arbitro

It's a really cheap shot to blame the fans after fourteen years of mismanagement, downgrade and ignorance. The blame lies solely with the owners, to blame anything else is nonsense.

Smart negotiators knowing they had a product somebody was desperate to sign. Palace knew our desperation for money because of the owners misfeasance and court case then simply used that to their advantage. They played Waggott, Pasha, Broughton and the Punekars like a fiddle.

I have been involved pretty much all my life in football in various guises as a player, referee and supporter. I despise what is happening to our game as the law makers (IFAB) in their wisdom think they are improving the game but in reality are ruining it. I started refereeing in 1983 and judging handball was simplified by one word - deliberate. That was the only criteria a referee had to judge. Now the law has become so complex several other factors supersede that word and things like silhouette and t shirt line have to be factored in. The real problem though is IFAB who have the power to make radical law changes when they don't have any empathy with the game, they are out of touch and most of them on power trips. The FA representative on IFAB was David Elleray and anybody who saw him referee will know what I mean. I haven't seen or heard of anybody who understands football say that the penalty given last night was deserving of one but I'm certain that the Head of Refereeing in UEFA, Roberto Rosetti will support it by quoting the part of law which will ridiculously, in his opinion justify it. And what is that embarrassing 'snickometer' thing they are showing? It will clearly pander to the blazers within the game but the real people, the fans who pay money to watch are being short changed. Football used to be such a simple game, in many respects that was the beauty of it. Now when I hear that American woman talk (wtf was she saying about lightning being within ten miles of the stadium would necessitate a half hour stoppage) I realise that certain aspects are too complex. I just wish the law makers could see that.

It was always an offence but now not classed as obstruction. I think in those circumstances it is tactical and certainly deliberate.

Obstruction was removed from the laws several seasons ago. It is now impeding and punishable by a direct free kick as opposed to an indirect free kick when obstruction was in the laws.

What a horrible club we have become. He was actually in the managers office when the two year deal was pulled. Yet Fleck got a deal and could get another.

Omari Hutchinson going from Chelsea to Ipswich for a reported £20m rising to £22.5m, pretty much the same fee as we got for Adam. He isn't in the same league as Adam. The words 'Palace met our valuation' should haunt Waggott and Broughton. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c10l4424ry2o

Before Pasha went to India Waggott said that budgets were sorted for next season. If he was being truthful (I personally don't believe much of what he says - call me a sceptic) then why would Pasha have to go to India to secure funds. Once again things don't stack up and we are the usual mushrooms.

After fourteen years of this lot we have had so many false dawns before so I take them with a pinch of salt but for some reason this one has got the juices flowing.

Of course it is. However he got injured in February and if he still isn't for that in itself is a worry. Technically they are both contracted to Rovers until Sunday.

I read what Eustace said but my point is that from the photographs it doesn't appear that Fleck is there. There was a story that McFadzean had been offered terms so if true he could have turned them down and is looking else as he hasn't been on any photographs neither.

Looking at the photographs of pre season training I haven't seen McFadzean or Fleck on any of them. I wouldn't have thought either will have too many offers from other clubs which leads me to believe that they can't agree terms with McFadzean and Fleck can't prove his fitness.

My thoughts too.

We are due to play Stockport in a friendly on August 2nd which is the last of the scheduled friendlies.

What does Eustace mean exactly when he says this: "If we can add four or five quality players to the group, we will be a competitive team in the Championship." Competitive is not a word I want to hear because it implies to me that his aim is mid table rather than the top end of the league. Competitive is the very least of my expectations. I could get eleven supporters from NO1 who would be competitive but lose every game. It appears he has started early with his banal interviews.

I was thinking exactly the same but what sticks in my craw is the fact Southgate said Adam has something England haven't seen for eight years with his forward passing. And that is one of the areas where England have been really struggling so why not give him a go. Adam will be better for the experience but I just don't understand why Southgate has showed no confidence in him.

For years now the Jocks have taunted England by singing about Argentina and quite a few have taken to wearing Argentina shirts during World Cups. So for me it is really ironic that an Argentinian referee turns down what the majority thought was a stonewall penalty which would probably have seen them go through. Karma really is a bitch 🤣🤣

And Martyn Margetson is Welsh.

I'm pleasantly surprised at that. It exceeds my expectations. Hopefully the club see sense and extend the early bird deadline to try and increase that.

Wasn't that at just a particularly point in time? The only time to do a deal comparison is right now as the deadline has ended. I think though that the majority of new season tickets will be in the under 12 category which will be simply down to the price. I know several people who have bought them for their kids and grandkids but out of them only one has a new adult sale (or to be correct senior). It would be interesting to know the demographic make up of sales at some point in the future.

Absolutely right and to desecrate our shirt with that was a disgrace but from a monetary point of view I can't see the new sponsors paying much more. Think Big was the mantra of Jack Walker and once again it seems we have taken the easy route.

At the very least we will be live on Sky 20 times next season. That alone should have been the main selling point to attract at worst a nationally known sponsor. It's very North West Counties league to have a firm of local solid as our main sponsor.

Next season will be different with the new Sky deal as every club is guaranteed to be on live at least twenty times. The exposure for any major sponsor will be greater that it ever has for EFL clubs. In light of that alone we should have been pursuing at the very least a national organisation and charged accordingly rather than a firm of local solicitors. If it is true then it smacks to me of laziness and the lack of real ambition for the club.