Tyrone Shoelaces

Very one sided. Two of the Spanish players should have had a card.

Spain must be spewing.

All Spain in extra time. The ref gave us nothing.

I’d have kept Russo on with Angymang.

When it comes to beating players nobody comes near Dougie.

Amoroso in and no Nelsen ?

Really hard one to call. I might change my mind now you’ve said that but Fred was another really top player. More skilful than Shearer but not as tough and hard to play against.

If it was a boxing match they’d stop it. They’re playing the game with all ten out field players in our half. When we win the ball we’ve 75 yards to run. When they win it they’re in the last third. They fitter, faster, winning most of the 50/50 balls. We look tired. Playing James was a bollock, she was obviously not fit. The coach will have to earn her corn now.

The player that caused the introduction of medicals was Alan Gilliver. A big centre forward who came from Huddersfield to Rovers with an on going back injury. We actually got £18,000 of the £32,000 fee back. We’d already had our fingers burnt when we signed another centre forward in Martin Britt from West Ham who came with a bad knee injury. He retired from the game after playing about a dozen games for us. Both looked really good signings before the injuries emerged. We should have paid Fred Pickering the money, We spent twice as much as we got for his fee trying to replace him. Jimmy Kerr was top class. I saw him play quite a few times for Bury at the time and he was a good ‘un. In the style of David Dunn. He also played about a dozen games before having to call it a day. Steve Agnew was another big signing that got injured immediately he signed for us. A classy midfielder, I think he played 1 game ! Another very good player who’s career was over right away. All of them were very promising young players who had to retire early. Such a shame

Why change a rule that has worked well for decades.

In my lifetime. Freidel Newton England Hendry LeSaux M Ferguson Clayton Douglas Duff Shearer F Pickering

Something that occurred to me the other day. Why wasn’t Pant batting with a runner when he obviously had a very sore foot ?

Chuck Willis - I Don’t Wanna Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes

I’ve been there a couple of times. As you say, a great venue.

I scored with a couple of thunderbolts in my playing career but I never managed to dribble around half the opposing team like Bryan Douglas could.

The Essex - A Walkin’ Miracle

We need to make them dance to our tune. If they get to play the game their way we’ll be up against it.

I suppose Haaland is the nearest at the moment. Not in Shearer’s league though. Prime Shearer would possibly have scored in every game if he was in the City team of a season or two back. My view is we only saw him at his real prime before the first injury. He lost half a yard of pace after that. He was still prolific but not quite as quick as he was before. After the other injury at Newcastle he lost another half a yard. Did he ever score with a left footed thunderbolt apart from the goal against Utd. ? I can’t remember many.

Not on the pitch then ?

Two left footed players crossing the ball in from the left. It’ll never catch on. They need to be playing on the other wing and coming inside into heavy traffic.

In the last two men’s finals I had that feeling that once we go behind or we’re drawing we aren’t going to get a winner. A bit like Rovers at the moment. The women seem to be able to find a way.

Not always. A seems to depend on whereabouts on the pitch you are. If it’s in your own half sometimes all you get is free kick. Sometimes nothing.

That slight foul on players breaking away does my head in. Just enough of a foul to stop their progress but not too physical. Usually a shirt pull or a grab of the arm. It’s getting established in the game at all levels. As you say City are the worst culprits.

And then they sold the rights to Sky and most of those new cricket fans were left out in the cold.

He’s not. We were discussing this the other day and I said Tyjon reminded me of Paul Gallagher. A neat and tidy footballer with a good eye for goal and excellent football intelligence let down by his lack of real pace,