Who tells him what to say at these pressers. If no one, then someone should be. Surely he should say something along the lines of, The captain will be picked on merit.
If this is proved so, Mowbray needs to be asked at his next meeting to explain his reasoning to the fans. If he respects the people that show up to pay their money he at least owes us that much.
Two thing that seems to be uniting most people I have talked to, is the strange obstinate selections in the defence, and strange tactical substitutions. These have nothing to do with the players available, but are purely the managers decisions.