Given how everyone has complained how thin we are in defence then this is doubtful. We have been thin on the ground for defensive reinforcements for a year now so don't think anyone would complain about having cover there. Whilst not easy there are always players out of favour/looking to move on. The Downing situation at MK Dons is a good example of this. Off the top of my head the Mulgrew situation (albeit he can't move to another club) and Sinclair from Celtic (read an article on him going from first choice to reserves) show that players' fortunes change and ready to move on. Whilst not super easy the idea that it is difficult to find a decent centre back is a bit of a fallacy.

Well in part yes because none of us had a crystal ball in January and could tell that! Unfair to judge on hindsight imo. The probability was we would need them before now (how often Nayambe and Lenihen been injured in the last couple of years) and it certainly looks like we'll need them now. If we were getting them from lower leagues for example they may have been willing to come as 3rd choice. Or if they had fallen out with the manager and wanted a fresh start. Or if they were 4th choice or worse elsewhere. Or as oldgregg points out they may take a longer view than the next 6 months. A load of reasons why they may chose to come to us as 3rd choice centre back.

The goals early is a good point I hadn't considered. Long term i can't see it being good for Gally's game or development though as not sure anywhere else would play him in that position. Totally agree about the summer! No arguments there.

True. Although that a) is only known with hindsight and b) is because so far we have been lucky with injuries and suspensions in defence (shame about elsewhere in the team though.) I think it more probable that they would have played a few more games and most likely would get a couple when Lenihen gets suspended. Also think players would prefer to be one away from game time then 2 or 3 players. And as it is regardless of how much they would have played we are all a tad worried that there isn't better back up there

We are still a basket case of a club and TM is part of said basket case and problem. Its the agency he is with that's still calling the shots, it's still his mate who is CEO/director/whatever we call them these days. We're doing well on the pitch at the moment, credit to TM and the team for that and long may it continue, and that alleviates the problem somewhat. But we are still a broken club of which TM is part of the brokenness.

Yeah but the quality of them are Williams and Mulgrew so not hard to be 3rd choice. Add in the fact of suspensions (hence this thread) injuries (Nayambe and Lenihen have picked up a number and that Tosin and Williams act as cover for the full back positions and there is a fair old chance that a 3rd choice centre back would get a decent amount of game time. Also they don't have to be an exceptional centre back just better than Williams and Mulgrew. Am sure there are a number of players who teams want of their wage bill, have fallen out with the manager, need games for fitness etc. So yeah, I think there may well have been some decent options out there. Was thinking another Downing-esque signing (the centre back) in an ideal world, not a world beater but competent at this level. Regardless of said wishful thinking I think there are enough factors regarding game time and level needed to have attracted someone.

Interesting stuff bar some of the antagonism in defence of Gally! Another factor to consider is in some of those games did Gally move positions from the wing to up front? And what effect did that have? I am pretty confident he did in a couple of games which may have given us more balance to see games out. (Downing switching from right to left is another example of this.) The only plus of Gally on the wing is that he is more physical and robust and perhaps contributes more defensively than a traditional wide player. That being the case and the style we are aiming for I think Bennett would do a much better job in that role. Personally though I think we have it right with neither in the team and a bit of a different style. I do worry the £5 mill tag gets games for Gally when it shouldn't. Like I said even if that's the style we want to play, we have better players suited to it. Perhaps Gally's best role is a plan B striker whipping balls into the box for him. Anything else long term won't work as he doesn't have the attributes for it.n

Probably our biggest area where we needed to strengthen in hindsight. Take one of Nayambe, Tosin or Lenihen out and it looks an entirely different prospect in defence. Walton and Bell have improved of late. Not sure we will hit 3rd time lucky (or good management) with either Williams or Bennett defensively. Incidentally whilst Williams is the best of a poor set of options if he is injured we are really stuffed. Am all for settled defences but having such a small defensive pool to chose from is really poor.

I think he maybe wised up a bit before that. His pre season last year (prior to the injury,) was very positive - he put a load of extra work in over the summer. Can't imagine what a long term injury on top of that does but I am liking his character and performances.

Interesting stuff. My take on it is managers are worth a lot in this division, moreso than perhaps in other leagues. Hopefully that'll be Fulham's downfall although player quality could well see them safely in. Manager wise Millwall have a smart cookie in Rowett and that could make them good for the playoffs. My dark horses for them as he has got them playing very well. Sheff Weds have imploded which only can help our chances and Brentford are a good team whose disappointing results seem to be draws so think they are definitely in. Forest and Bristol are spectacularly inconsistent, especially the latter. Of the 2 I expect Forest to grab playoffs being marginally more consistent and getting a good result Vs West Brom suggests they've a fair bit about them. Preston I don't know whether to admire for getting where they are on a budget or loath their cheating. They strike me as a rock paper scissors kind of team. One tactic that either works or it doesn't. Think most teams would like to face them in the playoffs because it's obvious what they'll do and is perhaps.easoer to prepare. Cardiff - Harris hasn't done amazingly as a manager so think will miss out. Think it's still a huge ask especially with so many injuries and little room for error. But I do think there may be room to start dreaming. As others have said this is a poor league and the perfect opportunity. Here's hoping we seize it.

Well what a result and a good day at the office externally too. I really should criticise Walton more often if the result is that kind of save. Ok we were 2-0 up but conceed a goal, the team gets nervous and then it's hanging on time. Samuel seems to also have been immense. One thing he deserves credit for was prior to last season and his injury it seemed as if he had put in a hell of a lot of work to get fitter and stronger which is a fantastic attitude to have and suggests he is hungry for success and to get better. 2 games on the trot now where he has looked good. Could he be this season's Travis getting a look in for injuries then not looking back? Lots of positive results elsewhere for us bit then this is a crazy league. Where else can the bottom team then thump 3rd by 3 goals or an appalling injury ravaged Hull then score 4. The Millwall result is great but a double edged sword as Rowett is a good manager and they could also be dark horses for the playoffs imo. That said Sheff Wednesday have imploded with another poor result and I thought they would be challenging for playoffs so swings and roundabouts. No complaints. A few of our weaker players showing their strengths. A solid win and clean sheet. What's not to like?

No one is comparing Walton against our best ever keeper. No one has that kind of standard for him. If we are going on our last promoted season as a comparison I'd have been happy with Walton being as good as Filan or Kelly. Neither were amazing that year (in fact Filan in relegation season seemed to be the peak of his career) bit both were solid keepers. If Walton were as good as I perceived those two to be then I'd be happy with him..

To answer your question: 1) never mentioned in their prime - this is something you have added in. 2) firstly against other good signings for Rovers in a variety of positions since you said he has been a good signing. So I'm talking about Downing and Arma this year, Smallwood in league 1, that level of impact that "good" signings make. 3) what I would consider a decent standard as to not regularly be doing disappointing things whether howlers or should do better.

I'm judging him on his performances for Rovers. In my home we refer to things sometimes as the "Friedel effect" as in its good but still disappointing as not excellent (a bit like any keeper who followed on from Brad). I'm certainly not wanting that standard or expecting top quality by any stretch! What I am asking for is a keeper who makes few mistakes they shouldn't make be they howlers or should do better type attempts. I think I'd settle and am judging him against solid keepers rather than the spectacular. I'm not sure how this is so complicated as we all know Armstrong or Dack probably arent Prem quality but are doing very well for us and are good championship playrrs. Smallwood did very well for us in league 1 judged as a league 1 player, not Vs Kante, for exameple. I'm not of this logic of the yardstick being higher for the keeper position than it is for any of the outfield players. We don't think Williams or Bell are poor as they aren't Prem quality but not cutting it at this standard. I don't see how there's this suddenly different criteria by which keepers are differently judged. Also many of my recent posts on this topic began because Chaddy said Walton had been a good signing for us which is spin of the highest order. He (Walton) has performed nowhere near as well as Arma or Downing this season, or even Tosin. On reflection perhaps some of the high standard stuff comes from me asking Chaddy to justify Walton being good for us and considering what good looks like (although i would think that still factors in our level.) Given his form hasn't been that great or he hasn't excelled at this level I think it's a bit cheeky to try slipping him in as a good signing.

I wouldn't like to say having seen very little non Rovers football. Not that all other championship keepers are crap (which I assume you're going for) is an endorsement of Walton's ability. Or perhaps you are trying to jnvidalidate my opinion if I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of keepers? I haven't of strikers either but could tell you that Graham was pretty good and Brown was pretty terrible. Another straw man argument.

None of that suggests he has been good for us - at best this is a case he has been decent for us. It's pretty flimsy 10 clean sheets and command of the area, especially when we have conceeded an average number of goals and a couple of clangers have come from balls into the box. My criteria for a good keeper would be as follows: Clangers - one or nil. Not the case with Walton there's at least 4 his biggest fans agree on and I think I'd go with a justifiable half dozen. Good keepers don't make that many mistakes. Shot stopping - a good keeper gets all the ones he should do (l- as in you don't think keeper could have better there. Not a clanger but a could do better, if that makes sense? a great keeper also saves ones that really should be a goal. Probably been a few where I felt he could have done better and there's been very few where I think he has got things he shouldn't have done (Gestede header Vs Boro and the Wigan game spring to mind.) Contrast that with the great keepers we've had over the years and very often you can point to a number of games where they have kept us in it. Command of Area - a few clangers aside (which suggest he isn't amazing) this is one of his better features. Not comparing with Raya who was weak at it, but against good keepers I'm not sure he's massively better at it. That said it is an asset most of the time and so grant this is one area where he looks a good keeper. Distribution - good keepers do this well, although I always think of this as an added bonus. Not sure he is great at this as releases things slowly so not an asset for the case of him being a good keeper. Consistency - good keepers consistently perform at about 7-7.5 per game, great ones 8+ consistently. This is a feature I rate really highly, the reliability of a keeper. That's not been the case with Walton - he's really ranged from poor to average to excellent. Even the Boro game as a recent example he did excellently with Gestede's header but could have done better for the goal. The guy is too erratic performance wise and sometimes even within matches. For me a good keeper is more consistent - you know what you are getting. Clean sheets and goals conceeded. Not the full picture but can indicate whether a keeper is any good. The number of clean sheets is impressive but less so the number of goals we have conceeded. Certainly the latter strongly suggests he is average at best. The former does suggest he is certainly not in the Steele type category. So one stat for, one stat against. That said Filan won player of the season and was brilliant behind a terrible defence. I remember Southall playing for Wales Vs Dutch and the Welsh lost 7-0 and without a doubt Southall kept them in it. Pickford was actually good when at Sunderland. On reflection it's not what I'd base a keeper's ability on. Ok that is subjective but shows a bit of evidence as to why I don't think he is a good signing.

Evidence!

Again Chaddy - good? Really? Downing has been good for us this year. Armstrong has been good for us this year. Walton has been nowhere near that level so would love to hear what evidence there has been of him being good. He's not even been that steady dependable type of a player either as he's had a few cracking games but a number of poor ones to. No idea how you can justify him as a good signing so far. Where's the evidence for that?

Nothing wrong with that statement - if we were looking to bring in a keeper, a defender or defensive mid. Pity we got nothing though! (And my word I hope that is what TM meant, otherwise you really start to worry.)

It is far more than 3 or 4! Without going through each game there have been more clangers then that. Plus there's the ones he should have saved which weren't howlers but disappointing keeping. There has been a fair number of those.

His best 2 games have come against a decimated Hull team and a very weak already relegated Bolton team. Both sets of opposition weren't very good - dare I say it nearer league 1 quality. My point being not so much to knock him, although I think a bit of perspective is needed, but rather why couldn't he have had a half season (hopefully) battering them in in League 1 or a similar league? Would have been the best practice possible for the lad and done no end to his confidence, match fitness and sharpness.

Reasons why it may be possible: - It's a crap inconsistent league. - We are capable of putting good runs together. - We're only 6 points off, is not insurmountable. - With fewer options the tombola in team selection and tactics occurs less, which generally improves our play. Reasons why we won't: - We're capable of putting on really bad runs. - 6 points is still a fair bit to make up, we're not actually in the playoffs and haven't been yet. - There are a fair number of teams above us, It's not like we are the only ones chasing the top 6. - Our squad is almost at breaking point - another injury or suspension and we really start to struggle. - Can we win the games we should? Over the years there's been a ton of winnable games we have struggled with, this needs to change. - Do we cope well with pressure - I don't think we do. From Bowyer's play off attempts to chasing for the League 1 title, Rovers aren't great under pressure - Players played regularly out of position and other tinkering attempts will most likely happen. . My gut reaction is no. Whilst it's not a fantasy to think we could do it, there's a number of external factors (the number of clubs above us) and internal ones (would the side be doing better with an actual right mid in the team for example) that make me think we will fall just short. Given our injuries just short isn't a bad return, but it is another get out of jail free season for TM. I'd love to be wrong on this but can't see it happening.

The debate isn't about if Walton is better than Raya but whether he is good enough to sign. I'm not convinced about the former argument but regardless of that the latter seems pretty clear. He's not good enough for no 1 at Rovers. For those who dislike Raya - if I had argued he was better than Steele (hardly a challenge mind) quite rightly people would say that's not the barometer of success. Or Smallwood being better than Lowe doesn't mean he warrants a place in our current midfield. Independent of Raya, regardless of our views on Raya, is Walton a good keeper - I'd say not.

Agree shows how much the right club at the right time is. Rowett also marred his copy book jumping to a rapidly sinking Stoke (I think). It really makes a difference choosing the right club. I wonder if 3 may be a bit much to be a coincidence but having said that none are easy circumstances at all and a lot of decent to good managers have failed there so I wouldnt count that one against him. Next job for him though will be huge.