He spent 12 million pounds to cover for the eventual DG departure and probable Dack one. He said as much himself a couple of years ago, he's failed badly there, we are still faffing about with the full back positions and plugging holes in the center of defense ! The absolute only real positive thing he's got right recently is the keeper. Credited his recruitment team with that one, if it that hadn't worked out we'd probably be looking at Pears as his number 1. Rest of the team is still just mix and match constantly the same as it has been since it became clear the lge 1 promotion side wouldn't prosper in this div. If i thought for one min he was close to dropping on something good and sticking to it i'd cut him some slack. All i see is another 2 or 3 years like that last, not a disaster but not going anywhere. Unfortunately the departures WILL start at some point then it's a whole new ball game again.

There's an element of chancer to most of them i think, football is driven by money and greed. Now throw in Venkys have never recruited from the quality sections of the football hypermarket. Their appointments of all managers and so called board members have all been via certain links or had flaws meaning they were out of work. You have to be a tad desperate and prepared to work a certain way to get a call from them that's obvious. In return they'll ignore your lack of pedigree etc. The billion dollar question will always be why ?

All set up for a great performance and win now, it usually happens when he knows the press and fans are asking serious questions. This is why he should be under a bit more pressure to deliver what he's talked about for years. It seems the only time that gets any urgency in response.

Then you hear Nixon say 'well protected'.... Wonder if Waggot has any connection to this lot as well ?

Covering his arse for a possible loss tonight whilst also maybe angling for a contract extension. If he hasn't already had one that is, all this journey talk points to that.

He has been ropey but no more than a lot of others, again getting caught out of position is a regular thing. It's happening because he isn't good enough to do what the manager is asking him to do. Lads like him need to concentrate on defending and learn. Having Gallagher in front of him helps in no way either.

Nyambie's going under the bus again i see. This has had Raya mk2 written all over it for more than a year.

I think Hughes would certainly get out of bed for a lot less but he'd definitely want to bring a new backroom team with him. Wouldn't be much point otherwise because working with somebody elses he'll be doomed to failure.

This is turning Keanesqe now in terms of his absolute drivel i'm amazed loads still suck it up. There seems to be a serious case of denial in believing what he's doing is just going to click into gear. Or just a serious case of bull aimed at India ! He couldn't see it coming v North End but everyone else could and it was of no surprise. Those kind of non performances are regular especially when it comes to local games or getting vital points.

But who else is there......... 🙄

Just the type of game we'll win well and usually do when his backs to the wall. He has a funny knack of getting them up for it and on the front foot when criticism grows, something regularly missing when we then get in touching distance of doing something. It can't keep being assumed these players have some kind of mental block it's more obvious what is on display doesn't work often enough. I think we'll get the early goal and win this we are due a performance but i also honestly think they could leave Mowbray & Venus at home and still win it. Stick Downing in charge or something we need a breath of fresh air ! Barnsley 1 Rovers 3

Strange how the venkys don't get a mention there ! Did they ever actually really own it or was it just another bit of cheap publicity by the SEM propaganda crowd ?

The squad Mowbray has helped put together is light years away from Coyles misfits. Yes it wasn't all clownpants doing but a better manager would've kept us up over a season. Mowbray included, however some of the stuff churned out on the pitch like that mixed up rudderless effort the other night isn't much different to what the doughnut botherer served up.

No average team and manager ever changed tack one summer then possession footballed their way into the play offs. It just doesn't happen overnight like that you have to bite, kick. scratch and play your way to the top end. So naive to think they can turn Rovers into the Real of the English second tier using kids, loans and journeymen. Even worse when you waste the 12 million you get handed.

They don't seem to need it though and i think that might be part of the problem. The club does, it could be the major reset needed but they seem so comfortable filtering 15 mill per season over here it's almost like it's the only reason they continue to own it. The lack of ever showing any real urgency to go at it with gusto or recruit a board, manager etc with any pedigree screams they aren't that bothered.

Entertaining small sided games to beam back to India probably.

Corners, set pieces and the converting of them are another thing that seems rather absent. No idea what the stats are on those but i bet they are underwhelming, all these little things add up and all should be weapons. When you play the Rovers way though the scintillating possession football more than makes up for it !

If he said it was a banker then forget it.... On a more serious note that's the road they should go down instead of the lottery of HSH/SEM or whatevers scrapheap challenge. Source somebody that fits the bill and might be doable. Might need a bit of compen but facilities/wage/budget/squad wise it's a step up to someone of his ilk. There are others out there i absolutely cringe whenever i see 'who else is there' in defense of Mowbray. It's absolute hogwash and the easy lazy answer it all about how serious those in charge are of making the effort.

These are the things that get overlooked by a lot of those who go to great lengths to defend the manager. Own half possession, alleged chances created and short passes completed seem to take the limelight from the stats. I seriously think that having a Rhodes or similar in the side this season might well have seen us with another 3 or 4 points at this stage. And by that i mean a proper striker over 5'5".

It took i think 36 mins the other night for one shot wide of target that's an issue. The few high scoring games early season have given a bit of a false picture on our actual goal scoring prowess. We are almost reliant on one man most of the time.

Perfect man for them as long as he doesn't rock the boat.

That's possibly the plan that's in place now, invest a bit in the squad, develop it to get to its max value. Then start cashing in to recoup some running costs whilst hoping there's enough there and coming through to slot into place and cover the sales. Somewhere in the midst of all that become a promotion challenging team as well but that's not the priority.

If they sold Armstrong and Dack i believe he would then stick Gallagher more centrally and have BB then trying to do what Gally does now. They certainly wouldn't spend the funds they'll just disappear. Then he'd come up with yet another over complicated way to play and invent some new catchword for some positions. I think some of what we see now is just down to trying to shoehorn everyone in where and when he can. Under the guise of development of course.

Then he's telling everyone they want the way the first team plays running through the whole club ! At times the first team more resembles the development squad with the stuff that goes on. I agree it can't be very healthy for the first team if the gaffer and his head coach have opposite views on style etc. Good cop bad cop yes fair enough, debating opinions and all that is to be expected. Different mindsets on the way the team should play so compromising halfway can't really be a recipe for success. Keep everyone happy though seems to be the mantra down there.

Night game at Oldham somewhere between Nov & Feb i think, announcer says 'Welcome to a pleasant evening at Boundary Park to our visitors supporters' - scoreboard said -1 and the grass bank at the back was covered in ice ! 90 mins later it said 2 nil to Latics, plastic pitch, almost batton charged into the cages, no atmosphere, no pints. Anything but a pleasant evening, i hate Oldham.