On 01/11/2023 at 07:37, wilsdenrover said:

I’ve never heard of dubbin - to save me a Google what was it?

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.

On 02/07/2023 at 06:35, Norbert Rassragr said:

Count me out of this. So many of these are scams, or linked to scams. I have a friend who invests a bit in one called XLM or something like that, which proper traditional banks are apparently investing in. There may be some legit ones, but I'm not getting involved as it would be the same as me betting on a Kabbadi tournament.

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. 

3 hours ago, lraC said:

I don't think there is any coverage in the UK. It is being shown overseas, in several different countries, including Spain, where I will watch it from.

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. 

4 hours ago, bazza said:

 

I managed to find it. It's called," Alan's farmer rant" on YouTube

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

5 hours ago, Upside Down said:

If you don't get it you never will.

It's absolutely genius.

It's superb. 

4 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Neville is hard work to listen too when it comes to United because he cant avoid reverting back to discussing the Glazers.

That might sound rich because we know full well that the owners are invariably responsible for anything. But even yesterday, he tried to shut down Carragher for questioning the fact that there is no discernable style of play.

And obviously it isnt comparable to us. Venkys slash the budget beyond competitive levels. They overrule the manager/DOF on player sales to then allow assets to leave for free. Hardly comparable to being allowed to spend 100s of millions including on players you want from previous clubs.

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. 

24 minutes ago, rigger said:

Still no clearer.

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.

9 hours ago, lraC said:

You can tell that he went there to enhance his career then and not for the money. 

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. 

20 hours ago, DE. said:

Cheers TS. It helps me keep up with what's going on in the division, and hopefully it's useful for other people in the same way. 

I like it too. I get all the Premier league I want but Championship coverage is a bit haphazard. 

The Championship is one crazy league. It's predictable an unpredictable every season. Predictable in that 1 team always runs away with top spot - this season it will be Leicester. Then another team is usually a solid 2nd.  After that it's mayhem. 

Rovers sit in 15th - only 3 points off a playoff spot

Huddersfield are 18th - 6 points away from the bottom 3, yet only 5 points short of 6th.

It's barmy. 

On 21/10/2023 at 09:27, ItsRoverZ said:

Liverpool vs Everton was ruined today by a sending off for Ashley Young with 2 yellow cards for his only 2 fouls.

Ref then didn't send off Konate for the exact same thing, wonder why eh not anything to do with Liverpool crying in the media about the spurs game.

Ruined the game for me as a neutral 

I thought the same. Once a player gets sent off the team with 10 plays with everyone behind the ball and tries not to concede. The game becomes boring. Liverpool got lucky with the penalty. It definitely was one, but I didn't see them scoring otherwise. 

On 21/10/2023 at 09:59, RoverDom said:

It's very easy to get sent off in the PL these days. Neither Young or Konate should have seen red but one did. Lack of consistency again. 

When did every foul become a booking? 

Young's second booking was harsh. It was a mis timed tackle. However, I think most ref's would have booked a player for the tackle. Should the referee have given him some leeway as he'd already been booked? 

It's a fine line but I don't think Konate's second foul was a booking. He did put his arm out, but the Everton player wouldn't have got the ball. 

I can't stand the "technical foul" that he got booked for. They are a blight on the game. If you get beat play on. 

There are far too many sendings off. It's finite and really changes a game. The rules around cards were developed in another era. They need changing. Refine the criteria for reds and yellows? A sin bin? Another colour whereby that player has to leave, still gets a ban, but can be replaced so 11 are still playing. 

On 15/10/2023 at 04:26, Mattyblue said:

Those were the days

https://x.com/bryansgunn/status/1713448693280440366?s=46&t=0qpJAzFbB4pruhsuQZIcKg

That was absolutely fascinating to watch. There was no other strategy other than to get it as high and as far up the park as possible. They look like NFL punters, but it used to be the norm.

I doubt that it will ever return. Law changes and keeper confidence with a ball at their feet aren't going away. 

On 16/10/2023 at 17:27, simongarnerisgod said:

at least anyone of a certain age can remember fondly those big matches,standing on a packed terrace,watching through pouring rain,endless chanting and shouting,two sides going at it full on,hard but fair and a ref who let the game flow and going absolutely mental when we scored😊

As someone who grew up watching and playing football in post Heysel England, I experienced first-hand all the changes that the game went through. I have to say that the changes were for the better, although would stadiums have modernised as quicky as they did without the Taylor report? 

Going to Ewood as a 10 or 11 year old was a surreal experience. Barbed wire. High fences. The worst toilets imaginable. But it was the norm for the game at the time. 

Players have changed too. Individual fitness and technique has improved across the board* General thuggery is no longer part of the game. Although I do agree that individual flair has been sacrificed. I had a chat with a Premier league coach (maybe former now) a few years back. One of the things he said was that Riyad Mahrez was a throwback to a bygone era. His summation as to why was because he was picked up relatively late so was able to develop skills without interruption from others. The irony of the conversation was not lost on me when he signed for Guardiola who preaches system above all.

*I'm not saying that players who played in the past wouldn't now, they would as they had enough skill to be a professional. That would not change. 

I liked this article on Kalvin Phillips' state of play; ESPN: Phillips needs to play. It sounds like he wants to move. 

Unlike with Maguire Southgate has no alternatives to Phillips. He won't play Stones there. 

I also think that the 4-2-3-1 formation Southgate is now deploying makes England more attacking. The extra cover gives the front 4 more license to go, and it frees up Bellingham. 

It's roughly 9 months before the tournament starts. I'd say that Southgate already has the vast majority of his squad written down.

The Qatar 2002 squad;

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale

- It's 2 of three from Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale, Sam Johnstone to join Pickford. 

Defenders: Ben White, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Eric Dier, Harry Maguire, Conor Coady, Luke Shaw.

- replaced by Guehi, Colwill, Tomori. Chilwell and James were both injured last year. Will they both be back? There should be a spot open as Southgate lists Trent Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder. 

Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Connor Gallagher, Kalvin Phillips.

- he hasn't played since France last year and is struggling in a dodgy Man U team.

Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Callum Wilson, Jack Grealish, James Maddison

- Sterling has been a Southgate favourite but has had a spotty year. If Pochettino gets him going he may be back. I think Wilson is done. Watkins? Calvert-Lewin?

11 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Easy win v an Italian side miles away from the very top sides internationally.

Very dull game, but with a front 4 like that including the best striker and attacking midfield duo in the world, we will score from not that many chances. With some of the elite talent we have, we could and should be much more fluid than we are, against the big teams the central midfield 2 (especially Phillips obviously or Henderson if he gets the nod) and Maguire are the weak points. Dont like a right footer at left back either.

Phillips showed his lack of match time. He looked off the pace and was lucky not to be sent off. Southgate will play 2 holding midfielders. Who would you play instead of Phillips? I don't know who else can do it. Ward-Prowse? Gallagher? Alexander-Arnold?

There's no point in me commenting on Maguire. I've said my piece on him repeatedly.

Tripper is only playing there because Shaw and Chilwell are injured. He's another who Southgate trusts so will play more than others but wouldn't be there if either of the first two are fit. 

Southgate is going with a 4-2-3-1.

                  Pickford

Walker  Stones  Maguire  Tripper

              Rice  Phillips

Rashford  Bellingham  Foden

                   Kane

I've said it before and I'll say it again; it's Maguire's spot to lose. Now will he move in January to play games, or does he think he'll keep it no matter what?

42 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

I thought the best Brasil team never to win was in 98.

They were a good side but they had a few left over from 1994 who were past their prime. Dunga, Aldair, and Bebeto all played a lot and were all well past 30. They were all on their way down. They also had a massive central defender who was not very good. 

Ronaldo's panic attack/injury/who knows what before the final took the sting out of the game before it started. They never got going.

I'll look it up but I think that Kluivert missed a sitter for the Dutch in semi final extra time that would have put them out 

They also got lucky against Denmark in the quarter final. Roberto Carlos pulled off a comedy move for the ages. It still makes me laugh now when I see it. He tried an overhead kick clearance in his own box instead of heading it. He missed the ball by a country mile and it fell to Brian Laudrup who equalised. 

46 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

To be fair, minutes under their belt might hurt. The likes of Bowen, Watkins, Grealish, Tomori, Dunk, Alexander Arnold etc all have not only busy domestic schedules but European football too.

Thankfully I didnt watch as it seems like I didnt miss anything.

Minutes in the sense that they got a taste of international football. Any player can get injured at any time. 

The game was turgid so the story moves to Henderson getting booed. 

He moved to Saudi Arabia. He can claim footballing reasons all he likes but he's getting paid silly money for playing with and against substandard players watched by very few interested people. 

Maguire gets stick as he's not playing. Henderson cannot be as sharp either. He has done well for England but has tarnished hid legacy by moving. 

Anyway, the B team won and played like strangers. Minutes under their belt won't hurt. 

On 11/10/2023 at 14:45, roversfan99 said:

Im not sure the Italy game is too important, lose and we will still easily qualify. The Australia game is a waste of time.

Some of the selections are predictable yet ridiculous. Southgate will not get the best from this crop of players. Maguire is a joke selection even amidst an average pool of centre backs. Phillips doesnt get a sniff at City even with Rodri out. Henderson is playing in Saudi Arabia. None should be near the squad, all will play minutes.

In an ideal world, we would be able to put Stones in midfield next to Rice and try that behind Bellingham. 

And we still have to suffer yet another international break in a few weeks.

I know what you are saying but I think Italy is important for a few reasons. England rarely beat Italy, doing so in a competitive match is a worthy achievement. A win will give England top spot which, after the Nations League relegation, will help with group seeding. 

We'll see what side Southgate puts out today. I understand the grief Maguire gets but Southgate will play him. Phillips needs a new club. His move to City was puzzling, it's looking worse now. If he'd have signed for Liverpool he'd be much better off. 

Henderson should be banished.  

On 11/10/2023 at 01:00, Upside Down said:

No team sports though.

They just created their own shit versions of games that already existed elsewhere.

You've given me a nice new discussion point for my American friends, and not anything I've really thought about before. 

The USA has an inordinate amount of athletic talent and facilities to match. A lot of the rest of the world's best use America as their base. At least half of the European Ryder Cup team live in America. 

They have done much better at women's team sports; football, volleyball, gymnastics (they do have a team event) to name a few, primarily down to universities having to fund women's sport programs to the same level as they do American football.

They are still top dogs at basketball, now a global sport. But they are being caught up. The current best player in the NBA is Serbian, a Greek is not far behind, and a French lad is being tipped as the next superstar.

Edit; I've been saying this for years but if they manage to seriously crack into Latino and urban black kids they'll win a World Cup. However, it's not looking likely any time soon. Football in the USA still values speed and athleticism over football brains, all coached by substandard people.

53 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Also would say the players are much better balanced now. We had an excellent set of attacking mids/forwards in 04 to 06 but they all wanted to play central in the number 10 area of the pitch (Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, Joe Cole). Even Beckam was quite a narrow right sided player. 

We use the width of the pitch in the final third a lot better now. But.... we lack good defenders and goal keeper which was never really a problem till the last 10 years or so.

If an English keeper and a pair of centrebacks can show real authority over the season then I think we might have a real Euros winning team. Great full backs, centre mids, wide mids, and - as long as Kane is fit - goals up top.

Pickford has not put a foot wrong. He's not Dino Zoff but he's better that what England have had in a long time.

I mentioned this before but I don't think England have had good keepers in my era. I saw the back end of Shilton, who was past his best but played due to a lack of alternatives. After him has been a succession of mediocrity. Chris Woods. David Seaman, David James Joe Hart, and Paul Robinson all had a decent amount of caps but I doubt anyone would stick them in an elite group. Then the barrel scraping really starts. Rob Green. Nigel Martyn. Richard Wright. Chris Kirland. All bang average.

6 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Colwill and stones 

I like Colwill but if Maguire moves in January he'll be playing. If he stays at Man U to be 4th choice Southgate may not have a choice but to drop him. 

International week is upon us. England have a friendly against Australia on Friday then a big qualifier against Italy next Tuesday. 

Southgate's picks here; BBC - England squad

No Sterling or Mount, but Southgate staples Maguire, Henderson, Phillips, and Stones are in. Stones, unlike the others, has been injured all season but he's another who Southgate trusts, and, who is a likely starter when fully fit.

Will Southgate go with the formation he went with against Scotland? Letting Bellingham cause havoc can only be good for England, and playing 2 holding midfielders gives Southgate the cover he likes.

I fully expect that Maguire will play as will at least one of Henderson and Phillips will be alongside Rice in midfield. Saka is out so who'll play wide? 

On 02/10/2023 at 18:58, Aqualung said:

RIP to Franny Lee BTW. 

It wouldn't be a surprise to me if that famous punch up between him and Norman Hunter got reviewed and both players stayed on the pitch!! 

Fuck Var off and go back to the old system imho. 

I'm late to this one. I was going to post it last week but got sidetracked and forgot. 

Here is the punch up; Derby v Leeds Nov. 1975 - YouTube

I've seen it loads of times but never paid it much attention and it really shows changes in football and life. Hunter thought that Lee dived for the penalty. What amazes me is that Lee is at most 31. He looks like he's in his 50's. His paunch and balding head belie his talent.