Funny though isn’t it. People used to say all this about Rovers.

“Smacks of”. I’ve no idea but he played 5 games and we inexplicably activated his one year extension. He can leave if he wants but he is delighted to be here.

Excellent analysis and presentation. The last one is something that it feels like Rovers have been guilty of for years and why many long-standing fans prefer Rovers to go on the offensive. We seem to have a pedigree for churning out attack minded players yet having managers who are overly cautious. Souey being the obvious exception.

And it’s a very good point. Hardly the kind of keeper that we would be out scouring the world for if he wasn’t already here as a result of his tactical signing last season. A strange situation. We sign a keeper for what can only been seen as a cynical way to postpone L1 games when our best players were called up - a decision I applaud, by the way. But then seemingly out of some view of rewarding loyalty he is given an extension of his current contract? Smacks of someone forgetting to check the small print of his “option” that meant it was automatic if he played 5 games or more...

Nobody was talking about City as a “killing machine” while Liverpool matched them every step of the way and could, and should, have won it (given the help they had) but for too many draws. If anything, Liverpool’s challenge this season turned City into a ruthless outfit. The key issue for the purpose of this article is the utter mismatch between City and Watford in the FA Cup Final. This is what made it a non-contest. The only way to minimise the risk of this is to seed the draws for each round - which will ultimately ruin the magic that makes the FA Cup. (Although sponsorship and gimmicks have already damaged it to an extent). Maybe, if there is not to be the complete revolution of a European Super League then there ought to be a separate “Premier League Cup” competition with the fourth Champions League Spot up for grabs (or even new European Cup Winners Cup, single-team-per-nation) format - and give the FA Cup, the Wembley occasion and the Europa Cup place to the EFL.

Glamour tie against a “top team” like Norwich or Sheffield United, I expect.

All Championship teams get the day off, no?

I’ve watched Leutweiler play for the U23s already, and to say he was/is an international keeper, he was terrible. (Granted, he might have improved but at 30yo he should be capable of being a very decent number two or even number one somewhere - at least an ambition to). Still not what we need IMHO. The thing is, similarly to Downing, Mowbray doesn’t appear to want players complaining about being on the bench and knocking on his door (I honestly think this was also his thinking with Travis and Rothwell). Leutweiler seems happy to be perma-sub and this is one less headache for Mowbray. (Even today “he could leave if he wants more game time” - why? He should be pressing to play here but isn’t good enough). Personally I think managers should welcome the challenge of players being upset at being left out because it means you can challenge those on the pitch to step up. Who was challenging Raya and who was challenging Mulgrew? Particularly post-January. In both cases, nobody. We shouldn’t keep mediocre players because they will gladly be sub and we shouldn’t let players leave on a free just because the want to play. Seems wrong to me.

Mowbray: Leutweiler:

It’s a strange situation we find ourselves in. Ideally, no, I absolutely wouldn’t want Leutweiler blocking the development of a young keeper. I’d also be astonished if Mowbray has signed up Leutweiler for the development squad. We have to accept that we have signed Leutweiler as first team number 2. Which means we are going to need a ready made Championship keeper to be signed on now. Or assume the Raya talk is just bluster and nothing will change in that area. I just can’t see us now signing another first team keeper without Raya leaving.

Which is why we need to do the right things as a club to get us there. Certainly while Venkys are propping up their mistakes. But in the meantime, it doesn’t mean the club shouldn’t try to do something different. We could be another decade or more out of the top flight. We will still need to attract fans - possibly even more so. The big problem is that what ever short term offer they make, you won’t get a stadium full of people all paying £400+ so they also need to get smarter at getting bums on seats while subsidising it through sponsorship.

By third choice you mean as our U23 keeper?

Obviously.

Brilliant. And Ted can’t even take offence because he is the bigger man and will just ‘move on’.

Agreed. But Mowbray has just re-signed Leutweiler.

“Only”. Scary isn’t it.

His apologies ring very hollow. He’s just realised that it’s 2019 and public figures are vilified for stuff like this. I’m pretty sure he meant what he said. It seems patently obvious that resents what’s Jack Walker did for this club and he has taken aim for today’s football ills on the wrong target and on the wrong day. Ironic that he is trying to do the same thing for lowly Accy. Odd that he singled out the names he has for his outburst. Abramovic is infinitely more responsible than Jack could ever be accused of for today’s ownership problems. Jack bought his boyhood club and for a fleeting moment restored it to its former glory. While Abramovic was the start of the “Pick a Random (London) PL Club as a Bauble” phase that has brought clubs to their knees.

Looks like he’s realised his mistake and now trying to back track. Too late. Especially picking today to make his comment. Fuck you Andy.

If he was trying to turn of Rovers fans he has just done so in one tweet. Fuck off Holt you jealous tuppenny-garc.

Vialli it was. ?? King Kenny at Liverpool was possibly most successful though. That guy was something special.

Didn’t see that coming. Dying breed player-managers. Quiz question though: who was the last player-manager in top flight English football? (Non-interim so Giggs doesn’t count!)

You simply can’t beat experience when it comes to coaches. People, especially younger ones, are motivated by someone who has been there and done it - as long as they have the communication skills. It brings about respect. A coach who has never done it is going to need some serious psychology experience as well as being tremendously analytical and able to communicate on lots of different levels. The one thing they can’t do though is show someone how to do it. Personally, and I know 47er was being naughty, I think a good keeper coach is vital, and that person needs to have real experience of the game. There is no reason why the top 44 teams in the country shouldn’t have an ex top 44 goalkeeper as a coach - minimum. Friedel was a consummate professional, has a fantastic record and has even taken up management (just been potted at his last role) so, if we could convince him it wasn’t a step down and to head back to Lancashire, it would be money well spent. The goalkeeper is a vital position that every successful club has got right. They cannot afford to make mistakes, they will be beaten on occasion by quality but they need to have beyond normal concentration levels and be a little bit nuts. They are going to put their hands and head where other players are putting their boots. I think Raya’s injury has put some doubt in his mind and affected that. Worrying for himself and not just the ball. But that’s just my opinion of course! The noises being made suggest that Raya will be replaced but if we are still relying on Leutweiler then we need to make sure we are not relying on Leutweiler. Maybe Mowbray has convinced himself that he is a viable alternative on a matchday. I’m less convinced. This one will be an interesting watch. If we start the season with Raya, Leutweiler and Benson then it’s another minus against Mowbray. Talk as always is cheap.

I’ll eat my hat if a PL side comes in with a big money offer for Raya. He is a long long way off being a top level goalkeeper.