Dave wasn't a liar and I think the rep he got was more than a little unjustified. He's a good writer and a decent bloke, hence why he's now working for one of the largest regional papers in the country.

In terms of current coverage, Ross is between a rock and a hard place when it comes to doing pieces with players. He can ill afford to provoke controversy or write deliberately sensationalised reports as it would cause irreparable damage to his relationship with the club - one which is absolutely vital to his job as the local rag's Bulls correspondent. Any interviews he conducts with players will be overwhelming bland because modern sportsmen are trained to answer questions without a jot of personality, insight or opinion but he has to report what they say in a factual, straightforward manner.

On the other hand, he faces the challenge of keeping coverage fresh and entertaining so must find a balance in his relationship with the club where he can't be afraid to question within reason. Usually, opinion pieces, features and match reports are the best vehicle for this so they're an important tool for any local journo. Ultimately, compare the content in the T&A with any other local paper up and down the country and much of it won't be too dissimilar.

to summarise: theres the real reporting such as match reports, which nobody seems to be criticising Ross for, and the "PR" reporting which is predominantly between match and more difficult given the editors demand for column inches when nothing much is going on to provide material.

Which is amazingly like this blog, (including the dodgy semantics that started this latest incarnation of this topic going): proper posts about games and real events such as the Odsal deal (as shown by Adey), and then in between mostly a load of nonsense. Physician, heal thyself, by casting out the mote in your own eye. or is that mixing malapropisms?

Ross's copy is fine by me.

Given the constraints he will have to work within (access to players and info - including the identikit "interviews" are in the Club's gift; lots of people don't actually buy the paper and help pay his salary; the team has been pants for too long now; there are periods when nothing much actually happens...), I can't see the justification for any harsh criticism at all. Indeed, I thought Connor was good but Ross is producing a lot of material and good content.

Speaking as someone who struggles to take notes for minutes for meetings and then produce the minutes at short order afterwards (and I've been having to do THAT all my working life and I bloody hate it...) I have nothing but respect for those who have the ability to produce an accurate and informative match report at short order. And Ross's are pretty comprehensive. Or commentate on a match while it is in progress. Indeed, that's why even though Gledhill can be a wally when it suits him, he bows to no-one when it comes to his commentaries and post-match reports. Its a bloody hard job to do well (and Gledhill does), and critics could do worse than try and do it themselves IMO.

i wonder why exactly the same criticisms aren't being made of Bill Arthur, who speaks to the same players after the Sky games? Listen to them, and then tell me how you could remotely construct a fresh or novel report from answers which are 99% cliches and very tired ones at that. The very same ones they provide to Ross. if this is all they can come up with - what's he supposed to write?

To be fair nearly all sportsmen come out with the same cliches straight afetr the heat of battle.

of course, because there are only so many things that can be discussed - it's all very repetitive in whichever sport you are reporting.Press conferences whether they be pre match, midweek or post match are boring affairs ,just rituals that have to be undertaken.