Like his team he peaked too early. The only downside I can see from their loss is that we will still have to pay a minimum £39 at their ground next season.

What on earth are they going to do with 30,000 'We are Leeds' scarves now? I hope they are recyclable. ?

Didn't Smith criticise and blame the Ewood pitch for losing when we beat Brentford early last season? As a player he was good to referee and have a rapport with but like a lot of them he became an arse when he took the managerial reins. Villa not going up should be disastrous for them after the turmoil of last summer when they stayed in the Championship. That said they'll probably worm their way out of any penalties for breaches of FFP.

Feigning injury is pretty endemic now and most teams do it in the knowledge that the other team will put the ball out or the referee will stop the game. Throw ins are another restart that is abused. Far too often, when their team is winning the taker will deliberately move up the pitch several yards from where it went out. If he gets away with it fine but if the referee sends him back it kills more time. Win/win. Another is a short goal kick and the defender deliberately plays the ball before it leaves the penalty area. The kick is retaken and more time wasted. I'd like to see a time limit on all restarts. The six second rule has definitely speeded the game up although it is sometimes not applied stringently.

Well done and thanks to everyone who gives up their time so most of us can discuss, debate and disagree about all things Rovers. Ultimately we all want the same thing though.

I'd never heard of him until January to be honest but some keepers don't reach their potential until much later than outfield players. It would be a low risk signing perhaps on an incentivised contract.

I agree. I remember him playing a blinder against Spurs in the FA Cup earlier this year and immediately after the game he rushed off to be with his wife who had just given birth to twins. He is 28 and I think would see us as a huge step up.

He is out of contract at the end of June.

What terrific spirit shown by Newport with blocks, last gasp challenges and goal line clearances. Rovers could do worse than look at the Newport keeper Joe Day.

Willem Tomlinson is starting for Mansfield in their second leg playoff semi-final against Newport. It should be a good chance for him to prove he is good enough.

Salford have been promoted to the EFL after beating AFC Fylde 3-0 at Wembley. I don't know if it's been mentioned before but they are owned by the class of '92 (I was looking for a sarcastic and vomiting emoji here but couldn't find any).

That was the rationale Mowbray used to justify giving him a deal last season but I saw no evidence of him coming on to close games out. I haven't looked to see if he was involved in the numerous games in which we conceded late goals but if he was Mowbrays logic was misguided.

It will be mightily disappointing to me if Conway gets a new deal. This season he has contributed little and I don't buy this 'leader' nonsense. He is way past his best and the money committed to a new deal for him can be used on somebody who could push for a starting position as all first team squad players should be capable of doing.

Are you referring to us as a pair Andy or my 'joke' ?

I've actually met a few who are well balanced. They have a chip on both shoulders (where Rovers are concerned at least). ?

And you too mate. It's good to have a sensible, balanced dingle posting on here.

Friedel sacked. The article mentions him as a former Liverpool and Tottenham goalkeeper with no mention of Rovers. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12096/11715685/former-tottenham-and-liverpool-goalkeeper-brad-friedel-sacked-by

The laws dictate that kits should be distinguishable between the two teams and match officials. From memory I think the PL relaxed on the colour of shorts but the EFL didn't. I can't think of an EFL match I have seen where the shorts have been the same colour. Official teamsheets state the colour of shirts, shorts and socks as well as keepers colours. The referee could insist on changes at this stage to prevent any problems later.

I once had a conversation with an ex Rovers manager who told me that planning for a window starts immediately the previous one has closed. The process begins with identifying players in areas that need strengthening and the list can be exhaustive but prioritised. An idea of their value, wages etc is added and this gave him an indication of potential spend against his budget. As soon as possible contact is made through agents. Sometimes the players demands or fee his club are asking will curtail the deal and the club would move onto their next target. The key to this is the manager knowing his budget. It doesn't sound like Mowbray knows what he has to spend.

A game for the real fans eh? It's a game for the sponsors and corporates and UEFA are a disgrace charging them prices. If Rovers were in the Champions League final I honestly wouldn't pay that.

It was nice to see a Rovers team lifting a trophy particularly by beating them. Rovers didn't play too well on the night and at times overplayed in the wrong areas but it was a game I always felt we would win. Burnley to be fair pressed high up the pitch and frustrated us for long periods (much like their first team) but the extra quality was there to be seen. Well done to Damien Johnson on a successful season. Four of his players made their first team debuts and ultimately that is what he is judged on.

In the Premier League next season the referee will not look at any screens. The decision will be made for him by a VAR sat in a studio at Stockley Park. This was what the CEO's of the clubs wanted. For me it abdicates the referee of the responsibility of making big decisions either in real time or a review on a pitch monitor. People who are expecting a utopian situation of every decision being correct are in for a shock. VAR is certainly no exact science.

In fairness Lenihan slipped for the second. However the number of goals conceded over the last two seasons from crosses is ludicrous. I'd also like to see our wide players do a bit more to stop them coming in.

Lancashire FA set the prices. Given the extra security, portaloo's etc that they have they to pay for will struggle to make much money. I think they saw a quick buck to be made and it could backfire on them.

I thought this match deserving of it's own thread. Ordinarily I wouldn't agree but as it's a final and against the Troglodytes then winning becomes all that matters. On paper we should win. We have the quality and experience and stuffing them at anything matters. As of this morning there were less than 600 tickets sold.