Ted Maul

Genuinely think this would weaken us considerably- absolutely no physicality to our midfield whatsoever if he goes. We're going all-in on powderpuff football.

Their placid pitch has done them no favours.

What do we prefer here then? Think I'm leaning towards a Hamshire win to be honest, keeps Yorkshire down there too.

Given our financial constraints, that would mean looking in markets where you can get good value for money. Something which we seem incapable or unwilling to do.

From a competitive standpoint, the pitch was perfect- bowler-friendly, but something in it for the seamers, spinners and batsmen who were willing to dig in. Produced a result on the afternoon of day 4, with all 3 results possible going into the final day. In my mind, the only possible issue is player safety from uneven bounce.

The pendulum swings. Into the tail with the new ball now.

Get in

Hamza has his limitations, but he's a far more effective player than Skipp.

Based on his performances so far this season, he won't cost much to replace.

This passage of play before lunch decides our fate this season.

Doesn’t matter how much he goes for this season (different financial rules apply). Just get him gone, clearly part of the problem.

I refuse to believe that this bloke's passport says Italian. Because of his defensive capabilities, rather than anything Rupert Lowe related

Get the fat ***** gone. Spends 3 years on the treatment table and when he does finally get fit(ish), thinks he's above us and plays half-arsed like an absolute fanny.

Yeah, completely depends on how the match referee views it. Although that system is nonsensical- half of the pitches every season would fall into the below average category if they applied the rule literally I really don't mind bowler-friendly tracks anyway (within reason). Particularly given that half the season will now be played in the autumn. No point preparing a pitch which will produce scores of 400-odd then deteriorate when you're losing 2 days to rain.

I'm not sure a 'bad' pitch could produce a 1-run difference between first innings. Bowler-friendly, but that's pretty consistent.

It certainly favours the bowlers, which doesn't necessarily make it sub-standard. Given where we are in the table, we probably needed to roll the dice a bit- draws are no good and the weather won't do us any favours from here on in.

Believe they ran it by the ECB before the Yorkshire match & got it cleared- can't imagine anything has changed.

Some spell from Mike, this.

Tedious rhetoric, half of the city centre is genuinely decent these days- Highcross, Cathedral Quarter & The Lanes, Cultural Quarter. Redevelopment of the market place will hopefully link everything together. Just don't venture past Humberstone Gate and it's sound. There are far worse cities in this country with far better reputations.

Assuming this must be our first ever league fixture against Burton?

Genuinely, what the **** is that badge about. Just fold the club.

There's always one element of our decent kits which ruin them. Always.

Thought the sitting in the first few rows was a relatively new phenomenon, but saw highlights of our game against Notts County in '93 and half the stand was sat down. We're a weird bunch.

I get why people are pissed off. What I don't agree with is venting the frustrations of the last 2 years' shitshow at people on their first day at the new job & academy lads buzzing to make it to the first team (and perform well). Properly weird behaviour.