Silas

Little update with Sunderland sitting 4th in the League. Xhaka and his midfield partner have run further than any other players: And on an overall player ratings website he's in the Top 10 for the Premier League: Kyle Walker is number 193 on that list. P.S. Your Bournemouth prediction is looking a bit flimsy too. 😉

Shane Duffy doing Shane Duffy things: https://www.balls.ie/football/shane-duffy-norwich-city-fan-642715 In the interest of balance, he did come out with a full apology after. Regardless, there's only one knob, and it's the professional footballer getting into twitter spats with fans at the age of 33.

And when we're favourites for relegation how often do we hear - 'And the bookies very rarely get it wrong.' I'm not arguing against people's valid points. A devastating loss could well be on the cards. It's more the certainty that they'll dominate us easily, and go on to win 1 or 2 nil. I think we'll be in this game, we'll compete, and some point(s) should be within our grasp. What happens from there, as ever with Rovers, is anyone's guess. Come 9.30pm, if I'm wrong and we've been trounced to a 2-0 nil loss having barely laid a glove on them, I'll take the pelters as a deluded plonker.

Can't get on board with the doom and gloom for this fixture, although understand where it comes from. We're crap, but they're crapper....on paper. We've scored more than them, conceded less than them, and lost less games than them. Yes, we haven't won at home yet, but they've scored one goal in 5 away matches. They're on a massive low after the playoffs loss and dropping like a stone since. It's particularly the loss to nil predictions that seem rough. Can't see it. Braced to get egg on face, but surely we'll score against this lot. A 2-1 late loss, as is our speciality, certainly likely. No doubt via a dodgy decision or a fluke of luck. But I can see us getting something from the match, problem being for me, a point doesn't feel enough. We need more.

My daughter's birthday Tuesday. Born around HT in Rovers v Birmingham 1-0 2014. Since then, our home record on her birthdays: 0-0 Derby 2015 3-0 Portsmouth 2017 1-0 Cardiff 2023 4 matches, 5 goals scored, 0 conceded. I'm staying confident the streak will continue, at least a clean sheet, I reckon 0-0 or 1-0 win.

Cantwell is loving a first time volley pass tonight. Like someone that's learnt a new special move button on Fifa and does it every time.

Glad it's not just me. Went to look him up, thinking he must be prolific. 8 goals in 150 odd games. 🙄 They always seem to score goal of their career against us.

I think this does does exactly that. Come Saturday if it’s raining heavy again, and we're 2-0 down to Stoke, if I'm VI I'm telling my centre backs to go find a puddle and make sure a short pass sticks. Even if there's very few puddles and standing water on the pitch, it's mainly playable, I'd be pointing them to the one big one, and saying - 'Go splash around in that!' I.e. Shenanigans. If I know we're going to have to come back another day and start from 2-0 down, I wouldn't bother. What's the point. Might as well carry on and see if we can get the conditions to help us bag a goal and get back into it. I.e. No shenanigans. I actually can't see how coming back another day to play out a match can be used to someone's advantage, either side. Maybe if your team is knackered during gameplay and the rest might help. But the other side is going to be rested too.

Install a switch that blocks the drainage pipes on demand. Everytime it rains heavy, and we're a couple goals down with half hour to go, activate it, and waterlog the pitch. Get out of jail free card, we get to restart the match like on a computer game. We might finally have a chance of getting in the playoffs via that method.

What a great option. Tap it around the midfield for whole of 1st half. Come out after halftime, the same player walks straight up to ref and uses four and abusive language, red card. They let us walk one in. 1-0 up against 10 men, all to play for with 45 mins to go. I'd accept that as a fair deal. It's way better than the position they were in.

I'm working on the assumption that this season is nailed on to be a cemented mid-table bore, 14th to 16th type affair. So, hopefully this shambles will be irrelevant. But should your prediction even come close, or we finish our regular couple of points out the playoffs, it's gonna be quite the bitter pill to swallow.

Harsh. Refs travel all over to different grounds. He's not to know our pitch is garbage at water drainage. All the other matches in the area were completed with the same rain. If he'd called it off at HT because he thought the pitch might become unplayable in the future we'd have all gone nuts.

There's always grey areas. Could be has to be the same players if available. Can sub in others for injured. The authorities are always banging on about protecting "the integrity of the sport". I can't see how a full replay of this match does that. Damages the integrity for me.

There's a first time for everything. Set a precedent. I can't think of many so late with a team so dominant (goal up and man up). Can vaguely remember some for snow, after 20 mins odd. 0-0. Even at 1-0 after 20 mins there so much time to go and so much that can happen. Just think this one would be ridiculous to replay. And that's not even with bias. Would think the same if Burnley v someone, albeit whilst chuckling.

Regardless of whether we get screwed in this instance, the rule needs changed doesn't it. Maybe a line in the sand moment like Lampard's ghost goal and goal line technology. If we go on to lose to Ipswich later in the season, no way this should happen again to someone else. The injustice should facilitate a change from next season. I don't know exactly what change though. Surely the clubs can agree to one that's fair for all.

Is there no chance of the football league ordering the last 10/15 mins to be replayed with 11 v 10. I'm sure I've seen that happen somewhere previously.

Great words from Amir: Rip Ricky. Once had a night on the town with him in Newcastle back in the day. Proper down to earth, thoroughly nice bloke. And that was just before the Mayweather fight, so was at his peak. Couldn't have had more time for people despite the fame at the time.

Yeah, makes sense. Still raw from the game being gone. It's a depressing sight in so many ways though.

Forget the plastic bird, peeling paint/plastic etc you rightly point out. I can't stop looking at the faces in that snap. Heads in hands, arms folded, glum, misery, despair. Some on phones cos they can't be arsed watching what's in front of them anymore. Despite paying for the privilege. And all across the ages, from young kids up in the posh seats to a wide range of adults. I can't spot a single 'content' or happy face. Remember when football used to be fun. Suppose it's not groundbreaking to find a picture of unhappy football supporters. But I assume that was taken soon after the penalty and sending off?

Think someone said Waggott had confirmed to people verbally in meetings. It seems fairly certain we have the clause. Whether the % is accurate I wouldn't bet my house on.

What would this net us? Close to an extra £20 million. (I know I know, before anyone says):

If I don't watch it, how can I prove other posters wrong. 😃 He just did a lovely back heel flick in build up to the opening goal. The type of skill I barely remember coming off for him in a Rovers shirt. Would have tripped and fell over for us.

Watching too. How the hell did he get away without a card for that tackle. Launched himself full weight onto the blokes ankle. Got away with one there. He's struggled to see much of the ball this first half hour.

Think that jeopardy rule only counts if it's a genuine attempt to get the ball/make a tackle. He was nowhere near the ball and pulled an arm. Really dumb.

'So glad we are out' really hurts. Even though I know the reasons why, even though I don’t blame a single person for feeling that way, and know I would probably feel, and do, exactly the same in that position. Still can't help but feel like a divorced Dad after my partner has packed up and left with the kids. Sat miserable in the living room eating a Pot Noodle. Grim. Angry, bitter, and jealous.