The team has really fallen into place. It's now or, perhaps, never for Mowbray, I feel - though, it'll be difficult to keep the form up and get an automatic spot. For a few seasons he's fumbled with a decent squad in a poor standard league. We had Armstrong, Brereton and Harvey Elliot in the forward line last year but the 4-3-3 and attempts at a possession-based game failed, as the team failed to click or work hard enough, conceding too many - and we finished 15th. As an opposition manager said earlier this season (I can't remember who) - we have good individuals, implying, I believe - 'but a dysfunctional team.' Brereton has got the headlines, but, I think a really key man to this run is, as others have mentioned, Scott Wharton. We had experimented with 3-5-2 earlier this season, first against Coventry and, also, in pre-season, but I don't think we had anyone left-footed to play as the left CB. Against Coventry, I believe, it was Lenihan who played on the left of the three. Wharton has slotted in there with a full fit van Hecke and Lenihan on the right. The team is working immensely hard now, it seems. The forwards are working together to get forward and to defend, it seems, to protect the wing backs. When the keeper gets the ball, Brereton starts sprinting upfield to be picked out. The individual talent in the team is now, seemingly, matched by excellent organisation, structure and work ethic. And, of course, pace in the forward line makes all the difference, at times. I think it's agreed that the league is of a poor standard in general. If we can maintain this and keep hold of the players and, perhaps, add real quality in January, we should be aiming for third at least. A concern might be if Brighton want their players back (the pandemic might hasten it) or a huge offer comes in for Brereton, so there's going to bumps along the way. I think we really need to enjoy it because as quickly as this team has come together, it may well come apart, at some point. Butterworth came on today and seemed to do well. I think we need to get these sort of players getting game time and some form because inevitably, we'll need the back-ups to stand up as the season progresses.

Jonjo Shelvey also displaying the two sides to his game. Immense technical ability for the goal - almost passing it into the goal from distance - and a terrible back pass to give Liverpool one. Regardless of his ability, he is, as far as I can tell, a liability in the Premier League - especially, in the crucial deep playmaker role. And, if Wikipedia is correct, he's only scored 15 goals in 169 appearances for Newcastle which is shocking for someone who can strike a ball like him and isn't afraid to have a go. Edit: If being harsh, Shelvey also turned his back on the TAA strike but given how hard it was hit, unfair to blame anyone for taking evasive action. Without knowing that much about the area or club, it seems that the local scrutiny and attention of being a Newcastle player or staff member is almost uniquely corrosive. I feel what they need is a Sean Dyche to counter the self-delusion.

Rothwell can, I think, do even more. I recall a match (but not which one) in which he assisted at least one goal with Gerrard-esque direct passes into the box. I don't think we've seen much of that side of his game - possibly, due to the style of our play and perhaps, some self-belief issues on the pitch. Scanning the Aberdeen fans forum online, it seems 26 year old Ryan Hedges' career might have some parallels with Rothwell, though, he plays in a more forward role mostly. The fans suggest that he has a lot of pace and flair but that, overall, during his time there, he has been inconsistent, though still a key man for them. He's also filled a few positions aside from his normal attacking role, apparently, including full back/wing back. He missed a chunk of last season due to a torn pectoral and then, early this season, he missed several games with a hamstring injury. Edit: On a different note, I wonder if Rovers could use their publicity in Chile, or, perhaps, within South America, to recruit players. It might be worth considering for the club, especially for a promotion push - subject to the usuals of economics and immigration clearance.

It does seem that there was a choice to play mostly U18s in this cup game, as Durrant, Brennan and, I think, Nolan were also subs, with McBride. It is worrying how far off it McBride is, after last season's finish as top scorer and, arguably, one of the star players for the high finishing U23 team. I do hold out hopes for him as he seemed like a technically gifted and confident player. His form has gone along with a general fall in the team's form, aggravated by key injuries, who are struggling against relegation now. He scored a lot of pens last year but he finished high in the goal charts behind, I believe, the likes of Man City's Palmer and Delap, who are getting rave reviews. And, then, he went and scored that free kick for the first team in pre-season and there were hopes he'd get more chances. I recall reading that he was close to a loan move in the summer but the club seems to have barred loans - perhaps, fearing the effects of a Covid breakout or just poor planning as to the core squad, I don't know. However, he really needs to get going again. A loan move might be a good idea in January but there might be fewer suitors now. If he does go out, it' has to be to a team in the football league or SPL. My speculative belief is that a lot of players form has stalled from a kind of developmental hiatus this year. Players are not getting first team opportunities and not out on loan and, combined with the loss to injury of key players like Barnes, Whitehall and Garrett has meant a struggle to compete. There's also a transition of leadership from Billy Barr to Mike Sheron, which might involve some new ways of doing things. The positive is the form and contribution of U18s players, which will hopefully get the U23s performing again. Sam Burns, also, is a bright spot who, despite one of the strange non-league month loan spells, has been scoring and, if he continues, perhaps, deserves recognition from Mowbray.

I'm surprised and glad by the win and watching the highlights, big credit to Aynsley Pears, who has come in for a lot of criticism but pulled off some important saves. Kaminski, obviously, comes back in but it would be good to see what Pears' level is and whether he has the potential to one day succeed Kaminski. He needs games but they're going to be hard to come by. As others have mentioned, it was notable how aggressive and hardworking the team is now. Defenders seem to be snapping into challenges and the forwards are tracking back to protect the wing backs. It's just a shame that this has been lacking so much for so long. I'm somewhat confused by the role of Buckley in the team today and would be glad for clarification from anyone who saw the game. From what I can tell, he was playing a No.10 role - which might be called a false 9, as there was no central striker but Brereton and Khadra wide forwards. He seemed to be dropping into midfield to try to win the ball, in a a flexible 5-2-3 and perhaps, 5-5-0 without the ball...? This formation, if it is what we were playing, is a new one to me. I can't think of seeing another team play with five at the back, a number 10 and two wide forwards, with no central striker (though the wide forwards move in-field to occupy central positions). It's more secure than playing 4-3-3 but, nonetheless, it is a high risk formation, leaving two in the centre of midfield. And, Gallagher made his return, as a sub for Khadra. Dare I ask - did he play right wide forward? I think today would've been a chance to bring on Clarkson, to take on the attacking midfield role. Instead, it seemed to go to Johnson. It seems unfair on other players, like Butterworth, if Clarkson's going to occupy a sub position but not trusted to get on the pitch.

I think Bournemouth might win but it'll be close. Stanislas always has a field day against us, so if he's fit, I can imagine him doing well. I would hope that Gallagher comes off the bench and we keep Khadra up front. The Fulham game might prove a major turning point as, I believe, it was the last time we played Brereton as a wide forward. Buckley, I believe, was the other wide forward, before he got hauled off after van Hecke got red carded. I can only hope that Mowbray finally learnt his lesson that wide forwards that can't/don't defend well is a recipe to get beaten. Even more so if the players behind them aren't particularly strong defensively. You might get away with it in a slower tempo game and with Arturo Vidal mopping up in midfield. The current 3-5-2 suits the team well. However, an astute team will, I think, play a number 10, occupying Travis and then overrun Rothwell and Buckley. However, with the ball, we have a lot of runners that will trouble most teams in this league the other way.

It's a fair point that he's different in that he likes to run with the ball but I can't see Brereton succeeding in a wide position in the Premier League. In a 4-3-3 in the Prem, to succeed long-term, I think you really need to be lightning quick and good defensively and he's not that. I think we are seeing the best of Brereton in the current Rovers formation, playing centrally, but with licence to roam. I reckon that the remainder of the season will confirm that Brereton is best as a striker. I can't help but think what could've been had Brereton, Armstrong and Harvey Elliot clicked together last season. Perhaps, Brereton wasn't ready, for whatever reason, but we should surely have done better. Instead, but for a late season revival supported by the arrival of Harwood-Bellis, we may have neared the relegation skirmish.

In that article, Mowbray talks about the dilemma of taking a risk with offering big contracts or letting players run down their contracts and leave: “There’s the dilemma for the club and I feel for the men in suits at the club and let’s wait and see." This presentation excuses Mowbray and the club by omitting the option of planning ahead and cashing in on players who aren't going to stay. A well-run and sustainable club identifies expiring contracts early, to utilise the transfer market to raise income. The manager and board must jointly identify players who are potentially replaceable and irreplaceable. Those who are considered potentially replaceable and have a relatively high value should be sold before entering their final year of their contract - ideally, well before. It is a fine balancing act, of course, as too many sales together might undermine the stability of the squad. It's a little more difficult with the potentially irreplaceables and you might cling on to them a little longer if it's the difference between a promotion run or of avoiding relegation. To my mind, Rovers should have sold at least one of Lenihan, Rothwell or Nyambe last summer (assuming they would have had a buyer) and sought to replace them back then. Likewise, this coming year, the club have to cash in on some of the contract rebels/expirers - whilst, again, trying to maintain some stability. This includes squad players like Jacob Davenport, who the club should be seeking out buyers right now, if he's not going to stay on beyond 2022/23. Unless the owners are going to constantly inject money into the club, it's unsustainable to be letting so many first teamers leave on frees. Now that there's a possibility of a promotion run, it makes sense to keep the first team together until the end of the season - but, if we're not promoted, we will suffer a major loss by losing the players, that could have been minimised by planning.

Given that Harry Chapman isn't playing much at Burton, I think that, if it was possible, the club should recall him and have him in the squad as Poveda's replacement. It would be another sharp about-turn by Mowbray, who has, apparently, fallen out with Chapman, but the club extended his contract for a year, in the summer, and he showed some glimpses of a desire to contribute early this season. There might be doubts about Chapman's attitude and his struggles at Burton (after an excellent loan spell at Shrewsbury previously) raise further questions, but my estimation is that he has real talent and will be an asset as an impact sub, at least, if motivated and fit.

Last time Rovers were near the top of the Championship and seriously dreaming of promotion was, I believe, under Souness, nearly twenty years ago. It was a very different situation, as our stars were young players with longer futures at the club, in Dunn, Duff and Jansen - and we were very big and regular transfer spenders in the league. I recall that major midway season loan signings Eyal Berkovic and Alan Mahon both added quality to help Rovers get over the line and finish second, behind Jean Tigana's Fulham. It's a stark contrast to the unstable first team squad or "shop window eleven" that we have now. That's not to question anyone's motives to Rovers but the reality is that a core of the team will likely not remain beyond this season. A few, we can hope might sign new deals. The manager's future is also uncertain. We're nowhere near the financial situation we were in in 2000/01 and can't just buy up the top scorer of another club, as we were hoovering up in those days - signing Craig Hignett from Barnsley and Marcus Bent from Sheffield Utd - but, I think an experienced and technically gifted signing would be worth the risk of trying to cement a play off spot - if we're in the mix by the end of the Xmas period. Personally, I think the best bet of finding someone affordable like that would be abroad - but I don't know how easy it is to sign overseas players now. I would suggest an experienced DM and a back up RB are key positions, as has been discussed. Travis will possibly breakdown at some point, due to his style and the number of games, and then we're struggling. I happen to think that Clarkson might surprise us and play a role before he heads back to Liverpool, but it won't be in the DM role. I would hope he will because from the looks of it, he either has a contractual obligation or a managerial obligation to be a sub every match.

Wharton, Carter and Lenihan cut their teeth, as it were, during loan spells. Wharton's five loan spells (and two League 2 promotion medals and one play off) was, to my mind, excessive, and he had done enough to be called into the fold at Rovers but fortunately, an injury crisis did happen and he got his chance. It's a shame for the current crop of Rovers U23 players that none have had that opportunity to go out on loan to a decent standard this season. It's a missed opportunity, assuming there were League 1/2 clubs after some of the players, which, I'm sure was the case for some.

In an ideal world, Clarkson would be the back up for CM but he's not shown it so far and might be only ahead of Eastham in chances of getting on. At some point, I'd like to see him in CM but this probably isn't the one. I'd go for Davenport, if the midfield continues to struggle. 442, with Buckley crossing from the right might be a desperate measure worth trying in these conditions.

I don't know the details about other clubs in the league but Mowbray has had the luxury of splashing cash on squad players, including Amari'i Bell (reported £300k for a player with six months left on his contract at Fleetwood), Edun (an undisclosed six figure sum) and Pears (undisclosed). Then, the loan fees for Harvey Elliot, Branthwaite and Harwood-Bellis, as well as the current crop, I would guess would be sizeable based on their clubs and England youth international experience. I think Mowbray appreciates skilful and technical players and, probably, has some good links in the English game, given his time in the game and this is reflected is some good signings. Getting Harvey Elliot was quite a coup. Even Poveda, Clarkson and Khadra are signs of Mowbray's intent, even if it became clear that Mowbray didn't know where has going to play them. By contrast, in his West Brom heyday, Mowbray had a fixed formation and purchased players for specific positions. He led them to winning the Championship in, I think, 2007/08 and reached the FA Cup semi finals. He did that having done a squad overhaul and sold some of his best players in Jason Koumas, Curtis Davies and Diomansy Kamara. He signed a whole bunch of players and put together a team based on technical skill. His midfield, I believe, included Robert Koren, Zoltan Gera, James Morrison and Jonathan Greening, with Kevin Phillips and Roman Bednar or Ishmael Miller up front. West Brom fell flat in the Premier League and got relegated and Mowbray went off to Celtic and, I think, his stock fell from there. However, West Brom would appoint Roberto Di Matteo and return to the Premier League and stay there for some 8 years under a variety of managers, including Hodgson and Pulis. For a manager of Mowbray's experience and success at West Brom over a few seasons to be engaging in incoherent choices lately such as playing a tall, relatively slow striker on the wing and small midfielders as lone centre forwards strikes me as someone trying but failing to come to terms with changes in the game. After all, football has changed drastically from 2007/08 when Kevin Phillips fired Mowbray's West Brom to the Championship winner's trophy and the Premier League. Most clubs were playing orthodox 4-4-2, which is now a rarity. A key aspect of West Brom's success, back then, was relatively low cost but technically gifted foreign players like Koren, Bednar and Gera and at Rovers, Mowbray hasn't been able to recruit those kind of players, for whatever reason. Now that Mowbray has apparently, stumbled upon a formation which seems to be working (after the low in the 7-0 drubbing when no-one seemed to know what they were doing), perhaps, we might see him recover some of his own confidence. I saw a quote in which Mowbray spoke of how he had advised Rothwell, prior to the Stoke City game, that Rothwell had more mobility than their midfield and could exploit that. It was welcome to hear that after so much talk by Mowbray of the threats posed by such and such opposition player. However, I do feel that regardless of what happens this season, in the next few years, when we lose a bunch of key players, some on free transfers, we'll be in a better position to judge the Mowbray era to date. I fear that loan signings and one year contract extensions have papered over poor decisions at the club that will become more apparent.

I think Nyambe desperately needs a rest. He's played non-stop, as far as I can recall, and has been jetting out to Africa to play for Namibia. Moreover, last year he was attempting to do the job of three men, given how poor the centre backs were and how inadequate Gallagher was as a right winger. My guess would be that he's suffering some form of burn-out. At times Nyambe has disappointed and his development has been inconsistent but there was a period last season when he was our strongest defender and biggest attacking outlet with charging runs. Meanwhile, Mowbray continued his drip of publicly faulting him (as he has done with Rothwell), whilst overlooking the terrible showings of the likes of Douglas, Brereton, Gallagher and others. Perhaps, a bit like Junior Hoilett, who also left on a free, he won't ever be a real top player, as his attributes and glimpses of form sometimes suggested, but, nonetheless, I can't blame him for apparently wanting a move to try to develop as a player and we'll certainly miss him.

Really bizarre defending by Derby for their conceded goals. Charlie Austin, a striker not renowned for pace or skill, is invited to cross the ball for Willock's goal and then Andre Gray is politely given space to flick the ball up a couple of times and then wallop his fine volley. Both were impressive finishes but a basic of defending is closing down the opposition to hurry them and maybe even tackle.

Good to read that Tyler Magloire got a game for the U23, albeit, in a 1-0 defeat to West Ham U23, who are, at the moment, top of the league. Rovers are second from bottom this time round but, to put it in context, all the clubs in the league are Premier League sides, except for Derby, who are bottom. Just having a read of a match report and it's interesting that Brennan played right wing/forward, which is, I think, a fairly new position for him - also, again, no sign of goalie, Stergiakis. I'm guessing he must have a long-term injury or, perhaps, the club are looking to move him on, as he features so intermittently for a player signed with a reported transfer fee.

Credit to the manager and players. My happiness is tempered by a few things, most of all, the apparent low standard of the league. Our backup CB is currently Bradley Johnson and there's barely a hope of survival should the unimaginable happen and we get promoted. But, really good to see Buckley doing well after so much criticism and, in fact, doing well both offensively and defensively, when he was dismissed by some as too weak for this level. Also, glad that Lenihan is having a run of form. He might be leaving but he's been a good servant for the club and fans. Hope the run can keep going.

To be fair to Armstrong, he was playing in a team that finished 15th. Despite having a gem of a player like Harvey Elliot to support him, last season, the defensive set-up by management was woeful, with Brereton and Gallagher out wide, repeatedly failing to provide protection to the full-backs - as well as well as not providing much width either. Whilst Brereton wasn't in his current form, a squad with him, Armstrong and Elliot, should have been pushing for the play-offs.

To be fair to Armstrong, he was playing in a team that finished 15th. Despite having a gem of a player like Harvey Elliot to support him, last season, the defensive set-up by management was woeful, with Brereton and Gallagher out wide, repeatedly failing to provide protection to the full-backs - as well as well as not providing much width either. Whilst Brereton wasn't in his current form, a squad with Armstrong, Brereton, Elliot and Gallagher (who I believe to be a solid 10 goal a season striker at this level at least), should have been pushing for the play-offs.

The problem we've had numerous times with 3-5-2, under Mowbray, is that the central midfield gets pulled out of position and overrun. If it's to work, I think Buckley needs to play deeper and support Rothwell and Travis defensively, otherwise, I expect us to concede chances freely.

In January 2018, Rovers wanted to sign Bell immediately rather than wait for his contract to expire later that year, so that he could boost the squad for thr promotion campaign. I'm guessing that if Fulham and Bournemouth run away with automatic promotion, and there's less need to gamble in that way, the already very limited transfer fee market for Lenihan, Rothwell and Nyambe recedes and they're more likely to leave for nothing or a nominal sum. Even more so as they haven't been playing at the top of their games consistently.

That's true, he did get selected by their manager, Graham Alexander, for pretty much the whole spell. Based only on highlights, Magloire seemed, at times, to lack agility, despite his reputed pace. I suspect that part of this was down to lack of confidence, as his body language, to me, didn't look right. The issue, last year, was exemplified in a 4-1 defeat to Kilmarnock when two goals conceded were at least partly involving Magloire. You can see what I mean at 3 mins 30 seconds and 5 mins 41 seconds in these Youtube highlights. There is an element of bad luck in there too. But Branthwaite came away from our loan spell and has been on Everton's bench this season, so, hopefully, Magloire can improve and get his career going.

I tried to follow Magloire at Motherwell through highlights and their online fan forums and he was picked regularly by their manager in a three man defence. He did ok at first but some notable errors and, perhaps, bad luck, in the form of slip-ups, resulted in fans, apparently, wishing for him to be dropped. A notable error was in the Scottish cup, against Hibs, when he allowed an attacker a virtually unchallenged header. It's 1 min 20 seconds in, if you want to watch it on Youtube here. Of course, the goal can't completely be attributed to him, I was hoping that he'd do well because he was captain of the Rovers U23s/reserves in the past and seemed to be a bright prospect. Moreover, we seriously lack pacy defenders in the first team. I'm sorry to hear that he has personal difficulties, if that is the case. To my outsider perspective, which is based on very limited evidence, he seems to be lacking confidence and U23 football seems ideal for him to refind form - or, a loan spell in January. In terms of counter-productive loan spells, I think Harry Chapman is an example. Getting first team experience is good for players but it needs to be at the right level and right time. If a player is repeatedly sent on loan, there is a chance of demoralisation from the sense of stagnation and rejection. Mowbray, of course, repeatedly alluded that Chapman's commitment was lacking and suggested that was why he wasn't selected more often. On the other hand, Scott Wharton is an example who kept performing during numerous EFL loan spells and finally, thanks to, I believe, an injury crisis, got his chance at Rovers.

Corry Evans played as a sub in NI's two recent games, including in their impressive 0-0 against Italy today. The result means that Switzerland qualify automatically for the Qatar World Cup from the group and Italy must navigate the play-offs. Northern Ireland finished a creditable third, ahead of Bulgaria and Lithuania. Evans' commitment and contribution to his national team is very impressive, whatever one might say about the consistency of his club appearances in recent years.

I'm not sure it's unethical, unless you're holding on to them well into their 20s, as Chelsea have done and, perhaps, sending them around on desultory loan deals, slowly, contributing to the sapping of their desire for the game, as they exist in career limbo. I think Durrant and Nolan will have aspirations to maybe get a chance at Rovers (Nolan did feature in pre-season) and, if not, I'm sure their Rovers experience will be good for their CV when they're moving on. I have seen Durrant play a few times on streams, last season, and, based on that very limited viewing, he seemed a technically good winger and was a regular in the great league run by the U23s. He looked very disciplined at defending as well as getting forward. I think it would be in his interests to look to move on, perhaps, next season, if he's not going anywhere (same for others). Even this campaign, he's been in and out from what I can tell. I think more unethical is the failure to encourage players when they are doing well, as was the case last season. When the U23s were performing well as a unit with some individual solid performances, it was an opportunity to have a look at a few. We needn't have had the outgoing aged quartet on the bench, for example, last year, and blooded a Garrett, Whitehall or McBride. This year, Clarkson is not going to contribute much, it seems, so Garrett, after his solid pre-season games, or Burns, before he went off to non-league, would've been an option, if not Butterworth. It does make me wonder if the Clarkson deal, and, perhaps, others, have clauses with appearance or squad requirements, though, I have no idea how commonplace this in the industry. All that said, like Khadra and Poveda, I have no doubt that Clarkson is talented and may do a job, but in our disjointed and unstructured team, he's found it hard and seems to have fallen down the pecking order - though, given how Davenport and Butterworth come and go in the squad, I'm not sure there is a clear pecking order. Edit: In terms of unethical and counter-productive, I think the treatment of Magloire falls into that category. He struggled badly at Motherwell on loan and I think it's quite clear that he's not ready to be thrown in, especially, at right back, as he was. Now, he's somewhere in twilight zone of the first team. To my mind, given that he's behind Buckley as a right back and last choice at CB, he should be in the U23s regularly and have a chance to stay fit, grow some confidence and showcase himself for his next and inevitable move.