MaidstoneFox

Shan Masood signing confirmed today, arriving in mid-May.

I thought Jarvis had rowed back on that as an experiment to see if we had significant take-up while Rahane was playing for us. They don't have to provide a stream at all, there will still be radio commentary on the BBC website, but because other counties do it, they feel obliged and maybe there is a little pressure from the ECB to do it for the money they distribute as it promotes the game. I wouldn't personally pay for it unless it was something very negligible like £5 for the year. It's generally not very interesting watching CC cricket from one wonky camera and zero atmosphere. I know it's one of Jarvis' bugbears, he thinks the ECB should charge a general subscription to all the streams which would then be shared out to the counties. Obviously clubs like Lancashire with huge fanbases, are generating sponsorship revenue through their streams, so are not interested in such things and why would they be.

Exactly. If the whole thing becomes so passive, what is the point? Football should be like life and a reflection of life, so how does one want to live one's life? With no excitement, thrills, love, risk? Surely not.

Why all these dull young guys with their turtle-necks and white-soled shoes. I want the chain-smoking bank manager, Maurizio Sarri or a guy who sits on a bucket, Marcelo Bielsa, currently wasted as Uruguay national manager. These are proper managers, not some biege, 30-something vegan, who uses moisturiser.

Someone like Kasper Hjulmand was highly regarded when he was manager of Denmark. I don't know if he'd come to a club in the Championship though.

Some sort of 'best case scenario' at this stage could be another couple of terrible games or until relegation is confirmed and then perhaps a 'mutual agreement' departure, with Andy King or BBM placed in charge until the end of the season. They will probably hope there are more managerial candidates available in the summer. Otherwise, it could be another 9 defeats (even Southampton, I wouldn't be confident about).

I think we need experience, not another novice please. Ranieri is doing a great job at Roma and while I'm not suggesting a return for him, we need someone who has been a manager/head coach many times to sort out the mess we have and deal with the fragmented dressing room culture. RVN talked a good game but he is more of a coach/assistant really, you can see the fear and doubt in his eyes - he doesn't have the experience to draw on to deal with these situations. He would have no clue about dealing with a 46 match slog in the Championship.

He should go, but I think it won't happen until the new accounting year. He doesn't know what to do and has no experience of the Championship. Let's not forget Cooper had just lost 4-1 and apparently had lost the dressing room, so that was not a workable situation either.

Seems to have got worse each year he's been with us. One more to go.

Surprising but it might make him play with a little more responsibility. He's 28 now, so got to start showing he can be more consistent.

In The Cricketer it says that Masood still coming for the Blast and to replace Handscomb later on in the Championship. Rishi Patel listed as a candidate for the Blast captaincy.

Absolutely nuts. I don't see anyone else offering such deals to a 32 year old out of contract player

Quite a nice looking dog though.

Even at the time though, 3 years seemed nuts and even more so now. He's already declined in performance from last year and he won't make the squad with a new manager even in the Championship. Realistically we will have to find a loan club for him in Europe and subsidise his wages. He obviously likes his London life as his family are there etc, but he is going to have to make some choices if he wants to actually play.

250 could be a winning score here with the ball turning

There was a good piece about Phillips on TNT during the Eng test series, about him having ADHD and the difference it made to his performance.

Morgan was a once in a generation captain though, there doesn't appear to be an equivalent now (someone who makes it into the team on merit but also has that vision and intelligence). I'm sure the coaching role would be his if he wanted it, but I believe he has young children and doesn't want to do the miles.

You can probably train the dog better than these players, would have followed instructions etc. The whole thing is barking mad

And he's not a 5th bowler in ODI's. Ok to fiddle a few and bowl 3-4 in T20, but you can't put him down for 10 consistently. And he has no wicket taking threat, which is essential in ODI

Also just won a test series away in New Zealand, which is not bad going. McCullum only just appointed white ball coach, while I think Bayliss and Morgan were given years to sort it out. I have more of a problem with who Key and Wright and McCullum are selecting; it's all to a very narrow template.

Cocker?

So passive, they've barely committed any fouls, so reluctant are they to have the ball. They should all get fined.

I meant on the opposition.

The only upside is that we've become a dead cert to win money on if you fancy a flutter.

The selection has been terrible for the last few ODI series and this tournament. They are picking people who have no form or on funky hunches. We've got guys playing in T20 franchises all over the world and most of them don't get a look in. I don't know if Luke Wood is injured but we are crying out for some left-arm quick variety and lords knows what Liam Dawson has done to avoid selection, because he would be a very solid option with bat and ball - we've been a spin bowler short in both these matches.