Yes it's strange - he used to play 3 at the back a lot at his previous clubs, but is avoiding it at the moment like the plague despite it seemingly being needed in certain games.

Why do you say that? JRC look like he will be a very good wing back imo. Great engine, good delivery, can tackle a bit.

A bit more aggressive. If they've got quality down their left I don't think Elliott would be tracking back much... Similarly Downing hasn't got the engine to get up and down any more. We'd have to be pretty comfortable we could stay on top in the game to be secure in that formation imo. On the plus side I would like to see Gallagher and Armstrong as a proper partnership. It's mad they've been at the club 18 months together and we haven't played a proper front two once.

Barnsley are ideally setup to beat us. 343 pressing, hard working, good on the break. Everything we have really struggled against this season. Preston are a case in point - battered them when they were 4231 but got absolutely taken to the cleaners when they switched to 343 last game. 343 is so effective against us as we play quite narrow up top and the middle and we get crowded out, and the full backs who we utterly rely on to supply our width get overloaded by the wing backs and forwards of the oppositions 343. I think Tony on the whole has done well, if not spectacularly, with Rovers. But this sort of situation really frustrates me where it has been obvious since October that we have a very significant issue when playing against 343 but we haven't done anything about it. We should have a plan b (ie. probably switch to 343 or 3412 ourselves) but we don't. Tony seems vaguely aware there is a problem - but then also says "I don't do formations". Hmmm. Expecting us to get done 2-0. If I chose the team it would be Kaminski H-B. Lenihan. Branthwaite Nyambe Travis. Rothwell Douglas Elliott. Dack. Armstrong

For me Lenihan does actually play some decent balls from time to time. Worst passer is Gallagher, absolute garbage. Don't think Ive ever seen him once get his head up to try and pass the ball, let alone actually complete a pass at range. Which makes the whole playing on the wing even more bizarre.

I agree we could easily get someone worse. But.... also feels like we have gone as far as we can with him. We have a decent squad now but not really kicking on in the table. If we just tread water things the team can get demotivated or distracted, and suddenly a mid table team finds itself in a relegation dogfight.... A year ago I was on balance up for giving him more time, but I'd say now it's definitely time to switch. We're probably safe, so could get Damian Johnson to care take while we do a proper full manager search, if we are not already looking with Mowbray in post. Maybe he knows that is already happening in the background and that's why he's looking disengaged? We can hope I suppose.

His body language was really weird tonight, utterly passive (even more so than normal). I'm totally guessing but made me feel something is going on behind the scenes.

Branthwaite's been great last few games but today he's been unbelievably bad. All round a really poor performance today and it's been similar to other poor performances in that it's been against a 343 pressing side who just nullify us. I can accept that happening a few times, but to not have an answer to it after 6 months I really struggle with. I'm not sure Mowbrays even identified it as a problem.

Really don't think going 433 is going to help. If anything it's worse against a back 3...

I think we could just change dynamically in the game to match up without even making any subs... Kaminski Nyambe. Lenihan. Branthwiate Travis Rothwell Davenport. Douglas. Dack. Gallagher. Armstrong. We're getting absolutely mullered by their formation. if we had a decent way to play against 3 at the back we would be in the playoff spots imo.

Same old story of us having absolutely no idea how to handle an opposition with 3 at the back. Front three and midfield getting no space. I would consider changing to 343 or 3412.

D'oh back to be bed for me.... Armstrong will start imo with Dack from the bench. Kaminski Nyambe. Lenihan. Branthwaite. Douglas Travis. Davenport. Rothwell Elliott. Armstrong. Brereton

Pretty certain we will start : Kaminski Nyambe. Lenihan. Branthwaite. Douglas Travis. Davenport. Rothwell Elliott. Dack. Brereton Maybe could have Gallagher up front for Dack if Dack still isn't considered fit.

I don't get the logic of Dack in the midfield at all.... He's one of our two top scorer. We've gone for Mowbrays classic throw every forward on. Edit - now switched to 4231 so Dack can get forward which makes sense.

Harwood Bellis looks a pretty decent right back. Thought he was a CB.

Are we going 343?

It's so hard for the midfield three against 343. No room at all.

Defence looks great, Lenihan and Branthwaite have been superb. Only been caught out when Nyambe has been pretending to be Cafu as his want. Midfield as we always find against teams with 3 at the back has been totally out numbered. We've dealt with that by being a lot more direct than normal which has worked pretty well. Travis has been excellent, Davenport and Rothwell so-so. All forwards have played well. Armstrong superb down the left. Looks like he will score. I would probably change the system at 60 mins when Dack comes on. Go 4231. Tony might stick with the false 9 433, straight swap of Elliott for Dack. With the joy Armstrong I can see the sense in that also. Very even marginal game. Could go either way. But entertaining.

Think it will be Kaminski Nyambe. Lenihan. Branthwaite. Bell Travis. Davenport. Rothwell Elliott. Gallagher. Armstrong. But could equally be Kaminski Nyambe. Lenihan. Branthwaite. Bell Travis. Davenport. Gallagher. Elliott. Rothwell Armstrong. Prediction for the day is Bell has a surprisingly good game as Branthwaite is super solid along side him. 2-2 draw.

Doesn't look much like the marauding left back we rely on in our 433 to give us the width... But you never know!

Side picks itself to be honest -------------------Kaminski Nyambe----Lenihan-----Branthwaite----Douglas ---------Travis-----Holtby----Rothwell --------Elliott----Armstrong----Brereton That was basically what Tony wanted at the stat of the season (although Williams for Branthwaite). He's started all the recent games 433. Holtby, Travis and Rothwell as a three looked really good till Travis got injured. Second half when the Dackster comes on it shifts to : -------------------Kaminski Nyambe----Lenihan-----Branthwaite----Douglas ----------------Travis-----Holtby --------Elliott---------Dack -----Brereton/Rothwell/Dolan --------------------Armstrong That's the pattern we have seen in recent games. If Douglas can't play due to child Bell is a straight swap in. The City lad will be on the bench, Subs : Pears, Harwood-Bellis, Bell, Davenport/Downing, Dack, Dolan, Gallagher

I mean he's improved a bit this season, but what on earth makes your think BB will be in the prem?!?

Yes, as it stands we now have three proper centrebacks, 2 of which are kids on loan. All of them will get games. If Ayala comes back that puts us at a serviceable 4. Really good signings by Mowbray. Means we can move forward with some confidence Nyambe can stay at RB and Johnson won't be drafted into the defence. Otherwise we would be an injury away from Nyambe at CB and Bennett at RB... Reckon we do need to look at 3 at the back too. We need it as an option against other teams who play 3 at the back imo. The extra CB signed let's that at least be a possibility.

I agree Lenihan is excellent for us. Don't get why he gets the stick he does. If we lose him to injury we are screwed.

Looks a top player. Very physical, wins everything in the air, got decent pace and can tackle well due to his freakishly long legs. Not obviously a passer but moved things around okay. You can usually tell after three games, and I'd say he will play in the Premier League next season. Maybe not at Everton though at the moment as you've got a solid squad, but already looks like he's got the quality for a loan to a lower half / newly promoted pl team. (Hopefully us!)