Roderick Easdale

Premier League relegation: The stats behind Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland's chances in the top flight BBC Sport looks at the stats surrounding relegation, asks why promoted clubs are struggling and rates each of the new boys' chances.

Interesting and informative article: #MOT #lufc
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

I expected India to bat on to allow two players to get centuries, and it made some sense in terms of man management/tactics. It was England/Brook who made the bowling farcical from one end, not them. Dawson seemed to want to bowl but Stokes said no. #ENGvsIND

Odd timing re Patrick Bamford? Did Farke only decide he doesn't want him on July 8? Unlikely. So why not tell him earlier in transfer window and improve his chances of finding a new club? Would that not have been in Bamford's and the club's best interests? #ALAW #MOT #LUFC

Chap won the nearest the pin competition at club yesterday on a hole at which someone else got a hole in one. Both of us puzzled how a hole in one does not count as being nearest the pin.

Hallamshire 17th hole

Hallamshire 10th hole

Played Hallamshire last week. Happy to collect another Harry Colt design and has some holes of real character. Was fun to play and has some wonderful views. Particularly loved the par-3 17th.

Came across this today in the stand that houses the media facilities at The Oval:

Today I chatted to a young couple with their tiny baby doing a tour of the county grounds in our crowd of over 2,000. Surrey had the largest crowd this century of well over 6,000.
County cricket in its present guise is having a resurgence & is popular as it is. DON’T CHANGE IT

Farke continuing next season is our best bet. Are there better, proven managers? Yes. Can Leeds get one? No. Top-quality experienced managers have better options than a newly promoted club. So looks like Farke or another punt on a Christiansen/Marsch/Hecky...

Jos Buttler, who today announced his resignation a captain

England's next ODI captain will lack familiarity with 50-over format: eg Harry Brook has played only 40 50-over games in career, incl 25 ODIs; Ben Duckett has 21 ODIs. If captain ends up relying a lot on coach and analysts - well, recently this particular brains trust has perhaps been found lacking?

... and those clubs historically one may think would struggle - Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton - look too good at the moment. Palace? Fulham? Going to be tough yet again for the promoted sides.

Wolves do seem most likely, esp if they lose Cunha in summer. West Ham in 12 seasons back in Prem have only once finished lower than 14th, and last season were 9th. Can't see a side as rich as Man U going down, and if exclude the Big 6 + Newcastle, only 10 to pick from...

Question for #LUFC fans and indeed #EFL fans generally. If the three teams who get promoted this season to the #EPL are not to get relegated straight back down (as happened last season and will this), who will get relegated next year instead and why?

Junior Firpo

Farke-ball is frustrating when players get level with penalty area and, rather than get behind defence and turn defenders, they play back and across. Yesterday (with Firpo back) Leeds hit the byline, got behind opposition defence, put in crosses and scored lots. Maybe repeat this tactic? #lufc #mot

Joe needs to go for his grammar crime alone - it's "fewer" not "less"!

And here he is, professing to be a teacher of English 🤔 ... #TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK #Traitors #TraitorsUK

'Right decision' reached as England un-declare after no-ball reprieve Confusion at Port Elizabeth as wicket is overturned following Joe Root's declaration

Someone on that other place has sent me this link in reply:
www.espncricinfo.com/story/right-...

Scenario: test captain is waiting until batter gets 100 to declare. But his batter, on 99, is bowled, so captain declares. Third umpire then gives it not out for a front-foot no ball. Presumably declaration has to stand? So captain has unintentionally declared on a chap 99 not out. #cricket

Different era

When your opponents are down to 10 men don't you normally aim to move the ball swiftly to take advantage of the extra man? Leeds' tactics today were anything but, playing the game mostly at walking pace against the worst side in the league. Frustrating watch. #lufc #mot

Picking Chris Woakes for an overseas tour seems a triumph of hope over experience, or perhaps just desperation for a bowling all rounder. Wonder if they’d be better off investing in Atkinson/Carse/Ahmed for this role overseas?

What shot can he have played to be in this position, looking back, with stump still in the air? Is it me, or do the stumps look tall?

It is a very well-known story to everyone who follows Leeds! The BBC Leeds Utd podcast even took this as its name. But to repeat my point - what would Brighton fans make of this strange phrase? Brighton's video seemed aimed more at Leeds fans than their own supporters, Most odd.

Georginio Rutter typing "Don't go to bed just yet" in that welcome video by Brighton is plain weird. Doubt many Brighton fans will get the reference; but Leeds ones will and find it insulting/gloating. Mistake for Rutter to do it. Not very classy by Brighton either? #lufc #mot

Hard to see it ending well for Farke at #lufc. Managers don't get third attempts and if he couldn’t get last season’s team up tricky to see how he can with this season’s one unless excellent recruitment done in next few days. Boards don't say “Sorry, we messed up,” they deflect blame onto managers.

Blackmoor 1st hole

Blackmoor 18th hole

Blackmoor 9th hole

Enjoyable media day at Blackmoor Golf Club in Hampshire. Its Harry Colt-designed heathland course is as pretty as its clubhouse is ugly. Wonderful flapjacks at halfway hut. Great fun.