I yearn for those years of my younger days when I didn't know who our shareholders were, who was on the Board although usually I would know the Chairman as a name. I knew who our manager was and our players, that was enough and was fine with most of those years in the 70s and 80s being outside of Div 1. My support never wavered as there was always hope. The charlatans have killed hope and that is at the door of those in Pune, the trash at our Board level just a symptom of the real problem. I called out the owners the day they bought us. I was not wrong.

I made a deliberate plan to just let the transfer window and pre season unfold, reduce posting on here, which I did, and try to adopt a more positive outlook encourage by the 3 early signings. The realisation that we have once again recruited crocks with known pre existing, and this time 2 of them, and the confusion of the past week or so and what that signals saps my will, stamina for the fight and interest. It's one excuse after another from Owners and Board. I feel for JDT and GB but they are paid to put up with it, we are not and those of a certain age know we are unlikely to witness better times. I'm not on about the PL, just a club I can be proud of instead of ashamed and embarrassed by.

He's not. Stokes knows it and claims Foakes as the best keeper in world cricket. We need 4 fast plus 1 specialist spin. Broad, Wood and Woakes must all play at the Oval. Can Stokes bowl a decent session. Is Pope going to be fit. Oh and Bairstow is a guaranteed place at keeper.

According to weather.com it's going to piss down all day long. I do hope the Weather Gods change their minds. Somewhat ironically I am currently watching a documentary on animal survival in the Hoanib Valley, Namibia

I can't watch a Rovers game so is it going to be the easily available friendlies of Wigan, Boro, Watford or Cardiff or the PL Arseholes v Manure or Saudi lackeys v Brighton. Nahhhh ., I'll watch England Women, the Ashes and finish of with the darts and hopefully a win for Nathan in the semis. Thanks Rovers for being so fucking useless in operating a TV station and making my choices easy. I might watch a bit of Wigan v Everton though, depends if it's raining at OT at 2 pm UK time

A bizarre interview from a supremely arrogant poor wicketkeeper. His 99 have him the opening for this, a low score he would have kept his gob shut. One swallow caught doesn't make a summer https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/66272611

Thanks. Its good and with frequent updates

They could be thinking some fans are losing interest, they could be feckin spot in in my case. RoversTV can disappear from the planet, I will never give those charlatans a further penny.

I really thought that's what would happen but preferred a few more runs . Bairstow was simply superb and Jimmy played a big part. But maybe we've batted a bit to long with what's incoming.

Good to let Jimmy have a bat on what may well be his last OT Test appearance.

This version I like. Over 5 RPO by controlled aggression and not madness. Bat on for 30 minutes, get past 200 and declare. Or bat on aggressively until Bairstow is out but at least past 200.

Ennis has had groin problems since at least April this year. Such injuries are slow healers and will affect general fitness through training limitations. Sigurdsson also carries a groin issue that pre dates his signing at Rovers.

With an eye on the current Women's WC these are the national rankings as at 9th June 2023 https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20230609

Good to hear, it's a learning and acceptance curve and I hope England go on to fulfill their potential this year at WC level. They have competition, Spain look good.

If only the big monied selfish clubs had allowed the Ladies game at the top level to develop organically Rovers Ladies would probably have maintained their rightful status for years and perhaps have retained players who went on to play for the National team. Sadly in football corruption is prevalent at all the top levels.

Yes I had seen that. Good Lad.

IF the world of football is all tied together that statement demands that it includes the women's game which contrary to your views does not sit outside any bubble. This will turn out to be the most successful women's WC ever with the highest stadium and TV audiences ever. This will attract more sponsors to the women's game and it will continue to grow. It is a totally different game to the mens in most facets of the game so it's never going to be everyone's cup of tea but there are a hell of a lot of females in this world of ours who are the primary target audience. Up until a few years ago I had absolutely no interest in any women's sport but as my loves are football and cricket I looked at the women's game in these sports at the top level and like what I see. Skill, endeavour and committment and much less cheating and showboating You should at least watch England and the ex Rover girls. They are up against Haiti, who I've never seen play, on Saturday.

I've seen the weather forecast for the North West, eye on the Ashes, and I feel for you. Hot weather has its attractions but believe me they are tempered when you get a heat rash like I have currently. It's the rainy season out here now so quite difficult to shake off in the hoy humidity.

When RoversTV was launched one of its selling points was that it would show youth games and highlights. That happened a little at the start but then just died out. The same with friendlies. Highlights and goals should always be on RoversTV first, FFS it's the club's TV channel! They can use Twitter too for those who bury conscience and support the fascist Musk. Not everyone uses Twitter ttf. I will no longer support RoversTV until they at least shown a willingness to sort themselves out and do not expect that to occur prior to the changes in the televising of EFL games in the 2024/5 season. I can get every PL and EFL anyway via high speed fibre.

They were bidders for the 2022 WC but became victims of the joint top most corrupt bidding process ever. That is a problem and now a growing problem which Australia appears to have caught from the US. Not good. Meanwhile the Saudis kill thousands with UK arms supplies and still finance terrorist groups as have the Qataris for decades. And just look at 2026 being held in a country of daily mass shootings often of kids in school and another with drug cartels and frequent mass murders. A world of corruption which FIFA exploits.

Australia with NZ are planning a bid for the 2034 mens World Cup and also the 2029 World Club Club Cup. The success of the current women's World Cup will strengthen these bids but working against them are the shenanigans in Victoria and the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and FIFAs liking for money, especially Saudi and similar. Aus and NZ have the infrastructure and are an ideal location for a July WC, not that FIFA will give a toss about that.

Or a library in Stratford upon Avon that specialises in misspelt book titles.

Yes, a few misbehaved. The ball to Root was unplayable it kept so low. As you say good for us and also cloud cover.

Best check with Root about this flat pitch.

It is. Weather.com says tonight and up until late morning tomorrow.