joey_big_nose

I guess we might see Bell off, Downing to left back and Rothwell on second half.

Think Nyambe will migrate to centreback over time, needs to get stronger in the air though.

Pleased Buckley made the bench

I think it's absolutely shameful that Downing starts ahead of Rothwell. Rothwell was our best player for the last couple of months. Given the players available I can understand Mulgrew playing much as I am disappointed by it. Travis and Johnson are the right como, Gallagher, Armstrong and Dack will provide plenty of attacking threat. I think Bennett and Bell are probably our best full back pairing, though that is not saying much. 100% behind the ladies! Come on

Rothwell surely has to start

Id pick him for now till the end of time if the alternative was Mulgrew

Really, I thought that back four being the best combo is not suprising except Bennett at right back where I think Nyambe do as good a job. The basic point is we absolutely have to have Lenihan in the side as he is our best defender by miles. After that anyone is much of a muchness except Mugrew who is a grade A liability and should be avoided. The stats say Nyambe had as bad a time also, but I didnt actually see him play that poorly. More caught out by others around him. But that's my opinion. Anyhow, given the lack of signings and injuries Charlie is extremely likely to play Saturday and I really hope to be proved wrong. Last season he genuinely had one of the worst seasons I've ever seen a Rover have. Hes a big lad short on pace so he need to show good positional sense, dominance in the air, good communication and (especially given he's our captain) leadership - all of which were seriously lacking last term.

Think there's a decent chance Bennett could start ahead of Nyambe, but I put Nyambe in due to that tactics article in the LET as he's a better much better fit to come narrow like a third CB as it suggests. Maybe the articles cobblers, but reports from pre season go some way to confirm it I would be absolutely flabbergasted if Rothwell doesn't start. He had a great end to season where he was our best player for the last couple of months, a good pre-season and the suggestion is that we are building our team tactically around playing both him and Dack in same side (that LET article again). If Gallagher starts I think (hope?) Armstrong is more at risk. It's a pretty good attacking team with good options on the bench and should score a fair few goals. Big question marks though on Walton, Mulgrew, Downing as a LB. Seems very makeshift, and in Mulgrew we have someone who just had an utterly abject season.

Pretty sure it will be this side and subs bench : --------------------------Walton Nyambe----Lenihan-----Mulgrew----Downing -----------------Travis---------Johnson ----Armstrong-------Dack--------Rothwell --------------------------Graham Subs : Leut, Tosin, Bennett, Evans, Buckley, Gallagher, Brereton

Tosin coming in is good. One more decent centre half and I think I will say this has been an okay window in terms of bringing in players in the right positions. That said the reason I will be optimistic for the season is far more due to the continued development of young players already at the club, I don't think we've really signed anyone this window to get excited about.

Got to find buyers though. Can't see anyone showing much interest in our players Nuttall aside. Plus we really don't need more centre mids, let's focus our time and energy on defenders.

Thought you were mad but you predicted the article spot on.

I think Bennett will lose his place to a proper defender. Either Nyambe or a signing. What worries me more is Mulgrew as a key starter alongside a converted midfielder at LB in Downing. That seems an absolute recipe for disaster.

Looking again at the formation again and it does really look like an attempt to get the most out of Downing, Rothwell, Dack, Graham and one of Armstrong/Gallagher/Brereton all in the same team. I credit Mowbray for trying something imaginative if it does indeed transpire. I really can't see how Bennett at right back fits in at all though given he will be often acting as a third centreback, and the thought of Mulgrew getting pulled wide left to cover the marauding left wing back gives me major major concerns. Hopefully the new defender signings will address this.

Stewart Downing. If the article is accurate - and that seems one hell of a weird formation - it points to Downing at left back and Nyambe at right back. Also it would seem to suggest Rothwell as our best fit at LW and Gallagher or Brereton at RW.

Is Chapman fit? He hasn't really played in pre season I think?

I think that will be the team except for the full backs. I'm pretty convinced now it will be Downing LB and Bennett RB.

How did Downing fair at LB?

Well id say we're not far off in the way about 12 teams is the division aren't far off. If we were to get top six a lot of it will come down to getting a head of steam up, few injuries and the rub of the green. However without sorting the defence we're just so fragile at the back that all it will take is an injury to Lenihan and we're totally screwed. If we signed a really strong CB and a decent young CB (a la Tosin) it would honestly move my expectations from about 15th to around 8th. That's a huge change.

A hip hop musician called Bill Shakes. Performs in a Rovers shirt with a lancs accent. Unexpected. https://youtu.be/NnnD77UJW7c

That's the sort of formation you play if you are confident you can bulldoze the opposition and that you have a really solid defence. Rovers have an abysmal defence so to cut midfield to only 3 mids with huge channels either side would be suicidal in my mind.

I am not so sure on that. Rothwell played every game in the last couple of months of the season (as did Armstrong). Think they will both be around the same level. I would personally start both Armtrong and Rothwell, but I think Mowbray will want to get Downing in the team so one will lose out.

Thought he deserved his own thread. Based on the rave reviews he's getting seems like this guy is the most promising youth player to come through since Phil Jones. I can't think of anyone there has been such universal praise for. Got a bit of game time end of last season, and has played a lot in pre season. LET suggested he may go on loan, but I guess he may actually make the season squad given the quality he's show. In our preferred 4231 he seems most comfortable across the attacking 3 mids, but there might be a significant role for him to play in the deeper 2 mids if we want someone in off the bench to improve our passing game when we're chasing a match. We havent had that since Cairney left. Excited to see him, Davenport, Nyambe, Chapman and maybe even Hart and Rankin-Costello play a significant role next year. Plus Travis, Armstrong, Lenihan, Dack, Gallagher and Rothwell who are all established but still young and improving. Also I'm not a Brereton fan at all, but have to admit he's moved on a bit from an abject start to his Rovers career. I think how well we do is largely going to be determined by how these young players step up as while a bit of experience from Johnson and Downing will maybe help shore things up they are unlikely to substantially move the needle from last season. Would love to see a midfield of Buckley, Travis, Rothwell, Dack powering us up the table!

It would be a new level of weird if we play Smallwood on the right wing! Sadly I can however see all three of Mulgrew, Bennett and Evans starting which is sad. It would be absolutely barmy to play them and drop Travis and Rothwell. But unfortunately plausible.

Probably -----------------------------Leut Rankin-C----Nyambe----Grayson---Hart ---------------Smallwood----Johnson ---Brereton--------Buckley----------Rothwell ------------------------Gallagher Attack looks interesting, back line pretty mad to be honest.