arbitro

No complaints on the night as the under 21's were well beaten by a superior Valencia team. The Spaniards could have been three up early on as a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping kept the score to one. Rovers rallied a bit towards half time and created a couple of chances as we counter attacked quickly. The second half saw Valencia comfortably defend their lead and double it towards the end. In fairness it was an extremely young Rovers team with only James Brown having any first team (one game) experience.

The eagerly awaited third series of Happy Valley started on New Years Day and so far it hasn't disappointed. The acting and writing is as good as it gets but sadly the excellent Sarah Lancashire has already said this is her last series. Without her it wouldn't be the same.

I keep seeing FFP mentioned as a reason we can't sign players. Does it mean Fuckwits From Pune?

If that's true then hopefully they play him on Saturday. Job done 😂😂

The re emergence of Rankin-Costello surely negates the need for a new right back. Edun is adequate cover at left back so as far as the full back positions are concerned I think we we are covered. Ditto centre halves. We need a midfield enforcer as I believe Travis is spent and a striker or two.

It's that type of player Andy. They know their limitations and realise where their strengths are. They just get on with their jobs quietly and hugely effectively. I thought his game yesterday was the best individual performance of the season, perhaps even a couple of season.

We were chatting yesterday and there was a suggestion that Burnley and Nobbers were Tomasson's 'road to Damascus' games. Although we have lost two of them the games since then haven't had anywhere near as many of the risky passes which cost us a number of goals. We have seen a lot more long diagonal and cross field passes which have made us a better team. And he has generally been selecting players who have these attributes in their locker. The risk versus reward football seems to have been shelved for now.

Dominic Hyam reminds me so much of Ryan Nelsen. He is a no frills defender who seems to thrive on a physical game. He has leadership qualities, is calm under pressure and is really brave.

Another successful trip to East Anglia and another win. The long journeys are always worth it when you travel back with the warm satisfaction of a win. And the bonus of listening to the Cup draw live and getting a home tie was the icing on the cake. After we scored I was never unduly worried about Norwich equalising despite what seemed like incessant pressure in the second half. We we defensively sound despite the early change at centre half. Hyam was imperious, in my view the best individual display of the season and Phillips had his best senior game too I thought. Pears was very good and despite earlier aberrations in his Rovers career has shown he can step up when needed. The were many good performances too as we showed some steel and aggression all over the pitch. And well done to Tomasson who got his tactics right against Norwich for the second time in a few weeks. Hopefully he is learning more and more about the players strengths and weaknesses and incorporating that into his game plan.

Easily the best game of football I have seen for some time. It had everything.

Mola has been spotted at Farsley Celtic today. 😂😂 In seriousness though I'm glad because it's an admission from Tomasson and Broughton that they got it wrong. Hopefully his replacement can at least contribute something.

Rovers have chartered a flight for today to Norwich. If he was in the squad he wouldn't be allowed to travel independently and certainly not allowed to make his own way to Ipswich and back.

And again..... https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/anthony-stokes-celtic-charged-drugs-28897260 This time it looks like he will be locked up. To think he once wore our famous shirt.

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.