I'm nitpicking but the Club should have made Paton wear Rovers gear in such a photo. He will wish he had in years to come when looking back at his career memories.

Drop 'The' and it sounds ok

From that article it looks like IFAB will approve VAR tomorrow and open the way for FIFA to use it at Russia 2018. Could be a comedy gold summer.

The Referee on the pitch should be the only person to initiate the use of VAR. He knows is he or his Assistants on the pitch sides might have missed something. I do not like its use to investigate every goal scored and then look for reasons to disallow, as in Lamela's perfectly good goal being struck off. Anyway the rules boys decide tomorrow on its future and if we see it in Russia.

I feel a song coming on, "Video Killed the Football Star". The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which rules on the game's laws, meets on Saturday to decide whether to approve the technology permanently following its trial period. If it does, then FIFA is committed to using the system at the World Cup but UEFA has said it won't be deployed in next season's Champions League. I believe VAR is here to stay because TV loves it and they pay for football. It will be refined over time with live video and audio on VAR decision making available to spectators in the ground and much more importantly to the TV watching millions. Like T20 cricket expect dancing girls and firework displays when a goal is finally awarded although before or after the advert is the big question. A cartoon of a player having a hissy-fit if disallowed? Anyway I learnt something last night as I did not know it was a bookable offence to 'stutter' in the run up to taking a penalty. What next, why not outlaw body swerves and feints, step overs or indeed any form of creative play such as 'dribbling' with the ball that deliberately dupes/fools the opposition. I dislike those who run our game more with each passing day. This micro analysis of decisions will spread to other parts of play and ruin it. I am falling out of love with football even more and it's a damm shame after all this time. Video Killed the Football Star.

In a few years from now high level football matches will last for 3-4 hours. Advertising heaven in a global market. Football is now a TV product and they will max the $/£/E returns.

Does anyone know if any players from last season actually took pay cuts following relegation? I know such terms can be in contracts but wonder if they were 'waived' to encourage remainers.

Signed in 2013 on a 3 year contract, extended in 2015 by 4 years plus the Northern Ireland excuse clause (ok I made that up). He's been on easy street at Rovers, would be mad to force a move.

Now that is the sort of good interview I like to read and it's well timed.

I go for Bennett as the 'other'

An article that would have been better left until AFTER promotion from L1 is successfully achieved. Whilst always suspected I don't see the point of such official confirmation that senior players wanted to jump ship after relegation. Ok perhaps a tribute to TMs negotating skills and the lure of money. Maybe goes some way to explaining or suggesting an explanation for early season poor performance and some players perceived attitudes. An early apportionment of blame in case............

In normal play Ali's gymnastic skills fooled me and only seeing the replay firmed my view that it was a dive. I suppose that supports having VAR, especially with serial cheats, imo, like Ali around. If VAR is used to punish shirt pulling and pushing the games will never finish.

I was watching a stream in English but some foreign channel so fortunately not exposed to MOTD pundit opinion. My view was no Rochdale challenge made and if any contact caused by Ali. I have to say his body flick was good as he fell as if he'd had a leg chopped off. It is baffling to me why 'cause' is ignored when any faint contact with a (superstar) player is made in the pen area. The 'caused' Spuds pen v Liverpool anorher example. A completely different set of rules now applies for in and outside of the pen area. Anyway justice was served and Spuds have a replay they didn't want and Rochdale will get a nice payoff so I'm very happy for Dale. VAR is going to be used more and more and they will get the tech right so that those inside the stadium know what's going on. I can see VAR being extended to other facets of the game too. The problem for spectators is matches much longer than 90 minutes, but great for the TV companies who now 'own' English football. BTW and for the record I personally do not favour VAR and it will change the game and not in a good way, but then again I favour sliding tackles winning the ball and committed play and stuff like that.

You don't need VAR to know that runt dived.

VAR will hopefully improve but is here to stay. TV wants it and they pay the bills. TV is interested in their international viewership not bums in stadiums

Not really if looking at those particular points although it did make crowds difficult to monitor. Football was a point where tribal instincts flourished, and the same was occuring in the deprived ghettos of most British towns. Hooliganism had its roots in the Political and Social conditions of those times. There are dickheads in all walks of life, not just in Football, and still are.

Get rid of the headless torso, keep the sheep...perfect

A white man who's got heartburn.

A Life in Football http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40782965

Top player and a Gentleman. RIP Mr. Armfield.

You could be right on the sentencing, depends his good his brief is. He will make a big play of protecting the two guys against thugs, one armed with a weapon - the bottle. Flanagan showed again what money can buy and he used a weapon in his assault - his shod foot. Personally I hope Stokes gets off with a slapped wrist and a commendation for bravery.

Chickens don't do trees. More likely pecking away in the trash bins at the back of the Riverside.

Have I got this right? The Rovers media & communications guy 'thinks' the music played when a goal is scored is outsourced? Keeping well clear of how that is actually possible IT wise and why ffs. Presumably it is handled by the same outfit who do all music and announcements at Ewood on a matchday. How is their identity not known to M&C Dept, how is that even possible? I am not asking for answers, just baffled why something easy is made so hard. I think it will be Invisible Suhail with a Transitor radio including casette deck, battery operated with one casette.

Essentially I agree with you. However I believe VAR will improve, through the considered opinion of the VAR official, penalty awards and similar. It could also cover off-ball incidents that the onfield officials miss which are currently dealt with by delayed review. VAR is here to stay but must be improved and clubs and players forbidden from influencing its usage. In time there will be no onfield match officials, all decisions by IT and android players. There is a future for Jason Lowe afterall.

Diving pratice, holding pratice, pushing pratice, intimidating officials pratice etc etc etc The new one is how to make a VAR signal such as a TV screen. Rampant in the PL where top 'actors' will have personal trainers but in the lower leagues too. Little wonder defensive heading training on crosses and setplays is neglected IMHO