12 hours ago, tomphil said:

Armstrong has pace and that bit of winger like style of pushing the ball past a man and going after it head down that's why he gets selected for the wing.

Samuel kept getting shunted out there god knows why but he was useless but it did mean there was a bit of extra height on the pitch in our side for set pieces I suppose. Antonsson was a natural left footer so he could at least add a bit of balance and he had that knack of getting in and pinching the odd goal otherwise he was largely ineffective. All this though in a league below so we could get away with it.

BB is just getting put wide to get mins on the pitch there is no other logical reason other than part of his learning curve but he should do his cameos up front from now on like yesterday were he does at least look like being a bit lively.

Antonsson isn't left footed.

17 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

Possibly, although I've been surprised about how well Reed's taken to playing there considering he is meant to be a holding player.

Main point was just how well our squad has developed. If we're potentially missing our goalkeeper, both starting centre backs, our best midfielder, our starting striker & still put out that team which (to me at least) looks competitive, then it's certainly made a change from recent seasons!

It's just the goalkeeper i'm worried about. The rest i'm confident can do a job for us on the day.

If all the doubts don't make it then i'd go:

                                  Leutwiler

   Nyambe        Rodwell      Williams       Bell

   Bennett       Smallwood     Reed         Rothwell

                                    Palmer

                                 Armstrong

Bench: Fisher, Downing, Travis, Evans, Conway, Brereton, Nuttall

Also with those injuries wouldn't be surprised to see Mowbray go to 3 at the back something like:

                              Leutwiler

            Nyambe  Rodwell   Williams

Bennett     Smallwood     Reed       Bell

                             Palmer

                  Brereton       Armstorng

27 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

Headline makes grim reading, but the worst case scenario could be something like:

 

                   Leutweiler

Nyambe Rodwell Williams Bell

           Smallwood Evans

Reed             Palmer        Bennett

                   Armstrong

 

With the likes of Rothwell & Brereton who could start too. 

Reed and Bennett on the wing, bit defensive for QPR at home

1 hour ago, Neal said:

I'd probably be more open to giving Fisher a game in goal than Leutwiller. Give him some valuable first team experience and get him pushing Raya. 

I'd be giving the better keeper a game. We've got 2 winnable game at home coming up, not the time to be giving our 3rd choice goalkeeper some experience which we will likely never see the benefit of!

Depends who is fit. Likely that we will have Nyambe and Lenihan back, so that means both go straight back in and push Bennett back to the work horse wide midfielder slot and Reed can play Centre Mid which he deserves. Rodwell drops to the bench assuming he's fit. 

I'd start Bell at left back over Williams.

So to partner Lenihan if Mulgrew isn't fit you've got the option of Rodwell as the classy centre back or Williams. i'd probably go for Williams.

Reed is our best centre mid and now Bennett can balance one of the flanks then he has to play there. Id partner him with Smallwood again who I thought played well at WBA before he had to put the gloves on. Harsh on Evans who has been much improved this season.

Left wing we've got a choice between Palmer, Rothwell or Armstrong. Armstrong has the pace and tore Leeds apart from there in the last home game, was poor at Swansea though. Rothwell I really like and want to see him start more I like his creativity and driving runs from deep but I'd start Palmer who played well at WBA.

Dack and Graham pick themselves really.

Not expecting Raya to be fit so it's likely to be Leutwiler, not seen much of him at all so lets hope that our failure to get another keeper doesn't backfire massively.

Would like to see Davenport on the bench but we've got a lot of options not to go into 6 outfield spots.

10 hours ago, tomphil said:

He did similar with Dack I seem to recall, it's obviously his method and they are tried and tested but the likes of Dack can operate in several roles but this lad clearly needs to be in a central position so that's where he should be getting his cameo's.

Yep, I recall first few times i saw Dack I wasn't particularly impressed. Played him out wide left and he look unfit out of position, tried things that weren't coming off. He was in and out for a few games after he came back from his Hamstring injury at the start of the season.

2 hours ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

If lenihan is out Saturday I’d bring Williams in centre half and play Rodwell, Evans and Reid in middle to make us compact. 3 up top to hit on the counter, dack, Armstrong and graham. 

Think last night was a reality check for a few who maybe got carried away after Leeds, I reckon we are a hard working mid table team, which at the start of the season is all we could’ve hoped/asked for. We don’t control games enough, create enough open play chances or defend leads well enough to be considered a promotion contender. There is always times in games we are heavily under the cosh and makes for uncomfortable viewing, especially as we are rarely involved in games where we have 2-3 goal leads. 

Very much a work in progress, bit more quality needed to squad, centre halves, skilful wingers/mids and a replacement/co striker needed for graham. Somebody we can be confident in for hitting double figures for goals- it ain’t Brereton at this stage. Iv rarely seen him have a shot or come close to scoring. Desperate for him to come good but it’s just not happening for him at the moment, everything is just a bit off. Fitness, ball control, passing, impact 

So what's your line up? Is Dack playing on the wing? I don't think that would work

So                             Raya

Bennett       Williams        Mulgrew        Bell

              Reed         Rodwell       Evans

Armstrong                                             Dack

                              Graham

or you thinking this

                                Raya

  Bennett      Williams     Mulgrew    Bell

             Reed       Rodwell    Evans

                             Dack

               Armstrong      Graham

Tbh if your picking that 11 then if you want to be compact then your probably best sticking 4-4-1-1 with Rodwell in cm for Smallwood and Williams at CB for the presumably injured Lenihan.

Pretty sure Mowbray said the opposite a few days ago regarding Graham.

From where I sit he clearly can't play 90 mins 3 times in a week. Has frequent hip and back problems and is usually blowing out of his arse after 60 mins. 

  My team 5-3-1-1

                                     Raya

              Lenihan      Mulgrew     Rodwell

Bennett                                                            Bell

                      Reed     Evans     Rothwell

                                    Dack

                                   Graham

Subs: Leutwiler, Williams, Smallwood, Conway, Palmer, Armstrong, Brereton

17 minutes ago, blueboy3333 said:

Thanks. Sharpe wasn't clear. Clubs can't expect to be compensated twice. They've got the £88m and were surely aware of the pitfalls. 

People seem to be forgetting this.

10 hours ago, Stuart said:

Even worse if the clubs aren’t getting any extra money from the red button...

I'm pretty sure we got extra money for this. I remember reading about it last season and thinking we really needed to go straight back up. I'm almost certain we are getting more money for it.

Not on a per game basis though just as a condition of a larger TV Deal.

19 minutes ago, perthblue02 said:

Fast forward JULY 2019 -

Speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Telegraph Steve Waggot  informs us that due to  the successful test of numbers transferring from the Riverside to The Jack Walker stand, the club are pleased to announce the closure of the Riverside to home supporters for the 2019/20 season , and as a special offer to former Riversiders, season tickets prices will only rise 50 pound but you will be eligible for 25p extra credit on your 1875 club membership and a free mug featuring the recently departed Bradley Dack 

I quite the idea of shutting the Riverside (if prices remained the same)

Heard that some Rovers fans booed him on Saturday. Which if true is appalling behaviour in my book.

Can anyone confirm that?

2 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

I would be more disappointed if he left on a free 

Depends if we have money to sign a replacement.

I'd offer both Mulgrew and Evans 1 year deal with an optional year in the clubs favour. You'd think that would be fine for Mulgrew at his age. Evans i'm not so sure, he would likely be looking for his last good contract (he's 29 in the summer) so will fancy his chances of getting a 3 year deal elsewhere. I'd be disappointed if we offered him that on the back of a good  10 games. He's had a lot of injuries over the last few years, always looks to be carrying something i'm not convinced that he will be effective into his 30's. 

                                       Raya

                  Lenihan     Mulgrew      Williams

Bennett                                                               Bell

                   Reed        Rodwell        Evans

                                     Dack

                                 Graham

Leutwiler, Downing, Smallwood, Palmer, Rothwell, Armstrong, Brereton

5 hours ago, darrenrover said:

I fully agree with what both Tyrone and JHRover have said. I can also throw into the mix a potential signing for free late in the close season,  who was the answer to all of our natural width and pace issues in attack and more besides. He was shown the door after a 2 week trial, where he picked up a niggling injury after 3 days and was never truly given an opportunity to demonstrate his abundance of skills. The decision in my opinion was definitely of a political nature, when it was made clear that there was no agent involved whatsoever. Before anyone asks, I am not prepared to elaborate further other than to state it is a fact in every respect. 

In addition to those previously mentioned, you can add Caddis and Whittingham too.

Give us a bit more of a clue?

1 hour ago, Tugay's Right Foot said:

any updates on this fellow?

seems a long time to be out with a hip flexor issue.

I bet he's got a Sports Hernia

54 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

 

I'd start with dropping Bennett from RB and playing either Travis or Reed there, preferably Reed. He did well at Norwich there. Play Evans and Rothwell in the middle and give Armstrong, Dack, Palmer or Bennett the freedom to move between the front 3. It's all a bit rigid at the moment. It will come though as the confidence increases.

 

I don't think Mowbray considers Rothwell to be a centre Mid. And I probably don't either I don't think he'd be able to hold his position often enough defensively

                                Raya

Travis        Lenihan       Mulgrew      Bell

Bennett       Reed        Rodwell     Rothwell

                              Dack    

                            Graham

Subs: Leutwiler, Williams, Smallwood, Evans, Palmer, Armstrong, Brereton

6 hours ago, Fraserkirky said:

Ugh...that was as unpleasant a 90mins of Rovers as you’ll see. After they went 2-0 we simply ran out of ideas, they sat back and just kinda laughed at us. They were quicker to everything, and their passing was exquisite at times, made Reed and Evans look like pub league players.

Couple of notes:

Bell and Armstrong in the first half had some success down the left flank, but time and time again the final ball was poor.

We missed Ryan Nyambe very badly tonight. Doubt he would have allowed the first goal to happen.

Mulgrew ran the show but totally lost Sharp for the second goal.

Dack looked hungover to me, poor body language second half. Looked like he was in the huff about being shunted out to the right mid spot.

Smallwoods passing is beyond diabolical

Rothwell definitely has dodgy pictures of Tony

Armstrong looked dangerous at times and at others looks totally out of his depth

Reed got man of the match but he should be embarrassed to pick up the bottle of Champagne. I thought he was poor and won very little in the middle. He will play better and not get noticed.

I don’t know what team Tony trots out on Saturday, but we have some issues with this squad and what his best formation is. The love fest with Smallwood and Evans needs to end, and Bennett needs start playing better, albeit he only ever seems to play well in centre midfield.

Bolton on saturday is a huge game, another defeat and this could be a very long season.

Disagree entirely on Reed. Was our best outfield player maybe bar Rothwells cameo.

We need a shakeup for Saturday and Reed starting centre mid should be the first change.

Thoughts - Best team won tonight. Thought we were poor especially first half. Don’t think Mowbray got his team selection right 

Cant really understand why If Mulgrew was fit than why he didn’t start. That was a  mistake. Also Williams looked better at left back or left of a back 3 in the second half.

Bennett gave 100% as always but really struggled. He’s not a right back.

Evans looked jaded and didn’t impact the game much

Smallwood was poor, gave the ball away too much. Couldn’t really argue with being hooked at half time. 

Reed I really rate. I believe he’s our best centre mid. Covers ground well, is sharp to the loose ball, reads the game well, tidy in possession. He’s certainly not a winger and shouldn’t be wasted there.

Armstrong isn’t a winger. His movement is poor when he plays out wide whereas it’s much better when he plays through the middle. Looked sharp and tries but nothing came off for him. Didn’t get close enough to graham first half. 

Dack was poor today. Couldn’t get him in the game 1st and blowing out his arse anonymous 2nd half.

Raya did well

Graham wasn’t great, isolated too often. Knocking random long balls down to nobody.

Rothwell should start at Bolton. He committed people and played with urgency.

34 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Is goalscoring part of being box to box though? Roy Keane was a box to box midfielder and he used to score around 3 goals a season 

Keane in his early career averaged around 5 goals a season.

Reed isn't a box to box midfielder though. He's energetic and can cover ground. He's a classic centre mid, run, tackle pass. Albeit one who is playing out wide to get in the team.

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Reed would get forward. He's a box to box midfielder. Bennett and Bell wide..

I prefer the team I picked but Mowbray would have more info and knowledge than us

Reed isn't a box to box midfielder. As roversfan99 points out he's got 2 career goals to his name.