Dack will surely start next season, but we likely need more than one midfielder coming in, especially as with Buckley yet to prove his ability (or even any managers desire to even try him there) to play deeper every week and Edun looking pretty hopeless, there is not much there without Rothwell, Johnson and the lesser spotted Davenport all off. We can't just blindly cover spots by saying to use the under 23s either, the likes of Wharton and Garrett are total novices so we cannot place any dependence on them, I think in general we need more experience. If those 2 or anyone else makes an unexpected breakthrough then great, but if its a case of assuming that they can cover, its a crazy risk.

It's never particularly accurate to directly compare 2 managers and their win percentages, there are too many different factors to make that worthwhile, different budgets/circumstances at different teams, temporarily being in different leagues, being sacked early in poor seasons as to not further deplete your win percentage etc.

Why out of interest, is that because they were all good English midfielders from a similar era? For what its worth, I am yet to be totally convinced by either Gerrard or Lampard. Gerrard is definitely the better of the 2, did well in Europe and got Rangers a first title in 10 years but that was partially a culmination of resources finally allowing them to compete with an off colour Celtic, plus he only won that one trophy in the whole time and has started poorly at Villa. Lampard did nothing special at Derby despite having a series of loan players well above the level, before underwhelming at Chelsea and having an average start at Everton.

Again, obviously he was gutted but hes not going to come out and say as such post match in the way you imply. He was presumably trying to keep the players heads up, the usual spiel about putting the point in the bag rather than inciting panic.

That results comment he made was quite clearly him trying desperately to underplay that we had lost a few games on the bounce at the time by trying to deflect. He quite clearly doesnt think that results are not important.

We don't have a managerial vacancy chaddy, until a press release is on the official website outlining that Mowbray is to leave the football club. Incredible that anyone pays notice to a word he says. "Would imagine" keeping it as vague as possible, and just naming a series of well known managers whilst adding a couple of unnamed mystery extras to keep to his own narrative of a 6 man shortlist. He himself admits that the club doesn't know what it wants yet Nixon seemingly must be ahead of the curve.

No it isnt! A decision such as the announcement of the departure of the manager will come from the very top, Waggott doesnt have the authority to be putting out such a statement. He said to Mobwray to expect a call from Venkys this week, why has that not already happened?! I couldnt give a shit what bollocks Nixon is spouting, even he doesnt seem to think that we are interviewing anyone. There isnt a vacancy at the moment, surely even the communication that there is would speed up the process. The fact that you have faith that Venkys have a plan is absolutely crazy after the last 12 years. You are focusing on such a small issue in the grand scheme of things, one of Mowbray's pre match interviews. The massive and much more serious issue is the lack of clarity from the owners on a continious basis. How are you even so sure that Venkys were waiting to see where we finished, and even if they were surely they should have said far earlier that his future depends on results. It feels like Mowbray out of pure frustration at a total lack of communication has possibly said enough to make it very difficult to go back, but it shouldnt come to that. Regarding funding, there is absolutely zero sign of a plan from the very top. The initial spending was hardly wild but it could in theory have led to a process of selling at a profit and buying new players "to shine up." As it was, it suddenly came to a halt whereby when a player actually was developed and sold at huge profit, none of it was reinvested. I have repeatedly argued with you and others about this whereby this assumption seems to have been made that it is only FFP that has stopped them, a theory further disproved by their refusal to re lay the pitch on financial grounds.

If those figures are correct, then finishes of 11th, 15th and 8th across these 3 seasons are hardly catastrophic. Mediocre/ok as I have repeatedly inferred. Not the "worst pound for pound manager in the clubs history" or some of the other crap I have seen. I am looking forward to seeing a considerable reinvestment of the Brereton funds this summer with the FFP pressure being eased having previously apparently been the main reason for a lack of further investment.

For some reason despite the last 12 years, you seem to see no issue with a repeated lack of clarity from the owners who still cant be arsed to communicate their intentions, and not only that, you are deluded into thinking that we have already started to undergo an efficient management push. What exactly has caused you to be so sure regarding the below? "Cos it is happening. You make not want to be believe it but it is starting to happen." And why would I not want to believe it? I want him out as much as you. He should have been told that it would wait until the end of the season. There is never any clarity, even now when his departure should have been announced. You are as bad at any as putting all the blame on Mowbray, if he was to get a new deal I have no doubt that your sole focus would be on the "manipulative old bastard" in the dugout rather than anyone in India.

Probably more of a stretch to describe 8th as mid table. The last 4 seasons average out at 12.25, so couldn't be much more mid-table.

When did Rankin Costello play week after week with a RB sat on the bench? I showed the other day, Nyambe has not been selected 4 times now out of choice, one to play Zeefuik v Forest, one to play a team that won 4-1, one in the following game to keep faith with a winning team and at the weekend when nobody played that wasnt contracted for next season. Johnson was false 9 in one half of a game that we won, Lenihan played as a right back in a 4-1 win, and Buckley as a false 9 was certainly persisted with for too long 100% but many seem to have forgotten that he starred there throughout our winning run. But in general, amidst a season whereby we have progressed overall, the way our season has unfolded means that undoubtedly we need to change the manager. But my point is not to do with judging Mowbray's overall performance, I keep saying that he needs replacing. It's the way the club is run which is as you concede the main issue, even still we are waiting for clarity. Yet the focus is still on Mowbray, what he is saying etc, I get the feeling that if he did sign on, much of the wrath would go towards him even still and not at the root cause of all of these issues. Can't argue with that.

4 mid table finishes with a slightly below average Championship wage budget suggest that he has done a pretty reasonable job, even if it is time for a change.

I don't think the balance is right on here between the focus on Mowbray and the focus on Venkys. Mowbray is just what he is, a decent Championship manager who has done a decent job here trying to do what he needs to to retain decent employment either here or elsewhere. It shouldn't be here, but if it is, then that is solely on Venkys, not Mowbray as some "devious old bastard" managing to flummox Venkys despite their keen interest and strong passion for the club! The fundamental issues are all things that Venkys are to be blamed for. The focus today is on Mowbray saying that he would have signed in January had he been offered, why was (like every other manager) he kept totally in the dark, that is the main issue? Why have they still not clarified the situation publically? And how do people genuinely believe that we are amidst the process of finding a new manager, shortlists, interviews, links from two bob journalists, no chance.

Worth putting on here. A summer of scraping the barrel again despite a big sale?

So you hadnt at the time of arguing so profusely that he should be 2nd choice RB? Every time he plays he wont have that caveat of "hes new to the Championship." Hes a total unknown aside from one game in which I was there at and thought he struggled in. Even if the decision was made that he is good enough to cover a first choice which would be IMO premature, will it be good for his development to play a few games and spent most of his season sat on the sideline when hes now 23/24 and all of his prior football has come in the Irish league?

Did you watch the game? Did you not think that Birmingham got in a few times behind him and saw him as a weakness.

How on earth is that stock piling players?! I wouldnt use him as my back up right back because based on the very limited professional game time hes had of 1 game (did you go/watch the game in full?) coupled with the very fact that he has such limited experience in the first place, I wouldnt feel comfortable trusting him over a period of time should he be needed. I also think as ive said that it would be better for him at his age and with his lack of senior experience to go out and get 40 games under his belt in League 1 or 2 rather than playing here and there as back up.

That was not the same position as he was more advanced and had Smallwood and Evans behind him that day.

Yesterday I didnt see a perfomance from Brown that gave me confidence that he is at the moment a Championship standard player. But even if he had, considering his age and the fact that he has only ever played at a very low level, that playing week in week out in the English leagues would be beneficial anyway.

I am saying that Rothwell's best season has come in a deeper role.

It's probably a role in which we will need to look at the market, even if its a freebie on low wages. Rankin Costello is crap and Brown is a rookie. Assuming we didn't and even if both of the aforementioned players stayed, the 2nd choice should anything happen to Nyambe/his replacement would be to move Carter.

It is dangerous to just starting listing kids as part of the potential squad. As mentioned on another thread, for me Brown and indeed Vale need loan spells next season. The likes of A.Wharton, Phillips, Batty, Cirino etc are all total rookies, if any break through next season it should be seen as a bonus, not an expectation.

The narrative around Buckley has been that Mowbray has wasted him in the false 9 role and it was persevered with for too long but it is also easy to forget that the best couple of months in his career came from that position. Assuming that Dack starts the season, it will be interesting to see how (and if) we can get them both in the team together. The common consensus seems to be that Buckley can go next to Travis but that is a whole different role and there would be question marks over whether he would adapt successfully.

The above quotes are not in any way out of order or further proof of any anti-Nyambe agenda from Mowbray. He does point out valid areas in which he needs to improve but he also literally says that he loves him and worries about him if he moves away from Rovers.

I am surprised to have seen such a positive reaction to Brown's performance yesterday, for me he was a serious weakness and Birmingham got plenty of joy down his side. It defies all logic in my opinion to have him lurking around the fringes next season as a squad player. He especially at the age he is seems desperate for a season in League 1 (ideally) or League 2, playing regular professional League football to see what he is made of.