In fairness I think a lot of the uproar about Mulgrew was he wasn't replaced more than the quality of his defending. A lot of concern was also that we would miss his goals and set piece threat. Both of those things remain true. Had we another set piece specialist or brought in defensive cover (no defenders on the bench at the weekend) then there would be little sadness over him going. As it is, he isn't that great defensively and imo done as a centre back in a 2. That said a canny manager might still get a lot out of him as one of three centre backs or in defensive mid imo. Wigan are having him as one of two centre backs (or were when I last checked) and that isn't really working...

Great post. Only thing I would add is that actually fans were demanding Travis had help from his defensive mid. Admittedly not from Evans but there were numerous suggestions that Travis wasn't the only defensive mid in the side.

Yeah I checked to see if had been starting in Wigan's poor run too. No surprises he has and think he is finished as a centre back (but not necessarily at defensive mid). The other thing that struck me was looking at Wigan's team and Luton's how the heck could we have been below them/in a relegation fight earlier in the season given the dross in their teams? Shows that there are some very limited squads out there.

Perhaps they are like Sunderland as in a problem club? After all the current guy clearly has nous and has done well previously, albeit not in this league. But they're getting through a number of managers and all struggling so perhaps the common denominator is the club? Wigan are in trouble loosing to Luton. Their record has been appalling for a while now. And Boro have picked up a bit but you still think Woodgate isn't the right man for them and they'll hover round the relegation zone. Interesting to see those with new managers - Cardiff, Reading and Millwall - aren't pulling up any trees but are getting some points. It seems like average is the watchword of this division.

Oh Tony! Even when you get it right you try to get it wrong. Probably a good reason why we won't go up. His subs have cost us before and it looks like the temptation to mix things up is still there. At least he hasn't succumbed to doing it with the first 11. Good win and a great run. For all the squad frailties and player inconsistencies there's also a rather good team in there as well which is encouraging. Surprised Holtby didn't come on as we seemed to have final ball issues and his composure would've helped. The next 2 games are real challenges for us but we aren't staring into the abyss as we were before which must help the nerves going into some tricky games.

Yeah I see your point. Perhaps it's more his standards/judgement of a quality upgrade which combines with the language used and the treatment of certain players makes me wary as to whether he is actually trying to upgrade us!

I see you are ignoring this post which shows a host of reasons why Dack may be off! In addition to all my other objections what if a manager wants to change their style? How about clubs from abroad? Man there are a ton of reasons why Dack will leave and I,'m sure you quoted on the death of 4-4-2 in other places as well, so plenty of clubs may well want him. In fact he may for into these clubs as a different kind of dropping off forward/in the hole. I'm astounded someone can think that the best a well performing Championship player can do is us.

I see what you are saying but removal from the first 11 isn't the best barometer for success if the replacements aren't good enough! Also given how Holtby had been phased in and out, Gally came in sometimes over a better performing Graham - and some times in the spectacularly unhelpful position of right wing - Tosin only got his break when Williams/Lenihen was injured (admittedly he had his own injuries but it was still slower than it ought). It suggests TM is a bit unwilling to upset the apple.cart. I think he has said as much in interviews as well wanting to keep everyone happy. As for Johnson it seems a lot of wages on a squad player and a bit of a waste imo. Not very succinct from me! I guess what I am trying to say is I have issues with how a few players have been integrated and the creating competition also suggests players of a similar quality rather than those who've significantly better and we've seen that in Johnson Gally and Walton not being of the required standard for us to push on.

Um that's a tallest dwarf situation in a few of those cases isn't it? I mean pushing Leuitweiller, Bell, Bereton, Smallwood etc down the chain isn't exactly difficult and doesn't mean the incoming players are up to standard either. FWiW I think Holtby, Downing, Tosin and Cunningham are improvements to the squad but Johnson, Gally and Walton aren't at the required level. That's a 58% success ratio (ok I guess and his best yet) but also ignores fees, areas we haven't invested in and are threadbare or the long term profile/strategy of the club (arguably only Holtby and Gally will be playing for us next year at this level). So yeah I can see why fans may be worried.

So what you are saying is that there is not one of the clubs in the premiership or the top 10 of the championship (who are more likely for promotion than us) who would want him??? Now I find that hard to believe and somewhat impausible to say the least. The idea that none of these clubs play with someone in the hole either in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 or any other system with someone in the hole is a little far fetched. Not to mention that these clubs may want a plan B in order to change their shape. Oh and there's the fact that it has been known to buy talented players and convert/alter their positions and for clubs to buy players because they are doing well with no thought as to how they fit in the team! So on no level can it be said that Rovers are the pinnacle that Dack can and should aim for, and it's especially inaccurate to suggest no club will want him. That's wishful thinking I'm afraid.

Neither of which suggests he won't move on. The deal isn't done and even if it was when a bigger club comes calling contracts mean very little.

Chaddy, we haven't looked like getting promoted since we came down however many years ago. TM has taken us on 2 shocking runs. It's wildly optimistic to think we'll go up, and this is Dack's best chance. Whether it is one of the clubs mentioned, or say, West Brom, Leeds, or Fulham for example, are much more likely to go up and may want Dack. Heck a lot of lower prem teams might. Appreciate these aren't all south, but the issue I'm raising is the idea that his best chance of PL football is here. Clearly not the case given we get a nosebleed when we go near the playoffs.

Whilst I'm imagining that Pedro hasn't spoken to Olivia it's a distinct possibility and you'd have to be very naive not to see it. They've already spoken on record about how much time they spend down south and so it's far from a stretch to suggest they may want to settle there especially as that is where her "career" is based.

Yes, when you think that there's issues with 4 strikers we see we need some work done up top as soon as we get our defence sorted. Armstrong doesn't really cut it up front and is much better on the wing, Bereton is not good enough, Graham is 34 and the jury is out on Gally (it's only been recently he's shown glimpses of promo and so far they are glimpses welcome as they are). In short we look a bit shaky up top too. The defence and especially the keeper is a more important area as we leak goals and are very short there, but it's not a strong situation up top either.

Oh I agree they are a law unto themselves, however once a precedent has been set, clubs can fight back a bit. For example now the Bolton situation has a decision, it makes it very comparable with other situations. Like Sheff Weds are challenging because the Derby dodgy ground dealings got through, once a precedent has been made, it makes it harder for the FL to defend their position. I'd say it also shows their incompetence and poor moral character but both of these things were well established.

So with Macclesfield players threatening to boycott the game as they're not in a fit place to play and they haven't been paid the Football League are warning them they could face disciplinary action for threatening the integrity of the game. Given the Bolton fiasco though I feel this will be hard for them to enforce.

Apart from dropping Bennett. And playing Rothwell. And dropping Gally. And playing Graham. And having Downing at left back. Armstrong actually being on the right wing. And having Evans instead of Holtby. Apart from that nothing changed. Also it sounds a bit of an antagonistic interview and not very endearing by TM whatsoever.

Again this is what throws me. How can it be ok for one club but not another? One of the most frustrating things in football is the inconsistencies shown by the governing bodies. Along with the Bolton fiasco the game is losing what lite credibility remains.

Could the City lad be adequate cover for Nayambe if we bring in a centre back and Lenihen stays fit? Not ideal but doing ok with Nayambe there and with another centre back perhaps we can limp along to the summer. Certainly left back is more pressing as we only have a 35 year old midfielder who is any good there! Edit: Oh and a keeper. We don't even have someone who is arguably ok in this position.

Horrible club. Only thing Derby could win is being the most dislikeable club in the championship. From the dodgy Rooney deal (3rd party ownership, promoting gambling via kids) to the handling of the drink driving crash the club is a sewer and I hope they go down. Same team as the last few games please. On paper an easier game than Stoke or Brentford so expect us not to win. Can't stomach a loss to this lot so a draw it is.

Agree in general although don't think Luton have been great all season and criminal we lost whenever it was. Wonder if it is takeover issues that are causing problems at Charlton and their poor form?

The difference between TM and good managers is how many make the change. Emerton under Hughes was good at both right back and centre mid - neither of which were his main position. Similarly Warnock looked ok in centre mid under Big Sam. Thing is very few players change position under a good manager. Whilst there may always be one or two there's not the wholesale moving about of players that we see at Ewood. We've played virtually every striker on the wing, Bennett at right back, Dack in a few odd places, Downing on the wrong wing and that's just off the top of my head. That's far more than any other manager I can recall. Perhaps equally pertenant is that I can't recall many managers sticking with players for more than a game or two when it doesn't work yet in TM we have seen this persisted with even when it isn't working. Its no surprise we have started to do a bit better with more players in their correct position. TM had gained himself a bit of breathing space with a good run over the last 3 games but let's not pretend that the overplaying of players out of position was normal or a strength. There'll always be players who adapt to new positions but they are far from in the majority.

Goal keeper - fist and foremost as we have not got a single decent one. Centre back 2nd, as this massively strengthens the defence for when Lenihen is injured. Also needed as we have no other first choice suitable centre half alongside Lenihen for next season. Left back, similar situation - cover for Downing and at 35 we need a good one for next season anyway. Striker - as above but with Graham. Gallagher might, just might, grow into it if properly coached and not thrust in too quickly (like today's role) and goals can also come from the midfield, so a bit less of a priority then the defenders.

Agree, but I'd add another hard nut leader centre back (a la Andy Todd) as Lenihen will miss half a season with injury.

A host of exciting Championship results today (the most exciting being ours but then I'm biased) but a lot of other interesting ones too. Brentford bounced back with a 7-0 win suggesting they're a pretty decent team, and that Luton really aren't. Along with another loss for Wigan, I think both clubs are looking in serious trouble. Barnsley, my third pick for the drop managed a second win of the season, which is a tad surprising. Boro lost again too, and heavily to Leeds, making me wonder how long Woodgate will last there, and a heavy loss for Huddersfield suggests there is still work to be done there as well. Cardiff seem to be taking to Harris as a manager, albeit early days, with another win, As for our win, an 11 point gap with relegation suggests that it will take a heck of a bad run on a par with last seasons for us to get anywhere near relegation. Funny the difference a few weeks can make!