And whilst I’m whinging, £10 extra to renew in person is a sham

I know all clubs do it but the early bird pricing just winds me up, keep the price at its lowest price and if you must offer an alternative benefit like £20 off a kit or £30 in food and drink vouchers or something for early adopters if you must It always just seems like a lazy effort with some gimmick thrown on top And if they need to do something like that then why not reward loyalty and those that have had tickets since 95 for example

Just make the riverside £300 for all as now you have to gamble on taking a subjectively worse seat for a similar price or get lucky and get it cheaper The phase 3 prices are bonkers To be honest I’m not even considering it and to that extent feel for the clubs with the tide of the sky deal it’s just hard to make it a value proposition

Immense for the lad, got a chance and took it, seems it was a perfect move for him giving him playing time and players around him that will highlight his passing ability by taking the chances and making the runs. Knew he was good, I just didn’t know as much as you lot about how good! Find the self congratulatory article on the Rovers website about the boy wonder a little odd The bottom paragraph with makes it sound like he’s still a Rovers player or they are just randomly making things up (for example Phil Jones made his England debut in 2011)

Yes I was pleased to see how he’s confident he’ll be back in management so hopeful he’s on the mend

I’ll admit I started looking for the old ‘Where are they now?’ Thread to discuss Phil Jones as I just remembered he existed and I’m not sure if he’s formally retired but likely is done after just 200 career matches, what a waste! Anyway I thought given its transfer silly season it may be fun to look back at some of our more random signings that came and went over the last few years and see what they went on to, and did we miss any gems? Alex Marrow - so good we signed him twice! But shockingly after his second stint at Rovers in 2013 his future was a slide back down the EFL pyramid, his Wikipedia ends abruptly but last seen at Fylde I believe Doneil Henry - better than Thierry? No as it turns out, loaned from West Ham in 2015 before he got injured and then we loaned him again the year after. Seems after his return to West Ham he spent time with the mighty AC Horsens before he was released and then spent the next few years in the MLS but has been without a club since January last year Bangali Fode Koita - look I was always going to include this guy. I remember watching him in an early round league cup game and I’ve never been so excited to see someone hit the post with a piledriver, it was all downhill from there sadly! Seems he had moderate success after leaving us playing for Trabzonspor and Kasimpasa in Turkey, he also got a cap for his native Guinea against Benin it would appear. Martin Samuelsen - this kid had potential he’d shone on loan previously at Peterborough and had something about him and I thought he’d go on to do well but another it just never worked out for, a few more loads to Peterborough and Burton Albion along with lower league teams on the continent but was released from West Ham in 2020, joined Hull where he didn’t do much before moving back to Norway. Tommie Hoban - a sad tale as this lad looked a solid centre halve at our level, plagued with injuries and retired very early in his career but recently joined a non league side to get playing again Rekeem Harper - brought in on loan from West Brom in 2017 most remembered for giving a penalty away in an FA cup game along with a red card, another with a host of loans, joined Burton Albion and played 27 games in league one last season so may end up a reasonable Lower league player Karim Rekic - look one of the random loans had to be a winner right? After his less than memorable loan here in 2013 he enjoyed permanent spells at Marseille, Hertha and Sevilla where he won the europa league, he also got 4 caps for the Netherlands before retiring to the UAE league Antonis Stergiakis - young keeper; seem to remember he made his debut in the final game of a season and we were slightly sad he left, he went to Panetolikos in Greece where he has apparently made 3 appearances and is currently better than both Aynsley and Leo! We’ve brought in some fun ones for sure (stayed tuned in a few years for dynamic updates on Billy K and Deyo Zeefuik)

A reputation goes a long way it seems, even it not fully earned yet in the managerial space He was great for them in the championship but they could be flat track bullies and never needed a plan B, turns out their plan B should have been plan A in the premier league but he never quite got that sorted

Tony Mowbray has confirmed he’s stepping down from the Birmingham role as he won’t be recovered fully to have a full pre season with them The positive news is he is bullish about a return and says he will be back in football management in time

I don’t disagree with this at all but I’ve just had an awful moment there. I’ve never felt older than the realisation that Andy Cole’s son is now deemed past his best!

I’m not sure you can accept human error, it feels most times we lose you blame the officials

Offering Fleck a deal is insulting to everyone, he’s been paid since January for 17 minutes and was a desperation move even then

Eustace doesn’t seem the type at all to rock the boat so if he’s been told to play it down due to budget I think he will. Which is probably exactly why he was ideal for Waggott and the owners

I believe the delay is because of logistic issues beyond our control, the tickets are currently on a ship from china, nothing we could have done obvs Also the dog ate them

Must admit I thought at the time we’d got as much as we’d reasonably expect given his obvious potential but limited chance to show it. That looks more than a bit silly now but I think it would have always taken a further move before the big big money came in, his value just wouldn’t be able to skyrocket like that unless he’d have played in the premier league: Just wish that had been with us!

And I’m off for the party poppers! Straight back down, fans embarrassed themselves a few times in the process this season as well!

That would be a shocking appointment, the cheapest and laziest option possible, so it will happen

Mixed feelings on this In isolation he can’t feel too hard done to, he himself said it was on him in January 2023 only to oversee worse in 2024 The thing is though Swag should clearly be first in line for the chop

I remember that one, I think it was the one where we marched from Town Hall

I’d say, providing he is fit and well first and foremost, that Mowbrays stock has taken a slight increase One thing is for sure, if you look at twitter a lot of Sunderland fans are still annoyed they got rid

He literally wasn’t

Just about did what he had to to reach the minimum standard. Some amazing results but some absolute stinkers since he came in. Give him the summer window at least and see what he can do I suppose

Sammie you are a hero Now I can watch the Birmingham tears stress free

They’ve started to have a couple of half chances without really trying

Sounds like pressure is building

Wish Hull or Norwich would at least put some effort in