joey_big_nose

I think excellent is stretching it a bit!

Got a ticket for this one. Tough game, away, they've got their tails up. While I thought we were totally and utterly dominant against Hull, and if anything could have scored two or three more, that's tempered by the fact Hull were absolutely shocking. So not really sure what to make of our chances at The Valley. The team basically it picks itself. Only question is do we stick with Graham and Bennett or instead play Samuel and Brereton. As it's away and therefore likely to be tighter I suspect Mowbray will stick with the 4411 with Bennett and Graham. For me though Id just go for the 433 we finished against Hull with just to see what it looks like against better opposition. I could see the game being anything from a two goal loss to a two goal win. The Championship is barmy.

Last night was first time I thought there might be a player in Brereton somewhere. It's a strange one though as he seems to think he's a winger trapped in a strikers body. He has a bit of height and what could potentially be good feet. If I was him I would focus on the off the ball game and try and take up good positions in the box. Get some advice from Graham on that. And put some muscle on. What's incredibly annoying about both Brereton and Gallagher is they are more interested in dropping deep and running with the ball than finding good off the ball positions, ideally in the box. If you've the pace of Armstrong or quality of Dack fair enough. But neither of them are going to beat a competant defender on the deck. But that's what they seem to want to do. I know some will say that's Mowbrays coaching, and to a certain degree that's true. But Brereton was playing through the middle yesterday and dropped very deep and wide time after time, and watching back his videos from Forest he seemed to do the same back then. I suppose still Mowbrays issue though as he chose to buy him and Gallagher when we clearly need a proper goal scorer whose main focus is picking up goal scoring positions.

His best game for us but he needs to focus on staying in and around the box if he's going to kick on. It's daft how deep and wide be drops.

Hull were absolutely terrible. But we played well and totally dominated. I'll take it. Think I'll get a ticket for Charlton.

It's been an absolute hiding on stats. And not far off in reality.

Agree with this, probably best I've seen him But for a striker seems to have a total aversion from going in the box.

You make me lol.

Brereton scoring would be too much to ask? Not sure if he will get in the box though.

Three nil. What a terrible performance eh?

Bosh

Just don't understand this, we've totally dominated and played good football. Not sure what people want. I'm no particular Mowbray fan but we are well deserving of our lead.

Am I alone in thinking we've been pretty good?

It's good to see someone with a positive view. Have to say though I'm not that convinced we are that much better. Travis, Dack, Armstrong, Tosin are definitely better. But then Emnes and Graham of three years ago are much better strikers. Everyone else much the same. We have moved forward a bit, but not hugely. I am curious about your statement on a "terrific front four". Dack and Armstrong I get. And you say we need to sign one more. So who is the fourth person? Holtby? He's not really done much to warrant the term "terrific".

Israel plays in UEFA because all the middle eastern teams refuse to play them. Indeed they won the the 1958 World Cup qualifying stage for Asia and Africa without playing a single game because everyone refused to play them. They were frozen out of the AFC in 1974, and finally were allowed to join UEFA in 1994.

Pickford gives us a huge amount with his feet though.... If we bring someone in who can shot stop well but poor at distribution it does have a big impact on the team. My suspicion is Southgate will stick with Pickford.

Mowbray's done okay for me in every area except big money signings where he has been abysmal. Unfortunately if you don't spend well you arent going up. If we'd spent 12m on a couple of strikers who could bag 20-30 goals a season between them (not unreasonable for that cash) then we'd be sitting pretty for the playoffs. But he really ballsed it up with Brereton, one of Rovers worst signings ever, and while there is more to Gallagher he still looks like he will do well to get 5 all season.

Bring Davenport and Chapman in. Walton Nyambe. Lenihan. Tosin. Bell. Chapman. Travis. Davenport. Downing Gallagher. Armstrong. Subs : Leut, Williams, Johnson, Bennett, Graham, Buckley, Brereton. Defence looking good but fragile, we are woeful going forward. Gallagher deserves a chance up front in a two. Frankly we have little other choice now.

What do you make of Gallagher on the wing Parson?

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.