roversfan99

6 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

Unavailability undoubtedly played a part yesterday but Mowbray certainly didnt use what he did have at his disposal correctly..

The squad we have assembled is definitely top end championship (especially this season)

Unfortunately our manager is not one of the better ones in the Division , something that will become glaringly obvious in the coming weeks..

 

 

I am unsure on exactly how good our squad is at the moment. I still feel that with so many players, its just hope that they will have a good season in spite of what they have done so far.

That being said, the back 4 (never thought I would say this) looks very competent at this level with Ayala and hopefully Douglas, and we do have some real quality and goals in Armstrong and Dack. I just wonder if Mowbray will get them 2 into the team together in a way that suits both, and also about the contribution of basically every other attacking player, Rothwell, Chapman, Brereton, Dolan, Gallagher, Rankin Costello, Buckley, even Holtby who I rate above all of those but he hasnt done it consistently for us yet.

1 minute ago, chaddyrovers said:

Will Holtby be back in time for the game from his paternity leave? 

Good question, I hope so because we need him.

The choice to allow Holtby is an interesting one. Many managers would have expected him back for the game with his baby born a few days beforehand, especially with our depleted squad. Mowbray has been very generous.

1 hour ago, Kie_BRFC said:

In other news, glad we didn’t sign that Freeman when we were linked last summer. Fat, lazy and a gobshite 

Scored an absolute belter in the last game plus scored 8 and assisted 6 in his last season at this level. If we had signed him, maybe we wouldnt have been lumbered with Brereton.

1 hour ago, Fraserkirky said:

Can’t believe folk are posting teams again without Rothwell in them. First name on the team sheet for me.

How? Over Armstrong, Kaminski, Ayala, Lenihan, Nyambe etc? He repeatedly flatters to deceive, he played against Cardiff in a similar game and was totally ineffective when the onus was on him to unlock a stubborn defence. I hope this is the season that it all comes together but hope more than expect.

3 minutes ago, JoeH said:

Draw last week, potential win, but at least a draw today. Both are tough away games. We’ll see how Rovers get on away from home. But right now I fear we’re going to become the side that has all the fancy flicks and no results.

I’m growing frustrated with the new 4-3-3 system, I don’t think it suits Dack, it doesn’t play well if the press isn’t at 95% and above either.

I’d like to see a tactical response to a lack of players due to injury, rather than fielding a mismatch midfield three and complaining about it after-the-fact.

I’m usually in the positive post-match camp and I am quite vocally supportive of Tony Mowbray and the club, but I was annoyed that from 30 mins into the Forest game I knew exactly what was going to happen - and then it did.

I dont see the need for "positive" and "negative" camps but I certainly share some of your tactical doubts and misgivings. I think that the perception of our start is perhaps skewed by the manner of the 2 wins but 7 points from 5 is an average start and puts pressure on at least avoiding defeat on Wednesday night.

Our home form in terms of avoiding defeats is usually good but there are always far too many draws because I am not convinced that we have the craft or imagination in the team or enough quality attacking options to break teams down. I share your scepticism towards the system when Dack goes back, anyone who doesnt think that Dack walks into this team is in denial and ultimately the best system is the one that gets the best from him and Armstrong. Does 4-3-3 do that? Possibly not.

Unavailability undoubtedly played a part yesterday but Mowbray certainly didnt use what he did have at his disposal correctly.

We have so many attacking players in which we need "breakthrough seasons" in that the players have attributes to do certain things but have never produced with any regularity. Mowbray bemoaned the absence of Rothwell yesterday but he was totally ineffective against Cardiff in a similar game and has been all promise and no end product throughout his time here. I keep hearing that this will be Brereton's breakthrough season but there is just nothing at the end of his game, his off the ball movement is really poor too, the amount of times that for example the full back or a midfielder will have the ball and rather than having any intention of making a clever run or getting into the box, he just drops deep and asks for the ball 5 yards away, often in close attention of a defender. Holtby undoubtedly has more talent than those 2 players but even he has yet to really produce regularly in a Rovers shirt. Rankin Costello was another missing yesterday, has he done anything in the first team so far to suggest that he would have made a difference yesterday? Dolan even in his good games looks very raw, often trying tricks to our detriment and ultimately he has a lot of development in front of him, and Chapman looks a busted flush. There is obviously the ongoing frustrations with Gallagher and we have a lot of reliance now on a 17 year old kid on loan who is highly rated and exciting (the likes of Brereton, Rankin Costello, Dolan etc wouldnt even be still at Liverpool never mind on the fringes of the first team squad) and hopefully gives us something new but is not of the same proven record as other clubs signing the likes of Harry Wilson and Anthony Knockaert on deadline day.

Mowbray also makes perplexing tactical decisions which do not help us trying to win games. This Gallagher on the wing shite is really infuriating and yesterday to have Armstrong as a lone striker, Chapman as a number 10 and Gallagher on the right was downright bizarre. Having Johnson who is a serious goal threat but a liability in front of his defence on the ball and Evans further forward with an onus to get forward was totally illogical too.

1 minute ago, JoeH said:

Cardiff showing yet again right now against PNE that playing with a solid defensive shape and hitting on the counter is the way to win games of football in the Championship.

 

There are many ways to skin a cat, Cardiff didnt manage to do that here and we will need to find a way to be able to break teams down if we have serious aspirations of a top 6 finish, no team can solely rely on counter attacking.

3 hours ago, JoeH said:

Elliott, Douglas and Trybull aren’t starting this game. It’s dreamland. We know Mowbray, we’ve heard the interviews. We need to be realistic in terms of our expectations for what the Starting XI will be.

The side I picked was not the one that I expect Mowbray to pick, and I havent seen any interviews. It is the one that I would pick.

You mention continuity but the last couple of performances have been dire, and changing a few might provoke that to change.

I have always felt that beyond the goalscoring of Armstrong and when fit Dack, I am not convinced by the supporting cast, but we definitely need to change things up there. I wouldnt ideally want Gallagher to start games (especially as it leaves no strikers on the bench) but I see little alternative.

He seemingly has more in the forlorn hope that Brereton will start contributing, so maybe he will give him another game, for me he has to be dropped.

Likewise with Dolan, I was criticised for suggesting that we were getting excited prematurely after a couple of games, he is so raw and has been totally ineffective, and needs to learn to only do tricks in the right area. He hasnt played a senior game before this season, taking him out for now and 

If I had to guess what Mowbray will do, it will be Armstrong central, Gallagher wide, and one other from Dolan, Brereton and if fit, Rankin Costello.

Douglas is obviously better than Bell, who was typically frustrating yesterday, technically sloppy and in a home game that demanded him to go forward, he was totally ineffective in attacking areas, I dont remember one accurate cross from either full back. Mowbray thinks that he has been "excellent" which I hope is purely a case of man management but Douglas with Nyambe, Lenihan and Ayala is our best defence and Bell hasnt been particularly good individually, so surely if fitness permits going to our best defence if anything is good for continuity?

In midfield, if I was to predict what Mowbray will do, Johnson will be in front of the back 4 which exposes his weaknesses. I would play Trybull there if fitness provides, if not we probably have little choice but to put Evans there, in a role that doesnt require him to be creative. Johnson and ideally Holtby can play in front of him and if the latter is still on paternity leave, we really do have a problem as I am unsure who else we can play there.

Hopefully we can make a few changes to freshen things up. I think Dolan and Brereton need to come out of the team, Elliott should come in and with Dack still out and Rothwell likely to be out isolating, I see little choice but to give Gallagher a shot. Armstrong has struggled to get involved so have him from the left, under no circumstances should Gallagher play wide. Douglas needs to come in at left back, we look weak in central midfield so hopefully Holtbys extended paternity wont extend to Wednesday, and hopefully Trybull can sit in front of the back 4. If Downing signs prior, get him on the bench over Bell.

Kaminski

Nyambe Ayala Lenihan Douglas

Trybull

Holtby Johnson

Elliott Gallagher Armstrong 

Subs: Pears, Williams/Wharton, Rankin Costello, Bell, Evans, Brereton, Dolan

Its an important game. Lose a very difficult fixture and 7 points from 6 games is not the best start.

If someone doesnt rate a player, a forum is the perfect place to share such an opinion. I dont see how that warrants comments about the relief of the poster not working for the club, it doesnt mean that in that scenario he would just repeatedly tell the player how much he doesnt rate him.

There is also an element of hypocrisy in saying that you "dont see much in Grayson" only to immediately follow it by saying that you wouldnt say so on a public forum!

1 hour ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Johnson isn’t an attacking player. He’s just as slow as Evans. Just has more technical ability and a better boot on him. Never an attacking player. Seems to huff and puff after making a 10 yard dart.

I disagree that Johnson is technically better than Evans. Evans is very limited but he is neat and tidy, you can give him the ball on the half turn and he wont usually give it away. Johnson is really poor technically, it was his poor pass that led to the winner and he has tried to pick the ball up off the defence countless times and had the ball taken off him in his time here, he has been lucky that it hasnt led to more goals. He is a powerful player though and has scored lots of goals at this level.

Just now, islander200 said:

Yeah ok you accept useless is harsh and you don't think quoting my post about Bradley Johnson and going on a rant about Brereton isn't obsessive?.IV seen you do this before with chaddy making out it's a myth when it clearly isn't.Some players get irrational negativity...even when said player plays well .You responding to mine the way you did is my case in point my quoted post had absolutely nothing to do Johnson.

And you are also making out that I'm saying Brereton is brilliant which I'm not but he was better in those 3 games than you suggest.Did you play at all? The runs Brereton was making in those games dragging players out of position etc are an important side of the game again not earth shattering,he played a part in all the goals we scored at Derby.Im just saying he has been better,last 2 games everyone been shit apart from the defence and I thought Brereton played the best of the 3 today all poor tho 

I am not saying that you are implying that Brereton is brilliant, I know you aren't.

I also disagree that Brereton was the best of the 3, I thought all 3 were equally totally ineffective to be honest.

To be honest, my comments were mainly aimed at DaveyB who said that "the fact that Ben is getting pelters and the other 2 aren’t being mentioned says more about the posters on here than it does about him." I think that until he starts contributing in front of goal, and thats not me expecting a 20 goal season, just a contribution, or really impacting on games, he will always be picked out. I also dont think that its realistic to totally eradicate the price tag from any analysis, although the standards that he is failing to meet are not that of a 7m forward. I think that there is a common implication that Brereton is unfairly picked out, I actually think that overall, our fanbase has been patient with him considering how poor his Rovers career has been to date.

You did put:

"I find it pretty pathetic your obsession with Brereton, he didn't put the 7 million price tag on his head, didn't force Mowbray to pay it, as far as I'm aware he has never bigged himself up but this season at least he has been trying.And whatever you say he did play well in the first 3 games, last 2 games not many have played well" 

so I mainly included your post in regards to your comment that "this season at least he has been trying" as an example of how low the benchmark is for him. I am desperate for him to succeed and indeed naturally I have on occasion seen little slithers of improvement post lockdown and got excited, perhaps prematurely. 

7 minutes ago, islander200 said:

It's not a myth he responded to one of my posts where Brereton wasn't even mentioned had nothing to do with Brereton and gave me a rant of how poor Brereton is, that's pretty obsessive in my book.So not sure what you on about?He also said Brereton has done nothing again this season which clearly isn't true so that's not saying it how it is it?

I know you will say not many assists and no goals true, but Brereton has played a  role in our good performances this season.He had a hand in all the goals against Derby, and his drive and run set Rothwell away to assist against Wycombe.Im not claiming that's groundbreaking stuff and nor am I saying he has been amazing but he did do well in those 3 games last 2 games so have the rest been shit apart from defence.So your telling me him saying Brereton has been useless this season isn't BS?

I would say that useless as an overall judgement is harsh. I think in 2 games he has been totally unthreatening but has done neat bits and pieces in non dangerous areas. In 4 games, he has done nothing. And in the Doncaster game, very mixed. Missed an open net, good play in the build up to the second. 

1 hour ago, islander200 said:

My god.Do you think we will line up with a midfield 3 of Johnson, Evans and Buckley many times this season.

When you saw Evans and Johnson together in the starting line up did you think we were likely to create a lot of chances today?

Do you not think that players such as Dack, Elliot, Rothwell and Holtby would have made a difference today?

Douglas coming in at left back ,do you not think his wand of a left foot will aid us in creating chances?

We were poor today no doubt but is it just me that can see the amount of players missing from the squad today?

56 minutes ago, Fraserkirky said:

This Mowbray got undone nonsense is absolutely ridiculous. Mowbray put every attacker he has on the pitch today, switched formation at halftime. We looked fairly solid at the back but struggled to break a very well organized Forest side down. 
I was more upset about the Cardiff game then today, knowing that 5/6 of the front 6 won’t be playing very shortly. 

Ayala I thought was solid today. Lenihan too for the most part. Nyambe and Bell were okay. 
Midfield diabolical, and with Johnson looking like he was half cut, what on earth was he doing for the goal. Player of month, absolute nonsense.

Evans with a pathetic first half in particular, he so slow and boring, should be long gone. Buckley, I’ll hold my hands and say I was wrong, he looked nervous and shaky all game, couple of nice balls but need more.

Brereton poor, Gallagher not a footballer and Armstrong’s movement was dreadful not for the first time, when teams sit in he is useless. Dolan just lost his starting job.

There will be way more enjoyable Sat afternoons then that. 

Would not be surprised if it’s Rothwell Trybull Holtby next week. Rothwell was a massive miss today and makes the 4-3-3 tick for me

 

Mowbray definitely warrants an element of sympathy for the missing players, no doubt about it, but it also doesn't give him a free pass regarding his management of the players that were available. 

You look at how he used the attacking players especially in the second half. The constant Gallagher on the wing experiment, it has never worked. There was nothing stopping Gallagher going alongside Armstrong up top, especially when Chapman came on, a winger played in a number 10 position to allow Gallagher to continue to plod up and down the line unsuccessfully. If either of Armstrong and Gallagher were to play anywhere apart from right up front, surely it was Armstrong who is far more effective out wide and also was struggling to get much of the ball in a central role.

You also look at how he used Johnson, a player incapable of taking the ball on the half turn, much deeper than Evans who is incapable of any sort of creativity or goal threat. The late winner came from sloppiness in possession by Johnson, and it is far from the first time.

It is also not satisfactory to avoid criticism simply by "putting every attacker on the pitch." We only have 2 out and out strikers and the taller one was lumped on the wing. He did change the formation but it didnt make any positive difference.

34 minutes ago, DaveyB said:

Lots of criticism on here for Brereton, but he was comfortably the pick of the 3 forwards that started this afternoon. 
 

Not saying that he played particularly well, but the other 2 were worse and the fact that Ben is getting pelters and the other 2 aren’t being mentioned says more about the posters on here than it does about him.  

1 hour ago, islander200 said:

Why are you mentioning Brereton in that post.They don't play the same position.

And like I said in a previous post when every body fit it will be Armstrong, Dack, Elliot as the front 3.

Brereton doesn't play as a striker for us.He was ok v Bournemouth,better at Wycombe and excellent at Derby.Been poor the last 2 games but so has Dolan and Armstrong.

Breretons runs and general play led to goals in the Wycombe and Derby matches.

I find it pretty pathetic your obsession with Brereton, he didn't put the 7 million price tag on his head, didn't force Mowbray to pay it, as far as I'm aware he has never bigged himself up but this season at least he has been trying.And whatever you say he did play well in the first 3 games, last 2 games not many have played well

Not this myth about people being "obsessed" or overly critical with Brereton. If anything, many are incredibly patient and cling onto any slither of hope of an improvement desperate for him to do well. For most of his Rovers career, he has not looked comfortable on a football pitch. Since lockdown, he has shown small glimpses of hope, occasional runs, neat touches of hold up play, little contributions into moves for goals, but bar one goal, he has offered no goalscoring threat at all. Sometimes he is neat and tidy, he is ok if not threatening, sometimes like today he is totally ineffective. He was decent away at Derby, ok but not stand out v Wycombe and poor at Bournemouth, as well as today and v Cardiff. I thought it was pretty telling that when we needed a goal today, Brereton was replaced for Brennan who is clearly a million miles from Championship standard. It shows the level of the benchmark he is aiming to improve upon that merely trying is an improvement!

The thing with Armstrong is that he is the top scorer in the league with Toney, he was very quiet but he has credit in the bank having impressed so much to justify the occasional quiet game. I think whilst understandable, the excitement over Dolan was well over the top, he has not been in a senior squad before this season. Brereton has played over 100 times in the Championship and he offers absolutely no threat whatsoever. You could argue that his lack of contribution in spite of plenty of appearances is more damning than the price tag.

Also, @JoeH you mentioned that you felt that Hughton would play a much more aggressive and expansive game that what we saw to try and satisfy the fans at home and the hierarchy. I was personally not surprised to see a well drilled Forest built on structure and organisation and one that ultimately grew into the game and unfortunately I felt possibly deserved their narrow win.

8 minutes ago, Stuart said:

Sheffield Wednesday’s points deduction aside, our convincing wins were against bottom three sides with 1 win in 10 games between them.

A false dawn?

I think the excitement  understandably came from the manner and scoreline of those wins, there were specific small periods in which we scored 3 in quick succession.

There doesnt seem to be an in between at the moment, in neither of the last 2 games did we even threaten the goal.

Ultimately, a start of 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses is decidedly average.

7 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

You honestly went home disappointed after winning a Premier League game? Seeing our beloved Rovers, a club with limited resources, in the top half of the biggest league in the world?

Just can’t fathom that, honestly.

Its crazy, there seems to have been a shift in recent years within the whole culture of football whereby there is a certain type of football that seems to be considered acceptable and mandatory, passing it out from the back etc and if anyone shifts from that, regardless of results, they are treat with scorn.

The result has almost become of secondary importance. Another aspect is that the skill of goalscoring seems to have fallen down in the ranking of importance for attacking players. Being a consistent, prolific goalscorer doesnt do it for some people anymore.

I do worry as to whether Mowbray even knows his best team and what it will settle down as, in spite of some exciting transfer business.

I think that the back 4 and keeper picks itself, id like to think that Mowbray sees that Douglas is an upgrade on Bell, that Lenihan and Ayala are our best 2 centre backs, and that Nyambe needs to play and Rankin Costello as a full back is nothing more than cover.

I think there is a lot of excitement especially in attacking areas that we have plenty of options but I have serious misgivings as to how many are of any substance and indeed how to build around those.

I suspect that we are going to have to pick 3 central midfielders due to the abundance of players that we have in there, especially with Downing to come. But I am unsure as to which 3 are the best trio.

In attack though, for all of the numbers, I am not sure which ones are going to make meaningful contributions. Armstrong is an obvious one but for the second game in a row today, he looked completely helpless, isolated, frustrated and fed up. We need Dack to come back in as soon as possible, and seemingly will have to guarantee Harvey Elliott a key role, a player of raw talent but one we cannot be sure if he himself will be a threat. Gallagher is poor and continuously stuck out wide, Brereton is mainly a waste of space, Dolan is so raw, Rothwell flatters to deceive, Rankin Costello doesnt really have the attributes to stand out, Chapman looks a bit of a busted flush, we only really have 2 forwards to play centrally.

The 2 obvious ones that have to play are Dack and Armstrong, and then Elliott I am sure will have a big role. But how do you fit them 3 in to the same team to get the best out of them? If we keep the 3 in midfield, you probably need to go with a false 9, Armstrong from the left and Elliott from the right. The team at the moment seems to lack any sort of real substance in attack.

Absolutely horrendous watch and performance as per the Cardiff game but we couldnt even cling on to a clean sheet.

I get that we had plenty of players unavailable but Mowbray got his tactics wrong again. Firstly, I mentioned earlier that Johnson cannot play on the half turn, his passing is not good enough and he is not a sitter, whereas Evans gets a nose bleed if given any license to attack. Them 2 were played the wrong way around. Also, the Gallagher on the wing shite again was bizarre. If he is to come on, of which we had little alternative due to only having 2 strikers in the squad, then either put Gallagher up front WITH Armstrong, or if you definitely want only one, Armstrong was getting little of the ball so move him out wide, get Gallagher down the middle rather than out wide which he clearly cannot do but only Mowbray thinks he can. Then he brought on a winger, and put him as a number 10 and then left Gallagher wide! Absolutely bizarre and costly.

Buckley had a chance to make a real push for a place today and it couldnt have gone any worse for him, he was absolutely awful, didnt get involved and some terrible passing. I was always wary about the hype that Dolan got after a couple of promising performances, apparently that was being miserable but I felt that even then he seemed so raw and has been really poor in these last 2 games, even doing stupid tricks in the wrong areas. He is so young, so raw and we cant be relying on him to play every week. Take him out the side for now and hopefully he can learn and impact from the bench. Brereton was again absolutely awful too, we cling onto performances when he does little bits of neat play amidst offering zero goal threat, he has reverted back to looking out of place being on a football pitch. 

Lenihan and especially Ayala are not the most cultured defenders but I do feel that we are solid there for the most part, they do the basics well, Ayala looks a very good signing. I thought the full backs both had very mixed games, neither offered a genuine attacking threat, both run forward stop and turn back, Nyambe made a couple of defensive slips as did Bell with sloppy passes.

Alot of snobbery towards Hughton and their style but I felt that Forest edged the game really, they had the decent chances and got very lucky with the goal but were desperately unlucky minutes earlier when Ameobi hit the post. 

Mowbray needs to be brave with his team selection v Watford. Buckley has missed his chance and Dolan and Brereton have been really poor in the last 2 games. Bell is constantly sloppy and obviously the midfield balance is not right. I would like to see Douglas, Trybull, Elliott, Rothwell and Holtby start if they are all available.

He has said post match that "it was a team thrown together" and regarding the internationals, "how are you supposed to put a football team together thats well coached and structured." He is making excuses there. For a start, Hughton managed it, and Mowbray surely has had time to build a structure that doesnt require loads of work each game to be structured and organised, its not as if the new players all started, it was a set of players that have featured regularly so it shouldnt have a feel of being thrown together.

Very, very weak bench and not the strongest line up, A shame that none of the new signings could be on the bench. Missing a lorry load of players. Hopefully at least most of Elliott, Trybull, Douglas, Holtby, Rothwell, Pears, Williams and Rankin Costello can be in contention midweek. Maybe Downing too.

Hopefully we can grind our way to a victory, Forest will be a different animal with a new manager but ultimately a home game v a team with 4 losses in 4 has to be one we expect to win.

7 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Interesting. See I also agree that he’ll be lickin his lips at the prospect of Douglas swinging crosses to the back post for Gally to throw himself at....but he’s loving this new set up and I think he’ll want to get on the training ground with them both first. Maybe he’ll throw them both on at some point. See if it clicks..

If Rothwell isn’t fit I’m almost certain it will be Evans Johnson Buckley which is more balanced. Evans fitness is a pain but when fit he very rarely lets us down imo.

Trybull is a 6 (Pivot) by all accounts. Plays at the base of the three, breaks play up and distributes. He’s covering Johnson who won’t be able to play twice a week until Christmas and based on last season could just fizzle out completely. Davenport, if he can kick on is a natural successor for Johnson next season.

Trav, Holtby, Rothwell, Evans and Buckley are 8’s. High energy, ‘up and downers’ with varied skills sets..(Evans and Trav more combative whilst the others are more creative).

Nit sure how I’ve got into 6’s and 8’s ?? but it’s clear we’re trying to emulate something like Klopps Liverpool...

I would disagree on the best roles of Evans and Johnson. Johnson is better breaking forward, sit him in front of the back 4 and he is not very good taking the ball on the half turn, his strengths lie in the power he offers and the goal threat he gives us breaking from deep. Whereas Evans is very conservative, a lot more neat and tidy and can take the ball on the half turn and perhaps more disciplined but offers absolutely zero going forward.

"Hate" towards Bennett? Absolute bollocks. I have never seen one person question Bennett as a leader, a role model, a human being, or a representative of the club. I dont think anyone could or does show anything like "hate" towards him.

It is not hate to hold the opinion that in any position, he weakens our side and has nothing to offer an ambitious Championship side on the field. That isnt hate or disrespectful, thats a fairly widely held opinion from the looks of things.

We always seem to veer back towards this glass half full v glass half empty, positive v negative shite too.

6 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

He’s definitely the teachers pet but the more you get to know him the more understandable if is. He’s just such a decent guy. The perfect man to lead our club...and he’s had a good career too. Played at the top level. Now he’s not playing and still a brilliant influence on the group.

Not many of these types around. He’ll be missed when he’s gone.

I dont think you need to get to know him to realise that Bennett as a personality seems to be fairly unquestionable. No one has ever doubted that.

The perfect man to lead our club is an interesting conundrum really. As a person, unquestionable, but I would also argue that as a leader/captain, you also have to be able to contribute on the pitch. Sadly for Bennett, as was the case for another good professional and leader in Mulgrew before, the time came when his ability on the pitch let him down. 

As it is, we do have experience and leadership amidst the team, Lenihan seems a leader, Ayala, Douglas, Johnson, soon to be Downing, of course all of these can offer competence on the pitch.

I believe he suffered a serious injury when at Norwich, I remembered him as being much faster for them compared to when he signed for us. Maybe the Bennett we got had matured as a person to the man we see today, but a lot of what made him the player he was had been lost.

4 hours ago, rigger said:

How do you know that in twelve months we will not have a left back ?

I mean that as it stands, our 2 contracted left backs, one loan and one permanent both are out of contract

I am not suggesting that we will go into next season with no left backs. I am happy with the signing of Douglas, less so with the renewal of Bell, but I was just comparing the situation to in goal last season, when we had Walton on loan and Leutwiler with a year to go, both departed at the end of the season and the position needed a factory reset, which it has had.

Maybe if Manning was available at such a knockdown fee, he would have perhaps been a more long term focused addition at left back. That being said, Douglas should be a shrewd short term addition.

8 minutes ago, Wood26 said:

You need to accept our owners took over and took wrong direction and screwed up.  Since Mowbray has been in, our owners have been nothing but supportive.

Venkys messed up, we get it, get over it, realise they have changed their ways and back the club.

Venkys are going no where, Jack Walker isn’t coming back.

No one has ever expected them to be at Jack Walker's standards, such a comparison is illogical and ultimately provocative. They have gone from years of being disruptively prevalent to conveniently absent. A transfer window in which weve relied on frees, loans and a couple of minimal fees is no reason to start blowing smoke up their arse.

1 hour ago, Vilesinner said:

I certainly does. They are losing a fortune supporting us. We only need to look at Wigan and Bolton to see what could happen.

If they are your standards, not being in administration (the 2 comparisons are totally different situations) and being thankful merely to be in business then fair enough, each to their own I suppose.

Mowbray hasnt spent loads of money at all this window, he personally (plus perhaps scouting etc) deserves the praise if deemed that he has utilised his limited resources well to the benefit of the squad. Venkys havent bankrolled a summer splurge of transfers, Mowbray has just utilised the loan, free agent and European markets to improve the squad on a budget.

Nor is it this brilliant deed to ultimately have gotten themselves into a position whereby a company they own is making losses that they have to supplement.

1 hour ago, J*B said:

The constant berating of Sparks off the back of something he’s been told and shared us pretty dull. He got told something, it didn’t happen, end of story. I would encourage him to post next time he hears something, too. 

I understand that but I also think that if people post things that arent right, then they shouldnt be untouchable either, as others have said im sure he understands that it is just a bit of joking around, if someone posts a rumour that repeatedly doesnt materialise, I am not sure if it is fair to start intervening as you have threatened if people have a bit of gentle ribbing that the rumour isnt correct, just out of fear that ITK titbits will dry up. Of course it is welcomed but "ITK's" shouldnt surely be treat any differently/favourably?

23 minutes ago, JoeH said:

What you reckon to Douglas mate? You happy with that one or would you have preferred Cunningham?

Im worried about injury proneness a little with him, and lacks a bit of speed, but IMO the creativity and set pieces more than make up for it

He is one of the signings that I would say I am most happy with. Ayala is the main one for me, the one I am most confident on but I am happy with Douglas.

The injuries are of course a concern and I would have preferred Cunningham, who also has injury conerns. Also, my worry is that we are in a similar position to in net a year ago, in 12 months we havent got a left back, Douglas will be a free agent but also 32. But I am happy with his signing, I think he is a big upgrade, he also can give us good set pieces which is a bonus. I dont think pace is critical and he will be an attacking threat.

Even Mowbray wouldnt play Bennett carrying a serious injury! Wouldnt be surprised if Gallagher starts however.

Its a strange do if chaddy is called negative after a signing spree!

To be fair to him, he said beforehand that he didnt want a winger and he is sticking to that opinion. Disagreed at the time and still do but fair play for not changing his opinion ?

A window in which on paper the manager has utilised fairly limited resources very capably, with 2 fees of under half a million, 3 freebies and 3 loans, and it warrants asking to welcome back the idiots owners!

1 minute ago, JacknOry said:

I think us, Forest and Cardiff have been the biggest movers in the transfer window. When you look through Forests squad its just wow. Cardiff, not so much but they have brought in some good players but i dont think they were the right club for Wilson (probably the only one willing to stump up for him).

Bristol City, Birmingham, ourselves, Cardiff and maybe QPR have had good windows for me. Sheffield Wednesday decent too, and Watford have done well to keep so many of their best players.

Derby and Huddersfield have had particularly strange windows. Not sure on Forest, plenty of quality but also plenty of holding midfielders and far too many bodies. That being said, their last 2 of Knockaert and Hughton are very impressive.

Preston a strange one. Very quiet but plenty of players with only a year on their contract.