I'd have given Holtby MOM but a difficult choice granted.

You'd have been going to Brum in any event Jim, Covid restrictions or not.

Brilliant Rovers, thoroughly enjoyed that. Big Ben looks a player, I never thought I'd say that. Holtby superb as the midfield fulcrum, almost Tuguyesque. A big thing for me is we look capable of being on the front foot for 90 minutes, hungry for more. Hopefully long gone are games where we go one in front, sit back and invite the opposition on and know what's coming. Yeh it was only Coventry and they were down to 10 early on but that was a top notch performance all round, irrespective. Made everyone's weekend who's a blue and white!

I feel JRC offers more in an attacking sense than Nyambe. His link up play with Dolan was encouraging and hopefully will be similarly with Elliott. I like Nyambe but think he's lacking and predictable in his forward play. His physique lends itself more to being a central defender as opposed to a modern day fullback IMO. That said, I do feel he's a bit of a fall guy as far as Mowbray is concerned but do understand today's choice at right back.

I don't think any of us will moan at the starting line up. We're all to blame if we shape wooden today!

I'm more than happy with that. COYB!!

I'd agree. I thought I'd read he was unavailable but could be wrong. Paternity leave?

From who's available Phillip, what do you think our best set up is in midfield? I guess my preference now would be Johnson and Trybull as a CM pairing in a 4231 formation, with Dolan Elliott and Brereton as the 3 and Arma up top.

Shame that, I wasn't aware. I guess we're going to see a dollop of sideways, backwards possession play induced by Evans! Hopefully not.

Assuming all are available, I'd line up: Kaminski JRC Lenihan Williams Douglas Johnson Evans Trybull Elliott/Dolan Armstrong Brereton Coventry are there to be beaten, we need to be on the front foot and nothing but a victory should suffice. COYB!! Edit: As Rothwell is unavailable, I can't see us starting with anything other than above in the middle of the park.

Totally agree Silas, it was an extremely naive tactic. Mowbray should be hauled over the coals for that, it was so predictable.

The Liverpool way, average per game over 38 games: Goals scored 2.24, Goals conceded 0.87, Points 2.62. Compare with our average per game over 6 games: Goals scored 2.0, Goals conceded 1.17, Points 1.17. We may attempt to play a 'high pressing game' (occasionally IMO) but to compare us with Liverpool is just absolutely ridiculous. As is the comment "we play the Liverpool way". We just don't, we might aspire to do, but we're currently a million miles off actually doing so IMO and the statistics, in addition to my eyes, confirm it.

We conceded 3 goals though, yet again. That's the bloody problem, I'm amazed that anybody can't see that!

At the end of the day, ifs buts and maybes count for nothing: it's about points in the bag. Reading are top of the league on merit, they've accumulated most points (sorry to state the obvious) and as it stands we're not better than them. We have the attacking options to trouble most teams but we need to learn to both attack and defend as a team. Time will tell whether or not TM can get a consistent tune out of what's available to him at both ends of the field. I'm personally a doubter, think that nobody can fault Venky's backing of him and that if we're not seriously in the mix for promotion come mid November, Mowbray should be bulleted. After all, what's Championship football all about now if it's not seeking promotion? There's nowt else left!

You're correct DE but in the recent past we've lost to the poorer teams, so that must be a positive! Perhaps Mowbray needs to learn to be a little less gun-ho and less focussed on possession stats against the better teams, sit back a little and pick them off on the counter. That said, we need to have a superb defence as a team, which is something we haven't had for yonks and will ultimately be Mowbray's nemesis. We have a brilliant armoury now in terms of attacking options but still totally suspect at the back. Perhaps those are the directions from India? For me, whatever funds were available in the summer, we should have really pushed the boat out and ensured we had at least a couple of cracking centre halves who complemented each other. We've probably got decent full backs now but Lenihan has never really impressed me as a consistent performer at centre half and Ayala is injury prone. It's saying something really that Williams is probably our most capable centre half! I'm sick of saying it really, successful teams build from the back. TM must have his hands tied because being a centre half himself, surely he must know this too.

Decent performance all told but a disappointing result and ultimately that's all that matters. I do feel there's been an over reaction by some and let's not forget that bar Wycombe, we've played against teams fancied for promotion. Yeh, we've failed to win in three but the general level of performance in addition to the new faces and returning players who have been out injured, suggest to me that over 46 games, we'll have a decent season. Whether that ends in promotion or not, we'll have to see. Another positive in a glass half full sort of way, Big Ben notched!

Crucial game coming up on Wednesday night at Vicarage Road against the newly relegated Hornets. After 5 games, 7 points and it'is absolutely mid table esq and one point from 2 latest home games has been disappointing to say the least. How often after 2 decent performances and results, are we swiftly brought crashing down to earth by two equally poor displays. All the new signings should all be available for Mowbray to freshen up his squad. Early days granted but for me it's a must win game on Wednesday. I couldn't begin to guess on the team selection but I'll start us off with Kaminski in goal......

Oh OK, at least you can agree with yourself. Let's leave it there, eh!

It's your opinion, thankfully you're not on Rovers payroll. Hopefully you're also not in any professional role involved in coaching young adults in any capacity.

Thought so! Must be great to be able to keep it going. If Buckley goes who's next, Grayson? How's your golden child Mols doing these days? You've clearly got an axe to grind with Buckley for some reason. I'm glad it's not just me that can see the youngster has clearly got bags of potential. For the record I don't see much in Grayson either but I wouldn't slag him off in a public forum either.

It was you in the Blackburn End Enclosure slagging Wilcox off one half and Mark Atkins the other.

I was being sarcastic Tyrone, based upon previous posts, sorry, lowest form of wit and all that, I know. I'm annoyed with myself jim drew me to that level. That said, alehouse could have worked today last 20 because nothing did in the first 70.

Debate until the cows come home but today can be summarised in our own half we were ok, in their half we were absolutely shite. Summarised further by the middle of the park players didn't perform in any sense of the word and we'd have been better dispensing with a midfield, further strengthening our defence by one and then played with 5 in attack and a back 5. Once in possession in our own half, we could then have launched the ball forward, sometimes coming down with snow on it, for our forwards to make something of a knockdown or attempt to win a free kick just outside the box. It's not pretty to watch but it could be quite effective. We're up against Watford next, with their parachute payments and all that, just down from the Premier League, we'll write that fixture off and play the kids. Big Sam, I'm sorry, my opinion but shove his style of football where the sun don't shine. (I'd prefer him to ToMo but make of that what you will!)

spot on for me Fraser.

No , I really take issue with your statement and belief that football in your eyes is not an entertainment business. Do you therefore believe that continued support is totally down to blind loyalty and that alone? Your appalling insinuations and suggestions really piss me off but I'd be interested to know when was the last time you paid to watch Rovers at Ewood live? I'd like to go further but I'll desist or I'd be banned from the site. What's the word? cnut!