joey_big_nose

Yes it was a poor goal but pretty much their only opportunity. It was a very good defensive display, with good chances created for us, only real issue was the finishing. Looking at Giles' quality from the left I think Gallagher at the back post is going to be a key conduit for goals for us. I think he would have got on one of those yesterday. That said I wonder if he's so good we just become a bit one dimensional. All we did was give it to Giles when Rothwell running at them might have been a better option.

Another game where we created by far the best opportunities but couldn't finish.... Giles and Hedges look like decent business. Both look effective. Swansea limited to few chances. Just got to start finishing.

I don't think Mowbray would buy a player if he thought they won't sufficiently press. Seems to be the top of the requirement list.

Rovers seem to have a very good conveyor belt of talent over the last 3 years - anyone got a view on why that is? Down to certain individuals in the Rovers heirachy or more of a structural thing? Club gets a lot of stick for "mismanagement" but in this critical area of youth development we seem to be doing a fantastic job.

Interesting to see he's bigging up Hedges. Thought he might give him the slow run up. Guess he could well be on the bench or even starting on tomorrow. I guess Hedges will play very similarly on the right to BBD on the left. Pressing without the ball and cutting in and shooting. Hope he doesn't need two seasons like Brereton to get up to speed! That said Hedges joined the club at 26, BBD at 19, so Hedges should be ready.

If everyone's up for it then it's a supremely balanced side. The back three sweep everything up, Travis covers, Rothwell drives through the middle, the wing backs give width, Buckley created a nightmare dropping off and Khadra and BBD get in behind. No one has an answer to it imo.

He's a tidy player but I struggle to see how he can really impose himself on games defensively or offensively at the moment. Seems a bit lightweight, and lacking in sufficient raw quality to negate the need to mature. Strikes me as one like Brereton, Buckley or Rothwell who needs a year or two in the past to physically level up to let his technical ability be effective. Davenport seems a bit further along on that journey for me, but hasn't really had the opportunities.

TM has just been quoted he wants to manage in the Prem so I can't see him bowing out yet. He looks old but he's only 59. Will be going for a bit yet I think.

Think Bench would be : Pears, Ayala, Zeefuik, Johnson, Davenport, Hedges, Gallagher Mowbray must look at Hedges as immediately available - as he let Butterworth go. It will be interesting to see how at home in the Championship he is. Need him to make an immediate impact. Could even see him starting if Khadra or BBD aren't fit.

Given the way Swansea play if Gally comes in it should suit him as one good element of his game is relentless closing down as Swansea pass it around.

Looks nailed on to me if Rothwells head is right. Quality team that where you have 100% confidence in every player (assuming Giles is as good as everyone says). Frustrating we don't have good attacking options on the bench. Looking forward to Dack coming back in to give us that wow factor from the bench in the last 30 mins.

He signed two attackers (Markanday, Hedges) an attacking wing back (Zeefuik) and a versatile left back midfielder (Giles)....? Could have done with another striker given Markanday's injury, but we haven't signed defensive players.

Yes - his stock will have gone seriously up after this season barring a catastrophic fall out of the playoffs. Dont think he will be short of offers.

If you put the injuries to one side it's been a pretty good window. Probs only missing piece a striker, but without the injuries not a big issue. Giles, Zeefuik solid signings, Malanday exciting, Hedges a wait and see. Holding onto all of Lenihan, Nyambe and Rothwell really good (though need to see where Rothwell is at - I think to be honest he will come back and be good for us as not playing will hurt him in terms of the bonus and any move he gets) With the injuries though we do look light up top. Got to hope BBD and Khadra stay fit. BBD also out in March which is a big concern. But overall we've added four first squad players and lost none which is better than many a window we've had.

Given the huge bonus at the end of the season if we get promoted I think we've got a good chance of remotivating him?

Lol. Why would Armstrong go for that? Surely would fight for his place?

Can't see Khadra in centre mid, true winger/forward. Could maybe end up with Hedges taking Khadras role, Khadra taking Buckley's and Buckley taking Rothwell's.

Looks like exactly the sort of player Mowbray likes. Big physical wide player. Will be interesting to see how much of an impact he makes this season. Given the injuries could find himself playing a lot. Very tall for a winger but didn't get much of a sense from the video on whether he's much good in the air.

Yes our recruitment of pretty modest looking players has been decent recently (Rothwell, Hedges, Pickering, Dolan) - so I think the scouts and management deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Wow - thought the fee for Rothwell was £6M (which did seem bizarrely high tbf) and he was off to Brentford, so a bit disappointing to hear it's £3.3M and he's going to our key promotion rival! Hard to see how we get two established Championship players who can compete at the top end of the table for that. Bournemouth using their superior resources to quite royally do us. But I suppose that's the way of the world. We did it signing Duncan Shearer off Swindon years ago. If Mowbray can actually find the signings to make the squad stronger on 1st Feb, hats off to him. But it looks a very challenging task with a day to go.

Buckley can too but doesn't have as much raw pace. Rothwell is quite rare for a central midfield player in being so pacy and good at carrying the ball.

Swap his name for Rothwell and it sounds almost exactly like Joe for us up until this season.

Well he has been since the Fulham game... That's just the truth really. Not saying we can't move on but hes a big player.

My concern is more what it does to our system. Rothwell running from deep has been key to it, and it's hard to find another player who can do that. Dropping Buckley into midfield could work, but then we need someone who can do what he does in the false 9 role. If we go for replacing Rothwell with more of a standard centre mid who focusses on passing and we lose the running the system could stop working so well imo. Today was crying out for Joe picking up the ball in the centre circle and driving at them. No one does that as well as him in the division. Buckley maybe our best bet as he has shown a bit of that capability. Shame Dack is way off as him at False 9 and Buckley alongside Travis could keep the way we play intact.

Yes the one that worries me is Lenihan - he's had a superb season, in a very similar position to Rothwell, and I can see a Prem club making a last minute bid. If someones willing to take a gamble on Rothwell the same for Lenihan looks very very possible.