Top class this lad. Kept speaking about him all the way home from Hull and he only played about 20 mins there!

You can definitely see why United wanted to keep him. A very modern centre midfielder, based on that performance he seems to have everything. His touch and technique when striking the ball is top class. Certainly not out of place in this league. Tony must be chuffed to its at pulling that signing off... Just shows that massive fee's don't always guarantee quality. 

9 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Christ on a bike he's 30 years old and hasn't even beaten his age in goals! (29) As you said earlier if his presence at Ewood tonight was anything other than purely coincidental it's the sound of an extremely deep barrel being scraped.

How can we go from allegedly being prepared to spend £8m on a striker on £4m on a mdfielder to signing that injury riddled talentless lummox?

Something doesn't quite stack up there.

TM said we're not interested after game didn't he? 

JOE ROTHWELL... CLASS. Impressed me at the weekend but tonight, wow, played everywhere in midfield, as I said after Hull... We've got ourselves a gem there.

When we got relegated against Brentford, Ryan Nyambe was the best player on the pitch, I saw enough from that performance to know he could be a great player for us. Class against Hull and class tonight again, got forward better than Bell, such a strong lad. 

I've given Evans stick recently, apart from one frustrating ball at the end, he was outstanding tonight. 

I never fancied us for a win tonight, one of those that you're almost certain of but given our chances and how we fought back, I think we probably deserved to win it. Although Brentford are a tougher side, I somehow think it might suit us a bit better. 

This group of players really do have a lot of spirit, thanks to super TM. 

Tony Mowbrays barmy army! 

Defending and stopping crosses coming in seems to be real problem for this side, its just panic stations every single time. Before the goal we looked really tidy but this team has a really weak jaw... Doesn't help gifting them that first goal. We've had chances in this game but just like Hull and Ipswich... We aren't taking our chances. Raya should have palmed that shot away from goal for me. Looking like game over for me, no one on the bench to change this. 

Totally different test for us tonight than last weekend. Hull forwards weren't particularly mobile and Reading will have lots more pace in Barrow, Sims and Aluko... Which worries me against Evans, Smallwood and Mulgrew who aren't particularly quick. Can see a score draw here.

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Once again, couldn't agree more. Taking advantage of a cheap punt due to his injury record on a player with his exceptional talent seems an absolute no brainer to me.

Just don't think he is a TM type of player or that he particularly rates him.

When discussing Armstrong and Chapman I'm sure he said they were "in the mix"... Which would imply he has interest in him, unless some can correct me otherwise.

37 minutes ago, Lancaster Rover said:

Having Bennett as an attacking mid works for our shape when we don't have the ball though IMO, he acts as an extra man in there. Whilst I think he is better in a more defensive position by moving him there you're sacrificing protection for the full back/wing back. Defence is a massive development area for Chapman, again, IMO. Dack, Palmer, Armstrong and Chapman would leave us very light in terms of tackles and ability to win the ball back high up the pitch, putting a hell of a lot of pressure on the remaining midfielders.  

Fair comment but although Bennett did set up Dack at the weekend I feel he's as limited going forward as Chapman is defensively... Depending on who we're playing either could be a better option.  Although Chapman might not be quite as good in the tackle, he'll be quicker to press defenders higher up the pitch and force mistakes than Bennett IMO. Either way, as a starter or as an impact sub whilst he develops... I'd still like us to bring him in. 

1 hour ago, Lancaster Rover said:

Another in agreement here. He seems a nice lad and I feel genuinely sorry for him with his injury problems at a time when he was starting to make his mark however with the step up in quality and the trio of Dack, Palmer and Armstrong working so well together Chapman would be a bit part player at best IMO.

Bennett is playing attacking mid still... Would personally prefer Chapman in there and move Bennett into DM personally. Chapman is a potential match winner. Him, Dacky and Palmer behind Armstrong would frighten the life out of teams. 

1 hour ago, ChrisPriceBaldSpot said:

Because we struggled last season to get back to back wins... Carlisle, Hull... 

Come on mate... League wins was what I was discussing. 

Can see us dropping points tonight, they will be desperate to get a win and I think a nice pitch with a flat atmosphere will suit them. I know coming off the back of a good away win confidence should be high but if a team is struggling for points or performance you can usually bank on Rovers to help out with that. Back to back wins always feels like asking too much of us. 

1 hour ago, neophox said:

Brett Pitman again on bench for pompey.

Don't understand this one at all... How does a guy who scored that many goals for them last season sit on the bench? Apparently changed fame for them when he came on.

I know Rich Sharpe isn't as in the loop as we thought but he seems to think we haven't gone as high as 8 million for Brereton. 

36 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Bolaise at Boro for talks.If he joins surely opens the door wider for Chapman to leave 

Surely. If he can't get minutes on the bench he's probably not even going to be in the squad when Bolasie signs for them. I'm pretty convinced this could be one of the deals Mowbray was referring to about edging closer, I bet they were reluctant to let him leave until they had a replacement. 

1 hour ago, islander200 said:

Nixon tweeting that the Freeman deal isn't looking likely, QPR wanting to keep him 

Billy bullshit at it again. 

10 million??? We'd have been robbed if they sold him for that, nowhere near what we should be asking. Maddison went to Leicester for 20 million quid, scored 14 goals last season from midfield, Dacky already has 2 in the league. I think TM will be well aware of that if we get any calls about him. 

"something tells me I'm into something good" went down well I thought... Very fitting song whilst under TM. 

Lads, I'm not saying he's as good as George Best... Just that he reminds me of him ?

2 minutes ago, OnePhilT said:

Could this be real? Or is it yet another case of people making up @#/??

 

Bollocks

2 hours ago, Vinjay17 said:

Unless Dack drinks himself to death not sure what the actual point of that post is. 

Point being he's class, beats players for fun and has that same scruffy genius party boy enigma about him. In my opinion every time I watch him I always think of George Best. Can't believe I've actually had to explain that to you... You're aware that forums are for opinions? ?

3 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Nixon saying Brereton,Freeman and Bauer are the 3 we have bids in for,all becoming permanent on Jan 1st.

Freeman one makes me uneasy and given QPR position I just don't see them selling their best player when struggling. I don't really look at those 3 signings and think it's money well spent particularly. I'm sensing a feeling that TM knows that Dacky is only realistically going to be here this season and that this is our best shot at promotion... Is therefore going for it. 

2 hours ago, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

I'm scratching my head over Chapman.  If we are talking £8 mil for this 19 year old then surely anything under £1.5 mil for Chapman is a bargain.  Got  pace, can play either wing and pretty certain he could play the 10 role.  Seems the perfect player to recruit for what we are trying to do.  Injury risks potentially but just seems a strange player to completely ignore.   

 

To be fair, we don't know we aren't trying to get him. Their local journo did say a few Championship clubs were in for him and I'm guessing we're one of them. Everything fits with this one, pretty confident he'll end up with us. 

Got to say I'm a bit uneasy about this Brereton one too. I'm more than happy to see us have some ambition but I think we could spend it better, though I'd love to be proven wrong. 

Still very much want to see Chapman back here, I just think he'd end up being excellent value for money. 

5 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Good post. I wasn't at the game yesterday but you reflect nearly all my thoughts on the season to date. I agree with you on Evans, I think him and Smallwood are too similar as a pairing but out of the two I prefer Smallwood.

Not quite as much of a fan of Graham as you are, I think he's very in and out and doesn't have many inbetween games, his timing is either spot on and everything sticks with him or he has days where he looks way off the pace and he ends up playing the opponent rather than the ball. Twenty or thirty minutes at the end of games might actually suit him very well.

On Graham. I think with Armstrong giving us a different dimension up front will allow us to use Graham more usefully. There might be games where we need him to start and use his strength and know how, then there will be others like yesterday where he might be more effective coming on. 

Yesterday was a real headache for them because I don't think they knew what to expect. Spent the first half getting dragged about by Arma and then had to spend the rest of the afternoon getting knocked about by Graham. 

29 minutes ago, Fraserkirky said:

Thought we were absolutely sensational in the first half. 3-0 at half time wouldn’t have flattered us. Armstrong was having a great time running rings round their centre halfs.

Thought our defense handled them no problem in the first half. Both full backs I thought were excellent today. Bell has made that spot his own.

Lenihan was immense today and is becoming quite the player. Wouldnt be surprised to see premiership interest in January. Charlie boy did well, we badly need another commanding centre half in here before August 31st as I don’t think he will manage 46 games.

Smallwood was poor again for me, stuck a  boot in here and there but is so slow and devoid of any attacking impetus. Days are numbered at this level.

Evans played well I thought and was busy throughout, especially late in the game, was still busting a gut. Much improved.

Palmer is a talent, it hasn’t fully clicked yet in this system but he is a must start. He is the full package, has it all, will be a huge player for us his year. Unlucky to be subbed.

Bennett with his usual high octane performance, as others have said he is not a winger anymore and the sooner he slots back into centre mid the better.

Armstrong, looking like highway robbery that deal with Newcastle. Licking his chops all afternoon, and was unlucky not to score, caused no end of problems. Could tell he was enjoying himself. 

Dack, what can you say. Elite. Pops up with the winner with a great run into the box. Heart in mouth stuff when he went down, my heart will appreciate him not doing that again.

Rothwell, tidy when he came on, looks a player. 

Graham did well, and should be coming off the bench away from home, and starting at home, this fast counter attacking tactic today doesn’t suit him, but holding the ball up, well there ain’t much better.

Travis is full of piss and vinegar ain’t he, didn’t stop running and is a big laddie. 

I thought Tony was spot on today with the team, subs were head scratchers but that’s why he gets paid the big bucks.

Championship take note, if we are seriously about to spend 10m on the squad before the end of August then you have to be targeting playoffs. If the Brereton deal comes off, and we land a mean centre half and Winger then I don’t think it’s unreasonable.

That was an extremely enjoyable game.

Jackson Irvine was the only Hull player that looked arsed today. Very poor side that.

Similar thoughts to mine but I was surprised to see so many giving Evans so much praise. He wasn't awful or anything I just didn't think he was particularly brilliant either. Perhaps I'm being too critical but I watched him off the ball, I just don't find him that commanding or vocal and always seems to be 10 yards away from his man. A few of us sat near each other were saying the same. 

Funny how people see the game differently. 

17 minutes ago, Torgeir said:

I get the impression that Sharpe only releases transfer news when he gets the okay from Mowbray and the club. 

Last time I can remember Sharpe going against this was an article linking us with Rothwell but since then... Not much.