We all know the weakness in the squad.  This could be genius by TM.  Giving players the opportunity to play themselves out of the team and still winning!

I see Harry Chapman is on the bench for Boro.

Good turnaround.  Need to kick on.  How is Samuels doing? Has Evans turned up?

Pressures on the likes of Samuel, Williams, Smallwood, even Bennett.  Step up or it makes it easy to replace you.

2 minutes ago, AdamRochina said:

A massive lack of pace that side..  And it's a side that sometimes struggled to create in league 1 .. Hope to see Palmer and rothwell on in second half at some point 

It's a hard working side but Dack aside, has little quality and zero pace.  As someone else said, many thought this team would easily hold its own in the champ.  Time to see.

1 minute ago, Stuart said:

Not a single new player starting. Mowbray clearly thinks last season’s side is our first team.

That's because we haven't signed anyone who can justify a place yet. 

1 minute ago, chaddyrovers said:

Think Bell can feel a little aggrieved there.  Good enough to get a point I reckon.

1 hour ago, Pedro said:

Please can someone clarify. What happened regarding the Zach Clough was signing posts?  Also, why is Gallagher being constantly mentioned? Wasn't he 'valued at £7m and scratched off out list of targets? Thanks

Speculating!

5 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

This - I really dont understand the hate for the kid. He has potential and did well last time despite us having a no-brain manager. 

Difficult to think of many others that are of a good age that could supplement Graham until he goes and then perhaps step up to replace him. Not worth 7mil of course and would imagine 2-3 mil would be enough.

Agree.  Would be happy with Gallagher.  At 6ft 4 he will win as many flick-ons as Graham and is more mobile.  Good age and could bulk up as his career develops.  Would also learn a lot from Graham.  He's got all the attributes to work with, height, deceptively quick and works hard. 

1 hour ago, ewoodnews said:

Not asking much I think everyone in the league is looking for a player like that

 

Armstrong will end up being more of a winger as his height doesn't help him being up top

That would be Chapman then!

8 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I like 4-4-2 matey, it's probably my preferred system of play  but like any system you need the player to fit the roles. Dack can't be left out of the equation because he's our match winner. For me he's the first name on the team sheet. He needs to play behind two strikers in a diamond midfield or behind a single striker in a 4-4-1-1. You need  to have him on the ball as much as possible and running at teams, anything else is a waste of our best asset.

 I agree about Dack!  The 4 4 2 was in response to how do we fit Armstrong up front in a two - playing off another striker.  I'm not a fan of 3 at the back.  We don't have the personnel to play 4 4 2 these days.  Mainly due to lack of wide men.  I'd love two have a couple of nippy wingers (a proper lefty and righty) both playing on their natural wing.  They could still play the wide roles of a '3' as well.  Add another striker and that would be a top window with a very flexible squad. Chapman and Maddison would be perfect lol

In the event of Dack being out the side.  Then we have the option of changing our attacks from central to wide, playing with pace (not Bennett and Conway)  and adding an extra striker  to make up the goal threat.

* The most dangerous player I saw at Ewood in the last few years was the much under used  Josh King coming off the bench and playing down the wing late on.  His pace caused havoc.  We need that type of threat from the bench.

Bowyer seemed to want that blistering pace out wide - as he brought in Barrow on loan as well.  Then never played them!!!

All hypothetical though, as TM doesn't seem to want to go down that route or I'm pretty certain he'd have signed a couple.  Maybe the lad Simmonds in the under 23s may develop into that role. 

And hopefully Dack doesn't get injured!

Game Day ?

3 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Dack would be wasted tieing him down to a more structured role. You don't want him running back marking people.

Take Dack out of the equation!  4-4-2 is still a useful way to play two up top.  Providing the wide players are decent.  Like when Conway was firing them over for Gestede and Rhodes back in the day.  As I said earlier, not advocating playing the system...as we have no wingers ?.  But, it is a system that still has merits with the correct personnel and allows 2 up top - without the dreaded 3 at the back....which was the topic. ?. 

                       Raya

Nyambe.     Mulgrew.  Lennihan.  Bell

               Bennett   

2 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

Not sure where you fit Dack into a 4-4-2  though as he's not a striker and playing in a two man midfield would restrict him in attack.

 Play it when he's injured! Joking aside, Dack played in a midfield '2' for Gillingham.  Can play that role and does his fair share of tracking back.

I'm not advocating we go 4 4 2.  Just think it is a system that can still be utilised if you want 2 up top -without going 3 at the back.  Dependent on having decent wide men though!

37 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

The problem with playing two up front is that the only way we could play it is by playing 3 at the back and when we play that we usually look rubbish.

On paper the following team looks more than capable but they just seem to struggle with the system.

 

                                    Raya

                  Lenihan    Mulgrew   Downing/Williams

Bennett                                                                               Bell

                  Smallwood                  Davenport

                                       Dack

                   Armstrong                  Graham

There's no harm chucking a traditional 4-4-2 out now and again.  Last thing teams expect these days !  Get the best players out on the pitch and if they are intelligent enough, they should sort themselves out!

Midfield will be interesting this year.  We have an abundance of players there.   Wewill no doubt start of with Evans and Smallwood as the '2'. If Davenport is as good as rumoured, he should be able to force his way in.  If not, great opportunity for Travis.  Also the (admittedly unlikely) scenario that Whittingham has a swansong.

We are about to find out whether our budget is competitive or not IMO.  I like Armstrong and he definitely has the potential to develop - but hopefully hasn't swallowed our budget.  Can he play up on his own? -yes - if we play down the sides of the CBs like with Bellamy.   That said, I don't think he will start up front though.  We've been crying out for a pacy forward for years.   He will be a great option from the bench and I would expect him to be on the bench a lot up to christmas!

We still therefore need to sign another pacy attacking player (left winger I would say) and a Graham replacement - though can see this being a loan.

Both of those will need to be able to go straight into the team so won't be cheap.  Powerful CB would be a bonus.

I still think we will play a 4-2-3-1 which may merge into 4-5-1 or even 4-3-3 depending on the personnel used.

4 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Aren't they both injured so they're desperate for a keeper 

There's desperate and then there's Joe Hart.

Here's the thing. If Armstrong had joined at the beginning of the window, I'd have been made up.  

However, as we've since been told he wasn't near the top of the list, then it feels a bit anticlimactic -if this is our main signing.

I want an A lister ?

33 minutes ago, neophox said:

Remember JB 's post? Armstrong, Palmer and Gallagher + a defender? Almost there.

Missing a winger there.  

1 minute ago, AdamRochina said:

How old is wickham

Wickham is only 25 but would appear to be made of glass for such a physical player. 

43 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Can anyone name a younger version of Danny Graham type?

Probably Hugill.

We need to find a player similar (and it pains me to say it) to Sam Vokes

21 minutes ago, AdamRochina said:

Not many is there.  He's expectional at holding the ball up and bringing others into play I can't think of many younger lads that can do it so well 

Going to be honest.  He's good but not exceptional.  Several times last year Graham didn't get a sniff against the centre halves.  If they are big and physical, Graham is usually quiet. 

17 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Great news about Armstrong coming back. I am surprise but pleased. I didn't think he would be coming back. I can see a fee around 1.5 million with add ons and sell on clause attach to the deal

 

* Mystic Chaddy prods round his tea leaves with a silver spoon.

11 minutes ago, Igloo5090 said:

Sauce?

He's been on it!

3 minutes ago, danger19_80 said:

Alan Nixon @reluctantnicko

52s

BLACKBURN. Long pursuit of Adam Armstrong about to come to a happy ending.

 

 

Not really.  Armstrong is not on our b list of priorities ...so disappointed now!

?