Why the disdain for a Rovers hero?

What makes you say that Rothwell is a good signing? How often have you seen him play, and if its enough to judge, what will he add to our midfield? Also, regarding Rhodes, dont think the deal could ever be done solely from a financial viewpoint. But lets not disregard by far our best player since we went down from the Premier League to this extent. Hes lost none of what he had when he was here bar confidence. But hes not affordable so its irrelevant.

Cant say i've seen enough of him, maybe slightly underwhelming but i'll wait and see, at least with him, Smallwood, Evans, Whittingham and Bennett we look fine in the middle. Looking online at Oxford fans reactions, themes such as injury prone, inconsistent, unable to nail down a place, unsure on his best position and replacable are slightly worrying signs. That said, he is apparently technically good, can travel with the ball and is obviously young so I will wait and see. 2 starting wingers and Armstrong please.

Few thoughts from what I've read: - Chapman, as I've said before, the nature and instant recurrence of his injury makes this almost certainly a non-starter (ironically) in my book. Only if its permanent and cheap would it remotely appeal, loan should be a no go. One of the main reasons is because we are so short of wide players, with only Bennett (more of a utility player) and Conway (wont be a starter) therefore we have to look to sign players who will start in these positions, not ones who Mowbray has already stated he only sees as a sub. - Certainly wouldnt be offering Mowbray a long term (3 year) contract, its not like a player where you need to protect the asset, if we start next season well then maybe give him an extra year but it certainly shouldnt be an urgent priority, especially as there is no indication that he will leave. - Armstrong is the one from last season that we have to look to sign if possible, fits into our team like a glove. - @chaddyrovers quoted that Mowbray said "I'd sacrifice quality for personality and character" now as much as I totally understand the need for players to have the right character, a good character is not enough, as I repeatedly said with Conway as to why I didnt want him to be given a new deal, you need both, 1 is useless without the other. Bad attitude, player wont fulfill potential, offers nothing on the pitch but a good character, see Jason Lowe.

That game was the second best watch as a neutral so far, after a couple of barren days really. Very committed and bad tempered, but littered with bits of technical excellence by Croatia, and also ineptness, like the misses first half and the mistake for the 1st. Argentina hapless, a new formation, and although they are not world class, players like Fazio, Banega, Lo Celso, Di Maria and Dybala, all of whom would improve that starting 11 and make them better on the ball. Croatia one of my favourite teams to watch, the likes of Modric and Rakitic a joy to watch, so many good technical players aside from them, a threat going forward. Be amazed if they didnt get to at least the quarters. Also, VAR has shown a few faults today, the Australia penalty was wrong, Rebic should have been sent off for Croatia. Not a fan still, but thats due to its removal of the instantaneous passion for example when a goal is scored. Also I do think it would improve over time but it will never be implemented 100% perfectly.

Belgium are not a good team, they have individuals who are always going to score goals but overall im not convinced. Martinez is a terrible manager, they play 3 at the back with Boyata in the middle (they will try and rush Kompany back before our game but thats a risk in itself) and with Carrasco (an attacking winger playing in China) as one of the wing backs.

Doesn't prove that the story is correct, the story being regurgitated around, im sure someone mentioned it on here days before he said anything. Nixon doesnt know what hes talking about.

Find your comments on Henderson totally baffling. Always seems to be an easy target but he was probably our best player, made quite a few penetrative passes forward, obviously within that role there will be some sideways passes, even from the best in that position, but in the main he looks forward and has a good range of passing. Not only that, you choose Dier as the man to hopefully eradicate too much passing backwards and sideways! Dier really is crap. Overall, thought we were excellent in the first half. Full of energy, pressing, forward momentum, only problem is we need to be far more ruthless. Second half we ran out of ideas. Sterling is not the same player in an England shirt as you mention, but id play him v Panama as youll never get a better chance to boost your confidence and get off the mark. Trippier was superb down the right, Maguire was very good too. Lingard was as guilty as anyone in front of goal but he gives us so much energy, and he can score as hes shown for United. An important player, again Southgate needs to say, same again on Sunday, but have more to show from it. Would bring in Rose for Young to give us some balance, if theres any risk with Alli then Loftus-Cheek can come in, otherwise id leave it as it was.

I do understand to an extent, but if either of those managers had been successful, their character defects wouldnt have been pointed out.

I suggested Serbia before as an underdog, they have a really nice balance to their side. Matic and Milojevic brilliant in the engine room, Mitrovic needs to be more clinical but his link-up with the star of the team, Milinkovic-Savic was absolutely terrific, and the 2 wide men were a threat too, Tadic far more influential for his country. Experienced in defence too, only problem is Stojkovic in the net. Really enjoyed watching them.

I feel like that the implied hysteria and panic is massively exaggerated. I've not seen it, but I do feel that there are Rovers fans who are desperate to make others seem hysterical and unreasonable, and im not sure its entirely fair and accurate. This isnt specifically aimed at you by the way. Ive only quoted you regarding the bolded point. I dont get such a statement. I judge managers solely on their results, not on what they say and not on their personality. The reason I am happy with Mowbray is results based, but if that was the case and the manager was a bell end, I wouldnt mind either way. I can say from a personal view, im not remotely panicked by the lack of transfers as of yet, all I can judge is what has been done ie Graham which im very happy with, and Conway which im not. Obviously il look in here to see if anything has been done but im not one to get hung up on rumours and im just happy to enjoy the World Cup.

Links with Baeur are probably shite considering their source. Wouldn't be unhappy with the player himself, but slightly confused at spending a decent sum on a centre back. Hope to god its not with a view to playing 3 at the back, and that hed just be here to push Mulgrew and Lenihan, who for the time being deserve their shirts.

To be fair, City won 5-0, 6-0, 5-0, 7-2, 4-0, 4-0, 5-1 and 5-0 last season. At least you are putting them together. I dont understand the argument being aimed only at Messi. Ronaldo scored 4, 5, 9, 17, 31 and 18 in his time at United. In the 9 seasons hes had in La Liga, hes never scored less than 25, yet people seem to use the fact that he played in England to suggest that he was/would be equally effective here, something that hasnt been stastically proven.

Firstly I feel that you are ignoring what he has done for his country, and perhaps overestimating what Ronaldo has done at the same time for his country. Granted Ronaldo did win the last Euros, he got 3 goals, they didnt win a game after 90 minutes until I think the Semi Finals, and he went off really early into the final. He hardly dragged his team kicking and screaming. At the last World Cup, Messi got to the final in a poor team, getting player of the tournament, Ronaldo and Portugal went home in the Group Stage. Ronaldo is his countrys record goalscorer, so is Messi, Messi has got to multiple Copa America finals I believe too. I think youre also overestimating the rest of the Argentina side over the last 10 years, its not very good aside from Messi and its strikers. I think your point about Cardiff and Southampton is a bit ridiculous, I presume you cant have seen that much of him, hes far tougherto bully than youd expect, as pointed out he plays v top centre backs like Godin and Ramos who dont stop from toughing him up. If you think he can play so well v teams like Atletico and Real Madrid, but would struggle against Sol Bamba and Maya Yoshida then I think you are mistaken. My argument isnt that Messi is better, its that both are almost inseperable and both are undoubtedly 2 of the best of all time. Just look at the numbers from both, year on year.

But whether Messi could replicate his La Liga form over here is irrelevant because Ronaldo hasnt proven that he could consistently score the ridicilious amount of goals that he does in La Liga in the Premier League either, as I said he only scored over 20 once. I personally think they both could score over 30 consistently over here but its a moot point because it implies that Ronaldo has already done so, he hasnt. You mention that he hasnt done anything internationally in comparison, but in the 2 world cups, in 2010 he wasnt the player he haa been in the last 8 years and was managed by Maradona, at the last world cup he got player of the tournament and to the final, hes got to Copa America finals and is their record goalscorer. But Argentina and Portugal arent elite International teams so they are going to be somewhat hindered, and the tournaments are irregular. You say that hes only proved it in La Liga but thats not blatantly not true. Youve forgotten that both players have triple figures in the Champions League, have multiple medals, and the 3rd top scorer has 71. They both prove in the best club competition season on season that they are a level above the other world class players. They are 2 of the best ever. The Premier League debate will always be hypothetical but I refuse to believe that he wouldnt score regularly against Huddersfield, Southampton, Cardiff, West Ham, Bournemouth, Watford and Leicester. But hes hardly a flat track bully as hes proven in the Champions League. Thats where hes shown hes a class apart along with Ronaldo. Who also hasnt proved he could score the numbers he gets in La Liga consistently over here, which is ignored.

Find these 2 comments incredible, not sure if they are reactions to their respective performances in the last 2 days, but they are crazy. Far better player? Theres no way that anyone could argue that either is "a far better player." And doubts that Messi is able to handle the pressure?! The awards hes won, the trophies hes won, the important goals hes scored, how can you question that? Neither of them have naturally replicated their club form amongst national teams that otherwise are far inferior to other teams. Ronaldo won the Euros, Messi has got to quite a few finals including the last World Cup in which he got player of the tournament. Its a flip of a coin decision whose better, personal preference, I prefer Messi but certainly would never argue that theres anything but a minimal difference. Quite right. People also seem ignorant to the fact that Ronaldo was a work in progress in England, moving from winger to goalscorer, only got 20 goals or over once I think, and stepped up a couple of levels to one of the all time greats once he moved to La Liga. So I dont understand the obsession about Messi being able to do it in England, when Ronaldos career in this country has been greatly surpassed since he moved to La Liga.

I dont personally think that the 22 points in 15 argument is a totally fair point in that I do feel that its impossible to extrapolate that over an entire season. Many of the teams we played in that last 15 games had nothing to play for, take the last 2 games v a Villa side on the beach with a Darwen End full of their fans cheering us on, and Brentford. I dont actually think that weve actually added loads of new players capable of excelling at Championship level either. There's Dack whose obviously our star man. Smallwood I think can step up but some understandably have question marks. Bell and Downing have it all to prove but I think they can be squad players. Then theres Samuel, Gladwin and Hart who for me all are sub standard. The biggest boost arguably, bar Mowbray and also the momentum of a promotion, is whose left since. Lowe, Akpan, Guthrie, Mahoney, Gallagher, Hoban, Hendrie, Emnes, Brown, Greer, Henley and since, Ward and Feeney, have all gone. None of them players are nearly good enough at Championship level. Players like that had a catastrophic impact on our relegation.

Hes managed Athletic Bilbao and Marseille, you are deriding them and championing managers that have come from Brentford and Barnsley. I dont think you are reading what I am putting properly. I keep insisting that it is a gamble, that it is a risk, but I just feel like its an exciting one, read up on him, he adopts pretty unique tactics, different formations, aggressive presses, hes obsessed with football and watching players and improving players, hes well reknown so I have no doubt that he will have contacts and an attraction to players that Smith and Heckingbottom can only dream of. How have they gambled for years? Theyve appointed a mixture of managers from the merry go round, Garry Monk, Steve Evans, Neil Redfearn, Uwe Rosler, Brian McDermott, none of whom where ever going to provide anything but a bit of stability, and a few foreign no marks with random CVs who no one had heard of.

Absolutely correct, otherwise you are losing the point of an internet messageboard. There was almost unanimous praise for Graham signing a new deal the day before, its not as if people are just solely being negative. Not seen Clare play much and has only played 5 times at Championship level. You say he could get 1st team football here, hat sort of player is he, do you rate him higher than Evans/Smallwood, and have you seen lots of him. I think you are being incredibly generous by saying he is brilliant in the air or has a good first touch. And as been touched upon, to add to this, his goalscoring record is incredibly poor.

How am I building him up like Pep or Mourinho?! I said it is a big gamble that could end in tears. But its a big name whose managed big clubs, whose made a big impression on some of the best managers in England at the moment, whose tactical approach was at a time revolutionary, who would you have appointed may I ask? Probably boring choices, or Heckingbotham, who might have kept them pottering along, but theyve stagnated for too long, maybe they want a gamble. Cant believe you are correcting people on spelling either.

I acknowledged theres a risk but Leeds have stagnated and maybe need to think outside the box. Could be a masterstroke, could end in tears. But its exciting. Hes a big name with in the main an impressive CV. What has McLaren done to suggest hes anything other than a poor manager amidst the typical merry go round?

Chaddy, not everything is positive. Never mentioned either of those things. Im on about solely Conways contract and "stop being negative" doesnt in anyway support the decision made by Mowbray. Just as I was delighted that Graham is staying, as he offers plenty on the pitch as well seemingly as off it. Thats nowhere near enough to be considered an attacking threat. 2 goals when already winning games so his goals got us 0 points. His assist v Southend was good but overall. Nowhere near enough. His legs have gone.

I hate when people say too much negativity. People can give views contrary to what has happened, and ones that go against what Mowbray has done. Just like I was delighted about Graham, and said why, I feel that I am entitled to say why I dont feel Conway offers anything ON the pitch.

But whilst I appreciate that professionalism, experience, all these buzzwords, are important traits. They are not enough to earn a contract alone. You need to be offering something on the pitch and me and many others seem to think that hes not offering enough any more. The argument of "he must be good for morale therefore no one can question the decision" is a faulty one.

Bielsa finally confirmed. Interested to see what happens there. Potential for further chaos but id say its a more exciting, interesting and potentially rewarding appointment than plucking an average manager from the merry go round. Leeds have Bielsa, QPR have "experienced" McLaren, I know who id prefer.