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My overall point is that there is a severe lack of obvious leaders and experience within the squad. Taarabt was made QPR captain in a squad full of actual leaders so it was a token gesture in a way. We dont have that beyond Cantwell. And I think the captaincy was moved away from Taarabt after a bit.

2 shockingly shit managers and the outcome of the season is likely to be scarily similar as well.

It's not just the batting - the bowling has been dire too Potts and Carse today bowled too short and wide - and neither of them are natural opening bowlers in the first place. Apart from Root and cameos from or two others this tour has been long one shitshow from start to finish - and that's all down to poor management

He pointed out (and said he was pleased to see) a Rovers shirt in the Barmy Army.

Gudjonson can't play for another club until the start of next season. He made appearances for Gent in August before his move.

Gutted. Will always remember that magical night at Grimsby.

According to Wiki: Coyle: P37 W11 D8 L18 Ismael: P37 W11 D9 L17 Scarily similar.

Colin MacDonald the old Burnley and England goal keeper has died. It could be that Bryan Douglas is now the oldest surviving England international. I was walking home from school past the old “ Ellen Smith’s “ coach booking office. I saw they were running a coach to his testimonial game - Burnley v An England 11. So I bought a ticket. It was a great game, England won 6-5. Both Ronnie and Bryan were playing for the England 11. It was more or less a full England team against what was the full Burnley team apart from two who were away playing for Northern Ireland. Macdonald made some great saves in spite of the scoreline and I was really surprised he was retiring. The England team that night, I think. Ron Springett Jimmy Armfield Ray Wilson Ronnie Clayton Peter Swan Ron Flowers Bryan Douglas Roger Hunt Nat Lofthouse Abert Cheeseborough Who, Why ? Tom Finney Things I remember - Tom Finney being absolutely brilliant. Nat Lofthouse scoring with a Sheareresque volley from miles out. Dougie and Burnley’s John Connelly getting booked after a coming together ! You don’t see many bookings in testimonials but this was serious.

Yet we find ourselves in 20th position, and 19 other teams are above us despite having the same number of international breaks.

I've thought this for a while to be honest. With the top end of the National League having some decent sized clubs for that kind of level, shouldn't we be looking at 5 professional leagues now with 20 in each? A 46 game league season I think is too much for the modern game.

Probably the Championship needs to go down to 20 teams... not a fan of that idea at the moment though as Rovers risk of league one would massively increase.

Which is a shame as he is proper captain material otherwise.

It’s always been the case. A lot depends on who’s picking the team. Those of us old enough will remember second division Middlesbrough having a succession of players selected for the England team. The fact that a ‘ Boro director was on the selection panel was nothing to do with it.

Wouldn't surprise me if United approach Maresca for the Man Utd given he knows Wilcox and their CEO from his City time

I said between the north west clubs, if you look at the selections for England age groups teams in both boys and girls they're heavily weighted toward top 6 clubs in the PL. Case in point re that, on the folding of Rovers Ladies, two U17's (who had never received England call ups) moved to Chelsea and City respectively, within 3 weeks of being there they're both in the national set up

I'd go with Trondstad---Wharton's never fit for long.

Some times it’s about who you are playing for at the time.

top 3 run scorers in the series are Head, Root and Brook

This is so funny. Literally the only reason you support him being captain is because you suggested it. He's impetuous and sulky, these are not attributes you want in a captain "modern" or otherwise. I'd have Toth, Wharton or Tronsyad.

Don't see Cantwell as a problem. Far bigger issues: Get Toth back in goal IMMEDIATELY. Pears is a liability. Need a backup RB for Alebiosu. Need a starting quality CB with leadership - Wharton and Carter cannot be relied on to complete more than a third of a season each. Miller is committed but very limited. McLoughlin is too lightweight - which is even more of a problem when he's the current mainstay. Pratt has done OK but we're in a dogfight and we need experience there. LB options are average but at least we've got 2 - wouldn't prioritise this. Need a starting quality CM with leadership - and a bit of steel and shithousery. We've got decent technical options but no guile or grit. Tronstad is a must start, Baradji needs to play further forward, Montgomery is OK as a backup. GH and Tavares are both poor IMO. Need at least 1 starting winger/wide forward. Need a starting quality striker. Ohashi puts a lot of effort in but I think he's been sussed this season, and his finishing is poor. Gudjohnsen I like but is he injury prone? Big Mak needs to move. Lastly - I would bin off Ismael. He can't get a tune out of 'his' players with any kind of consistency, and something needs to change or we will slide into League One. That said I think there is zero chance of this as the stupidity of us giving him a 3 year deal means we will not pay him off.

Let's hope Darren Fletcher gets a reaction out of them in their next game and then he's moved aside and they appoint someone like Southgate or Carrick instead.

I'm really not sure what the problem was...?

Its a great question, The honest answer I don't know. Maybe other people who have similar thoughts and opinions to myself could come up with something that I can't Think you made some very good points there tho.

Sounds like mischief making to me.