That’s why lots of games in the recent World Cup were so thrilling. The refs let the game be more physical.

Are they thermostatic valves or just the plain ones ? Thermostatic valves can jam easily. When you bled the rad did you turn the system off whilst you did it ? I presume cold water was coming out of the bleed valve. Did the radiator not warm up from the bottom at all ? When you are bleeding the radiator resist the temptation to remove the bleed screw completely. I made that mistake once about 10 seconds before the scalding hot water decided to put in an appearance.

He never developed. He was making the same mistakes at 25 as he was at 18. Some of his injuries were caused by him being rash and over committing.

That was always going to happen. They would have had to throw the ref under a bus and they’re not going to do that just for Rovers.

Yeah, if you’ve had a succession of injuries you try and protect yourself to the detriment of your playing ability. I think he’s now gone all in. Let’s hope it pays off.

Same applies to Brentford and Fulham this season. The minute you drop out of the Prem you’re standing still and the rest are running. The longer you’re out the further behind you are.

For most of the time “ survive “ is the operative word. Until the day you don’t survive. Looking over your shoulder all the time. We had it with Ince and Kean, bloody awful.

I’m not, for obvious reasons. The referee’s decision has to be seen to be supported.

Neither am I but I’d be more unhappy if he gets 3 matches. His previous record won’t be much help there unfortunately.

If it was Rugby League he’d get a “ sending off sufficient “ verdict. That way everybody would be happy.

If I were Hirst in particular I’d be asking to be recalled. He’s only going backwards here.

Khadra hasn’t got a football brain. Plenty of pace will only get you so far at a higher level.

Is it not ? He’s usually first to ten bookings in the squad. He’d be there now but for the fact he’s been dropped for half the games.

Brittain’s better on the ball without a doubt but nobody gave Nyambe a chasing that I saw. Plenty of times his pace got the right side centre halves out of trouble as well.

I was listening to Alan Mullery on the radio this morning. He was telling how Alf Ramsey told him to follow Pele everywhere in the World Cup game in 1970.. So at half time he followed him right into the Brazil dressing room ! When he got back to the England dressing room Ramsey said “ Alan, where have been ? “ . Mullery said “ You told me to follow Pele everywhere Alf ! “ That was the best I ever saw England play and the best I ever saw Mullery play. He was magnificent in trying to hold Pele at his best.

If I was a championship winger I’d rather be playing against Brittain than Nyambe.

Not now they’re not.

I don’t think I am matey. Can you name me a more petulant Rovers player ? He gets booked every other game and they’re all for childish acts. He needs to grow up.

I get the feeling all is not well behind the scenes. Are the players not happy with JDT ?

Wasn’t Gally coughing up blood after that centre half at Luton elbowed him in the chest last season ? Let’s hope the lad is back playing again soon.

I was lucky growing up in the 1960’s. Three of the sports I love, and took part in to a greater or lesser extent, football - cricket - boxing were dominated by the three best I ever saw. Pele, Mohammed Ali and Gary Sobers.

Fred Pickering was doing that before Cruyff.

His attitude stinks and it has done all the time he’s been in the team. He must be the most petulant player I’ve ever seen in my time watching Rovers. I can’t recall him ever being carded for a proper tackle. It’s always snidey, sly, childish stuff. However part of the problem lies with the management at the club. They should have eradicated his attitude early on in his career. Can you see Souey, Sparky or Big Sam putting up with an absolutely ridiculously long series of pointless yellow cards ? I remember my only sending off. It was in an interdepartmental game and I got frustrated and took it out on the guy who was marking me. Next morning I was called up before the Works Engineer ( God in the engineering industry ) to got a bollocking for letting the department and myself down. I learnt from that episode. Will John Buckley.

The Tugay one was crackers. Maybe he needed to be somewhere else. The Andy Todd on Dugarry was pointless but very funny. The most pointless one I ever saw was in Rovers favour. We were playing Utd at Old Trafford in the relegation season of 1965-66. We were losing 2-0 and playing like real no-hopers. At that time we were fielding Mike England as a centre forward and he must have done something to rile Harry Gregg in the Utd goal. Gregg was notorious for having a short fuse. Late in the second half Rovers got a corner and as it was swung in Gregg came running out of his goal and punched England square on the side of the head with a right hook. The ball was yards away. Gregg just carried on walking to the changing rooms. He didn’t look around at the ref or Mike England who was laid out on the ground. He must have thought the game was over. Of course Mike Harrison scored from the resulting penalty. Striker David Herd was the stand in goalie, no sub goalies then. He actually tried to run along the line to stop the ball - no chance. After that it was game on. Rovers actually equalised with an equally comical free kick which hit the wall and looped over the hapless Herd in the Utd goal. It gave me hope that we might avoid the drop but it wasn’t to be.

The Tugay one was crackers. Maybe he needed to be somewhere else. The Andy Todd on Dugarry was pointless but very funny.