DavidMailsTightPerm

Why ? Imagine we are in breach of FFP rules - having that confirmed to potential buyers of Armstrong won't exactly strengthen our position. Also, there may be some negotiation going on with the FL - again why publicise ?

Can't see how you can blame TM - Hardwood Bellis has chosen to play under a City legend who will still have contacts at City which will do no harm for his career. Elliott has chosen to be a squad player at Liverpool - which was always his stated aim. He also has interest from a number of Premiership clubs. Why not congratulate TM and the recruitment team for getting in two very good youngsters last season ?

I think his best position is part of a midfield 3 - which is the formation we played last season. Rothwell looks like a Rolls Royce when running with the ball - and I struggle to think of many better players doing that in his position. BUT - there is rarely an end product and his normal passing is very hit and miss. I keep waiting for him to show consistency - and I don't think you can just blame Mowbray for that.

Dolan's performances dropped after the death of a close friend. Around this time he was left out of the team for compassionate reasons. This coincided with signing Elliott - which didn't help his path back into the team. If nothing else - I like his constant running off the ball - he showed when playing as a striker (when Armstrong was injured) how this helps the team as a whole. Hopefully he will continue to progress this season.

He can be like a Rolls Royce drifting through the opposition midfield at times - but apart from occasional free kicks it rarely seems to lead to anything. He is also apt to give the ball away in dangerous positions. He is one of our more frustrating players - as he looks at times like a top Premiership player - but rarely over a full 90 minutes, usually in the same match he switches from premiership quality to League 1. I would still keep him though - as we have nobody like him in the squad.

Though I agree he has to go - how does our budget compare to other championship clubs ?

I think people forget that - how many people on here moaning at the LET actually buy it ? They have to tread a fine line - TM has already got prickly at even slight probing.

I will say one thing about BB - when he was on top form at the start of the season he was a far better "out" ball than Elliott- with the ball sticking with him better. They are essentially different players - I think Elliott is good - but somewhat over hyped.

Douglas has created more chances for the opposition than any player I can remember. He has no pace - and his crossing is largely wasted in a team where our 6ft+ centre forward plays on the wing

Douglas any better - combine the two and you still would only have a half decent player

TBH- my biggest disappointment is that what has been a relatively successful time for TM where he did some good work - is being totally undermined by a determination to hang onto his job (something he said he wouldn't do) when it is obvious his time at the club has run its course. IMO he has taken us as far as he can - and I think this season has shown that - a season when we should have been challenging for top 6. Having said all that - I wouldn't just give up a job without compensation - but then again I don't spout about "doing the honorable thing".

I agree partly with this - but I think a lot of the sending off's were as a result of pressure and good attacking play. The PNE match was a good example of this. It is also more difficult against 10 men to score - as they tend to pack their defences - so I think some credit still has to be given.

TBH - not certain how we went from a free scoring attacking team to one that looks like it can't score. I do wonder how much we miss Dolan's energy - not necessarily his actual play - but his movement off the ball and energy provides outlets I think we have badly missed. It was interesting when he played as a striker for a while - how much more cohesive we looked as an attacking unit. Just shows how we are too static as a team in the attacking third - TBH think this is down to TM - as players often don't seem to know whether to stick or twist when it comes to attacking or defending.

Another match that typified our season - good possession, looked the better team for long periods - but ultimately a mirage as we created few clear chances and then had to rely on our keeper as we made their attacks look like Real Madrid. The only possession that really counts is in the final third - which is where we fail badly.

I wouldn't go as far as doggers - but he has fallen below the high standard he set early season. But I agree with "no thanks" far too expensive both in terms of transfer and wages - plus a Premiership club will definitely take a punt on him.

Absolutely ridiculous time.

As you say it is all about opinions - the one that frustrates me the most is Rothwell. Without doubt shows easily enough talent in flashes to be a Premiership player - but you need consistency to be a Premiership player - and he has never had that. My hope is Super Atko - nothing more than an average 2nd Division right back - transformed by Dalglish into an effective midfield player, key to us winning the title. A number of our current squad are arguably more talented, but don't have the drive or the right manager behind them.

It all depends on whether you believe players are under performing because of TM or not. Looking at the squad he has assembled - excusing injuries Personally - I think the defence from Saturday (incl GK) have top 6 potential (excl Douglas). Elliott would walk into most teams, as would a fully fit Travis and Dack. Armstrong would obviously get into most teams. You then have a few players that you could argue cases for and against - i.e. Rothwell on his day would get into every team (but those days are in frequent, and rarely maintains his form over a full 90 minutes), post lockdown Brereton might get into some top 6 teams (form has dipped away again, though looked better Saturday), the Evans that plays for NI would get into most teams, Holtby from the first few matches looked excellent but drifted away. IMO this has the potential to be a top 6 squad - though a little unbalanced - IMO what is lacking from most players is consistency and that extra 10% that most have shown at one time or another. The big question - is that down totally to Mowbray ? I think he has to take some of the blame with tactics and playing players out of position etc.

Surely he earns enough as a footballer without having to moonlight as a fitness coach - or have I got hold of the wrong end of the stick 🤣

So strange - reminds me of how he treated Travis - broke into team, was starting to establish himself then dropped. Maybe Buckley hasn't been putting the effort in training - who knows.

If I was a sensitive soul I would find some of this more than a little condescending (which means patronising if you don't know what it means 😆)

I said it before - but reminds me so much of the final weeks when we had Souness. Just wish that Newcastle would take TM off our hands 🤣

I would be interested as to whether Mowbray ever said Travis was injured or not fit - in the context of this latest "reason" it makes all the difference. I would personally agree with TM that Travis looked leggy and wasn't particularly effective when he came back from injury. However - as you point out - a good manager would have spotted that on the training ground (with all the performance stats he keeps bleating on about) prior to putting him back in the team.

L1 here we come 🥺

So it should- for me it wasnt the result that upset me (though that was bad enough) it was how we were outfought by a team which is (on paper) far inferior to ours. TM seems to lack the ability to get the best out of the players- surely a sign he needs to go.