One can but dream. I have a large suspicion that to allow Graham to return up front Gallagher will be shunted to the wing.

Graham played as the target man in a possession based team at Rogers Swansea. No reason that he can't do the same here, we just need to find a way around his lack of mobility

I'd be going: Walton Nyambe Tosin Williams Cunningham Downing Travis Johnson Rothwell Dack Graham(c) Subs: FIsher, Lenihan (if fit), Bennett, Buckley, Chapman, Armstrong, Gallagher. Even if Lenihan is fit i'd go with the 2 who started at Fulham as I thought they did okay last week and also to send a signal to Lenihan. We need Chapman as an option off the bench. I'd use Buckley, Downing, Bennett, Rothwell to cover centre mid if one of the two starters had to come off, cba with Smallwood or Evans. Would maybe switch Armstrong for Downing to get a bit of extra pace in the side.

I was so for getting rid of Mulgrew provided that we had a replacement on a free lined up. If we go in Saturday with 1 fit centre half then on Mowbrays head be it.

We spent £12 million on two strikers who haven't improved the 1st 11. That in itself is reason enough, I don't really want him near another transfer window. Gally I think will be a good option for us this season as a CF but we've overpaid. I very much doubt that Brereton will come good for us, at least under Mowbray, just think if we'd used that money to buy a proper wide player instead of forcing strikers out there. If we lose to Boro at the weekend I think that will be enough to get me off the fence and into the Mowbray out camp.

I don’t have any problem with Smallwood playing it’s just what the f is the point in paying those two holding mids against league 2 opposition? Why can’t we play Buckley there (if can’t be trusted to play cm vs Oldham at home then Mowbray will never trust him there) the team looks quite slow now and what happenes to becoming a passing team? Buckley in centre mid and play JRC as one of the attacking 3. Glad I waited to see the team before buying a ticket

You see if I don't think its that simple. In fact I would argue the opposite, we have 2 fit centre backs in Williams and Tosin, they currently don't know how bad Lenihans injury is so we can't afford to risk either of those two in a meaningless winnable game vs a league 2 team. I'd expect a back 4 of Rankin-Costollo Nyambe Grayson Cunningham

After Charlie left, the club needed to do an announcement on the website with 'Bennett named club captain' so everyone knows where we stand, then some quotes from Mowbray about Benno's qualities. It makes me think he's not given it a lot of thought and the while Charlie is away makes it seem like Mulgrew is still club captian and Bennett is simply acting club captain. Its just a bit odd. Hopefully they'll do this in the next few days but when Mowbray is under pressure it isn't giving off the right sort of vibes.

I don't have a problem with Bennett being captain material. My issue is that he's given it to a player who a lot of people on here don't think should be in our best 11. Would have preferred it to go to someone who you'd class as part of our best team.

3, Darragh Lenhan (Injured) Tosin Adarabioyo and Derrick Williams

Walton Tosin Williams Cunningham Rankin-Costollo Downing Evans Buckley Butterworth Brereton Graham

I don't we are there just yet, not that I don't have serious doubts. I also don't think we should stick to some arbitrary 10 game target either. Charlton was very poor and worrying, losing to Fulham away with the players they have isn't the end of the world plus the performance wasn't too bad (I know we didn't have a shot on target). Give the defence a couple of games to settle, see if Tony figures out that strikers play better up front then out wide, then see where we are. I think we've come into the season a little under cooked again, we generally had a good start to last season despite not winning either of the first 2 games so we've got plenty of time at this stage.

I find it slightly strange that he's playing for the under 23's when we have a cup game against lower league opposition. We really need him as an option of the bench when we are chasing the game, i'm sick of seeing strikers out wide!

Who is he going to make captain. Logical answer for most would be Lenihan with Johnson being a decent option being new to the club. But deep down we all know it will be Bennett.

I'll post this here that I wrote in the other thread. If we pick up another centre back on a free transfer then I think we have done okay this transfer window. A lot depends on how good Walton is in place of Raya and whether Tosin turns out to be the starting centre back that we desperately crave alongside Lenihan and I will have to wait and see. Getting rid of last seasons 2nd highest earner of the books who was in my mind at least our 4th best centre back, is very injury prone and was a liability defensively is a big positive and shows a bit of hope that Mowbray can kill his darlings after all. Cunningham is good signing and improves the first team as is Johnson. Downing is a decent option for us and Gallagher is a player I like albeit i'm still not convinced we should've spent all our money on him. Mowbray has so much riding on Brereton and Gallagher coming good. Our window isn't done yet, we still need to get Smallwood and Samuel off the wage bill with a loan move to league 1, and as i mentioned above we need that other centre half on a free transfer, and maybe get another of the young lads some game time out on loan. Maybe even a backup keeper on a free if one is available. At the moment average but it could either way.

If we pick up another centre back on a free transfer then I think we have done okay this transfer window. A lot depends on how good Walton is in place of Raya and whether Tosin turns out to be the starting centre back that we desperately crave alongside Lenihan and I will have to wait and see. Getting rid of last seasons 2nd highest earner of the books who was in my mind at least our 4th best centre back, is very injury prone and was a liability defensively is a big positive and shows a bit of hope that Mowbray can kill his darlings after all. Cunningham is good signing and improves the first team as is Johnson. Downing is a decent option for us and Gallagher is a player I like albeit i'm still not convinced we should've spent all our money on him. Mowbray has so much riding on Brereton and Gallagher coming good. Our window isn't done yet, we still need to get Smallwood and Samuel off the wage bill with a loan move to league 1, and as i mentioned above we need that other centre half on a free transfer, and maybe get another of the young lads some game time out on loan. Maybe even a backup keeper on a free if one is available.

Sky Sports have listed it as having gone through

Lenihan as bad as Mulgrew? Really? I’d love a first choice centre half but if it ain’t happening then getting Mulgrew off the books is a cracking move

Getting Mulgrew off the books is a fantastic move provides we get a centre back in as 4th choice on free when the window has closed

What if we’ve signed Cunningham on loan and Lynch on a free is Mulgrews replacement as that won’t have to go through today

If we’ve shipped out Mulgrew and sign another centre back and get Cunningham then fair play Tony you’ve bought yourself some time

Well do I have to explain the logic every time we make a decision? - Tony Mowbray Yes ideally you do.

I've missed something here, whats he said about Magloire?

Exactly, he's the one as far as I can see who prioritised spending £5 million on another striker. If he's not left himself enough money to strengthen the defence than thats his fault and deserves criticism.

He's essentially got today to sort this out or he's just counting the days until the sack.