Bradley Johnson played a forward role, doesn't make him a CF. Tbf, I don't actually know what Dolan is, I just know what he isn't.

That or injuries. I have a terrible feeling we'll be a bit threadbare by the Burnley match. On his day though Adam Wharton could dominate any midfield. Sadly I can't see him being thrown into the cauldron of hate at his age.

I don't think Mowbray helped. Signed him for a lot of money then didn't play him. The lad must have had major mixed signals.

Or to spin it another way, Hirst has 38 appearances in the Championship, 2 in the cup and zero goals. He's currently working on his fitness in the U23's. Not someone I'd want to pin my hopes on. Dolan isn't a CF.

The point I was making is there is a difference in experience, I was just making an exaggerated example to make it clear. Keeping it pro then. Is the professional experience of playing in the U23's for Liverpool just the same as playing in the Premier League?

There's many variables to consider, but I think it matters. A sunday league squad may have plenty of footballing experience but most likely wouldn't endure a championship season. Also that's 7 players picked out of the squad. We've plenty of players with a lot less experience. Our two young midfielders have less than 23 championship appearances put together. Don't get me started on our CF options. We've Gallagher and then the rest have about 15 appearances between them.

Szmodic and Brittain have had two lay offs already this season. Hedges has been out. Scott Wharton was out for a while and in the last couple of matches seems to be carrying a knock. I thought when everyone was fit that was our "injury crisis" for the season over.

Young and inexperienced squad probably best describes it. Also a lot of those games were played at a lower level for some players.

A simple "Google" search would reveal a plenty of premature celebrations from your lot. Though it's Facebook where I'm seeing most of the outlandish statements so googling won't pick those up. It's bizarre as a few weeks ago I saw equally premature and silly posts about Kompany not being the man and too many draws to go up this season. That last sentence reminded me of on here. I think in terms of injuries it only takes a few to put you off your stride. We're riding our luck at the moment with a few key players out (Ayala, Brittain and Szmodic). Earlier in the season most of the defence out, then Gallagher was out for a while. With a thin squad already it's difficult but I think our injuries would trouble any team. I hope JDT addresses our uncanny ability to get at least two injuries to key players per game. The bizarre injury problems seemed to coincide with Tony Mowbray being the manager and plagues us to this day.

They've already won it according to their fans. Have Burnley had any amount of injuries yet? I remember when they went up and they didn't even muster a stubbed toe.

We can still predict financial ruin can't we? Or is all well with Pace and co now you've had a decent start to the season?

"Those criticising me need to get a grip. Sunderland isn't a huge big tanker any more." - Tony Mowbray 2023

When AW played against Blackpool he was brilliant, then in the next match he wasn't. I imagine JDT is just trying to ease him into it to get the most out of him. I'd prefer that approach rather than TM's either not playing young players at all, or making players undroppable.

Probably just getting used to life in the Championship. Still... A goal from Scott W on Tuesday and a goal from Adam W on Saturday. I'm happy to see their names on the teamsheet. Scott looked like he was playing with a knock today though. I hope he's okay for Hull.

Yep we need a striker with pace in January. I think you'll be waiting a long time if you're expecting Hirst to get good in the short time he's on loan though.

Joint top after 17 games would have been a madmans dream several months ago.

We still only seem to play one half which hopefully JDT will eventually rid as a mentality. Five years is a long time.

Brittain was a big miss today. He takes a lot of pressure off when he gets forward and gives the opposition another thing to think about, so makes space for others.

Be interesting to see if he has a go at them in the press and slumps, sulking in the dugout.

Looks like a copy of this forum. I wonder if Sunderland will stick with him for so long? https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/mowbray.1592120/page-6#post-37092320 "I’m the last person to be negative but the game management was absolutely appalling. Even when we were 3-2 down to bring Ba and Michut on at that point for Embleton and Evans was nothing short of terrible management. It nearly cost us against Blackpool and he did it today." "2-0 no strikers....capitulation...2-4....all down to Tony due to no re-action to counter the Burnley changes." "It’s not the losing, it’s the fashion and the mistakes our manager continues to make in both preparation for games and in game" "Alarm bells started ringing for me when he said we didn't need to be in for another forward in the squad." "The set pieces are a joke mate honestly, an idiot could identify how to score against us from them" "A match is 90 minutes not 45, haway man"

You should have reminded your friends that you were playing against a Tony "capitulate" Mowbray team 😄

I see Tony is still doing his best to spoil a Rovers fans day.

Didn't get out of first gear and got 3 points. I don't know how we got away with that one, we need to properly strengthen in January. None of your Hirsts or Poveda types. Let's bring in some quality additions and make a fist of it.

Thank goodness for that!

Let's not forget that we've got an injury list. If we had Szmodics, Brittain and Ayala we'd have a better bench.