Absolutely no need for a new stand - just repair the current one. Having lived near the Ethihad, which I suspect is your inspiration for the Academy Ground on the same complex, there isn't room for one at Ewood. Playing the U23 games in Leyland is fine - we should do more to promote that. It could increase our catchment - we should be marketing ourselves as Lancashire's club.

I bet he's tempted to play 3 at the back with wingbacks. By all accounts Harwood-Bellis is a fantastic player and we know how good Branthwaite is. He's not going to drop Lenihan AND neither Man City or Everton are going to loan us one of their hottest prospects to sit on the bench.

Mowbray wouldn't drop his captain and Branthwaite is a better player, so no.

No coincidence that Branthwaite has come in and defensive performances have improved. He's a class above this level, even at 18.

What a ridiculous tackle by Douglas - no wonder our players get injured so much.

Wasn't Rea booked a few minutes ago? That's his second yellow, no?

Armstrong is the new Bennett - teacher's pet. Despite doing jack shit for about 2 months he remains unsubbable.

The tinkerman at it again.

Besides Armstrong demonstrating that he's a L1 wide player, sure.

What's Elliot one to deserve to stay on the pitch? Or Armstrong for that matter?

Our defensive coaching is laughable. They had two blokes stood on the LW then with no blue and white shirt around then. Nyambe had tracked a runner infield and nobody filled in. Thankfully they panicked and hit a cross rather than just walking the ball into the box.

Why not take Downing off? He's done nothing.

The comments on here baffle me. We're not in the Premier League. THIS is the standard of player we have - and quite frankly the standard of player we're playing against. Rothwell is one of our better players. So is Brereton.

The price tag isn't his fault.

Works his socks off, holds the ball up, beats his man and brings his teammates into the game. He just doesn't score enough. Albeit he'd score more if Armstrong passed.

I reckon Tugay would beat Downing in a foot race.

In fairness the media never question Mowbray's lack of progression under Rovers with significant resources. It's always just a vague "longest serving manager doing a good job at little old Rovers".

As evidenced by the points totals not increasing year on year he's clearly under no pressure to win games in the Championship. At a normal club he'd have been sacked already - obviously we're anything but.

It's a really weak league - has been for a long time. It's just a grind with the number of fixtures you have to play. A good manager with the resources Mowbray has had at his fingertips would have got us promoted already. We'll bottle it again with the Playoffs in sight.

I think he picked Travis because we had an injury crisis and he was literally the last man left standing - he was about to go out on loan as I recall. I congratulate you on your cushy retirement - your 8 year old must be some football player. Please get them signed on at Rovers. He can't go into NEXT season only having Pike and Thompson as fullback options, but he can try them in the odd game this season to see what they're made of. It's the Championship, not the Champions League.

They thought Harrison Reed was a better RB than Nyambe too.

They also watched Travis play every day and didn't rate him. They also played Bennett over Nyambe at RB.

I don't watch the U23s much, but when I have there's a few lads that you think would be worth some game time with the First XI. Thompson is one. So is Pike. Coincidentally they both play positions that we're weak at / have no depth. I've no idea whether they're ever going to make the grade, but it wouldn't hurt to try them out this season. I'd definitely have given them both a game in the FA cup and I'd definitely know what I had in them before potentially spunking £500k on a L1 LB.

I'd be ok with that. He's been here two years and he's only been useful for about 3 months. His performances have fallen off a cliff recently. He'll be on big wages (German international dontchaknow) so it'd be a good move for all parties.

Surely the less games played at Ewood the better considering the state of that pitch!