22 minutes ago, Gav said:

You can only take on the team thats put in front on you Baz, looked competitive at 39-2

70,000 tickets sold for this test I heard, so its here to stay, but a while until we see another due to scheduling I believe.

I guess We'll see with time, but the biggest issue I'd say is that in this country, bar a random few nights, it's going to be cold in the stands. Secondly the finish time is a good hour too late, esp for anyone wanting to take children. 

're tickets sold, bar the early summer games at Cardiff or Durham, England pretty much sell out the first 3 days of any test. The bigger test is the viewing figures...(channel 5 won't be happy, their highlights show is on at midnight!)

I did like the pink ball, was really easy to see.

I believe one of this winter's ashes is day night, so I don't know how that will work in terms of viewing times in the UK, but if they can get viewing times that are palitable for both sets of fans, that would be very interesting. 

I don't know how much sky are paying, but it would be really good if we could get a couple of tests a year minimum on terrestrial tv. 

Congrats to Castleford for winning the league, their first league title ever, in over 90 years of competition.

18 minutes ago, Gav said:

Really enjoying the cricket today, a breath of fresh air to be watching cricket on home soil well into the evening, although the W indies are pretty poor.

Just witnessed the Windies coach almost have a heart attack, got Root out with seam bowling, then they declined the new ball and played 2 spinners! at a time when the new ball is supposed to be at its most dangerous playing seam!

The coach was having kittens

Not for me, and looking at the ground, not for the paying public either. Especially anyone with kids.

I don't think it's high paced enough for evening entertainment. I could see a game running maybe till 8pm. However it doesn't really help when it's not competitive, England look like they could bat for 3 days here.

I'll give it a go, but test matches are often about patience, about the long game, about probing the opposition over many hours if needed. I don't think that translates to day night. They could start a little later,, so more people catch the last session at home, but this is too far for me.

They need to look at ways to get more hours tv coverage during weekends to strengthen viewing figures, but essentially cricket sold itself to the devil when it left massive viewing figures on ch4 for the 2005 ashes for the quick sky buck. Unfortunately although sky do a good job on their coverage, the masses ain't going to pay sky 80 quid a month for 8 summer test matches in the UK, and some (usually) overnight tests in the subcontinent or Australia.

Dyche knows he won't get away with the reserves. Their fans would be happier beating us in a cup game and losing in the league.

It'll be interesting, as the roles will be reversed, they'll go in as big favourites with everything to lose. I still bet Dyche will set up as deep defense and hit on the counter though.

On 7/31/2017 at 22:02, Baz said:

Much better tonight.

Amazing episode tonight, it's really building to a massive conclusion.

22 minutes ago, Gav said:

England struggling her on 72-4 a lead of 208

The pitch is turning and bouncing for the spinners, we need to get another 100 at least.

We'll be fine, effectively 233 for 4. Pitch looks to be deteriorating and bringing the spinners into the game.

On 7/27/2017 at 18:07, Baz said:

2 quiet episodes so far this series, needs to get going for me.

Much better tonight.

Good win for Wigan today vs Salford. Thought that some of the refereeing decisions where harsh on Wigan.

Challenge Cup final vs Hull should be a good game.

6 hours ago, Mike E said:

Thrones is back on! What do we think so far? Any new conspiracies?

2 quiet episodes so far this series, needs to get going for me.

Going to say his former agent Tony Viola did the same thing a few years ago, basically offshored his assets to Dubai, took as much credit as he could from a number of banks, and set himself up abroad. Last I heard he was still hoping one of the banks would make him bankrupt, so he could wait 3 years then wipe the debt and move back.

The banks shouldn't fall for the bankruptcy process. They should just sit and wait.

England have missed a top class 'blocker' In the top order since Trott. We have plenty of very talented shot makers,but no one really with the resilience to occupy an end without scoring against top quality bowlers for hours on end.

He's far too happy, likeable and good to be from Yarkshire. Fake news.

Took his own £1 coin to the toss, as he wasn't sure of the protocol, and didn't want to be seen as a traditional Yarkshire tight-arse if he was asked and didn't have a coin.

Just now, JayPeeBee40 said:

I think were exactly where we were in 1991 when jack took full control and gave the club an unnatural ascension. At the time we were battling relegation to the third division.

Nope, try again.

Hmmm..... ??

2 hours ago, Dunnfc said:

I've not even mentioned anything about Mowbray pal but for the record If we are not in the top two after ten games then he better be gone.

I don't think you can be so rigid.

10 games isn't enough to say top two, but equally we definitely need to be looking within 7or 8 points difference maximum of the top two at that point. That could well be outside the play-off places.

Never heard of the guy, but 2 central midfielders in is a decent start. 

Don't quote me on this, but it's almost like we may have gone into a transfer window with a plan, a manager who knows the current squad, and a manager who has some experience of the transfer market.

33 in September.

Was a decent footballer, and set piece man, but haven't seen him for a while. Hope he's more Tugay than Murphy.

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I agree. Biggest mistake the  English Cricket Authorities made was selling out to Sky. The country went absolutely cricket daft in the Summer of 2005. I've never seen as many kids playing cricket on the common facing my house and now you never see any. They  just threw it all away for the Murdoch shilling

Agreed, plus the matchplay pricing for international matches is astronomical (£81 a day for standard seats in Ashes), so they are selling out most lower income fans from attending too.

Shame so many rain affected games are stopping the competition / fans from exciting finishes.

The rain break early in the England innings made a massive difference.

Needs to be a better method than Aussie eliminated after 3 no results (I know the last was likely to be a loss)

I know there are big injury problems, but Wigan defending tonight was abysmal.

Think we may have wound the Saffers Up? 

21-6

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

Wouldn't be at all surprised if we have offered him a lower wage and don't qualify for compo. If his current contract has a Championship wage and a League One wage then it would still represent a pay cut in real terms for Mahoney.

If we have matched his current contract in its terms (including relegation cuts or promotion bonuses etc) then it's like for like and we'll be due compensation. Unless he moves out of England and goes say to Celtic (Connor Mahoney sounds like Scottish/ Irish heritage to me)

12 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Do we know whether Mahoney has even been offered a new deal? Or is the temptation of £100-£150k compo too much to turn down for someone who was last season a squad player/regular in U23s in the first half of the season?

If he has been offered a new deal, is that offer a serious, respectable offer, or is it a derisory wage reduction that tells the player that we don't really want to keep him? (see Ben Marshall and Jason Lowe for examples).

When clubs like PNE and Barnsley are offering substantially higher wages than we are its time to cry.

Rules are, we have to have offered Mahoney a deal worth at least as much as his current deal was, in order to get compensation. I don't think there is a minimum contract length though.

Time to resurrect this Thread? 

A great opportunity for Rovers fans to get together and gain a bit of media attention over the summer months?

If nothing else a fantastic local quirky footballing tradition.