arbitro

Personally I am hugely disappointed with the potential signing of Downing. It seems like a signing of convenience and within Mowbrays comfort zone but I honestly don't feel he will improve the squad or impact positively on our top six push. He will also come in as one of our best paid players. The length of any deal will be interesting. I have some close friends who are Middlesbrough supporters and they are surprised by our interest in him.

Gloating Scousers I can just about bear as at least they were born there. It's all the 'fans' who suddenly appear (Matty aptly described them as single use plastic) that do my noggin in. Yesterday evening I saw my neighbours and their extended family walking to the pub and all bar one were wearing new Liverpool shirts. I know for a fact that some of them have been Rovers fans in the recent past. They now proclaim Klopp as the second coming. It's going to be a long summer ?

She must have played for him previously then.

The commentary team is so bland. I don't have BT so I'm not used to Macca, J and Fletch and their boys club. I thought the penalty was harsh as it came off his chest. How can that be deliberate?

A simple guide to next seasons law changes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48382254

I'd like them both to lose! For me it would be marginally better if the Cockneys won. As many have said it would be insufferable with all those pseudo scouse types dusting off their Crown Paints and Candy sponsored shirts and proclaiming to never miss a game. Conversely the 'I would go but can't get a ticket' brigade will be bloody annoying too.

I wonder if the budget 'similar to last season' includes the money that Mowbray (allegedly) didn't spend in August 18 and January 19 or have the Indians lumped that into the current budget? Or was it bullshit?

A quality keeper has to improve any defence. The two go hand in hand.

Waggott will be delighted if Downing signs. He will insist on his squad number being 26 and then he can shift all them shirts now gathering dust. ? Are there any Conways out there we can buy?

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/11730994/middlesbrough-plan-to-sue-derby-for-side-stepping-efl-financial-rules This could get interesting. Middlesbrough are planning to sue Derby over the sale of Pride Park to the Derby owner. The article says the sale was approved by the EFL. If that's true surely Middlesbrough would have a stronger case by suing the EFL.

Less than 50 career assists indicates he isn't too good at crossing.

I think the media have cottoned on to Mowbrays penchant for signing players he has previously worked with. I will be massively disappointed with this if it happens. Aside from his age and potential wages I have simply never rated him.

Villa doing exactly what they did against us in the game at Villa Park. Coasting at 2-0 and sit back to play on the counter, concede and then all the time wasting and gamesmanship. I really thought if they kept attacking they could have won by four. Smith reminds me of Mowbray at times.

Derbys keeper has a Raya moment.

If Villa win will we see Terry don a full Villa kit to join in on the celebrations?

Just switched over to watch the Championship Playoff final and the first thing I see is Keith Andrews and his walnut whip hair trying to come over all expert like. I quickly switched back to Only Fools and Horses.

I can't see anything other than a comfortable Villa win and I would be selfishly happy with that. Visiting Villa Park as an away fan is spoilt for me by egotistical stewards on a power trip. And can you imagine even more glorifying of Lampard.

It'd be good to have somebody with such a cool name. Picking a nickname for him might prove difficult though ?.

I was stunned to read yesterday that Cattermole is only 31 and contracted until June 21. I had him down as mid 30's and thought I was being generous. He is also on a reported £40k per week.

Paul Cook? He won the league and didn't have the highest budget.

I just checked and he is on loan from Arsenal so I guess he'll go back there. It'll be a shame for Charlton as their team could be broken up with Bauer and Aribo out of contract.

I was about to post the same about Bielek. He looked much better than Bauer in my opinion. The lad Aribo didn't impress too much neither. He was too languid in possession for me and we have enough of them already.

It's no wonder errant owners are allowed to buy and subsequently ruin good football clubs with pricks like Harvey in governance. In the case of several clubs new owners bought good, well run clubs, oversaw relegation(s) and saddled the clubs with unmanageable debt. And we have to be grateful. It's like reading some of our own fans telling us how we have to be forgive, forget and be grateful to the hopeless Indians who have ruined our great club.

He has been decent down the years but in my opinion way, way past his best and had he signed a new deal I would have seen it as wasted money. I do wonder though if Mowbray has offered him greatly reduced terms putting him in a no lose situation. If Conway signs he has an experienced player to fill the squad on the cheap and if he didn't sign Mowbrays reputation of Mr Good Guy is still intact. Either way we'll never know but good luck to Conway wherever he ends up.

Difficult for me not to be in Darwen as I live there.