In the middle 3 against Wycombe we played 1DM (Johnson) and 2AM (Rothwell, Holtby). I could see him flipping it round, and putting JRC in there for more legs and pushing Rothwell further up. Kaminski Nyambe. Lenihan Williams. Bell JRC. Holtby. Johnson. Dolan. Armstrong. Rothwell. Subs : Fisher, Wharton, Ayala, Davenport, Buckley, Chapman, Brereton, No idea how the game will turn out but I think it will be a cracker.

Not sure why you think this when he has played a very aggressive 433 against Bournemouth and Newcastle.

Starts to a season like this are a double edged sword. Im sure those in Pune will be looking at us and say "why do you want X million, you just battered Wycombe 5-0".

I think like Dack we've got a good chance of keeping him and tying him down long term. Neither player look standout Premier League quality, maybe worth a gamble at £5-£8m to a Prem team but not the £15-£20m we would want to let them go. Armstrong could try and run down his contract, but we will probably offer him +50% what he is on and it would take a strong man to turn that down. If he tried to ride it out he is running the risk of getting a significant injury or falling out of form. He's in contract to August 2022, I think we could extend that to 2024. Flip side is do Rovers want to do that just now or wait till early 2021 to see how things develop. I personally would just get it done now.

Phenomenal result. I guess the question is does it really tell us much about future games? For mid table and promotion games probably not. Wycombe have a dearth of quality which those teams will not. But then again we have really struggled against relegation battle teams in the last few years. They've tended to be physical, play direct and we have crumbled. So if it is a very positive sign that the players and the 433 not only stood up to the aerial bombardment - it actually thrived. The midfield and front three all seem to enjoy the formation more than a 4231 or a 4411. Dolan, Rothwell, Armstrong, Johnson, Holtby were all excellent and we were relentless and ruthless. Although we have only won 2 from 4 competitive games I think we are shaping up well for the season. If we can replicate last terms mid table and leading pack results but add significant improvements to games against the bottom six-eight team we should make the playoffs. That said Derby and Cardiff - 2 teams with similar ambitions to us and good quality - will tell us a lot more about where stand. If we win both those I will start getting excited.

Rothwell has been exceptional. Dolan is going to be a top player.

Depends how many are in for him. I reckon we will spend money on a LB and a GK and get loans for CM, CB and that will be it. How many loans can we get? If we can get a third maybe a loan striker. Although that would be a stunning indictment of Brereton and Gallagher.

From what Mowbray said it sounded like next weekend probably.

Yes - in the whole squad you've only got two real goal scorers (Armstrong, Dack) who are guaranteed to get over 10 a season should they be fit, and only maybe four who have "chip in" status (Johnson, Lenihan, Gallagher, Rothwell). And by chip in I mean will score 3-7 goals. We've got to get one more player in to the +10 bracket (only candidate for me is Gallagher). And get most of Ayala, Dolan, JRC, Holtby, Buckley into the 3-7 bracket. If we cant do that we need to bring in another 10+ striker pronto.

We aren't struggling to create chances. We are struggling to defend. I think that tells you where our priorities lie!

I'd bet good money Vale and Butterworth will look more promising than Butterworth if the get some game time.

I am not that concerned about goals to be honest. We scored pretty well last season and are continuing to create chances. Weve already scored 5 goals in 3 competitive games. I am more concerned about the other end of the pitch.

To be fair if we have to change our style to accommodate Wycombe we are in a lot of trouble!

If Davenport can't offer a physical dimension I really cant see what he offers. Buckley is going to understudy Holtby so where does Davenport fit in?

Wow with all those out I think your team is probably the best we can put out. Personally I would drop Brereton for Rankin-Costello but I don't think Tony will.

Andrews was brought in by Ince. So it couldn't be Souness. Either Ince or Allardyce as Warnock left while Sam was here. I thought Warnock was quite good in midfield when played there. Andrews on the other hand....

Anyone can kick players, but physically dominating the midfield is a specialists game. With Travis out Johnson and Evans become more important for a bit of muscle as much as anything else. That said they haven't got the legs of Travis though so it will be touch and go if the 433 works. Also a lot of counter attacks Travis snuffs out before they even get going. I don't think anyone else we have has that ability to sense danger. Certainly not JRC, Holtby or Rothwell who are all offensive minded players. In my estimation Travis is probably our best player, better and more critical to our team than Dack, so losing him is terrible.

My question is whose putting a foot in with that team?

Yeah, and also that means you lose the sort of Tugay role Holby has been playing where he picks it up from the back 4 and sprays it around. Mowbray has shown before he is happy to play Dack as a striker. If we are still 433 when he comes back from injury I am certain that's what he will do.

I can't really comment from his time at Gillingham, didn't see it. What I do know is Dack scores the vast majority of his goals in the box. Hes a poacher really. I can't see how that meshes with him running miles around the centre of the pitch manically closing down in a 3 man midfield.

Primarily because he's more useful in the front three scoring goals that digging around the midfield tackling. Also Holtby for me has a better pass on him.

I just can't see any manager wanting Dack in a middle 3 when he scores so many goals. Reckon when everyone's fit/bought it will be something like : Kaminski Nyambe. Lenihan. Ayala. Cunningham? Travis. Holtby. Johnson Dolan. Dack. Armstrong. Subs : Pears?, Williams, Rothwell, Evans, JRC, Gallagher, Brereton Decent team that. Though it has to be said a bit weird.

If we're sticking with 433 Chapman is going to get a fair amount of game time I think. Big winners from that formation are the wingers. There's two wide roles to fill each game and Chapman has already got on the pitch several times. Needs to show he's worth it. If he makes an impact he will be picked again. I don't think there is really much to it beyond that. The whole "Mowbray has his favourites" rubbish is wearing more than a little thin. Where are Smallwood, Bennett, Evans etc. It's embarrassing to harp on about something that is not happening.

We have to win this game. Team for me : Kaminski Nyambe. Lenihan. Ayala. Bell JRC. Holtby. Evans. Rothwell. Gallagher. Armstrong. I am assuming Gally is fit, Johnson still injured. Don't feel good about the midfield without Travis in it.

Agreed. It's a real millstone. Not only because he doesn't offer anything as a striker, he actually drifts wide and takes up space that a proper wider player wants and is much less effective. We need to move on. Nuttall had way more of an impact than Brereton has and the Nutt is currently plying his trade in League One.