roversfan99

I would equally agree that making sweeping statements the other way is not helpful either so no arguments there. Yesterday's game to me had huge parallels to the Derby game last season. The first half saw a side that not only individually had basically everyone off their game, but the whole set up was bizarre, the Bradley Johnson false 9 choice will forever be in folklore and whilst there was nothing that eye catching yesterday, the Dack up front/Szmodics wide right idea made no sense and was coupled with predictable tactics that suited a defender in Aden Flint who is generally poor and very slow but aerially very good. In the second half, logical drastic changes in personnel and shape were made against teams sitting on a one nil lead with the onus on us to attack, but without that many clear cut chances created. So often during the off season we heard about how Tomasson likes to play as if it was clear as day. A fluid front 4, interchange, passing, pressing, none of which I have seen much of so far. I actually have seen more signs that Tomasson's strengths lie in organisation rather than developing a side whose strengths lie going forward. Against QPR, we saw the game out comfortable and the Swansea game was a very good plan for a smash and grab against a predictable team.

If they were of the calibre of Neves, 30 cap international wanted by huge teams, Guedes, 32 caps and a big money move after a few good seasons at Valencia, Moutinho, 146 caps and glittering CV, Nunes, big money talent wanted by big teams before signing, Nelson Semedo, big money signing from Barcelona, Pedro Neto, brilliant talent wanted by Arsenal and also Sa and Podence, as well as previously having the likes of Jota to help them to become a top half Premier League side, I reckon I could stomach it.

A bit confused with the rumours today, seems like a case (both from the clubs and journalists) of throwing enough shit at the wall and hoping some sticks. In defence, hopefully we can Hyam unveiled ASAP because we need him for Wednesday night, and that Nixon's comments about it being reliant on a Brereton sale first are of his usual inaccuracy. Making a big play for another loanee of the Van Hecke/Van Den Berg calibre (assuming Hyam signs) would seem illogical considering how weak we are elsewhere and that we have limited resources and these loanees will expect game time, especially as both are proven to be good players at this level. If it is Hyam and one of those 2 then Van Den Berg would make more sense as he is able to also play at right back, and Carter would presumably go out on loan. With Brereton, he will be such a big loss as he is our only prolific goalscorer AND also our only competent player from the left side so that would need 2 replacements. Very disappointing to read that it will likely be a loanee, and if that means Brereton out and a loanee in, off the back of the lack of Armstrong reinvestment, it would be piss poor. If Hirst is that man, very underwhelming. If it was a permanent signing, maybe slightly more enticing. Also, with all of these potential loans, so 2 of our 3 last additions added to Morton, it doesn't fit with the constant "journey" narrative whereby people seem almost willing to write off a whole season...

I hate that when people raise genuine questions whether it be about players out of position, what the style is, where the goals will come from etc, that they are shot down by people who will not allow constructive debate about the manager if it involves and doubts or constructive criticisms. Is it not hard to see what he is trying to do? In 6 games we have taken the lead in 3 and managed the games really well from there, grinding them out with heart and organisation. In the 3 games that we have conceded in first, in the first 2 we were totally uncompetitive I think that questioning what the style actually is and whether it is evident at this early stage is valid rather than being shot down as intolerable impatience. I am bothered about the results but in terms of entertainment factor, there has been very little from the first 6 games. very few chances created, players struggling in positions that they aren't best suited to etc. I am questioning that I have yet to see the supposed style or even many if any small signs of the supposed style that so many have outlined in detail as to what Tomasson will play. You mention fitness. Would it not be a worry that Wharton, Gallagher, Brittain, Carter and Hedges have already all missed games due to injuries picked up in training?

Does he have any redeeming features that would make him useful out wide? I just think he isnt very good in general.

I think Brittain and Pickering don't overly concern me if they could play every minute but we are an injury away from having to use 2 very poor back ups as we saw today on the right. There are too many areas whereby an injury would cause a major issue, when Travis was down again it would have been such a blow with all of our other central midfielders being young and lightweight.

Agreed on Dacks position. There were lots more square pegs in square holes in the second half. We definitely showed more attacking threat but it was more a case of a team attacking against a team wanting to sit back and grind out a result and I dont think their keeper made many if any saves. Parallels to Derby at home last season, an abject first half with weird illogical tactics, 2 subs and a reshuffle to 4231 at half time and a change against a side sitting in, although that night we had more of a genuine threat.

I agree that winning is the only important thing, although that doesnt tie in to you criticising other managers because they are "boring." All about results. A mixed bag so far, 3 wins and 3 losses. I am just yet to see any signs that display the supposed attacking style that the manager is looking to implement. Fluidity, pressing, intensity, interchange, excitement all yet to be seen so far.

I understand the fact that it isnt overnight but its not really relevant to the question I asked.

A round of applause would be merited I would suggest.

We played well tactically but we didnt create much at Swansea and were ruthless with very few chances. Today in the second half we naturally were looking for a goal and did improve actually playing players in their correct position but we didnt create that many clear cut chances and it was more of a case of attack v defence rather than signs of the managers style. I have not seen many if any signs of the attacking style you claim Tomasson will play as of yet and there have been cases of him playing players in positions whereby they were ill suited and struggled. Hopefully it will start to piece together ASAP.

Do people think Mowbray would get a good reception here?

Have you found the tactics this season to be exciting? I dont see what he would offer even in an attacking role. He is slow, weak and technically poor.

He might be but if he wasnt best pleased, then he wouldnt say to the public that he wishes that he could get rid of Benson/Lowe etc either way. Dont be naive.

Where did I say that I expect instant success? I think its a fair point to question the way we want to play from an attacking sense especially considering how many times you have mentioned how he wants to play based on what he says. I think we have been lacking fluency and creativity across the first 6 games and I have seen a real lack of clarity in how we seem to want to go forward, with wins coming down more to occasional individual brilliance and dogged determination to hang on rather than signs of an attacking gameplan being carried out. There have been lots of occasions of players out of position struggling to impact games that would have led to much more criticism under previous management. I have not seen that fluidity in the final third, I have not seen much in the way of pressing and rarely have we looked like scoring. Obviously it is very early but it doesnt mean that we cant ask questions.

If they are apopletic with rage then they are massively overreacting. For a club in their position, Mowbray is a steady appointment. Could do better but could do much worse.

He isn't a left back.

Was it? If that was the plan, it was never evident.

From the interview on BBC Radio Lancashire, it didn't suggest that it could be more than 3.

It's easy to make out like he has left a wreckage but we have an asset about to be sold for £15m that he bought aswell as £10-15m from one of his signings last summer left unspent and a potential further £4m potential fee for Rothwell that the owners prevented. As ever, it is the owners to blame.

It's all on Venkys.

I think your opinion on Pickering has clouded your judgement somewhat. He was very steady again and also got forward a few times with crosses and interplay down the left.

Absolutely terrible result and now 3 losses in a row in the league and lots of worries to think about. 2 of 3 signings will seemingly be defenders but our attack is a huge area of concern, especially as we will likely lose Brereton. I keep hearing about a fluid front 4, high pressing and high intensity and lots of talk about how Tomasson "likes to play" often spearheaded by @chaddyrovers. Well not only today but all season, any sign of a coherent attacking plan has been totally absent, there have been players out of positon, very few chances created and very little threat offered, Dack up front, Szmodics on the right, what was all that about? The passing out from the back doesn't work with these players either. We need more than what we seemingly will get from the window. We are so thin on the ground and there are players who are a million miles away from the standard. Rankin Costello was bloody shocking, if Brittain is out for long we are going to struggle because he is incompetent as a stand in and played for 45 minutes too long. Dolan is very poor too, no brain at all, constant unncessary step overs and flicks but no end product, not a Championship player. You can see how thin on the ground we are, Phillips again being flogged (he is so vulnerable in the air and easily bullied which is understandable at his age, not ready yet) and such a weak bench aside from Hedges. Kaminski was very poor with a few terrible kicks and the goal shouldn't go in like that from there, Buckley continued a poor start to the season and Szmodics was below par before he went off. Dack was out of position but played like someone who hasn't started in 2 years. Ayala was very good again, Pickering was also good and showed the difference between him and Edun, Morton was decent and Adam Wharton and Hedges really improved us.

Very strange team. Glad to see Dack start, terrified to see Rankin Costello and Phillips in defence and the balance seems strange.

To be fair, he isn't going to come out and say how shit he is!