I agree and I think Rovers plan, perhaps, is for the centre backs to follow their man up the pitch, knowing that the two midfielders, Rothwell and Travis would get outnumbered if left to it. However, it does leave gaps and exposes a shortage of pace in the backline. It's a tricky one to resolve given that we play a formation which is not only light in midfield numerically but also in terms of physicality. I suppose there was an element of panic in Lenihan's rash challenge that got himself sent-off, as Forest scored when he got outdone upfield and there was the risk of it happening again.

Definitely bad defending but also good play by the Forest forward who, I think, came deep and pulled Lenihan out of position. Our defence is a good unit that isn't blessed with great pace and likes to sit deep to absorb attacks. It seems a tactic of opposition teams to drop off and pull defenders out of the backline. I don't know much at all about defending but I wonder whether the defenders need to track forwards so deep, or whether midfielders should be taking up the work. I suppose a problem in the current formation is that the midfield can be quite light, in numbers, at times.

Would agree with this. The No.10 Buckley experiment has run its course, especially, against the stronger and wilier sides, in my opinion. As good a midfielder as he is, he's being asked to be Matt Jansen, which isn't his game. Dolan harries a lot but I don't think putting him there will really solve much, though, it can pressure opposition into mistakes. Based on just the highlights, Forest's forward, Keinan Davis rattled Lenihan by dropping deep and dragging him out of position, both for the first goal and the sending off. Lenihan, I suspect, went in for the rash challenge that got himself red-carded both out of frustration and concern because the opposition movement had opened the Rovers side up, again. Dropping Buckley into CM, with Travis and Rothwell would add depth, so that a midfielder can track strikers that drop deep and/or, if defenders get turned, there's one extra body to protect the defence. The two man midfield is, I feel getting exposed and Buckley is being nullified as a threat. It's a big call to change it, as the three pronged forward closing down tactic is a mainstay of Rovers game for seasons and has worked some results this season. However, I think the tactics getting found out and exposed, increasingly.

The Markanday injury was unfortunate but Mowbray has really committed himself to the signing of Ryan Hedges. He is. surely, going to be starting games next season when Brereton Diaz and, likely, Khadra leave. We also seemed to have signed Hedges at the expense of a CM to support Travis for the remainder of the season. It was a very big call to sign a player whose contract was expiring, from a middle-of-the-table SPL club, as the supporting creative force for a historic promotion push. If it comes off, Mowbray deserves all the credit. However, if it doesn't, he, equally, will have a lot to answer. Even more so when we see Forest's new recruit, Keinan Davis, doing so well. My own attitude is questioning. I don't know the player but his career hasn't been overly impressive, at 26 years old, and the talk of him being distracted by Rovers interest makes me concerned that he is not the type of character that will bolster a dressing room. However, he deserves every chance and, clearly, can't yet be judged.

Forest were without two of their top three goal scorers in Grabban and Zinckernagel. The latter was on the bench and replaced in the line-up by Jack Colback. I wonder if that was a decision to add more defensive strength to the middle of the park by Cooper, or whether simply necessitated by injury or fitness issues. Forest got the Villa forward, Keinan Davis, in January, on loan, and he could be the man to propel the team up the league. He's the type of striker that we could have done with to bolster our forward line. We could do with a defensive midfielder too, to support Travis. With Lenihan suspended, we're an injury away from Bradley Johnson as a centre back. He'll do a job, perhaps, but it would be a concern against mobile forwards. All in all, the January transfer window efforts by Mowbray haven't come to fruition and there remain notable gaps, exacerbated by sending some reserve players away. However, clearly the incoming players need to time to fit in and I wouldn't judge them too harshly yet.

It's a shame we don't have a mobile and physical CM option, because I have a feeling that this is not really a game for Rothwell to start. Someone tough tackling, strong and fairly fast would really help track their runners. Alternately, Rothwell could start under orders to hold his position in the middle because Forest are very quick on the counter.

With the influx of wing backs into the squad, including, return to fitness of JRC, and the addition of Hedges, Mowbray, potentially, is back to having options comparable to last year when we had a whole range of CMs from Trybull, Evans, Bennett to Downing. I feel that this remainder of the season will be a test for Mowbray, as he seemed to struggle to decide upon his best 11 last year and has a tendency to experiment with new signings in unfamiliar roles and shifting personnel around. The larger squad and new loanees will create new choices and decisions to be made. For me, the warning signs are already there, with new loanee wing backs being thrown into winger/forward roles. It's comparable to Poveda and Clarkson being thrown in the No.10/false 9 role and, unsurprisingly, struggling.

The influx of money has added a great deal of *individual quality throughout the league. Burnley, though bottom and surely heading down, have been able to buy a striker in Weghorst who has been playing in the Europa League with Wolfsburg. Incidentally, it's a strange sight seeing a tall striker hold up the ball and play in a fellow striker. It's almost as if playing a striker in the middle might actually work. However, the top clubs, especially, in the Champs League and owned by oligarchs, are just a level above financially, creating predictable league title contenders and then those below are the also-rans. In that sense, the procession at the top remains but just with bigger costs. The huge sums being spent throughout the league is creating unrealistic expectations and toxic pressure. Clubs like Palace and Everton are spending vast sums and their fans are expecting them to at least compete with comparably wealthy clubs like West Ham. All in all, it's very competitive, below the top four/five, maybe, but, given the huge financial and expectation inflation caused by investment, its becoming increasingly a toxic and unreasonably pressurised environment unsuitable for players or managers to express themselves on the pitch. I think you'll see increasingly homogenous teams and players playing safety first football. I also think you'll see fewer young players coming through as clubs abandon efforts to nurture and there is a demand for instant results. England will probably suffer from it in the following years, after reaching something of a high point lately. A league where there is no patience to develop players and managers and where footballers are unable to express them freely, in fear of the consequences, will not be a good product, no matter how much is spent on commercialising and branding it. *Edit: Added "individual" quality to that first sentence - because, I do wonder, given the huge financial pressure the clubs are increasingly under, whether it will or does translate into improved collective quality.

According to the BBC, Forest played with four at the back in their defeat against Cardiff at the end of January. Cardiff gave them 60% possession but managed to win 2-1. Against Leicester, Cooper brought the on-loan Villa forward, Keinan Davis back in and from the looks of things, did "a Mowbray" playing three forwards, with their 'target man' Keinan Davis out wide left, Zinckernagel through the middle and Johnson on the right. So, it looks like it will be like for like tomorrow, in terms of formation, almost exactly.

I very much doubt that four or so games and a few goals for FC United convinced Scunthorpe to take Burns on loan. I think these month-long non-league loans of U23 star players are wrong-headed by the club and risks damaging confidence. A brief non-league spell is hardly the stability for a player to get time to adapt to a very different style of play. At least give the player half or a full season option. Ideally, for a U23 regular and high performer, wait for the transfer window for League 1 or 2 club. Vale's loan at Halifax was, notably, half a season, giving him, at least, some meaningful time to adapt. It also gave him time to return from an ankle injury to play for them. Had it been a month, he'd have been back with barely having played much - a bit like Dan Pike earlier in the season. The one-month loans are, I think, an absurdity - except for, perhaps, U18s, who are there to soak up the atmosphere rather than really play - or, perhaps, players who are heading out the door and are scratching around for clubs. McBride's form tailed off and he even lost his place in the U23 team. However, he was a top performer last season and was nominated for the U23 player of the season. He was not an out and out striker for the U23s and a number of his goals were penalties. He did assist a few for Burns, from what a recall and managed 12 goals in total. He looked a confident player when he appeared for the first team in pre-season. At least this Queen's Park loan spell, albeit, a low standard, will give him a run of games to try to prove himself. Even if he does well in that league, I am not sure Rovers will keep him. My feeling is that, given that he was benched often by Mike Sheron, the management don't rate him as highly as others (as with many of the last batch of U23s) and are looking to the next cohort from the U18s. I think it would be a mistake not to persevere with him, given his initial impact, but we'll wait to see what happens.

Spence at right wing back is in the Jones at Boro mould in being skilful and fast. Edun came to terms with Jones eventually and Giles will have to do so for this one, if he plays. I don't know if Giles has pace but he'll need it to keep Spence quiet. If he does, he'll have done better than the Leicester and Arsenal defenders. Only problem, then, is that Zinckernagel and Johnson are skilful runners too and in form. We know we can rattle teams with fierce press and runners, when our's are fit. I think Buckley is being targeted by other teams and Mowbray needs to think about giving him more support in that area, or, shifting his role a little so not everything has to go through him. My guess, which could well be wildly wrong, is that Buckley in No.10 role will have diminishing returns in the current set-up. He's really a CM. Edit: If Gallagher and Dolan aren't ready, I think Vale has to be on the bench. It makes more sense to have an in-form young forward come on than full backs trying to play up front.

I agree with this. Mowbray has expressly referenced Liverpool when talking about tactics. They are capable of both counter-attack and possession. Keys to this, I believe, (aside from world class players) is an intense press from the the front and a three man midfield. If the front three don't close down intensely, they risk becoming passengers in the team. I think a plan B of 3-5-2, with Khadra and Brereton forward or, even, return to the apparently failed 4-3-3 may be in order. Now we have stronger left backs, compared to Bell and Douglas, it could be a way to accommodate an extra man in the middle, to help with retaining possession in the moments that require it. I'm sure Buckley as No.10 will continue given that overall it's been effective. The question is how we tweak our play when the other side nullify counters.

Chapman, Butterworth, McBride and Burns are all young Rovers forwards who have been invested in for several years. I'd rather they were played in a forward role rather than on loan full backs. At least one should have been retained as back up.

We have firepower on the bench, in Khadra and Brereton, but the decision to let go all the reserve forwards looks very foolish at the moment. They are unproven but at least they are forwards. As is the case for the long-term choice not to find a better midfielder than Johnson to make an impact off the bench. We simply can't play counter-attack all the time with Buckley as a No.10, I'm afraid. Other teams seem to be working it out. If Rovers are deep and under the cosh, they have no-one to hold up possession and relieve pressure.

I'm guessing Mowbray views him as 6th choice, behind Bradley Johnson, but there's a real possibility of him appearing on the bench before the season is up. I think it is a season too soon, given his age, but it might come to it if/when injuries affect the defence, including the U23s. Sam Barnes, who is probably the U23s most reliable CB, over the past two seasons, has had injury problems too. It's good to see Vale scoring and that the stint at FC Halifax, in non-league, didn't, seemingly, affect him negatively, as I had feared. He had an ankle injury which kept him out for a while and then he played right wing, as the Halifax No.9 was in good form. Apparently, he did ok, but didn't score many. Injuries seem to be an issue with him. Vale might well contribute something to the first team in time but, I'm sure that he carries transfer value in the market at least, given his Welsh U21 credentials. Rovers would do well to give him a few games and keep him on contract, either as a first team squad player and/or as a potentially saleable asset. Edit: It does puzzle me why the U23s rotate goalkeepers virtually every match. Stergiakis had a good game, apparently, in the last fixture and, I would've thought that giving a keeper a run of games is best to develop confidence and experience. It's chop and change every match, which gives everyone game time but no continuity or expression of trust from the management of being first choice. Eastham is, apparently, out of contract in the summer, so it makes sense to find a regular No.3, give him games and confidence in readiness to challenge Pears and, even, Kaminski.

This has been discussed but the problem with letting all the reserve forwards go, especially, Butterworth, is that there's a risk of rushing players back early from injury to fill gaps or playing makeshifts up front. We play with such intensity expected of players, I'd be concerned about Dolan or Khadra damaging their hamstrings further if they play. And I don't want to see Zeefuik upfront, though, perhaps, JRC might do a job as wing forward, if fit and called upon. Despite Butterworth's lack of form, shown in his last appearance, in prior games, he had, at times, made an impact. I recall an assist he had after a strong run down the flank and, also, in the same game, almost scoring with a long-range strike. He then lost his place on the bench and then came back to play against Luton.

I suppose, the kindest theory, to Mowbray, is that he hadn't planned his squad and recruitment much in June 2021 and therefore, went for safety first to retain Chapman as "a body" in the squad [Mowbray's terminology in recent quotes about Chapman] and later, made impulsive decisions to sign Poveda, Khadra and Clarkson, along with the other forwards, which made Chapman, who Mowbray doesn't get on with, disposable. The idea that Mowbray wanted to give Chapman another chance seems unlikely given that he was sent out on loan and Rovers signed several on loan attacking midfielders - and Mowbray continues to be critical of his application and attitude. Edit: To enter into guesswork now, based on no evidence, really, it might be that Rovers offered the contract in the expectation that Chapman would refuse it and leave on a free and, as a U24 player, might command compensation. I believe, though not sure, that a club must make an effort to retain a young player, before there can be any compensation award when they leave on a Bosman. However, I suppose there must be guards against this kind of ruse, so I'm not sure it is viable. Moreover, it would suggest much more planning and thought than is generally evidenced by the club's contract renewal dealings.

All the Championship Jan 2022 transfer incomings, courtesy of Mirror online. Premiership names like Cantwell (Bournemouth), Williams (Fulham), Hendrick (QPR) stick out but, across the board, it seems like a lot of strengthening has been done, which will make the league more competitive. Markanday is a huge loss, as, I suppose, he was expected to bag the goals to support Brereton. AFC Bournemouth James Hill - Fleetwood Ethan Laird - Man United (loan) Freddie Woodman - Newcastle (loan) Nat Phillips - Liverpool (loan) Kieffer Moore - Cardiff City Siriki Dembele - Peterborough Todd Cantwell - Norwich City (loan) Barnsley Amine Bassi - Metz Quina - Watford (loan) Birmingham City Teden Mengi - Man United (loan) Taylor Richards - Brighton (loan) Onel Hernandez - Norwich (loan) Juninho Bacuna - Rangers Lyle Taylor - Nottingham Forest (loan) Blackburn Rovers James Brown - Free agent Deyovaisio Zeefuik - Hertha Berlin (loan) Dilan Markanday - Tottenham Ryan Hedges - Aberdeen Ryan Giles - Wolves (loan) Blackpool Jake Beesley - Rochdale Charlie Kirk - Charlton (loan) Owen Dale - Crewe Bristol City Timm Klose - Unattached Cardiff City Cody Drameh - Leeds (loan) Tommy Doyle - Manchester City (loan) Alfie Doughty - Stoke City (loan) Jordan Hugill - Norwich City (loan) Uche Ikpeazu - Middlesbrough (loan) Coventry City Jake Bidwell - Swansea Derby County NONE Fulham Neco Williams - Liverpool (loan) Huddersfield Town Jamal Blackman - Unattached Tino Anjorin - Chelsea (loan) Carel Eiting - KRC Genk Hull City Regan Slater - Sheffield United Allahyar Sayyadmanesh - Fenerbahce (loan) Ryan Longman - Brighton Marcus Forss - Brentford (loan) Liam Walsh - Swansea (loan) Luton Town Jed Steer - Aston Villa (loan) Middlesbrough Aaron Connolly - Brighton (loan) Caolan Boyd-Munce - Birmingham Folarin Balogun - Arsenal (loan) Riley McGree - Charlotte FC Millwall Oliver Burke - Sheffield United (loan) Nottingham Forest Keinan Davis - Aston Villa (loan) Steve Cook - Bournemouth Richie Laryea - Toronto Sam Surridge - Stoke City Jonathan Panzo - Dijon Peterborough United Bali Mumba - Norwich (loan) Steven Benda - Swansea (loan) Callum Morton - West Brom (loan) Jeando Fuchs - Dundee United Hayden Coulson - Middlesbrough (loan) Reece Brown - Huddersfield Town Preston North End Cameron Archer - Aston Villa (loan) Bambo Diaby - Unattached Queens Park Rangers David Marshall - Derby Dion Sanderson - Wolves (loan) Jeff Hendrick - Newcastle (loan) Reading Karl Hein - Arsenal (loan) Tom Ince - Stoke (loan) Sheffield United Adam Davies - Stoke Charlie Goode - Brentford (loan) Stoke City Taylor Harwood-Bellis - Man City (loan) Lewis Baker - Chelsea Phil Jagielka - Derby Jaden Philogene-Bidace - Aston Villa (loan) Josh Maja - Bordeaux (loan) Liam Moore - Reading (loan) Swansea City Andrew Fisher - MK Dons Cyrus Christie - Fulham (loan) Hannes Wolf - Borussia Monchengladbach (loan) Finley Burns - Manchester City (loan) Nathanael Ogbeta - Shrewsbury Town West Bromwich Albion Daryl Dike - Orlando City Andy Carroll - Unattached

Mowbray's West Brom promoted side were relegated the next year, in 2008/09, bottom of the league - albeit, only three points of safety. He stayed, in the job, I think, but then, Celtic came calling that summer. Barring a miracle, a club like Rovers would not survive in the Premier League and, more likely, would be relegated by Christmas, moreoreless, given the huge inflation that has occurred in the top division as, now, a full-on playground for oligarchs. We're really trying to get promoted for the money and to try to get into that pack of parachute payment clubs. It's depressing and somewhat masochistic for us fans but the game has become terribly unequa, unfair and, frankly, dull, in creating a predictable procession based on wealth. On a different point, an aspect of the transfer window that I find notable is that Mowbray has given a clear indication of his backing for Bradley Johnson and Aynsley Pears. As far as I can tell, Johnson remains third choice CM and will be on the bench every game - possibly as a fourth choice CB, as well. And, Pears, will remain No.2, despite his high frequency of errors. We still have a sizeable squad of players, with purchases and loanees possibly not making it into the matchday squad. Consider that our subs bench, if everyone is fit, will likely be: Pears, Gallagher, Hedges, Dolan, Johnson, Ayala and Zeefuik. This means that Giles, Rankin-Costello, Davenport and Edun could miss out (as well as Dack and Poveda, if they make it back but they aren't in consideration currently). Garrett would probably next in line after the seniors. Johnson will have a big say in our latter half of the season, possibly, in a number of roles. I would hope Pears isn't but it's possible. Whilst the numbers might be there, to an extent, the quality on the bench in centre midfield and the goalkeeping department remains questionable. For our sake, we must also hope Ayala stays fit and Hedges is effective as a forward, despite having come from mid-table in the SPL. We have limited options if not, as we have sent Carter, Butterworth, Chapman, McBride and Burns on loan, so won't have much else to turn to, except the U18s.

Thanks for the correction - yes, you're right, the wording released by Rovers suggests that it was a new contract, rather than the unilateral extension that's been relied upon in other cases: "Rovers are pleased to announce that Harry Chapman has signed a new one-year deal with the club." - 29 June 2021.

Based on players that I know, Bournemouth's Cantwell signing is only outdone, in the Championship, by Fulham getting in Neco Williams, this transfer window. He is a tremendous attacking full back. I think it's safe to say that Fulham will be out of sight before long and that we have a real job hanging on to 2nd. My personal view is that we've left ourselves light, especially, central midfield and up front. Our intense style, reliant on sprints on the counter-attack will inevitably mean injuries and fatigue.

Billy Barr's U23 side that did so well last year, outdoing Mowbray, in a way, by successfully playing 4-3-3 to compete with the Premiership U23s is in danger of sinking without trace, as it were. It's as if they did too well last year. Star man from that year, McBride, with 12 goals, I think, and nominated for player of the year, alongside players like Cole Palmer of City, was in demand for loans last summer and now finds himself on loan at Queen's Park. His contract is said to expire this summer, so it's not clear the club will keep him. When the first team needed a forward in the midst of our injury crisis, Mowbray turned to our new full back, Zeefuik, to play as a forward. Ayala did a stint there too. I think Mowbray is making a mistake by not giving some of these young players chances, especially, when others are injured. Surely, Zeefuik shouldn't be starting as a forward ahead of our young U23 forwards who have been playing at that level for a few years? It raises, again, the point of having an U23 side, if there isn't meaningful opportunities for promotion. I feel that it'll be a mistake to let McBride go this summer without having tried to integrate him with the firsts but time will tell. Should Hedges have a recurrence of his early season hamstring injury and a few others be unavailable, we will be scratching around again.

I think the club have made a mistake by letting so many fringe players leave. We should have kept at least one of Chapman, Butterworth or McBride. None of them have cut it at first team level but I think we need numbers. Our high intensity game will result in injuries, especially, to forwards - as we are seeing with the hamstring issues several players are facing, including in the U23s. Hedges has had hamstring injury early this season too. I think, we should have kept Carter too, as others have said. Time will tell.

Inspired signing. And, I would argue, a mistake by Souness not to keep him after that, even though we signed Tugay. He went to Portsmouth, I believe, and helped them to a high Premier League finish and won their player of the season. Brilliant player. Though, back then, we were big spenders in the league, behind Fulham. As far as I can tell, we didn't sign a CM, even though it's long overdue, even if Rothwell makes a return. I would hope that Mowbray gives Garrett some experience to contribute. I'm not convinced that Johnson and Davenport are good enough and, let's face it, will leave this summer. To repeat myself, again, if Rovers haven't made enquiries about signing Khadra on a permanent deal, then they've failed. He should be the priority target.

Agree with you on Wharton. But for his connections to Rovers, being here as a lad, his brother on the books and, I believe, being a fan, I think we could have lost him. I don't think many players would accept doing so well repeatedly on loan, getting consecutive promotions, and still being overlooked. Mowbray made comments questioning whether League 1/2 performances carried much weight as the Championship, he said, was a far superior league. And, I do believe it's correct that it was only injuries that opened Wharton's chance, rather than being selected on merit ahead of the likes of Derrick Williams.