Even though I strongly believe that it is time for TM go, I also know that the chances of that actually happening are very slim, which leaves this summer as a crucial window in his reign. The noises that seem to be coming from the club point to a low budget with a reliance on academy players for next season. Due to the youthful nature of our squad already I don’t believe that is the end of the world for us, and with one or two tweaks, taking TM out of the equation, we could have a squad capable of challenging the top end of the table. With Dack coming back I feel as if we will revert back to our 4231 formation in order to get the best out of him. It is obvious that we need a new centre back, left back, keeper and at least one wide player. If we want to challenge next season these acquisitions need to be first team quality and players who can come straight into the team. Assuming that they are, we would be left with a very capable squad. GK: New, Fisher RB: Nyambe, Bennett CB: Lenihan, New, Williams, Carter, Grayson LB: New, Bell CM: Travis, Evans, Davenport, Buckley, Holtby, Johnson RM: Rothwell, JRC LM: New, Chapman CAM: Dack: Holtby, Buckley Striker: Arma, Gally, BB Anyone not on that list has to be let go of imo. On paper that looks quite strong to me, but is heavily reliant on us making the right signings in the right areas, something which I don’t really have faith in TM doing. But there is certainly potential there for a decent season. What we cannot afford to do this summer is buy squad players, especially in this economic climate. We already have the current players, aswell as upcoming youngsters to bulk up the squad, what we really need is first team quality and I hope that is where we focus our finically resources, if any, on this summer.

Anyone else hoping that the lack of communication with TM/ lack of trip to India is an indication that his future is being considered?

We’ve been linked to West Brom’s second choice keeper Jonathon bond by sky. Can’t say I’ve ever heard of him

For me, our current situation parallels the one experienced under Bowyer. Under Bowyer we developed a really good squad, with players such as Rhodes, Cairney, Gestede, Keane, Hanley, Conway, Evans and Duffy all coming through to give our squad a really strong spine with a clinical attack. While Bowyer undoubtedly deserved credit for stabilising the club and building that team, he deserved as much criticism for not turning that team into promotion challengers. In a season which Rhodes and Gestede scored 40 between them he couldn’t manage higher than a mid-table finish, which for me was hugely disappointing. That squad then got broken up/sold and from there on we sleepwalked into relegation to league one. The issue was that Bowyer, due to his previous good work, had seemed to place him in an unsackable position, meaning we never saw the full potential to that team. By the time he was sacked it was too late and that team was gone. Compare that to now and it’s difficult to not see the similarities. Mowbray has built a good squad, with players such as dack, Armstrong, Lenihan, travis, Nyambe, Evans and rothwell all being players I believe capable of pushing this club towards promotion. When you add to that to the handful of very promising young players we currently have you have to think that next season is a massive opportunity for us to go for promotion. The issue is that it is clear, like it was under Bowyer, that Mowbray doesn’t have the tactical nouse, bottle or even common sense to take us to that next level, however also like Bowyer, he has seemed to have got himself in a position where he is unsackable and exempt from critism. I feel as if he has the owners under his thumb. You do feel that if we don’t make it next year then we will lose the majority of our top players and our chance will have gone. What is most worrying about TM that his decisions over the past two seasons have been extremely questionable. Persistence with players such as Bennett, Gallagher and Smallwood have been infuriating while his tactical thinking of strikers playing out wide is the most backward idea I have seen in a long time, and his refusal to buy any natural wide players only enhances this frustration. How you can have a squad with no genuine wide players is a mystery, and how you can line up a 4 3 3 formation with 3 central strikers as the front 3 is just outrageous. While we must all be grateful for the job TM has done we need something different for next season and I can only hope someone at the club has the balls to push for that.

Wigan beating hull 7-0 at the moment, still got 30 mins to go.

That is a joke

Need a big second half. Now or never

I would genuinely rather lose the rest of our games so that there’s a chance of Mowbray getting the sack we’re going nowhere with him

Mowbray get out now

personally I’m quite happy to see rothwell start, especially if he’s in a midfield 3. In a game like today where Wigan will most likely sit off we might need his creativity and ability to run with the ball.

If Evans is injured then that’s a big loss.

Tough game this, Wigan are in a good patch of form atm and have survival to play off so we’re going to have to be up for it. In reality though if we want to make the play offs we all know this is a game we need to win. Hopefully we can finally break that glass ceiling of ours, if we do it might hugely benefit us psychologically going in to our remaining games. In terms of the team, strong performances all round make it a difficult selection, though u would think both arma and Nyambe must come back in. I’d go with: Walton Nyambe Tosin Lenihan JRC (unless bell is fully fit) evans Downing travis gallagher arma brereton

Personally the team I fear the most is actually Brentford. I know we’ve picked up 4 points from them this season but I think as a team they have grown as the season has gone on and I really wouldn’t be surprised if they break into the top 2. There a powerful outfit who play good football and theyve probably got the 2 best attackers in the league in Benrahma and Watkins. Meanwhile I think Fulham are flaky at the back and their manager makes poor use of the players he has available imo, and everyone knows Leeds are bottle jobs. So I’d be quite happy to see leeds in the playoffs in return for Brentford going straight up.

Still not getting in, working for anyone else? im in! kicked out again...

Walton nyambe Lenihan Tosin downing evans Travis rothwell Holtby JRC arma If bell is fit I would play him at left back and downing instead of JRC. Big game for us, a win would be massive and really set us up for two favourable fixtures. A loss could easily leave us stranded in midtable

I’m pretty sure he’s been awful over the last couple of season, makes loads of mistakes unless I’m thinking of the wrong player. Would steer well clear, we need much better.

Bell isn’t bad as a back up, saves us having to spend more money or risk a free agent in the summer. I still very much expect us to sign a first team left back. Ayala would be class but may be out of our wage budget, anyone know if he played under TM at somepoint?

While there is still a lot to play for this season, if it goes ahead, we are most likely to be remaining in this league, which sets us up for an important transfer window. Personally I think this summer window is a big one for us. A lot of the experienced players we’ve relied on over the past few seasons have seeming run their course - Graham, Bennett, Mulgrew and even Evans to an extent. Who along with a bunch of fringe players who need moving on, leaves us with quite a few gaps where we need to bring in quality players who can go straight into the first team, if we are to push on to the next level. Our back line is clearly the point which has the most question marks, with a new goalkeeper, centre back and left back all needed. Thankfully in Lenihan and Nyambe we’ve already got 2 quality defensive players in this division, so with the right additions we could see a strong backline next season. In terms of goalkeeper, I would like to see us go for Martinez of Arsenal, who I am led to believe we were interested in signing last summer. At left back I can’t look past the free transfer of Martin Olsson (I don’t believe he’s signed anywhere else?). He’s getting on abit now but he’s still got the legs and quality for the championship, at least for a season. He also would provide an experienced head in the dressing room who has promotion and prem experience. Finally I would like to see us go abit left field with our purchase of a centre back partner for Lenihan, in Reece oxford from Ausburg. Been out of favour there this season and is rumoured to be available on the cheap with a number of championship clubs supposedly interested. Would massively help fill the void that Tosin will leave as like him oxford has a good range of passing, mainly down to him being a central midfielder until recent years. Finding a central midfield partner for Travis will also be a important buy, though it could be quite simple in my eyes. Harrison reed I believe is out of contract at the end of season (that may be wrong) and would fit perfectly into that role. He’s a player who knows the club and would fit straight in, while his quality is well known to us rovers fans. I don’t think he has quite hit the heights at Fulham which could work in our favour. Him and travis would provide us with an all action, high energy partnership which would be perfect for the championship. In terms of attack I actually believe we are pretty well stocked. However, with Armstrong seemingly beginning to make the striker spot his own it does leaves one of our wide spots open, with Rothwell on the other. This is where we need some natural creativity and pace, and a wildcard option could be emre mor. A extremely talented young player who has lost his way abit and is currently available on the cheap at around 4million, which is the rough figure that Brentford were apparently quoted in January. While 4million may still seem quite a lot of money, I’ve believe it would be a shrewd acquisition, with a massive potential resale value if it works out. this would leave us with a team looking like this Martinez nymabe Lenihan oxford olsson reed travis rothwell dack/Holtby (Until dack fit) mor Armstrong subs: fisher, Williams, Johnson, Downing, Buckley/chapman, brereton/Holtby, Gallagher ofc finances this summer may well dictate that even these acquisitions are out of our range, I am only going of what our rough spends have been in previous summer windows. But either way this is a key summer for us to bolster the squad with strong first team players, if we are to make a serious promotion push.

Reuben Rochina for me had incredible talent. I will always wonder how he would of turned out for us had he not got injured against Derby in the first game of the season under bowyer. He could of been on one of our main players that year. He career petered out here after that. Think he was mismanaged.

Massive game today, but not just for us. If derby win they’ll fancy themselves to make the play offs so no doubt they’ll be up for it and they certainly have some quality players to make the difference. People forget they were playoff finalists last year. Will be a difficult game no doubt. However I feel this opportunity is too big for us to turn down. It will be the first time we have meaningfully been in the playoffs of the championship since we were relegated. Get the win and I will really believe we have a chance, but as any rovers know this is normally when we have nose bleed. Let’s hope we can break through it this time! Come on rovers! walton nymabe Carter Tosin bell johnson travis Brereton rothwell arma Gally

TM is actually clueless, he’s just chucked aload of Strikers on And taken our most creative player in Rothwell off. There’s no point having 4 strikers when there’s no one to create for them. It’s absolutely ridiculous. our lack of actual wingers in incredible, the only out and out winger in our entire squad is chapman

Bottled it again. Season over I’m afraid

Hahaha I eat my words, get in gally

I literally can’t believe Gallagher is playing. Unbelievable

The team looks strong, but I think it’s the wrong lineup from TM tonight. IMO downing is most effective when Playing deep alongside travis, especially at home where we have more of the ball and need his quality. Yes Johnson has been decent for us recently but He doesn’t offer the same quality on the ball as downing. Bringing Rothwell back in tonight however is the right call, one of our best attacking players so needs to be in there even if he isn’t fully fit (unless there’s a chance of injury reoccurrence). Think Buckley has been harshly dropped, he’s played well and had crucial goal involvements in the last two games, he also has the ability to unlock defences, which we may need tonight if stoke put men behind the ball. I don’t think he offers much as a sub as he can’t physically impact the game, he’s much better when he can grow into a game and find pockets of space. Gallagher back in is also and error imo and is definitely the wrong call. Arma has proven that him upfront works, he’s been our main man for a while and our goalscorer, he should be the one up top no doubt. That would leave gally outwide which we all know doesn’t work. Would rather DS or JRC. Back line picks it’s self atm so glad to see that hasn’t changed. Would of gone with Walton nymabe Lenihan Tosin bell travis downing Samuel Buckley Rothwell arma We should still have enough to beat Stoke though and hope Tm proves me wrong with his selection. Big game tonight. Come on rovers!