Brutal but true.

I've been chewing over the peformance. I think really we are playing 433 to try and get both Brereton and and Armstrong into the team. I think however when Dack comes back we've got major problems as be does not fit into that system at all. We should be thinking of going back to 4231 as it uses our best players in their proper positions. I would gravitate towards : ------------------------------Kaminski JRC/Nyambe----Lenihan----Wharton----Bell --------------------------Travis-----Holtby ------------------Dolan-------Dack------Brereton ------------------------------Armstong Subs: Fisher, Williams, Johnson, Evans, Rothwell, Gallagher, Chapman Dolan excites me both in terms of his talent but also I think he will bring a lot of balance to the side through proper wide play putting the opposition on the back foot and create a lot of room for others. Could be our best signing in a long time.

Yup. I would like to see how Gallagher as a proper central striker. He has the attributes, and more of an inclination to be a central player if he is played there.

I think if he was played central he would still spend most of his time out wide. He prefers it, and gravitates to the wings.

I agree with this. One thing from today was I thought we would have been better if Holtby had played deeper and Johnson on the left. I would also look to drop Johnson altogether and bring Evans or Davenport in.

Madness. He's always a threat and scores consistently. Sometimes he has a weaker game but always first on the team sheet.

Did everything okay except a horrendous effort with their goal. Thought Wharton was not bad. Wouldn't mind him being on the bench at the start of he season. Looks mobile and good distribution. Maybe a bit lightweight.

Yeah he's had his best ever competitive game for Rovers I think. But it's been a performance of a winger not really a striker. So odd to have a 6ft+ striker who seems to want to be a winger - always starting wide and running at players with ball at feet. And hates all the classic centre forward play - ie. getting in the box, heading it, playing back to goal etc (before people say "Mowbray made him like that" as far as I can tell he was like that at Forest too). But he has been at his best so far today.

He's imperfect but has enough behind him to know he's a very decent defender. It's very single other defender who is under question for me.

Dolans going to be a top player for us. That much is obvious after 20 mins. Edit - thinking about it we said that about Chapman and Either early on. But Dolan looks pure quality.

Wow another Bell howler. Dolan does look good.

Dolan looks literally about 14. Excited to see him though.

Oomph, that was bad 30 seconds for Bell. Poor from Fisher too.

Something I saw in the first half which is a bit weird. Down either wing we've got three players - 1 full back, 1 wide mid, 1 attacker. This has meant were very low on numbers centrally. Was fine while Doncaster didn't turn up but now they're beginning to dominate us in the middle.

Doncaster woke up and we couldn't cope. They put so little pressure on us first half. Actually trying now.

Thinking about it logically it could just be a money thing. Nyambe is probably on around 20-30% of the average first team salary. He wants to get up to parity, but rovers have refused to do it.

Let's not rewrite history. Nyambe hasn't been perfect but he has been a lot, a huge amount, better than Bennett at RB and has been for years. The difference is Mowbray likes having Bennett in the team, but not Nyambe for some reason. If we lost Nyambe it would be another massive blow to an already incredibly shaky defence. Interesting Nyambe has been put on the bench today with JRC at RB. I wonder if that is the real reason he hasn't signed? He can see JRC is going to leapfrog him in the pecking order?

I would say the club, as much as Dack, are seeing if he comes back the same player. No point extending him if he comes back the shadow of the player he was.

Sounds exactly like Travis to me?

Not saying it's impossible but I can't think of a championship player ever turning down a premier club. Can anyone think of someone?

Check out this bizarre rant by the chairman of Bury FC. Will brighten your day. https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/latest-statement-07-08-2020/august/club-update/?fbclid=IwAR0dveZK_kNIuyLgQVFX9Al4sh_jZ2Qv6YQTTZGlHTiw6hfraI8odoBFXb4

Seems like a good signing. But then most of us said that about Walton last year so just need to see how it goes.

I'll be amazed if Mowbray goes back to 4231. He's obviously committed to 433/4312.

I agree it's bizarre we signed him considering deficiencies in other areas. But equally he does have quality so we need to figure out how to unlock that. Could see him having a really good season this year now he's settled. Much prefer someone like him whose obviously a talented player who always gives you hope, rather than a plodder. A centre 3 out of Travis, Holtby and one out of Evans/Johnson/Davenport is decent at this level. Strongest part of the team. Question will be what happens when Dacks back?I guess he will be playing false 9? Which I just don't think works imo. And then you end up with the lunacy of Gallagher and Breo on the wing. Or you go "wingless wonders" 4312 which at least let's you play strikers as strikers. But leaves us very narrow and where does that leave Dolan and Chapman? Have to say formation wise things look as uncertain as ever.

Team for me --------------------------Fisher ---JRC-----Lenihan-----Williams----Bell ------------------------Holtby ------------Travis--------------Johnson ------Dolan------Brereton-----Armstrong Defence looks very dodgy but best we can put together.