Why they appointed him is pretty immaterial as it has gone horribly wrong. I didnt know who Siewert was and obviously he did a terrible job, my only qualm was you saying various managers deserved the job over him just because they were British. Nationality should be an irrelevance.

Im not Irish and I know that Roy Keane is a Premier League great. A leader and a key player in a dominant United team.

Hes been very quiet in this last couple of games but mainly because Brereton deserves a go in the 10, wouldnt be displeased to see Armstrong as the 9 and Rothwell wide left but personally went for Gallagher because he deserves another shot after scoring. Armstrong is very comfortable from wide, our other strikers very much arent. Another more pedantic answer I could have given you is that Armstrong isnt wide left, hes an inside forward ?

Has Johnson ever played at centre back? I found it a little strange that people were suggesting that he would on Saturday should either Nyambe or Adarabioyo get injured as I presumed Travis who did fill in at centre back away at West Brom last season.

I think Bennett will play just to give him the armband especially in the absence of Lenihan. Id give it to Downing or Travis.

Seems like Blackpool had very little plan in appointing a new manager, he must be their third or fourth choice if not more.

He did, only occasionally interrupted to sit up and moan at the ref before lying back down to roll around again.

The first sentence has no relevance (Alex Ferguson recommended David Moyes!) and the second sentence has absolutely no logic to it baring in mind they could very well go down. As @Mattyblue says you can cut the wage bill etc without having an absolute rookie in charge.

Walton Nyambe Adarabioyo Williams Bell Travis Johnson Downing Brereton Armstrong Gallagher Subs: Hilton, Bennett, Davenport, Rothwell, Buckley, Chapman, Graham Graham or Samuel a judgement call but need more of a balance on the bench. Brereton has to start to at least have the chance to build on his impressive cameo as a 10 and Gallagher scored as a 9 so deserves another go there. Williams is back training from today according to Mowbray so he slips in for Bennett and Nyambe back to his best position.

He hasnt shown anything suggest that he has what it takes to be a key player. Lets hope he starts contributing soon.

Dack is an upgrade on anyone, even Holtby who will be a very good stop gap until next winter. Theres no point losing sight of the fact that hes our best player and biggest goal threat and we wouldnt have to change formation or style to put him back in. Rothwell definitely has attributes but absolutely nothing at the end and has wasted his opportunities this season. Holtby obviously has the advantage of having proven himself far more in his career prior compared to Rothwell but in far less appearances this season I felt his general level of performance was far better and of course his end product.

What has Rothwell done to warrant us building the team around him? Absolutely nothing. Would play Dack or Holtby in that 10 position (a position of serious strength) and Armstrong up front and sign 2 wide men.

I dont understand how bringing Dack back in makes us any less balanced. Armstrong wasnt really moved central until just before Dack was injured but ultimately showed up very well playing with a number 10 in Holtby and would most likely do the same with our best player. We need new wingers regardless of what we do and Gallagher would naturally become an alternative to Armstrong up front.

Smallwood was good in League 1 yes. Reed felt somewhat restricted and at times ineffective from that wide role whereas he put in his best 3 performances in a Rovers shirt from central midfield and played well there for Fulham pre injury so I dont agree that he doesnt understand the position and thus am not confusing anything. When we initially came up Mowbray was very cautious with his team selections therefore a natural central midfielder out wide fit his definition of a defensive winger. Not at all. I was just wondering and am still in the dark if I am honest.

He felt that Smallwood was a shining example of how to play the position at that time though. He was very reluctant to break up that partnership of him and Evans but when Reed did play CM, West Brom away, Derby at home, Wigan at home, we was excellent, and he was somewhat stunted out wide.

Be interesting to see what happens now. If he starts in the same position v Derby he has another chance to build, if he is back on the bench or even on the wing its a wasted chance.

Out of interest, do you know Damien Johnson personally? Comes across as a bit david Brent like calling him "Jonty" all the time if not!

Dack has to play because he is our best player.

I suspect that Boro, Hull and Charlton are possibly more likely than Wigan to drop. For Boro to be in the bottom 3 is incredible.

I dont think hes disliked, most people put him in their team predictions but quite honestly his output in terms of end product has been non existent this season.

Dack has to play, I think he could well have been the difference in this last week. Still our best player. For me, him as a 10, Armstrong up front. Badly need 2 wide men in the summer as a priority. Rothwell has been desperately disapointing, doesnt have any end product. Holtby should start the season as our 10 in Dacks absence but not sure how we fit him in on Dacks return. As you touch on, none of the strikers playing there works either and Mowbray has to realise that. Would look to move on Bell, Samuel and Graham at the end of the season once their deals end. Obviously Walton and Adarabioyo need replacing, throw in 2 wingers, a left back and perhaps a striker before considering competition at CB and RB and its a busy window!

What did you make of the performance up front v the performance out wide from Gallagher? Agree with most of your post but Bennett was poor, gets dragged out of position too early and Ayew had joy down that side. Bell is just so ponderous. Samuel about as much of a wide man as Gallagher is, made no sense to play him there with 2 wingers on the bench.

The pitch seems to have been in poor condition for a while to be fair.

Was a definite stonewall penalty. Should have been a red card but thats Championship officials for you.

Just seen our penalty again, even more of a dive than I initially thought!