At least you're on top form Donaldo! Great preview. I'm a bit more cautious re our form. I don't think we will be effected by the large home support and we did beat a full strength Sunderland away last year. Im sure we'll score but I still think we'll be vulnerable at the back. I'll go 1 - 1 draw. I'll wait for the team sheet to name scorer. Enjoying the women's games in the European Cup. Millie Bright from Rawmarsh I think. She'd be great for Rovers at the back!

Thanks for the write-up Donaldo. I'm thinking a little more like Nookie as I'm not confident with our back four. I'll go with a 2-! win for the Rovers, and also wait for the starting line-up before choosing a scorer. By the way, when will the team numbers appear on the website for our new players - not there this morning.
Later today, Go Lionesses! I've been enjoying Euro 2022 - surprised it is even on TV here. However, the women's game is more established here, and some Portland Thorns and ex-Thorns have been playing in the tournament. The attendance at Thorns home games average around 17,000.
Our across the road neighbour is Swedish - maybe I'll avoid her for a day if we win, but it is going to be a tough game.

On to Wembley! I hope the anti-womens' game have finally woken up. Far fewer fouls, and very little "play acting" - except by Spain.
I hope we play France on the final - you know, based on the mens' performance, we lose to Germany on penalties.
The link is a wonderful piece about the England captain. Please get behind our lovely lasses!
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61664513

What a great game to watch! Skill commitment, work rate, teamwork. Some physicality too but no writhing about or surrounding the ref. Millie Bright a rock, Russo the new Messi!

Will they start Russo? I do not think so as they want Ellen to score one more to match Rooney. I think this could be a mistake.
I was not to impressed with Germany in the semi-final, except for Popp. They were two great finishes.
Popp and Mead will be battling it out for Golden Boot.
Should be a great game!

I can't see the England manager letting sentiment play a part in her plans. White runs defences ragged then Russo comes on to exploit the gaps. Depends if Millie Bright can handle Popp. Of course she can. They need to neutralise the right winger too. It will be close. Let's just hope it doesn't come down to penalties!

Great to see 3 ex-Belles in the squad. I did see the Belles play occasionally during those times. Millie Bright was still a teenager I think but you could just tell that she was going to be a great player. Beth England was also still a teenager but had a great gos to game ratio. I had forgotten that Mary Earps, the England keeper was also at the Belles at that time.
I had expected Jess Sigsworth to make the full England squad. She was always a dominating presence up front but with White, Russo, Mead etc there is formidable competition!

* goals to games ratio *

Here we go again. Already an injury crisis! It really just can't be bad luck surely again.

The France-Germany game was quite a contrast to the other semi and not as good to watch.

The contrast in styles was marked. In the final will England be able to play their open passing game or will the Germans try to suppress them?

Injuries appear to be an on-going problem - but why? OK, Molyneaux and Griffiths were during a game, and the former from colliding with Rotherham' GK, but we seem to get too many "rolled ankles".
At least we now have the squad numbers. Is it significant that Jones was given 13, and Close descended to the bottom number? Perhaps they have little confidence Close will ever get 100% fit!

I guess you need to be super fit these days to be a pro footballer. But unless the injury is career finishing why does it take more than a maximum 3 to 6 months to recover with all the professional rehab they have access to?

Apparently Close was no. 33 at Portsmouth.

Having replaced most of the medics it is difficult to believe that the club are in some responsible for the injury record, but the thought persists.

Welcome to United, Fejiri! ⚡

Cambridge United are delighted to announce the signing of Fejiri Okenabirhie. ✍️

#CamUTD | #FejiriIsA𝗨 | @da_recruitment

He's fit then!

"Recovering from such a long time out can take time, and we are aware that Fejiri won't be game ready for a little while," said U's boss Mark Bonner.

"Our aim and Fejiri's aim is to return to the levels he hit the season before last, and with that collective desire, we are hopeful he can follow a similar path as many of our players and experience some highlights with us."

While I think Miller is the obvious choice for first scorer on Saturday, I'm going with Lee Tomlin if he starts, otherwise Tommy Rowe. Actually I do not care who scores so long as we win!

Confirming my 1-1 prediction. Hurst or Tomlin to score.

New season, more injuries. Let's hope we have sufficient strength in depth. I'm going for a hopeful 1-1. Tomlin to score. Miller if Tomlin doesn't start.

Greetings to everyone.
Here we go again, hopefully the horrors of last season are well behind and not repeated.
I really don't know what to make of this season's prospects so will also go with the 1-1 with Biggins to score. ⚽

Surprising starting eleven. Is Rowe another injury? In my scorer prediction, replace Rowe with Miller if Tomlin does not actually start.

Neck spasm for Rowe. Whatever that is.

Did anyone go/ watch?, the BBC Sport App has possession as 80-20% in Bradford's favour.🤔

Didn't see it but not a bad result after playing the second half with 10 men. Restricted Bradford to 2 shots on target all game so sounds like a strong defensive performance.

Based on that performance I wouldn't bet on either team being promoted. I suppose one could say the Rovers did well to come away with a draw playing with ten men for nearly 50 minutes, but Bradford had plenty of chances to win the game. Miller should have put us up in the first half. He had time to put a shot away with his left foot, played it onto his right giving a defender time to block the shot.
Total brain fade by Tomlin getting 2 yellows in under a minute, and I was concerned Mitchell would get a second for time wasting. Being street smart is necessary, but Rovers played "games" far too often.
Mitchell had a good game except for his distribution. Basically, no playing out from the back, and too many kicks going straight into touch.
Bradford fans, team, and management wanted a red for Ravenhill for the tackle that broke the Bradford player's leg. I'd have to see it again, but it seemed a basic 50:50 ball, and it was the momentum and follow through of Ravenhill's sliding tackle that did the damage. There is little doubt that some refs would have given a red. Gary McS rightly substituted Ravenhill soon after as Liam was obviously disturbed by what had happened.
There is much work to do to get this group into promotion contenders, but they seemed to play much better against Rotherham!