Another poor performance at home, attendances aren't going to improve unless the quality of football improves 9 home league games and only one and a half good performances the rest has just been dour. 

Why on earth does Tony keep picking Amari'i Bell the man is utterly useless he hasn't got a clue what to do when defending or attacking. Bennett was shocking again at full back (we need cover for Nyambe in January) and he was only slightly better in midfield. He's been poor for a little while, time to be dropped to the bench in my opinion.

Dack may not have been at his best of late but he has saved us again today. Graham is looking well of it at the moment, especially in front of goal. I thought that Armstrong and Palmer were both bright as were Rothwell and Brereton when coming on (a shame it took going a goal down for Tony to react with the subs). The one plus point is that we are now scoring some late goals of our own. But the simple fact is at the moment we are not scoring enough goals and to do that Tony needs to let the hand break of a bit (especially at home). 

Full Backs the only worry in that line up, why now he's fit is Nyambe not starting? As for Bell he's not impressed me one bit this since joining, with Williams out I'd like to have seen Travis given a go at left back. 

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/17211726.technically-we-have-to-evolve-says-rovers-boss/

Let's hope that this is of sign that we are going to be a bit more adventurous with the likes of Rothwell and Palmer (two technically very good players) getting more chances.

3 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

We don't. The last time there were wholesale changes was the Bolton game. Mowbray definitely can't be accused of chopping and changing. If anything he is too far the other way 

4 Changes for Bolton

4 Changes for Leeds

0 Changes for Swansea

5 Changes for West Brom

6 Changes for QPR

Have to feel for the poor lad he can't seem to catch a break this past year. I think we dodged a bullet in missing out on him even if he can get fit he's bound to have lost some of that pace that was vital to his game. I still think we could do with a pacey winger like him but there are plenty of alternatives to Chapman out there, a few I'd be keeping an eye would be Lowe at Portsmouth, Hunter at Fleetwood and Anderson at Lincoln.

1 minute ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

We've already got Nyambe, Reed, Bennett and Travis who can play right back.

Travis rarely makes the squad these days and has always been used in midfield by Mowbray other than in the exceptional circumstances at West Brom. Reed has never played at right back for us and why would we want to lose his energy and quality from the midfield. As for Bennett he has shown in Nyambe's absence that he is not good enough back up at this level. Nyambe is the only play on the books whose best and natural position is right back.

6 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I dont think right back a problem and I would used Brereton up front

A right back will be a problem if Nyambe gets a long term injury as Bennett has shown not to be the answer there. We have competition at left back why not at right back?

You may use Brereton up front but the manager says he sees him playing wide and in that case we need another striker. 

5 minutes ago, philipl said:

Every team Rotherham have faced this season has thought "this has to be 3 points". The majority have been disappointed as Rotherham have W4 D5 L7...

I am confident we will get 3 points as Mowbray will approach this game with all the professionalism and thorough preparation he brings to every game.

It might not be with the starting XI and selection and timing of subs some of us might want and chances are there will be no OLE football but I will be very unpleasantly surprised if Mowbray and the lads don't get the job done.

Rovers to win 1-0.

15 of those 17 points at home though

1 hour ago, 4000Holes said:

Looks a good team on paper but it leaves Nyambe awfully exposed?

I think its clear that Palmer is working very hard on the defensive side of his game as he has shown in his last two starts at WBA and Bolton.

18 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

We need centre defender in and winger. Bauer and Freeman? 

Wouldnt say much more to be honest. 

A right back and if Brereton isn't going to be used up front then we need another striker.

17 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

I've banged on about a lad at donny on here before. Ben Whiteman centre mid, good passer, can score from outside box, brought up at Man Utd and I know for a fact Pompey have bid....would improve our squad no problem... Pompey will go up and he will be a championship player next season.

Tony should have a look I'm telling you....

The last area that we need any new recruitments in is central midfield. 

                                    Leutwiler

Nyambe        Lenihan               Mulgrew      Williams

                       Reed                    Smallwood

Palmer                        Dack                         Rothwell

                                   Graham

Subs: Fisher, Rodwell, Travis, Bennett, Conway, Armstrong, Brereton

Hope we're a bit more positive with Evans out and play Reed central and play Palmer on the right. I also think Rothwell offers more than Armstrong (who has disappointed this season). Rotherham have only scored 3 goals in 8 away games picking up just 2 points so let's hope we take the game to them and start on the front foot. We don't want another drab lethargic performance like Saturday or against Millwall and Reading.  Both full backs need to be changed as that has been our weak area in recent weeks. And as Mulgrew has been named in the Scottish squad you would expect that he will play this weekend.  

19 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Evans is out for Saturday, 5 yellows. 

Surely means Reed to the middle and Bennett to right mid, Nyambe back into the team. 

Hope we're a bit more positive than that and play Palmer or even Rothwell instead of Bennett wide. Rotherham have only scored 3 goals in 8 away games picking up just 2 points let's hope we take the game to them and start on the front foot. We don't want another drab lethargic performance like Saturday or against Millwall and Reading.

I thought that we would be bottom half somewhere between 15th and 19th probably. Rovers have performed how I thought they would (plenty of hard work and endeavour, with some quality from Dack) however I have been shocked at how poor a standard the league is the only team that have impressed me have been Sheffield United everyone else has either been bang average or poor. If we can keep keys players fit, strengthen in January and be a little bit more positive at home then I think we can be in the hunt for the play offs. 

13 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

so like I said not down at all. 

They needed to effectively win their last 6 games to stay up. Having won just one game in 30 accumulating just 20 points from 32 matches. Not even the most optimistic of West Brom fans would have thought that they had any chance of surviving. And if West Brom thought they had any chance of staying up they would not have appointed a manager when they sacked Pardew.

4 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

They weren't down at all when Moore took over and could have stay up. Maybe they should have sacked Pardew earlier. 

They were 10 points adrift with six games when he took over they were as good as down. He took 11 points from 6 games and still went down by 5 points taking into account goal difference he would have needed to win all 6 games to stay up.

It wasn't pretty (but have any of our home games been?) but a good 3 points against the leagues form team. Reed is not a wide man and he is the best central midfielder at the club he can do what Evans and Smallwood do defensively just as well and he also gives you much more in offence as well. Tony needs to make a tough decision and drop one of Smallwood and Evans in order for Reed to play there. That also allows us to bring Palmer in to the team to play out wide and it will give us some much needed creativity because with the side that started yesterday had too many soldiers and too few artists. 

Both full backs poor again we need to sign a right back to cover for Nyambe as Bennett is not up to the job, hopefully Nyambe will start next week. As for Bell he really is awful (I wonder at times if he is fully awake) once Charlie is back fit lets hope Tony sees sense and puts Williams to left back. I thought that Williams and Lenihan were both excellent yesterday, very dominant even against the dangerous Matt Smith. I was disappointed to see Travis not included in the squad yesterday we need to loan him out in January as he is too good not to be playing and we don't want to risk losing him permanently. I'm surprised he hasn't been given a chance at full back given how poor Bell and Bennett have been and as he showed last week he can seemingly play anywhere.

Armstrong did ok but he needs to find an end product if he wants to nail down a regular place. I thought Rothwell and Palmer both did well and made a difference, both for me should be starting. Also good to see Brereton have an impact (QPR can have no complaints clear penalty)  let's hope that gives him a much needed confidence boost.

Just now, K-Hod said:

I think he always looks good when he plays does Palmer. He must be tearing his hair out...

Has looked much better than Armstrong this season. Palmer has some skill and is a strong lad whereas Armstrong is one dimensional and eased of the ball to easily.

Dissappointing to see Palmer dropped and Reed stuck out wide in order to accomodate Smallwood and Evans. I think Tony needs to make a tough decision and decide which of the two should partner Reed in his best and preferred position. 

And as Nyambe is on the bench he must be fit (and he played in the week) so why is our only right back not playing especially as Bennett has been poor there.

4 minutes ago, unsall said:

Ha ha you keep saying everyone trusts Mowbray, there’s one or two on here who don’t, no names I don’t want any more bans,warnings, everyone is going on about the fee, no one bangs on about Armstrong but he was 3 mil, probably wants to start every game, but he can’t yet, and we’ve had to play him wide,absolutely destroyed Leeds, Brereton  has been bought for the future whether that’s this season or next, 

Just because Mowbray has done a fantastic job it doesn't mean that he doesn't get somethings wrong. He's not infallible just ask Celtic fans. Like every manager he is capable of signing a dud even Ferguson signed a few in his time at United as has Guardiola in his time in management.

We can only base Brereton on what we have seen so far and it has not been very good (I don't think anyone would argue otherwise), hopefully he will look better when given a chance through the middle. I would also agree with you that there are question marks about Armstrong at this level as he looks one dimensional and weak and you can see why he has struggled at this level previously. 

Just now, unsall said:

Without going over old ground, I just find it amazing that fans like your good self, can question someone who watches him in training every day, of course you could be proved right, but a I would prefer to listen to a decent manager over any fan.

I'm not worried about what he does in training I'm worried about what he does on the pitch and on the pitch he looks lost out wide. We need a striker not another wide option ( we already have Palmer, Rothwell, Bennett, Reed, Conway, and Armstrong who have all played there) so surely this should have been noted before taking such an expensive gamble. 

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Bennett starts. Whether its right back, centre midfielder or on the wing. He is one of our best player and plays with his heart on the sleeve. Must start

I don't doubt his commitment but that shouldn't mean he is guaranteed a start is he a better right back than Nyambe clearly not and it's preposterous to suggest that he should start over Nyambe. Is he a better option in the centre than Smallwood, Evans, Reed or Rodwell again clearly not despite it being his best position. As for on the wing he may start away from home when we are expecting to see less of the ball but tomorrow we are at home and should be looking to attack and in Rothwell and Palmer you have two players who are creative and who unlike Bennett can go past a player and in Palmer's case he has an eye for goal as well.

Just now, K-Hod said:

I'm obviously  not saying I know better than our manager, before people accuse me of being negative or not trusting TM, but based on what I've seen so far, he's very much out of place out wide.....

Think how bad he must look through the middle

Just now, RV Blue said:

Bench (arguably) our most important player and (unarguably) the first name on the team sheet? Don’t think that will happen.

Bennett our most important player? I'd say Dack, Graham, Mulgrew, Reed, Evans, Lenihan, Nyambe and Raya are all more important than him. You say Bennett is the first name on the team sheet but for me he is not our best player in any position. What position do you have him as the first name in. Right back? Nyambe a far better option, Bennett as been poor there. Central Midfield? Probably Bennett's best position but is he playing there ahead of Reed, Evans, Smallwood and even Rodwell not for me. On the wing? For me he lacks creativity in the final third. I'd rather see the flair of Rothwell and Palmer out there or for some games the directness of Armstrong they can all beat a player with skill or pace something Bennett rarely does, they also are more likely for a goal than Bennett.

48 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

You'd have thought that the manager and scouting department would have noticed this before splashing out such a sum of money. Poor

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

On Bennett, I think he is good at right backs but he got exposed by Sheff United but they are a quality side and thats why they are top of the league. 

You forgot to mention Bennett's horrific performance at Swansea. He is not a right back he's out of position and dives in far too often and he is also skinned too easily at times. Sides target him there like they used to Nyambe. We have competition at left back why not at right back?

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

Look like Lenihan has little chance of playing. 

Lets hope Mulgrew trains as we need him tomorrow if Graham or Dack arent playing. 

Or you could just keep it simple and bench Bennett for Nyambe.