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Joey Barton has been found guilty and sentenced to 3 more years at Bristol Rovers

Seem to remember Spurs form dipped alarmingly, as did Arsenal's after they both built their new stadia. The powers that be at Rovers have obviously done due diligence and have pre-empted this issue.

One Team In Borstal.

Would a guilty verdict make Barton the first Manager to go down twice in one season ?

I fear the worst for Barton I really don’t think his defence (gert teds in the away end) is going to wash in Sheffield.

[loving some of the music being mentioned here. "Music is the BEST" - Frank Zappa. I'd like to add that football is too btw, and what else does anybody really need?]

I wonder if he will claim to be of previous good character?

Barton trial now being reported in the post, registered at 17.33 and in the sports section. Can't help thinking that if this were the City manager, it would have been a leading front page story and not listed at 5.30 pm on a Sunday, in the sports section. As it's also by the Rovers reporter, it'll be seen by even less people.

Dubois comes from a pretty uncoventional family, he has 10 siblings all looked after by his multi millionaire father without their mothers. They're all either boxers or musicians and tough from an early age. His sister Caroline, who was the lady you could see, is expected to win an Olympic gold at boxing herself should Tokyo go ahead. Solomon, his youngest brother who also attended has been boxing for years and is said to already have the most natural ability of all of the siblings. So although you may find it distasteful, it certainly isn't if you are aware of the context and I think calling them attending a fight as 'disturbing' is a bit over the top. As you say, each to their own, but you're projecting your own squeamishness really. It's a shame you don't like women boxing too, because there have been some great fights lately. Incidently, there was more chance of Elvis being the ref than of Dubois even being hurt by Dinu, let alone beaten up!

That's top shithousing from Bristol. I don't think I'd like it any more than Leicester do but I somehow can't help but recall the hand of Back in the 2002 Heineken Cup final

Sinckler called up to Lions squad. Good lad.

"We'll watch him from on the pavements ..."

All correct but Lam didn't "get involved" as such, the ref went over to the dugout to ask him whether Afoa was taken off as a tactical sub or due to an injury. I don't understand why the ref did this as it gave Pat the opportunity to "muddy the waters" shall we say, and waste time to ensure the Bristol pack got its breathe back, which he did very effectively! If the notes given to the ref at HT said Afoa was taken off as a tactical sub then that should've been the end of the matter and none of what transpired would have happened. I can see why Tigers fans are pissed, if it had happened to us we'd be livid. The unfortunate thing for Pat is that this was all filmed so we know he said Afoa was injured when it appears he wasn't. Definitely a bit of a knock to his reputation, but then did we ever really believe he was the Mr Nice guy he always portrays in interviews? To get to the top and win consistently you've gotta have a ruthless streak; now we've seen Pat's.

Cahors is certainly strong in tannins, but such an earthy taste is a preference of mine when eating beef, whether as a steak or in a goulash type dish, or even with duck. Nevertheless, I would generally choose a bordelais wine for such dishes and, of course, duck is very popular in the south-west of France - I am sure you ate lots of it when you were in Cahors. Unfortunately, Argentinian wines and South American wines in general are quite hard to find in France, mainly because they are so heavily taxed and, thus, exhorbitantly expensive (in comparison to their French equivalent).

Dear God - XTC

Erm, no! https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/joey-bartons-most-disgraceful-controversies-23544106

Trial by Bristol Post.

Indeed. If it was us they`d have been trailing it for weeks, having vox-pops and all sorts.

They didn’t go for it at all. I’m not saying Chuck the kitchen sink at it. Could have at least tried to get to around 120/2 off 30 overs and then seen if they can kick on. If they then found themselves 70/3 then bat for time. If they don’t believe this batting line up can at least have a look for 90 mins then (a) dont pick it and (b) might as well not bother flying to Oz in 5 months

Went to Barton Camp, Winscombe in 1958 for a week through the school and at the expense of Broad Plain House Boys Club. The first holiday I ever had. Joined the boys club after and helped out at the camp in later years.

No but it underlines the point that there isn't a lot of confidence in the batting unit. Clearly they were concerned that being overly expansive might see wickets go quickly and then they're hanging on with a lot of time left. Plus they're missing Stokes and Buttler, although I don't think Williamson would have been as generous with the declaration if they were there. It's frustrating but I can understand why they didn't go for it more.

Weird reply as nobody has said they should have breezed to victory. Should have seen off the new ball and then gone for it for 20 overs and reacted thereafter depending on match situation.

Scared to dance - The Skids

Ten(t)-game ban.

Not unless he gets a tent ban as well

Swindon? when they were relegated from 1st to 3rd for cheating?

Pathetic from England not to try to chase this down

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/apr/23/1

'Time' is the last thing he wants.

Far too broad a generalisation. The country that gives us some of the best beef cattle in the world also happens to grow some of the best Malbec. Both are like hand and glove and you will find few restaurants of Argentine origin suggesting a somewhat light weight cab sauv over a far more full bodied Malbec. Of course it's all about personal preference as well.

Wouldn't effect him for home games, they don't count that as a stadium surely?

Yeah, you’re absolutely right. We’ve got the nucleus of a decent side, but take out those three and add Higgins’ and Dent’s losses of form and this is the result. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted.

Revised to 100 hours community service, litter picking in BS3

Cruel and unusual punishment out of all proportion to the offence. He would undoubtedly win an appeal.

I think it was Wigglesworth that Afoa bumped into celebrating in his face.

Apart from Hamkond again. I think what we are seeing is what we have known for a few seasons, there is little strength in depth. Take out Brathwaite, Bracey and Van Buuren and we look like the old Glos.

Cum on feel the noise......Slade

I think the Ref went over to find out what the delay was. To restart the game we needed a player to be in the scrum and the Ref went over to find out why we hadn’t immediately had a player ready. Pat said in the interview, words to the effect of, that Afoa was injured a couple of weeks ago and was only played due to Sincklers injury. He said he never ever takes Afoa off after 40 minutes but as he wasn’t fully fit he didn’t want him to be injured. It seems we were preventing injury rather than him actually being injured. So when Pat was asked he said he was injured but of course it had been recorded as tactical as it was in the strict letter of the law. The Ref was trying to talk to Pat who was being shouted down by Leicester players and staff. Afoa just sat there amused. The official word is that Afoa just said ‘bugger it, I’ll go back on’ and Pat was heard to say to the Ref that he would hold him responsible if Afoa was injured as a result of this. After the game Pat was insistent that he was looking after Afoa who then had to return to the pitch without being warmed up and was already carrying an injury. Afoa then basically won the game for us in the scrum, screamed with joy at a Leicester player who then had a fight with him after the whistle. Hughes was pulling players off him as they all piled in and took a few hits himself. @Kid in the RiotI think you probably know all this but I was just using your post to respond for those that have been asking.

Couldn't Get It Right - Climax Blues Band

Well, he was injured, sort of, apparently.... From BBC: On the late argument on the touchline: "John Afoa got injured a couple of weeks ago at the Gloucester game and was due back next week. "On Thursday Kyle felt his hamstring tighten up and he failed a fitness test. We made a call to start John and then bring him off at half-time. "At the end we had the yellow card. I thought John had come off as an injury [replacement], but it was down as tactical. "The Leicester guys came in and started hammering us and accusing us of all sorts of things. John got annoyed with that, and said 'I'm going' and went and did it."

All stemmed from what seemed some miscommunication within the Bristol coaches, or from the other end of the telescope, gamesmanship. Last play of the match, Bristol collapse a scrum, near their line. Yellow card to a Bristol prop, Tigers choose to redo a five yard scrum on the penalty. At that stage it would be an uncontested scrum. It looked like Tigers wanted a contested one and started moaning about Bristol could bring back on Afoa, who had been subbed earlier tactically. Ref looked at his notes and said yes, that the reason your coaches gave. Lam then got involved and said Afoa had been subbed because of an injury (which would have meant he could not come back on). Much back and forth. In the end Afoa suddenly was fit and came back on. To add insult to injury Afoa then pretty much ‘won’ the resulting scrum, match over. Much handbags. It was strictly speaking by the book. Ref had written down ‘tactical’ and that was that. It was not in fairness a great look Lam arguing Afoa was injured then him springing up and coming on (arguably when Lam realised Bristol would finish with 13 players). Ironically Tigers seemed to get what they wanted...and it bit them in the arse. My best interpretation of trying to follow it!

I am. A Cabernet Sauvignon would have been a far better choice of wine with a steak.

Oh I hope so. Your post reminded me of a little idea I had a while ago but it kinda slipped away. Fans of clubs, ie the majority should know and be told- that is to say, ideal world vs real world kicks in but in the Programme notes I'd like to see NP and managers of likeminded clubs point out that while those clubs stick within Regulations, there are clubs who do not- and they especially Derby but not exclusively, should be named and explained- NP and SL. Starting point. It would certainly add a bit of spice, a bit of needle- booing every time the opposition touch the ball has happened in the past, this would be a good way to get behind home sides vs those who cheat and show contempt for the competition and the Rules of that said competition. It would quite possibly enliven the crowd, a bit more partisan than usual when Derby come to town- hopefully the mindset of fans vs Derby, would be as if it was a local derby. Noisier than usual in support of and nice and hostile atmosphere wise. Put it on the Official Site a few days before as well, if a Club can get away with it. My suspicion however, is that it would not be permitted- the Official Site bit.

Not at all pedantic. I made a similar comment myself just a few posts before yours.