I now wonder whether the word had got out that ismael was coming before the first no-show at Swansea ? For what ever reason the players aren’t playing for him.

It sounds to me like the players are feeling sorry for themselves since the last manager left. I can understand that to an extent but they’re professional players. They should have pride in their performances on an individual level if not collectively. I worked for some real wankers in my working life but I never gave less than 100 % once I pulled the overalls on. I couldn’t be any other way.

The new Jin Iley. The difference is back then the board released their mistake quite quickly and got rid. At any other club the directors would be meeting amongst themselves tomorrow. Then they would be meeting with coaching staff first thing Monday morning to find out what they think is wrong. Later on they’d be having the senior players in and asking them for their version. Will that happen at Rovers this Monday morning ? We all know the answer to that one.

The teams further up the food chain hoover young players up now. They just gamble on them being late developers.

I’m good for a tenner.

Nah, I think it’s 4-4-2 Carter Hyam Baath, Ribeiro Dolan Travis Tronstad Beck Ohashi Woodrow Of course I could be wildly wrong.

Looks like 4-4-2 to me with Ohashi and Woodrow up front.

His passing was off today but you can see what’s he’s trying to do, it’s all ways quick and he’s always trying to make things happen going forward. Not back to his best yet.

The age that the kids are getting poached gets younger and younger though. We don’t even get a first team game out of them nowadays. It makes you wonder if it’s worth the trouble. The kids like Wharton, who have a loyalty to the club, are as rare as hens teeth.

Have the team set off walking to Portsmouth yet ?

I see an American consortium is looking to take over Leyton Orient. Of course nobody would be interested in Rovers though.

Peter Lever, the Lancashire and England fast bowler has died. Until recently he lived in Rochdale and drank in my local, Then he moved to the South coast about 6 or 7 years ago. He was a really nice bloke with absolutely no edge to him. Although he found plenty in his bowling day. He was part of that great Lancashire one day team. Peter and Ken Shuttleworth formed the pace attack with David Hughes and Jack Simmons bowling spin. Barry Wood, David Loyd, Harry Pilling, Clive Lloyd, Frank Hayes, Jackie Bond, Farouk Engineer made up the rest of the team.

The Lovin’ Spoonful - Butchie’s Tune

They stopped bothering about “ bad PR “ years ago.

I think it’s inevitable that heading the ball will be outlawed at some point in the future. For football that’s do-able. How rugby will go on with the impact of heavy tackles is another story.