Just now, RV Blue said:

He’s shite, but name a better left back at the club?

Hart, Grayson, Downing and Mulgrew, but not Williams.

21 minutes ago, RovingRover said:

The idea was to bring in 2 goalkeepers and I would have thought that Walton was going to be the understudy, then alarm bells started going off when he was referred to as the Number 1 keeper. We were looking for an experienced goalkeeper to replace Raya. Walton does clearly not meet that description.

From what I had heard, we were trying to find suitors for Smallwood, Samuel (loan), Leutwiler (2 keepers signing required), Evans, Hart and maybe let a few other younger players go out on loan.

Remember a while back Mowbray said he wanted 3-4 signings. But that was before the departure of Nuttall, Wharton and Raya. Whether he had factored the four into his number before the departures is a question mark. You could certainly say that Gallagher is a sort-of replacement option for Nuttall and maybe even argue that Downing is a sort of replacement for Conway. But it is obvious we are lacking in some key areas depth and squad quality wise.

My honest opinion:
GK: I am unconvinced by Walton and would have liked a veteran keeper brought in who's experience is higher than League One.
LB: Bell is obviously not good enough. Hart struggled to match League One level. If money is tight. I wonder whether Mulgrew could go out to left back and a more commanding CB be brought in alongside Lenihan

RB: Nyambe would work at a push. But I see this as another weak area. I honestly never thought I would be longing the day where Williams returns from injury.

CB: Mulgrew for me is a liability. I actually think Williams is better a CB than Mulgrew and Mulgrew's goals somewhat saves his defensive blushes

CM: Yes I know the jokes about having to many CM's. But I really think we are going to miss Harrison Reed this season
Wing: We lack pace which makes us very containable for better teams. I had mooted the suggestion that we should try Bell out wide considering his attacking movements. But I am unconvinced he is a complete enough player even at the age of 25.

Perhaps to better understand things you could actually listen what the manager has said. Tony has stated that after his excellent preseason Hart is going to remain here; similarly JRC hopefully. 

Mulgrew at left back and Bell on the wing sounds awful. We have so many fine attacking players it's amazing you would even think Bell would a winger.

Surprised there is such negativity around our fine young players, when many criticize Tony for not playing them.

Well, I am looking forward to Hart making his first appearance. He and Grayson would be the most complete fullbacks we have; pretty sure Grayson's versatility is what has kept him in the first team frame. 

Anyhow, fingers crossed Grant makes Rover's Return. :-) (Hanley, not Mitchell; Definitely not the right place for Mitchell) 

Looks like Tony and Mark could be are Central defence pairing before the end of the season. Lol!

Seriously though, here's hoping we can bring in a Brick Sh1thouse defender.

Just now, OssyLad said:

Does loan window close tomorrow as well?  

I may be wrong but think it does for the Championship, but not League 1 and 2

22 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

This would be my team. Yes, risky putting Downing left-back, but would he really be any worse defensively than Bell? Dack needs to get the finger out too or I would get Rothwell or Buckley in the middle. I am afraid Dack is now coasting as a championship footballer, happy enough with tipping away. I don't really rate Armstrong, but on the counter he is good and I think that's what this game will be. 

                     Walton

  Nyambe Lenihan Tosin Downing

              Travis     Johnson

Armstrong     Dack    Rothwell

                  Brereton

Yeah, that would be pretty much my team, though it might possibly be a bit attacking for an away match.

Just now, OJRovers said:

Stuart Downing out of contract too this time next year, one year deal only.

 

Yeah, our team is really aging! Lol! Will have to get Zimmerframes for Ben B, Gallagher, Armstrong and Rothwell etc.

Aston Villa seem to have got over losing all their loan players as they enjoy life in the Premier league. 

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I've seen Hart play once and I thought he was deeply average, I have friends who thought he was decent when he played for Rochdale but where we are now is big step up.

Well hey, if a top defender is available anywhere across the back 4 we should sign them. But if not give the youngsters that impressed preseason a chance, like JRC and Hart.

Just now, Sparks Rover said:

Of course they can be worse.  They are worse.

How far has this great club fallen...?

Hart was loved by those at Southend. And played extremely well when I saw him. Same with Grayson. They are also were part of an under 23 set up that is playing at the top level; even to be playing European football. The future is very bright my friend. :-)

Just now, 47er said:

Just waiting for someone to tell you its not as simple as that. 

IMO it is that simple and your analysis is bang on!

Last year we only had one player that could really hold the ball up; a 33 year old striker. I have no arguments at all that we needed another big target man. I think Gallagher and Brereton will be great for us long term Of course we still do need defensive strengthening though.

6 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

No , Grayson isnt good enough. The bar is just so low at the moment and mowbray takes responsibility for this . Relegation is a real threat with our defence 

I'm only going by the excellent skill he showed scoring 2 goals in his last 3 games out on loan. The lad clearly has plenty of talent. Best to give our young players a blooming chance before we try to rip them apart, imo. I would give Hart and Grayson a run out at left back. They can't be worse than Bell and Williams.

15 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

He must be shyte then, grayson is woeful

Far from it. He's very skilled for a CB with a sweet left foot. I think he has a future at left back for us, along with Hart.

Lynch doesn't look so bad from this; going forward anyhow:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=joel lynch&ia=videos&iax=videos&iai=HdWHe3aQ3wA

Just now, Blue blood said:

Agree with the latter would ship on a 4 and a couple of others too. However I do feel Evans is a sham of a footballer who looks ok but actually does nothing. Not to mention he is hardly ever fit...

Yes, we have plenty of young guns ready to go in Midfield and up front, but really need at least one experienced defender. 

Just now, Blue blood said:

A few thoughts: 

1) hard to get excited about signings. Even if we do sign players, and they are good (no guarentee of either with TM's track record) they aren't certainties to play - or play in their main positions. Given we had a few solutions to Saturday's problems on the bench, and given players when played aren't always in position (Bereton, Reed) there's a lot more hurdles to cross than "just" getting them in. 

2) I'd keep Smallwood as a squad player. He can tackle and is always fit - 2 positives over Evans. Add in Evans wages and he's be the one to go for me. Johnston, Travis, Bennett and Smallwood are enough for the defensive mid positions. 

3) it might be me and the papers hyping it but virtually all other clubs have made solid foreign signings - how hard is it to get our network set up and something from it? 

Evans reads the game well, would keep him before Smallwood without question. Though both should probably move on along with Bell and Mulgrew, if we can find clubs for them. 

Just now, Crimpshrine said:

Apart from a good win against Derby and a few dead rubber wins at the end of the season we have been awful since January. We were also terrible in November.

Nobody is judging on just one game. We look like a team who are getting the losing habit.

We look like a team missing defenders, but one with an exciting array of attacking talent. 

48 minutes ago, JoeHarvey said:

I'm sorry but a centre-back and a left-back wouldn't make us a Top 6 team. Watch Derby, Leeds, West Brom and the real Top 6 teams play, we've got nothing on them. 

I'm not a negative person, and most of the time I'm slated for being overly positive (see my opinions on BB) but to me, every team from 7th to 18th is battling it out in mid-table obscurity, and we're one of them. We simply don't have the playing style and the options off the bench that these others teams do. For me, a centre-back and a left back come in and I'd be expecting 10th, 11th or 12th. To push for the top 6 now we'd have to have a 20 goal a season striker, a whole new defence and totally different playstyle.

That's okay though, to me there's nothing wrong with us being a mid-table side for now. We've got a lot of young players, and soon that 20 goal a season striker slot mentioned above could well be filled by a Sam Gallagher, a Ben Brereton, or if he was played up front, an Adam Armstrong.

It is negative. We shouldn't judge teams on one game. A competent left back and a centre back would make the world of difference to us. 

2 hours ago, rog of the rovers said:

I like Tony Mowbray, and think he's done a good job at Rovers.

Whilst I wouldn't advocate any movement on his future at this moment, I can't help but feel that he's already written the first line of his Rovers managerial obituary.

"Defenders are coming....."

It feels as though that clip will come back to haunt him in a big way!

Defenders are coming, has a bit of a Stark feeling about it, and more Ned than Tony. 

Tony will be reliant on the work Damien Johnson has done with our young players to save his job.

I can see Damien Johnson doing a good job for us as manager in the future. For now Tony needs to make some ruthless choices. Mulgrew, Bell, need to be dropped from the squad completely. 

Just now, JHRover said:

Let's suppose Dyche walks out tomorrow. Does Burnley's entire footballing operation go up in smoke? No. Whilst Dyche runs the show they also have board and structure that will ensure continuity or at least minimum disruption.

Yes, our operation went up in smoke when King Kenny left, and we were in a far superior situation than they are now.

Just now, neophox said:

Why would this Max Clark be anything? He's played around 30 games in total of his career in the Championship and spent the most time in League two on loan to clubs?

 

 

He looked decent enough against Ajax the other day. A nice pass in the lead up to the goal. 

13 hours ago, Tormund said:

 

7 minutes ago, Tormund said:

Did well considering then!

Yes, no disgrace in that at all. Hope it gave Tony food for thought. 

2 hours ago, Tormund said:

No way on earth Mowbray would start Hart or Grayson in a league game.

Tony has already said Hart will be staying in the squad this year; I don't think he'll be hanging around to make the tea. 

2 hours ago, OldEwoodBlue said:

Correct.

We need to replace Bell immediately.

The only options are Williams (he is worse than Bell at LB) or Downing.

 

At CB we have Lenihan, Toshin, Williams, Nyambe who should all be before Mulgrew in the pecking order, not to mention Magloire.

For sure we need to strengthen CB and ship a couple out but LB is a priority.

And Hart and Grayson; both our best options at left back. But that wouldn't be hard.

Just now, Swanson said:

Let's bring in another attacker.

He any good in defence, or managing?

                      Walton

Nyambe, Lenihan, Tyler M, Bell

              Travis, Johnson

      Rothwell, Dack, Armstrong

                    Brereton

 When playing at home our defence pushes higher up the field, so pace in defence is of more importance.