arbitro

I said at the time that Rodwell was the lowest risk signing in recent years. The bad press he had from Sunderland was ridiculous because he wouldn't walk away from a lucrative contract which they were happy to give him. No pay off or deal, just walk away. My real fear now is that he is free to talk to other clubs as he is out of contract at the end of the season. Mowbray and Waggott should be speaking to him and his representatives this week with an offer on the table.

It's either personal Rev or you simply don't understand the game. Graham is fundamental to our play, he is the focal point of the team and brings other players into the game. He is a dying breed in the modern game where many managers prefer smaller, quicker players who run in behind. I would imagine most Rovers players would say he is our MVP (I don't like these Americanisms but that description is most apt).

The first 25 minutes were as enjoyable as anything I have seen watching Rovers for a long time. Intensive, incisive, hard working, quick and completely dominated. And for a change we scored whilst in the ascendancy to reflect our dominance. The pace dropped a little after that but the hard work continued and we were professional in our play. Lots of really good performances but for me young Travis was involved in nearly all the good play. His desire to get on the front foot has, for me been instrumental in our upturn in form. And significantly Evans is showing a rarely seen side to his game as he gets forward a lot more. Defensively sound once again and three clean sheets in a row in the league is something for us all to behold. As I was skimming through some earlier posts I couldn't believe the criticism of Danny Graham. He is so important to us and his hold up play is up there with the best. Anybody who can't see that clearly doesn't understand the game. Winning is undoubtedly the best feeling in football and hopefully we can keep this run going. Clean sheets is the way forward as I think we will always score in any game.

I was quoting somebody else hence the quotation marks. I personally would put his tenure into the good category.

Another tough match with Hull in really good form. I really think the key area will be wide as that is were their strength lies and is probably our weakness. I would play Nyambe at right back as I think he is best served to cope with he pacy Grosicki. On the left you could toss a coin to decide who is best equipped to cope with Bowen. Hopefully our big players are on form and get us the result.

Constructive criticism (that's mostly what I read about Mowbray) is completely different to moaning. I genuinely believe that the vast majority of fans appreciate that Mowbray has been 'very decent' but there have been failings too. His tactics, substitutions, team selection will always be open to criticism as we all pretty much see things differently and by his own admission he over thinks too much. Your description of average in the transfer market is about right with some really good incoming signings and some poor ones. He is worth his position at the moment but there will nearly always be perceived issues from fans. That goes with the territory of anybody in the public eye. And I'd be amazed if Mowbray wasn't critical of himself at times.

However, the Ewood boss hasn’t ruled out an extended stay for the utility man further down the line. “Jack Rodwell’s situation, I know his contract expires at the end of the season but I don’t sit here thinking ‘let’s go and offer him a 10-year deal’,” Mowbray said. “I have every respect for Jack, he works hard every day and listens, brings the right values and cultures to our football club. And I hope that at the right time he’s telling me that he’s enjoying it and wants to stay, and then we will talk about his situation. “At this moment, because he’s had one man of the match, he doesn’t just get a new five-year deal. I saw it as Mowbray sounding flippant making reference to a five year deal because he got man of the match. If I was Rodwell and saw the above I would question whether or not I would be better off elsewhere.

You could argue the same about Mulgrews injury record and Lenihan missed half of last season and several games this season as has Williams. I just think that we need to tie him down or potentially spend a lot of money to bring in a centre half not nearly as good. In all honesty the article comes across as flippant from Mowbray.

I am irked by Mowbray's comments about not offering Rodwell a new deal yet and he has 'laughed' off interest from Livorno. He is arguably our best centre half (and midfielder) and oozes class but the other three have all been given contract extensions with nothing for Rodwell yet. I'm afraid that Rodwell will start to look elsewhere and we will lose some real quality. Players like Rodwell on a free transfer don't come around too often.

Oh dear. Never mind, Sky will have him back as an 'expert' to go into their stable of failed managers or the ones that didn't have the bottle to at least try it. And on big bucks too.

Old news that Scott Wharton has joined Bury but he could make his debut on Saturday. By a strange quirk of fate the game is against Lincoln and it's on Sky at 5.30.

At Feyenoord we were kept back for ages. After about twenty minutes the Rovers players came out for a warm down. Tugay was soon lagging behind as they lapped the pitch and as they came round to where we were I noticed his headphones and he was listening to his iPod. I can't think of many players who have played for Hughes who could have got away with that. In a business where the word 'legend' is totally overused I can't think of any Rovers player more deserving.

That's why I said 'I think'. That is my opinion. We have first year professionals on more than £50k pa.

I think he will be on around £4k a week. He was on a professional contract when he joined from Liverpool and as such will have been on decent money.

Mowbray had said that based on what he has seen in training not in an actual game. And then he sends him out on loan again. I just don't see him improving the quality of the squad and it will cost perhaps £200k in wages.

Norwich are at Leeds on February 2nd. The sales of blood pressure tablets in Leeds should spike in the days before. And if Leeds are deducted points and don't go up every Anger Management course in West Yorkshire will be fully booked.

Memo to Mog the Smog. There's a star man running down the right, His name is Adam Armstrong and on the left he's shite.

That's not fair at all. They sing about Bertie Bee saying something to Bill Shankly and then "we are the Longside, Burnley" ad nauseam. Perhaps we should sing about Rover the Dog ?.

It's a song that's catchy with a bit of license with the words to make it rhyme. By the way was there ever that promised riot when Jordan Rhodes was sold or does Danny Graham really score when he wants? And as for King Kenny's magic hat.............. ?

I was going to mention his overall performance at MK which I thought was his best in a Rovers shirt. He was almost unplayable in the first half and scored twice.

The elephant will always be in the room whilst their name is above the door but they are rarely mentioned by any Rovers fans I go to the games with or people I speak to about Rovers. It's almost a case of out of sight out of mind. Hopefully you can get to a game and see for yourself.

I think the same pretty much every game. Pace is undoubtedly his asset but he/other players don't use it enough. Bennett's ball was a peach which got him in behind for the second. One school of thought is that he is far stronger on the right which I agree with.

I thought it was Lenihans fault. Smallwood was in front of him but he got himself into the wrong position trying to win a ball he couldn't leaving a gaping hole in the middle. It wasn't dissimilar to the Newcastle goal on Tuesday when he almost clattered Bell in his desire to win a header, missed the ball and let them in.

Despite another generally poor game the result keeps a little run going with another clean sheet. I thought Ipswich were awful and only when they were behind did they show any real ambition. There are lots of good things going for us at the moment but there are also lots where we can improve. If Lenihan can be convinced he doesn't have to win every ball he can go on to bigger and better things. Rodwell alongside him was very good and his reading of the game is up there with Mulgrews. Both full backs were better in the second half although to be fair most of the team were. I'm happy with results at the moment as that is the most important thing but for the purists the last two games must have been purgatory. Onwards and hopefully upwards.

I have seen a few of his videos and the lad is articulate and completely inoffensive. On the face of it there does seem to be a pettiness about it which comes as no real surprise to me. Hopefully the lad retains his enthusiasm for Rovers and it doesn't deter him from going to the games.