Definitely think Jones would have benefited from another season or two playing regularly at Rovers under Allardyce but like Hanley he had man strength when still a youngster so they tend to get away with it at first. Duff and Dunn eased in as you say as were Gally and Derbyshire although I reckon these lads got some time in cup games possibly ? Difference was obviously in most cases they were home grown and we were usually at a higher level or with a better squad than now so no real need to rush them. Be interesting if there is separate money available now for more Brereton type transfers that might not be available for instant first teamers. I suppose higher placed clubs do this kind of thing but it's new turf for Rovers and probably championship level in general.

Yeah I remember the fuss about Broomes but he never developed sadly similar to Lowe. Phil Jones has been mentioned and although he hasn't turned out to be a world beater when he was younger in the youth team he stood out like a beacon head and shoulders above others you could see something there like you say. What I will say is throwing in the likes of Lowe and Hanley at a young age didn't do them any favours in the long run although that was the Prem obviously. A more softly softly approach over a longer period of time to bed them in might have been better. Hard to say whether Mpwbrays approach to this is correct or whether he's holding the lad back too much now. More inclined to think there are other reasons at play for now though but I never buy into the old football he said she said nonsense every other young player in the lower leagues is going to be a worldie according to their agents ! Only time and opportunities prove anything.

Somebody who worked In football once said Jason Lowe in our youth team would be the next big thing when he stepped up. He also said another young player would be the next Smalling and yet another youngster who cost money could be the Scottish Wayne Rooney........ That person had things to gain from coming out with these things the moral being in football anyone will say anything if they think they are right or have something personal to gain. The only ever REAL proof is in the poooding as they say !

Some liked him because he ran around a lot allegedly doing the dirty work except he didn't do that work really he just ran around a lot. Wasn't what we needed at all and yes Smallwood was a breath of fresh air last season whereas Lowe would've been same old same old. Anonymous in the relegation season but he thought he was going on to bigger and better things when his contract ran out so it was a case of going through the motions and remain unscathed I think.

Are those comments on Brereton cut and paste from his ramblings about Gladwin ?

It didn't do Jimmy Quinn any favours but maybe his presence got the best out of Thompson but BB is hardy breathing down anybody's neck to make them terrified of losing their place. Hopefully once the ink is dry on the permanent contract things will change a bit..........

As usual the only real over reactions are the odd one or two who over react to others discussing the team, manager, players and expressing their opinions like any other set of fans on any other message boards ! Jeez if a 7 million pound signing who never starts and seems to serve no other purpose since he came other than being a late sub can't be debated by his own teams fans we might as well just shut it down ! This era of the gullible and easily offended is hard work for sure !

Dunn Fc wherever he is most certainly wasn't impressed with Whittingham in fact he called that exactly right ! At least Brereton can grow into a player instead of needing to grow a new pair of legs but there's a fine line between developing a player and stunting his development he has after all played plenty mins for Forest at this level and done ok that's partly why he was rated so high at 19. If TM is to continue with that approach and it isn't down to the loan turning perm then the acquiring of another decent striker is even more important it'll give BB a bit of breathing space and take a bit of the spotlight off him. Providing the other striker scores goals of course ?

Evans looks a better player when he's given licence to operate a bit further up like a traditional centre mid he's done it Internationally a few times I think he could do the job. Fear is though he's like a rabbit in the headlights when he gets the ball over the halfway line as it's been drilled out of him trying to be creative so it would take time to get accustomed to it but I don't think Mowbray or him are brave enough for a new look when the safety of as you were is still an option.

That's it though these days it isn't the engine room and hasn't been for years it's just a buffer zone where when they get the ball they don't quite know what to do with it and their appearances over the half way line happen about twice a season !

Yep I don't think he'll ever start with wingers but I thought he used Chapman quite effectively as a sub he didn't half open some games up when he came on. As for Alan Mahon totally agree cracking little player who was around at a time when we had plenty quality so always struggled to have a regular place but he'd walk into this team. Great shot on him when he cut inside but that's what you want from wide players who aren't really wingers, they have to bring something to the party other than just occupying a place in the team or stopping the oppo full backs coming forwards.

Northern will continue their nonsense as long as they are allowed to get away with it which will be indefinitely seeing as this typical Tory govt don't give a rats arse about anything happening outside of the London elite and their Euro pals. This firm are just penny pinching to ensure their is enough to pay their dividends and are allowed to get away with it by their capitalist pals NORTHERN FAIL Anyway back to the game my barcode pal is more bothered about their U23's side beating the makems in the Checktrade Farce than losing to Rovers lol Newcastle 1 Rovers 2

It's odd that Tony doesn't seem to like width as he had it with Chapman and used it reasonably well with him when he was fit. Maybe he's been saving that place all along hoping he can get Chappers cheap and rehabilitate him but that's been a risky long shot to hold on to though. Somewhere deep down I have hope he has his scouts looking for similar and when they finally turn something up we'll actually have a winger in the squad again. Surely in a game like yesterday if you got Armstrong in the middle and someone breaking down the wing in space stretching the ten men he might have converted one of maybe ten balls into him!

No matter how much potential he might have you can't go straight from DG when he finally seizes up in the not too distant future to Brereton, It's crazy to think that. Graham is what he is because of his vast experience and been around the block hold up play and finishing instincts. We will need another like him from somewhere who guarantees goals and that'll cost a good fee or a juicy contract for a free from somewhere like Graham himself. More than likely Mowbray will have to alter the system but were does that leave Dack and how good would an Armstrong/Brereton partnership be or Samuel / Brereton ?

Aside from the Brereton thing I think he needs to step away now from back up men and squad men and start upgrading the team in certain areas with better if there is that kind of money available. It's the only way to genuinely improve the team as even when he signs bit part players with a touch of quality he uses them as just that...bit part behind his favs. I know he's after a slow build I understand that but I also don't get the treading water mentality when there is something already in place to be built on right now. Time for some artists placing amongst these soldiers

We DO need a centre back and a good one, so what if it displaces one of the others ? That is how good teams are built it's about the team and club progressing not the individual. Souness, Hughes, Dalglish wouldn't think twice about doing if they thought it would improve the team and help get better results all this we are ok because we can make do with this that or the other is counter productive in the long run IF you want to get somewhere. Why make do if you have the means to do better !

Today was certainly a justifiable day to give him a proper run, it's a game v ten, we are creating chances but struggling to put them away, he cost 7 million pounds, he's a STRIKER. the formation could've been altered to accommodate him if needed as we had an extra man. Today was the day........

Treating him like a 15 year old who's never played the game before yet some of our own youth get plonked in then pulled again whether they do well or not ! Also keeping Nuttall out who's playing and scoring for the U23s and does at least know how to dig a goal out. Either use him properly or leave him out, that would take some explaining though to the string pullers..

Was just speaking with a Forest fan who asked why BB was being so messed about at Rovers as he thought he'd do well. Said they were crying out for his energy up front today whilst losing at home to PNE. Did we sign the right player ? Something ridiculous about this now.

1-1 away against ten men and he gets 6 mins plus injury time......... Are they protecting their signing or their embarrassment ???

If he can't be bold against ten men then......

Losing this now would so Blackburn Rovers !

Can hear the team talks from here - Let's sit off a bit lads and counter there'll be space now they are down to 10 ! Let's get as many free kicks and set plays as possible and get back into it whilst trying to get one of theirs to walk as well ! Interesting second half coming up.

He signed back up players though as he wanted to give the others a chance so that's how he's using them it seems whether they do well or not they are back ups to the others in the pecking order he's created.

700 ish, standard for a trek there but not to be sniffed at at 30 quid doubt there'll be many pay on the day.