BlackburnEnd75

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.

Would be happy with that, I think we still need another keeper, albeit not as much as we need another defender

Norwich have just signed a centre half, maybe that opens up a move for Hanley.

Needs to go play in the lower leagues and learn how to head the ball. He's got a big future if he does and he doesn't have one if he doesn't.

Walton Nyambe Lenihan Tosin Hart Travis Johnson Armstrong Dack Rothwell Graham Subs: Leutwiler, Mulgrew, Bennett, Evans, Chapman or Buckley, Brereton, Gallagher

I'd like to see something similar but for me Buttler's average at 6 was very good, I'd move him back. I'd recall Foakes if fit and drop Bairstow who has had another stinker. If Roy gets another go then it should probably be at 4. I'd go: 1. Burns 2. Sibley 3. Root 4. Roy/Northeast/Vince 5. Stokes 6. Buttler 7. Foakes 8. Woakes 9. Archer 10. Broad 11. Leach

He won't need to be racing back as he'll be sat in front of him anyway

Reading Mowbray's he was brought in help us see out games and even play left back when needed. TBF i'd say he was more of a cautious winger, he's not going to go beyond the play too much and he'll keep shape defensively.

You listen to what he was saying in the press and at these supporter meetings and I thought the penny had dropped. You also look at his team selections in the last 6 games of the season and it seemed to suggest he recognised some of the problems. But 1st game of the season back to one defensive winger and one attacking winger. No Rothwell (which personally annoys me more than the defensive selections). Mulgrew back in, Bennett preferred to nyambe. All it was missing was an appearance from Smallwood. To correctly identify the problem then to row back on that is weird. I've lost a LOT of faith in his judgement. I hope he still has the desire to sort it out.

We all knew that the back 4 wasn’t good enough last season. He’s not only decided not to sign another right back but not to start are actual right back who whatever you think about him an actual right back. Mulgrew is done at this level and isn’t good enough, we knew this and has to be dropped for then new lad no excuses. Bells only redeeming feature is he’s a better left back Williams. Another position we could’ve chosen to improve but haven’t. Let’s just hope that Hart is better than we think Dropping Rothwell imo was pathetic, was option for him. Downing was tidy and Armstrong ineffective. I just don’t see what more Rothwell has to do to be considered first choice. id be more annoyed if I hadn’t seen this sort of team selection coming.

I wouldn’t hold it against him.

Just seen Krystian Bielik who was on loan at Charlton in league 1 last season has gone for £10million to Derby. If that is the going rate for young centre halfs then I can see why we've had problems getting one through the door permanently.