arbitro

Since Covid there hasn't been an AGM/Shareholders Meeting just like there haven't been and Supporters Consultation Meetings.

Perhaps a few years ago. In the modern game it's a clear yellow for the reckless first challenge. The second challenge was petulance. But my point was that, in a friendly there was no need to do it and put the Stockport player out for a few weeks.

Trying not to jump the gun but I thought it was easier to start a thread on the Carabao Cup for the coming season with the news that we have already sold our allocation for the First Round match at Stockport on Tuesday 13th. Hopefully another cup run beckons similar to the last two seasons particularly last season when we scored 17 goals in three games prior to losing 2-0 at Chelsea.

When we really needed him to be tough in the white hot, hostile atmosphere at Millwallthe season before last he went awol and got the hook at half time when we were 3-1 down. JRC stepped into midfield, made a few tackles and we won 4-3.

Whatever any individual thinks I feel it was important to get this bloke around the table, a feat which many of us thought would never happen. Personally I don't agree with the 'all guns blazing'approach in the first meeting. My own opinion is that Pasha would have been nervous and cautious based on his reluctance to meet and individual or fan groups for many years. Gaining his confidence is important and in future meetings he will hopefully open up.

Travis showing everyone what a 'hard man' he really is 🤔. This young lad is set to miss the start of the season.

I thought we'd signed Right said Fred 😂😂

It's a darned if you do/don't situation here in my opinion. I'm not really interested in knowing about the scheduling of the meeting but I'm really keen to know what was said and I'm expecting full transparency on this. There should have been no 'in confidence' or 'off the record' chats as I believe that is a bigger betrayal of us fans than anything else.

Difficult to say but on first impression not dissimilar to Junior Hoilett. He is quite stocky and players of that build seen to have speed off the mark rather than pace over a distance.

I saw Pratt talking to Gestede but it doesn't appear he is fit yet. Whitehall came on at half time but no sign of Baker yet.

Atcheson, Saadi, Olson, Wood, Montgomery, Caddick, O'Grady-Macken, Edmundson and Strich, Powell, Litherland, Honour and Doherty were among the substitutes

He did well. Scored a tap in and showed an appetite for hard work by pressing and running in behind. He looks string and quick too. He was taken off soon after half time but it wasn't a reflection on his performance.

The under 21's beat Hull 5-0 at Brockhall earlier today. Whilst it's undoubtedly a great result it doesn't really reflect the game as Rovers were clinical and Hull, with a mixture of bad finishing, good goalkeeping and hitting the woodwork weren't. Some good individual performances from Rovers players but the team performance was very good with a decent intensity in the play. Barrett in goal made some top drawer saves but it's fair to say he is no Ederson when it comes to playing out from the back. With no Duru, Batty, Gamble or Tyjon playing it leads me to believe that there might be a BCD game early next week to give the recent signings some minutes to improve their fitness levels.

There are two games today for each of the under 21's and 18's. With the senior signings this week both teams should be more representative of the relative age groups.

They also had Oliver Norwood who played 27 games for Sheffield United last season as another trialist.

The main thing for me from last night was the intensity was getting closer to where it should be. Progressively the fitness levels and tempo have improved with each game so from that perspective I feel happier.

I thought it was the best we have looked as a team in all the pre season games (although I didn't see the ones in Austria). The fitness levels have improved along with the intensity so from that perspective it's been a successful month. Although it has only been 45 minutes I really liked the look of Gueye. He is a different player to Gallagher it seems. His first touch, movement in and out of the box gives me some cause for optimism. Ohashi also showed up well. His work rate and willingness to run in behind was encouraging. It does seen that the signings last week have given the majority of fans a lift. The squad suddenly looks a lot stronger. I'm feeling a lot more optimistic today than I was last weekend when I would have shook hands on finishing fourth bottom.

I might be in the minority but I'm looking forward to the season starting. After the summer we have had with so much going on, usually adverse it will be good to focus on some actual competitive football and watching the a game gives me a chance to forget about Waggott, the Punekars and all the other things wrong at our club. Disclaimer: The above doesn't negate my option to moan like mad if we lose 😄.

I agree about Mike and anybody who volunteers their time to trying to make our club better. Some of the criticism (and I include the Fans Forum too) has been OTT and unjustified. I'm all for constructive criticism and opinion but it's not nice when it borders on vitriol. I don't agree about Waggott though who is a self serving individual. He is good for the Punekars but not the fans and the club in general.The only person who tried to advise the owners correctly since John Williams et al was sacked for doing just that.

According to this https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/july/15/ticket-news--stockport-county-v-rovers/ they aren't but there is a link to Stockport's website to order online.

The ridiculous side of booking away tickets online is that you can still collect the paper ticket from Ewood. I booked our Norwich tickets yesterday and took up the option of picking them up rather than have them posted out. A few hours later I collected them. The Carabou Cup game at Stockport doesn't give you an option to collect them but you have to pay an extra £1.50 for them to be posted.

It really emphasises my point though 😃😃

I will be interested to see who Eustace appoints as captain for the coming season. So far in the friendlies he has used Brittain, Hyam and Travis in rotation. I honestly haven't got a clue why though.

The Linford documentary was really good but I thought the Daley Thompson one was better. It's a BBC production so should be available on iPlayer.

For anybody who wants to go to a long distance away game by train a 12.30 kick off just isn't convenient and sometimes impossible. If I am having to drive to those two it's going to be a 6-6.30 am start which I consider wholly inconvenient. Last season we played Norwich at Carrow Road in a moon kick off. The coaches left Ewood at 5 am. When was the last time you did a 200 plus mile trip to an away game for an early kick off? It's fine just going to home games where early kick offs aren't too much hassle for many but what about the away fans like QPR who we play in September in an early kick off. We all know why the clubs and Sky have done it but that doesn't make it any easier for fans who actually travel to away games.