Awful start, have the players decided the season is over?

We will do well not to concede first here. All over us

We look a bit flat, not at our snapping at the heels best. Hopefully we pick up

I like our team today. Ask some questions of their patched together defence. Brereton first goal

Is this game on Sky or BT? It's telling me it's 9 euro on ifollow, but won't let me finalise it

I think you are reading too much into things. On the one hand you say he is talking to the media for the benefit of the owners, then you say that he should tell us which of the owners he spoke to He is communicating his trip to the LT and to the fans. I doubt Venkys keep up to date with Sharpes daily musings.

They are missing their first choice centre halves. We are dangerous when our backs are to the wall. Dack and Graham are rested and will be firing on all cylinders. 3-1 Rovers. Dack x 2 Graham x 1

That's a pretty big difference alright ?

Some game. I played it on PS3 and would love a look on PS4. Was there much of a difference?

His point is correct, if you play for the senior team, even in a friendly, you shouldn't be allowed to change country. None of the players you mention played senior for Northern Ireland. Anyway, I have no issue personally with Rice picking England. He was born there so he made the correct call. I am sure plenty of other players we had over the years, maybe even Townsend included, would have chosen England if they were good enough. Having said that, he was a great servant. Best of luck to Rice. He looks a real talent. We could have done with him.

I think it's a fair point to say that at least one of Graham and Dack need to play if possible. None of the others are as consistently clinical. Simple as that.

Mmm, I suppose if you said at the start of the season we would keep pace with them, most, if not all, would have taken it.

Here we see a wild Mowbray in its natural habitat.

I agree with you about Raya. I just wonder will Mulgrew or Lenihan be happy to sit on the bench and we know how Mowbray is with players who want to leave. I would like them to stay too ideally,but I would like us to sign someone who is good enough that they will have a chance to actually start.

So you would be happy with a defence next season which is identical to this seasons? Or at least Mulgrew and Lenihan still the favoured combo at centre half?

I have said recruitment is absolutely key this summer. With regards training and tactics, obviously they are the remit of the manager, but basic defending in a flat back 4 isn't rocket science. We aren't what I would call a cevelier or open team. So I think he needs to replace those who aren't doing their jobs. I think you touch on a key issue and that is buckling under pressure. It's up to Mowbray to somehow sort that, but I will just add that having Jason Steele in goals didn't help and I wonder if having Raya there creates panic sometimes. To develop the point let's consider the relationship between Friedel, Samba and Nelsen. I would say that was an even relationship where they could call each other out if necessary. Now let's think of our current set up, would Raya give any of our defenders a bollocking let alone give Mulgrew one? Would he demand Mulgrew or Lenihan get the f##k out of his way? I don't see it but maybe those who attend games regularly could add to this discussion. What do you think?

4 windows, 2 of which were while we were in League 1. He kept the players who went down and they were good enough to bring us back up. This season they have been found out a bit, so the summer is when he needs to act and remove and replace accordingly. Repeatedly saying over and over again that it is the managers fault isn't constructive to the conversation in the thread. So, to clarify as you can be like a politician at times refusing to answer a straight question- you think we should keep what we have and Mowbray should just coach them better, correct?

Ample opportunity? He stuck with the players who got us promoted by and large, players he mostly inherited. So, having looked at them this season, he will need to remedy the situation this summer. Individual errors are not the mangers fault, to say they are is silly and you aren't usually a poster of too much silliness by and large. It's the managers fault if he chooses not to replace said players, particularly repeat offenders. So you think he should just stick with them and try and coach the mistakes out? Fair enough.

So which defenders would you get rid of so?

I think that's down to higher quality defenders. He is still rapid, just the players he is up against are wiser to it and defend accordingly. Having said that he showed his effectiveness in January, hence how we won player of the month. So hopefully he is improving and learning new ways to beat people too.

What?

Perhaps, but from their fans it seems the number 1 reason for their improvement defensively is the addition of Alison and Van Djik.

Ok, you have made that point 3 times today. At this point you aren't contributing anything to the conversation repeating it. Would you keep all of our current defenders so?

If we buy two centre halves what will we do with Lenihan and Mulgrew? Also, what will we do with all the young lads coming through?

The key word there is inherited. Allardyce inherited high quality defenders. We have been dodgy at the back for years now. Like him or not Duffy was as solid as we have had since the premier league days. Hence why he is playing in the premiership now. Why do you give professional defenders playing in a straight back 4 a let off by constantly pushing the issues on the manager? We aren't this cavelier team leaking goals because we are so open. It's usually because of individual errors we concede. I suppose a way of thinking about it is this- if Mick Mccarthy or Neil Warnock came in would they keep the same defence?