Retained List

As you all know I still live in Hope

Hope's now a city not a town too! Enjoy your summer everyone. Our first signing sounds like a character from Lord of the Rings!

Let's Hope he takes us on an epic journey!

What an end to the EPL season! I can't remember as many critical results ever being decided on the final day.
I went to an American friend who as all the pay channels so we could have watched any game. One other American joined us and we agreed on Brentford vs. Leeds, mainly under may influence.
What a game - we were all cheering for Leeds, as we were also for Spurs and Liverpool, so only Man City destroyed our total joy. We all thought Man City would win, but when it went 2-0 to Villa, we were really excited. However the Gerrard and Coutinho magic did not last!
Still Play-off finals to go, and Champions League Final. Unfortunately, Pauline and I will be traveling at the time of the European final, but I have a horrible feeling Real Madrid might win.
I am, really, looking foreward to League Two.

Football on TV is probably at least as expensive via Pay Channels here. I think that a lot of Rovers fans were unhappy about the Leeds outcome because of their contact with Doncaster-based fans as much as anything. I judge them more on their wider image on the pitch which has been enterprising, although their fans throwing objects at the opposition is a souring factor.

Yorkshire ought to be able to support one PL club and we have hung on to that and perhaps Huddersfield might make it two. Forest were looking very good until the play-offs and seemed near certainties up to that time. Billy Sharp was assaulted after the end of the semi-final which is a telling reflection of the standard of general behaviour in the country today. The pitch invasions have become routine. You can hardly blame the children when the adults behave so irresponsibly. It is almost amusing to witness it, with fans not knowing what to do beyond jumping up and down and making faces at the TV cameras. Perhaps the time has come when TV does not show them. They never show individuals who run on to the pitch. If mass invasions were punished by winning teams having to play behind close doors it would end. The Sharp incident should justify it.

Donaldo, I was aware about the feelings against Leeds among some Rovers' fans, but the three of us watching the game thought the Premier League would be less entertaining without them - at times (especially last season) it was a joy to see the game played the way they do. I must admit I was a big fan of Leeds during their golden years under Don Revie.
I have been shocked at the pitch invasions, thrown objects, and violence. In addition to Billy Sharpe, it appears the Villa goalkeeper was attacked after the game with Man City. Also I thought flares were banned! It is hard not to believe that lockdowns during the pandemic built up tensions and feelings that just had to be released by some people who could not control them.
Over here we are more concerned about violence in the streets, and Pauline does not like to go downtown because of violence and the homeless tent situation. Luckily we can get to within about two blocks of Symphony concerts and some of our favorite restaurants on our MAX Light Rail. Last year there was a record number of homicides within city limits, and it is on track to set a new record this year. Then there is the senseless vandalism of shops and other businesses. We do not live within city limits, and it is less violent where we live.
Later this week we leave to visit three cities in Arizona where Portland friends have moved to see if it might be good for us. Phoenix we think is too hot, but Tucson and Prescott are cooler because of altitude.

I was reminiscing with my friend today about the Revie era. He'd gone on a player escorted tour at Leeds and Norman Hunter was his host. My friend asked him who he thought was the better player Johnny Giles or Billy Bremer. He said if I passed it to Billy, Johnny would give me a bollocking, if I passed it to Jonnie, Billy would give me a bollocking. So I never passed it to either of Em.

https://gameofthepeople.com/2019/10/25/billy-bremner-and-johnny-giles-men-of-their-time/

Paul Goodwin has given his verdict on the January signings at https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/hit-miss-or-maybe-the-verdict-on-gary-mcsheffreys-permanent-signings-as-doncaster-rovers-boss-3710835

I think I’d go along with most of his views.

What do we think?

Remember boys, season kicks of end of July, fixtures released on 23rd June.👍