Big if.

You said I wrongly "wrote Smallwood off" (I dont think I ever wrote him off, maybe youve got me mixed up?) implying that me stating my valid doubts about Rothwell was me writing off him too, rather than judging him if he came to us. Id like to see us sign a higher calibre than an Oxford player who has struggled to maintain a place there for whatever reason. If he came Id obviously wait to judge him.

That wasnt the point you was making.

I dont think I did write off Smallwood, no. Im making a comment about whether I would want a player to be signed, I can do that without getting all the "judge him in a Rovers shirt" rubbish, Im not saying I wouldnt but not every signing has to be one that people fully agree with. If we signed a 40 year old from non league, would you still make these comments?

Dack was their star player, had won player of the year, been linked with Prem and Championship clubs and the fans seemed unanimous on him being an excellent player. I'm not dismissing him because of his team, ive even suggested players at smaller clubs (Adelakun and Maddison for example), im dismissing him because the fans seem split on him, hes not a regular and he has injuries.

Taylor, the same player who has at times struggled with injuries, and even when not, hes failed to dislodge an out of position and at one point unwanted Alan Hutton? Lansbury, who is again nowhere near the first team? Kodija whose spent most of the season injured? Hogan, who has badly struggled for goals and as a result, starts? Form an orderly queue.

Not sure players in and out of the Oxford team are what we need to improve.

Risk hasnt paid off and they are left with a massive wage bill, ageing squad which Bruce has helped to build and you mention how much they need to raise, whose sellable bar Grealish? Regardless, the size of the club means they can do a lot better than McDonald. Could be a good job for Big Sam.

Apologies if already said but may I ask what has brought you to this Rovers messageboard @Dryhorse ? Are you a Rovers fan? Or have a liking for Rovers? Not having a go by the way, genuinely dont know.

Dont get the need to state every top player left at home shows how weak England are. You look at the quality of our attack, Kane, Sterling, Lingard, Alli, all key players for top 4 clubs, Vardy scoring 20 goals as a sub, thats not the issue or the reason we may come unstuck, plus ive got no idea how Sane isnt in the Germany squad anyway, for the same reasons as @benhben has said.

There are hypocrisy, inconsistencies and holes throughout your arguments. I never said Heckingbottom was a poor choice in terms of his previous job, but in hindsight he was for Leeds because his results were really poor at Leeds. That would be like saying that Coyle wasnt a bad appointment here because he once got Burnley promoted. As @JacknOry agrees, there is a clear decrease in results from the previous manager, who himself was deemed to be underperforming. You mention De Boer, you said it was correct to sack him after 4 games if im not mistaken. It doesnt make any sense that in an isolated incident, you think thats the right decision to show absolutely no patience, and that 4 games is enough to judge and 16 isnt for Heckingbottom. Your point on Swansea/Leeds/Birmingham doesnt prove me wrong. Its all in the quality of manager, and the 3 you mentioned have continiously appointed poor manager after poor manager, and as I keep saying, thats where the issue lies. The quality of managers, if they got a manager that came in and pushed thim up the table, having a positive impact, do you still think they would sack him after a few months? The line in bold should read "Leeds' choices of managers appointed over the last few years have achieve nothing but disappointment and failure to make the playoffs." To be honest, I dont get why you prefer British managers, you wouldnt be allowed to have that attitude if you was a chairman, and even if youd prefer a British manager, you have to judge all managers irrespective of their nationality. Which goes back to my De Boer point, your insistence that he was rightly sacked after 4 games makes a mockery of your almost exclusively "give a manager more of a chance" mantra. Why you have a 3 man shortlist (with 4 names on it) as a potential Mowbray replacement doesnt make any sense either considering that there is no sign of him leaving soon, you dont want him to leave soon, and circumstances will most likely change massively when that time comes, but thats beside the point.

Bielsas record is almost identical to Heckingbottom at Lille and Leeds respectively. One deserved more time and ones a massive disappointment? Not saying the 2 jobs are remotely similar but that seems inconsistent and hypocritical. The point im making is their problem is not a lack of time, its the poor managers theyve appointed in the first place. If they appoint a good, suitable manager, then time in the job will result from his success. Short term success promotion is just as valid a system as giving someone 25 years, as long as you continue to appoint competent managers, Chelsea continue to win trophies, then replace managers at the sniff of any drop in standards, look at Watford, continually changing managers and never getting dragged anywhere near the bottom. You cant just keep a man in a job long term if you arent seeing signs that he is the man to bring you success long term. Patience doesnt solve everything. I feel like you obsess over "giving people time" a bit too much, its not always the answer and should only be allowed if the club feel that the manager is producing results and signs to suggest that he is the manager they need. Heckingbottom has a really poor record at Leeds, yes only over 16 games but Leeds have gone noticeably downhill even since Christiansens reign, which was also considered to be not good enough. So hed be saying You also seem to have a desperation to avoid foreign managers, which is unfair as much as wed all like loads of English managers, if it was at my club I couldnt give a crap what nationality our manager is, I just want a successful one.

Disagree, hes more of a number 10, hes not one to sit deep and control it. Dont think theres a case for building the midfield around him either, whats he done to prove he is THAT good to build a team around him.

Jekyll and Hyde performance, some lovely movement and interchange first half, albeit nowhere near ruthless enough., good to watch though. Second half ive no idea what happened, subs didnt help, an obvious downgrade bringing on Welbeck etc. Central midfield a problem, Dier is crap and we lack someone to calm it down when we go under pressure, im unconvinced that the way we played the 3 in midfield will work v better teams, may need to put the impressive Delph next to Henderson.

Because hes 33, and a winger whose played the majority of his career in Russia, apart from an underwhelming spell at Everton quite a while ago.

Bloody hope not. Doubt it.

My point is, that yes he didnt bring in any players, but with the same players that Christensen had, who was deemed to be underachieving, he was doing considerably worse thn him. Find it strange that you think Bielsa, a manager with a good CV is written off, yet you are so sure Lampard is a good appointment, a man with no managerial or coaching experience at all.

To be fair, it seems that under Heckingbottom, theyve actually gone backwards compared to under Christensen, his record albeit only over 16 games is incredibly poor, the fans seem unanimous in their response, its like with Lambert, patience is only good if you see signs of progression, and as I said and the stats prove, they have slid further under Heckingbottom. Not sure you can go down the "not another foreign manager" route either, I know you like promoting British managers but theyve given many a chance over the last few years, Redfearn, McDermott, Hockaday, Monk, Evans and now Heckingbottom and it hasnt worked for any of them. Bielsa seems to be a bit of a firecracker but hes a bit of a tactical revolutionist whose managed some big clubs and is highly respected by managers including Guardiola and Pochettino, so maybe it would be a far more exciting appointment than someone like McLaren, Lee Johnson, Dean Smith, or than a total novice like a Lampard or a Gerrard.

I know but im saying that its not that managers there arent being given enough time, its the quality of manager thats the issue. Bielsa is a hot head I think but is well thought of and experienced. Suppose Leeds could argue they went with an English manager and look how that went.

The problem is in the poor managers, not the system. Look at Chelsea and Watford, both have achieved relative success with a short term hire and fire system.

What do you base Lampards prospects on chaddy may I ask? Think hes done well to get a chance so high in the pyramid based on very little. Very much an unknown quantity.

Based on what? Not sure Pilkingtons one of the pacy wingers I had in mind either.

Cant see him coming to be back up, he starts where he is, so where would this leave Raya?

Agree on 3 at the back not working for us, and also on keeping Williams away from centre back. (he also prevents Mulgrew from being able to bring it out from the back in that formation as Mulgrew is then pushed central, but thats another issue) Disagree on the need for a blood and thunder centre back, Mulgrew and Lenihan are an excellent pairing, they didnt have a season together in the Championship, Mulgrew signed quite a few games in, both had injuries and flirted with the idea of being central midfielders. (an idea correctly abandoned for various reasons) The likes of Greer, Brown, Wharton, Hoban, Ward and a Shane Duffy insistent on a move were all unworthy stand ins, Mulgrew and Lenihan were 2 of the players that looked more than capable at that level, and hopefully will be again, fitness permitting. I wouldnt reject the idea of a centre back to cover them, but it wouldnt be a priority.

Please can you remind me of what games he played well in? Should sign our promotion team from 2001 back, Flitcroft, Duff, Dunn etc, if thats the reasoning. You need something on top of experience.