Really good summary, I feel. By comparative standards, albeit, in a poor quality league, we have an embarrassment of riches. We've just had three players called up to the U21s or U20s of some of the biggest football nations. We spent money on a back up left back in Edun and when that didn't work out we signed Giles on loan from the Prem. With Nyambe and JRC needing back up, we signed Zeefuik and Brown. Edun, Harry Chapman and Jacob Davenport were all signed for transfer fees and none regularly get into the match day squad these days. We're not the big spenders we once were and Mowbray has made some good signings. Yet, we have brought in a lot of players and spent money throughout the squad. We also had a strong U23 side, competing in the top league, that didn't develop and is now being dispersed but still has some promising individuals. Despite all this, we resort to, as Glen mentions, players out of position, having their self-belief and development ground down, as performances and results stutter. We can hope we pick up and get into the play offs but it'll take management to get out of the way and let the players express themselves. Edit: In the second half of the season, last year, Harvey Elliot was dropped to the bench and Mowbray desperately rotated Trybull, Evans, Downing and others to get a result. In a way, options only add to his uncertainty, it seems. During our strong run this season, with injuries, he didn't have many options.

Why have Rankin-Costello and Brown on the bench when you have no intention to bring then on at RWB? Mowbray's decision-making defies logic. And, yet, in spite of him, we could still sneak a winner.

Might be too sensible for Mowbray but at least Giles won't be playing as a forward.

The plethora of international call ups and recalls (in the case of Lenihan and Kaminski) reflects our good run and league position. It also reveals what it takes to keep players and develop them. Having been mired in middle to lower league for the past seasons, despite some outstanding players for this league, players have stagnated and inevitably looked elsewhere to develop. The retention of Kaminski, therefore, is a pleasant surprise, which goes against the grain. However, we won't keep him long if we sink back into our old ways.

I would hope that Rovers made some attempt to permanently sign van Hecke and/or Khadra in January. With their U21 international call-ups, it becomes less and less likely we will be able to afford to keep them.

I would be surprised if there was not some open dissent against Mowbray, in the changing room, from a player or two, given the first half display and tactics. And not just some of the youngsters, but some of the dominant voices who have been Mowbray favourites. This game, though a win, seems like another flux moment, comparable to the Fulham thrashing defeat. Once again, there is uncertainty about the future formation and line-up.

The most worrying decision for me at the moment is the signing of Hedges on the cusp of a historic promotion push, only for him to apparently not be ready. Mowbray deserves credit for signings like Khadra and Van Hecke but this one was crucial and at the moment, it looks a missed opportunity to bring someone in to make an immediate impact. Having said that, even if we had signed the next Armstrong (or Markanday had stayed fit), I'm not convinced about the team as a whole. After all, even with a firing Armstrong, we finished lower mid-table in 15th, last year.

We all know Gallagher is limited but he has been severely hampered by being played out of position. He would score goals played as a striker and supported by wingers.

Very harsh, but wearing shoes on the opposite foot came to mind, in relation to Gallagher playing wing forward or split striker, as I've seen it called.

It's good news but I must question whether Travis is improving as a player. Injuries have been a hinderance and, arguably, he's been overplayed by Mowbray. He could do with someone to compete with, take the physical load of and challenge him to get better. He was once looking like a potential Premiership midfielder but hasn't developed. I put some of this down to the club's failure to bring in or bring through a CM to challenge and support him. Playing in poorly set-up sides hasn't helped either.

I think it's fair to say that Mowbray doesn't know what he's doing, when it comes to the forwards. Things fell into shape for a while, but in the Fulham game, prior to the up turn, I believe that Buckley started as a right forward. Now we are experimenting with new full backs as wide forwards, reminiscent of the experiments with Clarkson and Poveda as lone No.10s.

Agree that this season could be the high point for a long time, should we not go up. I disagree with those that argue that we have a small squad. We just extended James Brown's deal. He's a 23 year old RB with experience, albeit lower level. Dan Pike, now at AFC Fylde, was given a two year deal - so supposedly is/was rated. That makes 5 right wing backs at the club, in Nyambe, Zeefuik, JRC, Brown, Pike excluding those featuring for the U18s. More questionable is thr quality of managerial decision-making in some of the recruitment. The backing of Bradley Johnson as third choice CM a glaring issue, unresolved for a long time.

I suppose Giles is playing left forward? It's bizarre that we chased Hedges so hard and prefer a wing back up front. Rothwell could play there too.

Interesting that Ash Phillips was out with an injury picked up on international duty. That's one of, it seems, a number of injuries he's picked up this season. They seem to all have been relatively minor but I think it should be a matter of concern for Rovers, considering his age and the regularity that he is playing for U23s, U18s and internationals, all against players above his age. Rovers rotate their goalkeeper for the U23s, virtually every match. I would look to give Phillips some rest. This season has been blighted by major injuries to Isaac Whitehall, Lenni Cirino, Sam Barnes and others, so some caution and reflection might be helpful.

Carter and Magloire look to be the Rovers loanees to have established themselves in their new teams. The others are coming off the bench.

It's painful as, I think, this is our "golden generation" to be picked off come the summer. Mowbray spurned the talents of Armstrong and Elliot last year and he risks replicating that, somewhat, this campaign. Gallagher as wing forward just has to come to an end. I'd like Buckley to play central midfield, in a three, but as a No.10, he stands a chance if he has skilful and fast players ahead of him. Not Gallagher, who is a traditional centre forward and nothing else. I think we can still make the play-offs, but a lot rests on Buckley and Gallagher, for different reasons, and, on the team staying fit. An injury to, say, Wharton, and I think you can say goodbye - and, God rest, for some time.

I worded it poorly but the impact of Hedges will, for me, greatly affect Mowbray's reputation in the transfer market and, even, as a manager. It was not just any signing but, in the event of Markanday's unfortunate injury, the major January signing for our historic promotion push.

Hedges was a major January signing. The biggest behind Markanday. A lot rests on him and his success will also reflect on Mowbray who has placed a lot of faith on the player, even spending money on him when he was attainable on a free at the end of the campaign.

It's really surprising that they gave him the captaincy, as a new signing. As useful as he can be, at times, especially, in a defensive side, they didn't do their homework. Last season's experienced quartet of Downing, Holtby, Bennett and Evans were all, arguably, kept on at Rovers for too long. Mowbray wanted Bennett to stay, with Johnson, and there's a case for retaining experience, but not when they're failing to perform or stay fit.

Harvey Elliot started for Liverpool in midfield in the last sixteen tie against Inter. An incredible progression for Elliot who helped us to our 15th place league finish last season, mostly playing as a right wing forward. Though Elliot was one of the league's top assist-makers last year, in a reasonable line-up and role, he surely would have helped propel us much higher. Consider that almost one year ago, on 17 Feb 2021, we lost 2-1 to Barnsley, playing, apparently a version of 3-5-2 with a midfield of Travis, Downing and Dack, with Elliot Bennett and Barry Douglas our wing backs and Gallagher up front with Armstrong. Harvey Elliot came off the bench on 76 minutes and assisted a late Armstrong consolation. The following game, we lost 1-2 to Preston, with, apparently, a 4-3-3 type formation, with Gallagher right wing, Rothwell left wing (subbed at half-time as we trailed 0-2) and Harvey Elliot coming off the bench after 63 minutes. But, steering it on topic of the Champions League, it looks like Elliot was selected today ahead of Henderson, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Milner, which is astonishing. It also highlights the depth that they have, as Curtis Jones could also play with Fabinho and Thiago and with the signing of Diaz, it seems that they've gained in belief, no longer so reliant on Origi as key back-up upfront.

Jack Vale must be knocking on the door with his good showings for the U23s and lack of strikers and goals in our first team. I think it'd be sensible to have him on the bench, if Brereton Diaz is injured. He could easily be vilified if he struggles in a disjointed team but we don't have many options. Alternately, a good showing and he'll give everyone a lift.

A number of failings in the side, including, sub full backs not performing, Gallagher played out of position and Buckley, really, out of position too. These need addressing and, in addition, I think Jack Vale needs to be turned to as a striker presence. We await Dack's return and Hedges justifying his transfer fee but Vale is in good form for the U23s and an option we seriously need to consider to try and add some goal threat.

Not as big an issue as playing players out of position and not finding another CM but, right now, Carter should be in defence and Nyambe right back. The decision to loan him out was an unnecessary risk, given Ayala's injury record.

I'm amazed that Dyche can have Burnley competing with a central midfield of Westwood and Brownhill. There's barely a goal in either of them, in this formation, as good as other aspects of their game are. Whatever anyone might say about the playing style, it puts a lot of managers and players to shame. Edit: Re AllRoverAsia's comments about Man U, below - I agree, it is a surprise that they're still in Champions League contention. I think it might be because the league is stronger as a whole and everyone's taking points off one another (aside from, maybe, top two). I also believe that managers and players are caving to the immense pressure that is being created by huge transfer spending and expectations - eg. perhaps, Leicester and Everton.

I find it hard to judge Mowbray partly because I just don't know what managerial talent is out there as an alternative and the concerns about our record of appointments, from Ince, Kean, Berg etc. is a worry. However, at some stage we will have to make a change, so that uncertainty can't hold us back forever. If need be, we could try to appoint internally, when the time comes. The other reason I find it hard to judge Mowbray is I haven't kept track of Rovers' transfer spending compared to other clubs in the league, which is a measure (but not the only) for achievement of a manager. Rovers have spent quite a lot just on squad players or up and coming players, it seems to me, which seems a luxury. Edun, Hedges, Davenport and Chapman, come to mind, and I would speculate that they could be close to or, over, £1m in transfer fees. Then there are loans which must cost us in fees, as well as wages, though I have no idea how much. How that all compares to other clubs, I'm not sure. The forward line option, last year of Elliot, Armstrong and Brereton (pre-Diaz) does weigh heavily against Mowbray, I feel, given that we finished 15th. Skip a season, in today's inflated transfer market, that's probably a £90-100 million strike force - though Elliot is really a midfielder, Armstrong hasn't yet justified the fee and his valuation is, at least for now, in decline and Brereton will need to maintain his form to justify a huge fee. Throw in Rothwell and some other talents from the squad last year, and I think an argument can be made that Mowbray has an eye for attacking players but hasn't often put together a team. This half season, or so, has changed that, and Mowbray has found a winning formula. However, it is only half a season and we need a lot more to prove that it isn't just a temporary improvement. Edit: I'd also make the argument that Mowbray's taken his eye of youth progression, having benefited and enabled the homegrown system producing Travis, Nyambe, Buckley, Lenihan, Wharton and JRC for his squad. It's not an argument that can really be proved, as it could be equally be argued that the standard of talent coming through hasn't been maintained and some have suffered big injury set-backs. Though, it should be said, the standard of first team players has been poor, at times. Having five 'homegrown' players in the team at the moment, even if some were signed up from other clubs as teenagers, is huge for a club like Rovers and the progression needs to be maintained to sustain us a club.