joey_big_nose

Somewhat improbably given where we were six weeks ago we actually have got to the point where we have two full XIs of experienced players of mostly decent quality First XI ---------------------------Raya Nyambe---Lenihan-----Mulgrew----Bell ------------------Bennett----Evans --------Armstrong----Dack-------Palmer --------------------------Graham Second XI ---------------------------Leut Reed-------Rodwell-----Downing----Williams --------------Davenport---- Smallwood -----Samuel-------Rothwell-------Conway -------------------------Brereton Looking at that second XI I would say we need better reserve options than Samuel (Chapman would be ideal) and at least one quality centreback. I'm not convinced by Downing, and Rodwell is a total gamble. Maybe a stronger keeper too, but he has hardly played so difficult to judge. Apart from that it seems a solid squad. So kudos to Tony. Expectations have been upgraded from relegation battlers to comfortable mid table.

I watched the you tube clips and he looks reasonable, rather than excellent. Also - maybe as a result of playing on the wing in those clips - I was a bit surprised to see him more as a face to goal drift wide type, rather than a Danny Graham style hold up which is what I assumed we were after. Anyhow as we are clearly going to play one up top this season having the choice of Graham, Armstrong and Brereton seems a decent stable.

Rodwell also one who you haven't mentioned. It's a good squad. Chapman as well and it will have been a very good window indeed.

Have to say this has turned into a very good transfer window. If we got a winger it would really round things off.

There's no way we are spending 6m to develop a player. He will be a major player for us expected to perform very well out of the blocks. For whatever reason Tony obviously reckons Brereton has got the quality to make a big immediate impact. If he didn't we would not be signing him for huge money. We don't have the resources for long term bets. He'll go straight in at the sharp end if/when he signs.

Hasn't scored many goals, nor looked like a premier league player Seems a pretty solid championship level player though, as long as you have goals elsewhere in the team (which we do).

I'm mega confused if we sign Reed as well. Indicates Rothwell will be playing wide all season.

In the summer I thought Evans was totally finished at Rovers. First five games of the season he has been the best he ever has been for us.

I would like to see the following assuming Armstrong can't play : ---------------------------Raya Nyambe----Lenihan---Mulgrew----Bell ------------------Bennett---Evans----- --------Rothwell------Dack-----Palmer --------------------------Graham If Dack out I would bring in Travis to play a holding role and move Bennett in to the wide right position. If Palmer is out too I would go three at the back like we did latter stages against Reading, and bring in Nuttall. ---------------------------Raya ----------Nyambe---Lenihan---Mulgrew Bennettt------Travis------Evans---------Bell ------------------------Rothwell ----------------Graham-------Nuttall

Hey! I thought Vogel was decent personally. Or maybe I've mixed him up with another guy.. Norwegian?

Aren't those the rules? To loan now you need to include an option to buy?

I'm confused by Travis going on loan as he has looked decent and provides cover at RB too. Otherwise totally agree with what you say on cm, but just in the list of priorities other positions seem far more pressing.

Also when was the last time a premier league veteran was a good signing for us? Only Graham I think since we went down. List of failures is long.

I really don't understand the link with Rodwell. We've got Evans, Smallwood, Bennett, Rothwell, Davenport, Travis, Whittingham and even Dack who all can play there. Fair enough you should always look to improve but central midfield seems the one position we are well stocked. Out wide we only have Conway, alongside Armstrong and Palmer who can give it a go at a push. We have no decent backup centrebacks, only one right back , and lack quality up front. All of these are high priorities to address. Seems a very odd one to go after Rodwell.

Rumoured Rodwell signing suggest Rothwell is seen by Tony as a wide player.

Have to agree on this. Big money signings in the championship are a very mixed bag. Many of them really don't work out.

A five man midfield with Evans and Rothwell holding, while Dack, Palmer and Armstrong fill the more advanced roles has the promise of being pretty bloody good at this level. Also presumably Davenport comes in somewhere when fit too. And Bennett is a hard man to drop.

Lol'd hard

I agree. I don't think we had a poor first half. We dominated it. But the two chances Reading got (through our appalling defending) they scored.

I get a feeling Mowbray may drop Smallwood on the weekend and play Rothwell central. He didn't seem happy with Smallwood at all today.

It's criminal that we were 2 goals behind. We've been the better side throughout by a big distance. That said we were two goals down to appalling defending from Mulgrew and Lenihan. So we only have ourselves to blame. Rothwell looks a real find. He's clearly going to be a big player for us. Lots of allround quality. Nyambe, Evans and Bennett all very good. Think Nuttall has done really well also since on too. Personally I'm not convinced by Bell. His final ball seems very poor. Maybe just caught him on a bad day. Another should have won, but great performance in second half to get back level. Shame two spots of terrible defending killed us.

It's odd we are offering so much for him. Mowbray must think he's an absolute certainty as a top player. Guess it's one of those where you have to ask do we trust the manager, and the answer has to be yes. All of his main additions have looked the part. I wonder if the fee is highly contingent on appearences, a sell on fee and paid in installments over 3 or 4 years. That could explain why it is taking so long and why we can afford the fee.

If he continues in the same vein the only way we will keep him is through promotion. So that's what we need to do!

What sort of player is Davenport? Is he earmarked for this role?

What about Davenport. Not seen him yet? Does he have any bite?