Between Gallagher, Travis and Cunningham for MOM for me, but all played their part. We are looking a half decent side. :-)

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Walton

Nyambe Lenihan Williams Cunningham

Travis Johnson

Rothwell Dack Downing

Graham

Subs: Leutweiler, Bennett, Evans, Chapman, Armstrong, Gallagher, Hart

I'd have JRC on the bench in place of Evans, and Brereton instead of Armstrong. The bench is pretty solid these days. 

4 hours ago, Stuart said:

This team picks itself at the moment I’d say...

Yeah, pretty much the team I had picked with Chapman possibly in Downing's place, or sub to replace him. And JRC a sub to replace either Rothwell or Bennett; depending on how the game is going.

And obviously, Tosin, or Lenihan in place of Nyambe if fit.

Just now, Tom Stinny said:

A crazy idea but do you think you could play Rothwell as a right sided wing back? He works hard up and down but has so much more ability than a Bennet and neither are actual defenders or think in a defensive way.

 

it's almost a case of have someone who can attack but can't defend or have someone who can't do either.

JRC is probably a better fit for that imo.

Walton.

Bennett, Tosin/Lenihan, Williams, Cunningham.

Johnson, Travis.

Rothwell, Dack, Chapman.

Graham

With JRC, Downing, and Brereton or Gallagher to play from the bench.

9 minutes ago, stinny1 said:

if you playing Graham you need width and plenty of crosses   it looks like Rothwell and Chapman  could be the answer  get the ball in the box simple really

Downing is the best crosser we have.

13 minutes ago, AAK said:

Sounds like Mulgrew, wand of a left foot but hopeless at defending.

I mentioned before, he is good on the ball, can cover the ground, and has a wand of a left foot. To me he'll make a good left back option in future. 

Cheers guys! :-)

Anyone got any info on the U23s game tonight? Interested to see who lines up tonight? 

Lenihan was my choice ahead of Johnson. Think most fans feel pretty much the same. 

47 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

We should be beating these with fringe players. 

Boro is the must win game 

Yes, we performed better preseason with our young fringe players than our seasoned pros.

This is a game to play some youngsters, especially in defence given our lack of CBs.

2 minutes ago, starscascade said:

If cant play players at this level to be fearful of injuries what chance is there this season?

Well, I also like to give our younger players a chance to show they are ready to step up, if we can't do that in these games then what games?

We need to be very very careful with our centre backs. 

Just now, Mercer said:

Mowbray should play his strongest eleven.  Full stop.

We need a convincing win to give us some confidence and momentum.

I would say the opposite. I wouldn't risk key players like Tosin. Our defence especially is threadbare. I'd rather give some of the others a chance.

I wouldn't play Tosin, or Dack and give the central midfield pair a break.

Fisher,

Nyambe, Platt, Williams, Cunningham

Buckley, Evans

JRC, Butterworth, Downing

Brereton

Just now, joey_big_nose said:

I think I might be in a minority here but I thought Gallagher was very good in the air... He won virtually everything against the Fulham centrebacks pushing the ball onto a rovers player.

I agree, he looked a handful. A bit raw, but he was a key part of our great play in the first half.

Would rather see JRC brought on as an attacking right back than Dack brought deeper and us finishing with 4 strikers; that never works.

A more encouraging performance indeed. 3 points next game is important though.

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I got shouted down when I suggested that for a very tall striker Gallagher is not a good header of the ball. If you rolled Gallager and Brereton into one you wouldn't have a good header of the ball. You wouldn't even have a player of Matt Jansen's heading ability and what was he 5' 9" -5' 10".

Solid enough headers both Gallagher and Ben B. Nice headed goal Ben B scored preseason and Gallagher has scored plenty with his head for us in the past. I am certain they will come good.

Just now, JHRover said:

Amazing how David Raya can start for Brentford at Middlesbrough and come away with a clean sheet and 3 points. Mowbray reckons he was too inexperienced for us, then signs someone on loan with less experience.

I think the coming weeks will prove that Mowbray is incapable of assembling or organising a competent defence. Last season he got away with it as people believed the problem was Mulgrew and Raya. 

Maybe Brentford play with a defence. Raya was very lucky guy though, he was at fault for the goal that was incorrectly ruled out. 

Just now, 1864roverite said:

Strikers are only as good as the supply line on the pitch. 

From some comments it seems Rovers were better balanced but despite this they still contrived to concede 2 goals. Nil points and 4 against with only 1 scored (and an own goal at that) worries me greatly. Lets hope it turns itself around pretty damn quick. Brereton MUST start the next match for me.

I would've started Ben B in the first game. He was in a rich vein of form after his 4 preseason goals. Confidence is a wonderful thing. 

Just now, Husky said:

We were in the game until the subs, then we completely lost the plot.

Surely it's all Brereton's fault again.

Not at all. We should play him up front ahead a Gallagher and Graham.

Absolutely ridiculous taking off Travis and having so many forward players; the blame lies with Tony for his substitutions.

Just now, HowieFive0 said:

Don't give a f@ck as long as we win games ..

Indeed, how many clean sheets did Norwich have last year.

The lads are doing well.

I"m not surprised Bennett and Bell are playing; probably need some continuity. Here's hoping the pair have a hunger to put things right from last week.

Pity Cunningham isn't on the bench though. Though nice to see Platt there.

Here's hoping for some fighting spirit and no schoolboy errors. You never know could be the start of a bright new dawn.

9 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

So if there is no Lenihan or Nyambe I suppose we will have a Captain at RB.

Funny how the cards fall.

Or Bradley Johnson hopefully.

29 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

So far Johnson, Travis, Buckley and now Evans are better than Reed apparently. 

Johnson is the only one that you could consider on a similar level right now - Travis and Buckley have the potential to be as good or better.

I never said Evans was better than Reed. I think Evans reads the game better, and he has been part of a team that won promotion to the premier League. But Reed has better all-round quality. Not much point in talking about other team's players though. 

Just now, OJRovers said:

Can players still go out on loan? I thought it had shut?

No way that Mowbray will let Bell go out on loan now we're so short in defence as it is.

League 1 and 2 is still open for loans.