Highlights of the Benfica game.

How much costlier is that as a process though? I'd imagine the markup on shirts is enormous and could stand the added cost. I have Firetrap t-shirts from Sports Direct that must use that kind of printing and only cost me a tenner (albeit that's not the RRP). Good as new is right. Even the club badge is in much better nick than some of the newer ones, some of which have started to shrink and crinkle in on themselves, so you're right about the manufacturing quality being higher.

In fairness, and this is in no way a defence of our inept regime, it's not really fair to compare Jack's day to now in that regard. We had practically infinite money as long as Jack was comfortable spending it, and FFP wasn't a thing. Jack would have resisted the world record fee for Shearer with barely a second thought if Al hadn't wanted to go.

Does anybody else think it's shit that sponsors are stuck on (I can't think of the proper term for it) rather than stitched in or woven into the pattern as part of the shirt? I keep old shirts for as long as I can. There's only one shirt I have that has stood the test of Time (pun intended), the Kappa kit with Time as the main sponsor, which I believe was used in the 2000/2001 season and the 2001/2002 season in the days before the kit had to change every season. The sponsor is woven in as part of the pattern, it can't peel off or get damaged in the washing machine. Meanwhile I have a Dafabet shirt which I believe is from the 2015/16 season that looks in much worse condition simply because the sponsor has become patchy, with white flecks all over the black material from where it has deteriorated in the wash. I also have the Recoverite sponsored shirt from 2020/21, which I think is a really nice home kit. However after the latest wash I've just noticed that whilst the main sponsor is fine for now, the Watson Ramsbottom back of shirt sponsor was peeled off to the point there was hardly anything left except the black box it's on. I suspect it's been glued on in a different way and the washing machine heat has killed the glue off. I had to peel off what was left, leaving a gross black substance on my fingers. Honestly, all kits should have to be made the same way as that Time one was. I get that clubs probably want your shirt to deterioriate so they can flog you the next one, but these shirts aren't cheap these days. They're massively overpriced for what they are and what they'll cost to make, they should at least have a long lifespan. The shirts themselves hold up fine to wash after wash but it's all ruined by the sponsors. You'd think the sponsors themselves would appreciate them being made like those Time shirts too, as their company can continue getting advertising benefits for many years later. (and yes I know names and numbers on shirts would have to still be made as they are and can peel off, but I don't think most fans get those on a shirt...I haven't since I was a kid)

Ended 1-1. Don't think the stream came back.

The commentator did say he thought it was the wifi at the stadium. Since it's not our stadium, I'm not embarassed if that's the case. But it is a shame. Tbf I have something productive I'm supposed to be doing this evening anyway.

Leonard equalises. I think it was a good goal, but hard to tell with this stream tbf. From what I can see (I only have it on in the background tbh because it's unwatchable mostly) we are probably fortunate to be level. Benfica have hit the bar and about a minute before Leonard's goal they nearly caught the keeper off his line from long distance (centre circle ish I think). Stream seems to have gone off completely now.

Benfica 1 up. Could barely see the goal, the stream is utterly dreadful. I'm guessing the wifi at Stanley's stadium is trash.

Very promising, but seems strange he already has a sponsorship deal with Puma. For one thing, most Rovers fans haven't even heard of him yet, but it's also just very young for something like that. Hope it doesn't mess with his ego and he stays grounded. Most of all, hope we can keep him long enough to see the benefit of producing him.

What definitely didn't happen though is Thomas Tuchel (this one, anyway) fighting in World War 1 or 2. Being bothered about what someone's ancestors or compatriots did is asinine at best.

The fact he has been in poor form, looking more leggy than in his initial appearances, and the fact he can't trap a bag of cement. Sure, I expect he trains hard regardless, but when you're worn down from playing a lot it doesn't matter how hard you work, you're simply not at 100% and your all round game suffers. His club boss is more likely to reward that work ethic shown in training, and to take into account his good club form before the last couple of matches or so. He hasn't done that for Japan so quality will be most important, and in all honesty, the Japanese national team would probably buttfuck Rovers. Not being 100% he's unlikely to have shone training with better players, work ethic or no. I never said nor implied anything about shrinking in new situations. Yuki's attitude is beyond reproach.

Because we have been cheap skates and failed to land absolutely loads of contract renewals in recent years, losing players for nothing who we should have been getting fees for.

At least he hasn't played. As much as I'm sure he would've liked to.

Tbh, I doubt he has looked good in training. He hasn't been at it lately, think he needs a short rest. Flying across the world won't have helped, think this callup came at a bad time for him.

The middle ground between lowballing and overpaying is called paying a fair wage. If we are doing that (none of us know), and the player still wants more, I'd offer generous goal bonuses to try get it over the line. However based on what we're hearing, we just haven't made any effort whatsoever after saying we would. Which should be concerning whether you rate Dolan or not.

No, they just picked up the ball and guaranteed a penalty. If you don't think that's even less professional then there's nothing else I can say.

Really? Wasn't it just last weekend that, in the 2. Bundesliga, two outfield players in separate incidents in the same game picked up the ball and gave away penalties?

The club saying one thing and doing another? Well blow me down...

Both players stayed on the bench. Both their teams won (Austria 4-0 and Japan 2-0).

I know he can't be recalled outside of a window. That's why I said 'if it were possible'. I don't agree with you about his ability level. And I went off apparent reports from BR fans, as you do every time we go for a player you haven't seen. I didn't say anything about playing him to suit us.

Pretty sure I saw a post when he was at 19 saying it was the record then. Dunno what the previous record was, but they lost to Arsenal too...however he didn't get on the pitch so that one won't count to that record, which he currently holds by at least two games. I'm not clear on whether this is the record for consecutive played games without a win, or the record for having never won in the PL whatsoever. Ie, if he won the next game he plays, will he no longer hold this record at all? I feel like teams have gone 20 games without a win before, so I imagine the record is the latter one.

Bristol Rovers are taking the piss with Garrett. By the sounds of it, he's played very well whenever he's played for them, yet he didn't even make the bench in the last match. Their manager said "There's nothing untoward other than just competition for places. Michael Forbes missed out today, Jake Garrett missed out today. But the way to be on the pitch is to play well." Well according to your fans, and even yourself in the early games mate, he HAS played well, very well. And he doesn't even make the bench? Feck off. If it were possible to recall him outside of the window, I'd recall him immediately tbh. The Tronstad-Travis pairing isn't going to be able to stay sharp through three games a week patches, we need to be able to keep them fresh, and Garrett is the only other tough tackling midfielder we have. He'd be getting similar game time here, at a higher level, where he can actually be of use to us. We need to be having words with Bristol Rovers. We sent him to get regular game time, and if he doesn't play well and gets dropped that's one thing, but it doesn't sound like that's the case at all. It will be doing a number on his confidence too, when you think you're doing well but aren't getting recognition, I know from experience it makes you doubt if you even know what constitutes performing well anymore, and if you're as good as you think.

Sad to see Sammie Szmodics seemingly playing second fiddle at shitty Ipswich. He's better than that.

That would be a real problem at a club with an excellent academy and not much wriggle room in the budget for experienced players.

Eustace agreed with me about Ohashi and agreed with you on Cantwell. I get the reasoning with Cantwell tbf. Although you did also say Ohashi on the bench, after saying he should be at peak fitness so not sure where you stood on that.