BlackburnEnd75

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.

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.

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

People seem to be forgetting this.

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.

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?

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

Give us a bit more of a clue?

I bet he's got a Sports Hernia

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

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.

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.

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

Really hope this is a chance for Travis to stake a claim.

I'd say probably under Hughes they were fitter. We have a few players who look like they struggle doing 90 mins Saturday -Tuesday - Saturday. There is a noticeable dip in intensity in the last 10-15 mins. Some of which is understandable if we're working so hard for the first 75-80 mins.

Resting not dropping there's a difference.

One of those Palmer's is Armstrong in disguise! It all about managing his time on the pitch. It's to Graham's credit that he's needed as much as he is. His hold up play and that connection with Dack is incredibly important to us. I'd rather he played 60-70 mins every game rather than 90 mins every Saturday

He didn't travel to Bournemouth though. We kept him fresh for Saturday. It's not so much tiredness with Graham, its the risk of aggravating some of those existing conditions he has.