But the money we get would go a long way to replacing him which we will have to do for nothing in July. Letting him walk for nothing in six months just doesn't make any sense when he has some value now.

Around 200 tickets have been sold thus far. A ridiculously long journey on the back of Christmas isn't ideal but the 2 pm Sunday kick off is what is preventing a few of the regulars I know from going.

On his day he was up there with the best and he was a nice man too. I had some dealings with him when he the Chelsea manager and he was always prepared to listen and accept (not always agree) the match officials decisions. RIP.

I would certainty sell Brereton provided the money goes into the transfer kitty. There are many variables as to why to sell or keep but the overriding thought in my mind is that he almost certainty won't be here next season and Tomasson should be building towards that. I wouldn't like another Rothwell situation where a player coasts for six months and to be fair Brereton seems to be cut from a different cloth than Rothwell. But with these randomers in charge who knows.

Seeing grown men at football matches using their camera phones to film a corner (or whatever) being taken irritates me. I often wonder what they do with the footage.

I will be happy to mix it up with fringe players and more established players such as Gallagher and Dack who are still short of match fitness. Norwich are hoping to have a new manager in place by Sunday which will give them a lift. I really want a run in the FA Cup this year primarily as an income stream.

I would contribute to you becoming a phoenix club on the proviso your new name was Burnley Rovers 😂😂

Garrett has probably made the best two tackles of the season so far (against Sunderland and yesterday) and has only played in a few games. He is still young and learning so we can expect challenges to be wayward at times. I wish we had a squad with the commitment and wholehearted attitude of Garrett. It's an asset and one which will stand him (and hopefully us) in good stead throughout his career.

I will always take a one nil, steady performance anytime but today it felt a bit sweeter after the last few games. Several players were running on empty in the latter stages and if I was to offer what I think is constructive criticism to Tomasson it would be that Dack and Gallagher needed taking off but all's well that ends well I suppose. I thought Cardiff were poor and at times our decision making wasn't too good typified by Brereton at the death who shot when Adam Wharton would have had a tap in had Brereton done the right thing. I've noticed in the last few games that we are mixing the play up a lot more although I'm not sure of the balance between short and long at times. The long diagonal was used quite a bit today and caused Cardiff lots of problems as their keeper had to come out of his box several times to clear the ball. By the time we play in the league again we might have a couple of new players to freshen things up. I was happy for Jake Garrett who grew into the game and showed some good qualities offensively and defensively.

That's the worry Tyrone. At the moment the more casual fan has far more reasons not to go than to go.

My two long standing season ticket holding brothers aren't going today after missing the Boro game. They cite the insipid football, the risky football and a general lack of entertainment. They just aren't buying in to this project bollocks and getting frustrated and angry at the lack of ambition. They also mentioned Burnley and Preston - I think the legacy of them two games has hit home for many.

The latest instalment on Tomasson's quest to avoid promotion is nearly upon us. Who knows what to expect in terms of team selection, tactics, intensity and quality. The only real certainty is the uncertainty.

I always find it poignant seeing the faces and names on the Rovers Remember montage. I knew some and recognised a few faces from Rovers matches. Well done Rovers for facilitating this.

Is that Burnley Belvedere and Sheffield FC?

Cardiff had the measure of us in the reverse fixture in October as they pressed high and we were so flustered we kept conceding possession. I would imagine they will do a similar thing tomorrow so we need a different strategy. Over to you Tomasson............. I keep reading that Hirst needs a run of games and I agree entirely. Just not here.

Debating decisions Tony whether it's in the bar after a local parks match or after the World Cup final has been part of the game since time immemorial. And there is rarely an amicable convo if your opinions differ. As you rightly say Tony who wants a sanitised game.

The tariff for violent conduct is three games and I'm surprised that the appeal was against the length of the suspension rather than Rovers appealing on the grounds that the red card was wrong. Or perhaps they felt Buckley might have got an extra game for a frivolous appeal which has happened in the past.

In the years I was active there was always a variety of characters with different traits amongst the referees. Some pretty much craved attention, some were reserved but by and large they just wanted to referee a game devoid of controversy. Amongst them were different tolerance levels and game management skills but ultimately the overriding priority was to apply the laws of the game and sometimes that includes the ultimate sanction, a red card. They are accountable though and there is a merit list based on delegates marks and club marks and in my ten years on the Football League several of my colleagues were thrown off for consistently poor merit league placings. Similarly being near the top would get you higher profile league games, playoffs and cup finals. It's different now because of Select Groups One and Two being full time employees of the PGMOL and having the employment rights that I, as a self employed referee didn't have. But ultimately refereeing isn't an exact science and mistakes will be made as I know from my own experiences.

Give me some examples of the same referees making 'horrendous' errors week after week. I'm not defending any referee here by the way but there is an overreaction to some decisions generally speaking. Having seen every Rovers game this season I'm struggling to think of a match where a referee has unfairly influenced the outcome of the game. I get as frustrated as anybody with decisions sometimes but try and keep a sense of perspective.

Is that any different than a player making a mistake and giving a goal away or missing an easy chance? As frustrating as it is mistakes happen because they are human.

Rovers HAVE appealed against Buckley's sending off.

He would only have been asked to look at the pitchside monitor if the VAR believed it to be a clear and obvious error irrespective of who made the decision.

In October against Swansea Callum Robinson of Cardiff was sent off in the 7th minute for throwing the ball at an opponents head. There are many others too. And according to Tomasson it was the assistant referee who told the referee what had happened. He will have advised the referee to show red card as in his judgement it was thrown with excessive force.

On the day the officials will decide the outcome and on another day Buckley might not have been sent off. Simply down to interpretation and your wider point about inconsistency is an issue in the game. What irks me more though is that Buckley put himself in a position whereby he gave the officials a decision to make. If VAR had been used last night I don't believe the red card would have been overturned because it wasn't a clear and obvious error by the officials. Whilst it's really subjective and open to interpretation I don't believe that in law the referee was wrong. It will be interesting to see if Rovers agree or not and lodge an appeal.

Sunday sees the opening of the January transfer window and for me it will be a measure of how far our DoF and the new recruitment team have come. The majority of fans can see gaping holes and weaknesses in the current squad and if the manager doesn't have the players to play the way he wants to then some new players are a must. I would also like to see some players moved out, either permanent or on loan and if possible we need to send the home contributing loanees back. It's going to be a testing time for Broughton and his team and he needs to start earning his money.