Parsonblue

Personally, I'm far from reaching the point where I would want a change of manager. I think Mowbray has done a very good job thus far and has the ability to take us forward in the long term. However, as with every manager, it will come down to recruitment and results. Last summer the stated aim was maintaining Championship status and anything better being a bonus. I believe we will finish well above the relegation places but some distance from the play-offs which, for me, is a decent season after promotion. This summer we need to recruit players who will make us stronger and take us to a point where we can be serious challengers for the play-off positions. It won't be easy as there are clubs with money to spend from parachute payments. However, it can be done as other clubs have shown over the years. This is going to be a big summer in terms of recruitment and we have to get it right. On the plus side we have a number of youngsters who could fill the 'squad' positions so that the money can be targeted on players who are the 'finished article'.

Having caught up on some sleep after a weary journey back I'm still struggling to find many positives from last night. Reading set themselves up to defend in depth and in numbers and catch us on the break. They did it perfectly. Two shots in the first half and one goal. In the second they started more aggressively, then went back to defending and still had the ability to hit us on the break and score a winner. In contrast we had endless amounts of possession without ever really looking like converting it into goals. Armstrong should have played Brereton in with a better ball - although I'm doubtful Brereton would have finished it; that finish in the second half was shocking - and Armstrong should have done better on one occasion with a shot which simply wasn't hit hard enough. At the moment we have issues at both ends of the pitch. Defenders who can't defend and an attack that looks more and more toothless. The manager has now given the old guard the opportunity to cut it at this level and, sadly, several after a decent start have shown they simply lack the consistency to play at this level week in and week out. Graham, who remains our most dangerous forward, is struggling with fitness having to play too many games. Dack is also looking anything but fit and seems to drift around without much purpose. Graham and Dack were at their best when they were playing off one another - now they are miles apart on the field and so there is no link up play between the two. Whilst Brereton showed one or two nice touches he is not a centre-forward. The way he bounced off a defender when challenged was embarrassing. We have two players vying for left-back and if you put both together you still wouldn't have a decent left-back. Personally, I think we need Nyambe back in the team to allow Bennett to move into midfield as we miss his drive and energy when he's playing right-back. Above all we need an experienced, commanding centre-half who can organise the players around him - what I wouldn't give for a Matt Woods, a John McNamee, a Graham Hawkins, a Kevin Moran type defender at this point. I suspect this summer and the recruitment we do will define the manager's tenure at the club. I think Mowbray has done a more than decent job thus far but this summer we need to bring in players who can complete in this League.

Stanley played several experienced first team players in their side so it wasn't an under-23 side. Because we have a game on Wednesday we were unable to put senior squad member in the side and restricted it to the Under-23 side. All of which made it an even more impressive performance under the circumstances.

A really tough game today against a strong Stanley team. The lads did remarkably well to pull this out of the bag with virtually the last kick of the game to bring the scores level - much to the annoyance of Coleman who had a real rant at the referee and continued it long after the game had been decided on penalties. In fairness, the lads looked jaded in the second half after a tough week but a piece of magic by Danny Butterworth enabled Thompson to snatch the late, late equaliser. Albinson made the vital save from Nolan - who played in a few games for Rovers on trial a couple of years back. Hopefully the lads will get some time to recover before returning to Southport next week for another tough game against Everton.

Frustrating to lose but it was a tight game and always looked like one goal would win it. We had chances but didn't make the most of them. Bristol took a late opportunity that came their way. Travis and Reed struggled, which happens with young players from time to time. Dack was ineffective, possibly still carrying a knock. Overall, we are in a decent position considering it's our first season back - Rotherham and Wigan have found the transition far more difficult. I'm more than happy with consolidation this season and then add some quality in the summer. Personally, I think we are fortunate to have Mowbray as manager at this point in time as he slowly rebuilds the foundations of the club. The Academy and Under-23's are now progressing again and these are the building blocks on which future success can be built - together with one or two astute signings. At the end of the day, despite the result today, this season will see us finish higher than last season so progress has been made.

So sad to lose another of the sixties team so soon after Mike Harrison. So many wonderful memories they've let behind. Fred was such a powerful striker who feared nobody and who could score goals for fun. I remember being distraught when he was sold to Everton. RIP Fred.

Everton got the point they needed last night to get through. Between Rovers and Sheffield United for the other place.

Difficult conditions at Southport last night and a draw was probably a fair result. First half was fairly even with both sides having problems with the blustery conditions and a heavy and bobbly pitch. We had the better of the chances and Vale was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for offside - which was a very tight decision. We started the second half on the front foot and took the lead after some brilliant play by young Buckley. However, as the half progressed we started to run out of steam a little as it looked as if playing two games in the space of four days had caught up with us. Nonetheless, it was a decent performance against a side who have already beaten us twice this season. Joe Rankin-Costello, Buckley and Mols had excellent matches but, once again, it was a real team performance. We now need Everton to do us a favour and take something from their last match against Sheffield whilst we need to beat Doncaster if we are to progress to the knock-out stages.

Different players. Butterworth is a player who likes to support the main striker - rather like Dack. Nuttall is more of a Danny Graham type striker. If it was understudying Dack I'd pick Butterworth everytime but if it's understudying Graham I'd favour Nuttall.

Possibly towards the end of the season if we are mid-table (which I expect) we might see one or two given the chance to see if they are ready. For me I'd have Danny Butterworth in over Brereton at the moment. In fact last night we were discussing Brereton and playing him in the under-23's but we came to the conclusion that he might struggle to get a place at the moment because of the speed at which the Under-23's play.

Terrific performance last night from all concerned - a real team performance. Down at their place earlier in the season we were hammered but last night you could see just how much we have improved over the season. Of course, going down to ten didn't help Leicester but, in fairness, we were already in the lead and looking very impressive. Tyler gets better with every game as does young Buckley in midfield. Butterworth, who didn't score, is another Speedie, constantly causing problems for the opposition with a fiery style of play. Mols looked back to his best after the injury and Joe had his best game since his long lay-off through injury. The new lad looked very comfortable when he came on as did Saadi who has really improved over the last few months. Our youth set-up certainly seems to be making real progress at the moment in terms of developing young players who look full of promise.

The last two games have illustrated just what a good League the Championship is in terms of entertainment value. On their day it seems any team can beat any other irrespective of form. Last week Hull came to Ewood on a good run and were given a football lesson. Yesterday we were given a similar football lesson by Brentford at Griffin Park. I have to say some of their football was sensational at times and Sawyers simply ran the game in midfield with none of our players able to get near him. Brentford's use of the wing-back system was as good as I've seen in a long time and their play in and around the Rovers area was exceptional. We made errors, of course we did, but sometimes you have to hold your hands up and simply accept we were beaten by a better side on the day. This game merely confirmed what I've always felt - we'll finish in mid-table and no disgrace in that.

Quite of few of the Under-23's are training with the first team squad everyday so that shouldn't make any difference to him on a day to day basis. The only difference will be that he gets 90 minutes football every week.

I just think they need to stick him in the Under-23's for a bit and allow him to play, score some goals and rebuild his confidence out of the spotlight. Sadly the price tag, which isn't the lad's fault, is probably the reason why we've been reluctant to do this. But with Butterworth improving with every match I believe Brereton may well fall further behind in the pecking order if things don't change. I think we all need to forget about the fee, put him in Under-23's and allow him to find some confidence and form over next few weeks.

He's looked pretty decent at this level and would expect him to move up to the Under-23's towards the end of this season. Difficult for the lad as he tries to adjust to a new country and learn a new language but he certainly looks a prospect.

Now the window is closed we can get back to football. Personally, and I know many on here will disagree, I think this window has more or less fitted in with what we were told at the consultation meeting in the summer. Both Mowbray and Waggott said they had told the owners that throwing money at it was not the way to go. That it had to be a gradual process in which the foundations were built on in a progressive way. That seems to be the approach we have adopted. I'm sure if he could have got Gallagher on loan he would - but Southampton didn't want to release him which is fair enough. We only have to look at Brereton to see how every deal is a gamble. Hopefully, the lad will come good given time - although personally I have my doubts. The January window is never the best for serious transfer business because fees become inflated as panic sets in. As it is both Travis and Nuttall now have the opportunity to show they are capable of holding down a place in the team/squad over the long term. The time to judge the strategy that the club is following is in a couple of years time, not just a few months into it. Mowbray and Waggott seem to have a good relationship with Mr. & Mrs. Desai and from what they say it would appear that the two brothers are not really involved now. I'm more than happy that we are now moving in the right direction with the right management/admin teams in place. If we finish outside the play-offs, which I've always thought we would, a mid-table finish would be perfectly acceptable and give us a platform on which to build.

There speaks someone who hasn't seen him play.

It still comes down to the player or players you want being available and then being available at a price/wage that is within your structure. If they aren't available or beyond your financial means then it's just wishful thinking. Gallagher on loan seems to be a realistic possibility but if Southampton say he is not available then there is little we can do. I would have been happy with Austin but the lure of the Premier League will obviously beat offers from Championship clubs. It's rather like Reed, who I would love to sign but can understand why the lad wants to go back to Southampton in the Summer to see if he can break into their team before committing himself to moving on.

I suppose it will depend on if he can help keep them up. If he does then it will be well worth it if it means another season of Premier League money flooding in. If the player we wanted is not available then there is little point in spending money just for the sake of it. We've been down that road before. Since Mowbray and Waggot only deal with Mr. and Mrs. Desai, according to what we've been told, there seems to be a far more sensible approach to transfer activities - although obviously the jury is still out on Brereton. Personally, I wouldn't be too disappointed to see out the season with what we have already. Although I'd loved to be proved wrong I honestly don't see us as serious promotion candidates nor have I ever thought we would go down.

Depends what it was for - sometimes you have a family crisis which is far more important than work. I'm not saying that is the reason but it just amuses me that you get pages and pages of speculation about players who the club may have no interest in at all and then everyone goes into meltdown when we don't sign a player who we may have had no interest in at all.

Perhaps the fact that he is from the north-east, a Newcastle fan as a lad, and may well have been visiting family for all we know and not anything to do with transfers.

Any deal for Assombalonga will come down to wages. I suspect the club won't be keen on disrupting the harmony within the group by smashing the wage structure for one player. The success we have enjoyed over the past eighteen months has been built on Mowbray getting together a group of players who are a 'team' in every sense of the word. I suspect Gallagher on loan would be a more realistic option, unless Assombalonga is prepared to accept the type of wages that are on offer at Ewood at present.

Sad news indeed. Like so many on here, of a certain age, Mike was a member of the best attack I've seen at this club. He was quick, direct and a goalscoring winger. Without doubt the best penalty taker I've seen. Looking at that team group on the website, it brought back many happy memories of watching was what an exciting brand of football played under Jack Marshall. RIP Mike and thanks for such wonderful memories.

Totally agree. Graham was outstanding in the way he held off defenders, brought the ball under control and laid it off. As you say, it was a master class in centre-forward play. Long may it continue as he's a joy to watch at the moment.

He didn't say that he wasn't searching the foreign market full stop, just that the January window is not the one he would want to use to bring in foreign players. I assume he means that a summer signing gives the player time to adjust to a move to a new country and a pre-season to adjust to English football. From previous interviews, he has talked about scouting across Europe for the right players. The fact that we have brought a Lithuanian player into the Academy set-up, one who has attracted a lot of attention from top flight clubs, suggests that we are looking abroad for players.