Devon Rover

Is there any way we could crowdfund to persuade him to switch round the punch and the moon? Would love to see Parker get thumped, I'm quite sure his face is always asking for it 😉

Yes. So I'd have preferred a quote along the lines of "too expensive for this club". That is very different to "too good".

Like others, I agree he can come across a bit awkwardly/uncomfortably in interviews, but I also think he has been increasingly strongly messaging to the board/owners in recent weeks. It feels familiar to the last months of the JDT era (minus the charm/smarm) and that worries me a lot.

That is fair, but the quote itself is very strange. Perhaps let's consider it a 'mis-speaking' that I think is understandably not landing well in the current context. I do, though, think Eustace is canny enough, and the Rovers situation sufficiently frustrating, that the words he chooses to say to the media are generally selected for impact. So I'm always going to pay attention to them.

I'm a big fan of John Eustace but that is a frankly bizarre and ridiculous comment. Unless I've missed some huge and crazy link somewhere, it just seems like nonsense.

And the only one of those I'd expect Venkys to bring in is Billy Mitchell. The one from Eastenders.

I did. Still better than what Buckley has offered over a number of recent years, in my opinion.

He put in a shift, drove forward occasionally with confidence, successfully completed simple passes, had a couple of powerful and accurate shots, did not get sent off/booked regularly for petulance. I'd prefer Baker to Buckley in my team.

By 'compensation' you mean 'insult to injury', right?!

This shouldn't be as big a blow as it is, and feels, due to our context. But Travis' injury, Baker being a current first team regular, our already paper-thin squad options in midfield (and elsewhere), and our apparent inability/unwillingness to buy anyone, means this is a further sizable problem. Our midfield options now appear to be Sondre, Buckley and Garrett?!? We're going to get ripped apart in there. As if the window wasn't panning out predictably infuriatingly enough, already...

Steady on. I like Eustace but I'm not sure he'd have that effect on me. Very happy (and confused) to be proved wrong.

So excitedterrified for this one! Wish I was at Ewood. Come on, Rovers!!

We have a real fighter of a manager and much more fight within the team than I've seen in many years. Good result.

Right changes. Hedges is a waste of a shirt, let's be honest.

Fallen apart here. Unrecognisable from first half in terms of shape, discipline, aggression, control. This feels like it is gone already

Agree with all of this. A very impressive half. Need a second goal, I suspect, with Sunderland being very accustomed to recovering a losing position. A win here would be immense and, so far, well deserved.

'Your parking space' website is useful. I've parked at Asda and walked from there, before. Worked well but not available on the site today. The Premier Inn suggestion made by Blackpool Rover is available on the site now and looks a good shout. Enjoy! Wish I could be there today. (Ewood, not the Premier Inn!)

Don't go giving ideas to people in Pune.

The bit in the article relating to the court case being Venkys' appealing against the Indian government rules on matching funding going abroad, got me thinking. Is the case which is due to be heard tomorrow (possibly, perhaps) purely a 'yes/no' on this point? Or is it about anything beyond that? We all understand there is some form of ongoing investigation in India. Is the outcome of that investigation required for the court case to be be heard and decided, at all, or is it something that is directly within the remit of the court case? If the former, then I imagine we might well be gearing up for a potential further adjournment and stasis likely going into the January transfer window? Sorry, I might have just lost track of all this over the many months!

Thanks for that link. It was a good read. Aside from a few errors, I thought it summed up the situation quite well. As you say, very sobering and another reminder that our club is just clinging onto life that is slipping away, rather than making, or even aiming for, any real progress/prosperity. Until Venkys leave. IF, they ever do...

Is gueye playing right wing?!?! We are throwing this, right?

Since last season. Literally is a handicap to us every time he plays. Nightmare, this.

JRC dozy fucking twat.

Meite immediately making our centre backs look like kids

Good performance in that first half. We should have scored again when they were totally on the ropes. Will need a second but, so far, Rovers would deserve the win. PS Is Pears really as stupid and as useless at kicking a football as he seems?!