https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17795892.rovers-boss-mowbray-likelihood-defensive-additions/ Seriously, what on earth is he wittering on about here? Let's keep in mind he was a centre half. He's considering Nyambe at centre half even though he thinks he's not a physical or commanding presence, what??? Openly admitting we didn't have men at the back last season and had to rely on youngsters... But is willing to risk another season of mediocrity and trust in untested youngsters again??? Of course, we all know he's trying to sell us Nyambe as a centre half to us now to accommodate Bennett at right back, so not only is he playing him out of position... He's now intending to play Nyambe out of position too... And what's going to be our right back cover? A centre half from City. For f*ck sake man, wake up! I've never known a manager want to make football so much more complicated than it needs to be.

What is so frustrating is as an attacking force I think we are on the verge of something special. Every chance this opportunity is thrown away because of his defensive blind spot. Things change so rapidly in this division, this season could be THE chance for the foreseeable, we spurn it, Dack goes Etc and it’s another ‘what might have been’, akin to the Rhodes/Gestede/Cairney et al season.

I just can't understand the logic in advocating the faith in youth in defensive positions so strongly, but if you play in an attacking position it's a 'man's game' and we need experienced players. Joe Rothwell becomes a young, inexperienced lad at 24. It seems to be the opposite way around to me?? Experienced bruisers at the back please Tony, and unleash the youth in attack.

Mowbray clearly states promotion is the aim Posters get excited Mowbray spends on attacking talent to add to the good ones already here Posters get excited Mowbray fails to address what he clearly stated was the weak point in HIS team despite being able to spend millions Fans get concerned Fans get told by other fans their expectations are way too high mid table is acceptable IT doesn't add up lads.

If he doesnt have another change of heart then ultimately I think his defensive negligence will be what costs him his job, as we will be nowhere near the top 6 with the defence we have now, plus the City kid on top. He knows full well that we need defenders, he said it publically and absolutely correctly in May that our current defence has proven that it cannot defend at this level. Nothings changed, but now hes wittering on about not upsetting the aforementioned senior incompetent defenders. Hes also mentioned converting our only competent right back into a central defender. Deckchairs and the titanic spring to mind. Its a blind spot hes had throughout his career, it was a major factor in his failure at Coventry and it will be the undoing of a very exciting set of attacking players. Absolutely infuriating.

Bennett is an absolutely rancid crosser of a ball.

So just so I'm clear. We've spent 1 year pursuing Patrick Bauer. Failed to agree a fee to get him last summer or January so stuck it out only to watch him join PNE because we told him he would be sat on the bench as '3rd choice' CB behind the dreadful defence of last season. He didn't fancy coming here as '3rd choice' so joins that lot up the road instead. Having missed out on a long term target and seemingly having no other irons in the fire we then go after this lad from City on loan. Get him down to Brockhall, get everything up and running but then the deal falls through at the last minute because we can't or won't promise what City want in terms of games. If true, we're a complete shambles. Surely the x number of games routine would have dropped up as an issue early on in the proceedings not suddenly before he joins? Like wasting a month trying to get Assombalonga then deciding his wages were prohibitive. Rather than prices come down they are actually more likely to go up in the coming week. Sellers know we are increasingly desperate and will play on that. We think we are clever but will end up with egg all over our faces. Mowbray will try to cover for it by coming up with some weird and wacky way to incorporate the existing players into a competent defence. Exciting.

We had a baffling summer window last year which really, with the exceptions of loanee Harrison Reed, and Armstrong/Rothwell, didn't get us very far. We had a failure of a January window where we inexplicably allowed all our defensive cover out on loan and then watched as the regular defenders got injured. We also 'pursued' Assombalonga then appeared surprised that he is on big money at Middlesbrough which we are unable/unwilling to pay. We've now reverted back to baffling/failing again this window. Utterly baffling to tie up £5 million on a player the manager won't play in his best position and to dish out big wages to players in positions which didn't urgently need strengthening and being sat here 1 week from the big kick off and 1 day from our final friendly with no defensive improvements whatsoever, little indication of getting any and as such a weaker defence than last year which dragged us down all season. There will be the eternal optimists who cling to the idea that a young lad from City is going to sort it all out or one of those few young lads from the U23s are going to overnight become good standard Championship defenders but I'm not buying it. Even if Mowbray was bold enough to chuck them in at the deep end, which I don't think he is, they've not got any 1st team football behind them except brief loan spells at mediocre League One and Two sides (Hart and Grayson). Mowbray has a rapidly diminishing time window to address this otherwise he's going to be out of excuses and time when/if results deteriorate like they did last season. Last season he had the benefit of momentum from League One and the excuse of giving a chance to those who got us promoted. Not this time. Only he truly knows why he's performed one of the biggest u-turns in transfer strategy ever witnessed. To go from his passionate, bold, even controversial comments at the Fans event late last season and the tagline 'defenders are coming, make no mistake' - laying blame at the door of those already here - to this ridiculous situation we now find ourselves in is beyond belief. Either he's lost his marbles or someone upstairs has forced him to change track.

By support, do you mean supporting him and getting behind him at games? Or do you mean not giving your opinion on him on a messageboard?

That’s wide of the mark, Joe. Fans would still have been pointing out that we needed to improve our defence, they’d just have been more easily shouted down by the supporterati. As it is both the +ve and -ve fans agreed with Mowbray when he said we needed defenders. Now he’s done a u-turn some folk are having trouble knowing how to react. He can’t be right with both statements so “Trust Mowbray” doesn’t work on this occasion.

Brereton is looking brilliant, perhaps you would be better served giving our young players some support. He is our top striker this pre season.

67 (?) goals conceded and the worst defensive record in the League away from home last season suggest otherwise.

I’m a big fan of Nyambe. I’d have him starting all day long... at right back. Unless Mowbray has figured out a way to coach him to be 4 inches taller, he won’t be cutting it at centre back alongside Lenihan who is also not good enough in the air. Seems we are putting a lot of faith in our new keeper scaring wingers from putting crosses in... maybe Raya should’ve opted for a Halloween mask instead of that boring black one when he bust his nose to help him on crosses.

Unfortunately mate we've been here before. Under Bowyer we had Rhodes and Gestede firing in 20+ goals a season, supplied by the likes of Conway, Marshall and King. We even had Hanley and Duffy at CB which most would see as a decent enough Championship pairing. Unfortunately in Bowyer's case his blind spot was CM, where we had the likes of Evans, Lowe, Williamson, etc slowing us down, and RB where it was Lowe, Kane, Henley, and so on. Not to mention GK as if Robbo wasn't available we were playing the likes of Jake Kean and Simon Eastwood. It seems like we always have a part of the team hugely unbalanced, undoing the good work done by the rest of the team. It's very frustrating. I agree that we really aren't that far away. I still think we need a LB alongside a CB, but it looks like we'll get neither and once again a lack of balance is likely to hinder our efforts in the coming season.

Stick a tenner on Merce, there's a good chap. Then we can all rest easy knowing it won't happen.

F*cking willing to spend 14 million on attacking players though! Seems to have a touch of the Wenger's, top heavy with no back 4... I don't know how obvious it can be. I'm trying to reserve my judgement until the window closes but with the new season a week away and there's been no improvement to what is quite obviously our biggest weekness... It's hard not to be p*ssed off.

I'm wondering the same. It all seems a bit like the end of Souness's time with us - a horrendous run of results then a few wins to see us safe, saying one thing then doing another. Random buys in the transfer market rather than building a team. This transfer window seems fairly poor to me. Am happy with Gallagher but the money was really needed elsewhere and shows what an almighty muck up Bereton was. Reid for Johnson is arguably a step backwards - although Johnson is our player but at 32 how many seasons will we get out of him. In goal we've got a keeper from a team arguably weaker than us who didn't look great when he played for them, and on loan so no long game for us either - and got rid of a talented youngster to boot. Downing could work but is risky and as for the defence. Also in all of this where is the long term - or more accurately medium term planning? All bar Gally will need replacing within a year, or 2 at most. Most likely next summer we have the same issues. The lack of depth is appalling. If Bennett is a legitimate right back choice football has died, Mulgrew is past it, Williams is mediocre at his absolute best and our first two choice centre backs - and the offer on the table "centre back" Rodwell are all injury prone and all will miss half a season. It caused us huge problems last year and likely will again. Forget medium term planning I'm not sure the short term is there.

Unless Tony plans on using the youngsters is defense this season, this has been an abysmal transfer window. I say that as a fan of Tony and what he has done so far. Spending 12 million on two strikers and zero in defense is reckless. Mulgrew and Lenihan are first choice (I'm guessing) and Williams is injured (he is a left back), nyambe is a right back!? We need a commanding centre half, desperately in my opinion and without it, I cannot see us any higher than 12th. Disappointing window thus far.

Mulgrew is injury prone though. And Linihen was out for a fair while early last season too. Also Mulgrew looked like he couldn't perform well enough at this level anymore and that's why TM dropped now. And he's not good in the air. He scores a few goals but that's not what he's wanted for. He should be the cover! The lack of cover in that vital area of the pitch, coupled with weakness at full-back is ludicrous. We are going to suffer more embarrassing and unnecessary defeats in my view. And I'm frustrated because I simply do not understand it. Its not as if we've had no money to spend is it?

I agree that I don't think Mowbray is intentionally trying to prolong his tenure by not spending money and therefore not raising expectation - would be a stupid thing to do considering Bowyer was sacked when we were in mid table - but I do think something has changed between the end of last season and the present day that we aren't privy to. Mowbray inferred more than once last season that defence would be a key focus during this window and... here we are. Suddenly he's saying a CB pool of Nyambe, Mulgrew, Lenihan and Williams is "alright". I mean... it just isn't, is it? Lenihan is the only proven decent CB out of the lot and he's injury prone. Mulgrew is both injury prone and a very poor CB. Nyambe is untested in that position long-term, and Williams, whilst a better CB than LB, isn't close to a top six CB. I've mentioned before that I think Mowbray talks too much. Sometimes it's better to say less, especially if you're prone to giving contradictory opinions across months if not weeks. Despite what some say he does not HAVE to reveal anything if a microphone is in his face. He can choose to say little or nothing if he wants to. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have a manager willing to communicate, but not when he sends mixed and contradictory messages as he has been with our defence. To me that is just concerning and suggests there is some frustration behind the scenes not allowing the manager to do what he wants to do.

Interesting comments from Walton in his LT interview today. A couple of times he refers to how quickly the loan deal moved. Given how long our goalie search went on after Raya, that seems to confirm that we missed out on other targets first. He also said the manager didn't play him against Bury because he didn't know the lads yet.

Rhodes scored 20 goals every season. He was more than anyone the player who was very much doing his job consistently. Strongly disagree. They have proven not to be good enough at this level. Mulgrew is past it no matter who he is next to. Agree with the rest of your post though in general.

We shipped absolutely loads of goals last season, so our defenders obviously aren’t good enough. Mowbray acknowledged this by advising us that defenders are coming, but apparently now they might not be? I know some don’t think we should hang on his every word as they put it, but for goodness’ sake, how can he not see our defence is so appalling and needs additions?

So it's likely our defence is going to line up much the same as last season. Einstein once described crazy behaviour as "doing the same thing in the exact same way while expecting different results." Mowbray thinks he knows better than Einstein

It's a shame he's looking at that way. If we want to move forward and progress we should be signing a first choice centre back, pushing Willo or Mulgrew out, whichever he rates the least.

I’m not typing Adarabioyo very time!!

Mulgrew ain't good enough anymore BDS.

Good move, after all it's not like we're short of centre halves or anything ......... Absolute madness. If the budget is that bad that we need to let Wharton go to bring someone else in then we are in trouble because Wharton will be on absolute bobbins relatively speaking. I'm not even sure I wouldn't rather use one of our own youngsters like Wharton and Magloire rather than spend relatively big money on a youngster from Citeh as you can bet your bottom dollar that under TM the default pairing will continue to be Mulgrew and Lenihan and anyone else will just be covering for injury, suspension, or playing in the League Cup. I think Mowbray has completely lost the plot and the season hasn't even started yet.

This Tosin transfer is taking too long. I don't like it when 'done deals' drag on for days with silence.

means nothing when Bennett is dross in most of the positions he plays its another example of Mowbray shoehorning in his favourites

I called it at the time, as did many others, that there was no way we were going to be signing a quality centre half. For all of Mowbray's talk you can guarantee what he says one week will be completely different to the next.

I think part of it comes from his admission that he essentially lets the dressing room police itself. I'm guessing the likes of Mulgrew and Bennett are a big part of that, hence the lack of directly calling them out in public, whereas younger players like Raya and Travis aren't in that bracket, and so are more open to be criticised. Personally I don't agree with singling out players in public interviews at all, as I think it's completely counterproductive, but it makes sense based on what Mowbray has said previously.

I genuinely like the fella, even though I don't think he's the man to take us forwards but he doesn't half talk some absolute garbage. He definately gets by on his likeability, especially at Rovers, a rudderless ship where everyone has been scratching around desperately looking for someone decent to steer the ship but at another club with serious expectations of being promoted... I feel he'd be chewed up and spat out. Benefit of the doubt, it's his second season since we've been promoted but this is a massive test for him, I bloody hope he delivers!

I will agree to disagree, he has spent heavily on attack but nowhere else across the park, he constantly says there is money but he won’t spend it because he doesn’t feel like he is getting value. To me that’s a reluctant manager to back his own talents in the transfer market. But I do respect your view

I would have expected Mulgrew to have moved on by now to be honest ... I am a fan of his I think he's been a fantastic player for us and will never forget the contribution he's made especially over the last 2 seasons but it's quite clear he is no longer capable at this level . I was kind of hoping Mowbray had a grown up conversation with him at the end of season thanking him for everything telling him and his agent to find a new club and granting him a free transfer , I genuinely thought Sunderland would have been perfect for him and he's not the only one Bennett , Gladwin and Smallwood should all have had same conversation

Be delighted to see it. I think he’s a long way away personally and i’ve said so, but there would be nobody cheering those goals more than me at Ewood. Because you know, I want the best for Blackburn Rovers.

Games gone.

The LT today not saying anything different from last Monday. The City youngster expected, perhaps another defender as well. No mention of a bonus keeper. There will be outgoings to reduce the squad to manageable proportions. Nuttall probably to Accrington Stanley on loan initially. I'd far rather see the likes of Buckley and Rankin-Costello staying, even Hart given the lack of cover we have at the back. I would be indifferent to Evans leaving and think Smallwood moving on the best for player and club.

What on earth is the point of giving a 21-year old a 3-year deal when the only loan he can currently get is in League Two? He has to be kicking on to League One now or there simply isn't any point keeping him around, let alone for 3 years.

As a pairing, in terms of Mulgrew being part of that pairing. I do think Lenihan is overrated somewhat, by far our best defender but he can be incredibly rash. Theres definitely a defender to polish there, and im definitely happy to see him in our team. Mulgrew is well past it though, the stats over the whole of last season show how we perform with him in the team. Even if he played 46 games injury free, that isnt the main problem necessarily.

It probably will be that line up in both the Blackpool and Charlton fixtures but not starting Rothwell is criminal.

Not surprised with LT article and Mowbray's comments. Bottom line - don't think there's a pot to p1ss in for transfers and the Brereton farce has screwed us big time. After what Mowbray said at Blues to where we are now is, IMO, a complete and utter farce. We need a manger who knows the market and can work it. Have a great weekend all!

Jack of all trades master of none is Bennett. And whilst Mowbray is manager he won't be a sub, as Mowbray will shoehorn him in to the starting 11 somewhere to the detriment of the team.

You and me both, Rothwell is a touchy subject in particular for me, if he p*sses about with him the same way he did at the start of last season then I'll be wanting him out the door.

I hope so but I doubt it with each coming day. Maybe his problem is sometimes he's too open with the media as he's now said a few things which we all expect him to deliver on, yet he may have had a change of heart. He's on record as saying this year is a play off push and he will be judged on that, even what we've spent to date is good for this division. The warning signs are there for me, the way he talks about certain players like Reed and in particular Rothwell really don't add up to me. If he benches Rothwell again vs Charlton I think that will tip me over the edge tbh.

We're not using the opinion of the coach of the mighty Namibia as validation now, surely?

Interesting that they still gave the green light to the Gallagher deal. But I must admit - even looking it as a business - I would be annoyed that I had invested £7m on a player that hardly ever played. So what is our chance of an experienced defender coming through the door ?

The frustrating thing is that last January if we’d gone out and loaned a CB and LB we might have pushed for playoffs. How much would that have cost? There’s something wrong with the way the club plan transfer strategy and seal deals. That’s not necessarily Mowbrays fault.

Fitness is not like skill, it is something that everyone can maximise, physiologically we are all the same (generally). All you need is willpower and a little knowledge. Your last sentence sums it up. In the 2nd highest professional league in england (top 15 in the world) players cannot be bothered to get fit and it is acceptable to most. Age is taking its toll? dude, he is 37, just played out a tie breaker in the Wimbledon final, after several matches in quick succession, during a grueling season. He is ranked 3rd on the planet still as well. You don't maintain those levels, years past a football players average retirement age. Physically he must be extremely fit to do that, tennis is a couple of hours of repeated sprints, football is mainly walking and jogging, a bit of running and about 20 sprints. Which would you rather do? everyone is capable of enhancing their fitness, everyone, but a lack of fitness is acceptable in football, even when it's the only attribute that everyone can easily maximise. Pros blowing out their ass in their 20 after 70-80 minutes is shameful. Do you see Federer not busting his balls to sprint for every shot in overtime in the final? Yes it's a final which is motivation enough, but his body was still going strong. If we were fitter than every team in this league, we'd be bankers for top 6. Fitness makes a massive difference at our level.

I'm starting to think this might suit us best: Walton Nyambe Lenihan Williams Bell Travis Johnson Rothwell Dack Breo Gally Gets our best X1 onto the pitch (imo) and easy to turn into other formations without subs, or only one sub. Depends who we go on to sign off.