Here you go Bazza. Even the team sheet makes me laugh. They have to name the soap actors characters as nobody would have had a clue who they were otherwise. John Birt and Greg Dyke, both big TV hitters. Ronnie Corbett presenting the trophy. It's brilliant. I more than likely watched the game but have no memory of it.

There's something not right with him. Maybe he does realise that the end is coming.

Surely it would have come out by now if he did have a problem. He's been in the public eye for 30 years. He signed up to play in the PGA championship this weekend but he dropped out last week. He's the defending champ so it must have been a hard decision for him.

I don't exactly know where to put this as it's not Rovers but it's nostalgia so I'm sticking it here. I saw this on twitter and found the video on YouTube. It's the 1987 FA Cup final celebrity match. I think that it's superb, a different world. There is all sorts going on; playing on the pitch before the actual cup final. Sponsored by Kaliber. Assorted soap opera celebs involved. Daley Thompson clearly on another planet physically than everybody else. Saint and Greavsie commentating. I find it fascinating.

You have been trumpeting Lampard since you read in the papers that he was in line for the Everton job. Your m.o. is to then stick to your guns no matter what. Lampard has been in charge for 19 games, he has accumulated 23 points. A simple, inaccurate I know, extrapolation would have his team on 46 points over a full season. His current win rate is 36%. Mowbray's Championship winning percentage with Rovers was 36%. He may turn into a good manager but he's not there yet and is struggling - as his history suggests - to build a side that can keep a clean sheet. Starting Jarrod Branthwaite isn't the answer either. There were some odd decisions against Everton yesterday - Richarlison would have got a penalty on other occasions, alas it was not to be. But the players look like they do like playing for him. I will also say that Carlo Ancelotti, one of the best in the business, couldn't get a tune out of Everton. If he struggled the list of people who could sort it out is very short indeed.

Leeds have had no Bamford all season, and their playmaker Philips has also been out for the vast majority of the campaign. Not having either looks like it will cost them. I have Wolves v. City on. De Bruyne is making a mockery of the Wolves team, although their keeper has had a nightmare. Not letting balls through his legs type nightmare, but so shaky and his kicking has been pitiful.

More news on Phil Mickelson; ESPN - Mickelson lost over $40m over 4 years gambling An unauthorised biography of him is coming out. A teaser published is reporting that he lost over $40m over 4 years. If true no wonder he wants that Saudi cash. I've heard stories about him, so have no reason not to believe the claim.

I figured that that played into your thinking. I live in fan boy America. I hear all sorts. However, I'm glad that they watch the game.

I looked it up. Including this year, 5 of the last 10 finals have been teams from the same country. I agree different countries participating adds to the game. Not for me. Real have won it 13 times, with countless decisions going their way each and every time. I'm not saying it's crooked, but I am saying that they get some lucky breaks. Some quite literally when Ramos did Salah in 2018.

City only have themselves to blame for not progressing. They were by far the better team over both legs who should have been out of sight after the first half last week. They mostly controlled last night too. Kyle Walker going off was the game changer. He kept Vinicius quiet. De Bruyne going off robbed them too. He looked knackered though. In Tuesday's game Liverpool were absolutely awful in the first half. Villareal's constant harassment really rattled them. Although the goals came from errors from the fullbacks, with Roberston uncharacteristically at fault in both. The second half was a different story. Villareal's keeper helped but Liverpool turned it on. It's now a repeat of the 2018 final. Liverpool will want revenge. They are a better side than then, and Real are not. It's still a toss up as to who wins. I'm looking forward to it.

I'm arguing small points here. I'm with Gav. It's the best ever made, but there are wasted storylines that could have been used to expand on already known entities rather than new ones that didn't need the airtime. Without spoiling; Kevin Finnerty(sp?). Tony Blundetto. Vito. Christopher's film. They all link but could have been done is smaller batches, whilst working other ideas. No more Pine Barrens either.

It's my favourite too, but I think it went on a season too long. I'll not write any details in case anyone hasn't yet seen it.

You are good, no spoilers there. It seems like loads of decent TV dramas do this. Game of Thrones went wacky, Breaking Bad should have needed a season early. The Sopranos brought in new plotlines far too late. I still have Line of Duty and Peaky Blinders to watch as well. It will take me ages as I'm not a binge watcher.

It's Bournemouth v. Forest tonight. That will be a really good game. As for Rovers they'll end up either 1 above or 1 below 9th. What are the odds on 10th place with West Brom jumping ahead?

It's getting a bit of a pasting in some quarters over here. Lots and lots of artistic licence has a few people wound up. Jerry West being one of them. The last few episodes of Ozark are out. I'll be watching those shortly. No spoilers.

Not a fan. Some of the best games I've seen in recent years have been Champs League semi finals. Liverpool-Barcelona. Ajax-Spurs. The game on Tuesday to name 3. The two legs adds drama. Was the old UEFA cup final 2 legged?

City v. Real was an absolute cracker. City should have been 4-0 up before Benzema scored his first. City go to Madrid with a 1 goal advantage. The same as the last round. Can they stop Real from scoring? They are the better team, but will they get it right?

I think so too. He didn't score but played well last night. I said a week or two ago that the Sheffield Utd loss was the worst one. It's looking more prescient as the end nears. I still don't understand why Khadra took the penalty.

Last night was any of; a return to form, PNE on the beach, Rovers under no pressure. The players certainly looked happy to be playing. I thought that they played well. The spark was the front 3 constantly harassing PNE and not giving them any time at the back. I feel that it's too little too late though. The what if's are numerous. How many last minute goals cost points? Would it have been different if Brereton didn't get injured?

That's what irked me about Guardiola's reaction. His team would have done exactly the same thing if the opposition were on the attack and he'd have applauded it as smart football. Barcelona playing tiki taka was great to watch as there was so much skill and organisation involved in making it work. I didn't see much of it but Mowbray's Rovers doing it was nowhere near, nor was it effective. I enjoy watching Simeone's Atletico play. It's a style that grates but they are so well drilled that it is worth watching.

You are right, cynical fouls have been around forever. Guardiola took it and integrated it into the way his teams played. His Barcelona sides were notorious for it. If they lost the ball it was an almost guarantee than within seconds the whistle would blow for an opposition free kick.

I don't think they are, it's just how they play. They are the most unpredictable side in the Premier League. I'd question the sanity of the Saints fans travelling all that way without having a clue whether Jekyll or Hyde will turn up. So far this month they've drawn at Leeds, beaten Arsenal, got tonked off Chelsea, and are playing like a relegation outfit today. They also drew both games with City.

This involves Burnley but I'll put it here as there's a general point regarding players using concussion protocol's to their advantage. Just before Burnley scored their first they had a shot that a Southampton defender blocked with his head. Said defender fell over then started waving his arms about to try and get the game stopped. The ref ignored it so he got up and got back in position just in time to see Roberts' goal. The player didn't look like he was suffering at all. Something in the same vein happened last night in the Arsenal-Chelsea match. Arsenal were on the attack, crossed one in which was headed back to Arsenal by Azpilicueta. He too immediately went down clutching his head. The ref stopped play, and the attack was stopped. I'm not minimising concussions at all as they are far too underreported but both incidents struck me as disingenuous. Whilst I'm on it, it was rich to see Guardiola going ape during the Liverpool match when a Liverpool player "tactically" fouled a City player who was galloping toward goal. He invented it. He should be the last to complain.

They do, but Rovers are worse. Stuck in the championship, managed by Mowbray, owned by Venkys. They are a shadow of the Ferguson era. Scattershot player recruitment, bad managerial choices, commercial opportunities over on field improvement, and owners who prioritise profit over product all contribute. It is great to see though. For 20 years all and sundry had to listen to fawning media and superfans lording it over the football world. Not anymore. To the game; Liverpool were unplayable in the first half. The second goal was special. The last few minutes were also interesting as the through beating Man U had just had was laid bare. Fernandes crassly fouling TAA, and Sideshow Bob booting all and sundry. Watching Milner giving Maguire some stick for it was funny.

Thanks fellas. Now I know, and I'll pay as much attention to him as I did previously.