bluebruce

He could be much worse than Bell there. It's not his position and he's athletically derelict.

In fairness, having the reserve team manager give the first team manager tips is very insulting and if you think it's gotten to that stage the first team manager needs firing instead (he does). Not so sure Johnno is imminently off. They have been very good for several months now but let's not forget they're not actually safe yet.

I didn't actually think Mulgrew looked a particularly great defender at League One level to be honest. He had his moments, but the goals definitely papered over the cracks even then. The cracks are just bigger now, plus as you say he's a year older. I've generally felt his biggest problem is a tendency to go walkabouts positionally though at the wrong moments, which age should improve not worsen. Pace is only his second biggest problem for me.

As one of those posters, it's fairly simple. It's one poor result too many. Too long of him being unable to see the glaring errors and correct them. Everybody has their own breaking point, this was mine. It isn't really the performance, it's the result. I said before the game, days ago, in the Mowbray stay or go thread that a defeat today would be the final straw for me. I'm not being reactionary, it's all perfectly measured. Obviously, I've been concerned for quite a while now, then very concerned, and questioned decisions/tactics etc throughout his reign, but I've just given him the amount of time I personally thought he'd earned to turn it around. Factoring in the terror that Venkys next potential appointment leaves me with. If yours was expended a while ago, fair enough, I can see why

I didn't understand why you said this earlier either. To my knowledge Raya has been criticised in public once, and entirely rightly so. He did excellently today. Not at fault for the goal and two super saves. TM will probably blame Rothwell (yes he's only done that once too, but Rothwell is an attacker, not the goalie who has made plenty of mistakes this year or the absolutely porous defence who rarely get blamed considering).

That settled it for me (as I fully expected it to). Put my vote down for go. His comments make increasingly less sense and bode badly for the future, his tactics are baffling and ineffective, his team selections mysterious at best, and he has lost the fans, maybe some of the players too from some of the performances. Made a valiant effort to keep us up last time, met expectations by getting us promoted, started strongly this season...but the wheels have well and truly fallen off and we need a new car. Thanks Tony, hopefully bye soon Tony. I wish him well going forward if/when he goes.

Ok I've given it plenty of time and patience, possibly too much. But now, for me, Mowbray out.

Ffs. He has managed an ok number of assists this season I think, including some from crosses. But he just isn't good enough to be anything other than a bench man who can fill in a few spots if needed. Wow thought BB had his first goal there

I'm pretty sure Bennett has crossed something like 5 or 6 times, maybe more, and not seen one reach one of our men.

Shocking that Bennett has survived the subs. Worst player on the pitch today, comfortably.

Conway and BB warming up. It better be Benno who makes way not Rothwell or Arma. He's been unbelievably bad. I wish TM wouldn't finish all his subs so early every game. We have got away with it far too many times.

I wish Bennett would stop trying to make things happen when he reaches that area near the corner of the box. All his crosses have been awful and that shot was obviously a bad idea badly executed.

Probably the one which stopped the goal rather than the one which almost created one. Not actually sure how Mulgrew is still on the pitch if the ref is giving that. Clear goalscoring opportunity.

I'm not even sure that I truly believe that you truly believe it wouldn't.

I wouldn't get your hopes up there, I highly doubt this is Conway's last season. I strongly suspect he is getting another year, based on all of TM's recent comments about the wings.

I wouldn't be so sure. It could get spent on central midfielders to convert to centre halves. Or possibly wingers to convert to full backs. Maybe central midfielders to convert to wingers, like Rothwell. The options are limitless (except for signing players to play in their actual positions, that's taboo). We could even sign very expensive players in pretty much any position, to play on the bench. Which may happen increasingly as we stick strictly to our artists:soldiers ratio regardless of the opposition. You shouldn't pigeon-hole our transfer plans like that, the world is our oyster (Please note, oysters will be used as sharks, pigeon-holes will be used as badger dens).

Good stuff. Would have preferred they sent him to a league team if he was a likely starter (otherwise no point) as we do have cover and the chances of even Raya getting another knock are slim. At least he's getting game time and doing well. Doubt FC United is a better level than our u-23s, but it will do him good to play men's football for a bit. What's Roverschat?

The worrying thing is though, he seems to think the full back not up to it is Nyambe, rather than the dolloper-in-chief Williams (jury a little out on Bell, but I'd rather he was only backup at the moment ideally). I say this because: 1) The defensive winger usually plays on the right, with our most attacking of the two, Arma, playing on the left. Because ya know, we're safe as houses down our left. 2) Nyambe had a brief bad patch back in December was it? Then I think got injured. Then came back, and was still kept out of the team for months, with Bennett often played out of position instead. According to Mowbray this was due to his bad patch in December. A long time to hold a bad patch against someone when most of the first XI have them on a monthly basis. I really don't think he rates Nyambe. Further signs are from the rumour mentioning we were looking for a RB but no mention of a LB. Granted, numerically, right back seems the bigger issue for squad depth reasons, but Williams is utterly useless and Bell inconsistent. I don't think we're going to see a new LB in summer.

The A-League is Australian (with one New Zealand team, Wellington Phoenix). The New Zealand domestic football is definitely tinpot. Not that as a nation they can't put out the odd legend...

I don't buy this 'one defensive winger' approach. I mean, why? Either both flanks need that level of defensive cover from the wings, or neither do. Having one attacking winger and one defensive one doesn't somehow average out so that both flanks have some degree of protection and some degree of attacking nous. It doesn't bring 'balance' to the team like he claims, it makes it lopsided!! I can appreciate that in some games, against certain teams with a particularly dangerous winger, putting somebody more defensive there has its merits, absolutely. God knows why it is a standing policy though almost regardless of who we play.

I feel like I remember seeing it was likely to be played behind closed doors and has been before when we've met? Not sure though.

Had a look to see how Fisher is doing on loan at FC United. Seems to have played every game. Shipped 10 goals in his last 3 though. FC United could just be bobbins? Would have thought he'd be loaned higher up the ladder really...he's 21 now, wasn't Raya loaned a league higher at 17?

Seriously? Not a league I watch but my perception of it was utter tinpot.

If we lose the next game to Stoke, I'll be firmly in the leave camp. It'll be the tipping point for me. If we get something, I'm still going to be a bit worried about next season and whether TM will take us forwards or backwards. If we can regain some form though for the remainder of the season, I'll just sit back and nervously hope our transfer activity will be better than it's sounding so far.

Agree, I'd be very surprised if this turned out to be the signing we need. We aren't short on CMs. If we recruit there we need to get a GOOD one or it's pointless. It would just be another body in the way of the likes of Buckley. Course, the article could be cobblers.