benhben

Id hope we would keep Rodwell as a CM next season. Sounds like hes done well in every game hes played there. Evans and Smallwood can both go. Not sure TM rates Rodwell that much though.

Are we 3 at the back then? All the line ups I've seen are 4-2-3-1

Skysports have Brereton upfront with Arma Dack and Rothwell behind. Pleased to see Rodwell in CM. He has the ability to be the best CM in the division but does he have the will or body for it anymore. We shall see. Hope to see the young lads on the bench get some decent game time

As others have said I hope to see a few youngers blooded in. Brereton given a go up front from the start. Rothwell to continue his good form. Let them play without any caution. Cant see it though. 2-2

Has anyone read TMs last two interviews in the LET? His comments to me read as if we are looking at backup players in the summer rather than overhauling the first team starting 11. A bit concerning that we will continue to see Evans, Bennett, Smallwood and Williams in the starting line up next year. From today: "What we have to do if the injuries come again next year is have players chomping at the bit behind and not just have young players coming in." Yesterday: "They’re doing great and yet I feel if we’re going to be right at the top end of the Championship next season then we need to find some players who are competing with this lot to give us more depth for when the injuries do come along."

I read this article getting more and more agitated. I struggle to read anything he comes out with now without disagreeing with every single point. Evans and Smallwood are a better CM pair than Reed/Travis? This after his recent LET comments saying Bennet is a better winger than Rothwell because he defends? Pull the other one. If we were solid and keeping clean sheets every week i'd take some notice but we have one of the worst defensive records in the entire footballing league. I wonder if Dack and Graham would prefer Bennett smallwood and evans alonside them rather than Reed Travis and Rothwell..I doubt it. Complete and utter nonsense. As others have said its comments like this that show we will never progress past where we are now under Mowbray.

I dont think CM is far off retirement to be honest. He cant play more than 5 or 6 games without getting a hamstring injury. Could see next season as a squad player will be his last.

What's the injury? Sad to see he's off injured just after scoring his first goal. Hopefully not too bad and he can kick on now.

Is Mowbray boning Bennets mum or something. It's getting weird how much Mowbray loves him.

Rather than doing what the fans are asking I think TM will try and hunker down even more resulting in another drab horrible home defeat. I reckon hell go something like Raya Nyambe Lenihan Williams Bennett Bell Smallwood Evans Dack Armstrong Graham That team is horrible! Personally Id like to see a sod it, lets go attack attitude like everyone else on here. Rothwell, Travis, Dack, Armstrong, Brereton, Chapman and maybe even Butterworth, Rankin Costello from the U21s in the squad. Doubt it though.

In addition to then spending it on players who then can't make the first 11

He has had numerous transfer windows and spent over £10m. Due to spending badly the team hasn't changed. Theres also a bunch young exciting players coming through but the team he picked against stoke sums him up. Needs to go along with the coaching staff.

He deserved to go 3 or 4 games ago but its not gonna happen. Doubt Venkys pay much attention to results and Waggot was pretty much hired by Mowbray. I know we've had some shocking managers over the last few years but at the moment were as bad as we ever have been.

Whats the fan reaction like in the ground. Cant be long before there are calls to go from the stands.

Only just seen the team sheet due to being out playing footy. That line up even surpasses my own low expectations. Sky sports app has Bennett no 10 behind Graham. Small wood and Evans behind. Haha its almost comical its that Dull and predictable. Someone get a taxi for mowbray. Awful

Every interview Mowbray does with the LET annoys me now. Some of his comments are just weird and show how hes a tactically a muddled mess. The latest of his comments on Rothwell. “Adam has a natural work ethic. He’s like a cross country runner, but also a sprinter, which is why I play Adam on that side as an attacking winger and on the other side a hardworking Conway or Bennett." Why? Why do we need a Bennett or Conway on the other flank? Has it proved to help us keep clean sheets over the season? If hes impressing you and the fans why not play them both? I struggle to listen to him these days witouth getting wound up. Time to go. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17542185.tony-mowbray-on-why-joe-rothwell-isnt-starting-for-rovers/

Good old Shteve. It amazes me he still manages to get new jobs. Must surely be on the Coyle scrapheap now. 1 win in 15 cant be any worse than Mowbrays. Similar league position also

Apart from taking set pieces does he ever anymore?

Another weird and stupidly frustrating quote from Mowbray in the LET article: Mowbray admits he has reservations about Rothwell’s ability to help the team defensively, adding: “I think he’s got a long way to go. “He’s in a similar situation to what Harry Chapman was in at the start of last season, and as a football manager, I need to feel what works for the team and what they’ll benefit from. Because were such a solid defensive unit as it is??...clown.

I would keep Rodwell providing the wages are low. Hes a good footballer who could fill in CM or CB. Not sure he will want to stay as backup. Its also hard to get rid of Mulgrew given he gives you at least 10 goals a season. He is physically declining however, Id keep him as a squad player. There are players in the squad who are not good enough now and never will be. They need moving out and replacing in a sustainable way that doesnt get us into a financial mess (well more of). This summer - Samuel, Gladwin, Conway, WILLIAMS (1st out the door), Downing Longer term - Mulgrew, Bennett, Graham (will be retiring in 2-3 years), Bell, Evans, Smallwood I think Dack will be off to a promotion chasing champ or lower prem team in summer so he will need replacing effectively. I am worried for next season. Mowbray needs a plan...

I'd say we would be odds on favourites for the drop next season unless the manger and half the squad are replaced. Johnson until the end of the season and blood in some U23s and see if any can be assets for next year. Dropping like a stone. Thank God for a good January sandwiched between long spells of shite . We'd be for the drop if not for that.

Needs to get near the bench first. To be honest Id want to make sure his hamstrings are 100% healed and strong before putting him in the starting 11. U21s isnt the same intensity. Were pretty much safe and no chance of the play-offs so no point rushing him. I agree he should at least be making some cameos of the bench however. Same with Brereton. Id be interested to see Butterworth and Rankin Costello given game time. Sounds like theyve been excellend for U21s lately.

I always preferred Messi over Ronaldo due to natural talent and his less in your face demeanur....but I think over the last three years you cant argue with what Ronaldo has achieved in the game. Scored regularly in three different leagues, won the euros with an average portugal side and won 3 champions leagues. I think he has edged slightly ahead of Messi for me in terms of an all time great.

Think of the most dour boring team melton Mowbray could put out and then that will probably be pretty close. Raya Nyambe Williams Bell Bennett Reed Smallwood Evans Conway Dack Graham Team Id like: Raya Nyambe Me someone else off here Bell Travis Reed Rothwell Dack Armstrong Graham

A number of the players simply arent good enough at championship level. You can graft and work hard yes and it may get you points in some games, but you cant spend an entire season on that tactic. Fundamentally they arent good enough. Many of them were here last time we were relegated and the team at the moment is no different to the one in league 1. It has been the managers decision to either not replace them or he has bought badly resulting in half the team being played out of position. Also letting all our centre backs leave on loan without any cover was a diabolical decision and pretty much sums up his lack of a plan. The players have stopped grafting to the levels of earlier in the season so I will concede that...but I struggle to blame a player who just doesnt have the ability. I blame the manager for not having a plan of squad improvement.