They seem to be following Mowbray’s blue print of playing a team of wingers. That was after he’d tried playing a team of midfield players.

What’s the weather like down there ? It’s cooling down here slightly in Southern Spain. In the early 30’s instead of the high 30’s now. Back home on Tuesday. I’ll be looking forward to seeing some rain as I haven’t seen any for five weeks. We’re planning to winter out here as much as we can given the cost of energy in the UK. Just need to get a load of logs in before we head back.

Did you back your hunch Jim ?

Yes, how many other 17 yr old centre backs are there playing in the football league.

If it money laundering they must have a different washing machine to the one the chicken chokers have.

Brad was worth a goal start. I never expected us to lose a game with him in goal.

We ought to give up playing Test Cricket. We haven’t got the players anymore.

We need to be careful here. We could bet the ranch on a player who a month or two down the line decides he doesn’t want to be here anymore. What were we prepared to pay for the lad who went to Sheff Utd ? Is Van Hecke twice as good ?

They made promises to Lambert that they didn’t keep, allegedly of course.

Some of us marked your card regarding Mowbray seasons ago but you wouldn’t have it then.

Possibly, a lack of real pace isn’t so evident there. Does he relish the physical side of the game ? What is he like at winning contested headers ? Does he read play well or is he drawn to the ball at times ? Does he dive in or does he stay on his feet ? What’s his passing like off both feet ? You find these things out in full scale practice matches. The last left back we had called Pickering turned to be the best striker to play for us, apart from Shearer of course. He was pretty average as a defender before he was converted.

I’m going scouting for a full back. After 45 minutes I realise the guy I’m watching lacks real pace. I close up my notebook and leave.

Hedges barely featured, ditto James Brown. So 5 signings to propel us to promotion and the only thing I can remember any of them doing is Giles putting a good cross in for somebody to head home. That would be grounds for sacking alone in my book.

I agree. However if there was to be a “ first manager not to spend all of his budget “ Mowbray would fit the bill.

When you first make the step up to a higher level it’s natural to play a more conservative, cautious game initially. You don’t want to make a bad mistake and be out of the team again.

We’re ok if we score first. Go behind and we struggle. That’s been the case for years. We sign too many nice lads. When did we last sign a fighter in the mould of Speedie or Moran or Flitcroft ?

Make that 6 poor signings then. Robbo needed a seeing eye dog. Any shot from outside the box was a goal.

Exactly.

Any job at Rovers is a poisoned chalice. That’s why so many staff come and go.

For your passing game to thrive you have to have movement in front of the guy on the ball. Anytime you get the ball you need an option short, an option mid range, and an option long. If your team mates are not giving you those options life will be hard, especially for the guys at the back. If players are reduced to taking the ball stood still the pressing players will always win out in the end. They are moving and you aren’t. It’s like with my rugby league team - the difference between players taking the ball stood still and taking the ball on the burst is immense.

It’s like playing Russian Roulette with the Chicken Chokers in charge.

To give the South Africans slip catching practice.

I remember watching that clip of him before he signed. All it showed was him attacking with the ball. Next to no defending at all. Two things you want from a full back- pace and the mindset that enjoys defending. If you haven’t got those assets go and play somewhere else in the team because full back isn’t for you. I don’t see them in Pickering. We had better left backs when we were in the old third division.

Yeah starting with Dolan and Vale up front had me scratching my head too.

If you’re going to play four at the back it’s imperative that all four can defend.