Even Wilcox could put a mean cross in, those that fly across the middle then swing out, easy sometimes for good defenders and steady keepers but they'd be unplayable for these types these days.

Linked with yet another midfielder, sorry but if he signs another of those for his clueless play to the opposition rotation policy he should be sacked on the spot. End of !

We rarely do any real business in January anyway plus there are one or two on the books already who could operate in that position. Can't see they'll be looking anywhere for any inspirational signing so i don't think they are playing the skint card.

Hilarious to see them in meltdown over their annual big day out !!! When residents of Houghton, Walton le dale, Brigg and Leyland suddenly down their tv remotes and Red shirts to become lifelong Rovers haters for the day... sorry i mean PNE fans. I really don't get the bulk of the moaning seeing as it's the same price in both tiers and they've turned out for early kick offs before in huge numbers. I do think though it is another daft Waggot move that will only backfire on us tit for tat. At their place it's £24 and you get all the end and a 3 pm Saturday kick off. First time we get that here it's £28 and a clear message if you don't sell the top out you don't get the bottom. He'll relent if the numbers don't improve you just watch. Imbecile he's turned out to be.

What do the accounts say ?

I don't know about that there's been plenty of those for it to live up to.

Crossing like tackling or heading is an art form fast dying out, just like the flying up and down the line wingers the ball winning centre mid. The knock the passes around centre mid and striking partnerships. I really don't know why because football as a spectacle is all the worse for it season on season recently it's become more tactical, zonal, robotic shite. Zombie players all very similar and teams filled out with what are basically right footed right sided midfielders playing in numerous positions that don't really suit. Mowbray is an absolute master at deploying players in positions that don't suit their limited abilities but to be fair in the Championship it's like a disease. No real need for it at this level somebody start to bring back the blood and thunder end to end stuff please.

Take no notice of these I'll pop in drop a grenade then scoot off again types.

No wonder really when you've got to work your notice. Not saying it's right but basically you just want to get onto the next project. Something he'd probably already lined up ?

There has to be a good reason someone like Marshall has no club either he values himself to high or his rep is bad. Avoid.

I don't think 'bad' was ever a word he used quite the opposite actually. Simply put he was offered a big budget and the Rhodes sale proceeds and he covered himself for the too good to be true scenario not coming to fruition. He was correct in doing so and i think if they'd met him halfway he'd have stuck it out a bit longer. No idea how that might have worked out but we'd have avoided the Coyle fiasco at least.

You know who was saying he should be given a 10 year contract after we got promoted ! He's comfortable enough to play around with it game by game as it is and basically do what he wants, imagine if he had the security of another 8 years ?

Collectively they are pushing us towards FFP restrictions again and that will end with taps off and the inevitable fire sale like last time. Sadly that's the only way around it depending on the restrictions and length of it. We've been here before and Shaw warned it was coming a good while before it did but blindly they all galloped into it. Problem is these 'investment' players who are supposed to make money won't be the one's sold for profit. They are safe on their contracts and big wages it's the raw potential and any decent players worth money that will have to go first. Praying for big money for Dack at the end of the season to cover what's been spent and allow a bit more was probably the plan. Thats gone south now but still the biggest risks have been taken by chucking huge money at the wrong players to fill that void in advance by a manager who clearly hasn't got a clue how to go about it. Once it all starts again the same old bodies in the background moving these players in and out are the only ones that benefit.

You are going back a long way now in all that and i think within football Venkys also have a reputation for making people rich. Couple with the lure of the club, the squad and facilities it's a fantastic job. Mowbray knows this that's why his first priority seems to be protect the status quo of the whole set up rather than set up every week to drive forwards. Since the nonsense of Berg and Singh etc which was about 7 or 8 years ago they've had Bowyer in situ for a few years giving him a good crap of the whip. Paid him off after embargo then allowed Lambert a release clause, Mowbray pulled off the scrapheap and had the best backing of that lot by far. He'll leave a few million richer if/when he does. The whole Coyle episode was an unsavoury disaster but TM arrived here by similar means as did Lambert. That's the way they'll do it again but my concern is the whole infracstructure is built around or even by Mowbray. That's a problem as at most clubs that's in place separate from the football side so it can withstand change without falling to pieces. Here at Ewood the Indians always seem to want a group of people lead by the football manager to run the whole operation like a football franchise. That is the biggest obstacle to any quick change, this group have got the inside of the club sewn up.

Yeah i understand that and i don't want change just for the sake of it right now as unless it's done properly we'll instantly go backwards again. Part of my anger and frustration at him is because he's shown the way it needs to be done but somehow seems to want to prove a point that his preferred way of chopping and changing is the right way. It isn't, if only he'd alter his ways and stick to it for the remainder of the season he'd hand out far less ammunition and probably gain more points.

No we shouldn't be worse than them at all and yes we are better than Charlton....for now. Take your tongue out of his arse it must be tasting a bit bitter by now he can't live off that forever.

Please turn it in about Sunderland and Pompey there's several other reasons we aren't like them. I'd say more parallels with Charlton to be honest. There;s likely only one way all this will end and that will be a Bolton scenario and Mowbray nor anyone else will be about to stop that. That's why it is imperative whilst we still have some backing we don't waste what money and chances are available.

Isn't it the same for most clubs at Christmas or are they trying to blag Pune that it only happens to us ? Painful he is at times he really is.

Gallagher and Walton came in via the same agent...... Seems in the end a two for one old boys job again was more appealing.

This is the excuses that get made for him along with the old project fear when it comes to replacement. It's now don't worry TM will keep us up when to most it's been TM is holding us back with his needless antics and poor recruitment. He can't live off instant promotion forever. but ironically his own failings over the last 18 months are the very things that will keep him in a job.

Just like Steele who was 3rd or fourth choice at Boro. They have the same old agents still rooting around for cheap potential who they might sign for a modest fee, get a load of games into and punt on. Not the thing you should be doing in the goalkeeper position if your aim is to be successful but it's same old same old at Rovers under this lot. Waste money by the millions with on hand and penny pinch and try and make money with the other.

I don't for one min think he doesn't want to win games and do well i just think his first concern and loyalty is to his squad that's why they back him to the hilt. He's trying to strike a balance between keeping as many involved and in bonuses as he can whilst keeping their agents off his back. At the same time get enough points to keep fans off his back and placate the ownership whilst blooding a few youngsters. We have to conclude he's very good at this even if it's obvious he's literally winging it at times. Most managers probably have to work like this, he's just fortunate he can get away with it at Rovers at the expense of having a best starting 11 and looking to drive up the league as far as possible shouldering the risks that takes. No real evident pressure we can see because that's what he's sold to the owners and a finish slightly higher than last season equals job done. They don't watch it week in week out like fans and see the clear evident hinderance his methods put on the ability to win games consistently. They don't give a shit if they do watch anyway because they've been told book value will increase and we are on a slow build to bigger things. They'll swallow up the behind the scenes stuff as well. Whatever plan they've been sold medium term doesn't involve a proper push and will never end in any sort of genuine promotion tilt. It's just time buying but they are still too numb to realise. Like with Bowyer though you do feel one day something will snap, then we'll end up in the shit again. The solution is simple though and always has been, get someone in proper to run the club and be impartial where the management and football side is concerned. That way they can apply the necessary kicks up the backside to those below when needed not close ranks and arse cover.

They had a much publicised spat last season so I'm sure Mowbray played his part in Raya going one way or another. As often in these situations it's not the player leaving it's the quality of replacement that's the problem. An age old Rovers problem.

He's in a comfort zone that allows him to do what he does. Simple as that really.

The most frustrating and confusing manager of the last 30 odd years bar none. Some have been dire others tried but out their depth. Then there was King rat in a league of his own. This fella though ....