roversfan99

Common consensus from what ive seen is that Pinnock was very much the better player in that partnership. If we do anything about this supposed interest, I hope it is at least a permanent deal and we try and make a partnership with Lenihan. And play full backs both so high up leaving him isolated. Although I think we will need a right footed CB either way.

It is a strange situation we are in because our first choice CB is right footed and the 2 back up options with senior experience are Wharton and Williams. If we was to get another left footer then it would potentially add balance alongside Lenihan but it would mean that should he get injured as he often does, we need to play 2 left footers which Mowbray doesnt like.

Just had a quick look and it seems that the common consensus was that Pinnock was very much the asset in his partnership with Lindsay and indeed Lindsay has made numerous mistakes for Stoke hence falling down the pecking order. Also a slow defender so wouldnt suit us playing a higher line. http://barnsleyfc.org.uk/threads/liam-lindsay.284603/ https://mobile.twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1186727088373583873?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1186727088373583873|twgr^&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2Ftwitter.min.html1186727088373583873 A mistake he made last season.

We collect a very healthy level of points with those 2. Plus we concede plenty of goals so the more protection and stability that we can give back there, the better. Its the same when we play 2 "attacking" full backs who not only provide very little creativity but leave big holes. But after the window had closed, you was quick to mock those who had suggested that Stoke had done some good business. Lindsay didnt impress for Stoke, I had a quick look and their fans dont seem too fond of him. If our European scouting network can not find anything better than a player we were linked with last year and who has struggled to perform at Championship level, currently 5th or 6th choice at a team who conceder more goals and finished lower than us. Surely you understand the scepticism? It would be impossible to muster up any enthusiasm if we loaned him too. That being said, it seems we havent even bid for him. That being said, we need more than just a couple of new signings back there, especially when any CB is unlikely to be as good as Adarabioyo. We need to become more well organised and solid as a team. As I said above, having 2 attacking full backs is no use when we are conceding so many goals and especially as we rarely if ever have goals created from those areas.

Not even at the stage of testing the waters with a bid.

I wonder if its as accurate as the Iversen one last week!

You could say that about anyone. But it does bring me on to a different point you made. One of your main reasons for keeping Mowbray was because he held the key to our European scouting network. Since then, we have been tediously linked with players such as Pears, (his dad is Mowbrays former team mate at Boro) Iversen/Muric (kids on loan from English clubs like Walton was) and Souttar/Lindsay (players well down the pecking order at a club who finished further down with more goals conceded than us) and you have as far as I know, unsure on Pears, but seemed to endorse them all? Surely we should be raiding Europe for some unheralded gems to justify the point you made? Last year I am sure that you were very dismissive when people said that theyd have liked Lindsay here on the back of a League 1 season where he impressed. Now he has struggled to make the step up, how a year later is he suddenly a totally different proposition? Styles of defender, dear me. The best defenders help to stop the ball going into our net. If we signed him permanently, unsure but maybe. A loan of Stokes reserve CB would really be unambitious.

I thought that we found that we picked up more points against bottom half sides than against top half ones?

Davenport hasnt started a game for us yet as far as I know. So we cant know either way at this point. Evans next to Travis gets us results more often than not. No it isnt, but we also conceded 63 goals so it all needs re-evaluating. Burnley end up pinned back when they are playing top Premier League teams so it is imcomparable. Theres no way that they can stop that. We need to look at the way we are playing as much as who we are bringing in, otherwise we wont get near the play offs. I dont think its possible to bring in a partner for Lenihan as good as Adarabioyo. But you look for example at the full backs BOTH being pushed up. Seldom if ever are our full backs creators of our goals, so why do we need them both so high up at the same time?

Lindsay and Pinnock were both good at League 1 level and both rumoured last year. Pinnock easily made the step up. Lindsay struggled hence why he has fallen so far down the pecking order. Not convinced plus if we loaned in Stokes 5th or 6th choice CB, that really would be poor. If it is permanent then fair enough. May be worth us getting 2 CBs in if we can, because we know that it is going to be difficult to replace Adarabioyo, plus we would only have Lenihan as a right footed senior CB. Is a player Stoke have already deemed to be surplus to requirements going to be an improvement on Adarabioyo? I doubt it so that means we are weaker there already. To be honest, reading Rich Sharpes article, it just seems to be a 2 plus 2 based on our interest last year. He himself said nothing is close yesterday so I wouldnt get too excited.

Not with those jeans.

Yeah, agree with you @Paul There is no way that fans attending football matches will be able to wait until a vaccine is made, tested, mass produced and crucially as you say willingly given to everyone. The first 3 will take far longer than many football clubs will be able to fend off administration even before you consider the last factor.

He was offered a new contract by Warnock but chose to have a fresh start with a manager that he has previously worked with in Aitor Karanka. Part of the criticism would come because of the managers lack of imagination in the transfer market if that happened, although that being said, Friend would get into our first team even if I would want better ideally.

The bit of transfer news that we do know is supposedly happening which has gone quiet is Downings contract. It would be crazy if he signed but missed any of pre season due to any dithering. It will be interesting to see how many if any of our signings are made from abroad to justify this "European scouting network."

Stoke have signed Steven Fletcher and Forest have Lyle Taylor in for a medical. Seems like things are starting to move elsewhere.

Charlton are not in a position to offer Naby Sarr a new contract due to their embargo. Left footed CB, good on the ball. Wonder if hes on the radar. Wouldnt be my choice personally because he has a mistake in him.

I read that Mowbray was back from his holiday at the start of this week.

Hall was just an example of a Championship defender, probably not as appealing as Dunkley, Fox and Chester albeit none are necessarily stand out. Hall was QPRs best CB but had injury problems. Ultimately they are all just standard Championship defenders that seemingly based on their new clubs were very obtainable. There is undoubtedly better out there but I am unconvinced that Mowbray will either find better or indeed we will be in a financial market to sign better considering that we have other urgent priorities too.

If we had kept Cunningham fit, if we had kept Dack fit, if we had signed a better keeper... Top of the ifs and buts league. What style of play would you play @chaddyrovers

Regarding transfers elsewhere, Stoke signed left back Morgan Fox on a free, Sheffield Wednesday signed Chey Dunkley on the cheap, Neil Warnock signed Grant Hall at CB for free at Boro, Stoke also signed James Chester for free and Derby signed Groningens captain on a free. Ryan Woods also went to Millwall and Jack Colback has joined Forest. I think there are a few names there that seem fairly sensible transfers considering the current economic climate. The challenge is on Mowbray getting better than players like Fox, Chester and Dunkley on whatever budget he has. None are groundbreaking signings, lets see what he can do.

I am suggesting players who I THINK we should get, and the way I THINK we should play, not players who I think Mowbray will get, or who I think suit what I think Mowbrays planned tactics are. Otherwise I would be also suggesting "wide forwards" and "false 9s" who again I wouldnt play personally. It isnt pointless just because my opinion doesnt perfectly marry with what I think Mowbrays opinion is. Clarke is a fair shout, seemed decent when I saw him last season but then again, Derby conceded a goal more than us. He is hardly of the Adarabioyo mould of bringing it out from the back, I dont think a player of similar ability in that regard who also can help us keep more clean sheets is realistic if I am honest. If we can get a defender who (with the help of a goalkeeper and left back) helps us gets that goals conceded column down massively, that will do me just perfectly. Ideally with some recovery pace to allow us the option to push out a bit. If he is considered a "ball playing centre back" then thats a bonus. The 2 arent mutually exclusive (or mutant exclusive which sounds scary) but very difficult to get both so you have to prioritise.

Once Dack was injured, he played far more centrally and was far more effective. Thats why he started getting more goals. There was also an excellent performance at Sheffield Wednesday where he got 2 assists. He was much more central in the last 2 games too. He will always have that tendency to stray to the sides on occasion but he is far more effective centrally. Against Reading he was essentially left of a front 2, in a 4-2-2-2 formation, same v Luton. If anyone tended to spend more time wide, it was Brereton which allowed Holtby to come inside.

Have you ever seen this Chumi play? My point is that we must prioritise getting that goals against column down over playing it out from the back. If that means we have to become slightly more pragmatic and compromise on any principles to play out from the back, then so be it. As ever, you are just trying to second guess Mowbray to ensure that he appears to be right. I am worried that Mowbray will again not adequately fix the goals against column. If he fails to again, then I suspect it may be his last season as Rovers manager, and for the likes of Dack and Armstrong too. I never said necessarily sign a "no-nonsense" centre back, just that the main priority needs to be to stop conceding so many goals. If Kipre could slot in next to Lenihan for a cut price fee and help us get the goals against column down, as Bauer would have done, then he is perfect. As we have discussed, it is hardly as if the rest of our team is suited to playing that way anyway. Lenihan is very limited on the ball, and Travis and Evans are decent on the ball without being capable of regularly dictating games, but are much better getting in peoples faces and using their energy. A more important attribute might be recovery pace. That way, we can press higher up. If we can sign someone like Adarabioyo, then perfect but I dont think that is possible personally on our budget. Of course, the fact that Mowbray wants to doesnt mean that we should put our opinions directly in line. After all, he also felt it was the correct idea to sign Brereton and Gallagher for 12m. I personally think we are best when we are getting in teams faces, pressing high, using our energy and when possible, countering. I dont think its realistic to expect us to dominate games every week. I am not going to start recommending prioritising the ability to play out from the back and having wide strikers just because Mowbray has tried to do that. Wide forwards dont work either. Gallagher and Brereton lumbering down the sides? No thanks. Again, just because Mowbray chooses to play them, doesnt mean we have to endorse and agree with it. Have your own opinions.

The main reason for Armstrongs improvement has been playing mainly from a more central position, although post lockdown he played wider until the last 2 games, when he scored 2 more goals. If we can get him and Dack working in the same team from central roles and tighten up at the other end we might have half a chance.