I dunno. Seems an alright guy who really loves Rovers and is reposting goals to Twitter for fans who can’t see them for whatever reason.

It can feel like it’s insurmountable, it really does, most of the time. Personally, I silently hope for a series of unfortunate events to befall the family and any number of co-conspirators, such that we end up quickly being handed off to a better custodian by whoever’s handling their estate. It’s in vain, but I also irrationally play the lottery, so that probably provides some insight. It can feel a bit like Venkys won the battle when the Action Group waned. They corporate-bullshat their way into some respite, with no real intention of change and it shows the contempt they have for the club, really. They’ve just waited the grief out, grinding down any resistance. We used to tie Rovers flags to chickens and put them on the pitch (bit divisive, but an undeniably effective mode of protest). No longer. It’s not sustainable, something has to give eventually, their personal economic realities will become impossible to ignore. But we could’ve said all that at any point in the last 13 years and meant it. I hope something does give, but I am unfortunately very confident that this asset is being strung along to be passed on to a second generation of Venkys sprogs, as their father’s business was to them. He built that from scratch, he had a right to it. Some spoilt brat coming in to play FIFA Ultimate Team with this club might even be a final straw for me. Quite whether I stop watching or go postal, even I’m not sure.

I think the iffiness from Hyam recently has been Pears-related. I think it takes time for the relationship between the back four and Leo to develop but I have to hope that he’s at least as good with distribution and leagues ahead in terms of everything else. Which he might be, right? Right?!

Pickering is a bit of a mystery, I tie myself in knots over him. He’s capable of excellent moments both defensively and - as seen today with his cross for Leonard - offensively. Increasingly of the opinion that he’s stuck in the gap between League One and Championship. Arguably too good for League One, where the inadequacies in his game wouldn’t be punished as often or as severely but isn’t good enough on average to be a left back for a team aspiring to the playoffs. Someone has to be the weakest link in a team, no matter how good they are and opposition managers intentionally target our left flank so often. He’s potentially being shown up simply by virtue of being targeted so frequently, which might exaggerate those inadequacies. He can motor on for days, never looks tired, never looks like he’s uninterested. At 24, there’s still time for him to learn and be more composed but it’s a lot to learn and add to his game if he’s to compensate for the exact lack of pace he has.

Tired play at the end. Been a taxing week, but we’ve not had the stamina to make something of them sitting in. They’ve played quite well today and clearly been well-prepared. I don’t think they’re in a false position, but their form is likely momentum-based. I think they’re likely to finish 8th or so, they’ve not got much quality in any position. Clarke’s probably scored the best goal of his career today. Looked like a Sunday league bruiser. On paper, it’s a poor result, but there are some positives from certain performances today. Even Pears’ performance might be a long-term positive, if he never starts a league game for the club again. Give him the cup games and just show him the 8 goals he conceded this week when he complains. Problems to solve: Travis not digging in at the back when needed. Pears being paid to do this job. What to do with Wharton and Szmodics when they’re tuckered out. Pickering and any defensive support. Working out once and for all if there’s still a player in Tyrhys Dolan and what to do to if there isn’t. Again, Pears having a professional football contract with the club.

We’ve punched ourselves out and to be honest, scoring three away from home should be a win. We can’t legislate for a keeper that’s contributing to the opposition’s xG. The rally early second half is good, Siggy looked good, Leonard looked good, Szmodics is on a good run of scoring. Those are the positives, at least.

Ten minutes in this game is a tough ask for Semir.

That has to be Pears on the bench, now. He’s liable for three goals today, the job is to try and prevent goals going in, not set the opposition up.

This is an exhausting watch.

Trav for Tronstad, although JRC is v tempting in a game like this

That is a banger of a goal, an absolute banger.

They’re here to be taken, they are not managing this well. They’re trying to break and making poor decisions in the final third, but they won’t do it forever. We have to make something count in the next ten.

Also on a yellow after a rash, reactionary foul, but agreed. Another 15 of him and we might have had a couple here.

At least positive to see a number 9 that’s getting on the end of crosses and working the keeper with his end result.

Harry Fucking Leonard, good lad, good striker’s play.

I’m not sure Tyrhys Dolan on current form is the answer to any question we might get asked today.

Siggy looks a classy footballer. He and Wharton are being doubled-up on and without them, we look pedestrian. If we could adapt to that and not have conceded 3 before half time (huge ask, granted 🙃) then they’d be blowing out their arses second half and we could push on. As it is, they’ve borderline won this by half time. Based on their approach to the game so far, their game management will probably be solid. Ultimately, getting their rewards for tailoring their approach to our threats, with a little bit of luck as a bonus (although a couple of viewings of Pears and any coach would be telling their players to shoot on sight). Hedges for Moran, Pears for Leo, JRC for Pickering. Push and press for an early goal, otherwise, we cut our losses and move onto the next one.

They are so bad at trying to play out, we have to punish them for it. Front four have to be all over them to make something happen before half time.

Sub Pears, they’ll end up with a cricket score based on the opening 25.

About 5500 miles outside the broadcast area for Radio Lancs, currently, unfortunately

If anyone could let me know which this is, just so I can make sure I stay away from any illegal activity today, that would be very reassuring.

How are people watching?!

I managed to watch the Sunderland game in the bloody plane here, so if it turns out I can’t watch this with my breakfast, I’ll be cross

Having trouble in the US atm. Just sat down for breakfast, trying to work around it.

Don’t think Sunderland were value for the win at all. Fortunate and mainly by virtue of two of our own mistakes, plus the untaken chances. Jack Clarke has an exceedingly punchable face. Hope he finds the fists that mug deserves. Nothing we don’t know about our deficiencies but I am especially annoyed to lose to a poxy club like these. Their fans were shitting themselves and silent for most of the game and their players looked utterly bamboozled. We let them back in but we could’ve been home and dry before they’d got their trousers on. We move on.