Firstly, doubt these Sky pundits watch very much of Rovers. I think it's a myth about Mowbray's Rovers being a footballing team - for two years, IMO, our football has in the main been shite. All those slagging off Big Sam's style need to look in the mirror at themselves. That first half was as bad as anything under Kean or C o y l e. As a team, we don't look mentally or physically up for it. I think team selections are mystifying (too many square pegs in round holes), our tactics are baffling and our player trading, other than the odd player, is very poor. I have been saying for some time that, IMO, Mowbray has taken us as far as he can. I think we have so many gaping holes in the team and what we have seen today, and on several occasions this season (not least at Preston and Wigan), is the culmination of Mowbray's management. I think we are a poor to very average side. I would not trust Mowbray in the transfer market after the Brereton debacle. We need a new managerial team - full stop. Chaddy, I will be in the Shajan later. Let me know what time you will be there and if I'm about, I'll get you that pint! Enjoy your takeaway.

It's bizarre that Nyambe has been dropped.

I imagine Bell must be wondering what he did wrong to be replaced by the walking disaster that is Derrick Williams.

Just like Sheffield United at home Mowbray could not tactically work out how to counter their 3-5-2 formation. I had no idea at times what formation we were playing and it seemed that neither did the players. Dack was wasted he seemed to be playing more as a defensive midfielder than an attacking one in the first half. Mulgrew was awful not just for the first goal but also a dreadful header which led to the Williams red card among other things. Bennett showed for the goal that is he not a right back but other than Mowbray everyone else already knew that. He was poor throughout as well (did he make a pass to a Rovers player?), should not be starting in any position for us. I thought that Rodwell was about the only player to come out of the first half with any credibility our best player by far, can only assume he was taken of because of injury otherwise the decision to take him of instead of Mulgrew is a disgrace. Brereton completely invisible another who didn't seem to know where he was playing. Raya was much better today not only was his shot stopping good but so was the command of his area from their set pieces. Bell was good going forward (seemed that his goal has given him some confidence) however still poor defensively, if only he put as much energy and effort into defending as he does attacking. For me he's not good enough defensively to play in a back 4 he either needs to play on the wing or as a wing back in a 5. I remember a couple posters on here laughed at me when I said what a class signing Obi Mikel was for them. I though that today he showed what a class act he is at this level, he dominated the Midfield. It is surely clear for all to see that the manager's negligence in the January window is now starting to bite, no attacking alternatives on the bench and now for the next few games only 2 available centre backs. The team's performances in recent weeks are reflecting the attitude that the manager has been taking, complacent, unambitious and by February satisfied that the season has been a success. The team aren't motivated enough and when you here the manager speak its clear why. Not Good enough for me Mowbray Out!

Same problems, different day. First half absolutely terrible but then again, how many decent first halves have we had at home this season? Hull and Leeds? Either by remarkable coincidence, or by design, we nearly always witness abject first half performances. Time after time we are devoid of any real creativity or intensity in the first half and don't show anything of any note until into the 2nd half. I'm sick and fed up with it. Countless times the opposition look brighter, bolder, quicker, and we go into half time with a zero next to our name and very little excitement. Turgid stuff. I've been concerned for some time that Mowbray is tying himself in knots with his selections and tactics, and today took it one step further. It seemed half the players had no idea what they were supposed to be doing, half the team was moved around the pitch into various positions and formations. That might appeal to those who like to play Football Manager but I prefer to see a team well drilled, organised with a game plan that is stuck to and players who know their roles in the team. When i watch Rovers I don't see that, I see a team and manager all over the place, constantly chopping and changing, often for no real reason or to give people a rest etc. You get your best XI, get a formation that suits their skill set, and train them to understand their jobs. Numerous times Harrison Reed came running over to the technical area to speak to Mowbray and Mowbray was waving his arms around shouting. Seemed to me Reed was struggling to understand what the latest roll of the dice was. It must get confusing for people like him and Bennett when playing in 3 different positions and in 3 different formations, each changing by the game. The fact that we appear so confused, so disorganised and unclear as to what we are trying to do is solely the manager's responsibility. He has spent the season making needless changes, moving people around, changing formations and it looks like he's no nearer arriving at a set system or team which is very alarming. The speed with which we have disintegrated from being 2-0 up at Brentford and occupying a top 6 position to this shambles is very concerning, as has been our form since November, with the exception of that purple patch in January. Too many defeats and too many goals conceded - only going to end one way - if not this season then next - unless surgery is carried out. I'd say it is time to go 'back to basics' but I don't think we are capable. We'll be missing players so it will be another case of shuffling the pack and coming up with some other weird selection to accommodate it. Two tough away days coming up. Can we 'do a Bolton' and grind out a win at Birmingham? Rotherham will be a dogfight as they desperately fight for survival and aren't bad at home. Could easily be looking at 6 defeats on the bounce here. Special mention for the referee. The same one who booked Harrison Reed for 'timewasting' on a throw in at Bolton earlier this season managed to avoid sanctioning Middlesbrough., who took an age for every throw. Absolute disgrace.

Wow. Well all of a sudden we're in a real mess. I hate to say it but a lot of it is down to the manager. Today was an absolute sh*t show from start to finish. No style of play, no method, no creativity and no leadership on and off the pitch. Today was a complete embarrassment, as my dad said, the players looked puzzled by what the manager was saying to them, he was changing formation and tactics every 2 minutes, Dack was playing centre half... It was an utter joke. I've seen him in his post match comments blaming the players, fair enough but he has to take a big slice of the blame here too because his management as of late has been totally inept. There comes a time when a manager has to realise throwing your players under the bus isn't the answer and take some of the blame. Tactics aside, he's making a lot of problems for himself. His use of Brereton has landed us in a really dire situation, his protection of him and constant playing him out wide has seemingly shattered his confidence and the confidence the fans have in him (Brereton) also. I've just spoken to my dad who was rightly saying that he needs to be taken out of the firing line because even sections of the fans are starting to turn on him (wrongly in my opinion). Had he played him through the middle when we first bought him this situation could be quite different. I'm not saying he'd have banged them in but he might have got himself a few and things would be looking a bit rosier. Now the only answer seems to be is to loan him out somewhere. If he goes to league 1 and does well then it's good for us because we might make some money back or he'll have gained much needed experience. If he fails then we have our answer and at least he's not done it on our time. If we were getting beat like we have done these past 4 games whilst experimenting and playing our younger players then I'm sure the fans would be more forgiving but obviously that's not the case. TM desperately needs to learn from these recent results, see the warning signs and crucially stop saying one thing in the press and doing another. He's invited a lot of unnecessary pressure onto himself, I don't like to tear him to bits in this way and it will take a lot more to be questioning his position but results, performances and decision making like this is only going to end up one way. There's not a lot a can say about the game. The first half was beyond a joke, I can't recall a performance as unorganised as that under TM, I've seen us play badly but today was just a complete shambles. Williams being sent off was a saving grace for the manager because he was forced into actually having a plan. I'm starting to have serious questions about Mulgrew and was surprised he stayed on ahead of Rodwell, I can only assume for set pieces. I think going forward Charlie has had his day and should now be used as a squad player, same goes for Benno. Graham looks knackered, it's time to bring Armstrong in through the middle and put Rothwell out wide. Nyambe at right back. Reed in the middle. Game time to Butterworth, Davenport and Magloire. Bring in Chapman when fit. Things need freshening up, players with nothing to fear can just add a spark to the current squad and sharpen everyone up, rather than picking the same old same old, it can only help and we have nothing to lose by trying. A lot that he should do, hope he has the bottle to do it else I fear things will get even worse.

Thank god we’ve accumulated 43 points already! The writings already on the wall regarding next season with 8 defeats in the last 12 games. With Dack and Reed likely to be gone in the close season to compound the issues we’re all familiar with already, we need 6 or 7 signings at least in the summer to be competitive. More or less a complete rebuild required for me and sadly as time wears on, I don’t see TM as the man to do it. (I wish I did) Further, can anyone let me know what Mowbray’s preferred way of playing is?

I wouldn't want many of our team in the trenches with me particularly our defenders.

After Charlie had that brain fade Rodwell was very weak in his non challenge and just as culpable in conceeding that goal. Both were pathetic.

Oh behave! We’ve had Venky’s apparent traditional Indian approach to business used as an excuse for their aloof and arrogant practices since the day they took over. The caste system is still alive and kicking in India, and no prizes for guessing where on the social strata people who slap raja plates on their rolls Royce’s see themselves.

For those keeping score, the number of times TM has taken even 1% of the blame, post match, for a performance and result in his two year reign = 0

To me, nearly every team we meet look sharper, faster and fitter. Always amuses me when Mowbray talks about bringing new players 'up to speed'. Chapman played for M'boro in Jan. but is deemed not yet fit to start for us! M'boro looked two yards quicker than us all over the park and far fitter.

Smacked of a performance where the players feel the season is over. The way things are though, would ye rule out getting dragged right down? We probably have enough points on the board, but it is worrying. I said a few weeks ago that this team strikes me as a bunch of mates on holidays. Too much messing on social media,not enough fight. Mulgrew isn't a good enough defender for this level. Harsh, but that's the reality. Take his set pieces out and there are too many mistakes. Reed was non existant today. What has happened him the past few weeks Armstrong back to his predictable worse Dack looked hungover. He must have had a big fry before today's game The players look like they are on holidays already. Bad form from a bunch who the manager has shown enormous loyalty to. At the end of the day the buck stops with Mowbray and the January transfer window and subsequent games have been quite simply putrid. Not acceptable in any way.

We've been done up like a Kipper with this lad folks!!!!

Maybe he's finally losing the dressing room after all his tinkering, most players don't like being constantly played out of position, it makes them look poorer footballers and the crowd get on their backs. Of course there are some players who can play almost anywhere, I remember Paul Madeley for that great Leeds team of the 60s/70s the Engand lad who plays for Liverpool is similar, but most don't like it.

Chaddy says Pulis is drab and shocking, his team just battered Tony’s having 26 shots to our 5 in the process!

Mowbray's time here looks up to me. Not about the tactics or recruitment, if he can't get a team up and motivated following 3 insipid defeats then he doesn't instil the necessary fear or motivation that is needed at any level.

That's our only tactic and has been for 2 years under Mowbray.

Pulis hasn't done anything magical tactically, he's just got a squad playing coherently. It's not rocket science.

Hoof the ball > Lose the ball. Rinse and repeat. The coaching at Ewood is shite and we haven't progressed our tactics in 2 years.

There was nothing wrong with your original post. Your comments were clear and in context. I can understand why you are riled by simpletons who go “there” almost by default.

The problem, as has always been the case under Venky's, is that the manager has too much responsibility. He has to not only select and manage the team, but also the scouting, the youth system, the transfer activity, the club christmas do... it's too much. I'm not entirely sure what Waggott does in his role, but somebody should have been questioning TM about his apparent lack of interest in recruiting in the January window whilst allowing Downing to head out on loan. Surely somebody in a position above Mowbray should have said "look, it's nice that you're trying to run a tight ship here - but we've only conceded less than Ipswich and Rotherham, and we've just let a centre back go out on loan despite our other options being injury prone and questionable in terms of their abilities. Why are we not looking to strengthen what is clearly a weak defence? What are your plans to shore the back line up if not through bringing in better players?" Instead the manager seemingly answers to nobody, until Venky's randomly decide they don't like the way the wind is blowing this month or the meet a new "adviser" and suddenly the manager is out on his arse and the club is thrown into chaos again. The club isn't right at the very top and that's where our problems stem from.

If I was Reed I'd be looking to go elsewhere tbh

I'd be chucking this Magloire lad in now, nothing to lose. Mulgrew and Rodwell as a pairing is an absolute disaster, the titanic turned quicker.

13,249 (1,052 away) A thousand below average. Probably doesn't help that the manager has publicly raised the white flag on our play-off hopes.

Anybody who's ever played football knows that teams don't like travelling away. Even top pro's prefer to be at home. The time to get at teams when you're at home is right from the off. The first 5 or 10 minutes. Get your foot on their throat and keep it there. When did we last come out full of running and aggression ?

So we’re going to be playing Nyambe and Mulgrew at centre half in all likelihood at Big Club. All while Paul Downing is on loan at Doncaster. Madness.

Definite red, only would have been a booking had it been inside the box if I understand that rule correctly

Over reaction, we just need some t-shirts with , "Oh well, Maybe next season " on them, decent quality t-shirts will be good for the next two three years

Grabbi and Davies were world class compared to this lad.

With this squad and Mowbray in charge we'll get relegated next season. Mowbray needs alot of money to spend in the summer (although I wouldn't bank on him to spend it wisely), but will the owners provide it? As it stands we seem to be in a death spiral and Mowbray doesn't know what to do about it. He lost 9 in succession at Coventry before he went. We're heading that way as I can't see where the next win is coming from. And I think he's losing the players too, Mulgrew for one doesn't look interested.

Absolutely shocking yet again, dont let a fairly spirited but ultimately fairly toothless second half with 10 men take away from how poor we were first half. Mowbray got things horribly wrong. Brereton is simply not a wide man, he is being let out to dry playing there, that being said he doesnt really resemble a footballer. Mowbrays reactive change to 3 at the back was absolutely horrendous. Bennett can not play left wing back, Reed right wing back, the front 3 not having a clue what they are doing and Dack in a central 2 sitting in front of the defence. Defensively again we were torn apart at will. Rodwell is not a centre back, Bennett isnt a right back, the defence again had a vulnerable, flimsy nature to it that continues to show signs of neglect under Mowbray. Mulgrew was the man to typify it today, he played like hed been out last night on the piss. Thought Boro were very good, dominated prior to the red card, played less long ball than us, Mikel ran the show and Assombolonga was excellent too, and they should have scored 4 or 5 in the second half but otherwise a terrific away performance. If only we were capable of such away performances. Clutching at straws looking for positives. Raya made a couple of good saves, kicking as bad as always bar a lovely chest and volley near the end. Bell was much more positive although his crossing is very ... inconsistent. Mowbrays created a massive mess for himself, 4 losses on the bounce, 9 in 16 I think it is, so many goals conceded and so many strange tactical decisions creates further doubts as to whether he can take us further.

A few essentials for me for the rest of the season and looking ahead to next year: - Nyambe has to start at RB, Bennett is a utility squad player. Lots of graft but little quality. He isn't a RB - Williams should never play for us again if we want to progress. The red wasn't helped by Mulgrew but regardless he isn't good enough. - Reed and Travis have to start in the centre together if Tony is going to persist with this formation. Similar to the above, we will never progress if Evans and Smallwood continue to play. - Armstrong is a league one player at best. His end product is similar to Chorleys level. He's fast but that is his only outlet. When Chapman is up to speed let's give him a go in this position and find a winger for the opposite side (again if Tony is persisting with this formation) - Mulgrew isn't up to the Championship. Saved with his set pieces too often he simply cannot defend. We really need to strengthen here in the summer. Our defence is woeful. - Dack isn't a premier league player, but he is key to when we play well - Raya, Nyambe, Travis, Reed, Dack and Graham are probably the only players worthy of must starts. One is getting too old and another is on loan. it may all sound harsh or negative, but in my eyes it's the reality. We've a long, long way to go. Despite occasional good spells and getting close to the playoffs, xG has consistently had us down as a bottom 8 team throughout the season. We simply allow far too many shots/opportunities and create very little.

Yep, that blip at the start of Jan masks what has otherwise been a shocking run of form since the start of November. If Tony genuinely thought we were fine to not strengthen in January then at the very least he needs someone above him taking those decisions out of his hands.

Aren't we pretty high in the table for long balls? The spin about us playing good football under TM has always been nonsense tbh.

Evans is an absolute p&ssy. The worst type of modern day footballer, a whiney little bitch with no bottle. Beer no.3

Christ this team needs a Souey style rocket at HT

Should have sold him when West Brom offered at the end of the summer transfer window.

Awful. Awful by Mulgrew Awful by Rodwell Awful by Bennett Is Reed playing? Dack playing shite Pathetic altogether

Today is the day the boy BB becomes the darling of the BBE.

I'm going to lose my sh*t if he's left Rothwell out of the squad. EDIT: His Mrs is having a kid. Congratulations to him.

Well the simple answer to that is if it's a chore and you have no interest in any other teams it's not for you and you wouldn't bother. I drive past the dw, macron and deepdale on my way to ewood. I have a soft spot for Wigan being a wiganer and like all local teams to do well with the exception of Burnley and united providing it doesn't interfere with us. I watch chorley, ashton, Stockport , Salford, man city, united u23s any football that's about when rovers arnt playing because im married and have kids and hate my life so the suggestion by Stuart would be ideal ?

We drop back very early in games. Try and play on the counter or long balls to Graham. A few bits of Dack magic from time to time then adds variety. Some great points made on here tonight. I think there are some worrying trends developing. I would give Mowbray the summer, and I think he will be here regardless of how this season ends up. He needs to get us mathametically safe ASAP and then start trying to change our style of play. There have been no signs of it happening and we can't continue to play the same way next season. He needs to get Chapman and Davenport in. Some good signs from them will be like two new signings. Rothwell and Brereton too. Get them in and decide once and for all if he wants them here. Once we are mathematically safe I will be raging if he continues to play the same way. I don't know what can be done with the defence at this point. Maybe play Magloire and see how he gets on once we are safe. Nyambe has to be right back. Lenihan is a huge loss now, but just shows we shouldn't have let Downing leave on loan without a replacement. I know that we don't have enough defenders who are quick, aggresive and robust enough for this league. Such a rebuilding job is required, I don't think it can be fully sorted in one window unfortunately

Nearly three months ago now since Mowbray spoke about evolving our style of play, yet our style has not changed one bit. We are still as reliant on Dack and Graham to score and create as we have been since the start of the season. I'm beginning to wonder what we work on in training as its clearly not defending, fitness or evolving our style of play. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/17259862.mowbray-wants-rovers-to-evolve-their-style-of-play/

The sad thing is Rovers probably couldn't give away tickets for free to watch that level of dross on display this afternoon.

Williams is the worst footballer I've seen in a Rovers shirt in 55 years. He should never be seen again but as a Mowbray favourite he'll be in again as soon as the suspension ends.

Good thing we picked up those points in January, because I don't think we'll be picking up many more.

Route 1 against the most route 1 resistant team in the league

A former well placed 'source' said he arrived like all the rest i.e no director etc in England knew anything about it until they were told he was coming the day before. Maybe just the usual cloak and dagger Venky stiff so they could all get their bets on but I don't think it's coincidence all their appointments were left field never in the running 25-1 shots. But then again you wouldn't say anything if the bosses told you not to so who knows, personally I doubt Senior had much to do with it but he probably highly recommended getting rid of Coyle. He was just another blame deflector with no real purpose though imo after they realised they'd screwed up in epic proportions getting Coyle in. As for Bowyer yes I've no doubt he was a real yes mam no man guy but they potted him after he had the club in a comfort zone for a few years and made them millions, on the recommendations of those who had most to gain from the revolving door manager/player policy again i'd wager. GB wasn't their man after all but they pretty soon got another one in the hot seat in an effort to be Kean mk2.

Just done a quick search on Linkedin and find some profiles that say they are scouts for Rovers. John Brown - regional scout Phil Wilson - senior scout Donatella Berardi - Scouting administrator Frank Sharps - recruitment and talent ID operations manager George England - technical Scout Ive uploaded Phil Wilson and George England profiles as they explained what their role is.