I suspect so although I didn't hear who the substitutes were.

That is true. He was due to have a scan today on a calf injury.

There was a cryptic comment from Tomasson after last Saturday's match which gave me an indication that something was amiss. He said something like 'I'm not the medical team' rather than go into detail. It looks like our skipper will play right back then.

I see he has already started with his 'working class' patronising nonsense. One of my biggest irritations with him was how he over complicated and over thought things. Lots of his decisions weren't what the majority of us expected and quite often one substitution would end up with several on field positional changes. His interviews invariably grated as he often talked up opponents pre and post match and his talk of a journey. And if he brings Venus then check the training ground deeds 😂. Despite all the criticism of him he has somehow got a two year deal.

Around 3000.

There were around 400 tickets left as of this morning following a raft of online sales over the weekend. It looks like we are likely to sell out. Good effort.

With no 'proper' football today I decided to get the train to Moston to watch FC United against Radcliffe. The ground is tidy with various food outlets dotted around and quite a few bars too. Playing for FC was ex Rover Chris Taylor whilst Jem Karacan played for Radcliffe. He played for Reading and Galatasary and represented Turkey at various levels. I mention this because he is actually a Rovers fan. The play was really good particularly from Radcliffe who won 2-1 with a really late goal. The 'entertainment' also included a scrap between some FC fans and stewards. I have to say though FC supporters had the best array of songs I have heard in years. All that for £7 admission and £8 train fare.

mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/picturesque-jekyll-hyde-village-plagued-27855474 Not Blackburn but close enough.

In fairness I complimented Rovers on the veil of secrecy on this deal, as it should be on all deals. I misinterpreted Broughtons comments that we bid for him in June.

When I got my Wigan tickets on Friday there were around 1000 Blackpool tickets unsold although I don't know what our allocation is.

Who knows Andy. I read what Broughton said about enquiring about him in June and made the link.

It was just my thought given how slow they have been in reacting in the past and what Broughton said about going after him in the summer.

I thought that was Morton who lost a shin pad. I don't like these skimpy little shin pads that offer less protection than conventional ones. However it fits with the current trend of wearing socks half way down the calf like Grealish.

It's annoying that we have been desperate for a new centre half and it appears that the Hyam deal has been in the offing for some time. Stuck in an in tray somewhere in Pune perhaps?

That's why I mentioned Carter as an option. Given the toing and froing with Liverpool we can't bank on Van Den Berg coming here.

His range of passing is something we simply don't have. Even in his fledgling career his talent, work rate and attitude are apparent. We have a real gem here and we need to treat him accordingly and play him regularly.

Right back is a posit that worries me more than left back. Tomasson seemed quite coy when asked about Brittain's injury and we saw with our own eyes on Saturday we have no back up for him. Carter is a far better proposition as back up which speaks volumes about Rankin-Costello.

Brittain said we first went after him in June and were told no. The link to Hyam only emerged recently so well done to Rovers for keeping this under wraps. We desperately need another few of these though.

Richarlison makes it so easy to dislike him. His earlier antics when he tried to play as he thought he could get the ball, realised be couldn't and went down holding his nuts. It was good though when Johnson smashed him and Williams dropped on top of him essentially for being a prick.

That was the problem for me, he blew too quickly. At this level it's pretty basic stuff particularly around the penalty area to delay the whistle. The law changed many years ago to allow the referee to bring play back if the perceived advantage doesn't accrue. It's a win/win for the referee but yesterday he just didn't read play and delay his whistle.

The stats on shots don't lie and one real frustration this season has been the number of opportunities to shoot that haven't been taken. I have seen lots of times outside the box when shots should have gone in but we opted for another pass. Yesterday this was in evidence particularly in the second half from open play and second balls from set plays. Brereton cut inside on his right foot several times and to play somebody in rather than shooting. It's ironic when you consider 50% of our league goals have come from outside the box.

If (and a big if given who the hack is) it blows the 'healthy budget' myth out of the water.

I was buying Wigan tickets and asked how many we have sold for Blackpool. He didn't say how many we had sold but tellingly that we have 1000 left. It's live on Sky and adult prices are £29. I can't recall a time in the last decade when we haven't sold out. For many non season ticket holders it will be a big decision to buy home match tickets because, as you say the priority will be keeping warm and nourished.

Kaminski gets an easy ride but his distribution today was poor. In the first half he tried a suicidal pass which went straight to a Stoke player giving them an opportunity. There were several other instances of poor kicking putting us under pressure.

Awful that something like that should happen to you and your son who is only six. Unfortunately neanderthals are still roaming free and some see offensive abuse as 'banter'. In their gang they are pseudo tough guys but on their own they are as meek as lambs. Next time you are coming if the imbeciles are likely to be around drive down.