23 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

They arent using Government test kits but buying them privately and using Priivate medical company I believe. 

Its will cost 5 mil for Champiònship clubs to complete the season. Cost each club 210k for test kits. 

It doesn't make it right chaddy just because clubs have the funds to bypass the system and pay for private tests.  In the meantime care workers in nursing homes can't get the tests and won't all get them until the end of June - if they're lucky - according to the government.  Finishing the football season really isn't a priority when the death count mounts on a daily basis. 

27 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Clubs want to get training again but the PL are insisting that all players sign their training protocol document. It looks like a disclaimer to me.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11987232/coronavirus-players-must-sign-consent-for-group-training

The papers this morning suggesting a number of players are refusing to sign it.  Don't blame them.  Sounds like the PL trying to cover their backs if players or their families succumb to the virus.

3 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Another good suggestion Stuart. 

Not in favour of shorter season as I think you could fit full season by having no League cup or FA cup for 1 season. If the season was to start in October. 

As most of next season will be played behind closed doors it really doesn't matter if it's longer or shorter.  Next season will not be a proper season anyway.

7 minutes ago, arbitro said:

They have been really proactive and decisive. Our football authorities and Government are ponderous and driven by a different agenda as far as football is concerned.

Money rather than health and well being is what is driving the agenda for football in this country.  Personally, I've been totally disillusioned and disgusted by the actions of our footballing authorities over this.  There is no reason why this season can't be finished behind closed doors in September and October when the demand for PPE equipment and tests may not be as great.  It's not like there will be any great urgency to start next season when it's likely to be played behind closed doors anyway.

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52581841

No spectators at Dutch sporting events until a vaccine has been found. I fear that may be a while yet.

Sensible decision under the circumstances.  

47 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Season tickets whether you are going to the stadium or watching on TV or on the internet is my thought. 

The Premier League is willing to buying the Test kits for virus to test players after every game without asking the government to pay or be involve the process. 

What your view on the PL Perth Australia idea? 

what about EFL clubs that have warned they will be go bust after the summer? how do we help their out? Does the EFL have the funds to support all the EFL clubs who are going to struggle to survive or do we face the fact that some clubs will go under?

 

It seems clear that next season will be behind closed doors - if it takes place.  But ultimately, social distancing means that football cannot take place without putting the health of players at risk and, quite rightly, players are now objecting.  The Government has today given plans for people in their workplace in the coming months and social distancing is a key part of that.  Would you really expect football not to follow the health advice?  

As for PPE equipment - there is a worldwide shortage so how do you justify it being used by football clubs?  Tests need to go where they are needed not to football clubs even if the PL want to pay for them.

Why would any player put themselves on a long haul flight to Australia in the present situation - particularly as the government is advising against such travel.

It may well be that some clubs go under during the next eighteen months - there are any number of businesses that will struggle to survive so football is not alone.  Health is far more important than football chaddy.  This virus has put the importance of football into perspective - compared to the lives of loved ones it's not important at all. 

10 hours ago, arbitro said:

Thanks.

Rhyl could be the first of many.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52376408

Sorry to see Rhyl go.  Enjoyed a couple of pre-season Reserve friendlies there in recent years.  Really friendly club and their officials were so welcoming - treating visiting fans as valued customers rather than a nuisance - Non-League clubs always seem to act that way.   I think it was at Rhyl that I had one of my first sightings of the mighty Myles Anderson - but Big Sam decided not to sign him for some reason - can't think why.

3 hours ago, arbitro said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52381612

The clubs in the National Leagues have been decisive and ended their competitions immediately although there needs to be further discussion on promotion and relegation. I wonder what BT Sports have done as they have the tv rights to the National League including playoffs.

The comments from the Barrow director are interesting considering the selfish comments we have seen from some of the big hitters.

I noticed that the Dutch League is unlikely to start again and an increasing number of League Two and One clubs are less than keen to finish the season due to the financial pressures of behind closed doors games.  I believe Rick Parry had commented that supporters are not likely to be allowed in grounds until some time in 2021.  With behind closed doors games to finish off this season - if they happen which has to be doubtful - and no new season ticket sales in the summer, I suspect football is going to undergo a major restructuring for those clubs that survive.  The days of big money transfers and wages - certainly for clubs outside the top six - are likely to be a thing of the past - and not before time.

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

What about going in and coming out of the ground, travelling, queuing to buy tickets etc, emergency evacuation and other things. I just don't believe it's practical to safely open any sports ground or any mass gatherings whilst there is a threat of this horrible virus is still around. 

Couldn't agree more.  I was reading this week that Germany are not likely to allow supporters into stadiums until some time in 2021.  It seems likely that the start of the 2021-22 season would be a possible start date if a vaccine has been developed.  Personally, I really don't see how or when the 2020-21 season will be allowed to start with spectators and I'm not convinced Sky will pay for a full season of behind closed doors football.   

10 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Talking to the father in law last night. He’s 70 and adamant he won’t be buying a season ticket next season (he goes with his wife who would be stopping to). This is a fella that has been a regular since the late 1950s and hasn’t wavered at any time during the Venky reign of terror.

However, he doesn’t want to expose himself to infection in, say, October or whenever a new season would begin. 

His standpoint did take me back, but it is a concern that the next set of ST sales could absolutely tank with a perfect storm of health worries, personal financial problems and folk generally just not missing it.
 

 

Agree with all of the above.  Personally, I don't think football with fans will happen again until next year but if this virus is still around - which is almost certain - then I too would be very reluctant to venture into a football ground.  It's at times like this that football and its importance is put into perspective.

I must admit that I really enjoyed that game on a bitterly cold night.  I felt the game should have been won by half-time with the possession and chances we created - plus we should have had a penalty with the holding at corners.

Second half started slowly but Mowbray's subs made a difference with both Brereton and Samuel showing up well.  Armstrong's goal was outstanding and he looked very good playing in the Dack role just behind the striker.

Once again Downing looked a class above anything on the pitch and I thought Johnson improved as the second half went on.

Hull looked poor but at the end of the day you can only beat what's in front of you and we did that comfortably in the end.

I thought all the officials were poor tonight.  The fourth official seemed to give one decision rather than the ref.  Quite how he missed the penalty when Brereton was brought down I don't know. 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Everyone gives 100% but thats not enough to warrant a place and although he is willing he is a liability in the vast majority of those positions. Versatility often is a player unable to nail down a spot in his actual position.

I really don't see him as a liability, particularly when he plays in a wide midfield role.

Totally agree with Mowbray that Bennett always gives you 100 percent even when he's not playing well.  This season he has played with injury and in any position required to aid the team.  Other players in the squad respect and speak highly of him - which I suppose is why he is the ideal club captain.  Personally, I would like to see him here next season because his versatility is ideal for a club that has limited resources.  JRC is similar in his ability to play in several positions and there are one or two others in the Under-23's who are adaptable to different roles.  

15 minutes ago, JHRover said:

That alone is a concern. At a normal club Mowbray's performance over the next 3 months would feed into whether he remains at the club into the summer.

Nothing wrong with wanting him to be and planning on the basis he will be but there's a lot of games to play yet and if we go on a repeat of last year and collapse over February and March I would expect that to be factored in rather than just completely ignored because we have injuries or have given up on promotion in January.

I look at Preston who we were almost at the point of overtaking not long ago who are now back in the play-off picture. I don't think their manager told their players that their season was over and to look to next season.

I don't believe Mowbray said he had given up on aiming for the play-offs this season.  Despite the injury list, he stated quite clearly that it was still the goal that the players and staff were working towards.  He was merely pointing out that the summer is likely to see the emphasis on the foreign market and that plans - a full-time head of European scouting and others sifting through European matches at the moment, in the same way that most clubs seem to do these days - were in place to aid this.

Whoever was manager would have to work within the same boundaries that Mowbray is working with in terms of staying with the FFP regulations and maintaining a wage cap which is clearly well below other Championship clubs.  Those two factors aren't going to change which I think is fair enough. 

Personally, I took away from the meeting that the owners are still fully behind Mowbray and I suspect he will be given next season to see the plans he has put in place being implemented.  Again, I think that's not an unreasonable position to adopt.  If these plans don't produce a side that can challenge for promotion then I would expect his position to alter.

2 hours ago, Oldgregg86 said:

I love reading your opinion and particularly look for your posts as they are well written, fair and you clearly have a good knowledge of the game and all things rovers. I would ask though, regardless of injuries and the opposition , at home, one half baked shot from Gallagher 20 minutes from time doesn’t strike you as worrying  ? With the ball we looked clueless until the substitions  when we reverted to hoofing at the big lads, hardly a tactical masterclass and something big Sam got slated for. So the question is are you happy with watching a manager serve up football with so little entertainment and virtually no goal threat. And it isn’t a one off through injuries or opposition 

I think there have been times in a number of games this season where one can see the progression that Mowbray is trying to make in terms of the style of football.  Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday away were two games when it clicked for the majority of the game.  In other games there have been spells when we've played well but lacked the finishing touch in the six yard box.  I think the football has been better this season than last despite the loss of Dack, who to be fair had been very in and out prior to his injury.  

I didn't have a problem today when we started to go long in the final stages of the match.  It seemed to be the tactic that unsettled Fulham the most - although I thought Michael Hector was outstanding for them at the heart of their defence.  

For me, we are still very much a work in progress in terms of transitioning from a long-ball, direct style, to a more possession based style.  It's clear the players are very much with Mowbray and what he is attempting to do.  Ultimately, he will need the new emphasis on European scouting to come up with the goods in the summer to improve the team.  It was clear from the meeting on Thursday that the domestic market isn't going to work given the club's welcome, if belated, decision to impose a sensible wage structure.

4 hours ago, J*B said:

I’m of the belief Tony’s time is up, although I think he’s been a great manager for us. I mostly think time is up because I think all managers have a limited window to be successful in, whether that be Tony Mowbray or Jose Mourinho. If you study the data this cannot be argued for all modern day managers apart from Ferguson who bucked that trend. 
However, if we finish 9th and say 10 points off the top 6, I do think Tony could argue he would have got the top 6 with Dack, Cunningham and Holtby if there weren’t injured. 

I think the one thing I took from the meeting is that Mowbray will definitely be here next season.  I don't believe the owners are likely to get rid of him before his contract is up.  If we haven't made a serious promotion push by that point then that is the time I would expect a change.  As you say, the season ending injuries to three players is something you can't really plan for when working with a limited budget.

I believe our owners have taken to Mowbray and probably find his honesty a real positive for them and fits with their own beliefs and values.  I think that will give him more time than most but ultimately, he will need to have us challenging before his contract is up.

I thought it was a very tight game with one goal always likely to settle it.  Personally, I thought we didn't do too badly with the number of injuries to our creative players.  Fulham were better in possession but didn't create that many clear cut chances.

Travis was excellent and I thought Lenihan and Nyambe had decent games.  JRC didn't do too badly in a different role for him.  As Mowbray said in his interview, he's not a Dack or Holtby but has other attributes that he brings to the game and that it's a case of adopting a different style for the team whilst we are without the injured players - which seems fair comment.

A disappointing result but I thought it wasn't all doom and gloom.  There were positives, particularly the performance of our younger players, and on the whole I didn't think we did too badly against a side that could well be destined for automatic promotion.

I totally agree with much of what @Miller11 wrote about last night's meeting.  Both Mowbray and Waggott come across exceptionally well and clearly have the club at heart.  For the first time since the owners took over there is a positive vibe about the place.  I think both were very upfront about the situation and they seem to be putting the foundations in place to take the club in the right direction.  

I think from last night it's clear that the owners are here for the long term and that Mowbray and Waggott have their confidence and are likely to be here for some time to come.  Personally, I'm quite happy about that, as I think both Mowbray and Waggott are doing a decent job, whilst I accept that some aren't.

3 hours ago, Ossydave said:

Surely the playing in opposition kit was a joke by TM, that's how I read it anyway but its hard to tell from just reading Sharps commentary. 

That's happened at Ewood before now when we loaned a club our away kit for a League game after the ref ruled against the away kit they had brought with them.  It would appear that it was Mowbray who wanted the third kit because they found the away kit was not always suitable for some colour clashes.

Once again, I thought both Mowbray and Waggott came over very well and clearly have the best interests of the club at heart. 

I thought Mowbray's comments on transfer policy were detailed and open and clearly he has a large say in that area of the club so it was quite right for him to cover that part of the agenda.

The meetings illustrate that the different groups in attendance have different views on certain things so it's not easy for those in charge to find compromises.  Some supporters fully agreed with Mowbray with regard to putting the away fans as far away from the pitch as possible whilst others felt atmosphere was more important and wanted them in the lower tier.  I suspect, and would hope, that Mowbray's view would be the one we follow.  At many away grounds you are either in a corner or upstairs - out of the way - so the noise impact from away fans is reduced.  

1 hour ago, Vilesinner said:

Strange, reports said BB played well; so too Davenport, Hilton and Thompson. Whereas Tyler gave away a penalty.

I thought Brereton was awful despite the goal.  Struggled to take people on and little basic control.  Perhaps a run in the Under-23's might build up his confidence but I really don't see the basics in the lad at the moment.  Hilton didn't have that much to do but saved a poorly struck penalty - the lad makes goalkeeping look easy, he's calm, does the basics well and because of his build is confident in coming for crosses.

As I said, Davenport used the ball well in midfield and linked up will with Johnson. 

I thought Tyler did well against a very difficult opponent who took no prisoners.  He got out of position for the penalty and had to make a tackle from the wrong side otherwise I thought he looked pretty decent considering he's played so little football in recent weeks.

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Thanks chaddy. I think that illustrates the point I'm making.

I agree Rev, he needs to make one position his own.  Travis was similar at this point - full-back and midfield for the Under-23's - before settling into a regular midfield berth in the first team.  Hopefully JRC is able to settle into a regular slot.

A pretty dreadful game at Brockhall this lunchtime.  Conditions not great but, as always, whenever the Under-23's are filled with first teamers it rarely becomes anything more than a training exercise.  Probably Davenport and Williams the pick of our side, although I thought Tyler had a good game against a robust opponent.  Brereton did score a goal but looks a million miles away from Championship level.  Derby had the experienced Anya playing at left-back but their youngsters looked decent and I can see why they are doing well at this level.

15 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I've not seen enough of JRC to make a proper judgement but gut reaction on seeing him for the first time is that if you were to ask me which of him or Buckley is more likely to make the grade I'd say Buckley.

The only way to see if they've got what it takes is to give them both plenty of game time. No-one's ever going to improve if they get the Brereton/Chapman treatment and never play.

Rev, I've watched JRC since he arrived from United.  This lad has real potential and, like Travis, has the ability to go to the very top in the game.  As an attacking right-back he reminds me of Keith Newton in style.  His ability to play full-back or anywhere in midfield makes him an invaluable addition to the senior squad.  The potential and ability are there it's now up to the lad to make the most of it.  I must admit that of all the younger lads, this is the one I have the greatest hopes for. 

5 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Really Parson?

Now 8 or 9 years since we were relegated and I've not  seen a step in the right direction since then,

Let's call a mid-table finish what it is - treading water and leaving us farther from the Premier League than ever. 

I suspect that you, like me, are old enough to remember Preston dropping out of the top flight in 1960.  They've not been back since - so 60 years of "treading water" as you put it.  However, the North End fans I know have still enjoyed their football.  Still enjoyed the ups and downs (and there have been plenty of the latter).  No club has the guaranteed right to top flight football.  Whatever has happened in the past is in the past - good and bad.  Today we are a club that is trying to get to grips with FFP and put a team on the pitch that can achieve what we all want.  Sadly, there is no magic wand that is going to restore the club to where it was a decade ago.