gumboots

I'm a royalist in that I'd rather have the Queen than an elected President, but I didnt watch the Queen last night either. Pointless exercise just as the Christmas speech is. Havent watched that for many a year.

Yeah. We have that recorded too and planning to watch the new Save Me

We've gone back to the start of Line of Duty, having missed the first 3 series. Finished series one so that's this weeks viewing sorted. Also loved Alan Shearer on MOTD yesterday

I too thought little and large were poor but he was a human being with family and friends and the comment is in very poor taste. John Donne had it right when he said Each man's death diminishes me or whatever the exact line was.

I wasnt happy at 70 mins but I was delighted at 94. You can only beat what's in front of you and, despite not playing great football, we did it handsomely in terms of the score by the end. Football matches last around 95- 96 minutes most weeks and at the end, good performance or not, if you win, you celebrate. Yes, Rovers still need to do much better. They looked slow for most of the first half and passes were going astray. Theres always stuff to work on. And yes, I'd like better players to have come in to lift us a bit in January. But we didn't so we do what Souness told us we'd have to do. And last night they got 3 points. That's the bit that counts in the end.

I've been ill for 3 weeks. I wasnt going out on a cold, wet night on my own.

Doesn't mean our standards have to drop th their level!

Yes but were shopping in very different markets. Finding a very top class player of the type Man U need is very different from finding players who will improve us a bit

This has long been one of my issues. They lost the car parks where we had our season tickets to park meaning we had to park further away. I used to go on my own quite often. I still might if the was a bus that dropped me at the ground. It's not just one issue. Several issues combine to keep most people who no longer attend away. But fixing one bit might encourage a few to think again. And then you move on to another initiative which might encourage a few more. Losing a fan base has been easy. Rebuilding it is going to be a slow process but there are things you can do to create a climate for growth. Letting the fans feel you care is one. Today I got an email from Sale Sharks saying that if I buy a ticket for the cup semi against Saracens, I'll get a free ticket for the cup final. In terms of cost, they're not going to be way out of pocket. In terms of goodwill and guaranteeing good attendance for the semi thus giving them more chance of going through, its priceless

And what do you think the chances are of our getting more than 2 or 3 of those at any point in the next 2 windows? Next to none I think. We might buy but we know it probably wont be in positions where we need playrs

What you're missing here is the change in lifestyle of large numbers of fans. When I was working, I was here for most of the season and away during some school holidays. A season ticket was by far the best option for me. I missed the odd game but most of my time could be structured to make sure I missed very few. With retirement came choice. I dont have to be here if I choose not to be. Having broken away from having a season ticket when the club closed my stand, appointed Coyle, and wrote me a snotty letter about why I should never have been sitting where I was when theyd been happy to renew my ticket there for years despite knowing I'd no children with me, I found I no longer needed to structure my time around attending Rovers matches, so I stayed away longer on my summer hols, took breaks away mid season without looking at the fixture list, and generally found other choices. I dont want the tyranny of a season ticket. It may be the clubs priority to have season ticket holders, but having one is no longer my priority and I suspect there are many of the missing 10k like me.

Replying to 47er They know what they need and scout several players who might fit the hole in their squad and be available. If someone says no they dont hang around too long. They move on to the next on the list. That's what proper clubs do

Thank you

I only seem to go to even colder climes in winter. ?. South Korea at minus 12 a couple of years ago. Bavaria at minus 4 this year

Doesn't warmth make muscles work more easily? And psychologically warm weather makes you feel better anyway. I dont begrudge them it. Plenty of us go for a bit of winter sun if we can

DON'T!

Cant be real. It's too many syllables for a Korean! ?

There is no point at all in trying to discuss anything with Chaddy. He does not discuss, merely tells you why he is right

According to the commentators yesterday Denly was under instruction today 100 balls. Runs irrelevant, just keep batting. Dong know if there was any truth in it, only what theysaid

Used to see him in our local pub when we lived in Somerset. I remember one of the staff at our school whod taught him at primary school telling us that they had to rein him in even then because he kept hitting the balls over the wall even at that age and they couldn't afford to lose that many Mind you I think Stokes is very special. His passion and his ability to drag himself up to bowl again even when hes exhausted, and his increased adaptability as a batsman, getting better at judging when he can slog and when he needs to temper it a bit, would make him my favourite of the 3 named

My father in law taught him many years ago

I'm in agreement with you fof once, Chaddy. I just read the news out to my husband and we were both shocked. Not my favourite pundit but a great player, and no age really. RIP

Haven't seen it. Watched Knives Out last week. It was slow to start with but its quirkiness grew on me and I ended up really enjoying it. Watched Last Christmas the week before, which was what we call in our house a Friday night film ie you come in from work so shattered that, sitting down in front of the TV, you'll watch anything provided it's not dire. Says a lot about the film when I had to look up what I'd seen as it was pretty unmemorable. It had some decent performances but the overall film wasn't even ok

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If hes to go then it has to be sooner rather than later. The longer you leave it the further adrift you are, the more disillusioned players and fans become and, most importantly, the less time any incoming manager has to assess the squad and do any wheeling and dealing in the January window

They're Yorkshire. Get over it?