Wsl

Or you could argue that missing sitters is a clear sign of a striker's decline. I thought he had made it clear he still wants to play a the top level of the game, in the Premier league. But remove the rose-tinted glasses of a Foxes fan, and I really can't see a Premier league club being interested in a 38 year old striker who scored 9 goals last year when playing virtually every minute, and in the Premiership season before that (22/23) showed that he's not that viable as an off the bench super sub option, as he played far fewer minutes (around 1000 fewer), started 19 games, was subbed in for 18 and scored 3. Unless he radically reduces his wage demands, that would make him a luxury option that I don't think many would bother with over either a player capable of playing 90+ minutes every week or a younger player who may be a better long term investment. I wish him all the best, but really think either retiring and coaching or a last pay day in the States are the better options. I can't see a season in the Premier league or even the Championship ending as well as his fans would like.

I'm less bothered about whether Kelly and Agyemang start the next game - if they work brilliantly as super subs, I don't have a problem with that - but surely Morgan has to come in for Carter, who is simply too slow, and doesn't have brilliant positioning or passing skills under pressure to compensate. In fact, too many times it isn't the lack of pace but the fact that she's just passed the ball straight to an opposition player or a complete hospital pass to a team mate that means they inevitably lose the ball. She can pass - there were a couple of lovely through balls when building an attack, but under pressure she makes the wrong decisions too often. Sweden targeted her last night, and whether fair or not, you can sure be Italy and (probably) Spain or France will do the same.

James is on a different level, even to some of the England players, isn’t she? She makes it look so easy and is playing for fun in this match, otherwise I think she’d have been on the scoresheet herself. Hope subs are made for the second half though; the other players need game time and there’s no point risking injuries.

It’s within the rules, and Crawley may think he’s been clever, but instead of coming out with confidence he’s sent the strongest of messages that he was bricking it and desperate to avoid facing a ball if at all possible. Why didn’t he just ask Stokes to send in a night watchman?

I guess we take advantage of the unexpected extra days rest ( I swear it looked like they were batting for this at various points). I didn't see enough of the match to see whether we were truly awful or whether to give them credit, Middlesex played well, but that looked a tired performance lacking focus and concentration, apart from our tail that did its best to wag. But it's the first time I've been disappointed all season, so no point in stewing over it - better to acknowledge it was a stinker and get heads straight for Derbyshire!

The problem with the plan to bowl first because you think the pitch will be a difficult one on day 4 is that you have to get to day 4 and require them to bat.

That many?!

Close but no cigar! Out for 5 off 10.....

Watching Middlesex bat on day 2, I didn't think we'd be following on on day 3.....

I'd be interested to hear any explanation of why we opted to bowl first - anyone heard any interviews etc?

I know that it's their job, but I'd be curled up on the pitch mewling pathetically until some kind humanitarian dragged me off by my collar and left me under a running cold tap today. The thought of wearing pads and a helmet....

Got it running now, though Lord knows why I bothered......

Why's the livestream stuck on Day 1? Anyone know or is it just me?

I suspect they hoped for a bit of movement. It's going to be hard work tomorrow. Wouldn't surprise me if this has been booked in for a draw. Would be called game management in other sports! It's an unfamiliar feeling, but I'm not averse to anything that keeps us at the top while we're down some good players.

That was a bit tense, but oh, they did so well. Proud of the cubs. An immense squad effort. And congratulations to Carsley, who has managed to defend the title and with a new group of players.

It doesn't change that drastically over one financial year unless there is an unexpected event that could not reasonably have foreseen. How did the priorities change? If you have a competent financial director in place, you'll have known the rough funds that might be available. Remember these directors seem to work on the most optimistic basis possible. But you can still tell the truth to a manager - we'll do our best but we can't promise much by way of funds is very different to yeah, they'll be funds (we hope) - oh hang on....

Agree - I loved winning it because let's face it, I still vividly remember the seasons where we couldn't get a win in the red ball game all season, and our only hope was the T20 and 50 overs competitions, but even as we did, I'd look at the teams the other counties were fielding, stripped of many of their best players because of the 100 or playing second XI/academy players when we were putting out our best XI, and had to admit we were lucky in that regard. I agree it's a disgrace, there should be a proper 40/50 overs competition. The main reason I dislike the 100 so heartily is not the competition itself, it's utterly daft but if it gets people watching cricket - it's what else that has been sacrificed for it, the mucking around of championship cricket and the gutting of the one day matches.

Some of his captaincy calls may show inexperience, but the boy can hit!

Cheers, LBTufty! "What the hell is < Budinger > doing, an absolute tool trying to clear the boundary when we only need less than 8 an over to win"

If I'm in a charitable mood, it could be tiredness after playing yesterday. I'm feeling a bit of a Sunday evening slump...

Thank heavens Mike is back. Salisbury's leaking runs again.

The ref may not be great, but we're looking out of condition compared to Bath and out of ideas other than try to defend; we've so little possession. Bath have had so many handling errors if there's any luck going around, you could say we're getting it because this could be a 10-15 point win to Bath quite easily. Hope I've neatly reversed jinxed it, but I'm not optimistic.

It's like the season never ended!

Well at least it's just a friendly.....

Oddly, he may be interested (unlike some on some wishlists I've seen) but I agree we need a manager to grow with, who will be able to build a team for the long term. It drives me mad that, when we're up against it, we don't use one of the good things we've got, which is the young players.