If Tony wants to go to 3 at the back then we would have to go after 2 wing backs. I don't think Nyambe is good enough going forward to do that role although he is athletic enough, Bennett has got the energy and can whip crosses in but might be quick enough. Williams is obviously a no out there and Bell isn't up to standard. It could help us transition to being more of a passing team but without the right players I don't think it would work Quite like what you've suggested in midfield. If we were to pivot towards that formation could go with something like Raya Lenihan Mulgrew One Of* *Rodwell, Nyambe, Williams Bennett Evans Reed New Left Wing Back Dack Graham Armstrong We'd have to try push teams higher up the pitch and keep that pressing game.

I think you make a very good point here about us chucking away leads or holding on narrowly for the wins we get. Like you say its very easy to blame Raya for the draw on Saturday as their 1st goal was solely an individual error on his part, but, we just didn't react to the goal and the second goal we conceded looked really poor to me. Smallwood, Bell and Nyambe all made mistakes in the build up to it. It's part of wider trend is it that we tire too much in the second half? Is it we don't create enough on the break and get the extra goal? Do we panic and drop off? Needs addressing if we're going to do anything next season

If Mowbray is now saying that we might be looking at the loan market in January then i'm seriously confused. The Brereton signing isn't that bad if like we all assumed there was more money to come. It also seems that Mowbray is looking for another Striker which again is confusing seen as the 2 strikers he bought last window usually get shunted out wide or don't play. Did Mowbray miss out on Gallagher and sign Brereton because the money was their for him? (my current working theory on Brereton is that they rated him and think he's one for the future but maybe he's going through a late growth spurt and they are trying to manage his playing time and fitness work.) If we only had that money to spend then it clearly would've been better spent elsewhere. Did Mowbray envisage switching to a 3-4-1-2 ? I'm having serious doubts that there is a master plan behind all this. But it's by no means over we've still got 2 windows left to sort this out Rothwell needs a run of games, i'll keep saying this until it happens. He has showed some promise with very little actual playing time, give him a run on the left wing until the end of January see how he gets on. If he doesn't nail the slot down then so be it. We are never going to get promoted with Evans and Smallwood as a cm partnership. Reed needs to be playing in there with either of them for the time being. Davenport needs game time after xmas to see if he's up to the standard. We could do with experience cover for Raya, he's been quite as good since his facial injury but I wouldn't go splurging the budget on a 2nd choice keeper. Nyambe needs to step up another level could he do with a natural right back to challenge him? Play Travis or loan him out. Same with Nuttall. Both have shown signs of potential but have both stagnated by not playing. Armstrong isn't a winger and never will be despite his goal at the weekend. Neither Williams or Bell are good enough, get a new left back and keep one as back up (i'm not bothered which). Palmer will probably go back and release money in wages for us to sign a proper winger. If that person is Chapman then don't expect to make any impact this season. I think we are crying out for a proper wide player and would be a priority for me. Another centre back is the other priority. Downing isn't up to standard, so far the Rodwell at centre back experiment has failed. If we are going to play 4 at the back then we need to increase the quality of the back line. I think we should be looking at 3 signings in January, a winger, a centre back and a left back. Sort those out first then readdress the other problems in the summer window.

I'd slightly change that: 1. Right Winger 2. New 1st choice Left Back 3. Big Centre Half 4. Striker cover. 5. Challenger for Nyambe Also Reed on a permanent Trumps all these if that deal is remotely possible.

I don't, like some have said, think that Jones moved too soon, He played 41 times for united in his first season there and generally played well. His problem was that he was he was shunted around a lot and didn't get time playing in a specific position. He never really fitted one position enough and maybe he looked so good at that age simply because he developed physically earlier than other lads his age, so when everyone else caught up he wasn't as special a talent or more likely that the constant string of injuries he suffered reduced his athletic prowess. Hoilett wasn't trusted too soon, he kept us up 10/11. The problem he had was that he was trying to manage a few hamstring issues which he maybe should'v been given more time to rest up. He also picked a bad club after leaving us. Lowe - was 20 when he came in at right back and was physically ready for that level of football, again what stunted Lowe was injuries but tbh he never had the potential to be a premier league player. Hanley - Maybe he wasn't ready 2010/2011 when he played a few game but I don't think that premier league experience did him any harm

I just want Rothwell to start

Paying £3 plus for a bottle makes me die a little inside

I don't remember King scoring many goals for us from the Wing. Armstrong is playing deeper, most of his shots are coming from distance rather than inside the area. I think Armstrong is a decent finisher personally (I Know he's missed a couple earlier this season).

Raya Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Williams ? Bennett/Conway Reed Smallwood Rothwell Dack Graham Subs: Leutwiler, Downing, Bell, Evans, Armstrong, Palmer, Brereton Id start Conway if Bennett isn't fit

I take my hope for Adam Armstrong from Josh King. King didn't look a premier league player when he was here (bar the odd cup game), he was played mostly out wide and had similar problems to what Armstrong has (can't get into games, not a natural winger, poor final ball.) Bournemouth sign him put him up top and now he'd be worth £20 million +

Does not shouting abuse at someone usually lead them to believe that they like you?

For me I'm okay with them coming back to games so long as they continue to back the Manager and the people running the club on a daily basis. I won't boo or hurl abuse at them but I won't be chanting their names or even giving them a nice round of applause. Times a great healer and if they continue to do what they've done since relegation then I maybe in 5-10 years i'll change my mind on them, who knows. I think it's in Rovers best interest that the owners feel that they can turn up without being harassed.

When weren’t playing well and picking up points players get better in his absence. Conway ain’t the answer, he’s been great for this club but his legs have gone and his crossing is actually pretty poor these days. The last few times before Wigan he’d been played either as a 10 or as a centre mid. He wasn’t good enough for us in league 1, he’s certainly not good enough for us now. We’ve got better options

£4 for under 18's is a good move though

Both get drawn towards the ball and leave space behind. Rothwell in particular is going to drive forward with the ball and leaves holes, safer form him to do that from the wing. If we were to play a flat 3 in midfield then Rothwell would be perfect as one of the wide centre mids.

Should've gone off at 3-0, was blowing out his arse for 15 mins before he came off.

You can't play Rothwell and Reed together in Centre Mid together unfortunately, they'd get dragged all over the place. Need someone with more talent to hold his position, was hoping that it would be Davenport but he hasn't been available as of yet. Put Rothwell on the left. Go with a midfield of Bennett, Rodwell, Reed, Rothwell.

Williams coming in a switch to 3 at the back wasn't so much the issue for me. If your going to change shape like that then your going to have to make two changes. Our midfield 3 that second half was Reed, Smallwood and Evans coupled with Nyambe as not being the best going forward at right wing back. It was too defensive, we needed to try string a few passes together, and to do that you need options to pass to, we needed Rothwell in midfield to demand the ball spread it around a bit and drive into the space. But instead we tried to work it out from the back but there was nothing go in on in front of them.

Rodwell isn't going to be a centre back, it was probably worth ago but he needs to go back into midfield. If he can't manage more than an hour than so be it. Dack needs a bit of wake up call and Palmer hasn't played a single minute this season in his actual position. Rothwell needs a run of games from the left. Armstrong, Evans, Smallwood, Williams need dropping. Bell starts as I consider him to be the only proper left back (bring on January transfer window), Reed plays centre mid because i'm not crazy. Brereton gets a chance up top, if Graham is fit then he can replace him in the second half. Travis gets a shot at right back. If Davenport was fit he'd be given a shot. Raya Travis Lenihan(if fit) Mulgrew Bell Bennett Reed Rodwell Rothwell Palmer Brereton Subs: Leutwiler, Nyambe, Evans or Smallwood, Conway, Armstrong, Dack, Graham What I think Tony might go with; Raya Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Bell Bennett Smallwood Reed Armstrong Dack Graham Subs; Leutwiler, Rodwell, Williams, Evans, Rothwell, Palmer, Brereton

I wonder if the players are starting to lose a bit of confidence in the manager due to some of his weird team selections.

If what we know has Williams at left back and Reed playing on the wing then we know nothing. I'm not opposed to returning to the Smallwood/Evans axis just so long as its not at the expense of Reed playing out wide.

I think whatever Mowbrays initial plan with Brereton (insert your own theory here) its not working out. He needs a few starts and he should be played exclusively up front. When Graham gets knackered after 60 mins then Brereton should come on for him up top. 3 games in a week then Brereton should start 1 of them. Want to go 2 up top then bring in Brereton. Give the lad some game time in his best position so he can learn the ropes. Then if he still needs to bulk up get him in during the summer when its easier to add mass. If he fails then he fails but I dont think it'll hurt us at least till xmas for him to be used as Grahams deputy, can't be worse than playing an Midfielder up top again.

Williams got bailed out by a great block by Nyambe at 1-0, he'd got completely skinned by their winger. Then was at fault for the third. And didn't cover himself in glory for the fourth. If he's the Steady reliable option at left back then theres no point playing him there, might as well give Bell another go, he's not been great but he's been considerably better than Williams was on Saturday

Brereton will sign for Rovers on 1st January. Not sure why this is still up for debate

Davenport has been injured? I don't understand what doesn't sit right. He got injured in the last pre-season game with a bad groin injury was out for a couple of months, worked his way back with the under 23's (scored a good goal vs Liverpool) then picked up another thigh injury in training. These things happen, he'll get a chance in 2019.