I know a ridiculous number of people who've got covid currently, I'm talking people in general not just football mates, it's bound to have an impact though. The problem then is it may appear that 20 quid tickets doesn't look like its worth bothering with to swag....hope I'm totally wrong though and the lads get the decent crowd they deserve....

The guidance is far too vague to start with. It says they should only use u23 players with 'appropriate experience'. Who the hell is judging the levels of experience required? Newcastle without ASM and Wilson would be pretty dire, much like Everton without DCL and Richarlison would have been vs Burnley. It's quite simple, you don't field a team you forfeit 3 points. See how many cry off with covid then....

Could do with an early goal tbh much like the Birmingham game, because it'll end up a frustrating park the bus job if not. No reason it can't end up a similar score to the Birmingham game if we do get an early one, a narrow 1-0 win if not...

Yeah unless both teams go out of the cup in the next round then it'll have to be midweek. Fixture pile ups are inevitable as the season can't end late because of the ridiculous world Cup next year. It would have been in Hulls best interest to play albeit with a depleted team (allegedly anyway)

Done. It alleges that I'll receive a response within 7 days, I won't hold my breath though...

Still livid about the shit show yesterday. We were literally 10 minutes from Hull when they announced it. No doubt the rearranged fixture will be a Tuesday night meaning I'll struggle to attend as I'm sure many others will as I saw quite a few fellow fans with children. Is it really that hard to put a sensible deadline in place to stop fans wasting both time and money, this isn't a one off, it keeps happening.

Not really, have you seen how late some games have been called off? Particularly for them rancid claret neighbours. I'm completely on edge personally!

Nope I'm in the same boat

Everything crossed that this goes ahead 🤞 Looks like it'll all come down to the Hull camp. Is the actual protocol to register a negative test on the actual day of the game for players? Assume so given some of the last minute postponements last weekend. Until then I'm a bit on edge I must admit, I remember when life was simpler than this 😑

Speaking of Maja, he came off the bench (and scored) the other day, albeit against a team of clogged, Bordeaux win 10-0

So Fulham lose..... Meaning we could go joint top on boxing day 😳

Lost interest in England years ago to be honest, obviously I still want them to win but they don't even come close to Rovers in terms of priorities! I grew up watching blood stained heroes like Butcher, its difficult to get behind a load of fairies who are more interested in hairstyles and dabbing nowadays.

Really hope we are still able to attend, not gonna bother getting a ticket just yet though as we'll be entitled to a big allocation anyway. Cheap tickets, close to travel to, perfect January cup tie, not to mention it being very winnable! I wonder how seriously we'll take the cup though this time? The league is number 1 priority more than ever, but it would be good to see how we get on against a prem team the way we're playing.

I think the masterplan was to have Nyambe and JRC battling it out for the right back/wing back spot, which in theory would be absolutely fine. We've reached the point now though where its obvious JRC would get injured just wiping his backside. Its unfortunate because I really want him to do well for us but time to bring in plan B in January.

I grew up initially in the Blackburn End enclosure, then switched over to the Riverside with my dad. He still sits in the same seat now but with my lad instead many years on. Its definitely not just a price thing as he splashes cash like its going out of fashion. Of course it's not fancy and yes it does look a bit out of place but it most certainly serves a purpose as there's probably many more like my dad. I migrated to the Blackburn End when I got a bit older purely to sit with mates but wouldn't have an issue sitting in there again at some point.

I think we need to hope this damn pandemic doesn't make prem clubs think they need to pad their squads out a bit to compensate for first teamers being unavailable due to positive tests etc. As invaluable as our top players are to us, I think that's all they'd be to them - squad players. Apart from teams struggling at the foot of the table, and would they rather be involved in a promotion push or a relegation scrap? I know which I'd pick. They only need to look at Adam Armstrong to realise life after Rovers ain't always all that, in fact it very rarely does lead to better things historically. We need to gamble any potential quick buck in Jan for the millions of the prem. This isn't a mercerman banker, this is an actual gamble with a chance of winning!

Well that was a bit good, if that exquisite chip had gone in from Diaz it would have been the best goal on Ewood in years! For a few weeks now we've been thinking we'll do a 'rovers' and brick ourselves when we get near the top 6, we'll we've gone past that stage now surely. Even the goal difference is back looking decent now after the Fulham debacle. Get lucky on the injury front and keep the team together and they can go very far, it's been a long while since I've been enjoying games week in, week out this much!

It's just our bloody luck really ain't it. Playing well, the football is enjoyable, dreams of promotion, and a real chance to increase the gates etc then BOOM who the hell knows how the season will pan out now. I know people says there more important things in life than football but I'll happily admit the Christmas period wouldn't be the same without it.

Yeah good luck with the world Cup going ahead when next winter we're enduring the 23rd wave of covid 🤣

Half of league 1 is off too. Expect an announcement tomorrow folks I'm afraid. This feels all too familiar, didn't Liverpool play basically the last game before the shitstorm started last time round and their game with Atletico was blamed for a spike in infections? Very grim outlook for festive football 😕

Brighton wouldn't be calling all the shots though. He returns from his (second) loan spell and gets told they want to keep him but he's not going to be in the starting XI he may decide to opt for a team in which he's a key member of the first team. As I said though its far too early days anyway.

Bit early to say but if Van Hecke continues to perform then there's no reason he can't sign for a newly promoted team in the prem much like what happened with Tosin.

But the worry now is (again) that Nyambe has "felt his hamstring" and the only alternative usually is playing someone out of position to cover for him. Right back simply MUST be strengthened in January, its going to need to be anyway by the looks of the contract situation. Right sided Harry Pickering, make yourself known!

Isn't Sam Gallagher already our highest paid player? If he wasn't he surely will be now....

Been cautiously enjoying the recent run, I think today has confirmed though that we're officially looking at a potential play offs spot. Bournemouth will probably point to a few injuries like Stoke did, but we have them too including our keeper and obviously Dacky. Hats off to Pears, solid performance, he seems to have really improved. A few worrying injuries, the way things are going that's still the biggest threat to this season. Sounds like Whartons was just a stomach upset but Nyambe feeling his hamstring is a big worry when there's a lack of cover there. Van Hecke hopefully isn't too bad. Dropping the possession based nonsense has done no end of good, just 32% for us today and another comfortable win.