The referees aren't. UEFA officials live in a murky world. They aren't bent like FIFA but I'm sure there is a lot of influencing going on.

I usually start at CL thread at the start of the group stages but haven't been bothered yet. I'll get one going once the knockout stages start. The ref was in the middle for the World Cup final last year. He is usually top notch. It came out earlier today that although UEFA have not admitted that a mistake was made the VAR ref has been booted from his duties in a CL game today. It was a farcical decision I don't buy the corruption angle at all. UEFA would love Mbappe in the final every year so fan boys will watch but it won't happen. Due to the relatively low standard of Ligue Un PSG players don't face enough tough games that creates the mental resolve needed for late-stage CL knock out matches, especially over 2 legs. They did get screwed a few years ago when Man U knocked them out. Rashford scored a dubious VAR awarded penalty in stoppage time. To go through Newcastle must win in Milan and need PSG not to win in Dortmund.

I'd be hard pressed to name many players not affiliated with the "big 6". I'd struggle mightily if they were dressed in street clothes. If I knew the player I also used to be able to name every team they had played for. Not a chance now. Panini sticker books were a fixture of my youth.

Fair point. If someone isn't interested then leave it alone, it's the moaning and groaning about it that comes across as being sour. I am a Rovers fans but I don't have the passion for them and them alone like many on here do, and from what you are saying it happens across the board. I have always loved football but must be in the minority. I can watch every Prem game every week if I so desire as I have a subscription to NBC. Without it I'd still get 4 live games every weekend. I get 2 Championship games a week with ESPN+ but as much as I like football watching the likes of Swansea v QPR is too much for me. Games are also on much earlier here so I can watch on Saturday morning and still have the rest of the day free. It causes less disruption than being on at 3, 5, or 7.30.

Birmingham, Millwall, and Bristol City have also changed managers since the start of the season. Birmingham's seems to be the stupidest decision. Rooney is doing a terrible job. Contrast to the Premier League where not one manager has yet lost their job. 5 had gone by this time last year.

Yet another international break is upon us. England play Malta and North Macedonia in the last round of qualifiers. Squad here; ESPN - England squad Lewis Dunk, Callum Wilson, and James Maddison are injured so Southgate has brought in Ezri Konsa, Cole Palmer, and Rico Lewis. No Sterling again. He had a very good game yesterday too.

I know that many on this board naysay anything that isn't Rovers related but the Chelsea-City game was superb. City's metronome passing routines went out of the window, Chelsea caused them all sorts of problems, themselves too.

Rovers have 3 main problems; no decent central striker, a recurring knack of conceding late goals., and little in the way of a strong physical presence Szmodics is keeping the team alive with his goals. If he had someone to share the goal load with Rovers would be in a playoff spot. PNE's winner was the 11th conceded after the 75th minute. Unless new signings arrive in January Rovers will yoyo between 8th and 15th until the end of the season.

There is a world of difference between a fan dying in his 70's vs. those who died for their country. I'm with @only2garners, if it does warrant any action it should be separate.

City don't look their usual at the moment. De Bruyne missing probably has a lot to do with that. They've already lost 2 games, one of those to Arsenal. They'll probably win it but it will be close. Arsenal and Liverpool will push them. We will see if Liverpool's draw at Luton was an aberration once the other top teams have been there. The atmosphere was raucous and felt like a cup tie.

Spurs-Chelsea was extremely watchable madness. Udogie and Romero should have both been sent off for their first incidents. Udogie jumped in two footed. Luckily Sterling saw him and jumped out of the way. Romero decided to pull a Beckham on Colwill. It was checked and the VAR officials left it. Very odd. Why Chelsea were passing it around the back when Spurs were playing so high up was beyond me. Mudryk and Jackson are seriously quick. I'd have had them stand on the halfway line and go at every opportunity. Chelsea may have won but they are still a mess. Jackson scored 3 but doesn't look like a striker. Spurs showed some character, although they were let down by the players sent off. Worse for them are the injuries. Maddison dropped to the floor after a run, nobody touched him, and van de Wen would be out for a while depending on how bad his hamstring injury is.

Worse than the Spurs-Liverpool fiasco? This one is subjective, albeit lots of different incidents bundled into 1. I'd have still given the goal. I like this explanation; ESPN: VAR review. Arteta and Arsenal were way over the top with their reaction.

Rovers should have ben out of sight after 20 minutes. 2 good goals and there should have been 2 more. Rovers played well, Norwich were poor. Tim Sherwood used to get plenty of stick for giving the ball away, but he tried to make aggressive passes. Wharton is trying the same. If one of them would have come off there would have been a very good scoring opportunity. Szmodics doesn't look 100% fit. The keeper doesn't look convincing either. I'd like to see a 3rd Rovers goal, preferably early. I have to give a hat tip to the Rovers fans at the game. Every time Shane Duffy got the ball it coincided with loud booing. It forced the commentator doing ESPN's coverage to explain why Rovers fans were doing it. He said that Duffy's last 11 games for Rovers included him scoring 4, 3 own goals, and 2 sendings off. He then clarified that his last game Duffy scored 2 own goals and was sent off. Well done commentator. Yet another seedy incident explained to a wider audience.

Why don't stadiums have cameras situated level with the goal lines? Do the corner flags get in the way? I actually think it was a goal. The VAR angle seemed to show green next to the ball and the line but it wasn't conclusive. They shouldn't have bothered looking at other 2. It wasn't a foul nor was Gordon offside. I liked the game too. It was short on chances but there was lots of full-blooded play. Havertz was lucky to stay on, and Guimares should have been sent off for elbowing Jorginho. Wolves got screwed again. It was never a penalty.

My dad told me to use it on my boots when I was a kid - late 80's. It didn't last long. It was too sticky, didn't really help, and by then boot technology had improved so it wasn't needed. I did spend hours polishing them though.

Speaking of scams; BBC: Bankman-Fried found guilty of fraud Crypto exchange founder Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty of fraud yesterday. He's going to spend a long time in jail. I won't touch crypto with a 10 foot pole. I have a mate who is well into it. His take is that it's like playing with fire, and unless you know what you are doing you'll get burnt.

None of us have any idea which Rovers team will turn up, which is what happens when JDT has to pick youngsters week in week out. Szmodics has become the team talisman so hopefully he's fit. It's early for me but it's a Rovers game on TV so I'll be watching.

A Rovers 11 starting 7 academy graduates, and only 1 player over 25 gave a good account of themselves. It was always going to be hard, especially with Rovers having no goal threat, but the goals conceded were very poor. A half slap and a bad pass cost 2 goals. Without those incidents and if Chelsea kept Nico Jackson on it may have gone to penalties. It's been pointed out many times this season and it really stood out tonight; Rovers are a small side. Chelsea's players were much much bigger and looked miles stronger than the Rovers lads.

It's on in the USA so I'll be watching. I'd rather watch league games but I'll take what I can get. I expect a loss but anything can happen.

Sorry for derailing; but for those who can't be bothered looking it up Alan Partridge farmer's rant It's superb.

The Glazer's have been disliked since day one when they slapped oodles of debt onto the club to buy it. Ferguson was able to shield the owners from what they are having to listen to know because he was such a good manager. With him long gone the football is now a series of independent projects overseen by good, but not great, managers who are forced to deal with City having the best one around, and Liverpool having one not far behind. They have bought some utter utter dross over the years too. Fernandes can be an excellent player, but to make someone who whinges so much, and who has downed tools during games captain can't help. I say now and again that Rashford should leave Man U. He's being wasted and at the same time scapegoated for poor performances. He is a quality player. Antony is ineffectual. Martinez is too short to be a central defender. Varane and Casemiro's best days were in Madrid. Ten Hag has lost more games to start a season than Mourinho and Solskjaer. I say keep him in place for longer than those two. Make no mistake though, the Glazer's can't hold a candle to Venky in the ineptitude stakes.

YouTube is your friend here. However, if you have no idea what the reference is I doubt you'll find the scene funny.

Toothless Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Brentford. They make Rovers need for a striker seem trivial.

Here is the squad; Al Ittifaq squad It has to cause Henderson no end of consternation training and playing with players who have so much less ability than he's used to. It won't make him any better, nor will it keep his sharpness up to the level required to play international football. Southgate rates him and relies on him as a bridge between England coaches and players but the justification for picking him for future England squads gets smaller and smaller he longer he is there.

This season seems so much different yet it is very similar to last year at this point. 6 wins, 6 losses, but unlike last season JDT's men have already managed a draw. Last night's win puts Rovers in 10th on 19 points. After 13 games last season Rovers had 21 points and were sat in 6th. Bristol City and one of Brum or Hull (who play each other) can go above Rovers depending on their results tonight. Also, for all the prognostications about a lack of a goal scorer - which I agree with, only 5 teams have scored more than Rovers so far.