roversfan99

One thing I don't think that Mowbray can be accused of is not providing a pathway for the younger players. I think our team is the second youngest in the league or at least has been this year. The likes of Buckley, Travis and Wharton have not only been dipped in and out but have become regulars under him. Dolan is regularly involved possibly beyond a reliance that we should have on someone so raw, Rankin Costello is regularly involved albeit I am not convinced that he is any good, and obviously players previously through the academy previously have now become senior members that we can't even afford to keep. Football is a results business, you should always have an eye on the long term but you can't jeopardise your ability to lose games in the short term. Johnson is important as a rare senior member whose experience is invaluable, you need players of experience to be involved too. There becomes an unrealistic expectation based on those that have come through regarding how many of each crop of graduates that will likely come through every time, more often than not very few do. You look at the likes of Vale and Burns, they struggled at levels miles below what we are at. Phillips is only 16 and Wharton not much younger.

Assuming we don't go up, which only the biggest of optimist would expect now, how would people judge Mowbray's tenure as a whole if he left in the summer and how many out of 10 would you mark his reign. There has been a lot of hyperbole often at the most emotive of times eg during/after a loss, silly comparisons, lots of analysis of stupid little things and conspiracy theories but I am wondering how people would reflect overall a few days after a game amidst an international break when things are calmer. I would give it a 6, its been ok. The club as a whole are definitely in a better position now, and we have never been at all close to going down during the last 4 years since we comfortably got promoted. His transfer record is fairly good, he has spent between 15m-20m, we got not far off that for Armstrong and a Brereton sale will go well past that, Gallagher is his worst signing for value. I think I would hold no ill will towards him and if he ever came back he would deserve applause rather than any ill will. What about everyone else?

7th last season finished on only 70 points too. Although youd imagine that gap to be less this time out.

There is no way that we will need 82 points to finish 6th.

Any sign of the owners actually attending a game this season? As owners who do care and are only hindered from pushing their ambition by those pesky FFP regulations, surely they can at least attend a game?

He could play 30 games with and against kids and he wouldnt be match fit. Good to an extent but nowhere near the equivalent of professional football.

Yep, and great news that he seemingly got through another 90 minutes unscathed. Hopefully him and Brereton will start at Coventry.

Sat out? Deary me. There have been more than enough performances/results in the last few months to justifiably criticise Mowbray, without this rubbish about him sitting out the half that he did get right. Same with the touchline behaviour analysis, the blame he gets regarding Brereton going to Chile, perspective has been totally lost.

The club is powerless, if we tried to stop him aside from any player unhappiness we would be sanctioned and he would be banned for 10 days. The aggravation and dismay at Mowbray this time is unwarranted.

I thought like all of our attacking players, that Dolan was totally ineffective on Saturday. His usual bundle of energy and always willing but his decision making was always wrong in the final third, summed up with a terribly executed flick on a very dangerous counter attack. Mind you, Hedges may as well have not come on.

Mowbray isnt interested in promotion and if Coyle came in, he would likely take us up. At least people arent overreacting.

We have averaged the second lowest possession in the league.

I doubt it, Coyle doesn't drink.

The needless angle of the post was the hypothetical deal of agreeing to lose all of the remaining 7 games when we are in 6th place, at least at the moment.

If we are going to go with 4 at the back, it would be remiss not to start our only competent right back, surely? I think the chances are minimal.

I never said that.

That would have been a move akin to Ince bringing in Nigel Winterburn to work with our defenders.

Why on earth would anyone say that, considering where we are?

Sentimental nonsense. Why dont we only consider people who have played for us while we are at it? Appoint the best man and allow him to pick whoever he wants.

What is with the obsession of sentimental selections of peoples coaching staff including ex players? It should be a simple case of appointing whoever and letting them pick who they want.

Terrible performance again, I suspect that the chance of a play off finish are incredibly low now. Mowbray got his tactics wrong again, Giles on the right was bizarre. Gallagher showed off his many weaknesses which mean that merely chucking him up front will noticeably improve him, horrendous touch, cant hold it up, clumsy, cant bring others into play, and wont score many goals. Dolan was poor, as often is the case there were plenty of stationery stepovers but hes not productive in the final third and wasted a great chance on the counter attack with a needless and poorly executed flick.

If he had already agreed a contract for the summer, I very much doubt he willingly shaved over 200k off a potential signing on fee to join. Youve also got the additional wage for half a season to consider, even if it was say 8k over 25 weeks that would be another 200k so how could he possibly have been cheaper now?

Nations League doesn't matter really. And is there much scope for experiment, basically every player has already been capped and ultimately the tournament isn't for 8 or 9 months at which point the landscape of form and fitness will have turned on its head. Ultimately some teams have important qualifiers so I do to an extent understand the need for this international break, perhaps not right now. But it doesn't change the fact that for me and the majority, a friendly v Switzerland and one v the Ivory Coast mean nothing but an unwelcomed break from the club schedule at a key point in the season.

Feels like the season as it gets to the business end grinds to a temporary halt in favour of 2 pointless friendlies.

Under Venkys we have seen a general culture of apathy and a total lack of care and pride.