roversfan99

Very true. Many of our midfielders are tenacious, defensively minded ones like Travis, Trybull, Johnson, Davenport and Evans. The ones who are supposed to be more creative in Rothwell, Holtby and Buckley often struggle to impact on games, and Dack is a number 10.

To be fair, we won that specific game so the decision was justified, but in general, something isnt quite right. But I have misgivings about the current system in general.

Of course, although it seems that those loaned out seem to have had mixed fortunes. I have long since suggested that the under 23 set up in general is too sanitised to set youngsters up for senior football. Possession obsessed, no pressure football against fellow kids. Its just a little confusing that I see the results and the league table, yet there doesnt even seem to be anyone on the cusp, Pike and McBride were on the bench the other week simply to make the numbers up with seemingly no intention of being used, and I am unaware of any stand out player that is likely to break through imminently. As you say, maybe that is partially a fault on the manager. Is Pike the stand out, and if so, is he good enough to compete with Nyambe and Rankin Costello? At the end of the day, even if none of the current crop do break through, the numbers we do get through more than justify it so it is not a criticism of Rovers really.

But even with those considered better, Vale cant get into Rochdales squad, Brennan struggled at Fylde, Butterworth has barely played any football in 2 years, Mols couldnt get a game in the amateur leagues in Spain and Grayson cant get a game for Oxford, when he played here v Oldham he looked well out of his depth. The worry with Pike would be when we had no available right backs, he still didnt play. So how close is he?

He may well make a change or two but hopefully not as mentioned apart from Nyambe back in. Johnson and Trybull would be a rather immobile partnership and the latter was outstanding on Saturday, if there is to be a change there, it would surely be Travis for Buckley. Dack finally played further forward was the catalyst to the win and the unimpressive Rothwell should not take his place, and the front 3 should remain I would suspect.

His form has definitely dipped, he has 5 goals and an assist in those 15 games which is as many goals as anyone else has across the season but is not at his previous level. I have noticed him being far more selfless recently, dropping deep, linking up, I think the goal at Boro was a perfect example, dropped deep, linked the play and laid off Elliott to square for Rothwell to score. Comparing the numbers, I prefer the selfish Armstrong I think.

Not sure about that, he has not been starting here every game due to poor form. Hes not ready for Liverpools first team. Not sure that Harwood Bellis is anywhere near Prem ready. I must say though that we definitely need to improve central defence this summer. Magloire is an interesting one, I would agree with your caution, but surely SPL football is far more credible than a friendly played at half pace? I would be wary of either him or Carter being anything other than back up next season though, suspect another loan will be ideal for at least one of them but glad to see they are impressing

Stats have their limitations for sure, but I believe goal conversion is goals taken to shots taken, and shot accuracy is how often they get their shots on target. I have never claimed that Armstrong is clinical or ruthless in front of goals, or that he hasnt got selfishness in his make up, although I dont see that as a solely negative trait. But looking at that from BBC, his goal conversion is fairly normal, he takes more shots and he scores more goals proportionately to that. Not far off a goal every 5 shots. The attacking player who stands out as poor in that regards is Brereton, which I can understand, he scores 1 every 9 shots. I felt he was our biggest threat for example v Reading but none of his shots ever looked like scoring. His shot accuracy shows that for every 10 shots, 6 hit the target. Only Dolan from much less shots has the same accuracy, everyone else misses the target more often. For me, the primary stat is the goals scored one anyway.

Did Johnson say it? And even if he did, and it turns out that his performance in that one game did cause team mates to argue, as is common I am sure, you then rabbled on with a theory you had as to the exact conversation, including Armstrong seemingly then going on to further enrage his team mates by telling them that he only cares about being top scorer! I never said it would, but not having his goals will make us even less equipped to go up. Not that we "carry" him anyway. I presume blocked shots count yes, included as part of your favourite 56 shot line, so those stats show that he isnt taking shots to the extent whereby his impressive goal tally is a disproportionately low percentage of those shots. And when he takes shots, more often than not he hits the target. Im sure he would, but it was just an extreme example of how many strikers by their very nature are selfish creatures.

Quite interestingly, his goal conversion percentage is very competitive, with Brereton the most blatantly wasteful with the shots he takes, and his shot accuracy is also as good as anyones: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/top-scorers Throw in the fact that he is the second top scorer in the league, and has 14 more for us than anyone else, and I think these things all are a little more substantial than a totally fabricated theory in which after a game "his team mates were fuming and his view was along the lines of the defence of him on here, saying "I'm top scorer and that's all that matters."" Or indeed it is "Armstrong, not Mowbray that has lost the dressing room." He was really poor v Bristol City, and seemingly born out of frustration, took too many shots on, selfishly. It was one game though, in a prolific season. As an aside, I would have loved us to have had Ruud Van Nistelrooy in his pomp, a player who used to sulk if his team won but he didnt score, and obsessed about scoring. Was one of the best strikers in Premier League history, but I suspect he would not have been received well on here.

I still cant really understand how they can be so dominant at under 23 levels yet none of the side is close to the first team. Surely some should be pushing?

Thanks @oldjamfan1 for the reminder. Would be tempted to go with the same team. That being said, might be too much to expect of Rankin Costello but happy with Nyambe there, and Travis for Buckley with Dack given even more license could be wise.

Never seen Jephcott play. Youd think there is someone via our new scouting network to fill the void that Armstrong will leave. But Dack off Diedhou could work.

Ive always wondered why media outlets dont rank strikers on metres run to be fair. Todays theory is that Armstrong has caused a dressing room mutiny.

He is the target man who got the winner against us this season and has done so in the past I think too.

I dont think anyone doesnt consider these players ages. Many believe that whilst Buckley isnt yet ready to regularly impact on our games, he should be loaned out. Rankin Costello is of a similar age to Nyambe and I would disagree that his positioning is better. Not sure ideally he is a full back and maybe had their contracts been sorted there could be room for both. Dolan is a talent and an asset but incredibly raw I would suggest but good to have in the squad.

Equally nonsensical if they exist. No issues with support and no agendas. If people think hes brilliant, hes out of his depth, he was man of the match, he was the worst player on the pitch, or anything inbetween, put on here without rubbish about how he isnt getting support or any agenda driven shite. Its a forum to discuss different opinions, not a fan club or a witchhunt.

What is the need for that last sentence? People had a different opinion to you about his performance, therefore they must have an agenda and want to "dis him."

Famara Diedhiou is out of contract in the summer and a good striker but I doubt he would join.

Based on your opinion or supposed whispers from others? Either way, lets hope all doubters do need to eat their words, me included. I meant since he returned to playing for the first team. And thats not helped because most of his starts were not in his best position. Unless he shows signs that he is at risk of injury, of course.

Since Dack returned to first team duty on boxing day, he has been in the squad for all 15 games, getting onto the pitch every time, never missing out with an injury. He has only started 5 of these, and never has picked up an injury, both at odds with the theory that he has started too many times so soon after said injury. Those 5 games have included starts on the left wing, deeper in midfield and as a false 9 which further supports my view that playing him out of position has hindered him, as well as a lack of starts.

Also, yesterdays impressive performance has seemingly added weight to the idea that Armstrong is a hindrance rather than an asset. He has missed 2 games that I can remember, the other was the most impotent of attacking performances you could wish to see at home to Boro, just for some balance.

Had Dack suffered a series of (or indeed any) muscular injuries since his return to the first team, I would suggest that there would be weight behind the argument that he has started too many games. That is not the case, it is his form and sharpness that has been lacking. So whilst I agree that Mowbray has mismanaged him, I think that has been by not starting him often enough, playing him in incorrect positions and constantly changing his role and also the shape of the team. On Buckley, I dont think you understand that I am saying that I dont think he is close to being of the quality to be a regular in a Championship team, especially one with supposed aspirations of eventual promotion. If he goes out on loan and stars, then maybe he could be following that loan.

Maybe the 3 with Dack in behind is the winning formula for us.

No I have not had any reason to listen to Radio Lancashire, I have watched each game this season, but I see that you have aligned your opinion to his. I think that is incorrect personally, as I said he has been back fit for months, its form, rhythm and sharpness that he needs, and I think that the positions Dack has played in and the shortness of his cameos have not enabled him to return to full form. Like I said, I am unconvinced that Buckley is up to the standard to play in our team regularly. Maybe he can show something I have yet to see before the end of the season, failing that, I would loan him out. I think his use of the ball was the biggest worry yesterday. Physically he was competitive and won the ball back a few times.