arbitro

Alex, Alex, who the f*** is Alex? ??

Last November I was told that Mowbray stopped Mulgrew joining up with the Scotland squad as he hadn't played in some previous games due to injury. Mulgrew allegedly wasn't pleased and words were exchanged. From around that time Mulgrews form has been shocking culminating in a dreadful performance against Middlesbrough when he went lame early in the second half and we didn't see him again until Saturday when he was poor. I think it's the right decision to let him go but surely Mowbray should have got a replacement in first knowing that Mulgrew wasn't happy. Mowbray has often praised the spirit of the squad and I always believed that Mulgrew was central to this. I really hope some players don't down tools in sympathy. Cunningham seems a good signing in an area where it was needed. I sincerely hope we don't see a repeat of last season when our lack of centre halves saw us capitulate. Mowbray is entering the most testing time of his tenure. Personally I don't think he handles the pressure too well. If this is ramped up through poor results he might just cash his chips in.

That's pretty much my take too. I think Mowbray was happy with his lot before Saturday and the woeful defending convinced him we need changes and quickly. I don't believe getting Mulgrew out and Cunningham in had been a possibility before Saturday. A new left back releases Williams to replace Mulgrew at centre half.

Thanks.

Has Cunningham in and Mulgrew out been officially confirmed anywhere?

Wigan have signed defender Tom Pearce from Leeds on a three year deal. I honestly don't know whether or not to believe the Mulgrew story.

A big 90 minutes in our season coming up. How ironic a ball won't be kicked.

Cameron Carter-Vickers has joined Stoke from Spurs on a season long loan. He looked decent when on loan at Swansea last season.

Bury's EFL Cup match against Sheffield United has been suspended and they have been given until August 23rd to fulfil the league's insolvency policy or their EFL membership will be withdrawn. Meanwhile at Bolton the band played on..............

I didn't imply they didn't get a chance. It's the way Mowbray has publicly called them out and generally treated them.

And your benign view of Mowbray is doing exactly the same of what you accuse me of. How has he never publicly criticised any of the senior players individually?

He sold Raya after calling him out publicly, isolated Travis last season and plays a player out of position to keep Nyambe out. Yes he really does look after the young players.

Still no tickets on sale for Horwich v Coventry on Saturday. Football Ventures promised an update this morning but as yet nothing. How long can the EFL leave this mess to carry on festering?

It's typical Mowbray nonsense. Why wait until this afternoon just because the first team are training. Surely he could trust Lowe and Venus to take the training and he could have been looking for defenders from early morning. I'm beginning to think he is a bit of a control freak borne out of his autonomy.

I think he is better than Bennett in every aspect of full back play. It's all about opinion though and it appears that Mowbray thinks the same way as you.

I am driving to Manchester Piccadilly to get the train and normally go down the M602 and Mancunian Way. Does anybody who uses that route know of there are still major roadworks on the A57?

Bringing players in is about improving on what you already have and incoming and outgoing transfers aren't always easy but in the case of right back and Bennett we have a far better, natural right back on the bench but for some unfathomable reason Mowbray can't see it.

I really don't believe that Mowbray will lose his job if results in the first ten games leave us struggling. I think he has cleverly manoeuvred himself into a position of power with his relationship with Waggott and the Indians (in the same way Kean ingratiated himself on them). There will be a plethora of excuses made as to why we are struggling and Mowbray will be given more time. It's probably Mowbrays last job at this level and I don't think he will relinquish it easily.

The sad news just keeps on coming. John was a rough, tough player who was converted from a centre forward into a midfielder. He thrived in his new position and was part of a hard Rovers team at that time. Nobody took liberties with them. I used to know his wife quite well as she worked in some of the local Sports Centres. RIP.

The latest from the Horwich soap opera is that ticket sales for Saturday have now been suspended. There has been no consideration afforded to Coventry supporters and as usual the EFL have taken a vow of silence. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17820946.suspended-bolton-call-halt-ticket-sales-coventry-game/

It's a simple equation for me. We won't/can't bring anybody in until we shift a few out and as the fringe players are on money which belies their ability nobody will take them. There is generally an impasse then as players sit on their contracts. Mowbray has really painted himself and the club into a corner this summer.

Me and Tony feel the pressure the more we ask for and the more we are given then the results have to be positive,” he added. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17820029.rovers-chief-demands-expectations-owners-venkys/ It appears that the Indians want results for the money they spend as Mowbray and Waggott feel the pressure. As we have spent the arse end of nowt then the bar has been set exceedingly low. I wonder if the splurge on Brereton has woken them up.

The only bit of hope I have for getting anything from this game is the fact that Fulham lost at Barnsley and were apparently poor. That could work the other way though and they could come out flying. Player for player there are currently none I think we have better than Fulham. I expect Mowbray to be in full defensive mode and his team will reflect that. I am travelling down and fully expect to be travelling back further disillusioned about Rovers and Mowbray in particular. I sincerely hope I am wrong but I expect a drubbing.

Over the weekend I saw five Championship games and without doubt the worst two teams were us and Charlton. Hopefully that's not the template for this season but I have to say (even at this early stage) that in my opinion Mowbrays target of Playoffs is a million miles away. I'm already buckling myself in for a long, hard season.

It means absolutely nothing in the context of where we are now. Rotherham took four points from us and were one of the worst teams in the league.