RevidgeBlue

At the time I thought that that last jab must have caused some really really serous damage to his eye. He didn't just quit, because of a swollen and closed eye (although that would have been bad enough in itself for any normal mortal) and if the prognosis of a broken eye socket is correct then that confirms my thoughts at the time. That said, whilst I didn't think his attitude was particularly in question, he didn't overly impress either, and showed the hype about him is a little premature.

My apologies, you're right, quarter final not final (should have said World Cup "Finals") but I don't think that makes any difference to the point I was making, a quarter final of the World Cup is the biggest of stages and the principle is exactly the same. It's not usual but I have seen players own up to misdemeanours on occasion over the years. You may think it's a twee comparison but if a golfer was proved to be cheating to try and win, not only would he not be a hero but he'd be disgraced and would probably never play professionally again. Had one of our players done that during the 66 final I wouldn't have a particularly high opinion of the player in question and personally I wouldn't derive much if any satisfaction from the win. Others probably still would - each to their own. OnhMaradona's pure ability, can only repeat what I said above, I never said he wasn't a great player.

I never said Maradona wasn't a great player either. I did have him at number 3 in my all time list. I merely said that for me to be considered the greatest of all time the player in question should have something special about them personality wise - and got told to "give my head a wobble!" It's a matter of opinion anyhow. Most people's assessments will be slightly different.

So you're saying Maradona didn't have to be a nice person to be be considered a great player (true) but in the next breath you're saying you don't like Pele because he's "smug?" Is this a spoof post? FWIW if you read anything by Pele he always comes across as exceptionally humble imo. On Maradona, he was exceptionally talented as a player but and I never wished him any harm but neither am I personally losing any sleep over a guy who cheated to win a World Cup Final and who was a drug addict and someone with Mafia connections off it. I'm not bothered about what he did off the pitch, many people have their personal demons, my indifference to him is much more down to the fact that he cheated to win a World Cup Final. I understand it's something you could do instinctively but if he'd instantly owned up to his misdemeanour and had the goal ruled out his legend would far eclipse even what it is now. Not a particularly accurate comparison with Best either imo. Maradona was a much darker character.

Trybull's a nothing player for me, exactly like Evans offers absolutely nothing either offensively or defensively

Yes thought Bell played really well apart from going AWOL for their goal.

Poor performance great result. Kaminsky had a really good game, Bell and Nyambe played quite well, thought Wharton was outstanding before his unfortunate injury, was getting his head or foot on the end of everything. For once I thought Mowbray got the subs exactly right we were much improved after Johnson and Gallagher came on. Wouldn't normally advocate Gallagher but such was Barnsley's initial dominance we needed an outlet and he also took his goal very well. Take the points and move on.

Would have to be Elliott for me, think he's been very poor again despite his part in the goal.

Terrible half from us, can't believe we're winning. We've had no answer whatsoever to Barnsley's press, Trybull is absolutely useless for me, both he and Holtby need to work a lot harder and impose themselves more second half. Sensational play from Nyambe for the goal. Think Wharton's done ok. Don't understand the criticism of him at all. Perhaps people would prefer Tosin making a few fancy passes and us conceding three goals every week.

incidentally did anyone notice they published a condolences tweet alongside some nice words from Pele on Sky News yesterday teatime from a random bloke called Johann Cruyff obviously thinking it was from the great man himself? Quite disgraceful. Absolutely staggering that no-one responsible for producing the sports segment of a worldwide news show wouldn't have been aware one of of the greatest footballers who ever played died a few years ago. Then not a hint of an apology. They obviously realised their mistake but brushed it under the carpet hoping no-one would notice. ?

This argument is often raised against Pele in more recent times by those who haven't seen much of him or know much about his character and background. Weaker League yes, but he did score 1000 goals and back in the day he was such a National icon the Brazilian Government refused to allow him to leave the Country so I think its unfair to levy that against him. On the National stage he lifted the major prize 3 times out of 4 in 58, 62 and 70 and was kicked out of a 4th here in 66. I think to be the greatest you have to have something about you as a man as well. Maradona was a genius in pure footballing terms but showed himself to be a cheat on the pitch and drug addict and questionable character off it. I think everyone's greatest players will vary depending on when they grew up. My top 6 Pele Cruyff (Criminally underrated imo) Maradona Messi Ronaldo Best

Agreed, but having been let down so many times over the last two and a bit seasons I'll only believe it when I see it.

You're getting slightly carried away there, "routinely dispatching" easier looking opposition after seemingly building up a bit of momentum isn't really something we've managed in the Championship under Mowbray before.

Agreed, played where he is now. When you see him this season it makes it fairly baffling why the manager wasted him out of position (Harrison Reed like) out wide last season.

Very good performance tonight. Think it's only the manager that can hold us back, it's pretty clear we shouldn't be playing the likes of Evans and Bennett and you can also only play one of Johnson or Trybull at the same time, and JRC isn't even in the same league as Nyambe at RB. Holtby is absolutely key for us. Brereton was great, surprisingly Gallagher was ok. Wharton is looking incredibly impressive, does what it says on the tin, nothing fancy, just solid no frills defending. Dolan's cameo was sensational, never seen anything like the turn and dummy which sent the Preston player off into the car park for a burger and him in the other direction clear into the area. Great night, just need to be way more consistent.

Decent half. Surely even we can't blow this.

I think the point behind it being a finite number rather than a percentage is that inside the grounds are not perceived to be a problem, but travelling to the game and getting to and from the ground and your seat is so they don't want large numbers travelling at this stage. Agree that it seems very unfair that some Clubs can have fans in and some can't but don't get me started, I don't agree with any of the restrictions generally.

I'm under no delusion whatsoever that this will actually happen with Swag in charge, unless the owners decide to take a closer look at what's going on and cease to be taken in by the 'we're bang on course" routine. However whilst I don't think it will happen, the day you don't think a manager who isn't up to scratch SHOULD leave is the day you should give it up as a bad job! I'm really fed up now, normally I can't stand international breaks but I took a complete two week break from Rovers news, didn't miss worrying about Moggasaurus in the slightest, and returned to it full of idle curiosity wondering if a two week break would have healed some limbs and recharged our batteries. Sadly not it seems. In that two week period I'd almost forgotten how bad in general we are under Mowbray.

Spot on JH. Excellent post. I only hope someone that matters in Pune is reading it and beginning to see through this "slow build" jam tomorrow nonsense.

So how long does he get? Should he be allowed to ruin yet another season or should someone else be given the chance to try and salvage something out of it? If the latter we need to be making the change in no more than four or five games time imo.

Apart from the fact we're not 11th, we're 14th. In the second tier........

Not seen everyone's else's posts. Thought that was a desperately poor performance for 80 mins yesterday. No urgency whatsoever until the last 10. Too many players completely anonymous yesterday, Johnson (back to last season's form) Trybull (what a pointless player he looks - Lowe/Evans mark 3) and Elliott. Rothwell the pick by a country mile and next best Brereton in terms of overall play although he seems to lose his composure completely in front of goal. Poor result against a very ordinary side under a poor manager. 14th already and another wasted season, lower mid table at best, beckons unless there's a change in the dug out.

Played pretty well today, although rode our luck on a couple of occasions. To my mind the injury to the useless Evans actually helped us no end. Wharton also looks to me exactly what we need, a solid no nonsense defender who does the basics gets, gets his head on stuff when needed and isn't afraid to put the ball in row Z if necessary. Unfortunately he probably won't get a look in when everyone's fit. Armstrong's a weird player, misses easy chances, scores more difficult ones and some of his play is really poor but his goal output has been phenomenal so far this season. You can sort of tell what sort of afternoon we're going to have when you see the starting line up. Bar Holtby for Evans and Douglas for JRC I don't think that was far shy of our best starting line up today. Rothwell the pick for me.

If no one passed to him he wouldn't be! ?

Second one was a terrible shot from Armstrong. Like a back pass. And why won't he pass to Brereton?. Could have slipped him in three times.