Tyrone Shoelaces

Just to cheer us all up can I just remind everyone that it was on Easter Saturday 1963 that I saw the finest goal I’ve ever seen scored in the flesh. The scorer was Bryan Douglas of course. The game was against West Brom at Ewood. Here’s what Alf Thornton had to say about it in that evenings “ Last Sports “. - “ At 80 minutes DOUGLAS brought the house down with a wonder goal such as only he of present day footballers can score. He picked the ball up on his wing at the half way line, shrugged off attempted tackles by Clark and Bannister, went inside at speed and beat Williams, Jones and Fairfax with beautiful body swerves as though they did not exist before crashing in a terrific drive. The Rovers players dashed to congratulate him and the crowd gave him a standing ovation “. I was right behind the goals at the Darwen End and I had a birdseye view of the run from start to finish. It really was an amazing goal and I consider myself really blessed to have been there to see it. Alf’s report doesn’t really do it justice to be honest. Dougie was at genius level with the ball at his feet. There can’t be many of us left now that actually witnessed it, the gate was only 11,451 that afternoon. This was the day after we’d beaten a good Sheffield Wed team 3-0 at Ewood in front of a gate of 14,361.

McGinn was the biggest miss but not altogether Mowbray’s fault.

The defending team should always have a spare man defending at a corner. The opposition have one man at least actually taking the corner. It’s just rank bad defensive organisation. In my book zonal marking is a mistake waiting to happen. Expecting Bremerton to mark anyone is a joke. He’d be better off stood on the half way line ensuring the opposition have to bring a player or two back to mark him.

In my experience centre halves aren’t the sharpest knives in the box. All that heading etc.

Nobody in their right mind signs a player going off one performance. Especially if it’s a big money signing. I used to knock about with a guy who was a City scout. He’d watch a player 4 or 5 time and it would always be at an away match. He reckon that was more of a true test of a good player. We’ve all played amateur football and had the odd game were we looked like world beaters.

I’m pretty sure that is Tommy Gemmell and not Denis Law. My immediate impression of the other mystery player was Bobby Moncur of Newcastle United.

I liked what Johnno did with what is effectively the reserve team in previous seasons but I wouldn’t want anyone who’s involved with the current “ performances “. It’s an example of how not to play football.

Absolute shite interview on radio Lancs from Mowbray. I don’t know why I listen, he spent more time talking Wycombe up. Mumble, mumble, mumble. He’d talk a glass eye to sleep. Same old story today, the players have downed tools already and are being allowed to get away with it. Losing to the bottom of the league without a whimper. Anybody with an ounce of integrity would be calling it a day after that. If he’s still here next season I’ll be breaking the habit of a lifetime and putting a £10 on us to go down.

I thought we missed Grealish tonight. I don’t like this way of playing were right footed players ( Stirling ) play on the left and left footed players ( Foden ) play on the right. Foden had a great chance second half and the goalie could have thrown his cap on his right footed shot

I though not.

Anybody fancy England after watching that, fill your boots. I thought the pen was a dive.

Too many think they’ve got it made already. They’re on easy street. Having a decent coach would help though.

Dull game. I could have played in goal for England tonight in my slippers.

There aren’t many good slow fullbacks.

That was my first thought. Southgate’s not related to Mowbray is he ?

Nothing to do with England but the lad I thought was a good keeper, Sanchez who was on loan at Rochdale from Brighton last season, has been called up to the full Spanish squad. And we got Walton instead.

I take it you never saw Bryan Douglas . If you had you’d know the difference between dribbling with the ball and just running after it.

I don’t recall him trying many. That wasn’t his game. Running into space past people brought him most of his goals, like lots of strikers.

How many successful dribbles did Shearer complete in a game ?

He’s caught my eye on the Blackpool highlights this year. He’s quick and he knows where the goals are. He’s more of a “ leader of the line “ than Armstrong is.

He seems to either score or make a goal every time he plays. They aren’t tap ins either. They love him down there.

Yeah, good finish.

He’s keeping them up on his own at the moment.

We’ve already invested £12 million in the “ right “ signings and we’re nearer to the bottom 6 than the top 6. I wouldn’t give Mowbray another penny to “ invest “.

I’ll be watching it later. It’s got a 5 star review in today’s “ Guardian “. That doesn’t happen often.