Absolutely. Signing 5 or 6 loans all at once is not getting that strategy spot on though, it was the quantity that worried me. That being said, im keen not to feed the narrative of us being a tiny fish in a big pond. We have spent 12m on 2 strikers that have yet to fire.

I havent overlooked Rayas mistakes. I didnt see the Stoke game but from all accounts he made a bad error. I also recall one he did v Hull in a 5-1 win and he was responsible for giving us a penalty (which possibly was unfair) but still showed he has that rashness. My point was from the games I have seen from him, he looks better than he did. I never felt totally confident with him in goal here, I dont think he progressed much and he was very error prone especially last year. I feel that some over rate him. BUT I have seen him a few times for Brentford who are often on TV and he seems much more assured. Is getting more plaudits, is conceded far fewer goals and seemingly making less mistakes. I still think hes probably a goalkeeper who may always have that element of fear instilled in the fans of the team he plays for but he seems to have improved far more this season. In comparison, Walton has made a number of mistakes into double figures and is a big reason why we have again conceded into the 60s, despite an upgrade at CB. He is worse than Raya and youve been quite complimentary of him until very recently, constantly echoing (with implied knowledge) that Brighton really rate him. Its no good withholding judgement because Mowbray also had other targets, you judge him on what he did do, he sold a young but flawed goalkeeper to fund a striker to play out of position, and plugged the hole that it left with a inferior loanee. The main point I am making is that, with a highly rated goalkeeping coach that has since been poached as well as a manager who can set up a defence, it seems that Raya has really progressed as a goalkeeper more so than he did here. The errors are still there but not as common and he is conceding less and getting more praise.

All keepers make mistakes. Im not Rayas biggest fan although I dont get any pleasure out of it when he does now. But hes got plenty of plaudits this season and conceded far less than Walton so people are understandably looking at a superior goalkeeping coachs potential impact. Saw Raya play v PNE last week and he was very impressive. Would you agree that the decision to sell Raya, buy Gallagher and loan Walton, all of which are connected, has been a really poor one? Hes conceded farMowbray has mentioned 5-6 loans in his interview today. I suspect considering the financial climate that loans will top the bill. Of course Venkys are holding us back again with their

On the ball, Travis isnt perfect and definitely needs improvement but hes certainly competent on the ball as this shows.

No absolutely, I totally agree as long as its a couple of real bits of otherwise unobtainable quality to supplement a squad and give them that last push over the line. Not 5 or 6 as that leads to further problems. The Watford was a unique example due to the joint ownership with Udinese, I think it was a loophole in the rules that has since been closed, and many of them players were transferred permanently at the end of it. For ourselves, especially considering the financial situation, I am all for us getting one or two bits of real quality to add onto what we have, in areas that we are lacking. Not 5 or 6 though.

Just because Mowbray does something doesnt mean it is right or that the person in question is competent. Why would Mowbray keep Bennett as captain? Why would Mowbray sign Gladwin, Hart, Gallagher, Brereton etc? People are right to question the goalkeeping coach considering his standard and more so the lack of progress by the goalkeepers during that time. Raya made quite a few mistakes last season, no matter whether you like that he made a solitary error last weekend, he has conceded far less goals and has impressed and got many plaudits working under a new coach. Meanwhile, Walton has been poor this season especially towards the end of it, hardly signalling progress under Benson. Seems like we can expect another loaned goalkeeper next season. Highlighting further the idiocy of sacrificing Raya to get a striker to play on the wing!

I think we might have a bit of an underwhelming summer ahead, Mowbray mentions loans here, and I think having had Adarabioyo and Reed (although Palmer and Walton were both unsuccessful) and looking elsewhere at Ben White, Rhian Brewster etc, it is obvious that there is a merit of loaning quality at a club like ours. The worry is the numbers of which Mowbray talks about: "if we are to end up with a team that it is really competitive then we will probably end up with 5 or 6 loans" There is no way that having half a team on loan is constructive, its going back to Coyles season, you cant even have more than 5 loans in a matchday squad.

Rudy seemed naturally good at heading the ball and as @Mattyblue correctly says, we had a really effective winger at that time which is something that Mowbray is against the idea of. Its no coincedence that Gallagher got his first headed goal (I think, if not one of) of the season with a winger whipping in a cross. As it is, we know that Chapman will rarely if ever be seen again regardless until at a push the last game of next season. There is no responsibility taken by the manager (or direct questioning from any journalists) to the part Mowbray himself has played in Gallaghers lack of goals. To me, Gallagher will never be a regular goalscorer, he lacks that knack of anticipating chances like Rhodes did, like Dack does and body willing like Graham does. But even if Mowbray whinges at the player for not getting in the box from out wide, he has to accept that hes massively reducing the probability of Gallagher or indeed any striker getting on the end of things when played out wide. His goals this season came on Saturday from a wingers cross, v Swansea when up front, v Preston when up front, v Stoke when up front and v Sheffield Wednesday from central and at 4 nil up v 10 men. Its so damning of the manager that he still plays him wide. He should be back up to Armstrong and never played wide under any circumstance. Regarding Bamford, whether we could have afforded his wages I am unconvinced of, but if problems are 25 goals in 65 games including 16 this season playing a critical role in Leeds winning the league then give me those problems any day. Im not sure about these supposed whispers from coaches but he seems to be much more comfortable further forward. I just dont see how hes getting past Dack, Holtby, Rothwell, Armstrong, even Rankin Costello, Chapman and Brereton in those attacking areas. You mention Rothwell but again he isnt one to control a game and its not as if hes a young lad either. Hes someone who runs at players deep in their half. The false 9 seemed to be dropped with positive results on Saturday. If we revert back to it and start playing midfielders as our main striker and our strikers wide then it wont be good results that follows.

A bit injury prone is putting it mildly! I think theyve ruined his career.

A question im sure youd ask others, how many times have you seen him play, and what are his strengths and weaknesses? A player released by St Mirren hardly gets people excited! Etheridge stands out from the above list, a goalkeeper who has always impressed me at Cardiff but for some reason is second choice at the moment.

Klich was on the scrapheap until Bielsa came in. The perfect example of a player that he has transformed into a top Championship player.

I think the definition of "split" needs establishing. There is plenty of support out there, as there is plenty of criticism and skepticism, the very definition of split. Look in different places, and you will get differences in the split, but ultimately a split fanbase is fair. The questions are about his ability to push us forward, therefore that would never see people chanting for the manager to go. Thinks would really have to dovetail for anything like that to happen.

Hes far too lightweight to play in CM, plus seems more comfortable further forward. Is he the type to sit and pass? Seems more of a dribbler on the half turn. Hes well down the line to play as a number 10.

Is he going to get game time? Dack, Holtby, Brereton etc ahead of him centrally. Coming from the wider areas where he isnt really comfortable anyway, Rothwell, Holtby, Rankin Costello, Chapman all ahead of him.

I would say it was Rothwell from the left and Holtby from the right coming in.

By who? Cant see him playing in CM, seems a player who is more at home further forward running at players and picking the ball up on the half turn. With Rothwell, Holtby, Dack, Rankin Costello, Chapman etc and hopefully a natural winger to come I would loan Buckley out.

We shouldnt be playing 3 central midfielders and a "trequartista." Stick to the 4-2-3-1. Holtby and Chapman competing to come from the right, Rothwell and Rankin Costello from the left, Dack as the main 10, Armstrong 9 with Brereton and Gallagher backing them up. No more wide strikers and false 9s. If possible, bring in another actual natural winger and loan out Buckley for some regular football.

Was Brereton on the wing? Holtby and Rothwell seemed to be coming in from the wings, Brereton more central. Surely time to give Chapman a start after a wonderful match winning assist.

Would go for a similar team but Chapman has to start, Davenport also should start over Johnson and id even be tempted to go with Brereton and Gallagher up top centrally together, perfect opportunity. Bring Armstrong on later on. Fisher/Hilton Nyambe Lenihan Carter Rankin Costello Chapman Travis Davenport Rothwell Brereton Gallagher

Weve upgraded our centre back to a very capable one on loan from an aging one last year in Mulgrew last season who made numerous mistakes leading to goals. Walton has made errors leading to goals into double figures. And we have again conceded into the 60s.

We collected 7 points from 7 games post lockdown playing that formation. Whatever you perceive the reason to be, it didnt work and you should be objective enough to state that.

Mowbray with some interesting quotes: “Harry Chapman is sick of me moaning at him, ‘find the right position, find the ball’. When he’s on the pitch he has to have the ball, beat people, cross is in to the box." Today was one of, including in the Cup, 5 cameos hes had this season, never longer than 15-20 minutes. How is he meant to do that? Also about Sam Gallagher: "It’s not been tough, or challenging, but difficult, he hasn’t had as much end product as we’d have liked, but he’s tried really hard, he puts a massive amount of work in to every game and he has to get in to those positions, arrive like a steam train at the back stick and a bullet header. It hasn’t been the most productive period for him, I’ve spoken to him. For a lot of players they have to get settled, they have to feel part of an environment." Absolutely no acknowledgement as to how playing him wide so often will make getting headers between the post much harder. And bollocks about settling in, yes theres finding a house but hes been here before, he knows many of the players, its hardly as if hes joined an alien team in a far flung location.

You wouldnt take Dyche here if he offered tomorrow? Or McNeil, Pope or Tarkowski? Actually, youve been constantly bleating on about signing Joe Hart for months so no need to even answer ?

We need to perfect one formation and play it consistently so everyone knows their roles and that players can be changed but they know their role within that system. Would you agree that Mowbrays decision to go to a 433 with a false 9 post lockdown potentially cost us a shot at the play offs?

A thrilling game showcasing the best and worst of us. And ultimately goals and performances from individuals typically after when we needed them, but aided by a system that suits them. Frighteningly feeble at the back. Start off with the absolutely hapless goalkeeper. The sooner he goes the better. Nyambe I dont think was at his absolute best. Nor Lenihan. Carter looked a little better but obviously not ideal to concede 3 v a shocking side om debut. Rankin Costello looks like he has something but hes not a left back or indeed a full back as we saw for their third goal even though the primary fault went to Travis. We need an overhaul (again) back there, left back, at least one centre back and a keeper and some bollocks, will we get it in this economic climate with this manager? I doubt it. Travis wasnt at his best, at fault for a goal and sloppy on occasion. Johnson was ok, not the best on the ball but gavd us a bit of experience. Beyond that, amidst a formation that suited the players, much more promise. Armstrong is undoubtedly the main one, he and Dack are the 2 first names on the teamsheet in those areas. Beyond that, Holtby is the next one youd go to. That role off the right suited him, constantly between the lines. Rothwell has picked up again, we needed more of this far more often but deserved his goal and assist. Chapman with a superb cameo showing what WINGERS can do, wonderful assist and the play to go on a run to set up Nyambe (until Gallagher blocked him) was sublime. Give him a start midweek. Buckley was ok too but should have gone for goal, Vale quiet but could have had a dream debut. Rankin Costello a big option further forward. We dont need to keep hold of Samuel and Graham. And now to the 12m duo. Brereton much better, a performance similar to the Bolton one. Got a goal early, bright and involved although second half his end product was wrong a few times, couple of poor finishes and picked the wrong ball initially and then mishit the second one ruining a counter attack. Gallagher spent far too much time wide, Mowbray insisted no doubt. Then when hes between the sticks he scores a very good header. Never have him wide, but great to get a goal. So we need some bloody consistency tactically and we need some reliability and solidity in net and in defence. I doubt we will get either.