We now have an international break to get Rodwell up to speed. After his performances is he above Smallwood in the pecking order ? Secondly we lack height to deal with set pieces and Rodwell is a big strong lad. Could he not play at cb and push lennihan into the cm with Reed/Evans where he naturally wants to play and solve two problems ( in that he sees himself as a midfielder). Also Rodwell can play Abit to. He has a a good range of passing and composure to set up attacks. With lenihan offering what Bennett offers in the middle. Thoughts ?

I agree with the sentiment but I don't think brereton would have made an impact today.

Smallwood and Evans came on to shut up shop. It worked and we have three points. Against anyone but maybe four or a five teams we will always concede late goals and be punished playing like that. Once Smallwood and Evans play together goals are going to be very difficult to come by. At half five I was so happy with the line up and by half 7 I believe more than ever that Tony just doesn't have it in him to play any other way

Happy with the three points but this park the bus thing is really beginnjng to grate

He can't , he's irish

Handbrake back on .Sigh.

Rodwell with Abit of skill and class, something neither Evans or Smallwood have, then finishes it off with a sarcastic tribute to Jason Lowe , because he can. Legend

Rothwell looks a real player. Very composed. He does seem to drift in the middle to often and probably why mowbray is hesitant to start him as he likes shape and discipline.

David Raya having a blinder. What a save

United 1-0 down. Not relevant but made me smile. Make that 2-0

It's nice to have a bit of height int the centre mid.

Extremely happy with that team. Well done Tony. The Penny's dropped and the handbrake has been released. I smell blood. Sit back and enjoy what can only be described as a mauling. The macron Reebok University of failure is going to need chalk lines drawing round it. They will be battered. COYB

I'm surprised Wilder hasn't been mentioned for the villa job

That was the exact point I was trying to make . You just put it more elequently and easier to understand

Celtic ?

He played at Port Vale

I agree and that was kind of my point. How long are you building a squad of challengers before the best get cherry picked and you stop moving forward. I am by no means saying mowbray should be anything but praised and he is the right man for the job. My point was at some point (not this season, I agree) he needs to lose that cautious approach and go for it. I haven't seen anything in Tony's dna that suggests he will. How long will fans accept defensive , cautious approaches to games before demanding we start to attack the league. The dacks of this world won't stay around for season after season saying we're building when we play 8 defenders at home

How long is that acceptable to the fan base before the demand for a promotion push. He will get away with it this season but that form will result in mid table mediocrity and our best players getting cherry picked by the bigger clubs in this league. If we have true aspirations of promotion something has to change or are we just a feeder club developing young talent for the big boys. We won't know until next season how ambitious he really is but if the handbrake is still on this time next year then questions will stop being asked and a demand for answers will commence

Raya Reed Mulgrew. Williams. Bell Bennett. Rodwell Rothwell. Dack. Armstrong Graham

I predicted a couple of places above relegation but I think we will be near the top end of the bottom half of the table. We need some quality to take us to the next level of promotion and play off pushes as well as a clearer identity of play. If we want to go up we have to be braver, especially at home. Smallwood and Evans need breaking up for a start before we can dare to dream. We need players playing in there natural positions and to sign players in areas we need strengthening to come straight into the 11 and be signed to play in the area they naturally play.

I agree that he's young, needs to settle, learn how the team play and all the other things people have said and we shouldn't be writing him off. However, a young lad at a new club should be bursting a gut to impress with energy, attitude and desire. Anyone can play bad for numerous reasons but his body language doesn't scream Danny watch out, I'm coming for your shirt. He couldn't control the ball a few times which could be factored to nerves but his body language is concerning and I can't figure out what exactly his primary asset is.

He always stands out the few games I have seen forest. Good player

Reed got mom

Letting O'Connell go and on a free was criminal. It was obvious he was gOod enough back then

Whose rothwell on for