It's not always like that, I can assure you. Today was the best one-day game I've seen in 60 years playing and watching the sport. Well done England. Luck went our way and I felt sorry for NZ (but only a bit). Great for Stokes too after what he's been through

After years of moving on loan from club to club let's hope Gallagher can put down some roots and blossom into a decent player. Gallagher and Brereton up front with Dack operating between them might work. What I do not want to see is Gallagher playing as one of Mowbray's quasi winger /wide players.

McNamee wouldn't have a career in the modern game. He came from an era when tackling from behind was legal and running studs down opponent;s shins seen as part and parcel of the game. As a tough nut and leader though, we could do with someone of his character

Astonishing performance. England should play all their games at Edgbaston, in fact anywhere except London

I've remembered - Jack Hixon was the name of Burnley's north east scout. He also found Shearer too - recommended him to Southampton. All those great players - and very few played for Newcastle! Burnley tribute to Hixon here http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/feat/edb4/a_farewell_to_jack_hixon_478161/index.shtml Rovers had a NE scout too - but we ended up with Dick Mulvaney and Billy Wilson, though Billy to be fair was a good player

Ralph Coates, Brian O'Neill (dirty b*****d), Jimmy Adamson, Dave Thomas, Ray Hankin, all top class players, and many others joined Burnley as kids from the NE. Can't remember the name of their scout but he was well known at the time and he would have been worth his weight in gold these days. Newcastle and Sunderland etc would have known about these players but the old industrial areas in those days used to produce top players by the hundreds so they had plenty to choose from Does make you wonder though how the North East clubs have had so little success in an area brimming with football talent.

Good luck to him and hope he becomes a success at Ewood. But in the football mad North east, if he was that good why didn't the likes of Sunderland or Middlesbrough snap him up?

Connor Mahoney, late of this parish and "I'm an exciting player to watch", joins Millwall SOCCER Millwall - MILLWALL SIGN BOURNEMOUTH WINGER CONNOR MAHONEY ON LONG-TERM DEAL Press Association 2019 SOCCER Millwall Millwall have signed England Under-20 international Connor Mahoney from Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee. The Sky Bet Championship club say the winger, now 22, has signed a long-term contract at The Den. "I'm delighted to finally be here," Mahoney told the official Millwall website. "I can settle down with the lads this week before heading off to Portugal on Friday, and hopefully this is the beginning of a long and successful career for me down here at Millwall. "I'm an exciting player, exciting to watch. I work hard for the team and for the club, but also want to bring something different - quality on the ball, getting fans off their seats . "They pay good money to come and watch us, so hopefully there's a successful season around the corner." Mahoney becomes Millwall's fourth summer signing after earlier deals for Alex Pearce, Frank Fielding and Matt Smith. Millwall finished 21st in the Sky Bet Championship last season, finishing one place and four points above the last relegation spot. "Last season wasn't the best for the club, but I was speaking to the gaffer (Neil Harris) and he was telling me about the season before, in which we had a top-half finish," Mahoney added. "I think that's our ambition for this season, finishing there, and then you never know what might happen." Mahoney began his career at Accrington and made 21 appearances for Blackburn before joining Bournemouth in 2017. He has also had loan spells at Barnsley and Birmingham, making 31 appearances for the Blues' last season, and won England caps from U17 to U20 level.

Carson, please no. I'd rather have Joe Hart. And he's useless

Reed was wasted out wide. Rovers always looked a better, more dynamic team when he was in the middle.

Mowbray really is a berk if that is true. Reed would be a huge asset if we signed him.

The rise of the smaller southern clubs and their increasing wealth reflects the UK economy and the way it has been run in favour of the south over the past 30-40 years. To older fans such as myself, the likes of Watford, Bournemouth, Palace, Brighton etc in the top flight while clubs such as Sunderland, Leeds, Sheff Wed, Forest etc languish would have been inconceivable many years ago.

From the Derby County fans forum re- Butterfield Decent midfield with Charlie Adam on trial with Johnson and butterfield.... about 5 years ago! Tony Mowbray's Blue and White Dad's Army !!

With regards Mowbray, ignore what he says (which is only to please the fans) and watch what he does. So far we've signed 2 players at the tail end of their careers and he's now apparently considering Adam. So that appears to be the direction we're going - (very) experienced old pros who won't cost much money.

Interesting. Didn't know that - did some googling and found this. PE is risky but potentially very rewarding. Hopes it works out for him and shows he's not your average footballer. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/01/scott-dann-crystal-palace-injury-investing-start-ups-interview Liked him as a player but always felt he regarded himself as above us and not sure if he's the leader in defence we need However, he's well above 30 and a potential injury hazard - so ticks many of Mowbray's boxes.

Ambivalent on Raya, he made alot of mistakes which cost us points - although I'd like to have seen him with a big, commanding leader in front of him, which has never had at Rovers. I'm sure a John MacNamee type would have improved his confidence no end.

Cannot but help think Mowbray is storing up trouble for the club in the years ahead. Johnson is 32, Downing 34/35, both past their sell-by date, Darlow at 28 is not old for a keeper but not young either. Ageing squads suddenly need wholesale restructuring as these players lose it, and we have enough older players on the books already. I hope we have some very good youth players coming through, because these old legs will need the youngsters to do the running for them. Ideally, we should be signing quality players in the 24-26 age bracket, people like Harrison Reed for instance.

Standards dear boy. Calling someone "pal", in person or on here, is poor. Anyway, how can I be his pal when I've never met him?

I've never worked in Burnley, which is utopia compared to sarf London. Try again. I'd have thought £2m maximum for Darlow.

Apart from watching Rovers, I wouldn't voluntarily go anywhere near south London - it's one of the armpits of England. Yes, I do think £4m is too much.

It's ignorant and abusive in my book, but apparently a sign of "friendliness". Anyway, back to the overpriced prospective new goalkeeper.

Good points, well made. PS I'm not your "pal"

£4m seems stiff for a 28-year-old with only 180 first team appearances and who has been a reserve at Newcastle for the best part of 4 years.

Thanks Tony. Now where's the link ?

I'm sure we do. Where's the proof ?