If Brereton has a strong work ethic, no ego, and wants to learn and improve and listen to others he'll make a go of it in the game. He has the physical attributes but does he have the mental toughness and really want to succeed as a footballer ?

Brilliant analysis by a Wednesday fan on their defensive failings at Ewood - can Mowbray sign him up to help our defensive woes ? Makes you realise how bad Wednesday were yesterday., yet we still managed to concede 2 goals https://www.owlstalk.co.uk/forums/topic/278560-we-have-a-serious-defensive-issue-sorry-its-a-long-one/?page=1

Intensity and desire - where was it at Wigan and Preston ? How do the players explain it ?

It';s hard for wingers as they get older. They don't have the zip or spring in their legs to get past defenders, and they get caught in possession more often. Every so often, though, they roll back the years and turn on the old magic and play like they used to - I've seen it many times over the decades, including Duggie and Waggie. Conway is unlikely to be able to replicate today's performance for some time, if ever at all. It was a great reminder of how he used to play though and old fashioned wing play - great to watch.

Important win today after the last 2 non-performances. Why can't they show passion like that every week? On the downside another 2 goals conceded. Mowbray would do better to spend money on a top defensive coach rather than new players next month

Mowbray's teams - don't you just love them? Always guaranteed to concede goals, even against poor opposition. Tony doesn't learn

Shame about the 2-1. Denise sends her thanks !

This is how Conway used to play a few years ago - proper old fashioned Scottish winger

Now then Tony, are we going to sit back and try to defend this lead for 25 minutes or are you going to do something positive ?

Now then Tony, are we going to sit back and invite trouble or keep the foot on the accelerator ?

Still looking good for the 1-1

Apart from Reed that's mainly the team that got us promoted - what does that say about his confidence in his summer signings ? This team has effectively not been upgraded since last season - it's no wonder it's starting to struggle.

1-1 for me too and Mercer to add another tenner to Denise Coates's hundreds of millions

The team so far has been mainly the one that won us promotion but has probably reached the end of the road and needs breaking up. This is a big test for Mowbray who now has to cast off his loyalties to players who have done well in the past, but are not quite good enough for this level, and manage the transition while getting good results. That will require him to show faith in the players he signed in the summer by playing them more regularly, and bringing in reinforcements in the January window. Everyone knows where are weak. A good manager would be able to do it. Can Mowbray ?

Most managers either get found out, run out of ideas and / or luck, or run out of money. All of them have a sell-by date - even Wenger. Mowbray lost 10 games in succession IIRC before he got the boot at Coventry. I'd hope our "management" would give him the heave-ho well before then.

This is probably the biggest crisis of Mowbray's time at Rovers. The team selection and tactics look increasingly questionable and worse, the players look disinterested and lacking fight and motivation. In addition, the defence is leaking goals at an alarming rate (always a problem with Mowbray's teams) and the manager seems unable to stop the rot. Mowbray has alot of goodwill among fans but that will soon evaporate if there are any more performances like the fiascos at Preston and Wigan.

Williams was awful in the relegation season. Managers aren't daft - many teams targeted him as a weakness in our defence. His frailties were hidden last season because of the poor opposition but his lack of pace and poor positional sense are being exposed again. He's just one of a number of problems though, not least in central defence. Can we have Duffy and Hanley back please?

Fans would be happier if I had held up his hands and admitted he made a mistake. It's this sort of nonsense that drives a wedge between fans and a manager and is often the prelude to a turn in sentiment against a manager and their eventual departure We're not anywhere near that stage with Mowbray but he's not helping himself by making such a statement "Honest" Tony is being dishonest

Will it be a bounce-back or another abject defeat ? Cook will have Wigan fired up so another opening period like today and it could be another mauling. No excuses - Mowbray has to get it right.

The team selection was mystifying but, just as important, the players weren't up for it from the start. They've had a long break so why weren't they ready and raring to go, like Preston? It's Mowbray's job to motivate them and get them in the right frame of mind but is he too "nice" with them, too much of a father figure they look up to rather a boss they fear? Everyone failed today, the manager and the players, but the responsibility for that farce of a performance rests with the manager.

Bigdogsteel posted a laughing emoticon on this but the team selection and Mowbray's negative mindset pointed to this debacle from the start. Mercer should have learnt by now you make more money betting on a Rovers defeat than victory. It's obvious Rovers aren't good enough to make the top 6 - which is disappointing because the division seems wide open. Lenihan needs to be replaced by a big strong centre half and we still need a quality left back. Wasting £7m on Brereton seems a mystery when there are glaring weaknesses in the team

Two of them play for Ireland - which doesn't count as international standard

You were warned but you thought it was funny

If fans can see it why can't the manager ? Silly team selection. Let 's hope for a comeback

So no centre forward and no one capable of holding up the ball or winning headers from crosses or clearances. Sounds like a backs-to-the-wall job for 90 minutes