36 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Funnily enough Id say in Lenihan we have a dominant centre half, and in Bennett and Nyambe decent right full back options. Obviously in a perfect world we'd want better, but I don't see them as the major issues at the moment. 

Raya, Mulgrew, Graham all good enough for next season imo. Not convinced with Smallwood. Think he's missing the required quality. 

So for me the big areas to strengthen are :

1) one quick goal scoring striker (Armstrong if we can get him)

2) two wide players with pace and quality delivery 

3) one top holding midfielder. Be a bonus if he can pass well. 

Other than that need a more depth across the squad, but not starting roles. 

Completely agree with everything you've said apart from on Smallwood. I think he has enough quality for the Championship. It's not the technical side of things where he is lacking, it's his pace. He can look like a slug at times, but he's effective in that CM role.

1 hour ago, Al said:

Unfortunately his "final ball" is normally a pass back to the centre half thus negating any chance of a quick breakaway.

Totally agree. Either that or when he does actually get forward he pulls it back to someone for a cross. 

If it's a position he can comfortably play in - which it is - then it's not out of position. 

6 minutes ago, Stuart said:

Nyambe was injured for a couple of months and he played Bennett there instead of the club’s other two right backs. I’d call that a trust issue.

Travis has only just started to break into the first team last season, so I can understand why he would be hesitant to start him for a significant spell of games. I wouldn't say that's a trust issue. It just seems to be the way Mowbray handles his younger players. He was similarly hesitant with Chapman and Nuttall.

Too many people seem to think playing Bennett at RB is playing him out of position. When he was on loan at Bristol City before joining us, he was regularly playing RB.

2 hours ago, Stuart said:

Why does it matter?

Do we need to sign a ‘proper’ right back or not?

Or should we plan to have utility players who can play in a few positions?

I prefer defenders to be defenders and be drilled and form an understanding with their fellow defenders but it’s not use people saying that Travis can play there (which, of course he can as that’s his position) when Mowbray doesn’t trust him there and would rather play Bennett - a big player in midfield there. Seems daft not to just go and buy a right back - or simply play Travis is the position where he played very successfully season - barring a game at Ewood (which we lost!).

The why does it matter comment was solely aimed at the squabbling over what position Travis plays, as opposed to whether or not we need to bring in a new RB. 

I think it's a bit premature to say that Mowbray doesn't trust Travis to play RB. I think it's more indicative of the trust he has in Nyambe at RB, that he hasn't tried to blood Travis into the role when he was missing.

Personally I'm not a big fan of Nyambe, so I would look to bring in a new RB in the summer. Although I do appreciate his strengths and that he is highly rated by some, he has no final ball when he gets forward.

I don't really understand what you are arguing about. I was under the impression that Travis was a RB, however he's been utilised in CM for most of his first team appearences. Surely you could class him as a player comfortable playing RB and CM.

There's a similar conundrum with Bennett, who is a midfielder that can play on the wing, CM, number 10 and RB. He's just a flexible player positionally, which is great for us. I don't see anyone whinging and moaning that he's a defender all of a sudden due to him playing quite a few games at RB this season.

Ultimately why does it even matter..

I don't know anything about Robertson but I am worried that we're being linked with Mellor. My mate is a Plymouth fan and he was awful for them. Saw him play a couple of times in Plymouth's last League 2 playoff campaign and he looked like their weak link. Wouldn't be good enough to start ahead of Nyambe, so seems a waste of a wage when Travis, Bennett and Caddis can all play RB. Hopefully it's just gossip.

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

The both of them are under contract, we should stand our ground. If we are serious about promotion, this is what we need to do. 

What would we get for Mulgrew? 750,000? He is worth more to us staying here and helping us get back up. 

Lenihan will arguable be worth more next summer after a successful season in League 1 

Stand tough. They are under contract and if they don't like it all they can do is sulk about it. Players do that, but then usually get over it and get down to playing. 

Fully agree.

As it stands, we don't need any more centre backs unless one of those two leaves. Defensively right back would/should be the priority.

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

Why do we need 2 center halves? We have Mulgrew, Lenihan, Ward, Wharton and Williams can also play there 

I'm assuming that he's thinking that Mulgrew and Lenihan are off.

I certainly agreed with you when I read it. Think I may have even nodded.

Overall, after reading Mowbray's comments, I'm pleased with the signing.

Honest appraisal of the Smallwood signing by Mowbray. Essentially saying that it's not one that will excite the fans, but he'll be in the team to do a specific job for us.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2017/june/mowbray-pleased-to-make-smallwood-signing/