I agree that if you took Travis out of the team we would be a much worse outfit. The ground he covers is phenomenal. He knits everything together. Also when he first came in he looked like a pure physical water carrier. But over the last couple of months he's started to add a real bit of technical quality. His strike today and some of his passing was excellent. Also love the way when he's closed down he can just shift the ball, skip away and drive past the opposition player with ease. Does it half a dozen times a game. Really promising.

For me Armstrong is as effective wide as up front, while Gallagher looks better through the middle. So I'd play them that way. But Mowbray is absolutely committed to Gally on the wing, and it worked quite well today, so I doubt it will be changing soon. Will be interesting what happens if we sign a right winger as rumoured.

He's powerful, good on the ball, pacey. If he can add a bit of quality on his crossing he'll be a huge asset. In Joe H's defence Nyambe has looked hugely better in the last 2 months. I'll be interested how he performs against a good winger.

JRC looks like another narrow player to me. Not saying he's bad but we've got a lot of inside forwards/number 10s (Dack, Holt, Rothwell, Buckley) and not many genuine wide players. Seem to be a rare beast. Anyhow promising player nonetheless.

Downing played in CDM alongside Travis. He was brilliant, but it is worth saying Wednesday put absolutely zero pressure on him. When Downing has played in the centre before he has really struggled when pressed. So I'm on the fence as to whether it is something we persist with. I'm sure the team will be unchanged for the next game so that will be better judge of whether it was a one off or not. Gallagher played well and finished his goal brilliantly. Still ultimately looks awkward on the right wing. All his best work was when he cut in.

Also - on today's game you'd say probably 7/8 of the Rovers starting XI really should be in the playoffs.

For me Walton - ? Had basically nothing to do. I guess 7? A couple of routine saves. Nyambe - 8 - skinned the opposing full back over and over and over again. Final ball a bit poor. Defensively majestic. Bell - 7 - decent outlet down the left, but average end product. Defended well. Lenihan - 8 - Physically dominated the defence and scored a goal. Tosin - 8 - defensively solid. Picked sensational passes through the middle. His role in the first goal was equally daft and brilliant Travis - 8 - Physically dominated midfield. Also showed good passing, and constantly can make himself a yard. Essentially scored a goal. His technical quality seems to improve game on game. I think destined for the Premier League. Downing - 9 - total and utter superb use of the ball. Great assist for Lenihans goal. Gallagher - 8 - best game for us capped by an excellent goal. Totally dominated his full back. Mowbray justified to play him right. Holtby - 8 - like Dack quite quiet but scored two well taken goals. Seems to have a similar "fox in the box" instinct to Dack. Plus similar quality on the ball. Looks a perfect replacement. Rothwell - 7 - had a couple of good runs, but struggled to make an impression. Silly yellow card. Feel really hes another number 10 like Holtby and Dack and will always struggle wide.... Armstrong - 9 - the guys magic. Will always create chances and score goals. I think will potentially turn into a 20 goal striker next season. Kind of reminds me of Josh King. JRC - 8 - looks decent, setup Gallagher, and much more physically ready than Buckley. If I was Rothwell I might be a bit worried. Whole Wednesday team - 0 - maybe the worst ever showing by a supposedly decent home side in my time following Rovers? I mean unbelievably bad. They let us play exactly how we wanted. So take the ratings with a pinch of salt.

I don't really get this personally. I thought he scored two good goals but didn't really get too involved outside of those. Quite like Dack to be honesy. Downing was the real string puller.

Great great finish by Gallagher.

We've played great. But, maybe unpopular opinion, a lot of it has been how unbelievably bad wednesday have been. I mean absolutely shocking! Anyhow everyone in Rovers colours has played well. But particularly Armstrong, Travis, Downing, Tosin, Nyambe, Lenihnan, Holtby. Edit - also great to see the we have shown we can really play without Dack. Holtby looks a tailor made replacement.

Well it looks effective today....

Fantastic goal.

Overall great start today. But we've said that a lot.

Question - why does Gallagher look threatening on the right today but totally ineffective last week? Baffling.

I agree. Mulgrews principle weaknesses are his pace, slow on the turn, and (despite being a big bloke) weak in the air. He will be repeatedly targeted. If we have to play him I would go 4141 with Charlie in the holding role in front of the defenders. --------------------------Walton Nyambe----Lenihan-----Tosin-----Bell ------------------------Mulgrew ---Arma-----Travis-------Holtby----Downing -----------------------Gallagher Not sure you lose too much compared to our current 4231, and you add Mulgrews set piece quality.

Came on against Preston, Lenihan kept the armband. True story.

Quite interested in seeing Davenport. He must have thought he'd never get a game. End of last season he played pretty well.

I don't think we're really dependent on key players like we were 15 years ago. Sohthgates built a team where players rotate in and out. Sterling, Sancho, Rashford, Vardy (assuming he comes back) is a great set of strikers. No one's really irreplaceable anymore. I think we're in the top nine or so teams in Europe. France, England, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Croatia, Portugal, Germany, Belgium. With, imo, France a cut above everyone else. So based on that I'd give England about a 10% chance of winning it. But the favourites, France, I would only say a 30% chance. Absolutely wide open. Should be great entertainment.

Have to say I quite like that. Though I would drop Bell, move Downing out to left wing back and play Johnson alongside Travis. Also I'm sure if we did go 352 Mowbray would not be able to resist Bennett at right wing back. But overall it would be an intriguing way to play. Wouldnt mind if we gave it a crack.

I've had a cracking idea.... We could play him up front! Scores goals, got a bit of quality, not any slower than Graham.... In jest. But certainly would be better than Brereton. Not sure any worse than Gallagher...

I like this but would put Bell in for Williams. Bells actually been one of the few better performers recently. Also on Armstrong.... For my money he's going to score roughly the same from the wing as up front. We should leave him wide imo, as he is the one player who is truly effective there. We need to get a tune out of either Gallagher or Graham up front, or sign someone. Also - is Nyambe fit? Huge loss if he doesn't make it.

He won't be closing anyone down though..... I can only hope he has come back as he thinks he may get a move. To say he is finished at Rovers is to put it mildly.

It's possible he would be loaned at a % of his wage, or even Rhodes will take a pay cut to.get games. But essentially I agree with you. Very unlikely. It would be mad not to sign a striker though considering we just don't have any goals in the team.

We're so poor at scoring bringing Rhodes back had a lot to recommend it. But... His around game is non-existant. So if were under the kosh whose going to provide an out ball? I guess we could start playing him and or Gally/Armstrong up front in a two. But then you have less bodies in midfield. Hmmm. Tough one.

I really really really hope that is the last we see of Gallagher out wide. Options going forward with Gallagher 1) Up front in 4231 2) Up front in 442 3) On the bench Who could play on the wing instead : Downing, Armstrong, Rothwell, Holtby, Chapman, Bennett. Out of those only really Downing and Armstrong inspire much confidence, but all are a much better fit than Gallagher.