As long as any striker could play within the current system then yes. Someone like Brereton, like Armstrong, someone with pace rather than a lump, then yes we could have done with someone.

I said numerous times that I felt that we needed an attacker who can offer us a genuine goal threat who could play as a wide striker, the second part is key.

Its clear that even if he got us promoted, to some people it would still remain in spite of him.

Such an opinion is so one sided because it doesnt credit Mowbray for his ability to get us right in contention. This season, he very much has not been that knife in our pocket.

Have they been quoted saying that they heard boos, which would imply that they have taken it personally? When a team is losing, you often get a spontaneous few boos, was ever thus, its just an overspill of frustration often aimed at officials, I dont even remember any real boos at half time yesterday so any would have been minor. The overall support as ever throughout the game was there and it rankles when those not at the stadium imply that the backing wasnt there from those who did make the effort on a cold night to back the team. But you have gone off on a tangent anyway, your initial example of a lack of backing was people saying on an online messageboard that they would change manager. I agree that it would be totally illogical but equally it isnt a lack of backing to give any opinion on a messageboard.

It doesn't suit Giles being one of the wide forwards that we play, I thought that he became much more influential on Saturday when he went back to wing back (where he impressed so much at Cardiff) to be able to deliver from deeper positions and get up and down. Last night he was quiet although I put that down to the very impressive Djed Spence.

Totally agree that sacking him now would be absolutely braindead but I don't see why that comes down to anyone not being behind the team. The only thing that matters is that the fans are with the team in full support in the stadium and they certainly are. People suggesting that the manager should be replaced does not come down to getting behind anyone.

I am not convinced that it suits Giles playing so high up, I felt like he came into his own on Saturday when he went back to wing back whipping crosses in. Like I said, I wouldn't move away from a back 3 yet but a 4231 with Giles down the left, perhaps Hedges as a number 10 and Dolan on the right behind Brereton with Rothwell and Travis deeper could work. He needs to play at least 3 games for the under 23s before being signed off by the physio. I totally get the desperation to get Dack back, he is our best player, but we do need to be careful not to rush him and be without him for ages again.

I think I would probably stick with the back 3 for now for as long as we have 3 available centre backs, but if we was to lose one more, then I think that would be the time where we have to abandon that system and go to a back 4. One thing that a back 4 could potentially do however is get Pickering and Giles in the same team.

Magloire is not at the club anymore. I suspect that if we continued with a back 3 and someone got injured on Monday, then Johnson would go into the back 3 as he has done before. Failing that, at a push Nyambe.

Rooney claims to have turned down interest from his boyhood club in the Premier League to finish what he started at Derby. We are third in the league. We are where we are because of Mowbray. 3rd in the bloody league.

When did he say this?

Big selection call for a game we really need to win. Do we stick with the formation that was the catalyst for our run or try and switch things, maybe going with a 4-4-2 with Giles left and Dolan right with Gallagher and Brereton up top? Nyambe has to come in, he shouldn't have been dropped, Zeefuik hasn't looked very good. Pickering for me would start if fit. The false 9 role (Buckley had been good there prior, so the idea that Mowbray is an idiot for playing him there is nonsensical) is a key one if we stick with the formation, Buckley does deserve dropping and Dack isn't yet fit, do we play Dolan or Hedges there? And would they be that third midfield man in the same way that Buckley is? Also, Lenihan being missing may upset the balance. Kaminski Van Hecke Ayala Wharton Nyambe Travis Rothwell Pickering Gallagher Dolan Brereton Subs: Pears, Giles, Zeefuik, Hedges, Khadra, Buckley, Johnson

There was only a bid for one of them, and the manager was willing to consider selling him and reinvesting the proceeds on 2 or 3 signings to help in the short and long term but was not given the autonomy to do that. From the side that started last night, 6 players are only here for this season, so it is a massive assumption to suggest that Nyambe was dropped due to his contractual situation.

Lets hope we win a critical game in our promotion hopes, never mind to sign off an amateur journalist with a win!

I don't think that Rothwell has ever suggested in his career that he is likely to become a regular goalscorer. His goal record is not really hindered this season by the move and if anything he has been more likely to assist someone else.

Rothwell has had by far his most productive season from a deeper role. And Buckley rarely if ever takes set pieces.

Its probably better to play them at the end when the league has taken more shape and many of those opponents may have nothing to play for, including Fulham.

Rothwell has played deeper all season. And like for like replacements simply werent at full fitness at the weekend nor at Luton.

Tough game and one where anything but a win will make a genuine top 2 push seem all the further away with other teams gathering games in hand. Hopefully we have a few more players available, I think the main decision is who to partner Brereton with, Khadra had been poor for a few games prior to injury, Hedges had a fairly quiet debut and Gallagher has his faults although if fit may benefit from Giles more than most. Buckley is not in the best form either and if Gallagher is available, then maybe having Hedges in that false 9 role would be worth a go, with it being critical to act as a third midfielder at times which Hedges could do whilst also offering a bigger goal threat. Kaminski Lenihan Van Hecke Wharton Nyambe Travis Rothwell Giles Gallagher Hedges Brereton Subs: Pears, Ayala, Zeefuik, Davenport, Johnson, Khadra, Buckley If Gallagher doesn't make it, then put Buckley in and move Hedges to the right. Johnson and Spence will be a big danger down their right/our left.

Nyambe as a wing back has been very good for the last 2 or 3 months.

Nyambe as a wing back has been a key element in the success of our new formation. Zeefuik has underwhelmed in his first 2 games, Nyambe created a few things down the right yesterday.

I would be surprised if he wasn't, with hopefully Brereton, Hedges, Khadra and Gallagher all available to play.

The problem is, we would have to sell it to someone that they will never start if they did, we would have to totally alter a formation that has got us to this position. Also Mowbray implied that any striker would have been on loan from the PL, so seemingly it would be impossible to get someone with the experience and know how that you mention from that market.

There are 2 different arguments here, once about the January window, and one about yesterdays selection. The first is the selection just based on who was available. One think I am sure of is that it couldn't be described as "tinkering." It is questioning how Mowbray has used very limited options based on unavailability of a number of players, most of which will imminently be available to start. Brereton had not since landed after a game at high altitude and was deemed not to be fit to start, when he came on he looked very sluggish, and Khadra had a hamstring injury and ducked out a couple of times when he was on, I am assuming that it was correct fitness wise that they couldn't start, I suppose that could be debating. But with the players left, I am not sure that there was another attacking player that could have meant us avoiding playing Giles further forward, which then had a domino effect of Zeefuik on the wrong side. The second part is the January window. You mention Butterworth, he can't play 20 minutes without blowing out of his arse, and he has never scored a senior goal, he also doesn't try hard enough, and seldom has any impact on games, even if he was available amidst a lack of alternatives, I would have been very reluctant to start him. He isn't up to it, so loaning him out isn't an issue. Signing another forward is more complex, for me it would make no sense not to sign someone who can fit into the way we currently play, so ideally someone with pace who can play on the counter attack, someone who could run the channels and someone with physicality who could score a goal. I did want another forward but if it was going to be a loanee, then I suppose it is very difficult to get someone with all of those qualities. Both are in training, not full training but Mowbray said that they were sprinting and kicking balls so hopefully very soon, they just needed signing off by the physios.