Decent enough first half, that carter looks an imposing lad. Showed some tidy passing at the back too.

Awful first half. I don’t know why our midfield behaves the way it does sometimes. The three in midfield have these really strange phases during the game where they’re incredibly narrow, very close to one another and very static. Which means our attack gets piss poor support and the defence (particularly full backs) get shocking support as well. The worst thing is it seems like it’s by design. But why?

4 hours ago, ben_the_beast said:

I live in Pompey. I think a lot of people would be disappointed quite quickly with Curtis. Not a lot of pace, dribbling technique, nor is he particularly direct. Yes he has chipped in with a few goals at league one level but he would do a lot of passing it sideways and turning back against better opposition. 

Also he is very, very mouthy. Not saying it's a bad thing. But it's not a Mowbray thing

Fair enough, to be honest I’ve watched him play 5-6 times whenever Pompey been on tv and he’s always stood out to me however I know a few players stand out on tv but are inconsistent otherwise. I do feel however he’s a player that would suit the current formation as it stands inside forward type. As an aside it is absolutely staggering how much recruitment is needed this summer when you look at it on paper (if we want to progress)

1 hour ago, Mellor Rover said:

They wanted 2.5mil when he had 6 months left on his deal. He’s now signed a new deal so absolutely no chance.

I feel they may have inflated the price because of their promotion push. Honestly though who knows what the market will be like this summer.

Would like to see us go in for Ronan Curtis again now Pompey are definitely not getting promoted.

It’s such a shame butterworth got injured I thought it would be a breakthrough season as he’s by far a better prospect than brereton. I tend to be more forgiving than most but I’ve given up on Ben doing anything here, I really thought there was something there (or maybe it was just in dumb hope). There was a complete lack of trust from the manager from the start (why spend that money if no trust) and through his own stupidity v Barnsley he’s never had a run of games here. It’s so bizarre. From the signing to the actual management of the lad himself it’s been a complete shitshow and the worst handling of a player since Mowbray arrived by far and considering the money that was spent just makes the mis-management even more sickening. 

Proper cliche but rothwell has absolutely no football brain. Every game it seems like his highlight reel is one half decent run followed by an absolutely half brained finish or pass and that’s all he does.

9 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I wish we have the Brentford model of scouting and finding these gems. Its something the club should have implement years before Mowbray time. We have a good scouting network under Hughes then after he left we seen to go backwards in terms of scouting. Hopefully we are heading back to having a good scouting network and knowledge 

Brentford have an excellent scouting network, I also feel an important side note to this is the type of football Brentford play. They play an expansive and open style that allow players to show individuality and ultimately flourish. We play a very confused and inconsistent style of football which does not help. 

I find the dislike for the guy in general is a bit harsh. If we can grab him for a low fee in the summer I’d be all over it. Baby age for a keeper with loads of experience already and yeah he’s made some gaffs (which keeper at this level doesn’t see Leeds Brentford last night) but he’s saved us a few times and has a lot of clean sheets and in my opinion has helped stabilise the defence being more commanding in the area. 
 

I would like to see him under a keeper coach that isn’t a no mark and if Mowbray has something better lined up fair enough but I doubt it. I think Walton if he leaves would be appreciated a lot more by us lot when we end up stuck with real trash like that Sunderland keeper we were linked with.

39 minutes ago, Butty said:

Championship centre halves don’t notoriously go for much either. Don’t think we’d get much more than 4/5 million. We only got 4 for Duffy and 5 for Hanley who I’d say were both more highly thought of within the game than Darragh is.

I think across the board the centre back market is still a bit more baron than a few years ago on top of even more transfer inflation in the last few years. I think we can get around £10m for Darragh

Just now, JoeH said:

I have him from Belfast into Manchester. Irish lad and I reckon he’s probably been in the country or something. That’s the only FlyBe flight I can find with a similar take off time to his Instagram story, and would make a little more sense.

Ahhhh right I tracked him from Southampton airport in Flybe which is to Glasgow. Who knows I think we’re probably grasping at straws anyway ?

done a little snooping on Ronan Curtis his Instagram story suggests that he’s currently on a flight Which I tracked to Glasgow airport. Could be something of nothing. But this transfer window has been baron, like all Rovers fans I’m bored and ready to latch on to any information possible.

3 minutes ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

One particular fit that mowbray likes- as do I- but is unlikely due to money wanted is Ronan Curtis from pompy. Maddison was the back up to this but with Curtis looking unlikely and Maddison talking to Charlton they are having to act fast or will end up with neither- probably the most likely scenario. He is wanting to free armstrong from the wing to focus on up top with dacks goals missing, he sees armstrong as the guy for goals. Struggling with raising capital though. Trying to get a few out the door

Big fan of Ronan Curtis would be great here, I believe his contract runs out at the end of the season no?

A bit harsh that I think. I do feel bad for lenihan and tosin with some of the other melts that are often in the back four with them namely bell, Bennett and Williams. 

Perhaps if he played a little more Tosin would be well in for a shout for me. Difference between him and Williams is night and day, very underrated part of how we play can take out three or four opposing players with his passing. Erratic moment here or there but touch of class in our defence. Feel he’s been underrated. But I’d go along with the Downing consensus. 

That Schmidt lad is now following us on Instagram. So possibly 

Mowbrays a fucking loser 

My worry in defence is that we can sign two good quality championship players. But our back line looks so uncoordinated, no communication with each other, the set up is just wrong. While I’m certainly not advocating the likes of Mulgrew, Bennett or Bell. A back line like that could have been sufficient against a poor Charlton side but Mowbray doesn’t have the tactical nous. Whoever we sign the defence will look grim cause he can’t organise it. 

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17650450.keeper-could-leave-rovers-despite-signing-new-deal/

So I think our pal Jason is very much a contingency if things don’t work out as Mowbray plans, possibly third choice next season or try and command small fee over the summer 

Raya is a very good shot stopper but not yet the commanding presence needed to help marshal what realistically is an inexperienced defence. I feel if we had that experience then Raya would fare a lot better here. Ideally I’d like to bring an experienced goalkeeper to compete with raya. Someone he can learn from. If Brentford want to pay us a good wedge and some sell ons then I wouldn’t be overly upset, as long as we had a good replacement lined up...but I have doubts over whether we would. 

I think Rothwell belongs on the wings he doesn’t seem to have the intelligence to play at cm, though it’s early days for him yet. Or if he is in midfield have him in a more pure midfield three just to lessen responsibility and chance of crucial mistake. Any promise he’s shown though is when he’s on the wing running at the fullback, he’s really not afraid to drive straight at them which is good.

Abuse is standard for anybody online, performing well or not, no matter how good or bad you are. Mostly bored incels trying to be funny. I do feel for Brereton though, I think there’s a player there somewhere (not on the wing though that’s for damn sure). Also think he’s not suited to our style of play at the moment. Best thing that can happen for him is maybe if graham is exhausted or gets a small knock, plays up top a couple of games and grabs a goal I think he’ll be alright. He’s still not had a fair shake really, he’s only had a couple of starts in 6 months and mostly coming on for fifteen minutes or so the rest of the time. I’m rooting for him anyway.

Jake Bidwell might be worth a shout, decent age only got six months left on contract. Left back that’s very highly rated by QPR fans. But I honestly believe Mowbray will stick with Williams and Bell for sometime yet. Been a proper quiet window though we’ve barely even had rumours attached to us. 

Travis is an absolute baller, the composure he has for his experience is unreal. Key for both goals as well, what an exciting player. Nuttall grafted big time, and I thought he dealt with the stick from the crowd well you can tell he’s got bags of confidence. Rodwell and Lenihan superb as well. Rubbish game, great result.