Fair enough, I suppose the only person who genuinely knows if what Tony Mowbray said about being a "performance based manager" was sinister gloating about his job security or desperate nonsensical excuses attempting to justify incompetence is Tony Mowbray himself.

He talks rubbish but I tend to avoid his interviews nowadays, the ramblings of a failing manager. The issues are those that lead to the aforementioned failings, tactical issues, recruitment issues, man management issues, selection issues, whatever they are. The interviews are a by-product of these failings, equally when we was doing ok a few years ago and everyone was saying how refreshing his interviews were, I didnt get too excited either. Actions speak louder than words. I don't see him as some sort of manipulative con-man. He is just a failing manager tying himself in knots trying to keep the fans on side. No I agree, hence why a failing manager is merely a horrible symptom of negligent owners. But I meant more in answering more awkward questions after repeatedly poor results from journalists. I do think that results matter to Mowbray, no matter what (slightly out of context) he says in his interviews as he tries desperately to answer questions in interviews to cover his failings. Stuff about being a performance manager, its meaningless twaddle to desperately try and get people to persevere without judging him. The results are proof that he is failing. I am very keen to say going back to my initial point that I do not judge people on their attendance or non-attendance. Nor should anyone. I appreciate that everyone has their own financial issues, their own personal circumstances and indeed varying desperation/desire to attend games at any point. I have had a season ticket since 2000, but I have always been of the opinion that the responsibility regarding attendances lies solely with the club, for example after the Oxford game when many said "where are these people the rest of the time?" that I rejected that notion and instead was annoyed at the club and Waggott's incompetence in getting sales up the following season. I just was trying to understand why recycled interview quotes are the final straw, we are clearly going backwards on the pitch which is reason enough for anyone not to attend should they choose. I am just skeptical that these quotes really are the straw that broke the camels back. Although even if they are, fair play.

Just dont get how in that all of those other reasons are so major, that his interviews can be the final draw, these soundbites are often recycled by the Lancashire Telegraph and can be taken out of context or misinterpreted. Do we really think he doesnt care about results or that he doesnt check the league table? Of course he does, but hes doing a poor job so especially when he is asked more difficult questions, like anyone who would defend their incompetence, he spouts nonsense or tries to bring down expectations.

Out of interest, why are recycled soundbites the deciding factor in whether you attend? I dont get why people get so worked up about the nonsense he says. Its usual self preservation bullshit, he obviously doesnt really see results as an irrelevance and he is going to make excuses up. And thats not me questioning anyones support, I am the first to say that the onus is on the club to increase supporters, whether it is by results/recruitment/management on the pitch or things such as pricing. But I dont get why his interviews are the thing that causes so much anger. If you was to say that you arent attending because you dont rate the manager, you dont like the results, you dont like the owners, the prices are too high, the best players may be sold, the team is going backwards, I would understand any of those, and agree even though I am still going very much in spite of these reasons. But his interviews dont really bother me personally so just trying to gauge where I am going wrong.

In the Tony Mowbray thread?

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/blackburn-rovers-goalkeepers-loan-move-24392062.amp Our transfer embargo causing issues.

I meant that we will not replace him with an individual that will get such an impressive tally. The idea of buying half a team with the proceeds is a nice one in theory but not only very difficult, based on our previous recruitment, it is unrealistic under the current manager. We are stronger with Armstrong than without him.

If a players ability is defined by his price tag then there is no such thing is being over or under priced. I agree that tournament involvement can swell a players price, often unreasonably, how many players have got big money moves on the back of tournaments and failed to justify their price tags? Maybe if Brereton continues to do well and artificially inflate his price tag at Copa America, now would be the best time to sell him? I didnt watch the entirety of both games but I watched the first half of the Uruguay game and a chunk of the Bolivia one, in general he looked at times a little lost but his skillset is so unfamiliar compared to the rest of the technical players that surrounded him that he undoubtedly was a threat. I totally appreciate that a player as young as Brereton can improve, for 2 years there was no glimmers of potential, this last season he contributed without being anything great but there was improvement and I dont doubt that he can continue to. Your comments about my supposed views of Mount are out of context, I certainly have never said that Mount isnt that good but in my opinion it has been this season that his game has gone onto the next level and he has justified a regular spot at Chelsea ahead of a few very capable alternatives. I even said that I would have selected him in the first 2 games of this tournament over Grealish. My point on Rice is that he is not a top midfielder in my opinion, not one of Europe's elite and against the best midfielders, he is incredibly limited. I have seen him linked with Chelsea for 90m, I would find that very strange and he isnt a patch on Kante and Jorginho. I suppose the fact that he is English, proven in the Premier League and presumably on a long contract all inflate his fee. He is obviously a decent midfielder but I dont think he is anything special. I agree that obviously Armstrong isnt the only player in world football that could score goals. I said that in all likelihood, if Armstrong moves on, his replacement will not get 28 goals in a season (or even close to, that is such an impressive tally) therefore we will be weaker without him, hardly a controversial viewpoint.

People make illogical signings after international tournaments, maybe he will never be more valuable and we can trick someone, perhaps Bielsa is not quite so gullible however.

People are getting carried away with the novelty of the Copa America. He is still nowhere near getting half way to justifying his fee. He has had 2 horrendous seasons and one ok one, plus a goal v a very poor national team. Ultimately though, the whinging will presumably continue at the manager because he is holding us back, so I can understand it. Its the elephant in the room, we cant pretend all is hunky dory.

Why even if the offer was pay as you play (a contract with zero basic wage would be totally unrealistic, if he doesnt play who is paying his mortgage?!) or cheap would it be even worth considering? Whether it is for 46 games or 5 games, he is nowhere near good enough. He is a total liability, not up to standard and a guaranteed penalty conceded every other game. Even if it was cheap, why would we actively choose to sign players not capable of playing at this level? Simply being cheap is not enough, I would play for cheap but I wouldnt be up to it either. We know that under Venkys we take ages to get our arses into gear every summer. If Bell and/or Bennett were kept on, it would be one more body, and thus one less player needed. So of course it is linked.

Chaddy is very much slowly reverting back to an all is well mentality, and his stance on Mowbray has massively relaxed. That being said, the statement I have put in bold is not true, not quite. Kean? Coyle? There are worse out there, although that in no way should halt his departure. My answer to your hypothetical question would likely be Keane, although that is very much more of an indictment on Mowbray. Keane should not be in the running for our next manager.

Its just silly season transfer gossip. Lets not get carried away by his Copa America exploits, where he admittedly scored a nice goal against a very lowly ranked nation, playing from the same position that he has played throughout the season from the left. Admittedly he was more central v Uruguay. Mowbray shouldnt have spent anywhere near 7m on him, but lets not make Brereton out to be a grossly underappreciated skilful talent. He has had an average season off the back of 2 abysmal ones.

Lets be honest, mid table Premier League side Leeds are not going to buy Ben Brereton.

Legend is a laughable description in any context, and from the players, meaningless. He is clearly a pleasant bloke, but they aren't going to message him saying "good riddance" anyway are they? But thats beside the point. Do you agree with the clubs choice and in particular Mowbray's choice to offer Bennett a chance to stick around? And are you still of the opinion that Mowbray needs to be sacked? Do you think that Mowbray was correct to offer Bennett the chance to stick around?

Downing said that he "agreed a contract pretty much straight away" after the previous season and was only told at the start of pre-season that the previously agreed contract had been removed. I know that you aren't Downing's biggest fan but I am not sure how you have dreamt up this scenario that Downing was using us to get a better deal elsewhere. We know what Venkys are like and to be honest it sounds like theyve pulled the rug from under Mowbray prior to concluding the deal, by moving the financial goalposts. Downing was excellent in his first season, but he had to be signed straight away if at all. There is no way especially at his age that he should have been made to wait until November, any player by that time would have struggled to get going. The main issues that show Mowbray up are seemingly his terrible man management skills. To not communicate with Downing either as soon as the deal was revoked, or indeed when he was wondering why he was on and off the bench, never starting is really poor. Plus his attempts at presumably trying to keep everyone happy by rotating the bench seemingly are doing nothing of the sort.

If that first paragraph was the case, then why did we not release him straight away? You dont have to justify everything that the club does. It is not the first time that sub par players have been given either a new deal or at least an olive branch should nothing else come off for them. We arent a charity, we are pissing money yet Mowbray still isnt ruthless enough to release shit players.

Agree with the first 3, the first 2 are totally irrelevant and the third doesnt necessarily equate to being a good manager.

We shouldnt be offering them roles at all. From the sound of it, Bell wasnt offered a new deal although he was in the previous 2 summers. Bennett shouldnt have been offered a deal. Conway shouldnt have been offered a new deal. Downing was given one with no intention of playing him. We just piss away money on sub par players as our manager is a soft touch.

Being a good pundit and a good manager are different skillsets.

They may be. But agreeing and promising a verbal contract only to withdraw it months later without prior warning is not professional, yet is in keeping with the sort of nonsense throughout Venkys' tenure. Also the manager leaving players not starting in the dark is not very good man management. Sub rotation makes no sense either, players should be played on merit.

Has Gallagher even not had an "easy ride" to be fair. I do specifically recall a song of "why the fucks he on the wing?" but that was very much aimed at Mowbray.

Totally agree that he has never been made a scapegoat. He looked so out of his depth for 2 years, that criticism on here is par for the course, we come on here to praise good performers and criticise poor ones, somewhere where players dont (or shouldnt) see. But that never materialised into rounding up on him in stadiums as many would love us to believe. There is no way that he is close to being value for 6m though yet. He had a decent season last season, 7 goals and 5 assists is plenty to build on and such an upgrade on previous seasons but not worth 6/7m. It is easy to get caught up in Chile fever especially after his goal but that was against a Bolivia side ranked 81st in the world, below Panama, Syria and Oman. Lovely pass in the build up to Vargas' goal yesterday too to be fair against a good standard of team. But his Copa America exploits whilst of course we are happy to see him enjoying himself dont make much difference to his value.

Just so people are aware, if they chose to criticise a player who seemed unfamiliar with a football pitch for 2 years, then they shouldnt be happy and praising that player now when he makes big strides of improvement. They must stick to that opinion and continue to berate. Also, the myth that hes been getting such a hard time from the stands is rearing its ugly head again.

An interview that doesnt reflect well on how the club is run at home nor the manager. We know that the club is not all on the same page from the owners down. Downing was offered a deal towards the end of the season before last, which was then revoked. We then only went back to him after covid and injury issues, and he was kept in the dark as to why he wasnt playing, and was further aggravating by the rotation of subs rather than subs being picked on merit.