This was one of Mowbray's best interview. He was honest and progressive. He really sounded like the guy to take the club forward. For those who don't want to watch, the stand out bit for me was " Defenders? I've got no defence. We lost 65 goals, 67 goals. It is ridiculous. New defenders are coming and the players who have done the job in the team this year know they are coming. Why? Because they have shown that they can't do the job. In this league they haven't been able to do it." A frank but correct assessment of a struggling defence made up of Williams, Bell, Bennett, Lenihan, Mulgrew and co. Soon after though Mowbray was talking a different tune. In June, https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/17738118.rovers-boss-tony-mowbray-wants-strengthen-across-board/ , he said, "I did talk about the defenders towards the end of the season and when you look back we did concede too many goals. But there are reasons for that but I’m not sitting here worrying about that any more than other positions." What caused the change of heart? Hard to say, maybe some of the senior players didn't like his frank assessment? Reviewing the 2019 summer transfer window, the defence was changed in the following way. In : Walton (Loan) , Cunnningham (Loan) , Tosin (Loan) Out : Raya (3 mill Brentford) , Mulgrew (Loan to Wigan) , Hart (Loan to Shrewsbury) , Downing (Free to Porstmouth) , Wharton (Loan) , Rodwell (Released) A lot of departures, including academy product David Raya and fan favourite, but aging, Charile Mulgrew (behind the scenes trouble). However, no permanent transfer was made. The loan signings were a mixed bunch. Tosin was brilliant, Cunningham suffered a long term injury and Walton being poor. Bottom line the defence did improve, conceding 6 fewer goals. However, the loan signings were a short term solution to a long term problem. Now so far in the, albeit COVID-19 affected, 2020 transfer window we have seen the following transfers In : Kaminski (500 k) Out : Tosin ( End of Loan), Walton (End of Loan) , Hart (Released) , Leutwiler (Released) With the departures of the loanees and the release of Leutwiler, the club had no senior goalkeepers on the book. Quite rightly Kaminski, showing the first signs of our fledgling European network, was brought in and looked tidy in his first game. However, the defence is threadbare. A ramshackle combination of academy products not ready for full game time and the same players that two seasons ago Mowbray said "Because they have shown that they can't do the job. In this league they haven't been able to do it." He was right then and right now. Williams, Bell, Bennett and co are not good enough. It is a massive failure of senior management to be playing the same fucking defence that two years ago they deemed to be not up for the job. There is no excuse for it.

What the hell are you chatting? No one is saying Raya is some mega bucks world class keeper. But the facts are, he was worth far more than the 3 million we sold him for and he is far better than any keeper the club has had since

Lenihan needs to be moved on with Williams. I think Lenihan could be the worst one out of the two

That first goal really is pathetic. 7 players lined up on the box with only Armstrong and Holtby doing any leg work. I take it back, rewatching the second I think that one is the worst. 6 rovers players in the box marking 2 Bournemouth players, whilst two other Bournemouth players stand completely open ready for the layoff.

Mowbray dropped Raya for Leutweiller, for a while. Raya is going to Arsenal, Leutweiller is playing at Fleetwood.

It really is incredible.

All I can say is How the fuck is Bell still our starting left back? Dear God go and replace him Tony

It is interesting the club never shut up about the wage and finance structure they have in place ........ After we fucking paid 5 million for that donkey Gallagher

"We've invested heavily in our recruitment, almost doubled our recruitment budget," said Waggott. "We now have all the platforms and knowledge that you could possibly want at the club, and other clubs are looking at what we're doing with Stuart Harvey, our Head of Recruitment, and his staff." Jesus. Are we seriously holding ourselves up as a model example of player recruitment?? What planet is our management on? That sounds like something Steve Kean would come out with

Does Nyambe look like he has put on weight?

Buckley has oozed class since I have been watching. Hopefully this is his year to kick on

Get a new career Fisher. Call you yourself a professional

Oh dear. Completely messed my words up there. But you never know with Tony.

Well we tried on Kipre but always going to be near impossible battling with a prem team. Just hope the club had other buns in the oven. At the moment things are starting to get desperate

To be honest after seeing today's game with Holtby injured and Johnson looking poor, after a new left , a new cm is a must

Hobbled off. Looked quite bad. Bell got us a penalty but gave away one goal and was poor all game. Nearly gave a second away.

I thought both Fisher and Rothwell offered something. The ones who performed below level for me were Bell, Johnson and Chapman.

To be fair, Ben looks 10 times the player he was last season. Just a shame about that chance

Yeah. I was also surprised by that. Bell was roasted, fairly. But silence from one of the worst misses I have seen all year. Imagine in we weren't ahead and he did that

Brereton just missed an open goal. I cant believe how badly he took the shot.

An attack of BB, Armstrong and Dolan is decent. Defense is currently looking league 2 standard

2-2 Brereton made the goal. Scramble then JRC smash

Was almost 1-3, defense is horrendous

Dolan looks better in 2 mins then Chapman did all match. Time to move on He cant deliver

What did Mowbray say to them today "Right guys I know we had fun with pre season but now it is time to get real and play the boring, turgid football we all know and love"