Brereton needs to go on loan. It’s an ignominious way to go but it has to happen - for everyone’s sake. Mowbray’s pride will need to take a hit though.

Didn’t notice Davenport (good or bad - so I guess steady). JRC got better as the fans went on and got the second - I incorrectly credited Vale. Hilton did really well. Should be on the bench instead of Leutwiler. The U23 team is a strange phenomenon these days. I get that it’s a way to get first teamers match ready but it a worse side to play in (certainly to watch) when first teamers start so does it do what it needs to? Not sure.

Pretty clear what the problem was tonight. Mowbray’s men just weren’t interested.

3-1 Vale

2-1 Vale! (I think)

Second striker behind DomSam until he went off. Now behind Vale. Dack position I guess.

1-1 Butty!!

Shame really. We’ve been a lot livelier and had some play in the final third since Brereton and Samuel went off.

Glass ankles Chapman has pulled up. Hurt blocking a pass but hobbled around for 5 minutes. Another few months out I expect.

Trying to work out if Mowbray faxed over tonight’s team, formation and tactics. Dreadful.

0-1 Could be 0-3. We’ve been terrible, they’ve been all over us. Anyone championing Chapman for first team action needs to get down to one of these games and have a look. All the first teamers anonymous early on. Mols playing centre midfield!

JRC clearly won’t be involved against Leeds. Must mean the full back slots are sorted: Bennett and Williams it is then.

Brezza, DomSam and Chappers involved tonight.

Agree with all of that. What’s even more damning is that we’ve invested time and money in the likes of Wharton and Magloire and, despite an injury crisis, they don’t look like having that path to the first team that you mention. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: football is a confidence sport. Players, especially young ones thrive on confidence. Mowbray knocks the confidence out of young lads - I’ve seen the effects with my own eyes. Nuttall showed great promise in the U23s but was treated badly because Samuel was Mowbray’s man. He was dumped while in form and never really recovered. It’s like Mowbray wants to make an example of them, make men of them, get “the right kind of reaction”. Young lads aren’t like that any more. They are told they are great from a young age and then they end up with an old school manager who tells them they aren’t. Magloire was captain of the U23s and was growing in stature. He took his chance in his first game and was then dropped from the squad and sent out on loan. Promptly injured. Not that the injury is Mowbray’s fault but he could have been in and around our first team instead of on Rochdale’s bench. Is it that all of these players aren’t good enough - despite how they perform against their contemporaries at PL clubs? Or is it that we aren’t giving them real chances? Or giving them a look in and then slamming the door? We may be no different to any other club but when you are having a poor season, with glaring holes in the squad (defence) that aren’t being dealt with, this will be the criticism. Can’t buy them and can’t grow your own.

IIRC Mark Hughes managed it when he started out at Rovers while continuing with Wales...

That sounds like getting the best out of his attacking strengths rather than nullifying them by asking him to play out of position and me more defensively minded.

“I think it’s fair to say that Amari’i is striving to find some consistency in his performances and that’s why he’s found himself in and out of the team.” That’s a bit back to front. But good for Amari’i’s confidence nonetheless.

Comparing anyone to Damien Duff is lining them up to fail. Duff was special and would be playing for City if he were in the game now. The saddest thing is that we will NEVER have another Duff while Mowbray is here. He’d have been stifled from the start, dropped when playing well and slated for not being defensive enough.

Excellent post.

If he leaves Travis out to accommodate Bennett then he needs his bumps felt. More likely he’ll stick with him at right back with using Nyambe in the centre beside Adarabioyo, and Williams back out on the left with Downing covering. Mowbray has fallen into the exact same trap that Coyle did. Everyone make way for the bloke who trains the hardest. Shame how it’s (not) working out, I used to really like Bennett but he is becoming that player. Just as it was when Bowyer was here - another squad-that-could-have-been...

Coyle ruined Mahoney’s time at Rovers but on the evidence since, as a winger, I think he was right to leave rather than stick around under Mowbray.

Which year?

I think it’s inevitable. Mowbray is no Souness, he won’t give our exciting young players a chance unless: a. they are defensively minded b. or they have it knocked out of them The only player we seem to have made an money out of from the youth side during Mowbray’s time is the much maligned Nuttall. (I’m not counting Raya as he was an established first teamer and not one of Mowbray’s). If he isn’t going to play them then he is going to have to get some value out of them. Personally I’d keep Butterworth, Vale and JRC and sell Mowbray. Wonder if there would be any buyers?

Wonder how much Assombalonga is on. Between them, Gallagher and Brereton are on £50k per week. (If that site is correct of course).

Seems to be taking a bit too much credit for Nyambe despite, not being the one to bring him in and dropping him for a centre midfielder until the was a worse problem at left back. Apart from that it’s the usual meaningless waffle which he won’t back up with actions.