Poor performance but the result is indeed the important part so tonight, job done, any miniscule chance of relegation now gone, but obviously its results as to why we need to change the manager. Thought the midfield 3 was appalling, Holtby again is miles off the pace, as was Johnson, if either of the pair get a new deal it would be a joke. Travis was really poor too. Rothwell was an improvement when he came on. Gallagher was naturally like a fish up a tree again on the wing, repeatedly clumsily knocking the ball out of play or back to Derby, but a fantastic header for the goal. Elliott was ineffective for most of the game but got the winner after a lovely bit of skill, you cant argue with that contribution really. Armstrong was a big threat and gets so many chances (none of which tonight he was selfish in shooting with) because of his pace and his anticipation, which separates him from most, but even allowing for a superb performance by Marshall, his finishing really let him down tonight and he should really have had a couple of goals to his name. Defensively, Harwood Bellis was very good, Branthwaite less so, I think Nyambe defensively was caught out numerous times and has not impressed recently, Douglas I thought was ok and a great delivery for the first goal. Kaminski in goal made a couple of superb saves, although possibly could have palmed Lawrence's free kick further away which led to them hitting the post. I thought Derby were the better team overall really, we were appalling in the first half and Shinnie ran the game, whilst Roberts, Jozwiak and Lawrence all looked a real threat. We improved second half and the game was more even although we clung on in the end with Kazim looking dangerous.

I want Mowbray out just as much as you, I just dont think that the next 5 results will make a difference either way.

That implies that Mowbray has ever been 1 game away from the door, something to which there is no evidence or even suggestion of, especially when the owners dont seem interested. Win, draw or lose, todays result in isolation will make no difference to his future.

Do you think that Mowbrays future hinges on whether he picks up a few points in the last few games? Doesnt make any sense hoping specifically for draws/losses or for an end to the season whereby our issues continue. He should have long since been sacked, we are already sure to pick up less points than last season, but Venkys clearly dont have the interest in the club to act logically otherwise he would be gone by now. Dont kid yourself into thinking that if he is here next season, as I would probably expect, then its because of a win or 2 in these last 5 games.

Im sure the owners were backwards like they have remained and will continue to remain, but Lambert as you touch on is the king of PR. Any manager will have a plan, it doesnt warrant praise until it is proven by results to be successful. He has done various terrible jobs in recent years and still at times has spun things to avoid any blame coming back to himself until it is too late.

Yeah, there is no logic to implying that Venkys are well within their rights to withhold finance due to not trusting the manager. If that was the case, anyone else would have sacked him. Mowbray is out of his depth but there is no justification for the backwards and negligent ways in which the owners work either.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19236536.tony-mowbray-wary-last-resort-rovers-contract-talks/ Seems like the twats over in India have turned the taps off from the sounds of it. You would think considering that all you need to do is ask and they write a cheque that all of these would be sorted by now... Players like Rothwell and Rankin Costello I cant say would cause me any real worry should they depart, but if the club/manager wants them, surely it makes more financial sense to protect them as assets. The shell of a squad that will be left is a sad reflection on a manager that is losing the plot too. Squad value my arse. Suspect that a few senior players who dont warrant new deals will be given one to reflect his lack of ruthlessness.

No sadly.

If Venkys cared enough to judge Mowbray on his performance then he would have already gone. As it is, he wont be judged dependant on whether we win the last few, lose the last few, finish 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, Venkys wont even know what the scores are, so nothing can be gained from us losing any games.

I was indeed, hes an awful manager.

What utter rubbish. For a start, Sparks' comment was clearly tongue in cheek. I merely questioned whether Crewes poor goals against tally in League 1 is a potential worry ahead of him making the step up to the Championship. I personally did so very much from a neutral stand point, I have absolutely no opinion on the player because I havent seen him play. I didnt in any way put any blame on Pickering nor has anyone, its a very valid question. My main 2 questions are based on anyone making the vast step up from League 1, a perfect example would be with Hayden Carter, he was so out of his depth last season when he played yet he seems to have done everything possible to impress in League 1 and has had as good a loan spell as you could wish to have, but id still be skeptical that he could replicate that form at Championship level. Its a big gap, League 1 as we all know is a very poor standard. Secondly, the majority of the data was showing of how good he is going forward. Also, watching a players clips is still not the same as watching him in full. I would suggest that you more than anyone has a firm opinion on the player yet none of us have watched the player fully to be in a really good position to predict with much accuracy either way. Being our best left back in a while is not an honour. Lets hope your optimism is justified and he comes in next season and impresses, Crewe fans from what I have read seem to rate him.

Too lightweight as a 3 that, no balance.

A junior, cliche mad and out of his depth journalist making an article as characteristically vague as ever in cobbling together a set of easy assumptions. Nothing to see here.

Lambert?!

How would an xG table use that information? Is it literally whichever is higher making draws nigh on impossible or is it rounded?

Exactly. Although I suppose you could argue that last ditch challenges would indicate proneness to be found out of position anyway and indeed a good defensive full back would excel by being steady and reading the game well which wouldnt make for a good highlights reel. But as good as it is to see him whipping in great crosses and free kicks in, Mulgrew got 10 goals in our first season back and the majority were losses or at best draws, they arent a defenders bread and butter.

To be fair, especially with Bell, its not a high benchmark to set! Lets hope you are right, do you think he will be a good Championship defender from the first day? One who will increase our chances of clean sheets? Have you seen many full games in which he has played out of interest or is this based solely on data and highlight reels?

Its a case in point of something ive seen more than once, the continuation of an argument (in this case the twitter account admitted recently that Mowbray needs to go so its not even a point he agrees with himself) simply to back up and champion the use of data. xG is an inherently flawed system that implies that it can be expected that over time, over and underperforming in the actual league table v the xG table will revert to the mean but that simply isnt true, it implies that all teams are equally clinical for one. Brighton would be in the Champions League if it meant anything, we would be in the play offs and Swansea would be in mid table.

Because you have again taken a conclusion from me that I quite clearly havent said. I have not in any way blamed Pickering for any of the goals on Saturday, I havent seen them or any of him in general hence I dont have an opinion on the player.

I havent at any point said that Pickering wont be good enough, cant defend, was at fault for anything and I dont have an opinion on the player as presumably like you I have never seen him play. I merely flagged up how his team are currently doing as part of a transfer thread in which Pickering is the only definite signing.

It shouldnt be down to fans to make the effort to these pig ignorant bell ends based on assumptions and guesses as to how exactly they work. They clearly dont give a shit what we think and sadly that will never change. Not sure why Pasha is suddenly seen as the key.

Its all a matter of opinions I suppose but I would disagree. I think people take when I say this as a defence of Mowbray and his underachievement but I think his recruitment has been poor. Armstrong is the third top scorer in the league so little doubt for me that he can be considered a top 6 player. Dack also would be for me but unfortunately has been injured all season bar being the catalyst for that win at Millwall. Beyond that, not so much. Elliott scores and assists plenty so maybe a case could be made for him. I personally dont think that Travis would get into any top 6 sides. Brereton even at his best was little more than ok, a couple of good performances but it was based on such a low benchmark, nothing close to a top 6 player. Rothwell has attributes but again nowhere near, same with a few including Gallagher, they not only havent done it here, they havent done it prior, Rothwell wasnt really making that much of a name at Oxford. Holtby lives off a reputation from 10 years ago, fact of the matter is that he came after being released from the German second tier, cant stay fit and even when he can, more often than not ineffective, Evans hasnt done it for 10 years. Lenihan is our most influential defender over a couple of seasons now but still rather rash, Nyambe has attributes and has been one of our better players but even he isnt top 6, Kaminski is (usually) steady but again, top 6? So many question marks. I am not ruling out that one or two of them might suddenly start performing consistently with a new manager, and I dont doubt that we are better than a side that should be 17th.

Of course, we can only hope really that he can make the step up I suppose, its a big leap from League 1 mediocrity and all the data showed off how good he was going forward but I just hope that he is a good defender first and foremost. He seems highly rated but you even look at Carter who seems to have excelled in a team keeping clean sheets and as recently as last season he looked out of his depth for us so its very much a wait and see job. Im not sure many League 1 players can make the step up, when we was in League 1 I didnt tend to find that teams had a couple of stand out players, it was all much of a muchness.

It seems to be commonly accepted theory especially based on the data that we have pulled off a brilliant signing with Harry Pickering and that he will be a huge upgrade when he comes in next season. Obviously im not saying that isnt the case but should we be worried that Crewe have conceded quite a few goals and got walloped 6 nil on Saturday? A lot of the flagged up data was to do with his crossing and his technical ability.

I would disagree, only 1 or 2 I would consider to be top 6 players. Certainly it could finish higher than 17th mind you.