Did the same in that bad run after we'd come back up basically saying the seniors call the shots in the dressing room. Like he was just there to advise or something, said it a few times he's a crafty old soul.

Good post agree with most of it apart from the resign bit he's used the burden line before. He's feeling sorry for himself you could tell that with the tetchy comments towards the media guys. He's had it far too comfortable here so he's gone all defensive but now it's turning to that. Probably realized he can't be angry at others when it's his team keep losing games. Ideal world it would all end amicably with him acknowledging his failings, owners giving him till the end of the season to have a swansong the paying him up. Might even get some fans in to give him a decent send off, there'd be a few tears ( rivers of them on twitter & facebook) then we move on. The prospect of a bigger name coming in next season would reinvigorate the fans and stimulate interest. Whilst TM would leave with enough dignity and a cv that says mutual consent, should net him something else should he fancy it.

It was the following season Souey got us promoted, maybe though he wouldn't have done had he not had those 15 in the previous to have a good look. A few of those losses especially the cave in to Man City at home showed him he needed men/leaders not nice boys.

Dead rubbers have put points on the board in the past that perhaps skewed what had gone before then got dressed as marginal progress. Some of our players suddenly seem to get a spring in their step when the beach is in sight. Might be a few playing for contracts as well but as the end gets nearer and there's zero pressure for anything other than upper midtable even the gloomy manager seems to get a new lease of life. We've also beaten a few teams higher up in the run ins to be fair but the pressure is all on them and it sometimes shows. You still have to go out and beat what's in front of you of course but it's annoying how the 'want it more' mentality disappears here every mid season.

Encouraging the interest already registered by Moyes and the gang. Worryingly this is having a similar feel to when the downgrade started under Bowyer. Perhaps they've got wind there won't be much of a budget at all next season as the massive hole from this needs covering. The taps might well have to be down to a trickle again. Now if only Vs had a spare 12 million in their back pockets.....

I know it's easy to nit pick now with hindsight but there were elements of his first games in charge that gave concern and still ring true. I remember the Barnsley game at home one of his first in charge and i came away from that lame effort knowing we were doomed. Pretty much confirmed everything i feared about the appointment, it wouldn't be enough. Some of the stuff in that very game goes on exactly the same today he's just got better players. The confusing systems and over egging it is just the same. As was this need to try and 'play' instead of getting a solid formation and in the faces to fight bite and kick to where you needed to be. That day nearly everything we did was tried through Mahonney and i recall he moved him around 3 different positions. He was bright early on but his effectiveness just disappeared when he ended up out of position. TM does exactly the same with Elliot now and often has with Dack. Also that day we were undone by horrendous howlers at the back although in no way was he responsible for Wes Brown being so shit. I know the appointment of Coyle virtually sealed relegation but there elements missing that day that still are now. Difference is they really shouldn't be.

Well they needed Shebby to root out and push out Kean, they even needed to parachute a consultant in to boot Coyle. Can't do that now because this consultant works for the manager. It's going to be a long old Spring/Summer/Autumn Maybe by the next midwinter slump something will occur.

Venkys will have a meeting planned to discuss the progress or lack of it........... for the middle of June !

Mowbray has persisted with the likes of Williams knowing he's an injury prone converted center back. Yet when he is fit he's the go to stand in man, Lenihen gets called up for Ints and puts his foot in and is first choice. Stands to reason in the modern made of glass era he'll get plenty knocks. Then we come to Ayala who'd hardly had any football when he signed, isn't young and has form for being out. Holtby wouldn't be here if he wasn't fragile, Evans and Johnson are only bit part players at the best of times for similar reasons. Mowbray knows all this better than any fan that's why he stocks the midfield and loans in defenders. He;s said it himself plenty times, bigger squad to cover these things. So he's covered but he can't do anything with that cover and crying about players being out means those he's signed aren't good enough for what they are here for. Either way he's responsible for the shit show this season and taking everything into account. We still should be a few points better off and certainly shouldn't be losing 5 on the bounce. In 2019 we had 1 win in 11, can't remember what he blamed all that on. We knew though then the squad wasn't big enough or good enough to cope. TWO seasons later it still isn't yet we've only sold a keeper and replaced him with a better all round one. Progress Tony ??? Last season it was Dack missing touted as why we didn't challenge, outright rubbish. This season i think we all know that even with a fitter squad we'd only be a few points better off. His systems of play and methods are only tailored to varying degrees of midtable football. Fact !

Didn't somebody say something like 4 wins in 15 ? How many of those did we go behind in first ? On the Watford comments he would have said the same if we'd had a full side out. A full side containing Dack, his 15 million quids worth of forwards, a Liverpool wonder kid, Downing & Ayala. The man is a defeatist who waves the white flag before a ball is kicked.

Don't waste your time taking it on, these spinmeisters are trying to make it all about tonight. It's pure bull designed to deflect and spin it back on fans 'over expectation' or reaction to a game we 'should' lose anyway.

He became far too comfortable that's why it's now uncomfortable for fans.

Yes some of the figures banded about are a bit far fetched. I think what they'd draw back from after all the costs etc this might cover a new pitch but that's about it. That won't matter to the filthy vultures in the middle driving it forwards though.

Performance manager - lose 0-1, 1-2, 2-3 he's happy because they aren't wallopings and he can roll out some faux stats about touches in the box. Development manager - lose but happy a few kids have got another few mins and Everton and City will send him some biscuits for playing their kids. We can see what he's trying to do here, progress isn't it.

Unlike Kean or Coyle some will make new excuses after every game for this guy no matter what he does. He's clueless, never been that clued up but he's had enough about him and at his disposal to get by. Now he's lost it completely and he needs relieving of his duties, as much for his own sanity as anything else. The way he babbles on and the things he does he's really just like a coach not a manager.

The mans motivational instincts are non existent it's purely driven to prepare for defeat to cover his own backside. Pathetic to be honest and whilst a lot of fans might agree with what he says that's not the point. Mowbray talks defeat before we've been defeated, stating the obvious afterwards is expected. That's just a football manager thing but iv'e never heard a guy forensically dissect the opposition and run through what we are scared of before we've even had a go at them like he does. It's just a side who were 8th a week ago going up against one who are 3rd. A February midweek championship match not away to Man City in the champions league for crying out loud. Absolute drip.

The Brentford model is all well and good but i doubt they had a starting point like we have now. I'd wager they went that route because they didn't have what we have so we are downgrading whichever way it's dressed up. Plus you need the right people doing it, just because they might shoehorn everything together doesn't mean Mowbray and his clan will replicate what Brentford do on the pitch and in the league. Chances are it won't resemble that and will more resemble what we see right now ! The agents involved with BRFC will be happy though that's assured.

Don't know what was going on there i think maybe Mowbray just didn't rate him and wanted extra room on the books/squad for something else. Either way it benefited Wharton in the end because he came back more rugged and experienced than he would have been. Like i said i can't fault TM when it comes to getting youth involved (even if he's no choice). His use of some of them though and his own signings leaves question marks. Plus we know from experience he isn't a right good judge of defenders.

I think someone is taking the piss. One thing Mowbray can't be criticized for is integrating youth into the 1st team squad. Some would say that's his main aim here rather than a top 6 challenging first 11. Using them correctly is a different argument and a fair one although it applies to seniors as well with him.

I don't know about pissing it but a lot of managers would love having this to pick from. It's another thing that separates us from similar positioned clubs and gets left out when people whine about midtable budget justifying the position in table. That facility and what is available from it now can be like several million worth of incoming players others don't have.

And i think we'll be doing exactly the same this time next year. Although probably in a quest for points to stay away from the bottom pack after a few departures in summer leave him with more problems.

Most of the regular fans, even his critics, hold him in high esteem for promotion and turning around then stabilizing the club. I know i do, as well as his general conduct over most his time here. It was a refreshing change seeing someone humble, honest and only appearing to be driven by his love of being a manager. He's in grave danger of all that going out the window recently as this season his interviews have gone increasingly bizarre. Now at the point of being an arrogant ignorant self preserver. It isn't the fans or medias fault hard questions now need asking this has been coming a while. Promotion, stability, some good signings and the odd impressive victory have covered over a lot very frustrating stuff. It always catches up in the end but it seems he isn't prepared for it.

Totally agree i think if big Baz's lad was sat in the directors box most home games at least there'd be a presence. He could see for his own eyes some of the plodding and rotating and lack of urgency. You certainly don't want owners meddling but asking the right questions in presence is no bad thing. Mowbray has been one very lucky fella here in that regards by the looks of it. He didn't get away with it at Boro for as long.

He's a crafty worker is old Tone there'll a new spin on this one that'll get lapped up. In a word 'kids'... Then suddenly everyone will be fit when the beach is in sight and all his seniors will be back in !

The penny will never drop on that one with Mowbray for whatever reason. I agree i could well see a far better performance with him out and some real balance in the team. It shouldn't take him coughing up blood to be left out altogether but that's where we are at. Soon as he's ok he'll be back in the same position.