gumboots

If you haven't seen the evidence since the day the Rao family took over Rovers, I despair. When have they ever shown any evidence of forward planning on football matters. Player after player has left without a planned replacement.

Brfc is not a normal business. Any normal club would have plans. Rovers don't. They do sell first, think later

To be honest, I'd visit the store but not bother with a match. Just watch the DVD and remember

Not on its own but as part of the continued neglect and running down of what was once a very well run club, it makes it very hard to want to pay out good money to watch them. For everyone there is a straw that breaks the camel's back. For some it was reached early on, when Kean was appointed, for others, its been reached now Mowbray appears to be staying. For others, it's been some other tipping point along the way. It doesn't mean you're no longer a fan or a supporter. It just means that you make different choices.

Doesn't matter if she's actually interested or not. She's the local MP and what's of interest to a significant number of her constituents should be of interest to her.

Yep. Rugby Union season hasn't finished yet, but clubs have already asked fans to register an interest in next season's ST to gauge how sales may go. It's all about fan involvement and keeping fans interest, especially if you're on the back of a good run, but also if you're doing badly, to keep those fans you might otherwise lose.

The players on the pitch were mostly fringe players. They should have been busting a gut to prove why they should be guaranteed starters but they weren't. Im glad its not just me who doesn't understand the attitude of modern footballers. I'll show you doesn't seem to be in their psyche

It doesn't happen because it involves too many variables. They have to offer a player you want, at a valuation you can agree on. He has to want to move to your club. Its much harder than a straight purchase.

Beat me to it. I was just reading to the bottom of thread before posting

Yes we have seen investment without sales of major players and a fat lot of good that has done us too. Its a long time since I looked at a transfer window with even a modicum of optimism, misplaced or otherwise. Hughes was probably manager, I think.

This is misplaced optimism. If we lose Armstrong, the money will never appear. We've seen over and over that money is never recycled into the playing squad. Sell Armstrong; lose goalpower; regress from an already weak position. That's the journey we are on.

Watch Faf de Klerk. Tiny guy, runs nonstop, tackles, gets hammered by guys twice his size, gets up and knocks them down. As I said, rugby players are trained to take knocks and footballers arent but it doesn't excuse footballers rolling about in apparent agony and then getting up as though nothing has happened 10 seconds later. Its the over dramatising of every tiny knock to try to get your opponent carded that I dont like. If you're genuinely hurt then by all means stay down, get treatment, expect the opponent who caused it to be punished. But dont play act.

No there's nothing wrong with their being there. Results are what matters. Doesn't mean I have to like it though. And when I say nasty and niggly, that's very different from being tough and hard to beat. I watched a fair bit of the playoff final and whenever I looked there was a player rolling about like he'd been shot and trying to persuade the ref he should get a free kick. its that aspect I dont like. I watched a fair number of City players do the same thing in the CL final too, and it grates. On the day, Swansea didn't play well enough and deserved nothing. I just wish they'd been able to keep 11 men on the pitch and make it a better contest.

I know they are trained to take hits, and so roll with them better but can you imagine a Curry twin hitting one of our players softly as they do in prematch warm ups😅

I was just disappointed Brentford won. Family members down in London support them. We used to be able to look down on them. And Brentford are nasty, niggly little team. I watched a rugby match yesterday that was absolutely brutal. Brentford's players should be embarrassed at the ease with which they went down as though dying, only to get up and play on without a care in the world. I'm not impressed with Swansea, but Brentford in the PL just feels all wrong to me.

I've always liked Rugby Union. Used to watch 6 Nations back in the 5 Nations days and Kim always went to Twickenham when we were first married through connections with Taunton Rugby Club. We've been going to Sale for more than 10 years now, but on a casual basis at first. We've got more and more hooked by it as Rovers have deteriorated. Not the team, but the ownership and management. While Rovers have lost connection with the fans, Sale have done all they can to engage with theirs. Their liaison over ticket sales for last night's match was brilliant and any delay in communications was immediately apologised for and rectified. The owner was there meeting fans etc before the match. The non playing players are around before matches, serving in the club shop, posing for pics with kids etc. After the match they'll pose for pics, chat to fans etc. The buses they run from various places to help solve the parking problems at the ground are generally free (last night they cost £1 each. Something to do with numbers we think). There was free hand sanitiser, a free drink, those cardboard clapper things given to everyone before the match. The clapper things had names of all who'd bought a membership this year or donated the remainder of last year's season ticket money to the club. There was a free bottle of water on entry for all fans because they were not allowed to sell drinks on the concourses of standing areas for social distancing reasons. All very small things but makes you feel valued. And this is a Premiership Club. Not a small time outfit. The owners care, and, when they needed a new manager, they went and got someone widely respected in rugby, although he'd never been a DOR before and this was a new situation for him. He had coached Saracens and been a big part of their management team and had played for Sale. He's immediately connected with fans and is so enthusiastic he can barely keep still in interviews. Fans already love him and he's the wow factor in a club with Faf de Klerk playing for them. Its not lemon drizzle for Alex; it's Malbec Sundays, a phrase fans have taken on. I used to think nothing would destroy the way I feel about Rovers, but this lot have come very close to it and Sharks are more captivating in just about every way. Means I can still love Rovers but get my fix of live sport and feel valued for it.

It was a cracker. Sale's defence was immense then in the second half they scored 3 tries to win 22-12. Great night!!!!!

Union not league, but I'm at the AJBell tonight for Sale v Bristol. Transport laid on from Trafford Centre. Cost £1 return. Free drink outside. Free bottle of water to take in. Names of those who are members or who donated remainder of last season's ST listed on the cardboard Clapper things they were giving out. Great to be back along with about 3k others.

By Teesside standards, its not bad

He doesnt live in Middlesbrough. He lives in Marske. That's at the seaside so wherever he is he's on hols.

The issue is, whatever we sell Armstrong for will disappear into a black hole somewhere. It will NOT be invested in the defence. Weve seen it all before.

Just finished watching the cup final. Great for him and his team

Yeah but imagine how you'll feel to log in and see that

Or got rid of until we can have a new one. Mowbray GONE

I'd be off like a shot if anyone came calling.