The whole tournament has been really enjoyable to watch. Cant beat the World Cup, shame the authorities with a winter world cup and expanding it to 48 teams seem intent on ruining it.

Your answer is not related to the points I made. I asked if you agree that Gladwin was awful every time he put on a Rovers shirt? In regards to Gladwins good past performances that youve seen, your brief, non-committal answer suggests they are a figment of your imagination. His career before Rovers and in particular his performances we saw with our own eyes suggest he has nothing to offer, especially at a higher level. You dont have to keep telling everyone how much you like Mowbray and how honest you think he is. I never said anything to the contrary. Its is irrelevant however to the debate regarding Harry Chapman. Please be aware that you can question things he does, you can suggest things different to what he does, and you can have different opinions, all whilst respecting and appreciating the job hes doing. In regards to Chapman, im just saying that, over a month away from the season, in a position where we have no Championship quality players, there is nothing to be gained from the statement/attitude of only seeing Chapman as a sub. Not least because why would a young player join a club in the same League when hes been told he wont be starting games? Regarding the 3 whole games he scored in that youve mentioned (although it was the introduction of Graham as much as Samuel that got us a win v Bristol Rovers) im not denying that. However, the record of 5 goals and 5 assists is not good enough in League 1 to suggest that he can have a consistent, meaningful impact in the Championship.

The thing is, either potential quarter final on paper is v a weaker side than Colombia, so if we went out at that stage, obviously they are useful sides themselves, but it would still be met with disappointment.

If Armstrong came back, I feel like we'd have to go back to Armstrong wide, him and Dack buzzing around Graham was a superb combination.

They are a big dark horse, alot may depend on Cavani's injury as if hes out its arguably the best strikeforce of the tournament ripped apart. As mentioned, add to that in my opinion the best centre back in the world and his club team mate who is also terrific. Then 7 players perfectly drilled to press and defend as a team, that may be not of the same quality as the main 4, but play for the likes of Juventus, Inter Milan and Torreira who Arsenal are signing and youve got an outside chance.

Maybe theres no shame of going out to Colombia, a very good team, but of course how far we go should be a barometer for success. The group we got put in was incredibly weak in that Tunisia and in particular Panama are far inferior. Progression from that whilst of course being positive to see should have always been fairly elementary and so it proved. The route we have is also favourable, if we go out to Colombia in the last 16, its hardly a minnow and they might feel the same about it, but it would not be a successful tournament if we go out on Tuesday night. I think you are underestimating the quality in the England team too, Kane, Alli and Trippier are all key for Tottenham, Lingard and Young for Man United, Stones, Walker and Sterling for City and Henderson for Liverpool, thats the majority of our team playing key roles for the Premier League top 4, we are short of the likes of Brazil, Spain and France but we arent of the quality (or lack of) that renders last 16 elimination as a success.

I'm not sure players that "will do" based on 3 goals at League 1 level, even if they were important, is what we need at a much higher standard, but he will still be here, definitely need someone better aswell to push and eventually replace Graham though.

He didnt contribute his share of goals, he didnt score post November! Thats a terrific cross but we didnt see the likes nearly enough and thats what people are saying. Everyone hopes he does well next year, goes without saying.

Quite right. Firstly theres the assumption that weve gone out to purposely lose, which is for me total rubbish. Imagine Southgate telling 11 professional footballers to do that. Also, the lack of passion line is one that people seemingly always go to first, for me it was a lack of quality from our squad players cobbled together. Dont think Sterling is the same player for England (hardly surprising) in particular in front of goal but his link play with Alli and Lingard is key and something Rashford doesnt offer. Meanwhile, what a game weve been treated to there. Best game ive seen in some time. Shame for Messi to be surrounded by so many rubbish players, and in a couple of cases, horrible people. France have gone up quite a few gears.

Going for the money but seemingly either not realising or not caring that hes at risk of knocking peoples nose out of joint, closing the Darwen End, rolling over to allow early kick offs to convenience away fans etc.

Unconvinced by that, based on how he used him last season, and then when he went, he brought in Payne and used him in the same way.

Such a boring, patronising and provocative argument without any substance. No one is suggesting that they should run the club, just like if someone is to question Mowbray for a transfer/lineup/substitution they arent asking to take over as manager. Think youve forgotten what a messageboard is. People have valid questions and criticisms and employees of the club dont need apologists to defend them. Why are we changing our kick off times for games with no real historical incidents of trouble, for no apparent reason? Do other teams do likewise for non-derbies? (id suggest not, if so, I hold my hands up) Are supporter needs considered when this decision has been made? Particularly home. How does ensuring home supporters are not inconvenienced rank as a priority as say; getting as many away fans as possible into the ground? Supporters have the right to feel inconvenienced as paying customers and at least may want to know the reasoning behind what on the face of it seems like decisions made without thought of them. Same as the choice to take away the option of sitting in the Darwen End, again to cater for and convenience away fans. Waggott is promoting himself as the main decision maker, in the country anyway, so its only right that such questions are made directed towards him.

How many games of Swindons did you watch? I'll hazard a guess, very few if any. Looking at his stats he had one season where he got 8 goals from midfield, in League 1, considering he spent 4 seasons there that suggests its the exception to the rule. In the Championship for QPR he far from impressed. You aren't arsed about their views because you only take on board positive appraisals of our players. Crucially, neither of us really know how he did aside from at Rovers, we dont see him play for Swindon or QPR, weve seen him in a Rovers shirt and every time he put one on he was shocking. Agreed? You dont have to be apologetic and defend every single action Mowbray makes. I dont get why you are already deciding that team selection, the seasons over a month away and we have no idea what other wingers we will have. You are only saying it to back up Mowbray so its difficult to debate with you. You say he used Chapman the correct way. He started him once, at home to Portsmouth, he got an assist, he was excellent and he proved that he could have an impact from the start. Their defence had no idea how to deal with both him and Dack together and we comfortably won. Then he got dropped for the next game, we offered no attacking threat and he came on late and got injured and we never saw him again. If he did sign, I would want it to be permanently and I would want Mowbray to take off the shackles a bit. He wouldnt sign to sit on our bench anyway if he has anything about him, but he could offer us a great counter attacking threat if he was given starts.

It is quite ironic that the good work in terms of winning the first 2 games actually forced Southgate into a lose lose situation and I do feel like the reaction on here and in general is massively over the top. The way that the draw has opened up means that for me, and its a ridiculous thing to say considering our recent tournament history, but id be very disappointed in anything less than the semi finals. If we lose to Colombia, who are a good team, and far superior to Japan but a team we are slight favourites over, then Southgate deserves criticism for only getting us to the last 16, it is an underachievement and he would deserve criticism for that, but not based on his team selection for the game before, its irrelevant now. Southgate certainly doesnt deserve credit for "engineering" a favourable route either, lets be clear, but I don't for one second think he tried to lose v Belgium, his priority was to keep our best players intact, one I agree was critical to us going far. This also gave the chance to give our squad players some game time as we will need a couple of them going forward, sadly they didnt take the opportunity to push for a start.

Graham has yes but hes in the main scored goals throughout his career. Samuel has no proven record of scoring goals. Graham has the added plus of even if he doesnt score, he still contributes immensely, look at his hold up and ability to link and its a world apart from Samuel. Therefore your comparison to him is baseless. Which games did Gladwin play well in? The talent isnt there sadly, hence why QPR fans were laughing at us when he signed and soon proved them right with his initial performances. Nowhere near good enough and needs to move on. Regarding Chapman, find it totally bizarre that Mowbray is coming out and saying that hypothetically he wouldnt start. I've no idea why he has it in his head that Chapman wouldnt be pushing for a start, in fact hed be one of the first names on the teamsheet solely due to the weakness and lack of players in that position. Was hoping his stubbornness in the way he dealt with flair and pace in Chapman/Payne last season, refusing to consider them for starts (in the main) and playing safer but far less productive players (Conway, Antonsson etc) was a slight blot on his in the main good copybook. I wouldnt sign Chapman as ive said previously due to his injury issues. But I would hope that Mowbray would be able to give more license to any pacy, flair players we bring in this season. He certainly deserves credit for getting the best out of Dack but wed be so much more of a threat if he could loosen up and find a place for someone to add an alternative threat in the same time. On the rare occasions that Dack had Chapman or Payne on the same pitch, as well as Armstrong, we looked in my opinion far more threatening as they were on the same wave length. When we had Conway, Bennett or Antonsson wide we lacked that.

The Samuel red card was down to his own idiocy and petulance anyway but he didnt even start that game so thats a misconception that the red card was what cost him. You can dress it up as much as you like, not scoring from December onwards is unacceptable for a striker. He showed nothing to suggest he could be a competent striker at a much higher level. Got a bit of pace but doesnt hold the ball up and cant finish his dinner. If Gladwin has any talent he hides it bloody well! The guys horrendous. Hope he never kicks a ball in a Rovers shirt again and I dont think he will. The squad now would really struggle as it is now because it has absolutely no width, pace or excitement now Armstrong, Payne and Chapman bave gone back. We have no wingers. But its a silly argument because obviously we will make signings. Hopefully one of which is buying Armstrong. Why was your phone buzzing like mad when we signed Rothwell? Haha. Sentences like that will have JAL asking if youre his agent.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/june/six-ex-rovers-all-set-for-world-cup-participation/ 6 in total.

How did I use him having a personal trainer to have a pop and criticise him? I dont see it as barely noteworthy, I expect him to try and better himself, obviously it is good that hes kept in shape but that doesnt over write the fact that I watched him week in week out for a year and he in my opinion was an underwhelming forward in League 1, therefore I couldnt justify saying that he will do well in a higher league, regardless of his physical shape at the moment. Obviously it is good that hes keeping fit but its barely noteworthy in my opinion.

I do feel that Pickford is our biggest weak point. But you mention goalkeepers; Colombias goalkeeper is Ospina (possibly Arsenals third choice keeper with Leno signing) who is very small and very susceptible to a mistake.

Waggott has already shown himself to be someone who considers the wants and needs of others (away fans etc) even if it means affecting home fans in the process, as shown with the Darwen End closure, so this comes at no surprise, even if it is needless and frustrating.

He didnt score in 6 months! Maybe a slight exaggeration but his lack of ability/work rate was evident on a consistent basis. The off seasons a strange time, players previously written off are given another chance. Players like Gladwin and Sam Hart are in Austria with the first team, both far from even League 1 standard, yet more than 1 person has suggested that Gladwin could play a part last season, as if theyve forgotten how inept he is. People championing quite a few untested youngsters, ones who didnt break through even in a lower league. Samuel was a poor utilisation of half a million, yet him showing some video on social media of him doing a bit of fitness work and loads of people are saying he can have a good season this year, regardless of him coming off the back of 1 where he scored 5 in 36 in a really poor league. All players will work on their fitness even when they go away, its not the 90s where the team comes back a couple of stones overweight. I hope he does suddenly improve, he does offer some occasional threat, but the standard needs to go up in general so he has to improve a lot.

Agreed totally. One rounds done now and we have progressed through it. Thats in the past. Meant my comment in response to those implying that we deserve to go out after last night.

Its perfectly understandable. He looked out of his depth in League 1, didnt score after November nor threatened too often. He is quite quick yes (youve exaggerated somewhat) but he doesnt best utilise that. People are going overboard about him getting a personal trainer too. Someone posted a video of Lenihan with one but because theres no doubting his quality it hasnt been mentioned since. A lot of players will have personal trainers. Hes going to stay but he will have to improve a hell of a lot just to be competent at Championship level and hes done nothing to suggest he will be sadly.

I think that just to say its a lack of desire is a lazy argument to make. I just think the team had a lot less quality, was disjointed and cobbled together (basically just to rest the first team) and the balance was wrong.

He flatters to deceive for me. He reminds me of a budget Pogba. Might sound silly but hes tall, strong, technically capable, but it doesnt seem to quite come together to allow him to dominate like he should. Less than the sum of his parts.