1 hour ago, RoverKyle said:

I don't buy the idea that if we lost Graham we'd suddenly be awful. When Armstrong played through the middle in the cup, albeit against Carlisle, there were signs that we could play a different style successfully if we needed to.

And against Derby when we had to bring him after 30 minutes and against Sheff. Utd when they just marked him out the game. As I've said previously Graham is far more important to the style of play than if we miss Dack.

There are very few of the type of player that Graham is. It is the main reason that Brereton will struggle. We could adapt the style to 2 up front but we'll still need a Graham type to help get the best of Brereton.

3 hours ago, den said:

What do you suggest we do if Graham were to suffer a long term injury tomorrow?

Graham getting injured is going to hurt but the same could be said for any side whose team is built around key players. Part of any teams push for glory is keeping their stars fit.

If Graham does get injured then Mowbray needs a different style of play to get the best out of the remaining squad. The Sheffield Utd game gave a glimpse that Mowbray has no answer to that yet. Brereton is not suited to the role that Graham plays but thats not his fault. Nor is that we are we prepared to 7 million for him. Its Mowbray's job to find an answer to both getting the best of a squad without Graham and getting the best out of expensive outlay.

5 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

£7m is a lot of money to be "investing in potential". He obviously has the hallmarks of a good player and has represented England at varying age levels. There's a player in there for sure.

I think one of the major worries for all Rovers fans is that the first real investment from Venkys since Rhodes may turn out to be a flop. It's constantly in my head and I find myself almost wanting too much from Brereton because of it. I get frustrated when he doesn't beat two men and score in order to justify his cost. Very unfair judgement but the truth.

I'll be honest and say I'd rather the £7m was spent on proven centre back - they are usually cheaper and you could get a very good, established centre half for that money. Yet it wasn't and we are here now with Brereton. At 19 he could earn this club more than 7m in goals or future fees - however, he could also give Mowbray a bloody nose from madam and that has to be worrying even to the most fervent defenders of his talents.

I'd wager that if Rovers have spent £7 million on a defender and spent next to nothing on forwards people would have been screaming we need to spend on the business end. If we had brought another forward as well who was contributing and were not over relient on Graham then the pressure wouldn't be as great.

The fact we spent on potential is weighing heavy on everybody's shoulders, especially his, and until he starts scoring the pressure will build.

Rovers are a selling club so we need a return on any investment. As you say centre halves are cheap so the returns are likely to be less.

Mowbray needs to find a way to releave the pressure on  Ben. Easing him in on the wing is obviously not the answer.

13 hours ago, Riversider28 said:

Perhaps next time you should sit on the Riverside to get a better view. There were plenty on there who saw him play well, considering he was playing out of position. 

Odd because I sit on the Riverside and there were many who were far from impressed. To me he looks like a player low on confidence who is not sure what his role is when he comes on wide.

It is also strange to hear Mowbray after the game praise him when he switched him and Armstrong over so he tell him what to do.

Brereton needs a goal or two pretty quickly and I'll think [hope] you see his true ability. The longer he goes without a goal the more the pressure builds. 

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Do you really think that West Brom will loan us players that will strengthen our position in January ? We'd be lucky to get Harper back. 

corrected for you.....that should be we'd be really unlucky to get Harper back.

On 05/10/2018 at 09:55, Bigdoggsteel said:

Dack is an intelligent footballer, it's easy to see that. There is just far too much pressure on him to be our creative influence. We need to get Rothwell and Palmer in the team at home. Dack is surrounded by Bennett, Reed, Smallwood and Evans. Solid players, but you would not say they are prolific goal scorers and/or assist machines. When Graham is taken out of the game, the supply to Dack is choked up, hence why he had to crop deep to try and make something happen

Really? If he had the intelligence to go with his ability of his feet he wouldnt be at Rovers....he'd be in the premiership

And the game showed that if you nulify Graham, you nulify Dack. Without Graham holding the ball up there is nothing for Dack to feed off. He drops further and further back looking for the ball and when he gets it he either tries to do it all on his own or is too deep to hurt the opposition. Both are key but lets not forget the Derby game when Dack started and it was soon realised that Graham was needed hence the first half substitution. Wednesday night just showed that marking Graham out the game then Rovers plans A, B and C are no good.

Wednesday showed that Dack has ability with his feet but is lacking at times with his brains.

9 hours ago, blondie said:

No Dundee Utd

Oh I'd forgot that but he played for Bournemouth earlier in his career.

Didnt we sign Chris Sulley from this lot?

Just now, Roboftherovers82 said:

if chapman was to be released on a free could we sign him or have to wait till jan?

Boro still eligable for compensation as he is under 24  so I don't think it possible.

Has his hair been photoshopped onto that photo?

16 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

Caddis looks much improved with his new Conway body.

Defensively ...... no

5 minutes ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Never heard it be announced or the attendance for that matter. Conway, nyambe and Travis where the three that stood out. Tough call , all three were top draw.

Ok he scored I can't take that away from him nor would I want to. I truly believe that is his level and after leaving here and warming another bench lower down the league that's where he will find his level. His own self doubt was evident last night. He is a very poor player imo. I guess only time will tell the level he ends up playing. 

Attendance came up on score board near the end but not announced. No man of the match last night. Do they have one for cup matches?

1 minute ago, USABlue said:

Nuttall yes, if not permanent.  Travis I think should stay here and be in and around the squad.

Travis needs time on the pitch. Sitting on the bench won't improve him. If we bring in the Southampton lad then he may not get on the bench.

1 hour ago, Paul said:

Caddis was still sat down when Graham indicated to Mowbray that Evans was injured and needed to be subbed. I don't think Tony had realised this but immediately turned to Travis and he was on before play restarted - I think play stopped when Rothwell got clattered in our half?? At first I was surprised but then saw it as positive Tony reacted so quickly to comment from probably the club's senior and most influential player.

Far better to defend in midfield than bring on another defender.

I agree about defending further up the pitch. It makes the original idea of Caddis, who has hardly had a kick in 6 months, even more strange.

Also odd that Mowbray hadn't spotted Evans. He had been crouched down struggling even in the first half. He lasted longer than I thought and hopefully taking off was precauitionary.

Just now, RV Blue said:

I wouldn’t sell him midseason but if at the end of the season we are still in the Championship and a Prem club comes in for him with fair money, it would be unfair to say no. We are a selling club at the end of the day and players need to look at us as a stepping stone to bigger things. If we refuse to let our top players leave, why would youngsters with potential want to join? No kid who isn’t a Blackburn Rovers fan dreams of playing for Championship Blackburn Rovers when they’re good enough for the Premier League, we need to understand that and use it to our advantage.

It depends on the progress wwe are making at the end of the season. If we just avoid relegation then yes I can understand your point but if we just miss out on promotion then it is a stick or twist situation for the following season. Venkys have stuck in the past and sold players like Cairney when we just missed out on the playoffs and ended up going backwards.

5 minutes ago, CambridgeRover said:

I agree he should be worth something around 20 million if he keeps playing well till January. Although he is fantastic he is not irreplaceable and if Tony was given the majority of that money to reinvest I would be happy. However, if that money isnt seen again it would leave us a lot weaker for the second half on the season. 

Dangerous to even talk like this. Venky's have a habit of selling even when we are trying to build. Need to learn from past mistakes. We have to hold onto our better players if progress is to be made. Lets keep the momentum going

3 minutes ago, AggyBlue said:

Great three points won through grit and determination.

Although there was a lack of quality from us, I really enjoyed the match.

Only place there was a lack of quality was final third. Bearing in mind the injuries we had in the forward line then that is understandable.

10 minutes ago, Paul said:

Before Graham came on Tony had indicated to both him and Caddis to get ready but clearly changed his mind about Caddis.

Odd when you need to defend a lead that you decide to not bring on a sub that you were going to bring on

Just now, Paul Mani said:

It’s fine mate. No one else actually puts you on that pedestal. It’s just a special one that you have for yourself. 

I just like to create a bit of opposition for the energy leaches on here that’s all. ??

So your the Adrian durham of BRFCS then? Shame it would be good to know your real views.

As Chaddy says there is a reason that Maddison hasn't gone yet even though his chairman has been actively trying to shift him all summer? I don't believe I'm agreeing with him. The Charlton defender has been chased all summer and I still have a feeling he'll turn up at Ewood at some stage...possibly Jan, once Charlton injury problems have been sorted.

We need a striker and for the going rate for a young forward with potential is 7-8 million. Bamford, Gallacher and Brereton all seem to be around the same price. I don't know what the problem is with Rovers pay the going rate if the club can afford it. The problem is if Bamford was bought for 2 million and Gallacher was available for 1 million then I'd be asking questions why Brereton.

Just now, OJRovers said:

This back 4 seems to be our strongest.

Interesting that they didn't play together once last season.

I think if Nyambe and Lennihan had been fit all season, we'd have walked the top spot.

 

Still have a feeling that Williams will be back when fit

41 minutes ago, deryck guyler's spoon said:

The only 'risk free' transfer I can think was Ronaldo from Utd to Real Madrid. You'd need the equivalent of a small country's GDP to get a player in on minimal risk these days. If we pay circa 6-8 million quid for Brereton that seems about right in the current febrile market.

I'll be quite excited if it comes off, he seems a real prospect, has successfully represented his country, attracted the attention of some very big clubs and is said to have power, pace and ability. So what if we splurge some of the owner's dough? Those bastards have denuded the club of it's status, reputation, dignity and finances so they owe us big style. Lets hope Waggott and Mowbray get this over the line before the arse falls out of the Indian chicken market and Venkys pull the plug.

If we get this kid in I'd suggest that the naysayers stop navel gazing and enjoy the moment. 

How do you know Ronaldo is risk free.....he has never played in the Championship and at 30odd he won't have any resale value.

7 minutes ago, JeffRover said:

In addition Mowbray says “a couple are edging closer, a couple not”. So where do people draw the fact that Brereton would be the only signing?

We will see in on 1 feb wont we? He was saying the same before the permanent signing deadlines.

8 minutes ago, Stuart said:

We all want a player with pace and power - expect most football managers do.

With Brereton we are gambling on IF and WHEN he might become that player. Right now it’s all about potential. That’s something this club isn’t short of. What we are short of is proven quality at this level.

And we are paying a finished article price - by Championship standards.

My argument is that we could get that for less.

Brereton is a gamble and yes he has to improve his finsihing. You say we need proven quality at this level but this goes against Mowbrays thinking of building for the future. I agree with having experience and proven quality at this level but the squad has experience. Proven quality in the passed has also burnt us...ie Danny Murphy, Peter Whittingham. As I say every transfer is a gamble.