Warren

I visit my friend in Arbroath once a year since he moved back there from Wigan. The first year I decided I wanted to watch my first game of Scottish football. But Arbroath were away. So I chose the next town / station north which is Montrose. Once supported I can't unsupport them! I suppose if I wanted the big time I could have chosen Aberdeen.

Well it's a free world. I used to watch Tranmere alot in the 1990s, possibly because my friends support Tranmere. I would like to go again soon since its been several years now. I also haven't been able to watch my Scottish team Montrose for a few years. I had a trip booked and covid-19 cancelled the whole fixture.

I live about 4 miles from Prenton Park and they're my second team. Been here closing 37 years after moving from Trentham.

I have a keen interest in Tranmere. The most noticeable thing when I watch highlights is they are clearly not fit enough. That's pretty inexcusable management. Adkins is experienced. Would not surprise me if he becomes permanent. I need to go to a Tranmere game. But too many Tuesday night games at Port Vale is blocking my motivation to go presently. I also wonder whether the owners are luxuriating in the extra income of the Liverpool womens team playing at Prenton Park. Thus with ground rent et al for that, they are not investing sufficiently in their own team and seeking to get the gates up. I guess that's a bit too hypothetical but my Tranmere friends are pretty fed up.

I think criticism is an OK word. Abuse is not an OK word. With abuse, the threshold of what is abuse is lower with a woman. So, for example Duncan Fergusan does have a deterrent effect as a big man. Not many people would physically confront him outside a stadium. Yet, I think this lady manager could be vulnerable to that. Also online, the abuse given to a woman can become sexually explicit and threatening. I agree there is no protection against failure in professional sport. It's a very tough place to work and careers are often pretty short. That applies to men and women. If I think, well how can a female be protected from this stuff? One way is length of contract that means lack of success isn't immediately punitive. The other is that club security need to pay more attention to her in all dimensions. Some extra protection needs to be given. One hopes over time a cultural shift will occur. But there is still likely to be a bit of Roman Amphitheatre about watching football. It is an emotional supporter based professional sport. That can lead to some very bad behaviour. Historical evidence is widely available. I may be having a dream here! I may be being unfair to the owner? But employment law is based on searching for and appointing the best person for the job using accepted objective measures. The new caretaker manager in this case has been at the club several years and been successful with the junior teams. So she is a plausible internal promotion albeit I'm not reviewing what other internal candidates were available.

I won't watch women's football. I haven't got time and the standard of play is too low to transcend from sport to entertainment. But as a female manager I hope she does well. Unfortunately, a manager, +/- 5%, can only be as good as the players. Unless you're exceptional, say Brian Clough (OK, John Rudge). If she turns out to be exceptional she could become iconic. There are now two rival inequalities bidding for jobs. Increase the number of black managers, given that about 40% of players are black. Let more women into the male game as coaches and managers. I think women managers will need some protection from the abuse unsuccessful and even successful managers get. That can get nasty in many ways, and often goes over the top. I don't know how that's achieved because it possibly requires a whole cultural shift from the fanbase.

They're playing several divisions above their natural position. Where a town like Nailsworth could expect to reasonably be without extraordinary financial backing.

He may have got frustrated and gently and eloquently expressed his concerns for the coming season to the Board.

They are going to leave Conte's assistant in place. The argument goes thar top managers don't want to commit until they see where Spurs will be next season. Spurs have a mighty 10 game run in including Brighton, Newcastle, Liverpool and Man Utd.

A proper dude who knows what he's doing. Could turn round their fortunes.

Everton look like they are imploding when sacking Lampard.

Sorry for above. On my fifth pint. I do dislike womens football. I think it's rubbish. But there is no reason why a qualified woman couldn't manage a professional men's team.

No women please.

I watched his interview about his circumstances and issues. The problems at Leicester - financial fair play rules and sustainability - were a surprise to him after he came back from holiday. But from all he said he was committed to the Leicester project so to speak. I guess I am making too sweeping a statement as money and opportunity talk. An attainable big job at a big club in England doesn't come up that often. But I would add a new dimension here. I saw Rogers as a manager at Liverpool. I saw Klopp as a manager soon after he left and since. I mean by going to live games. Klopp is a significantly better manager because he has the team much better drilled. In particular Klopp teams play forward and don't go round in circles stuck in midfield passing around. Also they press very effectively. For me Klopp is a top level manager and Rogers in in the group below. I don't think Chelsea will be after him.

It's a tough ask in the PL as Spurs, Man Utd, Newcastle and Arsenal appear stronger. The Likes of Liverpool and Chelsea face more competition. Meanwhile City have signed the best player in the world for the next decade.

Rodgers can't get out of Leicester. Me thinks. This is football and anything could happen. Third coming of the Special One!

Looks like Graham Potter favourite. He'll get sustainable way of working like Klopp has done at Liverpool. Brighton get a big bung and find a new small guy.

Money talks I guess when it's a living you have to make in a short span insecure whirlpool of a profession. But aside from that surely Sunderland is a bigger club than Stoke with a much bigger and better stadium and more committed support. There is no way I would swap Sunderland for Stoke City. He'll miss Minchella's as well.

Boris is available on Sept 6th.

I guess Stoke won't be selling anymore of their young players and signing / loaning crocks to replace them. They look in relegation trouble with the transfer window closure days away. That said Nottingham Forrest got promoted after being bottom this time last year by way of a manager sacking. Darrell Clarke to Stoke City?

I lost some of my high impression of Usyk. He can pitter patter around with AJ who is a manufactured boxer with insufficient natural talent. That's why he doesn't get enough punches off because he hasn't got muscle intelligence and he's thinking about everything. But get in with Fury who is bigger and naturally talented and I think Fury walks over and flattens Usyk in about 3 rounds.

I found this an extraordinary fight. I felt Usyk won by several rounds. So did everyone else pretty much except the judges. AJ did have a run of good punches in a couple of rounds that troubled him a bit but then normal service resumed. It could be much closer if the definition of a punch is changed such that Usyk must hit AJ harder. Alternatively it's deemed a lot more punches than I thought were blocked on the gloves. AJ stands around not doing much and doesn't let his hands go. His punch volume is much lower than Usyk. Overall I can't see where AJ goes from here. I feel Fury and Wilder would render him horizontal in the first half of a fight. Other fights are accepting a step down and he may lose those including to Joe Joyce. Time to retire unless he's on a promise somehow.

AJ would have to improve significantly to win. If he starts fast he is likely to gas in the second half of the fight.

Before Wilder lost to Fury, I think there were several fights he should have lost had the opponent, who was a better boxer, had simply seen out the fight they were winning. To do that the opponent needed to stay out of the way of the haymaker by way of turning up for the fight in better physical condition. Wilder improved markedly against Fury.

I hope the track at Chesterton has an estate built on it that is worthy as a replacement community asset. I like to visit the Potteries and reminisce aside from the football. So for example, I am pleased with the estate that has replaced Priory Road Infants School in Newcastle Under Lyme. I have watched a bit of speedway again on TV. It seems to be thriving in Poland and Scandinavia and other 'East European' countries. But on its heels in the UK. I guess TV money is essential in keeping it going. But that doesn't underpin the lower league levels nor develop riders. And so to the turning point for speedway. The electric bike! Will there need to be artificial revving noises!??