I think it's been well reported that some of the U23's are training with the first team regularly. Magloire, Butterworth and Buckley has been mentioned by the LET. Mowbray has indicated he will blood some of them, esp if(when) our season falters. Just saw an interview with Buckley. He's been at the club since he was 6(!), and also said he has been training regularly with the seniors

That's great news! I have watches 4-5 games and he has probably the best overall. Seems to have a bit of everything you look for in a midfielder. Can drive forward with pace and go past people, passing is good but also have a very high workrate defensively. Not suprised to see him linked with larger clubs, so delighted to see him commit. Expect him to be given his debut before the end of season.

What's happened to Mulgrew??? No coincidence our poor run has come after he came back in after Lenighan's injury. He looks so far off match fitness.

Travis proving to be our best midfielder. Had a hand in both goals with his forward play. Seems to found the right balance in not overcommiting tackles as well. Also thought Nuttall had a decent game. Great work rate and won quite a few challenges against some very big centre halfs. Not everything came off, put got in the right position to grab a scrappy goal. Has a knack for scrappy goals. Will be hard to judge whether to send him on loan now. Brave call of subbing Dack, but Armstrong really paid off and credit to Mowbray for going for the win when it was written 0-0 all over it.

I think we all hoped he would hit ground running, which he hasn't. Still he is very young for that type of striker and they usually never peak untill mid-twenties. Graham was only a bit-part player out on loan scoring very little untill he dropped down to league one with Carlisle at 22. First then he carved a good career for himself. Brereton desperatly need a goal to get going, you can clearly tell from his interview: https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2019/january/ben-delighted-to-pen-permanent-deal/

Biggest improvement today was probably no Smallwood. He's a great grafter, but for a side inspiring to be top half in the Championship he is too limited. Travis proved certainly proved what we have been missing. Best thing for me was how constructive he was in posession. Smallwood either just hooks it away or passes back to defence. Travis would go past people or pass it forward. Very refreshing!

I think he's head was turned refusing to sign a professional contract with us and Leicester is paying upwards to 1 mill for him (probably a lot of clauses). Very highly rated and a big blow to lose someone that young.

I can't remember him having to make a save. Must be a first time this season. Other than that looked the part, kicking was good, claimed a couple of dead ball and sniffed out a couple of situations clearing the ball. He's a bigger unit than Raya so he looks a bit more imposing. Still impossible to judge, the centre-backs kept him very well protected. Both Williams and Lenighan was excellent. Williams even dominated Matt Smith in the air which was quite impressive.

You would think Lenihan as an ex-midfielder would be a bit calmer in posession. He goes for the long crossfield pass 8 of 10 times..

Agree on Evans. However he is one player I'd be willing to give a break, probably been our best player so far. Smallwood on the other hand should be looking over his shoulders, Reed would think he has a decent chance to start next game after that performance.

Bad performance today. No coherent play all game. At paper the team looked ok, but Armstrong looked out of sorts today. Strange that he was dropping getting in aerial duells while Graham was trying to win races in behind? Smallwood also annoying for me. I can accept he is not the best passer in world and it shows, but the half-arsed tracking back for a "warrior" I can't stand. Hard to find a player that performed today, a couple of mediocre, rest below par. Should serve as wake up call to the Championship and a reminder that you need to put in the effort to compete. A couple of weeks should hopefully get Dack back because he was really needed today.

doesn't look affected to me

After Peter O'Rourke and well respected John Percy reported it I'm very confident. These are sources on the top of the ladder when it comes to credibility and doesn't deal in rumours.

Watching too little Norwegian football to have an opionon, but by all account a very exiting player. Fits the profile. There are certainly profiles in the scandinavian market to be picked up for reasonable price, wondering how far our scouting network goes. The Wil Trap thing suggest that Mowbray is putting in place a network that will go beyong UK. He has experience by bringing foreign players from previous jobs. However I can see the large benefits by keeping the group young and british. Very similar to the one that one PL. Henning Berg claimed that one of the major reasons they won was that it was tight knit group in the same age spectre.

I think objectively the windows hasn't been terrible. Our most important assets in Lenihan and Dack has been secured on long contracts. Pleasantly suprised to secure Armstrong, Rothwell very promising so far and improves the team. However I can very much sympathize with people getting restless now. By all accounts(Mowbray, Rich Sharpe) we are in a position with resources now(money) that most clubs in this division would envy us. Currently we are failing to execute on that advantage. The level of expectations has shifted, which means the dissapointment is surfacing as the deadline approaches. We will see how it's panning out. Most important for me is to address the Graham backup.

Just watched his interview with IFollow, came across decent. Was looking forward to get involved with the group and the camaraderie that Mowbray told him about. Wasn't too interested in talking about the past, but rather looking forward. Said he didn't feel he had to prove something to anybody but himself. Getting involved and playing games. Still unsure if he is brought in as a midfielder or centre back. Might be an option for both.

Worth a punt. Only contracted for year and a point to prove. Has obvious potential, question mark about the attitude but this will be a clean slate for him and bit of last chance saloon. If he has anything left about him this will be his chance to show it. A great manager and great dressing room might be a catalyst. Rich Sharpe thinks he is mostly considered a centre back option, which is not a bad idea. An athletic option that can play a bit would be useful when injuries/suspensions hit. Not sure how Downing will cope with the Championship.

Really looks like Lenihan. If another team had posted that you'd think he was off! Anichebe might as well bring his boots. Samuel's injury looked bad, so that's him out for a long spell. Armstrong looked more like sprained ankle, but at this rate we need two strikers.

Rothwell should replace Smallwood for me. Showed tonight what an excellent all-round player he is. Drove forward with the ball, great passing, great energy and got stuck in. The man mountain Nyambe is becoming a beast. Bailed out the defence on several occasions as well running the full pitch all night. Forgot to mention Evans as well. Probably the most consistent performer so far this season. Another all-action performance with energy and know how. Loved who he took a yellow for the team when Reading was about to break through.

yep 4 goals in 20. Very limited player who will do allright in League One hoofball. Had a spell here in Norway with Viking but was released after half a season.

Good point. I was thinking about Haaland when we appearantly bid 8 mill for Brereton regarding value for money. Haaland has just been confirmed to Red Bull Salzburg for a similar amount. Haaland is a beast at 1.92m with pace, strength and good touch. He's also also a year younger just turned 18. Score 9 in 16 in Norwegian top division this year, and just scored two this week when Molde wiped out Hibernian in Europe League. He's not going to be long at Salzburg as most top clubs in Europe is keeping tabs on him. Would've been a perfect signing for us, but not sure he would've choosen the Championship. Caulker is a good shout if his head is right.

Sorry, totally messed that up. Should've done my usual fact check and not gone by memory, which isn't that great.

You are right he did. I think he spent a small amount. He sold Rhodes and was left with scrapes. That resulted in the awful DJ Campbell deal, where he was snagged from Hull in the last minute in a rumoured 20k week deal.

Samuel is another proof that being a good footballer is 80% mental skills. He's got the physical attributes and technical skills but lacking the mental footballing skills. He lack awareness om his own position and others, which means he always uses two touches two much. Similar with his decision making, choosing to dribble, pass or layoff is erratic. Mental skills are very hard to train. Experience will improve them somewhat. Danny Graham is probably on the opposite scale of Samuel. He is slower, smaller, less technical but we all agree he is a better player. For awareness take a look at the second goal vs Ipswich where he send Williams through. I watched a summary of Dack's goals for last season and was impressed how often Graham layed off to him. (Also suprised that I think at least 4 of Dack's goals where headers)

Of course Rothwell has gone up in value. The basic law of transfers is that players in their last year of contract commands a lower fee than if being on a longer contract. His contract was expiring this summer. We also paid less than quoted in January. Armstrong on the other hand had 2 years left, so the length was probably not a factor. However 1.75 must be a very good deal now that I see clubs putting 8 million bids in for Brereton You would think Armstrong is at least worth half of that already.