arbitro

It's a pretty much no win situation for the referee as anything could happen in the hours before kick off. I hated having to make a decision so early but I had to base it on actual facts at the time rather that a forecast.i the referee is only travelling from the other side of Preston, the Oxford team will be here so if it was me my prime consideration would the Oxford fans.

Having been in the same position several times in the past I feel the referee will have a really difficult decision to make at 2 pm (if that is true - there is still radio silence from Ewood). He will base his decision on several factors. Firstly the condition of the pitch at the time of inspection. He will have an up to date weather forecast and potentially contact with the met office. Given the forecast isn't particularly bad it will be at the back of his mind that it could change very quickly. He should speak to the ground staff and insist that both managers are there to gauge their opinions. The last thing he will want is to give the game the green light and subsequently postpone it when the Oxford fans are en route. If it was me that would be uppermost in my mind so he will have to be as sure as he can be that the game will go ahead if he gives it the thumbs up around 2 pm. I don't envy him to be honest.

Reports are saying it's a medical emergency in one of the home supporters sections.

Leicester are three up after half an hour at Derby and had a goal wrongly disallowed too.

I have no doubt that the biggest factor giving Wednesday hope is our home record (as it would to most teams). It's going to be an albatross around our necks until we get some wins in the board. Hedges is undoubtedly going to be a huge miss and it might be opportune for Ismael to revert to a back four and bring Ribeiro back at full back which will allow us an extra man in midfield or even further up the pitch. In doing so we would lose a lot of Alebiosu's attacking prowess but I think it would give us more balance.

Just prior to him going off he was having some treatment on his calf but earlier in the match he was holding his back after he appeared to take a knee in it.

This weekend is the FA Cup second round proper and the Premier League and Championship clubs are entering in the next round. Despite the almost downgrading of the competition by the FA and clubs for me the third round is a special date in the football calendar. I guess it's an age thing as many of a certain generation will recall the excitement and magic of the cup. I have vivid memories of crowding around a transistor radio at school on Monday lunchtime after the previous rounds games had been played. Replays were always the week after the original game and replays would go on until there was in a winner in a proper game. And clubs would play a full strength team. The draw takes place on Monday evening around 6.45 but the bad news it's on TNT, Discover+, ESPN, something called FUBO and YouTube which pretty much precludes a lot from watching it. Personally I would like to get an away match at a lower league ground I haven't been to but failing that any home draw.

Interesting question Wilsden. If Glen paid his £35 could they stop him.

It's quite simple for me after having seen Wednesday play several times this season. Stop Bannon and a huge part of any threat they offer is nullified.

Personally I think it's aimed more for corporates and sponsors given the price and I think the club will fear ordinary fans asking difficult questions. The recent Souness and Mowbray evening was £50 and I don't know anybody who went. The fairest way would be a ballot amongst season ticket holders but fairness seems to have been removed from the Ewood vocabulary.

Rovers are advertising An Evening with Valerian Ismael in the Premier Suite on January 8th. I went to one of the with John Eustace and enjoyed it. The Community Trust arranged this and proceeds went to a cancer charity. The charge,from memory was nominal. This one is £35 for adults and £20 for under 18's with no mention of the Trust or charity. Poor again from Rovers and likely to be another embarrassment.

At this time of year Rovers invite friends and family of any supporter who has passed away in that year to remember them with their picture on the big screen. We used it last year after my brother had passed and it really is a worthwhile exercise. We really felt it was a fitting tribute after a lifetime of supporting Rovers. I would recommend anyone who has lost someone to take it up. The details are:

There are a group right now who are being fast tracked. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2nd9zewx5o When I got on the referees list in 1995 an ex professional called Steve Baines also got on. He only did a few seasons due to his age but I know he automatically earned respect from players because of this. There have been/are several since Steve who have played at National Conference level. However there will never be any household names taking up refereeing because, quite simply it doesn't pay enough.

I don't know if you should have out an emoji after that but it's about the denial of the opportunity, not the players ability.

I give up, you being objective on a manager you have never liked and have been really critical of. Do me a favour. I don't agree with the majority of your posts so I'll take your advice and put you on ignore.