Ironic because i always thought Johnsons weak point was crossing when they had him as a right winger. Found his niche at Brum mostly as a tenacious midfielder i think.

I hope he's mentoring Travis i see him being best in a similar way not another manufactured crab type.

1 hour ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

"Spending in line with income" - do you ever see the comments on here which overwhelmingly consist of supporters urging the opposite - "roll the dice" etc

When the owners decide they want to do that they do so regardless. Therefore perfectly understandable fans might urge the same sometimes.

You reap what you sow.

4 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

He's scored 2 since we've been back, should have had 4.  None for gally or Brereton and don't even look like scoring, so I'll stick with Dom.  On a different planet to both of them(neither should even be called pro footballers)  if he's given a run and faith is put in him.

Look at the bigger picture I'm judging him on his time here not last 2 games.

Always had a knack at getting himself in handy positions but remember at one point the lad who scored a few for the U23s was in front of him simply because he could finish better.

We are stuck with the other two but there's a chance to put a freed up wage to better use here.

8 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

I'm in the Samuel camp. We should keep him ahead of Gallagher and Brereton.   Much quicker and can finish.  Tony likes a forward that can play right.....

Poor finisher.

His approach play and all round ability is no worse than the other 2 though and being fair for a few hundred grand it's about what you'd expect.

Gallagher has the tools to be an athletic grafting battering ran Allardyce or Hughes would make him or break him.  This fella has so far made him worse and doesn't have a scooby what to do with him.  Out of the 3 he could be turned into something effective but probably won't be.

33 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

True.

6 years since we did it at this level.

Again some of it just has to be the failure of successive Venky managers to build a decent defence and install a proper keeper. That has proved extremely costly points and position wise.

Chuck in the constant 'nice lads only' remit and it really is no wonder. 

7 minutes ago, 47er said:

So do we get rid of Samual as plenty were saying we should or does he deserve more chances?

If we'd paid £M7 for him he'd play every game!

Rid look at the chances he misses and always has and as long as he's around he'll keep getting on good bad or indifferent.

The rotation of him,  BB and Gallagher is already annoying imagine a season of it !!!

One of them yes but all 3 no thanks we'd be lucky to see a return of 10 goals combined.

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

No false nine, no wide strikers, no square pegs in round holes and no baffling tactics. The players seemed to know their roles and positions. The result is a solid performance and win.

Hopefully Mowbray will at last realise that football really is a simple game.

But I sincerely doubt it.

He absolutely won't remember the poor start to the season then the revert to something more sensible and a winning run ?  So much so that we thought he'd been taking his pointers off here !

Soon as he could he changed it again and round in circles we went.  He's seems determined to try and pioneer something out of the norm and we are his experiment.  Either that or he just prefers trying to keep everyone happy in his squad.

9 hours ago, Lucimo said:

Shame about Downing if true. I'd be quite tempted to ditch Mowbray and offer Downing player manager if he fancied it. Hope for a Lampard effect. Anything worth a shot to get rid of TM  who's done IMO. 

Him or Mulgrew maybe ?    I'd take a season of Mowbray stepping back and mentoring one of these or Johnson as long as he stayed away from the dug out. 

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

I don’t think it’s as much pressure on the team but caution from the manager.

When we really need a win we play a defensive approach, odd personnel, and never get going in games. Being kind, I think he overthinks his tactics to try to counter the opposition strengths. When there is no need to any caution (in the manager’s eyes) we play with much more freedoms. Rovers always look good when we play to our own strengths and look to hurt teams. Yes, we may win 3-2 but it’s better than losing but conceding less.

What I don’t understand is when we are safe from relegation - the first priority - why we don’t go for it. This is something Hughes made a point of (and I think Souness too). Get to the magic number and then go and play football like you want to win.

It all starts with a balanced team though. I use hope Mowbray has learned his lesson and we’ve seen the last time that Bennett starts. But I feel like I’ve said this before and he goes right back to his preferred list and we perform poorly again.

He's risk averse in my eyes he looks to not lose when he should just be looking to go out and win.  As a few have said we might have been lge 1 champions with that mentality Wigan clearly had it but we might also have blown it.  So understandable in a way but when your upper half of the championship in sniffing distance of the play offs there is simply nothing to lose.

Finish 6th great nobody expected it so it would be an achievement, finish 7/8 th unlucky big credit for the effort better luck next time. Finish 10th to 12 th well nobody cares but it's 'comfortable'.

The 'must win' attitude deserts them all too often in favour of you win some you lose some shoulder shrugging.

Every game since lockdown should have had the 'must win' mentality that's how you get to were you want to be or at least have a good go and leave everything out there. I'm sure that that kind of approach and effort in the previous 3 would have yielded another few points, we know we can't win them all but there's no reason at all why they couldn't just go for it.

Setting up to accommodate players, to rotate and keep everybody involved and keep the experiment of so called transition to possession based game at that stage of the season - NO

In your face front foot fight tooth and nail football - yes, as last night showed.

7 minutes ago, Blue blood said:

This sums up Rovers for me. It's strange but when the team is under pressure to perform they simply cannot do it. When there isn't any pressure they look a very good outfit. 

A few other correlating factors which I don't think are unrelated to today's win:

1) The pressure was off the team but the scrutiny was on TM. Funny how when the fans start getting restless the obvious belated team changes happen and the performances improve. 

2) Following on from number 1, it's no surprise we do better when Bennett and Gally aren't in the team. 

3) We were clear underdogs and Cardiff needed to come at us. These are games we relish far more than lower league scraps. Sure we get overawed and play too cautiously vs the big clubs in the division like Leeds, but any game where we aren't clear favourites and the opposition comes to us, seem to be the ones we relish. 

Great win. Shows what we are capable of. Questions need to be asked why we aren't doing it when it really counts. 

This is why I think an independent director or DOF is needed at Ewood. To apply a little internal pressure when needed. Said the same under Bowyer the vacuum between here and India allows the comfort zone to become too comfortable.

Only when fans start getting twitchy and the press starts getting a little bit critical do we get a reaction.

If you genuinely want too 6 it shouldn't be like that. They should never ever lack motivation or be set up just to plod.

Great effort tonight well done the boys.

Where the hell was that the last 3 games ?  Every time this manager comes under stick from fans he goes more sensible tactics wise and more aggressive. Team fights all the way.

Somewhat of dead rubber time again though so we've seen it all before but a much needed win and we'll take it.

Yet again a better more balanced performance with Bennett and Gallagher OUT.

New contract nailed down now. TM talking him up to Benni Mac levels in the post match presser ?

Keepers are coming.....

TM getting passionate at the end of season Zoom induced fans forum.

Just now, johnradfordsubbuteo said:

At least the Samuel contract discussion is over.

Not in Brockhall it won't be.

10 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i think he`s worse,in fact he`s one of the worst keepers iv`e ever seen,send him back to brighton tommorow  before they realise how **** he is and offer us a cut price deal

Same agent as Gallagher ?  Very well could happen if so.

A real striker in his real position gets one chance and scores shock horror - earth calling Rovers coaching 'experts' !!

Beginning to think Walton is sailing us down the river for some reason. He looks like Steele in his dying embers of his Rovers days.

11 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

I've come to the conclusion that Mowbray signed Chapman for the sole reason that he was popular with the fans.

And the boys....

22 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

tony hates anyone under 25,they are to flighty and ar`nt easy to mowbray(a process that takes all creativity,positivity and freedom out of your game)

Take out the 25 and replace it with 'genuine wide player' and it's spot on.

1 hour ago, Oldgregg86 said:

I was one who championed Gallaghers return ??

I was ok with it at the time but it's a 2 way street with him imo. He just hasn't developed from what we saw in his first stint and Mowbray has got him in a role that he never ever will.

Still it's worked about 3 times this season so that means it'll still be being rolled out next season.

5 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Samuel will seemingly get a new deal as he keeps playing him despite the fact that hes shite.

Always been on the cards that one it's just so predictable. I want him gone iv'e seen enough but what are the chances of him signing better ?

Damned either way at the min i think.

6 minutes ago, OssyLad said:

This whispers going round 

Let me guess, in two years when Tony fancies a rest and Johnson has cut his teeth with his International coaching role ?

Well at least he's made some changes. The bets tonight are how long it takes him to get Benno back on.

There's still enough in that team to get something tonight if it applies itself properly.

If Downing would stay within a new reduced pay structure then i'd fire off one of the coaches and let him do that as well to make his wages up !

How much would we actually miss David Lowe ?  Again his presence is probably mainly down to being popular with the lads or something agent wise. Venus, Lowe, Johnson, Benson, Mowbray & whoever else just how many do they need.  Time for some player/coach roles to be created maybe and prune the deadwood out of there as well whilst being able to keep a half decent squad player.