A 23 year old Gallagher is going to get better and even on loan it’s a good option/backup for Graham if it happens - you’re bringing the deflation with your unrealistic “need to kick on”. You’d be the first to put the boot in the club and owners so shouldn’t that cynicism steer you from such wild expectation? We've already signed a position; a winger many of us felt we wanted, one we rate and know could turn out to be a star. Thus the worst case scenario is already quite a good one. I don’t prescribe to the notion we should be putting all efforts into instant promotion as opposed to developing/building a young and hungry squad that can develop. As for the last paragraph - you’re beginning to sound like @tomphil - why does discussion on every scenario our club faces resort to some sort of scandalmongery about playing the fans? Do you both do it simply to stop yourselves feeling dissapointed if we aren’t able to live up to transfer or league expectations? The irony is, instant promotion and signing 40k waged + 15m strikers in their prime is not what I’d call a reasonable expectation personally.

We’ve also signed Armstrong, Dack, Rothwell, Rodwell et al on top of previous cheap/free signings like Graham, Conway, Bennett... You make it seem far worse than it is.

He really does use his arse well.

Didnt he turn down premier league clubs to sign for them?

Have you not heard about Waggotts Flex? It’s a free transfer but we’re paying him 300k a week.

It is dismissive of the achievement. To suggest the “gaze” on Tony should return minutes after that result, it’s like pulling a worldie and moaning that she’s not rich. We get it, certain people prejudged Mowbray and simply cannot accept that they are wrong. It happens a lot, look at Rev’s comments yesterday. As Khod aptly put, it Graham (or Bennett) saves him from drowning, he’d moan about him getting wet. I also didn’t bring it up either, learn to read, it was justification of complaint from someone else. The same person who ironically talks about others being antagonists when he simply trots out new ridiculous complaints on a 24 hour rolling system. As for “would I loan him out?” Well to be honest I wouldn’t but I don’t know the lads fitness or mindset. Does it make sense to take Harry long term? Definitely for me, and if the idea is to get him a STARTING berth, with the fitness and experience that comes with - maybe it’s a sensible idea for his and our future?

1. @Stuart and yesterday. Title wasn’t unimportant but promotion was completely the priority. 2. The two loanee centrehalves at Bury/Doncaster can be recalled surely? Perhaps the worry about depth and our current “converted midfielders” is needless?

Agree with most other than the “conspiracy theory” about playing players to advertise their quality for lower league loans (seriously, who believes this is a thing?) and this anti Graham stuff. He seriously is as clever as a frontman as we’ve had for some time. His positioning and movement, the way he holds the ball up, knocks down the long passes, he’s an absolute key proponent of this team. Hence why 12000 people applauded him off the pitch once again. Dacks fantastic ball for Arma in the first half was a result of clever play by Graham. I don’t know anyone who underrates his impact so much! Overall great performance. Same last week, only difference is we took our chances early doors. Hull looked so average, but when Travis/Evans are literally winning every single second ball and passing it to an attacker, our style of play will create chances! Last shout for Dack. His head is not turned. He once again ran the attack, even if he’s not the one on the end of the chances. Such a talismanic figure, but great to see others bringing their levels up to contribute with consistency, ie Armstrong and Rodwell! Another great Saturday.

1. Is it through really? To be still butthurt by that result (I was there for both too) is exactly what I’m talking about in choosing the 1/10 to complain about and ignoring the 9/10. I remember TM saying the third division trophy won’t keep him his job, or words to that effect and I agreed then, just like I do now. Ask Paul cook if he’d swap positions with us this season, for finishing second last year! The bad taste is a choice you’ve made. After the sweet taste of redemption at the Keepmoat, I’m not sure how a limp display/a few comments you disagree with could make such a difference. 2. I don’t think anyone has suggested the guy is free from any legitimate criticisms, but I personally feel many are unwarranted! 3. Who says we aren’t going all out? The body language of the players at the defeats I watched before Christmas suggest they are as disappointed as we are by losing. If you are referencing this to our lack of intent this window, the main criticism from the summer window seemed lack of signings that went straight in the team. TM himself said he only wants that kind of acquisition at the moment, so it would be a 180 for some to criticise this approach. 4. I don’t think a lot of Del Wil either but I’m happy that he is a squad option, be it second choice LB or fourth CB. The scenario that we need to have a better fourth choice option in case the worst happens is not a priority for me. I’d sooner stick a few quid on a chapman or another winger, or loan a backup to Bell/Nyambe personally - a much more legitimate necessity in my eyes.

@Stuart - cheers. I think he’s done well to turn around the squad in the way he has so I can’t agree on transfer business. Much of that is the class signings of Dack, Armstrong and Rodwell - but others like Rothwell and Bell are improving along with the youngsters he’s picked from the academy. To add to this, you can only improve the ones in the club on the training pitch AND by buying the right characters and strengths, it’s hard to argue against the squad being as competitive as it’s been in a decade. When most of them are u25, it’s also quite difficult for me to not be excited about their potential to improve. All this excludes the potential cock up in BB, but his age and pedigree (hence cost) should give lots of time to improve in the same way that Raya, Armstrong, Nyambe, Travis, Nuttall, Evans, Lenihan etc all have under Mowbray!

Not true at all. When you’re ignoring 9/10 decisions to criticise the 1/10, it’s you that’s unfairly playing the man(ager) instead of being fair about his decisions and success overall. Balance. We remember you didn’t want Mowbray, you don’t have to constantly justify the initial underwhelming. Charlton away a great example. How anyone could refer to that game as a major criticism in the scheme of last season... beyond my understanding. It’s almost as if you saw finishing second as an insult! Charlton was 4/5 days after the best day as a Rovers fan since... 2009? I dunno.. And this week. To be so frustrated that we now only have 4 options at CB instead of 5, it’s disengenous. Not only you that - I couldn’t help but laugh that earlier in the week, our three centrebacks (Mulgrew, Lenihan and Rodwell) are all kind of “un droppable” at current... the minute we sell/loan Downing, we only have “converted midfielders”.... Thats typical BRFCS for you. If I remember correctly Stuart, you snarled at not using u23s in the newcastle game - it 3/4 of Del, Jack, Darragh and Charlie gets injured - don’t we still have a few other than those on loan to get involved?

Think this is amalgamated memory since I’m sure roeder got ill at Newcastle. Might be wrong, it’s only 20 years ago FFS.... Still though, that Souness/Hughes period was utterly immense. One thing I know for sure about that game - was Carricks debut. Can’t wait till he’s on 606...

Edit - just to stress, this in no way sarcasm. Breath of fresh air your posts today mate.

Agree. What we’d want/expect is different to what players are worth. A recent championship full back to premier league club was Joe Bryan - 6m. If we sold Nyambe for a penny less, I’d be frustrated.

Important element and question to consider when looking at what 10m can achieve - how much would we sell our best players for? Would anyone be happy if we sold Dack and Lenihan for less than 10m each? I wouldn’t. I also wouldn’t be impressed if we sold Nyambe or Raya for less than 7/8m

Agree that we have some experience at this level (although most recent second tier exp for mant of those is relegation), we also had Raya, Lenihan, Bell, Rothwell and Reed all on the pitch for those crazy last few minutes. No disputing they could’ve reacted better, and I doubt the likes of Allardyce would have our team regularly capitulating like that. Thus I don’t think this particular issue is solely down to personnel. I think it’s a lack of confidence and experience for dealing with those situations. There is no sole reason for that in my opinion, just a mixture of issues with experience, calmness, confidence and leadership on the pitch.

As others say - incredible how I can watch and think one thing and then read the exact opposite. I was one of Evans biggest critics, but since returning early 2018 - he’s worked as hard as anyone, and has probably covered the most grass. He offers a lot to the team at the minute for me. I’d have to throw a spanner in the works and say I prefer Rodwell to all of them though, he has such natural technique/passing and he is far better in the air - a key prerequisite for defensive midfield.

Never got anywhere near the same level out of him though.

Where he lacks that final ball quality at times, he makes it up in sheer effort and determination. Sorely missed.

That’s subjective though, I don’t think he has had enough time on the pitch for me to say he has poor technique or no pace.

Completely dependent on player. Age, expense, position, wage, injuries etc - all big factors.

I never said that once, I just don’t assume like the second paragraph. I don’t think he’s crap either, or poor - I actually think he’s done ok to say coming on as a sub out of position has been his main cameo, and he hasn’t started a league game in his preferred position because Graham is playing well. To early to judge or criticise anyway.

I think it’s probably more likely because Graham is playing well, the system with one forward hasn’t changed, he has looked raw in some cameos and for the “wide attacking” positions, Armstrong, Bennett, Conway Rothwell and Palmer are in front in the pecking order. If you prefer to think it’s some sort of dodgy deal, then you go for that - no need to drag me into it.

Raya, Lenihan, Bell, Rothwell, and Reed all on the pitch for those two minutes - I counted an individual error from 2 of those 5 in the last 90 seconds of the game. Thats not leadership, it’s decision making. Experience, confidence - as EA said “Bottle”..! We agree on some parts about needing more guile in the middle - and definitley on the panic but I just don’t think the immediate solution is to change manager. Same here, and that’s not because we have the best players either - that’s how close the players/manager are from achieving something. Yesterday was the epitome of that. I’d feel a lot differently about this season if we had similar points but never even looked capable of more!

I don’t think it’s fitness, but definitley on bottle; Experience, nasty streak, calmness, mental toughness, I agree with. I think that’s down to the youth of our first team more than tactics/approach. A nasty and experienced, preferably massive and fast (don’t ask much...) centre half in January would I would “go next”