Is this the same Nixon who claimed a £50m transfer budget when Venkys took over ?

Football is a team game - and players need to play to their position. Reed was best on the right wing - TM was right in that Reed wasn't disciplined enough at times to be play in the centre. In no way is Smallwood a better footballer - but does hold is position better.

Interesting reading TMs comments in LET ?

With a few centre mid players unavailable - possibly doing him a favour to help him get his fitness up

That will be a concern until we bring in a new centre half. TM keeps his cards close to his chest - so let's keep fingers crossed

Think this is a little harsh. Also you need to balance those points he cost us - against some world class saves he did that gained us points. Overall though I felt he cost more than he gained.

Given how many times Raya was targeted by the opposition last year - £3m seems good money. Only time will tell - but we don't have the finances to turn that amount of money down for a keeper that many would prefer as a No 2 to a more experienced and commanding keeper.

Who is pushing for the move - Raya or the club ? Or is it just more Nixon rumour mongering ?

I do wonder whether TM is playing the market. Surely everyone knows we need a commanding centre half - and I am sure that reflects in fees and salaries being asked. Are TMs latest comments to give the impression we aren't desperate for a centre half to other clubs and agents. Let's judge this window at the end of it - rather than getting too stressed when there is over a month to go.

Never been overly impressed by him (except the odd game) - but we are operating at a lower level than he has played most of his career (even though I am shocked how old he is). As a replacement for Conway - he is probably a slight upgrade (taking into account his age). For a player that never really relied on pace - I am hoping his age isn't too much of a factor.

Defence worries me more than most areas. In midfield Davenport will be like a new signing - and TBH so will Rothwell given how little game time he had over the whole season. You can add to that the emergence of Travis as a genuine regular first team player. On the wings Chapman will again be like a new signing - as he spent most of the time since his signing building up his fitness. Defensively we need a commanding centre half and more competition in the full back positions - especially left back. Raya needs some genuine competition. Up front we have Samuel coming back - again like a new signing (though possibly not a signing many would make ? ) - and we saw better things from Brereton when he was actually played in the centre. But given Graham's age we do need another player to bolster TM's options. Other than central defence - I am fairly relaxed about the current lack of signings.

I think you need to look again at the squad we had that year - I see a quality spine from Friedel to Nelsen to Tugay to Bellamy.

Though over the season I agree with you - in this match I thought we started ok. For me a lot hinged on the Bennett injury - not only did they score while he was off the field - but it seemed to disrupt the team pattern for much of the 1st half (despite previously playing there - Travis looked poor at right back - and we missed him in midfield)

He has given youth more of a chance than any manager in our recent history. Yes - sometimes it has been forced on him - but he is promoting young talent all the time. He gets a lot of criticism - but you can see in spells why some of these players have been held back ;- Travis - adds drive to midfield, but still gets caught on the ball, and has been lucky on more than one occasion this season not to give away goals while trying to retain possession. Rothwell - looks like a Rolls Royce when running with the ball, but still too often makes the wrong ball and not good at sniffing danger defensively Davenport - injured a lot of the season Reid - I may be alone, but when he played centrally thought his positional play was poor. So can see the decision to play him wider. I do wonder whether TM bottled it this season, or injuries and form forced his hand. But IMO players like Davenport, Rothwell and Brereton were brought in to change our playing style - lets hope we see them best of them next season. A decent experienced, tall centre half to partner Lenihan would go a long way to cure some of our issues.

Can't disagree with the sentiment - but truth is our players had little to play for in comparison to Norwich.

GK - Fielding CB - Guy from Charlton LB - ? Winger - Chapman Midfield - Davenport Striker - Brereton You could argue about Brereton - but I think the last couple of matches show it as much about style of play - and ideally would like to see a strong, pacy centre forward as well Davenport was supposed to be very good last time in the Championship - and would fit in the new supposed style of play.

I think we all need to remember that Norwich were going for the title in front of a sell out crowd - whereas our motivation was ? To our credit - I thought that Norwich played some brilliant football in the first 20 minutes - finding players with unbelievable accuracy - with each player giving 100% - and yet they only scored from two long range efforts. One that the keeper really should have saved - the other an unbelievable strike (irrespective of us backing off him). I think most teams would have been blown away - and possibly conceded more than 2 in that period. We continue to see a subtle change in style - with far more passing out from the back. Against Norwich we got caught out a number of times - but you could see the intent. It was also interesting how much better we looked with Brereton up front in the second half - not saying he was brilliant, but his mobility was in stark contrast to what had gone before. I am actually finishing the season far more optimistic than I thought I would - with Rothwell and Brereton finally coming to the party. Some way to go - but a decent centre half and left back would go a long way.

At the time I thought we got lucky - but the more I thought about it - I think the referee made the right decision. Though I wouldn't put much money on a foot race between Williams and Pukki - having to control the ball tends to slow down the player with the ball - so I think there was a fair chance that Williams would have had a reasonable chance of a sliding challenge or putting him off enough so he didn't score - either way not a clear goal scoring opportunity.

That's my big fear for the close season. They allegedly were prepared to pay £5m at the start of the season - they could easily go to £10 to 15m if they get in Premiership.

I would add to that a player he reminds me of. Remember a previous £7m player - came with a reputation for dribbling and scoring spectacular goals - never made it at Rovers but Big Sam reinvented him as one of the most awkward centre forwards to play against. Brereton is taller and quicker than Kevin Davies - we just need Danny to continue teaching him the art of centre forward play.

I would like to see Davenport for Evans - let's see what the lad from City can do.

Is he getting support - or being left one on one ?

I would have started him more - but people need to remember the start of the season when TM got stick for getting Rothwell and not Jack Payne.

Why do people always assume before they know all the facts ?

I know I will get stick for this comment - but I understand where Mowbray is coming from with Reid. Very often he goes chasing the ball when he should hold his position. Having said that - you don't really need two holding midfield players - and neither Evans or Smallwood have covered themselves in glory this season.