47er

At the end of last season, the consensus on here was that we needed 6 new players. I think we lost 7? Specifically identified were goalkeeper (2), left-back, Centre-backs (2) and a midfielder, winger or striker, depending on you point of view. We've got 1 keeper, an 18 year old from Preston on a free in a position not identified as required (nevertheless, hell of a good signing) and one centre-back. The squad is very thin, especially in defence and we have 2 strikers who don't strike and one who does. Injuries and suspensions could wreck our season. We need to pull out all the stops before deadline day and our multi-billionaire owners need to put some cash down. If they don't, and i know they've been let down by some signings----what's the point of them? If they don't trust those in situ to make the right decisions-----replace them.

Yes but he major one imo was the manager. His transfer deals, his baffling selections, tactics, subs, playing players out of position etc. If there was any one reason, it was at his door.

That was a fairly common assessment on here after the season finished and i think it was one you agreed with?

Hang on. Are you saying Mr Cautious has been converted between seasons and has emerged as Mr Positive (or Mr Reckless if you prefer). Doesn't compute with me, against everything he's done since he's been here. Mowbray would love it if we won games 1-0, he's just not able to achieve it.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/blackburn-rovers-facing-transfer-conundrum/ Seems to rule it out for me.

Reading Newcastle United fans comments, I think they have it right. He's a very good Championship striker but would struggle in the Premiership. Hasn't got the physique. Dack is short but strong and hard to shift. I think we should just enjoy Arma in the Championship and let the future sort itself out. If we get promoted Armstrong would have earned the right to start but I wouldn't be optimistic personally. Very big "if" though, not getting carried away with today's result.

Yeah Venkys. Always there in your mind aren't they?

If he scores the winner at Deepdale he'll be a legend at 18! Seriously what were Preston thinking of?

Wise words from Tony!!

But principally of Mowbray.

Nobody marshals the defence. We can have 3 men around 1 bloke and 2 others are free. No leadership on the pitch (or off it).

I don't understand this. If we haven't got the right personnel on the pitch, whose fault is that? 3 and a half years remember!

Strikers that can't score, strikers on the flanks, full-backs who can't defend---I'm worried Tony doesn't get the basics of this game. I'll dig out my Subbuteo if that helps!

Just reflecting that most of Dack's goals seemed to come from close-in. Sigh!

Absolutely my first thought!-----who will he cross it to?!!

Its certainly hard to believe we could go up with 2 strikers that abysmal. In reality we shouldn't play either but that = loss of face for all involved, and we haven't got replacements. Dack coming back could/should doom one of them., preferably Brereton.

Even if "he wants to leave"?!!

That is a decent team but how many times would injuries disrupt it? Middle 3--Travis injured, Holtby and Johnson injury prone and Johnson's form is very erratic. We don't know in what shape Dack will be (no pun intended!) and as you point out, we haven't got Cunningham as yet. However i do agree that if that team turned out regularly we'd do quite well.

All the points you've made are valid, football is about opinions. But none of them can turn Brereton into a footballer worse pursuing with. If we'd got him a on a free you wouldn't hesitate. Because Mowbray paid so much for him, people want so much for it not to be a disaster. It is one and it continues every time we play him. Ten men.

Well I mentioned Dolan and Rothwell as 2 wide possibilities. Chapman--we all want him to succeed but it doesn't look like happening Not really JRc's position is it? Then you suggest Brereton again which is where I came in! Why would you after all we have seen?

Eh? On what is that statement based? Can I assume that he has no confidence then and that's the reason he has never produced? All players are confidence players aren't they? He's a confidence player so lets keep on playing him even though he is out of his depth?

Agree its not his position but who else is there?

One thing we can do is to drop Brereton and accept Mowbray dropped an irretrievable clanger. In a few weeks time maybe we'll play Arma in the middle with Dack just behind him and Doran or Rothwell operating wide. Has any player at Rovers ever had more chances than Brereton? I feel sorry for him.So hard to attempt to live up to a fee of that size without the ability. For me, I agree with you its Gallagher every time at the moment. No, he's not great but at least he puts himself about and does something. At the moment we are starting every game with 10 men. If someone is sent off in the first minute you don't expect to win do you? Let's stop pretending that Brereton is a potential talent still finding his feet. If we dominate games but make critical mistakes at the back, yet fail to take chances up-front, there is only one place we are going. Brereton is not the only problem we have but he is the biggest----by some margin.

Its Tony's charisma!!

If we got Ayala, Cunningham and, of course, we have a decent No 2 keeper as well, I'd have to say that's as good a window as we could reasonably expect and definitely Tony's best so far. But "if" is the key word.