90% of Accy don't care about Accrington Stanley. How they rose up from semi pro to League One was remarkable, yet they need significant outside investment to subsidise club revenue. Without it they'll slide back into non-league. It employed a few bar staff, hardly Apple levels of job creation. You forgot to mention that it was built without planning permission, not soundproofed properly, and therefore subjected local residents to late night noise every weekend.

Donnarumma made some outstanding saves last night. He tends to do that against English opposition. Once Ruiz scored it was over. Arsenal weren't scoring 3 goals. Although if Saka's second chance went in the Parisians would have got very nervous. Arsenal were hurt by injuries. Gabriel was a big miss at both ends of the pitch. Kiwior is a big drop in talent. Havertz, although not an out and out striker, gives the team a focal point. For all the guile that Odegaard and Saka have Arteta has spent the season relying on free kicks, corners, and last night long throws to score. I read a few comments on the BBC match report (I know it's not high brow), but many were scathing of Arteta's tactics, and his managerial skills.

I agree with you. Dolan is playing at his level. That level is 1 or more above Markanday.

@Norbert Rassragr, you may be right. According to the commentator I had on on yesterday's CL game, Yamal has played over 100 games for Barcelona and almost 20 for Spain (including a full Euros). He turns 18 in July. Rooney was cooked in his early 30's but he had the body of a grown man at 16. I think Owen was slightly different. He tore his hamstring early on and it screwed his body up. He never fully recovered. Back to Yamal, he is some talent. I'm sure most on here didn't watch but he was unplayable at times against Inter. Both games were brilliant too. Denzel Dumfries is some player as well.

Mine was an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa. 1990, I think. It finished 2-2. I think my first match at Ewood was a midweek England youth international a year or so before.

Ismael inherited a squad in turmoil and proceeded to not have a clue what to do with the players. He looked lost and his ideas weren't working. Somehow, whether it was players returning from injury, a lack of pressure, or him figuring it out, he finished the season unbeaten in 6 and had Rovers in the playoffs for about 5 minutes. He will be Rovers manager next season barring he himself deciding to leave. Dropping Pears was a good decision so I hope that is an insight into his m.o. and he is able to kick on. However, with Venkys owning the club new signings are likely to be has-beens, gambles, and Prem loanees without any pedigree so he's on a hiding to nothing.

Indeed. It's all down to Venkys. Anything after them is all secondary. January's lack of proper investment in the transfer window cost Rovers a decent manager and a shot at the playoffs. Forshaw, Woodrow, Sanderson, Dennis, and Kargbo were brought in and contributed very little. Trying to defend those signings as positive is shameful. Tronstad's injury didn't help. What about results that contributed? Losing to a 97th minute goal away to Rooney's Plymouth. 1 point from 6 from 2 home games over Christmas. 2-2 v. Sunderland followed by a loss to Hull 3 days later. 4 losses and a draw in March against the dross of the division. The awful and frankly bewildering fact that Rovers have lost 12 straight matches away at promoted teams. Also, the similarly puzzling years long low win rate in midweek away games.

Being chased by a pack of fat blokes would stick in my memory too. Here's the interview; YouTube: Shawn Michaels BRFC

I watched it on Sky. I remember because they did the strangest promo/interview I've ever seen. Before the game they wheeled out WWF star Shawn Michaels who professed his love for "the Blackburn Rovers". Did Richard Witschge play that day?

Rovers stumbled upon him after his release from PNE. He has outperformed his initial expectations but his poor days are a greater number than his good days. It was the same last season, and the season before. Overall I agree with you; he's a stable Championship player. He's neither quick nor strong, and although he does have decent dribbling ability, as @Tyrone Shoelacespoints out his decision making is woefully sub-par. If he's on anywhere near the amount of money is has been discussed on here he'll be off to another Championship side this summer with a nice signing on fee and an improved wage packet. Him leaving won't cause many consternations other than with commentators who won't be able to extoll him as a "livewire" and "Rovers biggest attacking threat" anymore but invariably his replacement will be someone of lesser ability, probably brought in on a free.

As far as Rovers current owners and executive staff are concerned it was a good fee. The rest of us know that it wasn't.

Rovers did get a good price for him. £20m+. It was more than the fees received for Shearer, Duff, and Jones. It allowed the admin to "self fund" for a time. The unfortunate part is that all of us could see how special he was and the fee given was a fraction of what it should have been. Cemented by the fact that less than 18 moths later he's being linked with every big club in Europe.

It's been a funny season. I've read lots of articles saying the same; the league is weak etc. etc. However, as @waynerovers posted Liverpool could end up with 90+ points so they have done really well. Aside from Liverpool running away with it and the useless bottom 3 the league has been much more even this season. Man U and Spurs languishing in the bottom half. Forest surprising everyone. Newcastle and Villa have the ability to beat anyone. Boring big spenders Chelesa may miss out on 5th too. If Palace hadn't started so badly they'd be eyeing the top 6.

Rovers won 1-0 thanks to their only shot on target all game. It wasn't a great performance against a team who want the season to end today. It was a throwback to Eustace's early wins this season; grab a goal and keep it tight. Rovers have no pace and no forward threat, but I am happy that Ismael seems to have stopped the rot, albeit too late to make the playoffs though. Sunderland knew their fate weeks ago. They weren't getting an automatic promotion spot nor were they in danger of falling out of the top 6. Neither the manager nor the players want injuries, so they've taken their foot off the gas to keep fit for the playoffs. It may not work but that's what they are doing.

I'm a terrible gambler but tonight's result was an easy prediction. An awful awful performance. again. The game was over 2 minutes in. This Rovers team isn't scoring 2 goals in a game. The first half was pathetic. There was some effort in the second but Boro let off the gas. Gueye was the pick of the bad bunch for me. Lost it every time it came to him. Spent the whole time moaning, then was lucky to stay on after catching the defender with an elbow. He deserved to be hooked at half time. I'm not advocating for a team full of Dan Burn's but Rovers are woefully undersized, which coupled with a lack of pace really makes it hard to score goals. Ismael has lost the players (did he ever have them?). Their body language is all off. The directors need to cut bait now but they won't and on Rovers toil. I feel for those in the ground. People want the team to do well so cheer and get excited. It's much easier for me in front of my TV thousands of miles away to not get emotionally involved.