I mentioned it before, but I can only see him succeeding as a striker at Championship level, where he can make a nuisance of himself in the final third, without the responsibility of getting up and down the pitch. Armstrong and Brereton would be really good Championship partnership but, sadly, Mowbray favours 4-3-2-1, or some version of it. Brereton reminds me of Jon Stead in some of his play and attributes. Brereton is probably an inferior finisher (which is saying something, as Stead was not prolific) and runs more with the ball but I think, given the chance as a striker, he could have a similar sort of career.

Can only see Brereton progressing his career as a striker. He's not cut out to defend or gallop up and down the wing Granted, his shooting is not good, but, were he to improve, he could be very useful drifting from the left, as a forward. However, drifting from left back, not so much. It's a real shame for the game that the second striker has been all but abandoned. It means less opportunities for the creative forward whose limited defensive duties enables them to conserve energy and concentrate their work in the final third and on the counter attack. If Matt Jansen was playing in the modern era, presumably, he'd be used as a left or right forward and defend deep when out of possession. Not to compare Brereton and Jansen, of course.

Is he playing central? Makes sense if he is, rather than left forward wing back winger.

I don't know if I mind the terminology too much. I suppose some of it is influence from abroad, where, in some places, tactical analysis and strategy is taken very seriously. Part, is probably the application of science and data analysis into football and combine that with the sheer volume of football analysis we have now. I see some improvement in pundit analysis from the days of Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer earning lucrative sums for reclining in their chair and repeating the words, "passion, strength, desire, determination" and/or "absolute disgrace - no passion, no strength, no desire, no determination" and other abstract nouns ad nauseum, without any meaningful analysis. Punditry is still, often, a game of platitudes and tautology, but, it does seem that they try a little more these days. I think the breakthrough of female pundits will force the closed shop to up their game and, perhaps, fan channels too. Inclusion of football journalists in punditry is positive, in my opinion too, as they sometimes offer a different perspective. All in all, however, part of me does see the absurdity of men sitting around and getting paid lucratively for analysing what is a game. But we all have our follies... What I find problematic is the lack of fundamental criticism of the game by pundits - analysis of the economic inequality and the exploitation of fans and so on. I think that should be in every discussion. No serious discussion of Chelsea's Champions League success should pass without reference to the fact that that club's leaders literally sought a takeover of the European professional game. Thomas Tuchel, now being revered, hinted his acquiescence by saying that he wanted to compete in the best tournament/competition, whatever that might be, when asked about the Super League.

It's hard to compare them, especially, not knowing the full story behind the deals, but some Souness signings stick out for me. Signing Hakan Sukur, the legendary Turkish forward, and then letting him go after no time due to, allegedly, falling out, strikes me as a terrible signing. Clearly, Souness could not manage outspoken players and to sign someone as 'big' and raise and then dash hopes of fans of seeing a genuine international star play seems like a huge failure. (Caveat, that I don't know the full story as to why Sukur left.) I think if terrible research and due diligence is a factor then Ciccio Grabbi must be up there. I was shocked to discover that since a young age, the guy suffered from Ledderhose disease, causing the formation of hard lumps on the sole of the foot that affects mobility. Je has surgery at a young age and had some good seasons in Serie C and B, having started out as a Juve youngster. However, to my mind, you don't spend £6/7 million in 2001, on a lower league forward with that kind of history. Moreover, we appear to have overlooked his strike partner at Ternana, Miccoli, who moved to Juve the following summer and turned into a top striker. Edit: Remembered that Sukur broke his leg in training but came back to score two really good goals against, I think, Fulham. Souness talked of wanting to give him a contract and then, when the time came, Rovers claimed they couldn't afford him. Sukur, meanwhile, was reported in British press to have said that he had problems with Souness.

I suppose, in many ways, Brereton has been fortunate to find himself there but, I'd still give him some credit for getting into the squad. I really have no idea if it is on merit, not knowing the quality of players available to their manager but it's a huge moment for him - probably, something he'll tell people in years to come. I still don't expect him to be more than a lower league player but this might give him confidence and open up opportunities - as, it may do for Amari'i Bell too, with Jamaica.

Brereton watched from the Chile Men's National Team bench at the Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina, as the home team played out a 1-1 draw against Chile in a World Cup qualifier. Messi and Sanchez were the scorers in the first Argentina Men's National Team match since the death of Diego Maradona. Some achievement for Brereton. He must be the envy of the Rovers squad.

Need to go out on loan, I think, as Mowbray seems reluctant to give them a chance. We had no strikers for the bench at the end of the season and rather than feature McBride to gain experience and confidence for a few minutes, Mowbray had four or five central midfield options on the bench. I think Barnes, Garrett and Whitehall could make it at Rovers but Mowbray's tactics and reluctance are major obstacles. Unconvinced by Dan Pike, but, again, a loan move will be a good test. Given the dire showings from our first team, many of our U23 team should be backing themselves.

This compilation of goals by Andre-Pierre Gignac scoring spectacular goals in Mexico is a reminder of what football can be about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzUe5s30olY

Congratulations to Brereton. I'm sure this will be a boost to his career but, I still don't see him developing as a top player, unless somehow he drastically improves. However, if he can stay in the Chile squad, this might be the difference between him having a good Championship career and drifting down the leagues, as I had anticipated. I think it's no coincidence that we saw Bell play well with much more confidence in the final games of the season having been drafted into the Jamaica squad. I think there has been a campaign going on behind the scenes for Brereton. I saw on some Youtube videos compilations of him that there were a lot of Chilean fans commenting and, evidently, aware of him. As he has not had an astounding career, I speculate that Chile are really struggling for players and have sunk lower than in recent history and/or a PR agent has been doing an effective campaign on his behalf.

Would be interested to hear from those in the know and/or who have watched a lot of him, as to why Lewis Thompson has been released. With Bell leaving, it must mean that Thompson was not rated at all - or, perhaps, there are doubts about his fitness? Just from following match reports, it seemed he was an integral part of the U23s until he disappeared in latter part of the season, presumably, due to injury.

It's interesting to look back at Mowbray's heyday as West Brom manager, the season they won promotion from Championship, in 2007/08, having lost out in the play offs the previous year. That season, West Brom lost key first team players like Koumas, Ellington, Curtis Davies and McShane. However, with Robert Koren, Zoltan Gera and Jonathan Greening in midfield and some new additions, they were able to mount a successful league campaign and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Presumably, they were playing 5-3-2 or 4-4-2, back in those days. It's interesting to have a look at the list of Mowbray signings for West Brom that year. Some seemed to have been flops - such as Pele and Leon Barnett but some successful signings, like Brunt, Morrison, Hoefkens, Ishmael Miller and, I believe, Teixeira, did well, from what I read. I find it interesting that Mowbray inherited and then assembled a squad of a mix of players from across Europe. They had Robert Koren, Zoltan Gera, Roman Bednar, providing technical ability, alongside players like Greening and Morrison. Whilst foreign players don't guarantee ability, that market has always been a source of less expensive but technically capable players. It makes me wonder why Mowbray has, apparently, abandoned that route, barring the keepers we've brought in lately. (I don't know the rules, but I'm guessing in the post-EU days, it will be harder?). "West Bromwich Albion 4 Bristol City 1: Bednar fires Albion to the summit" - match team from the Independent online report, 27 December 2007, the season West Brom, led by Mowbray, won the Championship, with Pulis' Stoke finishing second: West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Pele, Cesar, Robinson; Gera, Greening, Koren, Morrison (Beattie, 80); Bednar (Miller, 70), Phillips (Albrechtsen, 85). Substitutes not used: Steele (gk), Barnett, Beattie, Albrechtsen. West Brom signings 2007/08 (Wikipedia): Shelton Martis – Hibernian, £50,000, 2 July 2007.[17] Craig Beattie – Celtic, £1,250,000, 3 July 2007[18] Filipe Teixeira – Académica, £600,000, 17 July 2007[19] Leon Barnett – Luton Town, £2,500,000, 26 July 2007[20] Tininho – Beira-Mar, £230,000, 31 July 2007[21] Boštjan Cesar – Marseille, season loan, 7 August 2007[22] Carl Hoefkens – Stoke City, £750,000, 7 August 2007[23] James Morrison – Middlesbrough, £1,500,000, 7 August 2007[24] Pelé – Southampton, £1,000,000, 9 August 2007[25] Chris Brunt – Sheffield Wednesday, £3,000,000,15 August 2007[26] Bartosz Ślusarski – Dyskobolia Grodzisk Michal Daněk – Viktoria Plzeň, loan Roman Bednář – Hearts, loan Ishmael Miller – Manchester City

Based on the highlights, Bell was involved in four out of Rovers five goals. For the one goal Bell didn't play a pass in the build-up, (Armstrong's 71st minute long-range goal), he took up almost a forward role, as he ran in from the left. Bell is not the future for Rovers but I think this image highlights the demands that are put on full backs now and how stamina and speed are imperative in a 4-3-3 type formation. Edit: I feel that Mowbray has shown contempt to Billy Barr and his U23 team that did so well this season by not selecting one of the better performers for the bench in the last few games and instead fielding older players who are offering very little and on the way out.

And, if they were, Chris Sutton, would be playing on the left!

I hope it doesn't get forgotten that Man City's owners, with others, just attempted a coup of the professional game and are part of the problem of devastating inequality in the game. (Of course, Rovers were part of the Premier League which widened the gap greatly and must accept responsibility for that too, with the other clubs). I'm pleased for Riyad Mahrez. I think many would have, like me, thought that he'd gone to City to be a bit-part player - at best. He represents a dying art of skilful wing play which I really admire. He has been in and out but, for now, is a main man. Foden, De Bruyne et al are great players and Guardiola deserves a lot of credit too.

In mitigation of our full backs, who have struggled greatly, we are playing a 4-3-3 formation that leaves their frailties exposed. Recently, Gallagher and Brereton, the "wing forwards" have been tracking back more, it seems, but, at times, the protection has been woeful this season. I think Bell is a better option than Douglas, though, both are weak. If Bell stays, I suppose it means our reserve LB, Lewis Thompson, will leave? He was a regular in a well-drilled side but, presumably, got a serious injury, as he has not featured in the latter part of the season. My preference would be to have a young player with some potential to compete with Pickering because Bell's career is on a downwards trajectory, it seems and this is only being accelerated by intermittent appearances in the matchday squad. Perhaps, he'll get a run till the end of the season and show a bit more.

It's not clear from what Mowbray said as to whether the contract has been terminated. You would think so, but it could conceivably be the case that Holtby is now on paid leave, if he has a basic salary. I don't understand why Holtby was on the bench for Huddersfield. Mowbray has stated he wants to give young players a chance like Buckley and yet, has not started him lately, and would rather leave a gap on the bench than put someone like McBride, Burns, Butterworth, Whitehall, Garrett or Barnes there. On a different note, I'd be glad to know the last time a veteran ex-Prem 'star' or from top tier football elsewhere, player succeeded at Rovers. To varying extents, Holtby, Danny Murphy, Stewart Downing and Peter Whittingham have been relative flops. It makes me wonder whether the style of play in the modern game makes it harder for such players to make an impact in the lower leagues late in their careers.

Tyler Magloire is getting game time at Motherwell but has not impressed the fans it seems, so far. He seemed to be at fault for a free header, after Motherwell had failed to stop a cross, in their Scottish Cup QF defeat to Hibs. Hoping he does improve as we might need him and Carter next season.

Nice to win but rather empty given our league position and form and the fact some of our better performers likely won't stay next year. Moreover, Huddersfield's risk taking at the back, with lack of numbers getting back seemed reminiscent of our defending in recent times. Their goalie was at fault for a few. Hopefully, we may be approaching a settled side with Rothwell (who got an assist with a right footed corner) playing in an attacking mid role, covered by Travis and one other. I would keep Bell in the team. His confidence is likely low given his being left out so often and he was weak for their first goal but he at least has pace compared to Douglas.

It makes no sense to continually drop Bell out of the match day squads and then bring him into the team. He's already struggling and now his confidence must be very low, making a good performance even more difficult. Then, add the fact that Gallagher is likely to be his main protection against opposition winger and full back - and you have a recipe for difficulties and, invariably, Bell will get a lot of blame. In the last match, Holtby, was dropped out of the match day squad and Mowbray said it was to give young lads like Buckley a chance to be on the bench. Yet, Holtby is back on the bench today. His commitment and confidence will no doubt have been affected negatively. Though, I suppose, given his age, injury problems and his likely departure, he probably will not be affected as much. Also - there are 5 central midfield options on the bench, if you include Bennett. No striker (Dolan and Elliot aren't strikers). These matches are a perfect opportunity to give game time to McBride or, even, one of the other reserve forwards who have done very well this year.

It looked like a 4-4-2 to me, but, I must say, wasn't the clearest camera angle. It looked like Butterworth and Burns up top. Cirino does look promising from what I've seen. On the other hand, Pike stands out as strong and with the physique of someone older but on the ball, he hasn't impressed me and defensively looks a bit slow. But, I do accept that I haven't seen anywhere near enough to reach a definite judgment. If he is 5 '8, might explain why he's right back rather than centre back. Edit: Watched more of the match recording and correct myself, it was a 4-3-3 type formation - but in effect, the way that Durrant, especially, and Butterworth, tracked back, it was often a 4-5-1. I think that is the way the formation should be played, with a disciplined 4-5-1 off the ball.

Watched the first half, in which Rovers were the stronger team, though, from the reports, Liverpool came back into it in the second. It's a scrappy game with not a lot of playing through the midfield and relying, more on direct balls, which seems to be our style. It seems quite effective and is not the aimless hit it to the big man (there being no big man) but trying to find Sam Burns who takes up clever positions and holds the ball up quite well for a relatively small, stocky player. Interesting that the team seem to play 4-4-2, which will continue to make it harder for any reserve players to adapt to the mess of a formation played by the firsts. That said, it's probably for the best for their development to play in a formation rather than a playground football positional set-up. In the first half, the players that stand out are Sam Burns - a bit of a cross between Dack and Armstrong, though, obviously, not there yet and, I think, perhaps, his shooting needs improvement. Whitehall and Garrett look impressive as a midfield duo, competing and good on the ball. However, with the ball going back to front often, they are not showing their full capability of being on the ball. Barnes in defence looks reliable. Keeper, Stergiakis and full backs, Pike and Cirino disappointed with their distribution. Every time I see Pike, I feel that he is one of the weak links in the team, contrary to hype. He stands out due to his size and his strong challenges but time and again, he looks susceptible to quick wingers and inconsistent passing. I really don't see him making it as a right back, at the moment, but, perhaps, a centre back, with less responsibility with the ball at his feet. That said, he's still young and will develop, so, hopefully, he gets better - and, I must say, I've only seen him on a few occasions on this stream - so not qualified to make definitive judgment. Butterworth didn't get involved much in the first half but, coming back from injury, he'll need time. The team are doing well in what looks like a poor quality league. Liverpool looked very poor in the first half, overall. I'm surprised by this but wonder if it's because their real talent are out on loan around Europe? I would like Rovers to make an effort to mix up the play more and utilise the abilities of Garrett and Whitehall in the middle to pass the ball around. If they want to make it at higher levels, they need to develop this ability.

Agree with RoverDom, above. Without reform and regulation, including fan ownership and representation on boards, things will continue towards the precipice. However, such a move will only happen with a unified fans' movement. If clubs leave for the ESL, more will follow. There will be an ESL 2 and so on, with the next tier of clubs. It is just like the creation of the Premier League, which brought in a new era of inequality, only worse, due to it being formally, a relative closed shop. If a club qualifies somehow to be one of the fodder for the ESL and, presumably, almost guaranteed to go down, two things will happen. They will be grossly enriched, so the Premier League will be even more uncompetitive and, they will look for some way that they can boost their income to compete with the ESL. The apathetic and the supporters of this proposal are asking for the destruction of professional football, including anyone from non-ESL Premier League clubs who fancy being the new Man Utd.

I don't think you're thinking through your defence. This proposed economic coup grabs and reserves a bigger market share amongst a cartel, which will mean most levels of European football, especially, televised or streamed, lose out. The creation of the Premier League, as exploitative as it was, at least reserved a formal meritocracy and distribution and opportunity for the rest of the football league to join them. The economic reality is that it is rigged by wealth but there was some redistribution of wealth allowed by the cup tournaments, the movement of clubs between leagues and collective TV/stream deals.

Ironically, British football needs the people of the rest of the world to help them stop it. If supporters' clubs in China, Australia, the US and so on, joined a boycott of the any new league, that would make the protagonists think. After all, isn't it the streaming/TV deals that is the biggest commercial revenue potential of this idea?