiley thing). Or, *maybe*, he's taking
    the piss and being devil's advocate (no smiley thing).
    
    Paul.
    

    COngrats to Blackburn Rovers on sneakily moving past the 300 note mark
    without anyone noticing. What's the chances of catching note 32 with
    only seven games and 3600 notes to go?...I wouldn't bet against it with
    that man Shearer in their team....
    
    Ray....
    ps...are B'burn live on Sky this weekend?....

    >>ps...are B'burn live on Sky this weekend?....


Nope ! Man. & Leeds United Sat & Sun respectively.

Peter.

    Ray,                                                                  
    
    I suspect this note will go into serious overdrive soon. Now that Cunno
    and Bolger have declared themselves to the cause Turner and Hayden won't 
    be far behind and even the ever reasonable Mr. Blong will be compelled to
    write a glowing tribute to the new League Champions :-).
    
    I'm hoping that my "it's all over now" note will be a 00 classic.
    
    The old tenuous link strategy is fine as it goes but nothing beats a
    good wind-up when it comes to clocking up replies !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Blackburn's remaining home games vs QPR and vs Ipswich are on Sky.     

    
    Andy,
    
    	you interested in cricket by any chance? I know Alex Stuart is a
    Chelsea fan but they at least play in blue and white and have beaten
    United twice already this season....
    
    JBG

    And my old man's from Blackpool, which, if pronounced with an ice cube
    in your mouth, might be confused with Blackburn...
    
    Hmm, I think we'll overtake 32 by the end of the afternoon at this
    rate.
    
    Dom 

    Re last 2:
    
    Mr Goode,
    
    Yes, i'm interested in Cricket, my club is called East Lancs, they are
    based in Blackburn and they play in the Lancashire League. I suspect
    they could probably beat the Old Trafford mob with a bit of Uncle Jacks 
    support too ! 
    
    Mr Turner,
    
    You could try putting your old man in your mouth and saying "ice
    cube", I'm sure that would be much more worthy of a note ;-)
    
    Its going to be hard work overtaking 32 at this rate,
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
     

    Re:        <<< Note 202.308 by WOTVAX::GREENJA "Andy Green" >>>
                    -< What have I done to deserve this ? >-
    
    
    Answers on a postcard please ;-)

    >                -< What have I done to deserve this ? >-
    
    You know what? I think we *will* be overtaking 32 before the day's
    out...
    
    Dom
    

    Will Digital last that long?...
    
    Q3 183 million loss, shares stopped trading at $24....
    
    thank God for football....
    
    Ray....

    
    
    Ray,
     
        what sort of business could we set up ?. I could be the Southern
    arm of it anyways...
    
    
    
     

I got this on a mailing list.....


Someone posted an article on a scottish football list that the England 
striker had been killed.  THIS IS JUST A RUMOUR - can anyone confirm or 
deny this?  It is either the sickest attempt at a practical joke I've 
ever seen on a list or one hell of a tragedy.  
Hoping it's not true,

    
    I have checked this out and it is not true.  
                                  
    Words fail me.
    
    Andy.

    
    
      Well, what the hell happened to Blackburn...
    
    

    Southampton 3
    Blackburn   1
    
    I'll leave the match report to Stephen, who was planning to go to the game.
    
    From the radio - it sounded like Southampton were hungrier in the first
    half and went in 2-0 up. Then Blackburn came back strongly and at 2-1 with
    the saints on the rack up the referee decided to make a name for
    himself by giving a dubious penalty that killed the game. I don't
    consider radio a reliable medium on which to judge a game so I have
    to write it off as another one of those days.
    
    I think its sufficient to say that I was not the happiest man on earth
    for about an hour on Saturday. 
    
    Then I settled down in front of the SKY to watch Wimbledon. This cheered 
    me up immensely, particularly when "the worlds greatest goalkeeper"
    contrived to give the goal away and later ensure that Bruce wasn't going
    to score the equaliser. United had something like 70% possession but
    Segers probably only had to make 3 saves, and biased I may be but
    United seemed to be totally lacking creativity. 
    
    So its still all to play for with the top two struggling for
    consistency at the moment.
    
    I suppose I have to trust that Kenny Dalglish, famous long distance
    runner that he is, knows that you don't hit the front until the very
    last minute ;-)
    
    Its not over yet ;-)
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
                                                 

    re. about lacking creativity...
    
    	It shows how important Mr. E. Cantona is to their play doesn't
    it... without him they are just an ordinary team.. :->
    
    Rick.

    Was there some clause in Shearers contract that said if Southamton were
    in the sh*t, and they were playing Blackburn, then the game must be
    thrown, even if the championship depended on it ????????????????
    
    
    Why couldn't you win ? 
                                                 
    
    
    ArrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    Rich.

    It might have done Spurs some good too.
    
    Rich.

    
                     	Southampton     3
    			Rovers          1
    
    
    My first visit to the Dell on Saturday on a sunny but windy day.
    
    The Rovers were forced to make a change with Colin Hendry suspended,
    and brought in Kevin Moran to replace him.  Also both Batty and Ripley
    were not 100% fit but had to play.
    
    The first half was dreadful from a Rovers point of view.  Southampton
    fully deserved to be 2-0 up and at times played some delightful
    football.  The Rovers looked tired and struggled to string two passes
    together.  It must be said that Moran was terrible, and I am sure that
    we witnessed his last game for the Rovers.  Both goals were down to his
    errors and first being a header and the second a nice chip over the
    committed Flowers.
    
    The second half was a different story, Kenny must have read the riot
    act at half time and straight from the restart the Rovers started
    passing the ball about and using Ripley and Wilcox on the wings.  The
    Rovers goal was a soft shot from Ripley amd it must be said a dreadful
    goalkeeping error from Bassett.  At this point I was convinced we would
    still win the game, Southampton were crumbling and the Rovers were
    getting stronger and stronger.  Shearer had a good chance which Bassett
    saved.
    
    Then the killer punch, the ref decided to award a penalty to
    Southampton for handball by Sherwood.  It was difficult to see from
    where I was but by the reaction of the Rovers players they felt that
    the wrong decision had been made.  As yet I havn't seen the TV pictures
    of the incident so I cannot really comment.  Le-tissier, who had a fine
    game, then beat Flowers to score the penalty and that was that.
    
    In the closing minutes, Shearer should have scored with an easy chance,
    but decided to knock it wide instead.
    
    Once the final whistle had gone, I was convinced that we had lost the
    championship and we trudged back to the pub to drown our sorrow in the
    weak, flat southern lager.  By 7pm our spirits have been lifted with
    the result from Selhurst Park and we are still in with a chance.
    
    One final point,  the 2500 Rovers fans were fantastic throughout the
    game but it was a shame that only 2 Rovers players had the thought to
    come and applaud the fans that had travelled a long way and spent alot
    of cash to see the game.  Well done  Tim Flowers and Graeme Le Saux.
    
    Will we win the league????
              
    
    		I havn't got a clue, both clubs are dropping points and
    		both have tricky games to come.
    
    
    Regards
    Stephen
    Kenny's Barmy Army
    
    
      
    
    

    
    I think that any team looking at Europe next year could do much worse
    than look at Richard Jobson of Oldham. Every time I've seen him on
    telly he's played well.
    
    And he's ugly too. All the good centre-halves are ugly. Adams, Bruce,
    Bould, Keown, Hendry etc etc.
    
    Tony
    
    

    
    
    Tony -  
    
      I play centre half and I resemble your comments.
    
    
    Gazzer

    Brian,
    
    I'm sure Shearer and Le T. are old mates, he was just wishing him luck
    and passing on the details of what a contract at Blackburn is worth !
    Let's not get confused between hostility and banter again ;-)
    
    As you say, lots of transfer rumour but Maybe David May is the carrot to 
    get over Kanchelskis to Blackburn ! As we are also in the frame for 
    Ferdinand, Sutton and Baresi I'm not sure who will be lining up for us
    next season ;-) Much will depend on if, and where, Paul Warhurst is going to
    fit.   
    
    Isn't it time you put your Long list of results/fixtures in 32. again.
    I have a suspicion that I haven't seen it since MANU's form has been,
    shall we say, less than impressive ?.
    
    Its not over yet and I'd agree with your next 2 draws prediction for
    MANU: First I fancy Paul Walsh to give Bruce and Pallister some grief and
    then I'm not sure Cantonas head can handle a return at Elland Road
    (visions of an over-hyped Gazza ending a wembley game on a stretcher). 
    
    Personally the way things are going for Blackburn at the moment I just 
    want to see us into Europe with 3 more points and then a shot at the 
    title would really make my year.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Re: .321 - Just to make the game interesting, Southampton played
    Sheffield United's manager - *Harry* Bassett in goal, and despite one 
    dreadful attempt to throw the game, Blackburn couldn't get enough 
    shots on target for Bassett to fluff. A disconsolate Bassett who has
    given up trying to encourage his own team, then popped off down the
    road to play for Man.Utd.... After Bassett's cameo performance, Alan
    Ball has decided to leave Dave Beasant tied and gagged,  as this will
    ensure that he won't let the ball through his legs against Spurs, and
    it's unlikely he will be needed for a more goalworthy attempt
    than a Rosenthal bobbler.
    
    Norman ;-)  
                            

    
    Re.324
    
    Terry Hurlock should have been a centre half.....8-)
    
    Davie

                  
    The game didn't even warrant an article in my morning paper but 
    Wimbledon did us a favour last night. 
    
    Arsenal can now only get 79 points max, Newcastle can only get 80 and
    as those two still have to play each other yet its impossible for them 
    both to pass us. (Even if Arsenal were to beat us on Goal Diff. we 
    could still get a UEFA place for 3rd if they beat Parma). 
    
    However if things work out really well Blackburn and Newcastle could be
    spreading the McEwans name around Europe next year with MANU and Arsenal
    winning a those cups and joining Aston Villa who are already there.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
     
    p.s. Worst case scenario for anybody North of Wembley would have to be 
    Blackburn and Newcastle missing out to Arsenal and Chelsea.  

    Andy,
    
    What was the score??????
    
    Stephen

    I'm writing this ere rather than in my usual Sheffield Wednesday
    (glory, glory, etc) spot cos its been dead there for a while. Does
    anyone know the ground for tonite's match between Holland and Ireland is? 
    And also whether John Sheridan or Alan Kelly are playing?
    
    Ta
    
    Simon

    Thanx. Tilburg is some place where Vasco da Gama-type people might go
    but for On-a-tight-budget-type people it's not an option. Spose I'll
    have to listen to Leeds beat Man Utd 2-1 this evening instead.
    
    Simon

    
    Simon,
    
    		you'll have a long wait 8-)
    
    JBG

    Er, just what the hell is going on ?
    
    Sheffield, Tilberg, Leeds ! At least two of these are in yorkshire and
    the other one sounds like a pi**-poor lager wherever it is.
    
    What kind of language is this to be bandied around in a Blackburn note?
    
    As we say in these parts, Bugger off ;-) 
    
    Cheers,
                           
    Andy 
    
    p.s. Its not over yet !
    

    
    Well, the final part of the McEwans Alliance is about to play its part
    (That is if Notts County still have McEwans Lager as the logo on their
    away kit).
    
    I've just booked my seat for next Wednesday's match at Upton Park where
    I shall of course be cheering for the boys from the Black[burn] stuff.
    
    Sadly my four fellow attendees may attempt to silence me since they are
    either West Ham or Man Utd fans or both. (To say nothing of the fact
    that I will be amidst the 'Ammers faithful).
    
    Full match report will be forthcoming, so don't bother to tune in to
    those red-spectacled men on Radio 5 Live.
    
    Rob

    
    Rob,
    
    Good to hear that you will be at Upton Park cheering on the Rovers next
    Wednesday.
    
    Unfortunatley, I can't make this one but I will be there in spirit.
    
    With Utd playing Leeds the same night, it will be a very important
    night for the premiership contenders and I think whoever comes out on
    top on Wednesday night will win the league.
    
    
    Keep singing.
    
    
    Regards
    Stephen
    Kenny's Barmy Army
                 

    
    Re: .338
    
    Nice one Rob, if only I could find a reason to be @HHL I'd be getting
    along there myself ;-).
    
    cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    

    Blackburn 1
    Q.P.R.    1
    
    Not a very satisfying result from not a very satisfying performance.
    
    I felt a nervous Blackburn didn't take the chances that came their way
    but generally allowed a carefree QPR team to play like the home team.
    
    May hit the bar early on and the Q.P.R. keeper went on to have a very
    good game, but generally Rangers looked the more comfortable and I made
    Colin Hendry my Man of the Match !
    
    Shearer scored from a perfect 25 yd free kick pretty much against the
    run of play but then Rovers really didn't turn the power on the way
    they were doing just a couple of weeks ago.
    
    Warhurst replaced Newell but considering he is a totally different
    style of player and still a yd short of pace Blackburn failed to adjust
    accordingly.
    
    Sherwood appeared to loose concentration after Ferdinand was
    stretchered off after a very nasty leg injury and had his worst game of
    the season. Basically he allowed Wilkins far too much time in midfield.
    
    Flowers had a lot of crosses but hardly a shot to save but was
    eventually beaten on 80 mins when a crappy free kick pinballed through
    the box and was slotted home.
    
    Blackburn finally woke up and the last 10 minutes of power play almost 
    saw a winner that was cleared off the line but it would have been 
    unfair on Q.P.R. had it gone in.
      
    No doubt this note will see the traditional "its all over now" from 
    certain quarters, and with United now needing only 7 points from their
    last 12 this wednesday is looking like a very big night indeed.
    
    Still, its not over yet ;-)
                            
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  

    Andy,    what's the news on Ferdinand, by the way. It looked extremely
    serious to me....
    
    worried of Ayr....

    Dear Worried,
    
    SKY reported on Saturday evening that Ferdinand only suffered bruising 
    to his knee, not nearly as serious as first feared. They didn't mention
    how long he is expected to be out (if at all).
    
    Valium. 

    
    Dear Eddy Valium,
    
    	If SKY reported that Ferdinand had a bruised knee on Saturday, then
    how come he looked ok playing against QPR on Sunday....until that nasty
    man from Blackburn knobbled him????
    
    	Keep taking the tablets! 8-)
    
    JBG

    SKY - First with the news. as always ;-)))))

    
    	Andy, did all the Blackburn midweek international withdrawals
    	recover from their injuries as well as our lot did? ;-)
    
    	Nice result by the way. Gives us some breathing space against
    	Leeds on Wednesday.
    
    	Who do 'the panel' think will bottle it from here then?

    	Andy.

    
    Personally, I thought it was an outragous tackle and warranted at least
    a booking. Mind you Sherwood and Ripley both look as if they should
    have played in the game at Scunthorpe yesterday... 
    
    Overall a very dissapointing game with Blackburn to be quite hoonest
    looking very average side in did....
    
    Neil...
    
     

    -1
    
>    Overall a very dissapointing game with Blackburn to be quite hoonest
>    looking very average side in did....
    
    Really ?

    
    
    re:.348
     
    Are you taking the P**s...
    
    Neil...

  Neil how come your attitude to football is so negative????? Your new trend is
 running down international teams....  Like if can't see anything positive in 
the game then how about watching wet paint dry!!!!! and start at your own
doorstep if you want to start running down league teams and national teams....

                                                                  -dave-

re last... good one Jerry.......

    Maybe he should start signing his name.........
    
        C
        O
    C O S S E Y
        S
        E
        Y

    
    Re:350
    
    Dave, What are you on about my...My comments about the game yesterday
    might be negative, but as a neutral supporter I found the game yesterday
    boring, whats wrong with that ?. Blackburn are 2nd in the table and
    quite frankly didn't look in that class, apart from Shearer who is a
    World class Striker. Sherwoods tackle on Ferdinand ok might not have
    ment to be malicious but it was over the top....And both Sherwood and
    Ripley look like women...Observations.....I injoy ripping teams apart.
    It's  better than a lot of the drival thats written... 
     
    
    Neil.. 

    
    All they have found out about Ferdinand so far is that there isn't a
    fracture. The severe bruising has meant that they haven't been able to
    check for ligament damage yet. It looked an awful tackle and I'll be
    surprised if he hasn't suffered cruciate damage. If he has, you talking
    12 months out ala Gascoigne, Brightwell, Absolom, Shearer etc, all the
    stars!!
    
    Apparently they are going to do an Arthur Oscopy later this week.
    
    Tony
    
      

    
    
    
      ref 202.347..
    
                   But even the Scunthorpe Utd players didn't play in the
                  game at Scunthorpe...they were down at Wycombe.Any anyway
                  stop pulling Scunny down,or myself and a Mr Cronin will
                  be round with a long stick and a couple of bricks!!
    
                                        A Loyal Scunny fan
    

    re: a long stick and a couple of bricks
    
    Given that Mr Cossey has declared that Sherwood and Ripley are his
    idea of women I suspect that he already has such equipment !
    
    Yours helpfully,
    
    Andy 

    
    Congratulations to Manchester United on finally winning something, their 
    points this weekend have ensured a place in Europe next season (and 
    the treble is still on ;-)).
    
    Assuming that Newcastle can win 3 out of 3 then we still need one more 
    point from nine.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

    re.354
    
    the only Scunny fan I ever knew wore a 'snake' belt (remember them?), I
    wonder if all Scunny fans have the same equipment?
    
    RSVP.
    Al.

    Not only have I got a snake belt, I've also got a friend who supports
    Scunny (Nigel Salmon).
    
    Scunny - the second footballing capital of Europe beside Rotherham (of
    Nintendo fame) - has thrown up such giants as Ray Clements and Kevin Keegan
    
    Scunny is always sunny and worth a note by itself. I'll just say 
    'Blackburn' so I don't get told off by AG for not being appropriate.
    
    Simon
     

    Re: -1
    
>    Scunny - the second footballing capital of Europe beside Rotherham (of
>    Nintendo fame) - has thrown up such giants as Ray Clements and Kevin Keegan
                          ^^^^^^^^^
    
    How appropriate ;-)

    Simon,
    
    look, note 371., just for you and your mate with the snake belt !
    
    Yours helpfully,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Do not confuse Ray Clemence, that icon of goalkeeping history, with
    Ray Clements, the Fruit and Veg. merchant on Blackburn market - it was
    a tenuous link that I found great difficulty in allowing. :-)
     

    It appears that some of Ipswich's rivals in the relegation battle have
    objected to Blackburn v Ipswich being played on the last Sunday.
    
    Its the nobody should have the advantage of knowing what they have to do 
    argument.
    
    Maybe they should play all the matches on the Sunday ! ? ;-) 
    
    But, the telly boys are not really interested in relegation.
    
    But, it might not be an issue by next week.
    
    But, the police insist that a decision is made today.
    
    Oh bugger, who runs football anyway ? 
    
    Confused and p****d off,
    
    Blackburn
    
    

    Andy,
    
    Any news on the Ipswich game yet.  I heard yesterday that all the final
    games would now be played on Saturday - can't imagine SKY being to
    happy about this.
    
    Personally, I hope we do play on Saturday,  Sunday KO's at 4pm are the
    pits.
    
    Just imagine, Saturday afternoon celebating a wonderful season,
    whatever happens, and then straight to the pub to continue the
    celebrations.
    
    Stephen
    

    
    And that decision will probably be "oh, err, um, lets wait until next
    Tuesday".
    
    Who's running this bloody league ? 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Well its not the FA... thats for sure! :->
    
    Rick

    
    Thankfully! 8-)

    
    West Ham United  1
    Blackburn Rovers 2
    
    I'm smiling now.
    
    Blackburn Rovers have achieved what they set out to do this season, win 
    a place in Europe.
    
    Kenny had to rely on another injury hit squad (with Gallacher, Warhurst,
    Newell and Batty all unavailable) but the blues went out and did the
    business.  I saw the highlights on T.V. but I wouldn't mind reading a
    match report from an attendee.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Leeds couldn't take anything from MANU so it looks like the long
    wind-up may be drawing to a close but what the hell, its still not over 
    yet !                         

    Andy,
    
    I'll try and find time later to put in a full report, though today's a
    busy one.
    
    In brief, West Ham had most of the possession, Blackburn the chances.
    
    Shame about the score from Elland Road.
    
    Rob

    
    
    If Utd win both the league and FA Cup who do they play in the charity
    shield in August.
    
    Is it the premiership runners-up or the losing FA cup finalist (Rovers
    or Chelsea).
    
    regards
    Stephen

    
    United are perfectly capable of playing with themselves !

    
    West Ham 1 - Blackburn 2
    
    <Insert Gary Waite-type waffle about pre-match food & drink>
    
    Arrived in my seat in row Y of the new Bobby More (sic*) stand in
    perfect time - 2 mins before kick-off - along with my four comrades: A
    West Ham fan, A Man. Utd fan (amazingly born within 15 miles of Old
    Trafford), A West Ham/Man.Utd/Gillingham fan (sad case), and a lapsed
    Spurs fan. I was already outnumbered in my [silent] support for Rovers,
    but was at least at the right end of the ground. Couldn't see into the
    lower tier to guestimate the scale of travelling support, but the home
    faithful were not impressed, viz. "Buy some supporters, you need to buy
    some supporters..." and "Come in a taxi, you must've come in a
    taxi....". Nothing like a bit of East-End wit, eh?
    
    Now onto the game; couldn't find the opera glasses and the old eyesight
    is beginning to fail in my old age, but at least the view is
    uninterrupted by roof supports (West stand) or fencing (old South
    Bank). In fact it is quite an impressive stand, though I would question
    how long it takes to empty the upper tier in an emergency; the exits
    seem remarkably narrow.
    
    A fairly uneventful opening few minutes until a swift move down the
    left, a curling cross, and a fine glancing header 1-0 to Rovers. Who
    was it - Shearer?, Ripley?, Hendry ?, No Henning Berg !! Damn, why had
    nobody told me he was 66-1 to score the first goal? I always did like a
    bet on the outsider.
    
    After that, Blackburn relaxed, and both teams played an attractive passing
    game in the middle of the park. Typical West Ham, pretty, pretty until
    they get within sight of goal then "Oh God, what do we do now?".
    However, 17 minutes gone and a run into the box by the Hammers, Hendry
    tumbles over, ball strikes arm, Home Crowd roar, the referee is
    somewhat unimpressed though, and three minutes later shows that he is
    also unimpressive when a scramble in the Blackburn area results in Berg
    or May I think passing back to Flowers. Play-on says the man in Black
    (Oops, sorry, Green).
    
    The rest of the half reverts to the familiar pattern, football that is
    pleasing on the eye, without any serious threat to either goal, and no
    one individual catching the eye.
    
    Into the second half, and hearing on the radio that Kan the Man has
    scored for the Munichs my enthusiasm and expectation of seeing
    Blackburn overhaul United begins to wane. However, the game comes back
    to life when Martin Allen's free-kick takes a wicked deflection off the
    wall to scream past Flowers. (In fact at the time, I couldn't detect a
    change in the flight of the shot and I was mystified how the ball had
    gone straight in with that pretender to the England No. 1 shirt doing a
    fine impression of a Chinese Terracotta Warrior.)
    
    Blackburn woke up again, and immediately a penetrative run resulted in
    Atkins firing against the post, with Wilcox forcing Ludo into a good
    save from the ensuing corner.
    
    Another fine save from the [strangely unflapping] Czech denied
    Blackburn again before Shearer's one piece of magic turned the game.
    Collecting a clearance 15 yards inside his own half, Big Al controlled
    the ball and turned in one movement before laying off a fine 40 yard
    ball into the path of Pearce who placed the ball wide of Miklosko to
    restore the lead.
    
    And that, as they say, was that, save for the referee raising the hopes
    of the Upton Park faithful when he appeared to be pointing to the
    penalty spot after a clumsy challenge by Hendry. Apparently, it was a
    signal for "play-on" however.
    
    A reasonable entertaining game, with of course the right result; it's
    just a shame that the Elland Road match didn't finish with the right
    outcome.
    
    Overall, Blackburn seemed to be happy to do just enough to win. No-one
    shone particularly, and they conceded a lot of midfield possession.
    Perhaps they were just missing Batty's combativeness? The one person I
    would single out is Hendry; I had somehow got the impression that he
    was a cultured and solid cetre-half. On the evidence of this, he is a
    donkey who just hoofs it as far as he can (including over the not
    insubstantial East stand).
    
    I'm afraid to say it is over now. But well done on getting into Europe.
    
    Rob
    
    P.S. All cliches with kind permission of Mr. B. Long.
    
    P.P.S. I'm very concerned that I'm getting a bit too mellow in my old
    age. I've just remembered that I promised myself I'd never shout for
    Blackburn after Stuart Metcalf had got Brian Stubbs sent off during my
    only visit to Ewood Park some twenty one years and one month ago, denting
    The 'Pies promotion hopes. We got our own back though, finishing two points
    ahead of Rovers and Runners-Up to Bolton, to head back to Division two
    and the glory days.
    
    Footnote.
    
    * In advertising the opening of the Bobby Moore stand earlier in the
    season, the West Ham programme twice referred to their erstwhile legend
    as Bobby More. Isn't that sacrilege or something ? Or perhaps just an
    indication of the saddening decline of education standards under this
    oppressive Tory regime?
                      

    Dear sad old Salesman,
    
    thanks for the report. Its fair to say the blues haven't actually
    played well since they beat MANU and Everton at Easter. 
                                                     
    If it makes you feel any better I can give you an update on Stuart 
    Metcalf:
    
    SM lives about half a mile from me and now spends his time breeding
    Afghan hounds for showing. Not long ago said hounds jumped the fence
    and went to frolic with neighbouring sheep. Neighbouring farmer, not at
    all impressed, takes up 12-bore and dispatches about 3 hounds before Mrs
    Metcalf intervenes to take issue with agricultural gent. 
    
    So, if you want a real Afghan coat, (a fab item in Stuarts playing days!),
    you know who to ring :-)  
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Tonight's result
    
            Coventry City 2 - 1 Blackburn Rovers
    
         Man.Utd do it again.
    
    

    
    
    
    
    
    				Its all over now!
    
    
    
    8-|
    
    JBG

    
    Andy,
    
    	I've got some very bad news for you............
    
    	Jerry turned up just now smiling from ear to ear and shouting
    "Champions". When I pointed out that HIS team lost last night he
    claimed that he had from the beginning been a United supporter. I
    can't believe that he's defected but ots true,...he's taken his Alan
    Shearer foto down and replaced it with one of some French guy in red &
    black. What a turncoat.  8-)
    
    JBG

    Jon,
    
    As you well know I only took down my Alan Shearer photo cos it was worn
    out. Six months of throwing darts at it seems to have caused it to fade
    somewhat ;-)
    
    Andy,
    
    I'm sorry to say that I was smiling, although I would never be so crude
    as to shout "Champions" in the office. Besides, the 6x4 banner said it
    all ;-)  Let's get out there and clean up in Europe next year !!!
    
    Jerry.
    

    JBG,                                      
    
    re: .375, I wish I'd said that ! To have the final note taken from me
    at the end of the season, I'm gutted ;-(
    
    re: .376 Don't be surprised that Jerry has dragged his United shirt 
    out of the cupboard again, his loyalties have always been somewhat suspect.
    
    Coventry 2
    Blackburn 1
    
    A Blackburn side, weakened by injuries to 5 players, went out and tried
    but always looked second best to a Coventry team who put up one of
    their more spirited performances of the season.
    
    Tactically shot to hell there was no flowing football, no dominance in
    midfield, no attacking down the wings. The boys gave everything but
    without Newell and Batty in particular, both of whom can hold the ball
    and make the play, too much was expected of Sherwood who was not
    adequately supported by Atkins and Wright.
    
    Both goals from Coventry have to go down to shaky defending and even 
    Graham Le Saux's 30 yd equaliser should have been saved by big Oggy who
    had a good game for the rest of the night.
    
    So the season almost over and the championship race ends with a bit of an
    anti-climax, congratulations to Man Utd, and bollocks to the rest of
    the Premiership (Newcastle excepted), who give up too easy ! 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. The Blackburn Fans couldn't have done more than they did last
    night, I suspect it'll be a well-deserved party at Ewood at the weekend.

    
    Re.  -< I'm no traitor, I just adjust my loyalties to suit occasions ! >-
    
    Typical Irish eh Andy?? 8-)
                             ^
    JBG                      |
                             |
    Look guys, see, I was only joking
    
    8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
    

    You Welsh people are all the same. You just hate everyone else, and set
    out to make life miserable for anyone unfortunate enough to visit your
    little suburb of England.
    
    I once spent twenty minutes in Wales, during which time I was mugged,
    six times, beaten up twice, my car was stolen and burnt out, and then
    someone stole the wreck so that I couldn't prove it had been stolen, on
    the way to the police station I was bitten by three rabid dogs, and
    when I reached the Police station they arrested me for Disorderly
    behaviour saying that I had provoked the dogs by not having a Welsh
    accent when I said "Nice Doggies". When I told them about my car being
    stolen, they asked me for the papers, I said they were in the car, and
    they said "Likely story, you probably nicked it" and charged me with
    car-theft as well. I finally convinced them that it was my car, and
    started to list the contents for their report. They then charged me
    with Smuggling because I had two litres of Jameson and 300 cigarettes
    from the Duty Free. The only thing that got me out of there alive was
    the fact that I had a picture of Mark Hughes in my wallet and convinced
    them that he was my twin brother. Just as well all Welsh people are
    stupid, eh ?
    
    I'll never forget it, it was the worst twenty minutes of my life !
    
    Jerry.
    
    
    ;;;;;;;;;------------))))))))))))))^(((((((((((((--------------;;;;;;;;;;;

    
    Jerry,
    
    	experiences like your's are not uncommon. I seem to remeber
    that another of our fellow noters was given similar treatment . I do find
    it hard to believe, however, that you make no mention of being beaten
    unconcious by the policeman or of being molested by a flock of sheep.
    8-)
    
    JBG

    Jon,
    
    I was spared the police battery and being molested by the sheep, simply
    because most of the police officers were already "entertaining" the
    sheep. The police officer who was dealing with me, didn't really
    have the heart to beat me up, cos his shift was due to finish soon, so
    he was saving himself for the sheep ;;-))
    
    Jerry.
    
    P.S. Mr Livingstone, please note the Smileys. This is light-hearted
    banter between friends. 
    
    Well, colleagues any road.
    
    Well, OK then, we sit near each other !;-)

Jerry,

	well I can't be in any doubt now can I. 

	BOLGER MUST BE A UNITED FAN. 

	Talk about "sing when you're winning", last night we gave you the
	championship and this morning you are all over this notes file like 
	a bad rash (equally red and unpleasant). What are you playing at man, 
	upsetting johnny foriegner, irrelevant noting all over the place, 
	insulting your workmates ! I've not seen such a display of mental 
	instability since the last time a large scandanavian goalkeeper (Mr.
	foot-up (sp.?) himself) berated his defence for their part in 
	persuading him to sign a Gloves deal with Teflon. 

	You seem determined to behave with all the diginity (a euphamism 
	for arrogance, as the A-word is reserved for Peter Hayden) and 
	ill-discipline that MANU have displayed all season :-)

	It hurts me to say it but when Liverpool were winning all and sundry 
	I admired the fact that they behaved as gentlemen, I expect 
	Blackburn to do the same as we trounce United repeatedly 
	throughout the next decade ! 

	Your Blackburn Supporters Club Membership is hereby cancelled, I 
	expect you to return the complimentary Alan Shearer poster, and the
	Tim Sherwood jockstrap (XS-size) you ordered, immediately.

	Yours in Sport,

Andy ;-)

p.s. Is there any chance that I will be travelling anywhere near your part 
of the world on the UEFA cup trail next season, I need to verify my image 
of you and JBG. Currently I picture you as "Beavis and Butt-head" but only 
because all MANU fans look alike !

    	Andy, you've got me completely wrong boy. I'm no MU fan. Look in
    note 40 and you'll see where my loyalties lie. Its true that I've also
    been seen in 32 complimenting Man U but I also have appearences in 52
    and 202, not to mention some recent entries in 44, and of course 77, my
    home team. I like good open hard but clean football & as MU have
    provided the most of that this year, I think they deservedly won the
    championship. It's great, however, that Blackburn are in Europe next
    year. All I'd like now is to see Arsenal win tomorrow and then have
    UEFA award us with an extra place in Europe to give us Villa, Blackburn
    and Newcastle in the UEFA Cup.
    
    	If any games do bring you to Switzerland, maybe Jerry & I could get
    along (this would probably depend on how much Boddington's you promised
    to bring 8-).
    
    JBG

    
    JBG,
    
    sorry about that, there I go jumping to conclusions, just because you
    live thousands of miles away and associate with JB I put two and two
    together and gave United the benefit of the doubt - maybe I should be a
    ref ;-).
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Andy,
    	I have to make this reply in case of any future litigations.....
    
    I, Jon B Goode, am not, and never have been an associate of Mr Jerry
    Bolger.
    
    JBG
    
    Note, no smileys!

    JBG,
    
    If thats true then who are the John and Jerry playing with each
    other in note 368. 
    
    Looks like Association Football to me,
    
    regards,
    
    Sherlock

    Thank you Jon,
    
    I'm very glad that you clarified that point and saved me the bother.
    
    Andy,
    
    I don't drink Boddington's but I like the advert. If you bring me one
    of those "By 'eck you smell good tonight" T-shirts, I won't tell Jon
    when you're coming. If you tell him when you'll be here, he'll just
    arrange to be doing some heavy work on the cellar, and expect you to
    help out !!!  Don't say I didn't warn you !!!
    
    
    Jerry.
    
    
    P.S. I was going to return the Jock-Strap anyway - It was too big !

    Jerry,
    
    Tim will be pleased, he looked woefully short of support in the
    middle last night. 
    
    Thanks for the warning about the cellar but ... what the hell are you
    talking about ?
    
    cheers,
    
    Andy

    Andy,
    
    Forget I mentioned the cellar, just bring some old clothes if you come
    to visit. You can wrap the Guinness in the old clothes when you smuggle
    it in !
    
    Re: "Are there any Swiss Football Teams ?"
    
    Haven't you been paying attention to our note detailing our Thursday
    lunchtime exploits ? ;-)
    
    OK seriously, Celtic played Bern Young Boys this season in European
    competition. (No Mr. Livingstone, I'm not implying any paedophilic
    impropriety (sp? sp?) on Celtic's part.)  In fact, Bern was awash with
    Celtic supporters who were, for the most part, a lot of fun.  The day
    after, I asked my (Swiss) landlord where his lovely Heineken Clock was.
    He answered "Scotland". He was still quite happy though, since your
    average Scotsman drinks about as much in one night as your average
    Swiss person drinks in three months !!!
    
    So who knows .....
    
    Jerry.

                           
    Blackburn are sending 6 or 7 of the first team to Dublin, I think next
    Wednesday, to play in some kind of a testimonial for Kevin Moran. 
    
    I'll look for more details if anybody over there is interested ?
    
    It looks like he is going to get another free transfer this
    summer, thanks Kev you've done a good job for us these last few years.
     
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Given that he's 38 I suppose retiring after the World Cup would 
    be a pretty classy thing to do, maybe Ronnie Whelan and TGA might 
    be thinking something similar !  
    

    I have a ticket for the game....an Ireland XI will play an English
    League XI which includes Shearer, Strachan, Cole, Beardsley, and
    Flowers. Sounds good to me...
    
    Declan

    
    Is it the Ireland XI (world cup probables) or an Ireland XI (Cunno's
    has-been heroes) ?.
    
    Is it fair to have Peter Beardsley providing the service for Shearer 
    and Cole against Moran and McGrath,  I suspect there might just be 
    some weary old irish legs after 90 minutes !
    
    Have fun Declan, let us know the gory details.
    
    Cheers,
                    
    Andy

It is an Ireland XI with Jack Charlton the manager.

The English league XI to be managed by Kenny Daglish

El Tel is coming over to view the partnership of Cole and Shearer.

Match date Wednesday 15th of May.

Ireland then have a further three warm up games before the world cup against 

West Germany(a), Bolivia(h) and the Czech Republic(h). 

Hopefully Ronnie Whelan won't be playing (as he is past it) but Aldridge needs 

a few warm up games before the states.


Regards

G S from Dublin

  Has anyone out there any exact stats on the German game, like when and 
where????? I may even go to it..... or at least organise a session.... I believe
we have a very good record against Germany???? Cunno get your stats out!!!!

                                                                  -dave-

    
    re: .399
    
    Blackburn vs Germany ?
    
    This getting into Europe is going to be tougher than I thought ;-).
    

    
    Andy,
    
    	why didn't you tell us that Blackburn have lined up a friendly
    against the World Champions Germany??? 8-)
    
    JBG

    
    Collision!!!!

    JBG,
    
    I've been working with Uncle Jack on arranging this summers pre-season
    game against Switzerland ! UEFA took us completely by surprise by
    making this announcement.
            
    Cheers,
    
    Andy ;-) 

    
    Blast....
    
    how'm I gonna get help with my cellar???? 8-)
    
    JBG

 Re Last... Iam sure Kenny wouldn't mind, and there was I thin kin I was in the
friendly topic... well at least the answers were friendly... So does anyone out
yonder have any info regarding the Eire....German ... friendly?????

                                                     have a good weekend....

P.s Jerry, JBG, is Toni Roam-an-ger a bike hero down in the Swiss, something
    like Kelly or Roche in Ireland???? Iam a bikin fan as well........


                                                                 -dave-

                                                 
    Last game of the season tomorrow and it'll be nice to be there on a
    Saturday afternoon again now theres no SKY interest. 
    
    It will be interesting to see who Kenny plays with so many injury
    doubts but Newell has just had a minor knee op so he'll not be back. 
    Personally I'd still like to see Lee Makel get another chance.
    
    Hummm, Ipswich, we certainly don't owe them any favours but they might
    just be a bit hungrier than us. I would also expect them to bring a few
    supporters for potentially their last game in the Premiership so there
    could still be a real buzz in the ground even though we don't have the
    same interest in the result.
    
    Personally I would be happy to let Ipswich win if I could be certain
    that Sheffield United would go down but I suspect that Oldham and
    Everton (can't remember them ever being out of the top flight) are
    doomed.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. JBG,
    
    you do seem preoccupied with this cellar of yours, are you perhaps 
    related to Fred West the Gloucester builder ?

    Dave,
    
    sorry, I'm not ignoring you on purpose, and this usually is a very
    friendly note, but I know nothing about any Ireland Germany game ! 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. All I know about cycling is that the Tour went past my sisters 
    place in France last year :-) 
    

    Andy,
    
    Fred West would never have gotten away with it here in Switzerland.
    Before you can do any building or digging you need to get permission
    from the local Planning Commission. I'm not sure that they would grant
    permission to extend the cellar in order to accomodate more bodies.
    
    Having said that, I'll keep an eye out for fresh earth next time I'm
    over at Jon's ;-)
    
    Jerry.

    Dave,
    
    I'm also not ignoring you. I heard some mention of the Ireland - 
    Germany game, but I don't remember any details. Perhaps Mr. Hayden or
    some of our other noters based in Ireland could shed some light ?
    
    Re: Toni Romminger (Sp?), I remember seeing his photo splashed across
    some of the Swiss papers when he won something or other last year. I
    can't really say if he has reached hero status, but it would take a lot
    to achieve the kind of hero-status that Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche
    have in Ireland. They even renamed the town square in Carrick-On-Suir 
    to honour Sean Kelly !!!
    
    Jerry.

    
    ......as you well know Jerry, there are no bodies in my cellar....loads
    of heads though.....if you count those in my "draught" beer collection!
    I did a quick stock-take last night and it appears that I have 24 small
    cans of Genius + a full pack of 8 large cans! If you're really nice to
    me I'm sure we could come to some arrangement. The pack of large cans
    is the last of those that I bought on the ferry coming back last
    summer. I got a few wierd looks stumbling back to my car with 4 of
    those packs! Still, it was worth it!
     

    
    Jerry,
    
    	keep it up and there's a good chance the cans will be empty by the
    time you get to see them!
    
    JBG

>>>>So does anyone out yonder have any info regarding the Eire....German ... 
>>>>friendly?????
    
    Dave, don't quote me on this but I heard a date of 20 May
    mentioned....Germany will be the home team....
    
    Sorry, Andy....this has nothing to do with Blackburn....I'll sneak back
    to my foxhole in note 58....
    
    Ray....

    Ray,                                              
    
    no apology needed, I can't complain because I encouraged that Germany 
    nonsense. 
    
    I suppose I only let Jon and Jerry ramble on because I wouldn't ever
    stop anybody talking about "beer", a subject I take as seriously as 
    the Rovers.
    
    And now its time for my Friday Night Big Match Live -
    
    Boddingtons of Manchester vs Thwaites of Blackburn
    
    CHEERS !,
    
    Andy

    Blackburn 0
    Ipswich   0
    
    I had more fun watching the 1500 Ipswich fans going through emotional 
    torment as latest scores came through than I did watching the on field
    events. A few chances at each end but basically yet another weakened 
    Blackburn side were slightly better than an Ipswich side fighting for 
    survival. 
    
    Painfully crap referee who seemed determined to ignore every late high
    tackle that Ipswich could muster, the only booking of the day going to
    Graeme Le Saux for imploring the man in black to "get a ****ing grip !".
    
    Referees day summed up when a blatant penalty handball,(verified by a
    post match confession by the defender concerned), was seen by 
    everyone but four people in the ground (3 officials and my old dad). 
    
    David Batty rightfully presented as Blackburn Player of the Year by
    Jack Walker who proved himself the master of understatement in
    proclaiming that he "had done his bit !". 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

  Opps... Andy and the lads in die Suisse I now know the game is been played in
Hanover...... No date as of yet the 20th is a friday which means I'll have to
drink even more beer on that night.... Ah well Iam sure I'll survive especially
after we beat die Deutschen and become overnight favourites to take that golden
cup over in Yankee land....


                             sorry again for poking my head in here......

                                                              -dave-

P.s andy congrats to your boys and I hope they go well in Europe....

    Why are Blackburn interested in Ferdinand? I can't see Shearer and
    Ferdinand working well together...and with Gallacher, Newell and
    Warhurst, Blackburn seem over qualified upfront.  Smacks of the old
    Liverpool tradition of buying everyone in sight.
    
    And if the reported fee is 4.75m then Kenny is again guilty of
    inflating transfer fees to ridiculous levels.

    
    Maybe Shearer is on his way to Sampdoria.....
    
    Neil....

    Simon,
    
    good to see you back noting, I trust your absence was down to spending 
    a long time on the toilet while Rovers were catching MANU. :-) Only joking
    pal, please don't take offence.
    
    Re: Ferdinand, I'm having this discussion with Ray in the QPR note 58. but
    you should ask Kenny or Trevor Francis what its like to have injury
    problems. 4 strikers is not really a luxury, 2 on the pitch, 1 on the 
    bench and only 1 injured would have been a real luxury for us this year.
    
    As United have Hughes, Cantona, McClair and Dublin you'll not be
    interested in another forward then ?
    
    And as for inflating the market, that just smacks of sour grapes because
    United don't control things any longer. 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy :-)

    Shearer is 23 and will be at Rovers next season.
    
    Maybe Ferdinand knows that Venables England European Championship team is
    gathering at Ewood !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Sutton and Chase must be laughing about the kind of money that
    will be coming their way, United shareholders are already scrambling
    for the Andrex ! 

Congratulations to Blackburn. I take back every disparaging comment I have ever
made about King Kenny and his blue-and-white folk heroes. 8-)

Mike

I have a cunning plan M'lord.

We buy all the strikers in England and then there'll be nobody left to score
against us. We'll win the league and then all we'll have to do is buy all of the
strikers in Europe and world domination will soon be ours...

Yes Kenny, Now back into that nice huggie jacket like a good lad. 

It'll never work anyway, Cos as we all know ,all the United players can score !!!

Regards,

Peter.

P.S 

Good to see that some clubs are seriously trying to take the racism out of
football.
Make him go on a tour of South Africa with the Rugby team is what I say.

    hear hear, congrats to Blackburn for this action. Did the media report
    this nationally? I think it should be reported far and wide....
    
    Ray....

    Indeed, credit where credit is due. There's no place for racism in
    sport.
    
    Of course, the next logical step is for the rest of the Premiership
    clubs to follow this example by banning all Blackburn supporters for
    life. This should cut down on some of the ugly chants from Kenny's
    Barmy Army (e.g. "Come on ye boys in Blue"). 
    
    ;-))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
    
    
    Jerry.
    

    >>We buy all the strikers in England and then there'll be nobody left to
    >>score against us.
    
    
    	Can you buy Brian Deane from us please.....PLEASE!!! :->
    
    
    	Rick.

    
    RE. 427
    
    I think you must had mis-understand.
    
    We are only interested in strikers, not Donkeys.
    
    Regards
    Stephen
    

    Come on... we gave you David Batty.. at least you can do us a favour in
    return! :->
    
    Rick

    
    	I have a cunninger (had to be careful there...) plan! Why not
    simply buy all the goal keepers. They generally cost lest, and there
    are considerably less of them. Then you'll not only win, you'll win by
    scoring lots of goals against teams wondering why their goalie hasn't
    turned up......to it'll be more entertaining! 8-)
    
    JBG

    >	I have a cunninger (had to be careful there...) plan! Why not
    >simply buy all the goal keepers. They generally cost lest, and there
    
    Chris Woods is up for grabs (which is more than he ever did at any
    corner or cross). To Blackburn a knock-down price of 2m.
    
    Paul
    

    What about John Lukic... you'll definately get knocked out of Europe
    with him in ya team! :->
    
    Rick

why not buy all the referees. much cheaper, and proven to work.

    That would certainly confuse the poor buggers when it came to Blackburn
    v Manu (see note 32.4079 for details).
    
    Paul.
     

    
    	ooooooohh Paul.....
    
    	you're soooooo bitter! Try to relax a little more.
    
    	now repeat after me: "Alex Ferguson is really a very very nice man"
    
    	Andy 8-)

Last season was Blackburns first back in the top flight after 30 years 
in the wilderness, we changed from 4-3-3 to playing 2 strikers and 2 wingers, 
took a lot of teams by surprise and finished a creditable fourth. 

This season I expected a top 10 finish and a consolidating season waiting 
for the right players to turn up for a challenge in 94-95. 

As it happened, two of the right players turned up early on and Rovers chased
MANU to the last week of the season. Blackburn finished a creditable second 
with a record that would have taken the title in many previous seasons and 
rightly deserved the place in next year's UEFA Cup. 

There have been many good performances over the season with the home 
games against Norwich, Leeds and MANU being the truly memorable ones. 

But the greatest part of all is the potential and the confidence that 
now exists at the club. This is best illustrated by the way in which 
our existing players have developed and the speed with which 
new signings have slotted in and are all playing as well, if not better, than 
ever.

By players developing I mean the England acknowledgement, in whatever form, for 
Le Saux, Wilcox & Sherwood and the improvement of young David May. Colin 
Hendry establishing himself as Scotlands 1st choice centre half and Kevin 
Gallachers international recognition. Henning Berg, after a slow start, has 
become one of the best right backs in the League. 

Even young players like Andy Morrison and Ian Pearce who have had to step in to 
the first team in some crucial games have immediately played with confidence.

By new signings I mean David Batty, Blackburns Player of the Year, the 
over-priced thug from Leeds who most observers now acknowledged as a great 
midfield player and Tim Flowers, whoose presence alone has had a noticable 
effect on the confidence of the defence. Paul Warhurst again blighted by injury 
has yet to be judged.

I suppose I have to mention Shearer because he's had another exceptional 
season after returning from serious injury. His goal tally at Blackburn is 
now 53 goals in 64 games and this has been during a season of frequently 
changing, if any, striking partners. Note that his record at Southampton 
was I think only 24 in over 100 games !

There have been problems this season, mainly around injuries, which shows 
the squad still needs strenghtening but, really things are looking good:

The foundations of an excellent team have been laid around young
english talent, the disciplinary record is excellent and there appears 
to be stability and continuity off the field. There's cash in the bank 
when necessary, a 30,000+ seater stadium will be ready for next season, 
and all the signs are that the public will fill it regularly.

So plenty of material there for our humourous noters to take the piss, 
but I for one am smiling because I believe Jack Walker and Blackburn have 
given many people in English football a much needed kick up the arse and I've
     enjoyed watching it.

Is this is the beginning, or the end, of the story !

Cheers,

Andy :-)
    

    Andy,
    
    Warhurst injured again! What is it this time?
    
    Paul.

    
    Now that the season is over and we all have to go back to shopping on
    Saturdays, I for one am awaiting my season ticket renewal from the
    Rovers.
    
    I thought it may be interesting to compare season ticket prices throughout the
    premiership to see who is or isn't getting a good deal.
    
    
    My seat is in the top tier of a brand new stand which is behind the
    goal, and last year my ticket cost 180.00.  Although the prices are not
    yet out I am expecting next season's ticket to increase to around
    200.00.
    
    I heard of a season ticket at Old Trafford costing +300.00 next seson,
    which seems a hell of a difference.
    
    
    
    Stephen 

Andy,
	I know it brings back bad memories but......

	Could you tell me who scored the Coventry goals in that fated match last
week.

	I'm getting stick in the fantasy football conference

Thanks

Al

                               
    Andy,
    
    I also hope that we will be returning  to our beloved Blackburn End for
    next season, but as per usual the club is not prepared to say when this
    will happen.
    
    What I suspect will happen, is that we will rebuy our seats in the
    Darwen End, but will then at some point in the season move to the
    identicate seat in the Blackburn End.  I believe that although the
    contractors are ahead of schedule with the Jack Walker stand,  the
    Rovers will not sell tickets until they are certain it will be ready
    for the start of next season.
    
    I must admit, I have become quite fond of my current seat, especially
    sitting next to the visitors and being able to have friendly(???) chats
    over the fence.
    
    Roll on August.
    
    
    Stephen
    
    
    
     
     

Dammit,

Thanks Brian

I knew that!!! I got that game confused with the Chelsea game

Al

Nice one Dave. How come *I* never thought of all that. 

Well c'mon Andy et al. A retort please :-)

Peter.

    Dave, Peter,
        
    Lets start by saying I am not interested in what Kenny did or didn't 
    do at Liverpool. So to the facts:
    
    Kenny has been at Blackburn less than three seasons.
    
    In his first year he took a team from the middle of Div 2, significantly
    rebuilt it and won promotion. Successful ? Yes, I think so. There are teams
    such as Derby still down there who have spent more than Kenny did that 
    year.
    
    In his second year, he continued to rebuild the team and
    finished 4 in the league, only missing Europe on goal difference.
    Successful ?, yes again, thats not bad for a first season back in the top
    flight.
    
    This year he finished justifiably second in a Premiership that
    contained an exceptional MANU team and qualified for Europe.
    Successful ?, yes again, only MANU and possibly now Arsenal could claim a 
    better season.
    
    If you look at my end of season report note you will see that the managers 
    record is one of buying players who have been successful with the 
    club and that the club is well set for the future.
    
    The club has come a long way in a short time, Kenny has never been the
    subject of criticism from the terraces and the story is one of 
    continuous improvement. Long may it continue because I call this success. 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Re: .447
    
    ...but you didn't answer the question in .445
    
    	"...can I ask if Mr Happy might come under some pressure if
    Blackburn don't win something next year."
    
    Personally, I reckon the answer is yes.  So far "Kenny", with the aid
    of Jack Walker's millions, has done a good job at Blackburn.  In
    particular he's brought some good players to the club.  He did the same
    in his early days as manager of Liverpool, with Barnes and Beardsley. 
    But, then again there's been a lot of managers who have achieved
    similar, over a three year period, with a lot less cash, such as; 
    Alf Ramsey, Graham Taylor, Jack Charlton, Ron Atkinson.  And there's
    been a whole host of managers who have achieved a lot more, such as;
    Brian Clough, Don Revie, Bobby Robson, George Graham. 
                                        
    Next year, Blackburn will, apparently (not been), have a super stadium,
    the team will gain valuable experience in Europe and the club and
    supporters will be hoping to win something based on three solid years
    of achievement.  The scene for a winning scenario is about to be
    played.  Expectations have been set.  For how long will a UEFA Cup 
    place be seen as a successful season?  
    
    Also, the Press have given Blackburn a fairly easy ride so far, because
    they've been "up-and-coming".  However, next year more will be expected
    and the pressure will be on.  If things don't go right at the start of
    the season the Press boys will be looking for stories and scenting
    blood which will increase the pressures on manager, team, club and 
    supporters.  Will the manager, team, etc. be able to cope?  Maybe,
    maybe not.
    
    >> only MANU and possibly now Arsenal could claim a better season
    
    Er, make that "possibly" a definitely.
    
    Mike M  

    
    Andy...
    
    I have to agree with Mike here, you did'nt answer my question, you said
    Kenny has done well so far, What will happen if nothing happens next
    season, and as for the comment about "only MUFC and AFC can claim better 
    season's".......what about Villa, they won a pot and thus qualified for 
    Europe, in the same competition as Blackburn.
    
    KD is in a position most managers would die for, he can spend as
    much as he wants and bring the best players to the club, but Mr Walker
    will want some reward for all his expense, and that means trophies and
    sooner rather than later. 
    
    Dave...
    
     

    In the 70's & 80's United got a regular place in Europe but were given,
    rightly so, a hard time for not winning much -- the odd FA Cup -- and
    in the end its silverware that counts.

    
    O.K. Mike, I was actually explaining why, in my opinion, Kenny is 
    perceived as being successful at Blackburn, as this was an area that 
    Dave appeared not to understand. 
    
    As far as 'might come under pressure if Blackburn don't win something next
    year' then the answer is so obviously YES that I didn't think needed
    to be stated. In the same way "Palace might win the League" and
    "Arsenal might do the treble", its possible but I wouldn't bet on it. 
    
    I cannot predict the future but if Blackburn show relegation form then
    he'll come under pressure, isn't that pretty much the norm at big clubs
    these days ? If Blackburn get to 3 cup finals and finish top six but
    don't actually win anything I doubt he'll be under pressure.
    
    Theres a lot of ifs and no crystal ball, what does "might come under
    pressure" actually mean, the sack ? or articles in the tabloids (in 
    which case he's been under pressure from day 1 at Blackburn). 
    
    So Kennys position is not so different to many premier league managers,
    its just that so far he's got it right (IMO of course).
    
    Hope that satisfies you, and as for your "Second is nowhere", I think
    you'll find its actually ABOVE EVERYBODY but MANU !
    
    Cheers,
                                                                          
    Andy

    
    Ok Andy...
    
    I'll change the question, as "might come under pressure" is abit hard
    to define, Is KD worthy of the tag 'one of the three best managers in 
    Britain', as he has been described in the papers and on SKY constantly.
    
    Is he up there with the likes of Fergusson and Graham, who undoubtably
    have proved themselves, and in GG's case without spending fortunes.
    
    My point is, I dont think KD has done anything YET to warrant such high
    praise. 
    
    Dave...

Match Germany v Rep Of Ireland is on on May 29th in Hanover



GS in Dublin.

    Dave,
    
    I'm not sure we are going anywhere with this but....
    
    What do you measure a manager on ? If its trophys then you cannot judge
    while the games still on, "its not over yet" so to speak ;-)
    
    IMO to take a team quickly from nowhere to one of the best 3 teams in the
    country must count for something. Both the other scots you quoted stepped
    into very big clubs and developed what was there. They both spent
    money, AF spent as much as KD, GG spent less, it took time, and both 
    were not without their critics in the process. 
    
    I wonder how well AF or GG would have done in Kennys shoes but we'll
    never know.
    
    Personally I think its too soon to judge but I would say he's among the
    best at the moment. Its just my opinion but football history is littered 
    with managers who have spent lots of money and not met the expectations 
    of their clubs. So far I think Kenny has got it right.
    
    O.K. ?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. I think Villa did well to win a trophy but their league form was
    probably a fair reflection of their ability. Like Liverpool they are 
    going to have to rebuild because they rely on old men and youngsters 
    who are not quite the finished article. I would rather be in Kennys 
    shoes than Rons !.
    

Andy,

Have you ever thought of a career in Politics ? :-)

Peter.

    Sounds like it's the turn of the "Alliance" to get some stick from the
    "Gang Of Four" (Man Utd, Arse, Spurs, Liverpool)...
    
    ;-) :-)
    
    Dom 

    Peter,
    
    to answer your question "have you ever considered a career in politics"
    I can only say that in my opinion Kenny Dalglish has been a successful
    manager of Blackburn Rovers and the sooner the rest of you realise it
    the better things will be. In Jack Walkers Budget Day speech he set out
    a five year plan to achieve substantial growth for the region. It is
    not surprising that public opinion led by the media has turned against 
    us mid-term in Kennys period of office and that many of you fail to
    realise that significant investment on this scale will produce results
    in the medium to long term.
        
    Dom,
    
    Its tragic really, inoffensive little me comes along to spread a bit of
    knowledge and lend a bit of support for a less fashionable club and all
    I get is abuse from all these 'closed-shop' louts.
    
    :-)
    
    Still, let them have their shout now, they'll be going away soon to see if
    they have enough pocket money for a season ticket ! 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    >Dom,
    >
    >Its tragic really, inoffensive little me comes along to spread a bit of
    >knowledge and lend a bit of support for a less fashionable club and all
    >I get is abuse from all these 'closed-shop' louts.
    
    Heart bleeds for you, Andy!
    
    Tell you what, given Blackburn's enviable financial position I'm sure
    we could consider extending the Gang Of Four, or at least offer
    Blackburn honorary membership.
    
    Unfortunately, full membership is limited to clubs who have won a
    trophy in the last 20 years (and are stinking rich!) ;-) ;-)
    
    Dom

    Dom,
    
    I think we should make an exception to the the Trophy rule. Let's chuck
    Liverpool out and give their place to Blackburn. At least Blackburn
    supporters won't bore us with lists of their achievements in the
    previous two decades (notably excluding the current decade !)  ;-))))
                                                                          
    
    Jerry.

    >I think we should make an exception to the the Trophy rule. Let's chuck
    >Liverpool out and give their place to Blackburn. At least Blackburn
    >supporters won't bore us with lists of their achievements in the
    >previous two decades (notably excluding the current decade !)  ;-))))
                                                                          
    Jerry,
    
    Now who would do a thing like that?
    
    Dom

    
    I don't know why I bother trying to educate you people, the ignorance 
    out there is just staggering, we do have a recent trophy :
    
    I just can't believe you forgot Blackburn Rovers won the Full Members Cup !
    
    See you at the Charity Shield on August 14th.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    It has been finally confirmed that we will face Man Utd at Wembley for
    the Charity Shield on August 14th.
    
    Firstly, I must say I am surprised but very pleased about this, I
    thought that Arsernal would be invited to face Utd.
    
    What I don't understand is why the game has to be played on a Sunday
    afternoon and not a Saturday.
    
    Again TV get what they want, and 80,000 Northern fans have to make
    the long journey to London on a Sunday.  It is not as if there are
    any other fixtures being played that weekend.
    
    The charity shield is a great family day out, it's about the only
    occasion at Wembley when the true fans get the majority of tickets, and
    I think it is dis-graceful to move it to Sunday, which will put off
    some fans especially those with young children.
    
    I for one, will be travelling to London for the game but it is about
    time the supportors were considered a little more then they seem be be
    at current.
    
    
    Pi--ed Off 
    Stephen
    Kennys Barmy Army
    

Well there you have it. Jack( loads a money ) Walker  couldn't get any
silverware legitimately so he begs & bribes the F.A into letting them have a go
at United in the Charity Shield. 

This is a bloody disgrace. Arsenal are the only team with credentials good
enough to challenge United's this season. Just shows what money can buy !

Even Villa ( spit ) deserve a place over Chequebook Rovers !!!



This is how this travesty occured( Allegedly )...

Jack:
"Please give us a Trophy , Please Please Please !!!! We've spent all that money
and drank gallons of that McKwens piss we must deserve something !!!!"

Grahame Kelly:
"Bu&&er off you Nouveau rich git"

Jack:
Look if you don't give us some silver we'll scream and scream 'till we make
ourselves sick !!!!! and we'll stop paying ridiculous money for players and and
and ..."

Kelly:
"Welllllllllll O.K then."

Jack:
"Oh yeah , could you manage to suspend Cantona, Keane, Schmichael, 	
Kanchelkis, Ince, Giggs , Irwin , Bruce and Pallister for the game ?"

Kelly:
"What ? You've got to be joking"

Jack:
"C'mon give us a sporting chance, pleeeeeeeease"

Kelly:
"I'll think about it..O.K"

Jack:
"Oh Grahame, I think your Bently is blocking my Jag in the car park Grahame"

Kelly:
"But I drive an Escor.. Ah right I'll move it right away Jack me ol' son"
"By the way Jacko , I've been thinking about those suspensions..."

Jack:
"Yes...?"

Kelly:
"Maybe we could manage a couple for have a stupid looking beard or an accent or
something like that"




Regards,

Peter.

    Peter,

    
    	Does anyone know why Blackburn have been chosen to play the Charity
    Shield? I seem to remember (Cunno will know for sure) that when
    Liverpool did the double, they played Cup runners up Everton again for
    the Charity Shield. Surely on Saturday's performance, and given that
    they were the only team to do the double over United this season,
    Chelsea are the only team who deserve to play the Charity Shield.
    
    JBG

    Everton probably finished a little higher in the league than Chelsea's
    14th.
    
    In fact, given that and the fact that Chelsea didn't actually win
    anything, a place in Europe is a pretty good consolation prize.
    
    Dave.

    
    Re: 464
    
    Everton were also league runners-up as well as losing cup finalists,
    so at the time it was unclear which held precedence.
    
    Blackburn are playing Man Utd because they are currently the second
    best side in the country; League positions don't lie.
    
    Still don't understand why it has got to be played on a Sunday.
    
    Regards
    Stephen

    
    David May (ex-season ticket holder at Man City ) has now rejected an 
    offer from Blackburn and has had talks with Uniteds Alex Ferguson. 
    
    It would appear that either the boy is getting greedy or Kenny has
    other things planned for the defence.                  
    
    Maybe the Baresi deal is nearer than we think. Dom can probably tell me
    how old that Italian is now.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

>>  David May (ex-season ticket holder at Man City ) has now rejected an 
>>  offer from Blackburn and has had talks with Uniteds Alex Ferguson. 
    
>>  It would appear that either the boy is getting greedy or Kenny has
>>  other things planned for the defence.                  

The boy's greedy...!!! Surely Mr Jack "I can outpay Man Utd" Walker is
capable of offering him the world..???

tony

    Why would he want to move to ManU.. I bet he'll never get in the team..
    just like Dion Dublin... plus Blackburn are in Europe anyway.. 
    
    Seems like he'll be shooting himself in the foot if he moves.. 
    
    
    
    plus ManU will probably get knocked out in round 2 of the EuroCup
    anyway! :->
    
    Rick.

    Tony,
    
    I think the point is Blackburn are capable of offering anybody just
    about anything but are not irresponsible with the dosh. Uncle Jack will 
    not be held to ransom and has in Kenny a manager who will tell him
    exactly what he thinks a player is worth. If you go into negotiation
    without deciding how much you are prepared to pay then you are 
    stupid, no matter how rich you may be. 
    
    In the past Clubs, players and agents who thought Blackburn were an 
    easy mark have been mistaken. Good examples are Geoff Thomas and 
    Neil Ruddock, their careers have flourished ever since ;-) 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. FWIW: Jack could buy United let alone outpay them ! 

>Mr Jack "I can outpay Man Utd" Walker is
>capable of offering him the world..???
    
    ... financially maybe, but he cannot offer a premiership or FA Cup Winners 
    medal !
    
    Terry :-)

    Andy,
    
    Its very true to say you can't buy winners medals, equally joining MANU
    is no guarantee either. A lot of people went to Liverpool in the last
    few years thinking they would win things !
    
    Personally I think this is down to a 23 year old lad who has worked his
    way through the ranks and finds himself in a dressing room with some of
    the best players in the country. It cannot be easy to compare the deals
    they get and to try and assess his own worth. Were I in his shoes I 
    think I would have to do some market sensing too. 
    
    I don't know if he's staying or going, but I hope that he does 
    whatever he does with dignity. This reminds me of when Colin Hendry 
    left to go to City. His professionalism throughout 
    ensured that when he returned he was highly respected by the club 
    and the fans. Its sad to see players slagging off thier previous
    clubs/managers. 
    
    Good luck to David May whatever he does, personally I'd like him to 
    stay, but not if he's not happy. 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  
    
    p.s. Young David is know to, er, how can I put this, 'enjoy a little
    wine, women and song'. It could just be he's bored. I left Blackburn
    and went to Manchester for 3 years myself when I was young and
    impetuous. Green, Hendry, possibly now May, all the defensive giants of 
    Blackburn tread the same path to glory. 
    

    re: .468
    
    >Maybe the Baresi deal is nearer than we think. Dom can probably tell me
    >how old that Italian is now.
    
    Not 100% sure, Andy, but I think he's 34. People think he's older
    because he was already a part of the Italian World Cup squad in '82,
    but he had a serious illness which confined him to a wheelchair when he
    was about 24-25.
    
    Great player in the past, but I wouldn't buy him now. He has been
    embarassed by quick ball-playing forwards on numerous occasions this
    year and I think it's a sign that the years are catching up with him.
    After the first couple of mistakes, people were saying "Hmm, even
    Baresi isn't infallible". Now they're saying he's possibly the weak
    link in the national team. Sure, Milan conceded very few goals this
    year, but they do defend very much as a team - a view illustrated by
    the fact that they scored an incredibly low number of goals for a
    championship winning team.
    
    He (Baresi) is a great captain though. Very much in the Bryan Robson
    "lead by example" mould. Have Blackburn really shown interest then? I
    can't believe he'd ever leave Italy, and I can't believe anyone else
    could pay his wages (Jack Walker included). 
    
    That said, the recession is starting to bite even in Italian football.
    Judging by the pre-season signings that have been confirmed here, I
    very much doubt that you'll have to part with Alan Shearer. The big
    Italian clubs seem to be looking almost exclusively at the cheaper
    markets (i.e. Africa, South America), rather than Spain, Germany,
    France and Britain.
    
    Dom
    Spain and 

    
    At lunchtime, Radio 5 stated that David May had accepted terms with
    Alex Ferguson and will join Man Utd. Transfer fee has still to be
    decided.
    
    Del.

I do believe that the last was the first note to set hidden in this topic.
Disgraceful !!!


Peter.

    
    Well whatever it was, it wasn't me !
    
    Any explanation ?

Must have been monsieur North then! alias kenny's barmy army.
Looks like one of them is not so barmy after all!!!! ha ha!!!

Just kidding guys, kind of!

Si

    Re: .480          
    
    Nothing to do with me either.
    
    Lets hope that the Rovers have learn't their lesson, I for one am very
    sad to see David May go, especially to United.
    
    I have a feeling that Uncle Jack may now appoint someone onto the board
    who can handle the responsability.
    
    
    Andy,
    
    Having read the details for next seasons tickets sales I think you are
    lucky to be in the Walkers Steel stand.
    
    I have been a season ticket holder for 10 years now, and last season
    was given the option of upper or lower Darwen end seats.  We were then
    lead to believe that at the start of the 94/95 season, we would take
    our identicate seats in the Blackburn End.
    
    We are now told that the whole of the upper tier of the Blackburn end
    will be for family members only (3000 seats, currently family
    membership approx 500).
    
    So were will we sit,  God Knows.  We will probally be offered the
    crapiest seats in the lower tier or be told to be an extra 50 quid and
    sit in the Jack Walker stand.
    
    To make matters worse, the people who do not buy a season ticket, can
    buy individual match day tickets for the upper tier of the Darwen End -
    Were I am being moved from.
    
    As far as I'm concerned, this stinks and I believe that season ticket
    sales will reflect it.  The club needs to look after the supporters who
    were their in the second and third divisions and treat them better then
    they currently seem to be.
    
    Regarding the price increases, can I understand why the prices have
    gone up.  My ticket nest season will be 235 agaisnt 180 last season.
    
    
    Currently very pissed with the Rovers.
    
    Stephen
    Kennys Barmy Army.   

    
    What will the capacity be at Ewood park next season...?
    
    Dave...

    
    30,000 or 32,000 depending on which paper you read.
    

    
    Capacity will be 30,700.
    
    8000   Blackburn End
    8000   Darwen End
    9000   Jack Walker stand
    5700   Walkersteel Stand
    
    
    Regards
    Stephen
           

    
    
    Call me suspicious if you want, and maybe I'm way off beam but I reckon 
    there's more to the David May story than meets the eye. Dalglish is a 
    very shrewd man and I can't beleive he went 8 months or so without talking
    contracts if he REALLY wanted him to stay. I reckon he was quite happy to 
    lose May, for whatever reason and even to their biggest rivals for next 
    seasons championship, regardless of what Jack Walker thinks.
    
    There is no love lost between Dalglish & Ferguson and I'm sure that 
    Dalglish wouldn't leave May out of contract knowing he could sign for
    anyone, had he really wanted to keep him. Just my opinion. 
    
    If on the other hand he expected May to re-sign without any problems, 
    he's really made a balls up and put extra pressure on himself. Jack Walker
    & the Blackburn support will expect silverware next season and if he 
    doesn't deliver the goods, losing May to Utd could come back to haunt him. 
                                                                 
    Del.

    Del,
    
    I think there is more to it. David ruffled a few feathers at Blackburn 
    over the last 12 months and the club works hard on retaining is friendly 
    family image despite its 'growth'. 
    
    I hope David does well because he and Blackburn have done a lot for
    each other and he is potentially a great player. 
    
    He has said himself that Kenny's guidance has immensely improved him 
    as player, I hope that somebody at O.T. will protect him from all the 
    distractions,
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Blackburn have now lost Moran and May from last season and now
    only have eight centre halfs, 5 of whom (Hendry, Marker, Morrison, Pearce,
    & even Warhurst) have all played in the Premier League.  

    >p.s. Blackburn have now lost Moran and May from last season and now
    >only have eight centre halfs, 5 of whom (Hendry, Marker, Morrison, Pearce,
     ^^^^
    >& even Warhurst) have all played in the Premier League.
    
    Andy,
    
    Perhaps you should amalgamate with Arsenal. You could call yourselves
    "Arseburn" or something like that.
    
    Helpfully Yours,
    
    Paul.  
    

    >>Perhaps you should amalgamate with Arsenal. You could call yourselves
    >>"Arseburn" or something like that.

Yeah and you'd get *Piles* of supporters I suppose ;-)

Peter. 

    Peter,
    
    I can't believe you missed the chance to say we'd finish bottom.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Nice weather we're having at the moment, isn't it ?

    Jerry,
    
    Thank heavens you saved us from the one about "getting men back behind
    the ball" ;-)
    
    Dom

Bloody cheek of you Jerry. Trying to abort a good slagging match before I could
get involved.

Now where was I...

Peter.

    Peter,
    
    I'm sorry. I was feeling guilty so I tried to start up another one in
    the Cricket note (177.293). Unfortunately, Gary woz 'avin' nun of it !
    I'm worried about Gary, he hasn't been himself since he came back.
    Let's hope the drugs wear off soon and he's gets back in the spirit
    ;-)))
    
    Jerry.

    Brian,
    
    Its not like you to be rumour-mongering, which paper was this ?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 
        

    
    I heard that Blackburn have been seeded 18th? in the UEFA Cup, can some
    kind soul please enter the full list.
    
    An explanation of what it all means would be useful too. 
        
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  

I think Blackburn were 16th, but I might be wrong. Villa were 17th and Newcastle
18th.

Mike

    re : .498
    
    I think it means that Blackburn are crap, Andy !
    
    Does that help ?

           
    Andy,
    
    I cannot understand how the team that finish's second in the English
    Premier league can only be seeded 16th.  I would like ot know how this
    is determined.
    
    This now means that we will play in the preliminary rounds which will 
    take place in early August, before the English Season.
    
    This raise's a couple of questions;
    
    1.   What happens to the Charity Shield.  If we are involved in
         important European games what sort of team will Kenny send to Wembley.
         
    	
    2.	Our ground will not be ready until Mid August.  
    
    
     
    I suppose I shouldn't complain to much, at least I'm not a Spurs fan - 
    They have got something to complain about.
    
    Regards
    Stephen

    Stephen,
    
    thats why I asked for clarification. Somebody out there must be able to 
    explain the system.  
    
    My understanding is that this seeding will allow us to avoid 
    preliminary rounds and enter the competition in Mid-September.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Just seen your boy Le Saux in a Basingstoke pub discussing terms with
    Alan Sugar. 
    
    Antony

    Antony,
    
    Are you sure they weren't just out getting pi**ed to drown Sweetie's
    sorrows ?
    
    Jerry.

    
    	I can confirm that Graham le Saux *was* at the pub this lunchtime,
    	and he certainly looked to be enjoying himself.
    
    	If this was an example of Spurs' hospitality then I'll have some of
    	that!
         
    	Andy.

                                                 
    HELP - DOES ANYBODY KNOW WEMBLEY STADIUM ?
    
    I'm off to buy my Charity Shield tickets this weekend and yes,
    its a while since I've been there so can anybody tell me how the seats
    are arranged (cue for an old joke Peter) ;-).
    
    I'd rather be at the side than the end this time so which blocks should
    I try for and which rows are highest/lowest ?
    
    A beer for anybody who can produce a useful diagram !
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

    Andy,
    
    If I were you, I'ld get a seat near one of the exits. That way, when
    United are 4-0 up at half-time, you can get out with less fuss !
    
    Yours helpfully,
    
    Jerry.

    
    Andy,
    
    Basically avoid the cheapest seats - their crap.
    
    The last seats I went in, at the play off final, cost 18.00 and were
    down the side, slightly to one side.  Good Value.
    
    I was looking at the ticket prices yesterday and  I think that they
    will probally be the 20-22.00.
    
    Lets hope the Blues can sort out the ticket office this time to reduce
    the  queueing time.  
    
    See you at Wembley.
    
    
    Regards
    Stephen
     

    Andy, try the Olympic Gallery. Great view froom there. Shouldn't be too
    expensive as well for the Charrridy Shield, Mate.
    
    Paul.
    

    Paul,
    
    sittin on the roof has never been my idea of fun.
    
    Now you mention it exactly which 'charidies' benefit from this grand
    spectaclar ? Mate.
    
    *** And thanks to Rick for the off-line info. ***
                                             
    cheers,
    
    Andy

Can someone provide Blackburn's box office number?

    The Blackburn number is 0254 55432 but the worst ticket office in the
    world is currently worse than usual.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    >The Blackburn number is 0254 55432 but the worst ticket office in the
    >world is currently worse than usual.
    
    Andy,
    
    Youre blue-and-white tinted spectacles are slipping off the end of your
    nose ;-)
    
    Dom
    

    Dom,
    
    they may be blue and white but they are not spectacles (but you're
    close) ;-)
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
    p.s. Enjoy winding up the italians while you can, they'll all be kissing 
    you again when they win.
     
    
    

    >p.s. Enjoy winding up the italians while you can, they'll all be kissing 
    >you again when they win.
     
    I could probably live with that, provided I was allowed to choose which
    ones did the kissing ;-)
    
    But you're right: one deflected free kick in the Norwegian net tonight
    and Italy will go back to being the dominating force in world football,
    favorites for the World Cup, etc.
    
    Dom 
    

    This is before the telly get hold of it !
    
    
20-Aug-1994	Southampton
23-Aug-1994	LEICESTER
27-Aug-1994	COVENTRY
30-Aug-1994	Arsenal

10-Sep-1994	EVERTON
17-Sep-1994	Chelsea
24-Sep-1994	ASTON VILLA

01-Oct-1994	Norwich
08-Oct-1994	Newcastle
15-Oct-1994	LIVERPOOL
22-Oct-1994	MAN UTD
29-Oct-1994	Nottm Forest

02-Nov-1994	Sheff Wed
05-Nov-1994	TOTTENHAM
19-Nov-1994	Ipswich
26-Nov-1994	QPR

03-Dec-1994	Wimbledon
10-Dec-1994	SOUTHAMPTON
17-Dec-1994	Leicester
26-Dec-1994	Man City
27-Dec-1994	LEEDS
31-Dec-1994	Crystal Palace

02-Jan-1994	WEST HAM
14-Jan-1995	NOTTM FOREST
21-Jan-1995	Man Utd
24-Jan-1995	IPSWICH

04-Feb-1995	Tottenham
11-Feb-1995	SHEFF WED
18-Feb-1995	Qpr
21-Feb-1995	WIMBLEDON
25-Feb-1995	NORWICH

04-Mar-1995	Aston Villa
07-Mar-1995	ARSENAL
11-Mar-1995	Coventry
18-Mar-1995	CHELSEA

01-Apr-1995	Everton
08-Apr-1995	CRYSTAL PALACE
15-Apr-1995	Leeds
17-Apr-1995	MAN CITY
29-Apr-1995	West Ham

06-May-1995	NEWCASTLE
13-May-1995	Liverpool
    
    

    
    Well, thanks to Rick, I got my charity shield ticket.
    
    I'm on the back row of the central block of the lower tier of the south
    stand. I think that puts me opposite the royal box.
    
    I suspect it will be a low turnout given all the whining United fans
    were doing last season.
                           
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Any time Andy... :->
    
    Thats near where we sat for the England match... they were good seats
    from what I remember.. :->
    
    Rick.

    >>I suspect it will be a low turnout given all the whining United fans
    >>were doing last season.
    

    re :-1
    
    I think Andy's referring to the whinging by Utd fans for having to
    travel to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final. Blackburn fans are ever so
    excited at the prospect of travelling to Wembley for a pre-season
    friendly.  
    
    Dave

    I assume he's a sweeper?
    
    Tony
    
    

    I'm surprised that there's no transfer news in this note at the minute. 
    Not that Kenny is one to spend lots of money, but the departure of May
    and (?)Moran suggests that there's a lack of defensive cover.  To
    think, you could have had Clayton Blackmore. 
    
    Dave

    Dave,
    
    At the moment we have,
    
    Central defenders: Hendry, Morrison, Marker, Pearce, Warhurst
    
    Fullbacks: Berg, Le Saux, Atkins, Wright
    
    These are just the ones that I know are better than Clayton Blackmore, we
    have a bunch of others in the reserves that I haven't seen yet !
    
	Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Where did Moran go ?

    I read an article that said Moran is quitting football.  Whether it's
    true or not .......
    
    

    It seems pretty certain that Moran has played his last game, he's 38
    and the trip to the World Cup seemed like a nice way to finish.
    
    There is the possibility of him taking a staff job, reserve team coach,
    at Blackburn and I understand this will be discussed next week.
    
    I'm surprised United don't want him back, they are short of defenders
    now that Blackmore and Phelan, who United laughingly called their
    defensive cover, have decided to further their careers.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Some little notes before a go and proudly wear my Blue and White shirt
    on the beaches of Ibiza.
    
    
    Looks like Sutton will sign this week for 5m.  Lets hope that Kennys eye
    for a bargain comes up trumps again.  I suspect that this will be Big
    Al's last season with us before we sell him for Mega Mega Mega Bucks to
    some Italian club.  Then again, if we are successful this season, 
    hopefully he'll decide it nicer in Blackburn than in Milan.
    
    The Rovers squad are now back in training and have been seen running 
    around the Ewood area.  Sounds like Kenny, 80 degree heat so he sends
    them all off on a 5 mile run.  Believe it or not, Paul Warhurst was in
    the lead when they passed my mates offices yesterday.
    
    Went down to the ground last weekend, the new main stand is looking
    good and should be easliy ready for Mid August.
    
    
    
    Just looking forward to stuffing Man U at Wembley on August 14th and
    then we will get down to the serious business and bringing the
    premiership down the M66.
    
    
    Happy Holidays.
    
    Stephen
    Kennys Barmy Army
    
    
    
    
    

	re .529

>    for a bargain comes up trumps again.  I suspect that this will be Big
>    Al's last season with us before we sell him for Mega Mega Mega Bucks to
>    some Italian club.  Then again, if we are successful this season, 

	Have you forgotten the "unspoken law"? If you speak of good things,
	they won't happen. If Shearer sustains serious injury this season,
	you will have only yourself to blame.

	Tony

    My sources tell me that the SUTTON deal was actually agreed on Saturday, 
    mainly because Blackburn already have injury problems with Newell and 
    Gallacher (who won't be fit until Christmas). 
    
    Warhurst and Pearce are obviously not in Kennys thoughts as potential 
    partners for Shearer.
    
    Just passing on a rumour,
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy 

I heard on the radio that Sutton was arrested in the early hours this
morning in Norwich city centre.

Celebrating, perhaps?

Colin.

    
    nah.... more likely trying to push the price up by convincing Fergie that
    he really has all the makings of a United player.
    
    What was he done for ? 
    
    cheers,
    
    Andy

>    What was he done for ? 
    
The spokesman for the police wouldn't say...

Colin.

>    What was he done for ? 
    
>    The spokesman for the police wouldn't say...


impersonating a top class striker perhaps ?

	Ray

    Everton are one of the clubs who have agreed a price for Sutton
    

    Well Arsenal having dropped out and Everton being refused permission to
    even talk left Blackburn with a clear run in. The fact that Robert
    Coar and Kenny Dalglish have been on holiday since Sunday seems to
    imply that they knew it was in the bag on Saturday. 
    
    A statement this afternoon will no doubt confirm Chris Sutton as David
    Mays replacement, making him the most expensive centre half in the
    country.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy
    
p.s. Kenny looks set to lead a strong and fairly settled team into Europe 
    next season with 9 englishmen, 1 scot & 1 dane in the 1st team which 
    I would pick as:
    
        		Shearer   Sutton
    
    	       Wilcox   Batty   Sherwood   Ripley
    
               Le Saux  Hendry  Morrison   Berg
    
                            Flowers
    
    And a pretty sound reserve team containing 10 English & 1 Scot,
    
    			Newell  Gallacher
    
    		Makel   Marker  Warhurst  Ireland
    
                Wright  Pearce  Broomes   Atkins
    
                            Mimms
    
    Assuming of course that theres no more purchases in the pipeline !

    
    FYI, Blackburn are 7/2 second favourites for the Premier next season. I
    couldn't a price on Spurs, my bookie wouldn't stop laughing.
    
    Tony
    
    

    Tony,
    
    nice one ! Have you any other amusing bets, like someone doing a treble ?  
                         

                                                                     
    So the deal is done. On Saturday morning the club shop was selling
    loads of No. 16 shirts but the manager was saying that as he hadn't
    been allowed to order the names until after the press announcement they
    would all have to come back next week to have the names put on !
    
    VILLA and EVERTON are both now interested in Mike Newell, personally I 
    hope he stays and fights for a place, with Europe and an increasing
    number of Internationals in the team its going to be a long hard season. 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Tim Sherwood was interviewed on Radio yesterday, he has signed a new
    4 year contract for Blackburn and said he was looking forward to meeting 
    up with Chris Sutton again, the last time they were together at Norwich
    Sutton was an apprentice cleaning Sherwood's boots !
    
    Shearer was also interviewed and said that he wanted to see out the 
    remaining 2 years of his contract at Blackburn, which would see him
    through the European Championships, and that he knew nothing about 
    any interest in him from abroad.  
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    News flash......
    
    Blackburn are reported to be digging up new players!!!
    
    SteveP

    Apparantly, workmen digging the foundations for the new Jack Walker
    stand yesterday found the remains of a human body.  Police have
    suspended further building whilst clues are searched for.  I think
    it's probably the remains of KD, who in three years of spending still
    has no worthwhile silverware to show for it, and finally cracked under
    the pressure !
    
    
    Nev

    More details for those who are interested in such things:    
    
    It was a blond haired chap in his early twenties, wearing a striped
    shirt and Levis. He was inside a length of pipe wrapped in plastic
    sheeting and buried in the yard behind what used to be terraced houses on
    Nuttall Street. He's been there a few years and probably 
    dissappeared sometime during the 80's.
    
    Should this note be renamed "What the hell happened to Peter Barnes ?".
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy  

    
    Latest news identifies the body as,
    
    
    the 1987 hide and seek champion......
    
    Davie

    
    Well, after 2 weeks away and an extra week trying to re-find this notes
    file after it dis-appeared I find nothing's changed;
    
    
    	We (Blackburn) still win on the transfer market.
    
    	Cantona still gets sent off (In FRIENDLY games)
    
    	Blackburn injuries grow and grow.
    
    	My season ticket still hasn't turned up
    
    	The new Ewood still isn't ready.
    
    
    Off to Wembley on Sunday to stuff United, Uncle Jack will at last
    get his hands on some silverware.
    
    
    Stephen
    

    Stephen,
    
    My investigations reveal that Season tickets are not being sent out
    until next week !
    
    They are blaming a crappy implementation of a new computer system ( I
    wonder where they got it from ?!) and the chaos of now having to
    temporarily house the occupants of the new stand in 'your' Darwen End.
    
    My renewal is being hampered by having to give up my regular place to 
    enable a number of us to sit together. The incredibly customer 
    sensitive female I spoke too clearly thought that I would be satisfied
    with "if you don't like your seat you can have your money back !"
    
    At least I know I've got a decent seat for the reserves game on Sunday.
                                                           
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Andy,
    
    What's the likely Blackburn line-up for Sunday ?  I believe Howard
    Gayle might be playing !!!
    
    Dave
    

    
    
    
    I expect to see:
    
    Tim Flowers
    Graham Le Saux
    Colin Hendry
    Marlon Broomes
    Henning Berg
    Tim Sherwood
    Tony Parkes
    Alan Irvine
    Ronnie Clayton
    Ken Beamish
    Kenny Dalglish
    
    That seems to complete the list of healthy people currently available 
    at Ewood Park although Ronnie is due to have a late fitness test, this
    will basically consist of holding a mirror in front of his face.
    
    Should still be good enough ;-)

The 30 year old ex West Ham defender will sign a one year contract at Ewood Park
this week

Kenny must rue not having David May any longer on this evidence.




GS in Dublin

>>                 -< Plenty more defenders where May came from >-
>>    Dave,
>>    At the moment we have,
>>    Central defenders: Hendry, Morrison, Marker, Pearce, Warhurst
>>    Fullbacks: Berg, Le Saux, Atkins, Wright
    
      Andy,
    
      ..and Gale !   Blackburn V Arsenal is going to be an interesting
      game this season !
    
      Dave
       

    Dave,
    
    thats still all true but we have a bit of a problem with central 
    defenders just now: 
    
    Morrison injured
    Marker injured
    Warhurst injured again
    and Pearce playing up front because Sutton, Shearer, Newall, Wilcox 
    and Gallacher are all injured.
    
    Its not an excuse, we'll just have to buy some more :-)
    
      

    Andy,
    
    I bet you wish you'd bought Clayton Blackmore now !
    

    
    Andy,
    
    regarding the Season tickets, I know that the envelopes were franked and
    processed by the post office 4 weeks ago, these are now sat at Ewood
    next to the boxes full of season tickets.  I realise that the Jack
    Walkers seats would have to be sorted out because the stands not ready
    but surely it would make more sense to send out the Blackburn End and
    Walkersteel tickets ASAP rather than 1 week before the season starts
    Then again this is the Rovers were talking about. 
    
    I wonder what excuse McAlpines will give this time for the stand not
    being ready, to much sunshine, too hot or maybe it just rained alot over
    Ewood this summer.
    
    Lets hope the injuries sort themselves out and that we can put out a
    decent team on Sunday, my guess would be,
    
    
    				Flowers
    
    		Berg	Hendry		????	Le Saux
    
    		Ripley	Sherwood	Makel	Wilcox
    
    			Sutton		Warhurst 
      
    		Subs:	Shearer & ???
                         
    
    
    Wembley here we come.
    
                                                            
    Stephen
    Kenny's Barmy Army

    >Warhurst injured again
    
    Andy,
    
    Glad to see Kenny's getting his money's-worth. I don't suppose it'll
    worry him that much though - after all what's 2.75 mill to Large
    Pockets Walker.
    
    In anticipation of a new seasons inter-Roses rivalry,
    
    Paul.
    

    Gosh a lot of discussion about an injury list - just like the Liverpool
    note in the good old days (:==:)
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    	Yeah..
    
    	Andy's just making sure he gets his excuses in early this season
    	for Blackburn's failure to win any trophy despite the 20-odd
    	million squid lashed out in the last two years.
    
    	By the way, Manchester United 2 Blackburn Rovers nil, goals by
    	Cantona (penalty) and Ince secured the Charity Shield for Utd.
    
    	Andy.
             

    
    It said on teletext that the Blackburn squad was "severely depleted".
    How severe? How depleted?
    
    I'm hoping that Blackburn can knock the "creeping evil" off their perch
    this year, because SOMEONE has to. They can't be allowed to get away
    with looking good just because they are the cream of a VERY bad crop.
    If the mancs were something special i'd take my hat off to them, but
    they aren't and i dont wear hats in any case.
    
    Yours, gearing up for the new banterous season,
    
    Ian.

    Blackburn were missing Batty, Shearer and Sutton.  United were missing
    Keane, Irwin and Parker.
    
    I thought the game was pretty average but 7 bookings makes it sound
    like a blood-bath.  I thought 2 or 3 of those bookings were justified
    but the rest were just ridiculous.  For once I agree with Dalglish -
    the new rules are going to be a disaster.  What good does it do if
    teams suffer from players being suspended all the time ?  Come on, Ryan
    Giggs and Lee Sharpe booked - the only time they come in contact with
    other players is during their post-goal celebrations.  
    
    BY the way Andy - are Blackburn fans scared of heights ?  Practically
    the whole top section of the Blackburn end was empty.  I thought this
    was your big day out.
    
    Dave

    
    	Giggs and Sharpe were both booked for fouls. Both deserved the
    	booking imo.
    
    	Andy.

  >>      Giggs and Sharpe were both booked for fouls. Both deserved the
  >>      booking imo.
  >>
  >>      Andy.
    
    Seems like there's a Blackburn Andy and a Man Utd Andy !
    
    Andy (Man U)
    
    Agreed - Giggs and Sharpe did commit fouls which resulted in them
    being booked.  But they were hardly what you'd call malicious fouls. 
    The thing I'm worried about is that referees are going to feel obliged
    to book anybody for any form of mistimed tackle - be it accidental or
    deliberate.  
    
    I think Bruce and Hendry definitely deserved their bookings.  Hendry
    was in fact lucky to stay on the pitch after the penalty.  But it wasnt
    a dirty game - 7 players have now got points against them before the
    season has started for what were, in general, silly tackles.
    
    A lot of people have raved on about how successful the World Cup was.
    Most of the top teams lost players due to suspension - this was in a
    tournment where teams played a max of 7 games, and they wiped out any
    bookings after the first phase.  
    
    Ah well, rules is rules.
    
    Dave

Phillip Don said that he booked Giggs for kicking the ball away, and also that
he would have booked all seven even without the new FIFA directives.

Mike

    Mr. Don has always been a bit of a pillock !

    re. 565
    
    Philip Don booked Le Saux for kicking the ball away. He booked Giggs
    for a foul on Blackburn's new signing from French footie (can't remember
    his name )
    
    Kev...

Oh well, I was close, and I make a point of never listening to referees 8-)

Mike

    
    	I just tell it how I see it, Dave.
    
    	Sharpe was booked rightly imo, Ripley beat him for pace and Sharpe
    	brought him down. Giggs lost out to th full-back in the corner and
    	tripped him in retaliation for being shown up. Both needless fouls,
    	I agree, and both deserved a booking for petulence and stupidity,
    	Giggs in particular.
    
    	If it serves as a warning that gets heeded then good.
    
    	Andy (the Man U variety, as there is only one).

    The results of a survey shown in the paper this morning shows that
    Blackburn have the most local support (travelling less than one hour to
    get to a home game). The figure quoted was 80%. Mind you I suppose the
    other 20% won't have come that far. After all, a horse drawn cart isn't
    going to get you very far in an hour.
    
    Paul.
    

    
    Andy,
    
    MIne turned up this morning.  Row 23 in the Lower Blackburn End.  Can't
    wait until next Tuesday.
    
    No announcement yet on the Jack Walker stand, although I can't see the
    upper tier being complete for next Tuesday.
    
    It's a pity Speedie won't be playing next week, but I'm sure that if
    he's there he will get a tremendous reception..
    
    Regards
    Stephen
    

    
    What bothers you the most, the fact that somebody is spending a lot of
    money or the fact that it's Blackburn and not MANU (or Burnley) ?
    
>>>    	Now we *KNOW* the world's gone mad!! One is a good-ish un-capped
>>>    	centre-half. The other is a some-(4, 5?)capped Irish international
>>>    	almost unnoticed six months ago.
 
    Sounds like what United bought (Pallister and Keane) to me ;-).
       
    Cheers,
    
    Andy.
                                                                   

    Andy,
    
    I'm getting a bit bored with all this transfer stuff and 
    the only thing I can think of to immediately change the subject is a 
    provocative prediction sooo...
    
    Blackburn will win the league with 85 points, their first foray into Europe
    will finish at the quarter final stage. 
    
    Man. United will finish 3rd in the league and get their arses kicked 
    in Europe but will successfully defend the F.A. Cup.
    
    The C.C. Cup will go to Spurs :-).
    
    Leicester City will get relegated because its traditional for them to
    be involved in something, West Ham and Ipswich will go down with them.
    
    Alan Shearer will be the leagues top scorer, Eric Cantona will leave
    United before the season is out and Terry Venables will be hailed as
    the new messiah by putting together a string of victories against a lot
    of other countries experimental sides. 
    
    I'm sure you have an opinion on all this ;-)
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    I know that previous mail was addressed to Andy but ...
    
    Domestic Honours :
    
    Premier League :   1 - Man Utd
                       2 - Newcastle
                       3 - Spurs
                       4 - Blackburn 
    
    FA Cup - Newcastle
    
    Europe :
    
    Utd will reach the final of the Euro Cup
    Blackburn will win the UEFA cup
    Chelsea will not win the ECWC - sticking my neck out on this one !
    
    Cantona will leave United at the end of the season and will be replaced
    by Matt Le Tissier from relegated Southampton.  ALso down will be
    Leicester, Ipswich and Coventry/West Ham.  
    
    I will successfully defend my office fantasy league championship.
    
    Dave
    

    Southampton 1
    Blackburn   1
    
    Well its all good news isn't it, a better result at the Dell than last
    year, nobody got injured, Shearer scored and Sutton made it, everybody
    says Blackburn were by far the better team and made plenty of chances,
    its just a shame that Brucie G. picked Saturday for his 'this is the one 
    day of the year when I'm going to perform miracles' day. 
    
    And the morons from the other side of Darwen are already talking about
    trebles (Mark Hughes on Saturdays Grandstand wins the prize for first
    televised use of the T-word this season). Great stuff.
    
    I've never seen Shearer miss a penalty before, it almost made me think
    he's mortal.
    
    Still, its not over yet :-)
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    
    Tuesday at last.
    
    I didn't get to Southampton this year so this will be my first sight of
    the Rovers this season; apart from Wembley.
    
    Should be a good game tonight, I watched Leicester on sky on Sunday and
    unless they learn to defend very quickly I think they may be going the
    same way that Swindon did.
    
    I would expect the same team as Saturday;
    
    				Flowers
    
    		Le Saux		Gayle	Hendry		Berg
    
    		Ripley		Slater	Sherwood	Wilcox
    
    			Sutton		Shearer.
    
    
    Score prediction;  5-1 to Rovers.
    
    I also understand that a certain David Speedie will be at Ewood tonight
    and will carry out the half time draw.   I guess Speedo will get a
    better reception from the fans than the actual team.
    
    
    Stephen
    Kennys Barmy Army

    You Blackburn fans certainly are keen - I was waiting for the
    supporters coach to Old Trafford on Saturday at 09:20 am at Newbury
    services, when lo and behold, some Blackburn fans turned up.  Newbury
    is less than an hour from Southampton, so what do you boys find to do
    with all that time before a game ?
    
    Dave

    
    Us Lancashire folk have been know to have one or two jars before
    watching the super Blues destroy the opposition.
    
    We have also been know to have a few more jars after the game when
    things havn't gone to plan.
    
    Well I'm off to Ewood.
    
    Stephen
    Kennys Barmy Army
    

    What did Slater play like ? And how do you rate him?
    
    Ica

    
    BLACKBURN 3  LEICESTER 1
    
    
    Not quite the 5-1 scoreline that I predicted but it could well have
    been.
    
    Leicester came to defend, as expected and Rovers were unchanged from
    Saturday.
    
    The first half was all Rovers, and it was no surprise when the Rovers
    went ahead.  Shearer chipped the ball across to Sutton, who scored with
    a diving header.
    
    The Rovers went further ahead early in the second half.  From my seat
    it was difficult to see what actually happened as I am behind teh other
    goal, but the ball went in off Henning Berg.
    
    The third goal, was probally the best, Sutton sold Leicester a perfect
    dummy which released Slater clean through on goal; this lad is good; he
    then released a thumping shot which hit the post.  Shearer then tapped
    in the rebound.
    
    The Rovers than sat back, and Leicester had a shooting practice, but
    they never looked like beating Flowers.
    
    Overall, I was very impressed by the performance.  Slater is a
    fantastic find for 300K and gives us an extra attacking option.
    
    Attendence at Ewood was 21050, which considering the problems that they
    have had over the past week with the ground redevelopment was not too
    bad.
    
    Rovers now lead the premiership (until tonight).
    
    Next game; Coventry at Ewood on Saturday
    
    
    regards
    Stephen
    Kennys Barmy Army