scotchrover

Would agree with that about Mowbray after what I saw against Reading. I’ve got a season ticket too, before anyone comments ?. The big difference between Allardyce and Mowbray is that we commit more men forward. Allardyce basically had 10 men defending for 80 minutes of the game, where as Mowbray likes to commit men forward, and rightly so, in order to give us the best chance of scoring. Allardyce’s brand wasn’t half crap to watch too. I refused to renew my season ticket after his first full year in charge. Mowbray’s biggest downfall is the way he organises the team to defend. We never man mark, unless it’s a set piece. It’s all zonal marking. Those goals on Weds night, and ones previous to that, show our back line to be very lax in the way they pick oppositions players up. They need to be bang, smack next to them, not close them. The other issue we’ve got is pace. Mulgrew and Rodwell, albeit it technically gifted, are ridiculously slow. I’d be looking to move those to next to Lewis Travis in a deep lying midfield role, and investing some younger lads to sit alongside Lenihan. To contradict my last point though- we probably could sign some decent, younger defenders, but unless Mowbray tells them to be breathing down there neck, when we’re on the back foot, we are absolutely goosed!

Today’s the first time I’ve watched us defend off the ball when we’re in danger under Mowbray. After watching those two goals conceded today, I’m convinced it’s the way we’re set up to defend. Look back at the build up to both goals- on both occasions, the back line is zonal marking. They’re nowhere near any of the Reading lads, meaning they get free roam and do whatever they want. Everytime they came forward, that was the case though. The back line doesn’t seem be bother picking anyone up, unless it’s a set piece.

In reality though, they are after many years of ownership mismanagement.

Course I’m annoyed. It’s just annoying that people seem to turn up and moan about Mowbray everytime we lose. It’s one defeat and it’s something along the lines of : “I don’t think he’a got it in him to take us back up.” The more annoying thing is, we’re not even meant to be challenging for promotion this season, yet- because of Mowbray’s management- we have been. Raya made a mistake. Raya needs a decent mentor behind him, to improve his decision making. He’s still a young lad and developing though. There are others at fault though too for today’s defeat.

Hilarious how many people seem to turn up moaning as soon as we lose a game, and suggest he’s not up to it ?. Wigan and Rotherham would kill to be in our position right now.

Here comes the Mowbray our brigade.??? First season back in the second tier and we’re still doing well for me. Looking ahead, Raya needs mentoring by someone like Brad Freidel. If he can sort his decision making out, he’ll be a top class keeper. As it is, he’s bang average. He’s at fault for the third. There’s other areas too. For me though, the goalkeeping situation is the priority though.

Completely agree! Another poor goal to concede from a keeper’s perspective! 1-1, game on...

One can hope- they’ve been outplayed by Swansea so far though haven’t they? The Swans are moving the ball around well.

Just watching the Swansea Birmingham game- the Birimingham keeper has just let the softest goal in possible. As it stands, Swansea move above us.

Slightly related- this lad is George Donis’ son, and he’s from Blackburn. This is some goal he put passed Neuer!

Agree with everything you’ve said there. Raya didn’t half the scare the crap out of me again though in those last 10 minutes. His poor decision nearly led to an equaliser. It’s like he gets bored or something, if it’s he’s had little to do. On another note, we’re 66/1 for promotion, and we’re only 6 points a drift of 6th. £5 down would definitely pay for a weekend in the capital, come May!

Best player by a country mile today. How Smallwood and Evans have kept him out is beyond me! I’m worried he won’t leave on loan, but for another Championship club permanently.

I’ve waited a few hours to post, otherwise it really would have been a ‘guts-to-gob’ like reaction. For me, there are four main issues: 1) Our front line is set out wrong. Playing 1 upfront, 2 in behind doesn’t work in my eyes. Danny Graham needs a man alongside him. We’re relying an awful lot on him holding the ball up, and that just can’t happen if he’s there alone. As a result, balls are coming right back at us, when we’re trying to push out. 2) Smallwood and Evans aren’t good enough to provide the back four with adequate protection . Smallwood hasn’t been good enough since his suspension last season. His decision making has been- the majority of the time- absolutely abysmal. Evans has had one decent season since he joined many moons back. For me though, his lack of pace has been telling. The lad’s legs have completely gone. 3) The winger situation, which has been an issue for many years, is forcing us to play lads like Reed and Rothwell (who should be down the middle), out wide. Armstrong’s even played out there a few times, and more recently Bell and Nyambi have started to play as wing backs to compensate for this issue. If Nyambi and Bell push on, we are left vulnerable at the back. 4) Confidence- any team that’s won 1 in 9 is bound to be shot of it. Mowbray is still the man for me, and will be for a long time. For anyone who remembers going to Plymouth, Southend or Oldham away , or even Doncaster at home last season, we’ve come a long way. This season wasn’t about promotion for the realist, it was about a mid table finish, with a solid base to build on for 19/20. Be careful what you wish for those calling for head. Venky’s are only a few phone calls away from appointing another hasbeen disaster of a manager.

Very good graph Mellor Blue, and tells us everything we need to know! Absolutely gutted- as soon as they drew level though, you just knew it was going to happen. It’s like something happens in those last 20 minutes. Is it fitness? Is it lack of an outlet? Is it our inability to manage games? Whatever is, it needs to be addressed, before we end up fighting a relegation battle.

Palmer hasn’t been good enough for me so far- his distribution has been poor, and I think there’s better options out there. Reed’s a far better player.

Adam Armstrong coming on apparently- probably to play on the wing ??

Radio listener’s perspective: all the ball and still no real threat, because we’ve no striker.

3 strikers on the bench, surely he has to put one on sooner or later? Dack isn’t the answer up front alone. I’d be giving Brereton a shot up front with Danny Graham, and going to 4-4-2.

Sounds like we’re lacking a man upfront on the radio.

You’re watching completely different game. The midfield’s been very good, as have the defenders mentioned there. The forwards have let us down big style.

We should be so far ahead here. The fact we’re now losing is infuriating. Was there a handball there in the build up too?

I disagree- if we get promoted back to the top flight, the missing fans will come back straight away. Look at what happen at the end of last season- almost a sell out. Similarly, games against Liverpool and Man Utd. have all big massive crowds. Those games prove to me the fan base is still alive.

I’ll stick my neck out here and say I still understand Mowbray’s formations, even for league games. They work though, so I can’t complain.

They’re losing again, with only injury time left! 4-2 As it stands to Fulham. Happy Bank Holiday folks!

I thought Paul Ince would be a success, based on his playing/management record. I thought Grabbi was going to be the next big thing, based purely on the price tag we’d paid. I thought Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole were going to lead us into the top 4, when Yorke arrived. The worst one? I thought Kean needed to be given a chance, because of the lack of entertainment value we had under Sam Allardyce. I thought a lot of things. I thought a lot of things that turned out to be damn well wrong ?.