Been told to judge Mowbray after the transfer window. If someone had said we'd be starting the first game after the window shut with a back 4 of Bennet/Williams/Tosin/Bell there would be uproar. This is a poor defence for League One let alone the championship.

Glad to see Rottwell start, but frightened that he'll get the blame for not tracking back if/when we ship a load of goals.

From the Rovers link:

“You’re always looking to create competition, everyone needs to feel pressure and that’s what we’ve tried to do," the boss admitted to iFollow Rovers.

“Amari’i played at the weekend and knows my thoughts on his performance, and I’d have to say that I’ve seen a real uplift from him in training over the last few days.

“He knows there’s someone here breathing down his neck rather than a young boy who was playing on loan at Southend in the second half of last season.

“There’s now a man vying for his place in the team. You need competition in every position and I think that’s what Greg brings.

Someone needs to bring him up on this point about completion. Yes we have finally got a decent left back in, but we've REDUCED the competition at centre back. If there was an uplift in Bell's training this week, then there will have been an opposite effect for Lennihan who only has to get out of bed to get in the team now. Mowbray can't have it both ways.

Hopefully Sharpe will question the logic behind leaving ourselves short in the main area that Mowbray identified as being weak.

Just now, geedog13 said:

I can not believe people actually think mulgrew made his mind up to move yesterday around 1pm to 2pm .......... get a grip this would have been planned and talked about with managers, agents and wife...... probably around the same time conway made his mind up to go to try for game time Tony would have wanted him to stay and be there if needed ( as I think the loan would show not sold ) mulgrew will want to play as not doing will mean no Scotland team and as a leader and captain you show you want to play not sit on your ass, I think it is all above board and ok for everyone 

Probably true, which makes it all the more negligent of Mowbray not to replace him with an experienced centre half to lead the defence.

Just now, Vilesinner said:

I don't think so. I'd say Bell will go out on loan and Hart be our number 2 fullback.

Can players still go out on loan? I thought it had shut?

No way that Mowbray will let Bell go out on loan now we're so short in defence as it is.

It is a shame that Hart didn't get the chance to go out on loan again and get first team experience. It sounded like he really developed doing that last season.

He's going to go backwards again this season stuck in the U23s.

Just now, Waggy76 said:

Frustratingly, we start the whole process over again next summer when Cunningham and Tosin leave, leaving our paper thin defence, non-existent. 

In 9 months time (next May) the defence will be without:

Walton (end of loan), Bell (end of contract), Cunningham (loan), Leutweiller (contract), Tosin (loan).

We will only have Nyambe, Lennihan and Williams on the books - scary. So next summer we'll need 2xGK, 2xCB, 2xLB

Shouldn't be overlooked that:

Mowbray wanted to sign another central defender, on top of what we've got, but couldn't do the deal.

Mowbray wanted to sign Reed back.

So that's 2 areas where we're lacking from where he wanted us to be.

I can’t believe anyone is anything other that horrified at the thought of Lennihan, WILLIAMS and an untested kid from City being our choice at centre back!

It is madness and could very quickly unravel and ultimately cost Mowbray his job.

Top of my list was a new left back, so I’m happy that we’ve got Cunningham.

Really wanted a combative all round midfielder, so happy with Johnson.

Downing decent squad player.

Keeper will be alright, but he’s not ours.

Big worry is centre back. Tosin has played about 10 games there at this level and Williams brings on pressure with his woeful distribution.

Gallagher money should’ve been used for a bit ugly centre back who puts his head on everything (eg Hanley).

Overall 3/10 this window.

Just now, DE. said:

 

 

Of course. Has to prepare himself to be better than Amari Bell. Ffs. 

You can bet Reed will be ready to play for Fulham.

Expect Cunningham to be eased in for Christmas.

Just now, Tom said:

Sharpe confirms we did try for Reed 

If Mowbray hadn’t slagged him off last season, and played him in his proper position, we might have had a chance.

£1million loan fee in for Mulgrew?

What’s the deadline for paperwork to be filed?

Come on down Jack Rodwell.

Mowbray said earlier today that anyone we sign today won't be in the team on saturday.

Smallwood at CB is on.

What time does the window shut? 5???

Blue 3rd kit?

Will we need a 4th kit?

Sorry but he's lost the plot in that interview.

"Everybody has a name and says 'why don't you and get him?' Well if I phoned up about him and they are saying he is £20million and we can't afford him so we have to move onto the next one. And if we phone up about him and they say he is £10million well we can't afford him. Why don't we swap Tyler Magloire for the centre half at Rochdale, whoever he is, and stick him in our team and see how we get on?"

Norwich and Sheffield United both got out of the league without spending 10/20 million. It's down to good scouting. 

Are there players out there better than Bennett, Mulgrew and Bell - of course there are! Ridiculous to suggest otherwise. 

Get that fax machine going for gods sake.

Williams has been on paternity leave. Not sure if the injury was made up to cover that. Don't know why they would need to hide it.

Just now, Lee0r said:

Unless it’s Carlos Villanueva I’m not interested. 

2008 the worst transfer window in memory.

Sold Bentley, Ince decided that Emerton was going to be good enough on the right wing, despite being our preferred RB and way past his best.

Remember thinking 'we must surely be signing a winger' right up to the 10PM deadline.

Just now, JHRover said:

Sky claim we're after Idrissa Sylla on loan from QPR. 

Surprise surprise another striker.

Cunningham and Hanley coming in would be a game changer.

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

Doesn't matter a bollox if the players improve the team 

At this stage, I agree. But we'll be back here next summer putting the same effort into replacing all these loans, and not have any players to trade on for profit.

Another loan? Are we back to Venky's "lease" model?