Ive got mixed feelings about this. Over the last 10 years players without senior experience have broadly performed better than those with. We had a few decent experienced players but a lot of dross. We are where we are because of youth (either from our academy, other teams academies who we've bought in or loans) and lower league players.

I wouldn't say we are doing too bad on that front. Few teams in the league have got as good home grown players as us. Mowbray has done very well in the last two seasons on loans. Khadra, Van Hecke, Elliott, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tosin all very good. Really disappointed that we seem not to be spending any money at all.... Don't want a "big name" player like Oli Burke. Will disrupt us in the dressing room and financially. But we should be picking up quality young players who are growing like O'Reilly seems to be.

More I just thought he was defo going this window as we were singing replacements. Seems a surprise he is actually staying, but obviously we are stronger if he does (as the new guys are going to need a timeline to get up to speed even if they are as good/better) so it is welcome.

Has the consensus changed that Nyambe is probably staying till end of the season now? Seems a mad situation - we'll have gone from potentially no right back to having three!

If we'd sold him last Jan wouldn't have been bothered, but he'd showed enough improvement second half of last season to keep him. His performances this season are by absolute miles the biggest leap I've seen a professional footballer make in 6 months.

I'm sure if he's not vaccinated by now he's probably decided he's going to stay unvaccinated. Annoying.

Ah that would make sense. Otherwise Carter leaving just seems a bit odd. He's shown he's decent enough, and would suit our back 3 approach. As someone mentioned losing 2 or more CBs at a time is well within the realms of possibility. I don't think Johnson and Nyambe are really suited to being effective in a back three. You need to be able to head a ball properly (not Nyambes forte) and be very positionally aware (not Johnson's).

I agree it isn't a recipe for success but it's the same situation most of the Championship is in. There's only a handful of clubs who can hold onto their best players. It is depressing though.... not being able to get players who have come in from the division below or the academy to sign new contracts is a situation we have literally never been in before. Not as long as I've followed the club anyway.

I agree. If Mowbray had any desire to play a target man I'm sure he would have done it with Gallagher by now. Whats strange about it is Mowbray played Graham as a target man for ages, but since he's left just hasn't been interested at all despite us having a lot of number 10s who could play off one (Dack, Holtby, Rothwell, Buckley) as worked pretty successfully in League 1 and when we came up.

To be honest we looked totally solid and in control up until the Pears Show. We've been saying it a lot recentky but if we'd had some better decision making in the final third we should have scored a couple more. That said have to say Edun and Dolan didnt convince in the wing backs and Johnson was absolutely diabolical at left CB. Really hope Wharton stays fit! Think Pickering has been a bit under rated in here and losing him for a month could be a big issue. Edun could get targeted a bit. With Nyambe likely off too wouldn't be surprised if our previously super solid defence gets a lot shakier.

To be fair to Pears he was awful last season, but played well this season and seemed reasonable to give him a spin in this game. But while you can just about get over one clanger in a game but two is unacceptable.

Wow one of the worst 20 mins of goal keeping of all time.

Should be at least one up already....

Quite like Dolan at RWB. Has the engine, utterly tenacious, will worry teams a lot on the overlap. Surprised none of us thought of it really

Covid I think with Wharton, Carter and Nyambe. Well official account just says "unavailable". Personally think Nyambe is exiting the building Covid or not. https://twitter.com/Rovers/status/1479815160097353728?s=20

Yes - strangely strong side. Inclusion of BBD particularly weird. Maybe want to cup tie him? That Johnson and Butterworth don't get on is a surprise also. Anyway will be good watching a strong side.

Not sure that's completely true - if it was someone like Wharton who has shown his quality already would be pushing for a move straightaway. He'd be able to find someone who would double or triple his wages. It's a mixture of lots of factors, loyalty being one. Lenihan's been one of our best players for coming on seven years, our captain, and I would assume been earning a lot less than players who have come in like Ayala, Bradley Johnson, Gallagher etc. That he wants a big pay bump to stay doesn't seem unreasonable to me. To my mind what's happened is pretty straightforward 1) Venkys are pumping in £20m a year (and likely accelerating due to covid) and have decided they want to reduce it. 2) Only way is to reduce the wage structure, which we have started pursuing in earnest in the last 18 months, letting more expensive players go. 3) we've dropped most of the high earners and trying to sign only low earners (Ayala being signed last season seems to challenge this though as he must be on big money, but he's the only one) 4) For the plan to work we have to keep wages low across the board. The lines, whatever they are, have been drawn in the sand (and probably agreed with Venkys) and it only works if you don't breach them. So we are not trying to breach them. 5) But that we've done so well as a team, and that Lenihan & Rothwell have had great seasons individually, makes things difficult. They are now big assets who are probs worth at least £5m each with I am sure a lot of interest - more if they keep on going the way they are - so not paying them £250k to £500k more a season each to keep seems increasingly daft. 6) But if we do pay them more and we fail to make promotion we are back where we started with expensive players, and probably the likes of Travis, Wharton etc banging on the door asking for similar money. I can appreciate it's a pretty tricky situation. I think what Venkys have done is a smart solution if they are trying to save cash : £700k per player bonus if we get promoted will keep Rothwell and Lenihan and everyone motivated. If we do get promoted I am sure they will sign. If we don't we lose them, but wage bill does come down. Gutting for us as fans, but from Venkys perspective seems probably the best outcome out of a lot of rubbish ones.

I wonder with Lenihan if he wants parity with Ayala. I wouldn't be surprised if Ayala is on 2x or 3x what Lenihan is on, and you could see why he is aggrieved if so.

Broadly agree. I think we could weather losing Nyambe. A new player can come in and the brief isn't too difficult. Lose Lenihan or Rothwell and I think we are in real trouble. Rothwell dribbling from central deep positions is absolutely critical to how we play, and Lenihan has been outstanding on the right of the three both defensively and in his distribution, plus he's our captain.

Personally I would say it's more about avoiding injuries to the first XI and give our quite strong bench a chance to impress.

Yes - the preference for me would be have both JRC and Nyambe - start games with Nyambe, bring JRC on if we are on top and need more quality from out wide. I think they could dovetail quite well. As it is I feel given recent comments from Mowbray I think Nyambe is as good as gone. So I think we will be finding out fit JRC is, and how good James Brown is very very quickly.

Agreed - I just mean I think Mowbray sees him more as an offensive than defensive player, to the original discussion with Chadders..

That's where he's played when he's come on recently.

I don't think Mowbray particularly think of Johnson as a DM - he's mostly played as a false nine when he's got on this season.

With James Brown (Soul Machine) signing today I think he may get thrown in at right back. I know Mowbray said under 23s but if JRC isnt fit can see it TM giving him a whirl.