Spot on, whereas we have a manager who says all the right things, but evidently has a transfer strategy decided by tombola. Anyway, I look forward to the new defence he promised at the late season forum, (not holding my breath). Some of his more recent interviews have a subtext of a major climb down on expectations. Luckily for him, the people who own the club will swallow his wittering as being factual. If Bauer chose Preston over us I really don't blame him.

Good grief, it really does beggar belief. Mowbray witters on about slowly building with younger players and recruiting from the continent. I then watch video footage of an interview where he must have mentioned selling Dack about half a dozen times to follow Norwich's model, (it was essentially an advert). Then we start making moves for 35 year olds, probably because he knows the players personally. How many of those did Norwich, Leeds or Villa sign? He's done well to re-establish us as a tier two side, but does anyone seriously believe that a guy whose one and only promotion to the Premier League (followed by immediate relegation) came more than a decade ago, is capable of taking us any further or is it just because he's a nice bloke who says the right things?

The push for mediocrity is in full swing. Mowbray talks in riddles and very often does the exact opposite of what he says. This news should have season tickets sales soaring (not).

Exactly. Talk is cheap (& easy). Turning words into successful actions won't be that simple. The recent upturn in form provides a little more hope that Mowbray can take us forward. All we can do is watch and hope.

I voted other. As someone else suggested recently, Danny Cowley (Lincoln) would be a great shout. We need someone on the way up, not a dinosaur.

Great shout. They wouldn't, and I doubt the actor Steve Waggott would either.

Warnock only took over in October in his first season with Cardiff, who were struggling at the time. He kept them up, (comfortably), and won promotion the following season. Mowbray has awarded new contracts to three of the players you mentioned, so I would imagine they will all remain in and around the first team.

Posters on this board tend to be long term fans. In my experience, long term fans are less easily pleased and view events more analytically and objectively than newer, younger supporters. There are, of course, exceptions to that rule.

I think a solid, middling season would constitute a good season for us. I agree with you that we over achieved in the first half of the season, but the slump has to be a major worry. It's a pity we didn't add a couple of players before the January window closed, as we were on the up around that time. In this game, you have to strike whilst the iron's hot. I would reserve judgement until May on whether Mowbray has earned that right. Should results not significantly improve, I would say it's time to move on. My personal view is that if we are looking at a slow build, we would be better served by a young, hungry manager.

If you look back you will find evidence that your logic doesn't always follow. Teams newly promoted to the Championship don't have to struggle. I don't think anyone expected back to back promotions, but Mowbray himself spoke of "bouncing through the league". As I posted earlier, I think the biggest concern is how we've arrived at our current standing, , i.e. a solid first half of the season followed by a slump. If it continues until May, the writing will be on the wall for next season, (unless a change is made).

We spent one season out of this division, so the "just promoted" line doesn't wash. It's not uncommon for a well run club to have another strong season following promotion. It's the direction of travel that's hugely concerning. Had we started poorly and clawed our way out of trouble, there would be some grounds for optimism. Eight defeats in ten games is abysmal form over a sustained period.

I envisage him walking next Autumn when we're in deep trouble.

They most likely won't and in twelve months time we will probably be in deep trouble.

By then, possibly, but they are just about still alive after winning today.

I agree there was little discontent shown towards Mowbray today, & that's because there were extenuating circumstances, (the referee), and you couldn't really fault the effort, for all our obvious shortcomings. However, the bottom line is yet another defeat, and seven defeats in eight games means the pressure is certainly beginning to build. I think there's very little chance he will be sacked before the end of the season anyway, but I don't think supporters opinions will come into the equation anyway, (never has with these owners). If we can't beat Wigan at home, you have to question where the next win is coming from. Thank goodness we still have a substantial cushion, (at the moment).

So who's going to win tomorrow and what bets have you put on? ?

Mowbray's one promotion from the Championship came a long time ago and, to give it context, occurred a season before Coyle achieved the same feat.

Where the manager takes responsibility, perhaps? When Mowbray left Coventry he admitted that the team couldn't defend properly. History will repeat itself if he's not careful.

A repeat of recent efforts in a home game against local rivals will result in pretty loud disapproval and discontentment. Any CEO of a sports club who signs off a sponsorship deal with a company that manufactures a nicotine based product is a joke. What's happened to all these great ideas he had when he took up the post (of being Mowbray's lackey)?

Just arrived in Rotherham but now tempted to catch the train home ? I love the optimism, to be fair. Let's see what transpires..........

I'm going via Leeds to avoid the replacement bus leg of the journey. Meeting up with a Rotherham fan I met on my jollies a few years ago. That, & the fact I need the ground, is my motivation to bother.

The owners wouldn't know the right man to manage a football club if their lives depended on it. They got relatively lucky with this appointment and obviously buy the dream that Mowbray is selling them. I'm not, but he has earned the chance to try & deliver it.

You have to look a bit deeper than that and see the pattern of results. Had we arrived at this position / number of points by building steadily after a tough start, (a bit like PNE), it would auger well for next season. It looks ominous.

Agreed, which is pretty much what I was saying on here the other night.

Agree entirely &, just to repeat what I said in my previous post, I am absolutely not saying he should be sacked. I just have a different perspective on what the future may hold to many others I read on social media, and see the forum as a safer environment in which to air my view.