I called Barnes by a name new to some of the UTC crowd. To somewhat quantify that I would have him as our main striker in a single heart beat. Meanwhile we had very little bottle of the Flowers vintage

At Ewood to Preston. Nothing but a win, 2-0

I've tried not to lower expectations. Without hope there is nowt. Without expectation I'd give up on Rovers. Maybe it will come to that. Despite my criticisms of JDT and his being allowed to learn management in the English Game whilst practicing the Dutch Disease I full well know that the root evil resides in Pune. All the rest symptoms.

I will watch the WC but also intend to catch what's on offer in L1, L2 and lower. I do have access from the jungle to just about all world televised football and could almost be addicted 24/7. Fortunately there is also cricket looming.

A convenient excuse. Tiredness did not impact Burnley.

It must be a contract condition. In any event to build a Championship midfield around a 19 year old lightweight loanee cannot be anything apart from a ONE year project and what is the point of that unless it absolutely guarantees success.

I've seen the 20 min vid and await the full show. Piers Morgan thinks it will change Henry Winters view, which is a bit similar to those who think it's all on Ronaldo. He certainly called out the manager and senior executives in what I saw. Man U considering their options.

It is the manner of the loss that is the issue. I just don't get your "hypocrisy" angle at all. It is hardly surprising that fans want to see a locally born genius at work, regardless of age.

FIFA has been a largely self governing monopoly as bent as a 9 bob note since the reign of Havelange and taken to new depths under Blatter. That is the way it is. Sadly. However after that Sunday shit show its the actual football I'm looking forward to and seeing the world's best doing their stuff.

What were our "strengths" that were overplayed at the Turd? Genuine question. I have absolutely no idea.

As predicted the "3rd in the league" mantra has been widely adopted and will gain more traction during the period no Championship football is played. It will be used as the main defence against any criticism, real or perceived. Thing is it is currently true and it's adherents will naturally give no attention to the quality in the league, our overall match performances or our high number of losses. The fact that we actually can play so poorly so often and still be 3rd should send warning signals but ignored by some. We also do sometimes look very good and these highs and lows in performance levels are down to tactics, formation changes and what is becoming a tombola like team selection process and that is down to the manager and his assistant, the one who sits by the side of JDT as still as a sitting statue. We will find out over time if our current playoff position can be maintained or if the better financed teams who have started this season below par can get their act together. None of the above is any excuse for the Turd Moor Disaster which lies at the door of team management and the brainwashed posing as Rovers players

It's just a job to most of our players. No real affinity to the club for most.

I wonder if Bradley is having to train alone as he's unfit, according to some, whilst there rest went straight to the airport and onwards to Dubai that well known bastion of social equality. I wonder where BBD is now?

Barnes deliberately push Kaminski over, twice, and recklessly clattered into one of ours in midfield. Any of those were worth a booking. No one as far as I can see has blamed the Ref for our defeat, that is down to us. The Ref was however generally shite in his decision making and there was a home bias.

Also within our midfield we often play passes into players who are closely marked and surrounded by opponents. The ball receiver needs a very high level of technique to deal with that, to receive and pass on one touch, and we do not have enough players who are so qualified. The result is often conceding possession and allowing an opposition break with our midfield stranded and defence exposed

He did, I got a better look at that when watching the replay today. Very good creative play.

It's top level football, I love football, of course I'll watch. If Beckham is ok with it and picking up 10 million who am I to disagree. Meanwhile if anyone feels so strongly about Qatar please also lobby holiday companies promoting Dubai. They are just the same

As far as I am aware the friendlies are being played in Europe on 17th and 20th November and televised internationally. Is that any more onerous than doing a mini preseason? It not as if Ben will be on his hols at Rovers, he still has to stay match fit. If the WC break was not happening he would be playing on Saturday coming and maybe even midweek. JDTs reasoning defies logic. The financial implications to Team Diaz are another matter but I expect advertising and sponsor revenue will be lost or at least reduced nevermind any appearance fees. Maybe Rovers will be asked to reimburse. Following JDTs reasoning it's a wonder any clubs allow their players to go to the WC.

I agree with all of that Garrett should develop into a decent box to box midfielder. Good first touch, decent pass and if his aggression, which I like, can be channelled correctly that will stop him just being Travis Mk2. Garrett certainly has much more natural mobility than Travis.

Dubai gets ignored when it comes to social conscience. Its no better than Qatar. But for some reason footballers and thousands of others view it as some exotic location and ignore the reality. Before anyone asks I have been to just about everywhere in the ME.

I have just endured watching a full replay. Burnley were above us in every facet of the game and by some distance. Not the reason we lost so convincingly but I thought the Ref was appalling. How did he not book Barnes at least once? There is an interesting passage of play from about the 71 minute. It starts with us having the ball wide left near the half way line. We then go on to create 2 good chances for Burnley over the next couple of minutes, one resulting in their 2nd goal. Mola is heavily involved in that fiasco as he was in their 3rd. It's a bit mean to pick Mola out when many others had poor performance but that lad had a nightmare second half. Vale may as well have stayed on the bench and we could have played with 10 for all the use he was. That must rank as one of our worst derby performances in my 70 years.

Thank you for your advice and concern. Suitably filed.

Malmö are minnows in a European sense as is the Swedish league. UEFA rules get such clubs easy access to European completion, easy when compare to the more competitive leagues in England, Germany, Italy etc etc That is fact and fuck all to do with your "myopic, Anglo-centric foolishness" insult which you know where you can insert

DJT, JDT or even Donald Duck could manage and get success at Malmö in the SSL, Swedish Sunday League, and get into the CL by UEFA granting easy access to minnows.

Rovers have pulled Diaz from the Chile squad for their 2 friendlies during the WC break, basically saying he needs a rest. Odd. I wonder how Ben feels about this and how it impacts back in Chile. Just as well Rovers don't have any games for a few weeks ..... Head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson said: “Ben always wants to do well for Chile, it is something that is very important to him, but on the other hand he also needs a rest, so we will be keeping him at home on this occasion. “I’m sure Ben would love to go, because he always wants to help every team in the world, because he loves the game that much, but on the other hand we need to protect and take care of Ben as a club."