Before any players are signed Mowbray needs to review his fitness staff. The last 15 minute goals against stat that was posted a month or so ago shows to me that the team isn't fit enough. After that bring in a central defender. Gary Cahill anyone?

Agreed. They had Barcelona on the ropes even at 1-0 down. Fabinho wasn't his usual self. He contributed to the last 2 Barcelona goals. He tackled Messi for the 2nd, but it turned into a through ball for Suarez, and he gave away the free kick for the 3rd. Dembele's miss in the last second was horrendous. He skied an easy chance before that too. There's always a chance that Liverpool can claw it back. Roma did it to Barcelona last year, but I can't see Liverpool doing it though. However, I suspect we'll see the worst of Barcelona next week. Fouls, diving, time wasting, feigning injury, anything to put Liverpool out of their rhythm. Sturridge was that extra striker but is a shadow of his former self. Injuries? Inability to fit into Klopp's style?

The Dutch league cancelled their program last weekend to give Ajax time to prepare, whilst Spurs sputtered against West Ham. Pochettino had a good moan about it. The Ajax manager's retort was along the lines of well we can't compete with your budget so have to find other ways of levelling the playing field.

They have. They started like a house on fire last night. Spurs didn't know what to do. In the end they were lucky to only lose 1-0. Spurs were a bit toothless up front, but that was unsurprising with both Kane and Son out. Pochettino will have them ready next week, but Ajax are a talented bunch. Any news on Vertongen? He was ready to go back on then his legs buckled.

That happened to me too. I didn't move either. People there said it sounded like a gunshot. I broke 2 lads legs, not compound like mine but breaks all the same. Both were without intent and innocuous challenges too. I'm still baffled how one of them happened nearly 30 years later. I am with the majority that the ball should not be put out of play for "injuries". Carry on playing. Players and refs usually know when someone is really hurt. A lack of movement, concern from those close by, players not lying on their front, and not clutching their face. If it's serious the ref will blow their whistle.

I tried to work out the results that could send Stanley down, but I gave up. I don't think that they can based on the teams below them having to play each other. A draw at home to Plymouth on Saturday is all they need to officially secure League One football.

There is no doubt that Barcelona are streets ahead of Man U, but I thought that it was a relatively even affair. Barcelona weren't their usual fluid selves but never looked like conceding. I can't see anything other than Barcelona progressing. They aren't PSG. As for the other tie, Ajax were unlucky. However, Ronaldo again makes a difference.

Here is the full quote. It's adds more colour to the situation. “Harrison needs to learn a bit of discipline about central midfield in my opinion. Normally I play Smallwood and Evans in the middle of the pitch because they stop the counter-attacks and play their position. “Harrison is naturally a bundle of energy and runs everywhere, he’s out on the wing, he’s in the box, on the left wing, and the midfield is empty. “He did his job of winning the ball, feeding the team and I thought he did all that perfectly for us. He kept winning the ball back, kept things moving and stopped counter-attacks. “If he plays like that then there’s no reason he couldn’t play central midfield for us every week.”

Stoke also had Choupo-Moting who's now at PSG. There are always decent players to be had from relegated teams.

A good win that puts all the relegation talk to bed. Now it's happily back to arguing over Mowbray's team selections.

Liverpool looked relatively comfortable and have a clean sheet to take with them to Portugal. They could have had more, but Porto could have nabbed one too. City showed their European naïveté again. They are the better team but failed to put their stamp on the game. De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Sane weren't in the starting 11 either. Guardiola may be thinking too much.

I know it's a few years old but I've just finished Class of '92 about Salford City. I thought that it was brilliant. I had a quick look at where they are now; 2nd in the National League. It looks like all that money they've put in is going somewhere.

I agree with you. He trusted his team to have the ability to be able to perform a higher level. For the most part he's right. Playoffs were pie in the sky talk. Fulham signed a new team who couldn't gel and have promptly been relegated. Upheaval for upheaval's sake is never good for a football club, especially as one as mental as Rovers. Mowbray needs to make improvements but it's ultimately up to Venkys. Will they open their wallet to buy what is needed for a promotion push?

That's how I read it too. I agree with the premise as well. I'd keep Mowbray. It's almost universal that a squad overhaul is needed but who knows how much say he has on transfers. He is a good man manager. Players like him which goes a long way. I said a few months ago that he should be looking to appoint a new coach to work on game shape and tactics. I still think this. Although I doubt that he will get rid of Venus. He's his pal and suffered a tragedy recently.

I agree. It has been a dramatic change. The "golden generation" were consumed with club rivalries that bled into the national team. The Man U lads geed up by Ferguson had no love for other clubs, then the Chelsea players were egged on in the same fashion by Mourinho, and it stuck with them too. There is plenty to look forward to. The new crop are benefitting from playing at youth level together. Sancho and the like won youth tournaments with England, which was overseen by Southgate. He has managed to integrate that into the senior set up. I advocated for Allardyce to become England manager as he would have done a good job. But I doubt we would have seen Hudson-Odoi, Sancho, and Rashford playing for England regularly with him.

Some rather harsh opinions on players getting time off. Let them have it. It can't do them any harm can it? They've been atrocious for a month.

I read that VAR was in place for the FA Cup games at Premier League grounds but not at Swansea. They end up going out due to an offside goal. How is that fair?

You're not the type who comes on here to post provocative comments that wind people up so I have to take it that you are serious with this comment. Messi is a genius, pure and simple. One of the most gifted footballers ever. He's made everyone he's played against look silly. If you don't want my opinion search what any player, former player, manager, or pundit has to say about him. Or YouTube some of his highlights. There are plenty so I'll not post any on here.

I didn't know that. Did he give up his shares too? Anyway it matters not now does it?

Something iffy has gone on. However, Scholes doesn't strike me as a manager type either so he may have come to that conclusion himself and decided to chuck it in whilst it was easy to do so. I still don't understand how he can part own Salford City yet be involved at another club.

It reads like it was a deserved win. Although not a vintage performance. Wigan beat Rovers for the League 1 title last year. Rovers are sitting in a much better spot than them this season despite the iffy run since January. I'd say that Mowbray has done his job. The result should put any talk of relegation to bed, which is nice. It was good to see that 4 academy graduates played last night which has led to a couple of blooding the youngsters posts. My guess is that Mowbray only did it out of necessity. He'll be back to his tried and tested group as soon as they are fit.

The Juventus game is one reason why I like watching Champions League football. It was a great game. Simeone's negativity cost them. He should have tried to attack especially with the players he has at his disposal. I'll leave the Messi v. Ronaldo fanboy debate well alone but Ronaldo earned his corn last night. Juventus would be out without him. City made it look easy.

Stanley have been dropping like a stone. Last time I checked they were top 6. They aren't far off a relegation spot now. My guess is the league has caught up with them. It's a big jump from League 2 for a club with their budget. I also saw that Paul Scholes is yet to win a game as Oldham manager. They've conceded last minute goals in all of his 4 games in charge.

Looking over the last 5 games form table North End are 2nd Rovers are bottom. Using BRFCS logic it's got to be a nailed on Rovers win. Early kick off, bad form, good away following, grumblings around the manager, North End fancying themselves, all point to an "upset".

I know that I'm in the minority, especially on here. I've never had the emotional attachment to Rovers that many have. I remember reading Gav's posts about his guilt and sadness toward his family at not going to games because of Venkys. It baffled me why he felt that way. But he's far from alone.