Fan Letters: Hairstyle Queries, A Call For One Last Push And A Need For Louder Questions!

Dear Roker Report,

Lads, we need you.

Last few times we’ve needed a push you’ve driven it. Three huge games, Europe dream faint but alive. Need a fans push/shout/rally for our last three games.

Let’s have the SoL bouncing like Coventry, like the Visitors and like so many others for the last two home games.

Let’s make top 10.

Let’s squeeze into a European place and end the season on a huge high.

Three wins is gonna be tough but not impossible…

HA’WAY!

Alex R

Ed’s Note [Chris]: We mentioned this on the Sunday Supplement edition of Haway The Podcast on Sunday that we shouldn’t forget just how fantastic it is that we’re still in with a shout. We say it flippantly, but nobody was talking about a season like this when the final whistle blew at Wembley.

The fact it’s three games we can enjoy as well instead of looking over our shoulder worrying, we can just get right behind the Lads and whatever the outcome celebrate the fact it’s been a brilliant first season back in the top flight.

Dear Roker Report,

Having just watched the sending off of Dan Ballard on TV can I suggest for next season VAR has an ex-footballer within their bubble.

Ballard clearly makes contact with the players hair but no way was it intentional or a violent act that would merit a red card. Football is a physical game where contact is made. Both players at the time hold a hold of each other in the challenge

As Ballard had only eyes on the ball when coming out of the challenge he has hands on his hair. What else could Ballard do different in the challenge?. It was only the reaction of the Wolves player that brought it to VARs notice and the referee happily played on.

The reaction of other players and the crowd would tell you the decision was wrong even tho to the letter of the law to send Ballard off in the eyes of VAR was applied. With ex-pros in the VAR set up I’m sure he would of stayed on the pitch.

Mark

Ed’s Note [Chris]: It certainly can’t hurt Mark! But there’s a couple of things to take into account and the first one is the rules. Even if an ex-pro was involved in judging the Ballard incident they would be bound by the rules to make the same decision. You would like to think they’d apply common sense, but unfortunately it isn’t too common.

The other thing is that when you watch TV coverage, it’s rare that all of the ex-pros agree one way or another. You would hope that by laying down clear rules and having trained people to apply them would be enough, but until we get that combination we are always going to be debating the decisions of officials.

Dear Roker Report,

What an absolute joke. The powers that be have got to sort this farce out.

If a players hair style covers his shoulders or back it’s impossible to challenge him without touching his hair.

It’s the second time this season this player has had a player sent off because of his hairstyle. It’s about time that if players want to wear their hair like this it should be tied up or wear a head band

Please let’s sort this issue out.

Barry Frame

Ed’s Note [Chris]: Aye, couldn’t agree more Barry. Me and Martin talked through it with James Copley on the Sunday Supplement podcast and said similar things to yourself. For that incident to alter the whole direction, momentum and ultimately the outcome of a Premier League game at the highest level is ridiculous.

Dear Roker Report,

I know I am getting older, and my lug holes aren’t as alert as they once were, but almost every time I try to listen to a Q&A press conference with RLB, I cannot hear the questions posed.

I have to listen to his responses and then build the question around them. Maybe it really is just me getting on a bit, but I do find it extremely frustrating and I wonder if any other fans feel the same way. If this is generic, then surely with all the tech we have something can be done to alleviate it.

Peter Milton

Ed’s Note [Chris]: Sorry… I didn’t quite catch that Peter…

Anyway… yeah, I know what you’re getting at. Le Bris has the mic in front of him and if they could have a couple of mics being passed around the press as they ask the question or maybe just one in front to pick it up that would be helpful. Or we can just get them to shout.