Wouldn’t be surprising really when they keep hearing that proper fans will pay “any price”; people think that £6 to watch ultra-basic viewer coverage ‘in the pub’ is good value; and the brass neck of a £19-a-head one-course buffet. Surely there should be an early bird prize freeze for current ST holders? If we are promoted then it would be a reward for the faithful. If we aren’t then it’s going to be very necessary indeed. An immediate Championship price hike would be a kick in the teeth. It would be an almost deliberate strategy to milk the regulars and ward off any spectator growth. All that said, we have been crap at getting ST sales going until after the season has ended just about every year under Venkys. Seems to me they don’t talk about Rovers except at scheduled meetings - regardless of the chaos caused or opportunities missed. Hopefully it’s just that.

Yep Nope

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/16142909.Accrington_Stanley_owner_told_by_EFL_McDonald__39_s_bonus_needs_to_be_given_win_or_lose/ This is why nobody has any respect for football authorities. Owners want to destroy a club? No problem! Owner wants to buy players Maccy D’s for winning? Massive rule infringement right there that must be dealt with. FFS

A striker should hit the target in a one on one and at least make the keeper save it. A decent striker would have buried that chance today. I worry that Mowbray will continue to pick him to prove some point to himself. The ball to set him up was fantastic btw - Payne?

“Ian Reynolds-Young, 59, who has supported the club since last January” ???

Managers do have a sell-by date though. Fans will only accept ‘stability’ or stagnation for so long before it stops being a steadying the ship exercise and there should be some progress. Same applies to managers towards clubs. If it stops being a good fit then they have to part. It’s a shame though that there are several failed managers still doing the rounds who (their agents) keep getting gigs. The manager carousel has stalled on spin. A few need to get off to let the next group join.

Said it before, I’ll say it again. VAR should only be consulted after a goal and only if the goal is disputed. Not to check every real time decision. Had the corner been given nobody would have batted an eyelid.

Key post. Everyone but the referee was expecting the corner. Including the Italians. We aren’t in Kansas anymore. We can expect two penalties in every WC match this Summer.

Love to know who did. Just how many voices does that ref have in his ear piece?

I think we are now being asked to accept a different version of football from one we are all used to. One where an innocuous “foul” inside the box will now be treated exactly the same as those innocuous (but not game changing ones) outside the box. Normally it has to be a little more clear cut than that. Trouble is that with Pandora’s box now open, every single coming together of players in the box now has to be referred to VAR. The controversy will come along now if referees are inconsistent about which ones they refer and which they don’t.

VAR strikes again to rob a well earned win from England against Italy. It’s not going to work if referees simply aren’t competent. Even the Italy players claimed for and got the corner award prior to “someone” wanting the ref to review it. The manufacturer? FIFA? The danger is that the officials are under instructions to make use of the technology. It hadn’t been called on all night and when it was consulted it was for a very soft penalty on the back of two players coming together and one stepping on another’s foot. Let’s hope it doesn’t ruin the World Cup.

Hang on. We’re being told that any opinion which disagrees with the manager’s is pointless. Surely this has to be open to challenge, regardless of any preconceived biases that always get thrown out when questioned?

So aggressive. Again. But I couldn’t disagree more with your last point. I think this is why you fall out with so many people on here. Of course people can discuss ‘different formations to what [the manager] has already said he will play’. This is the essence of a message board. Just because they get final say doesn’t mean that they are always right. Neither does it mean they are above criticism. If you believe that Southgate (or Mowbray) have done the wrong thing you can and should say so. Disagree as much as you like and put your own opinion across with your reasons. This isn’t pointless, it’s healthy. Simply agreeing with the manager and posting that as an opinion is certainly pointless as it literally adds nothing to the debate. Of course, if you do agree with the manager then that is a valid opinion and it would be your opinion.

Possibly but he must have been very young.

Early days but Magloire could well be the next defender to break through to the first team.

Have to admire your patience.

Ouch. Poor taste that Mrs.

Shame for the lad - and for Rovers.

Tonight’s game is cancelled - waterlogged pitch. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/march/newcastle-clash-postponed/

To be fair to Chaddy, the players vs formation is probably the biggest dilemma facing every football manager every weekend around the world. Certain managers will have a preferred system/formation and will look to get good players to deliver against that system as best they can - I’d suggest Wenger is one. Others will try to get the best out of the players available - Allardyce springs to mind (unless your name is Niko). The ideal aim would be to recruit to meet the winning system - such as Guardiola. But this obviously requires cash. On the international scene, no amount of money will help so it probably does need a manager who can get the best out of the players available by finding a system to get the best out of their combined abilities. Ideally with a superstar or two to give them the edge. Square pegs and round holes will undermine manager after manager.

This is a complete straw man argument I’m afraid. There is no need for a “fixture pile up” if the U23s had simply been allowed to play. If anything, playing so many first teamers has created that problem.

Very pleased that it worked out for you. Not everyone is in the same position. Not sure what was confusing about my post though.

There are probably quite a few 30 year olds in the same boat as well tbf. I just think that the old ‘leave home at 16’ and ‘married at 21’ days are behind us. Mentally and emotionally a twenty-something is basically an extended teenager. Mollycoddled throughput school and not ready for the real world until much older than they used to be. Low paid jobs used to still get you in the housing market but not any more. Granted they could probably save up for a season ticket and sacrifice other things but if the club want to keep the next generation of fans at the club then they need to target their wallets as well as their hearts.

The world has moved on - and not necessarily for the better. “Young adults” are often living with their parents without jobs or on very low income.

Evans went off and Wigan didn’t score again. It’s possible it could have been the same if Smallwood had gone off and Evans stayed on but given the attributes of both players I doubt it. You seem to be making a point of ticking off and disagreeing with my specific comments. That’s your prerogative but I’ve called it as I’ve seen it. Smallwood is twice the player Evans is which is bizarre considering the pedigree and history of both players. However, Smallwood is a tough tackler (albeit on who needs to get this 10th yellow out of the way) whereas Evans seems more of a water carrier. Bennett can do that job with teeth. If I was picking the next line up and had to choose between Smallwood and Evans, I’d be choosing Smallwood.