RoverKyle

I think what's promising about our team is we now seem to have a genuine goal threat from deep, in Johnson. I echo concerns that our forward players aren't delivering at the minute in terms of converting chances, but that will come. When you have the likes of Johnson and Downing (who both look like they could reach the 5 goal mark each) who can chip in, it takes the pressure off the strikers having to reach that 15-20 goal mark. I'd rather see us score goals from all over the pitch, than be solely reliant on a Dack or Graham to score all of our goals.

It's quite exciting to be honest. I managed to get to my first game this season against Boro and the way our midfield ticked over was brilliant to watch. How long have we been calling for the Smallwood/Evans axis to be killed off. Seems we've finally got our wish.

In the first half we created a few openings from open play. Gallagher came close to getting on the end of two balls and Graham on another. 2nd half was a bit quieter as we tired but Rothwell should've done better with Buckley's squared ball.

I think that's the key thing here. He's only going to be a back up CB. He's obviously going to end up playing quite a few games as Lenihan tends to have the odd short term injury every so often, but he should be good enough as cover. I actually quite like Williams (think I'm in the small minority on here) to be honest. It was his positional sense at LB which often left him exposed and look a lot worse than he is. Hopefully moving him inside helps him a little.

Your point being he may not be as comfortable in a CB pairing? As you said yourself, he did look good in that role last season. Certainly more comfortable than he looked at LB anyway.

In all fairness, Williams was a CB at Bristol City and we decided to play him at LB. If anything he's now back in his natural position.

That's hilarious. The 'meltdown' is over whether we've sorted a replacement plus other defenders, not about losing Mulgrew.

There's absolutely no way they're letting Mulgrew go without a CB replacement. Must be someone coming in, alongside Cunningham hopefully! Tosin better be something special and made of titanium if not.

I'm glad you're not in charge of picking the team!

We were linked with him a while back weren't we? Looks as though he doesn't play for QPR anymore.

Literally never heard of Greg Cunningham before he was linked to us, but he sounds like a good signing from what people are saying. If this does indeed go ahead, at least it's a sign that Mowbray realises we have an issue at left back!

Too early for Mowbray out calls IMO. Give it 10 games then see where we are. If there are no positive signs at that stage, then I agree he's got to go. A couple of things are really annoying me though. Our pre season didn't include any real tests. We should've been fit and firing for Charlton and instead we just seemed woefully underprepared. Defence wise, I won't even go there. We all know what Mowbray said about last season and we all know what we saw last season. That needed to be addressed and it hasn't.

Did they say when it would be released?

Not sure whether there is one already but Rothwell definitely needs a chant. During the L1 season you could see Mowbray getting twitchy on the sidelines whenever we chanted for Chapman. Give the fans what they want.

I've not looked into this properly and I don't know where the data is sourced from, however this website is quite interesting in terms of wages at different levels of the football pyramid. Seems to be based on the season we were in L1. https://www.footy.com/footballers-vs-the-fans/#you-vs-your-club

Bizarre situation with Wharton. I understand wanting to keep hold of assets who may come good in future, but a 3 year deal seems excessive for someone who doesn't seem to be anywhere near the first team. I'm actually quite surprised he's still only 21. Fair play to him for breaking through when he did a couple of seasons back. As for the loan, why is he going back to L2?? The only way that would make sense for us is if they've guaranteed that he'll play every game when fit. Otherwise he should be trying to play regularly at a L1 club like Hart did last season.

I appreciate the extra details about the match, but you've completely missed the point of my post. No bother though.

I don't think you mean to say what you have. If it was a sight for sore eyes, what you saw in the second half was pleasing. Sorry for being pedantic!

I'd have been happy with Forster and Skrtel (although I did think they seemed very unlikely at the time they were mentioned). I'd pass on Sinclair. Struggles to get a game for Celtic nowadays. He's not at the level he used to be.

I literally know nothing about him. Is he meant to be any good?

Sorry if it's been covered earlier in the thread, but have you revealed who the goalkeeper target was that we were trying to bring in? I assume it wasn't Walton and we might've missed out on them.

Personally I don't buy these comments and I mean no offence by that. In his signing interviews Downing specifically talked about how he likes Mowbray's (perceived) attacking style and that it would bring more out of him than his previous manager did (I'm sure that was Pulls and Karanka before that?). Sounds like he wants to get as far as away as possible from being a more defensive player. That's not to say he won't play more defensive from time to time. After all, we know Mowbray loves playing people out of position.

Alan Judge for a third time? No thanks.

Completely fair comment. I just wouldn't use his limited performances for us in League 1 two seasons ago as a stick to beat him with. He's apparently had a good season in League 1 since and turned up in pre season looking an improved player.

There is such a thing as development you know.. I haven't been impressed by him either when I've seen him, but I'm happy to reserve a bit of judgement on him until I've seen him play again. He's hardly had any opportunities for us to date. By all accounts he's been playing well in pre season and people who have actually seen him play live this pre season seem to think he could be a viable option at left back. Seems strange that you would outright dismiss that.