speeeeeeedie

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.

I too don't listen to interviews, they offer nothing. I do miss going to matches. Living in the USA I go to the odd MLS game, I usually go to a pre season friendly to see the European big boys jog around, and get a couple in when I go back to England. I also benefit from the time difference. Games are over and done with by 5pm my time. I always have my evenings, and afternoon weekends free. The games are also easily accessible. I am more interested in the technical/tactical aspect of football rather than the emotional side.

I got part of it right...... What a strange tie with an amazing end. PSG were streets ahead of Man U in both legs yet ended up going out. They were guilty of overconfidence last night. Lukaku's first showed that. Mbappe was a big offender too. Buffon had an off night as well. I said after they went out last year that PSG lack a tough game mentality. It's still there. They don't get tested in their domestic league. I think that they are 30 points clear at the moment. That's mental. As long as the disparity between them and the rest exists they will struggle in the knockout stages. The Kuwaitis should buy up 4 other teams to give them some competition. The only French team to ever win the Champs League/European Cup was Marseille, and they cheated to do it.

Is that any different than following Rovers? They have a media department and players are coached on what to say. Mowbray does say more than most but it's still the same old platitudes. I'm probably the opposite of most on here, I follow football first, and Rovers happen to be my team. I don't watch live games so my interest in BRFC has waned, especially after the events since Venkys took over. I'll never follow another team and keep up with Rovers news. The best players play in the Champions League so I watch it. This week has seen some great games. I wrote about Ajax yesterday, and the Man U game was equally impressive.