Rare we get anything down there anyway and i don't see this one being any different. The harsh prospect of a midtable winter begins to set in. 2 - 0 to Norwich.

We are still missing one or probably 2 proper center halves in the squad. We still rely on a converted mid and converted left back half the time. His failure to ever get a real grip on the defence is a real issue for me all he's ever seemed to do is stick a plaster on it. You have to create a real platform there so games like last night have a better chance of a shut out. Such fine lines as a 0-0 is then hailed as a really handy point but we get undone the same way time and again. That for me has been the biggest drawback of his time here, i see Hanley nominated for player of the month. Exactly what we are missing.

Not the Williams to left back cries again surely ? How many times ! It isn't happening he's a centre half and told his manager that's all he is now.

Always going to be an awkward one tonight but still feel we should have got a point. No real fluidity again and we hold ourselves back all too often because of that. Changes don't help but team was still strong enough tonight. Just another of those nights, we'll play the same and win at some points in the season. Far too much reliance on Arm developing now.

A thing that struck me earlier tonight was listening to Lineker and Ferdinand discussing the difference between Liverpool and Man U. Obviously we have nothing like that quality but the points touched on were Solskjer keeps trying different formations and tactics and players whereas Klopp tends to replace like for like and whovever comes in fits his system and knows their jobs. TM alludes to wanting to be like LIverpool but manages the team more like Ole does. Too many tweaks and swaps to ever get any real fluidity and it really shows even more when we are a bit short. Until we come to terms with having a set system and having an entire squad to fit it we'll not progress enough to make it count imo. All this being adaptable is fair enough but do you really need it at this level when you are able to put together a good squad ? Keep it bloody simple and nights like tonight might start yeilding instead of predictable narrow defeats.

Aye it would be no surprise to see 2 of them not finish the game.

Good side that, a lot of changes but can't be helped.

They always find the money for the ex boro lads that's a given. Assombalongo being the exception of course 😂

You could attribute that to nerves seeing we were 2nd i think heading towards the business end. To keep bottling it whenever we are 2 points off the play offs mid season is weak as piss compared to that. Feels a bit different this time though so far, there's a bit more experience round the place now. Compared to the recent seasons.

Again not the point. He was well thought of here they offered to double his wages, the starting point was low though. Once Bournemouth came in Rovers although they liked him drew the line as to how far they'd go money wise to try and keep him. Doesn't really matter what has happened since as that was what was happening back then. So i'm saying there may be a similar scenario in regards to Nyambe and maybe any other prospect they haven't paid money for. Mowbray has already shown he likes to try others in that position so despite what he says publically i don't think he'd lose too much sleep if Nyambe went.

That's not what I'm saying though their relative football merits is a different argument. I'm saying that in some cases maybe they'll settle for compen or lower fees. As long as there are good add ons etc and a sell on. That way it's cheaper than giving them big long deals just hoping maybe they end up worth big money. In the short term some money comes in and long term there's still potential profit. All this based on players they feel they can replace with as good but for not much money. To say Mahoney is rubbish is nonsense. Might have lost his way but he made the wrong move. He'd have been very handy to have around but they were correct in not offering him the type on money Bournemouth did. Perhaps they feel the same way about Nyambe in private.

According to Nixon Dann was on 35k pwk when he was brought in but had a reducer written in for relegation. Kean then put him as captain which automatically put it back up again. It was one of his bits in the paper when he was well in. Never under estimate how much was going down the toilet back then.

Souness - My kind off attitude a warrior and winner no room for sentiment or poncing around. We'd either of got on or hated each other. No middle ground although it would only have worked if i was any good, i don't think he'd much time for moulding players. Allardyce - Probably would have got the best out of my limited abilities and found a niche for me ! I'd have loved the opportunity to play under Kean and Coyle though, no handier place to be to tell them what i thought. Probably would've ended up rich as well from a nice pay off.......... or in court on assault charges.

A compen fee plus future add ons might seem attractive in the case of Nyambe. Rather than a bumper payrise on the books. Seems to be shaping up to be Mahonney x2 if you ask me and he'd also be the 3rd academy graduate lost under this manager. Raya, Mahonney and maybe Nyambe could well add up nicely and someone might think it's good business. Grow em cheap and sell em cheap on the conveyor belt and keep a bit coming in. Future add on's as profit, less the % of course.

I don't remember much of the stuff around Saxton other than what i saw on matchdays as a youngster. Looking back though and reading back on that era just how in gods name was he supposed to replace these players he was so called over loyal to ? Fans don't know the meaning of the word skint compared to then. Always had him down as someone who squeezed every last drop out of the morsals he had.

With TM there are the good points and the not so good one's which for me more or less nearly balance. Pound for pound he's had the best backing since Hughes and he's had time and patience from these owners that others haven't. I rate him above average in a 60/40 kind of way taking everything into context not just the on pitch stuff. On the pitch i'd still probably have him as bang average but he seems to be moving in the right direction. We are in 3rd full season territory now so things should be coming together this is what he's talked up himself. Obviously you have to cut a bit of slack with the covid and crazy injuries. As a few others have said though it's were we go from here now that really counts. That will define him as a genuinely good manager or just a bang average one who did a good job for a while here.

A few good results and just like when there's a couple of bad one's some lose the plot it seems. He isn't a bad manager by any stretch but he hasn't done anything yet to prove he's a great one either. Guys who've got clubs to the Prem in recent times without unlimited backing are clearly above Mowbray in the ratings stakes, whatever their style. Bananas to suggest otherwise imo, however what he has been is a good fit for this club in this current era. Whether some of the others would've been who knows but if it's promotion you REALLY want you'd have been safer putting money on the Hughtons and Warnocks of this world.

I'll be honest I had him down as a myth. Looking a good now though but I suppose it helps being used in a formation that suits. Thats been a long time coming with a lot of players here though. Be nice if it all comes together this season.

It is getting to the point Williams is a better bet than Lenihen although iv'e always felt we are still another proper center half short. Another tough game but with Rovers these days it's all about how we set up and the approach. It's always better when the focus seems to be on us rather than the opposition. Get out and meet them head on again and with 11 on the pitch and hopefully the other side having the same instead of an extra man in black we should get something. 2 - 2

It shouldn't be uncool to give him credit when it's due at all that's how you justify the constructive criticism. All about balance. End of the day though he is what he is there are times he gets it badly wrong and often that comes when he shouldn't really be fiddling with it at all. That puts it further into the spotlight but there are plenty times he gets in right and occasionally pulls off a masterstroke. Main thing is though these players obviously pull their tripe out for him when he gets them to. If we / they / he really want promotion then that effort has to be there every single game and they've shown it the past few weeks. There are still question marks about the selections and tactics which often seem to hinder the team despite the willingness. That's something he has to get to grips with. He has a big enough battle this season with injuries and officials though as well.

Have to say iv'e never got the fuss around Yarde at all to me he was always just another good domestic fighter with half a chance at top level. Errol Spence though is class we saw him up close beating Brook a few years ago and he's a top operator. Crash doesn't seem to have taken that away. In an odd way it might have got a bit of sense into him as he was looking like he might disappear up his own ego at one point. Nice guy though really and some great fights ahead.

A lot of young lads still growing and a few older ones getting a bit worn maybe but can't really blame the pitches these days.

Why oh why do our lads seem to have so many weak joints it can't all be bad luck.

Superb point. First off, another useless Championship home loving whistle blower, some of these goons need investigating. That wasn't inept it was blatant favouritism ! Manager got the late subs right there and the mental strength that is clearly new this season was in evidence again. Sets us up nicely in spirit and belief for the next one if not in numbers.

Better just going to have a right go at these and meet them head on no need for too much tactical thinking as he's unlikely to outwit these lot. Get on the front foot and in their faces. I'd settle for a draw but head says 3 - 1 Brentford.