I agree with this. Let's just commit to the kids. We've got little other option. Play two up top with Gallagher and Armstrong. Get Davenport some game time. We might catch a few hidings but at least we'll know a bit more about the team. I'm waiting for a couple of defensive injustices, then we will really start worrying.

We defended well but Fulham totally dominated the game.

While I'm interested to see how Gallagher does up front Brereton is just a total waste. One of the worst footballers I've seen. If he turns out to play regularly at level higher than league 1 I will eat my words. But for me he's really really poor. That said maybe a different manager would get more out of them both.

I could accept playing Gallagher on the wing if it was a desperate option due to injuries, or Mowbray inherited him, and hes just fitting him in until he brings someone else better suited to the role. But we paid £5m for him, have no quality strikers, and also have other players who can play right wing. So it's either 1) We've signed a turkey and mowbrays just trying to save face by keeping him in the XI. If so thats poor. 2) He genuinely thinks he's a winger and signed him as such. If so that's utterly mental and Mowbray needs to be sectioned. We should have had Gallagher central today and just gone long to him all game. Armstrong could have played right or up top alongside him.

I prefer quality possession football but today has looked the sort of game we should have been direct from the first minute. Looked much better since we've switched.

What kind of formation is this going to be? Guess Armstrong goes wide.

We've got 4 strikers on!

He deserves at least a crack centrally when our current system is offering no quality at all.

To be honest JRC has done nothing.

We've spent 5m on a striker that the manager literally refuses to play up front.

We've got to go 442. JRC totally ineffective. Why not just shift JRC right and Gallagher up front.

Have to say I'm not devastated about losing Holtby. On recent form less important a player than Armstrong, Downing, Travis, Lenihan, Nyambe or Tosin. I can see Buckley starting at 10.

With Fulham's quality on the ball Tony will be loathe to go 442. I'm pretty sure Bennett will come in at number 10 and Gallagher will persist on the right in a 4231. Other option would be Buckley at 10. Gallagher got some decent flick ons and a couple of decent runs from the right against Boro. But did they produce any chances? Nope...

If that's the case Mowbray will play him right wing in no time!

Still would only make the bench I think. -----------------------Walton Nyambe----Lenihan----Tosin-----Bell ----JRC-----Travis----Johnson----Downing ------------Gallagher----Armstrong Subs : Leut, Williams, Bennett, Davenport, Chapman, Brereton, Graham. Though I do suspect we will still end up with Gallagher on the wing for some bizarre reason.

As others have said we can go 442 and have a full complement out there. In a way we are lucky we are having a spate of injuries in that area as we have so many players. If that was defence we be totally screwed.

I think Bells done alright personally since we dropped Williams and brought in Tosin. I think that says something about Williams more than Bell. Also Nyambe on the right has been a big impact. As a back 4 they look the best we've had since Hanley and Duff were sold.

Nope, but I doubt Mowbray will get much credit. We basically play all the young players the fans want, Smallwood, Williams, Mulgrew, Bennett have all been sidelined. It's odd people keep harping on about this.

Well we didn't bring anyone in. Next step is do a risk analysis. First XI has shown itself to be decent despite losing Dack and Cunningham (and Evans, but given our plethora of centre mids not too much of a loss). We can probably handle one further injury/loss of form in centre mids (mad right?!), but every single other position is very fragile. Injuries to Walton (not because he is very good, but because Leut is so bad), Lenihan, Tosin, Nyambe, Bell (again more about lack of backup than his quality), Armstrong would all be huge blows. We've got to be really really lucky with injuries. Particularly if Armstrong, Lenihan or Tosin is taken out we are buggered.

I'm not convinced by this - we've looked worse when we've gone 442.

I think there's a decent chance it will be more like Walton Nyambe Lenihan Adarabioyo Bell Travis Johnson Gallagher Holtby Downing Armstrong Mowbrays wedded to the ideal of Gallagher on the wing. Can't see him changing it. And as bad as it is, it is still better than Bennett back in the team. We absolutely fell apart when Benno came on against QPR.

The championship is utterly mental. WBA are second and havent won in 5....

On the plus side the spine of our team - Tosin, Lenihan, Travis, Downing, Armstrong - looks as good as anything in the league.

Anyone else think Bells looked pretty good since Tosin and Nyambe have come into the team? I can see him being extended.

Good post that. I would say you only really look 2 seasons ahead in football so I would say the other CM berth is covered by Evans and Johnson. Agree everywhere else though.