pongo88

Frugality is misery in disguise

There is more garbage in the Post today about Rovers’ efforts in trying to sign players in the January transfer window. Apparently, Rovers are unable to compete partly due to the salary cap. How strange considering that 3 of the top 6 teams have lower attendances than Rovers and Wigan, who are top, only averages approx 300 per game more than Rovers. Shrewsbury, who are third, average approx 2,500 less and Scunthorpe, who are forth, average 4,500 less! This awful salary cap must apply to all teams, so it’s obvious that not much of Rovers income is going on players. Average attendance for League 1 teams below: http://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/eng-league-one-2017-2018/1/

There is a lot of talk about the poor state of the Rovers’ pitch, but I think this is to their advantage. The mud and bumps prevent good teams playing football and bring them down to Rovers level. This may be a cunning plan

A positive was Diedhiou. Although obviously lacking in match practice he showed some nice touches for his first game back and took the pressure of Reid

I bet you’ve been saving that one since the Crystal Palace match. I bet if he scores it will be “Didn’t he do well”, and if City win it will be “Good game, good game”

Smith could also move to right back, with Wright moving into the middle, if a central defender was injured. The problem with these type of permutations is it means making two changes.

What - you’ve suddenly moved to London?

It’s easy walking distance from the railway station and a great pub - The Brunswick http://www.brunswickderby.co.uk/

This is very interesting. The possible variation from 6th place downwards shows how tight it is. It’s going to be interesting till the end of the season

You say it’s a “measly portion” but, though it’s small, it’s beautifully formed......... as the actress said to the bishop

I think they moved because the Rovers’ shop next door was lowering the tone of the area

You’ve got to hand it to Rovers, they have some good long term plans. When the ground is sold for housing, they can take the toilets, tents, plastic chairs, Santa’s grotto etc with them. Just move into an empty field and they have a ready made stadium

You can get a better pasty at the Minimal Ground (when they’ve got some) than you can get watching Roma. In fact, you can’t get any pasties at all at Roma, which just goes to show that Rovers are better than a top tier Italian club.

I hope you never get a job as an analyst. There isn’t a 33% chance of a win, draw or loss, because if there was each team in the league would finish the season with the same number of points. The probability of a team winning a match is complex and is dependent on factors such as the ability of the players, form, injury etc - i e the probability of City winning a match should be greater than a team in the bottom 6. Winning or drawing 70% of matches following a MOTM award is also dodgy stats, as it doesn’t identify how many wins or draws and who they were against

MOTM for Lee? No, no and thrice no! MOTM is the kiss of death for every manager who wins it.

This must be the day for Taylor to prove his doubters (me included) wrong. City to win with Taylor scoring two.

That was the most cringeworthy interview I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t make it to the end. It was like watching a child trying to explain why he hadn’t done his homework.

You missed a new Santa’s Grotto and a new pie stall.

If Smith’s out as well, the squad will be a bit thin.

Doesn’t look good for Smith with the way he went off

LJ raved about Eliason’s skill in the pre match TV interview, but he’s hardly had a pass. Get him into the game in the second half to put some pressure on Sheffield Utd’s defence. Oop - just saw he’s being replaced by Djuric!

Why is your car in your local with a pint? Wouldn’t it be better to have it in a garage?

I prefer The Three Degrees

Excellent as ever @havanatopia but this time I think you could have just used @BigTone‘s version - “ a sh*t hole in the north”.