Mowbray has done a good job in his 5 year stint here, especially with these owners, and the way they treated his exit shows you exactly what he’s dealt with. So saving us from League 1 and building a semi good team with some good players, I think he’s done alright.

But it was time for a change, now just to sit back and pray that Venkys get this next appointment right.

9 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

To be honest with Rashford I do think he perhaps was a little overhyped after the way in which he broke onto the scene. He has been really underwhelming for a couple of years to which the narrative was always that he was playing with injuries, but even after surgery leaving him pain free, he has been crap. He also displays terrible body language and minimal urgency like many of his team mates. Ability and attitude may both be contributing factors. Sancho looks a bit overweight and again is lethargic and seems not to be busting a gut.

Easy to pin it on Ronaldo who at least unlike the likes of Rashford, Greenwood, Sancho etc has been scoring goals. But that bad attitude specifically this season is prevalent throughout a number of players.

To add context, they did finish 2nd last season but they were never close to the title and the competition was weak. Chelsea had Lampard for half of the season who was massively underachieving and Liverpool had an unprecedented injury crisis deep into the pandemic which left them regularly playing midfielders and/or kids at centre back.

Sancho is still 21 and new to the league so I am sure he will come good, I think the step up and not being in team/change manager etc is unsettling so we will see with him.

Rashford has been about a while, and whilst still not old, he’s similar age to Dele Alli who has gone the same way. 
 

I am not a believer in players not caring anymore, but maybe the hype for players like Rashford and Dele was to much to live up to. Maybe they just peaked already, and as they can’t hit that standard anymore managers and fans get on their back and it kills their confidence? 

2 minutes ago, rigger said:

But the original post was on the premice that  Souttar would be signed if Lenihan left. Therefore Pratt or Souttar would be fifth choice. In my opinion we need a starting right wing-back whether Nyambe leaves or stays.

Absolutely, right back is the obvious area in our team that needs addressing if Nyambe stays or not.

He does well for us, and he’s one of our own so we like that, but the fact is if he played for any other side in the league no one would take any notice of him.

2 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

I disagree with them but I don't dismiss their right to an opinion purely down to their nationality.

The poor attitude is throughout the team, and was long before Ronaldo joined. Rashford and Sancho are as lazy as anyone.

I don’t think attitude is the issue with Rashford and Sancho, it’s more ability. Tactically taken out of games, especially Rashford who relies on pace.

Hard to say that Sancho suddenly has a bad attitude, more like the EPL is a lot harder for him.

Right back must be a priority for us. We only have Nyambe (contract up) and JRC can do a job there but always injured. We don’t want another situation like Blackpool where we had Malgoire out there.

30 minutes ago, El Tombro said:

Possibly just logical deals to be made. If we go up, these contracts will be drops in the ocean, even if Lenihan and co sign on again. If we don't go up and Lenihan and co go, then we are always going to need squad players.

Sounds like John Park is at work here, but on paper these look like sensible deals for reasonable players (squad or otherwise) if no transfer fees are involved.

We are in a tricky position where players we sign now may be no good if we go up, but could be great deals if we don’t. I know nothing about the two from the Scottish league, so I’ll reserve judgment as I didn’t know anything about any of our players in recent years before they signed bar Johnson/Downing/Ayala.

True or not, who really cares. It’s not like it’s going to make us play any better, they are all young footballers with dreams of either getting their contract renewed/play in the prem/or get a move, they have enough incentive as it is.

Gutted for the fans who made the journey and wasted Boxing Day. I saw someone on social media mention they didn’t drink Xmas day so they weren’t hungover, small things like that makes me so annoyed at the EFL.

Interested to see what action EFL and Hull take on this, I expect not much. But i have no doubt our great club would step in and offer free travel, but even that is small consolation.

How Hulls game on Wednesday isn’t off yet is a farce, but then the whole covid thing has been a shambles for 2 years now.

On 13/12/2021 at 22:56, ben_the_beast said:

Exactly. We have far more to lose right now. To be honest I could take it or leave it as far as Nyambe is concerned. I don't think there will be a queue around the corner for him if he is asking for major money. Lenihan is our captain and is an important member of our inexperienced squad. Rothwell is the one. He merits being equal to our highest earners. 

I think the club need to budge first. Show that we are willing. Because the players. They will have other offers. We can talk about them being happy here etc. But the longer it goes on with the club not showing them they are valued. The closer they will get to being pissed off. 

I’d love to keep all 3 of them, but if they go then so be it. We don’t have money to replace any of them, which is the most disappointing part, but we will replace them one way or the other.

Right now Ayala can’t get in the side, and Buckley has done a great job at left back, although it’s not ideal.

When Dack is back, it’s likely Rothwell is the player to make way.

Love to keep them all, but if we don’t, we will replace them as always and move on.

Just now, 47er said:

I've answered you above but I won't be bothering again. You are just on the wind-up.

Nobody "has gone quiet" we're all too busy lapping up unexpected success. And please don't put your adherence to Mowbray as evidence of superiority or wise judgement. You are just a dull happy clapper who unthinkingly accepts the status quo.

I’m not on a wind up. I agree with what you said above about that 17 game run, he should of gone. But he didn’t, and he’s built a really good teams with no money since he’s been here.

I have always wanted Mowbray to get the respect he deserves for saving us from league 1. I was ready to part ways with him after last season, but he’s bounced back and I fully support him.

The team we have deserves more fans and I hope the club can sort the prices and bring them in.

3 minutes ago, Silas said:

Do you think you're gonna find many fans that don't back a manager in 3rd position? 

Not likely is it, but I have a feeling that's not the aim. 

P.S. You had to scroll so far because no one had yet come to the thread to congratulate Mowbray on the great job he's currently doing (although many had in the match thread).

Oddly, your post reigniting the thread didn't do that either. 🤔

No I don’t expect to find people not backing him now. Which is my point. We have backed the manager the whole way, he deserves a statue alone for the league 1 promotion. The Mowbray out crew who we had to argue with weekly have vanished, I’m just interested to hear what they think now? Are they still wanting him out? Or are they seeing the bigger picture? I shouldn’t have to ask, but they gone quiet, so I have.

8 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

I'm sure they will all come out of the woodwork when we get beat next.

No doubt, I mean can you blame them? Mowbray using his Boro connections to sign Downing, Ayala and Pears…what was he thinking.

Please don’t ban me like last week, I’m sincerely asking, thoughts on Mowbray? Because a large part of fan base has backed him (especially fans that go games) and we was dismissed as idiots. So keen to hear, what’s your thoughts?

On 15/12/2021 at 09:23, JohnD said:

What did you do? 😯🤣

Haha, I am going South Africa. My last dream is to see Rovers at Wembley, so I’m hoping we go up in the automatics otherwise it’s the worse mid life crisis ever.

No one has contacted me on the offer btw, so if anyone knows someone who wants it let me know. As I said no charge. It’s front row upper tier too so you can give it a full on Keegan when it goes wrong.

40 minutes ago, tomphil said:

Minimum stock, maximum prices.

Familiar ring to it.

Exactly that.

The game plan seems to be just promote using social media for everything. It’s noticeable how hard they push it, with out reading the room that it’s a price issue for fans, they want to spend.

Endless videos of Dack and Brereton flogging stuff, the pictures of away fans thanking them for coming, the Rovers Twitter/insta individually thanking fans for coming etc. I see what they are trying to do, but just make it affordable.

17 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I can’t see Newcastle gambling on Brererton getting them out of the mire. With the funds they’ve got they’ll be going for a more high profile striker.

True, but I don’t see a decent striker joining them in their position. A high profile lower league seems the way to go, but hope not.

I am going away for 6 months in January, happy to handover my season ticket if someone wants it for rest of season (free of charge). Be nice if someone who has unfortunately been priced out for what ever reason to have it. JW upper. DM me if you want it.

It doesn’t make sense for Brereton to leave in January. Clubs rarely spend big in January, Venkys have been very good under Mowbray keeping our big players when we need them. He’s having a great season with a potential World Cup coming up.

Price shouldn’t drop to much between now and the summer, so just can’t see it.

Of course this is where Newcastle come in and get him, then get relegated.

Hopefully his form, the teams form, and our powers that be is enough to see the season out with us.

On 12/12/2021 at 18:08, JacknOry said:

We need Kaminski back - Pears has done better than expected but thats mostly down to our superb defence. HGe is sometime slow to release the ball. 

Wharton is the real deal, its amazing to think that we have barely missed ayala

Pears has been brilliant, especially against Bournemouth. Can’t say I noticed any issues with his distribution, Kaminski on the other hand, his kicking is worst part his game.

Its been a long time that we can have players out in all positions and have adequate back up.

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

Almost kept us up, almost won the league, almost got us above top 8, almost gave anyone in the top 6 a game over the last few seasons.......

Hopefully he won't be the almost man this time......🤞⚽️

Did get us promoted from league 1.

On 28/11/2021 at 09:06, Sparks Rover said:

What a legend almost keeping us up.  He had virtually three quarter of a season.

I've heard it all now.🙈

Well edited. He did almost keep us up then got us promoted.

Have you ever posted something positive? 

Another 3 points in the bag.

Another smug chuckle at the Mowbray out clan.

Our damn Boro connections keeper kept a clean a clean sheet.

Our waste of 7 million striker scored again.

Damn Mowbray.

5 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

The standard of football in the Championship is poor, watching some of the best players in the world and Rovers competing against the best surely would be the biggest thrill. I have never understood why it is anything but desirable to want the best.

Im not sure why Premier League players are "mercenary journeyman" anymore than Championship players either.

VAR has become far less subject to criticism because the teething problems in the main have been ironed out and ultimately it means that decisions are invariably made correctly. How often do we bemoan the standard of referees at this level, who get no help?

I also dont get the lifeless stadiums, if anything they are bigger and more full, and our own stadium would likely be fuller.

I completely understand all your points.

I guess personally, i enjoy seeing players like Buckley, Dolan, Nyambe etc coming through the ranks. I enjoy going places like Barnsley and Forrest over say the Emirates or Spurs new stadium.

I will never be on board with VAR. That is for a man watching on tv, paying to go to a match VAR will never be welcome for me.

As I said earlier I want us to go up and I know we need the premier league, but I think the thrill for me is the chase.

Obviously the ultimate goal is to reach the Premier League, but is there anyone else that once we got over the euphoria of achieving that goal would feel a bit flat by it?

VAR, lifeless stadiums, over analysed, squad full of mercenary journeymen.

I think we need it for our clubs future, and I am sure if we got there it would grow on me, but I feel right now where we are is proper football and where we aspire to be (EPL) isn’t all that.

On 25/11/2021 at 03:37, JacknOry said:

Like the way you have omitted the other 5 mil spent on another striker.

Downing was not our best player, but was good first season yes, second season? Ayala was injured first season and so far been good this - when fit.

Brereton took 3 seasons to finally come good - not a good way to spend 7mil when we needed strenghtening around the team. Im thrilled he is starting to come good but this is not my point. 

Gallagher at 5 million is fair. This isn’t the 90’s, that’s not a lot of money for a striker. Has it paid off? Not really, but the same manager signed Armstrong for 1.5 million and Dack for 750k so you take the good and the bad don’t you?

Yes Ayala was injured, was a risk with his record, but we didn’t sign him on a 1 year deal did we? And this season he has been immense, so a great signing.

Yes Brereton took a while to come good, but he has come good. And he’s 22. Just like Armstrong, our club has done really well in buying young talent that we can sell on for a big fee. 
 

Whilst you expect everyone we buy to be a world beater from the off, that’s not how football at our level works.

Any of the shirts with the dark blue. I hate our kits when we go light blue.