Hasnt really been the case barring yesterdays performance but I hope he improves on the back of it. He has the quality to do so.

I wonder why Derby said that about a first team regular. Seemed very strange.

Why when neither are good enough at this present time, are behind quite a few better players and could do with regular game time at a lower level. Goalkeeper wise, we could do with an immediate upgrade, theres no point thinking about next season when we want to get into the top 6 this season. We need to not get into the habit of just adding squad players or ones foe the future who wont play.

It was strange that they did let him leave, considering he has become a regular staple of a side that got to the play off final. I am not sure whether it was their new manager having new ideas, whether we offered a bigger contract, length wise or wages wise, there were mentions of consistency issues following his hefty price tag. I suppose their failings this year dont really suggest that their decisions in general have been justified.

I think it is fair to say that his transfer record, even this season, has been mixed if you was to judge now. Only Downing and Adarabioyo for me at this moment could be judged as a success, both have undoubtedly improved the quality of our starting 11. Cunningham would have definitely been a success but for his unfortunate injury which means his impact was sadly very short lived. Johnson culminating in the Birmingham game has been a big disappointment. He was a signing of proven quality but up until yesterday his performance level had been pretty poor, repeatedly loose in possession and giving the ball away in dangerous areas, far from the all action midfielder he has shown that he is before he joined and of course yesterday. Mowbray said that he felt that Johnson commuting every day and at times living out of hotels (including a mention of eating hotel food) may have been sapping his energy levels and he explained that it was a big factor in him being dropped for the last 6 weeks. The quality is there, he showed that yesterday, so maybe once hes come to speed and maybe sorted his living arrangements out, he will go from the jury being very much still out to the successful signing we had hoped. Holtby was a very exciting signing in terms of his calibre but again he cant be deemed a success because he is yet to find a home in our team. I think his quality is higher than most of our other players but with his best position being the same as Dacks, we have to find another position to get him in affecting games on a regular basis before we can call him a success. Walton has made a number of costly mistakes and has not been the upgrade on the eccentric Raya that we were hoping for, I wouldnt say that he is a success or a failure really, and his errors have reduced in the last 2 or 3 weeks. Gallagher for me is the most questionable of the 7 signings, and the jury still being out would be a very generous conclusion at this moment in time. For 5m, only 2 goals after starting the majority of games has been a really disappointing start to his second spell at the club. Last season, he made the signings of Reed, who was a success, Armstrong, who has started contributing more consistently lately so maybe he can just about be considered a success, Davenport who has played about an hour of football in 1 and a half years, Rothwell who has not impacted the team (perhaps due to a mixture of Mowbray and himself) enough to be a success for all of his ability, jury out there, Rodwell who was mixed (had talent but questionable attitude and certainly not fit for purpose having been signed as a CB) and obviously the unequivocal failure that has been Ben Brereton. So a very mixed transfer record. The squad is better than the one he inherited, but hes spent a fair bit of money on fees and wages and like you said, like every manager, there is a mix of successes, failures and quite a lot of players who clearly have ability but have yet to prove that they are a success.

Buckley is miles away from being in a position to add value to our team at the moment, barring his deflected winner v Sheffield Wednesday, he comes on and doesnt add anything, he looks like a little boy lost. He is only a young and incredibly slight young lad who would probably benefit from regular football in a lower league where he could toughen up without costing us in the process. We have Dack, Rothwell, Holtby, Armstrong, Downing and Bennett so he wont be missed. Chapman and Rankin Costello, or at least one of them, would also benefit from this if they arent going to get a game for the first team, Brereton did ok yesterday but he never looked like scoring and he probably contributed the least out of the 11 starters. He hasnt been missed during his absence and he often doesnt look up to standard. Again, some regular game time could do him the world of good.

You seem to still be under the impression that all of the responsibility in regards to chance creation falls at the feet of the midfielders. The reason that Dack scores so many tap ins is because his movement and anticipation gets him into the correct positions. It is not a coincidence that Dack, despite being slower and smaller, gets many more chances "created" for him.

Whilst I understand that this is not the point you are making, Gallagher lacks the aeriel ability, strength and hold up play to play such a role. I thought yesterday he did bring plenty of selfless running but didnt offer that much directly productive in terms of attacking aside from that half chance he had which he took well to be fair and drew a save. I certainly would do that swap, even accounting for the risk that Rhodes would never recreate the incredibly consistent and prolific strike rate that he had the first time he was here. I think goalscoring is becoming an underrated part of actually being a striker, and theres no comparison of a one in two striker compared to a one in maybe six or seven.

He definitely had one of his better games yesterday, plenty of selfless running. I am not sure at all that you can describe him as an "astute acquisition" yet though personally, we spent a decent chunk of money on him, yet in 15 starts and 2 sub appearances, he has only scored 2 goals. He has more often than not been ineffective. One thing I would say is there seems to be a lot more there compared to our other big money striker signing.

Do you have a link to that? Not sure how I feel, excellent left back at this level but big risk after not his first serious injury.

Absolutely tremendous performance and result, possibly the best of the season, and I am absolutely decided to say that Mowbray got everything spot on today, well done to him, delighted. Johnson put in exactly the sort of performance I expected to see, great goal, great assist from his pressing and just so tenacious and much neater in possession than usual. Travis was superb next to him and you would have hated playing against them. Holtby was also full of quality, great corner for the goal and just usually very economical and composed, and ran himself ragged, as did Bennett who was quietly effective and is much more effective in midfield than in defence. Defensively, Lenihan has made a monumental difference, seems to have become much calmer and less rash and is a proper leader back there. Adarabioyo was very good again beside him, our defence has come on leaps and bounds. Nyambe again was terrific and special mention to Bell, been really poor throughout his time here, doesnt play for ages and comes in and performs like that. Good going both ways, I remember a couple of excellent bits of defensive work when 99% of the time he usually lets a cross in, no such luck for their wingers today. Walton with one crucial save that I remember, otherwise very calm dealing with crosses but very little to do. Thought Brereton was our most ineffective player to be honest, tried and did one good pass first half to set up Johnson but hasnt done anything to make Mowbray pick him next time. Gallagher was better, clumsy at times and shattered at the end but ran his socks off without really coming close. Armstrong came on and had an impact, great composure for the goal, I think the gauntlet was put down to him and Rothwell to start contributing with goals and assists, 5 starts and a sub apeparance each, Armstrong has 2 goals and 2 assists, Rothwell nothing sadly. Some very tough decisions to ponder over the next 9 days before Wigan. Which 2 from Johnson, Travis and Evans in midfield? Who plays up front, not sure either did enough to guarantee a start, definitely not Brereton and Dack obviously should play, but who next to? Who plays wide, Holtby was very impressive and Bennett did his understated job very efficiently, or do you bring in some pace, especially with Armstrong scoring. And even at left back, Bell has come from nowhere to be entitled to be annoyed if hes dropped again for Downing.

Whats that got to do with anything? All players want out when they leave, fact is that he consistently scored goals and gave his all from the start to the end of his Rovers career.

He named a similar "experimental" side in limp away defeats at Sheff United and Reading last season.

The next of which is in 9 days, plenty of time for rest. We have a winning formula at the moment, no wonder people are so annoyed. Essentially raising the white flag with that side. Lets hope hes proved a genius at 5 o clock.

Either an absolute unexpected masterstroke, or essentially a forfeit. Weve got no games now for 9 days, and we had a winning formula. Just one change, Holtby for Dack. Instead he essentially treats it as a low priority cup game. Top 6 push my arse.

As opposed to Gallagher, Brereton, Armstrong and Samuel, all reknown for holding the ball up! You are right, hes not Mowbrays type of striker as he scores goals.

Hope not. Buckley nowhere near ready. Holtby has to start there.

In many ways it is an acid test. If we come away with nothing and theres a general acceptance that it was a tough game etc then coupled with the fact that we will probably be back in the bottom half, it might indicate that genuine talk of competing for the top 6 is fanciful. If we do go there and win which is not the impossible job it is being painted as, or even at a push drew, we are competing directly with these teams so it might show us in a new light.

I disagree, we need to get out of the habit that games against top half teams and games away from home are acceptable to lose. I am not saying we wont ever lose, of course we will, but theres no reason to be content with a defeat "provided that it was tight." Last season, Mowbray at times used the fact that we were newly promoted to dampen expectations. This year, 15m+ down since, with no major sales and competitive wages allowing us to bring the likes of Gallagher, Holtby, Downing and Johnson, Mowbray has been consistent in claiming that we are pushing for a top 6 place this season. Last season we maybe would view a game away to a top 6 side as a free hit. Now, if we are serious about our ambitions, we should see tomorrow as a winnable game which would drag us right into the top 6 mix, with our best side available, especially in our current form. Lose, however narrow, and its a bigger gap to the top 6, and us potentially stumbling right into mid table.

Has to be Rhodes. 3 full seasons of at least 20 goals, then ten in the last half season. Incredible consistency.

I know Waltons bad chaddy but still!

Both were subbed off so hopefully will be able to start as both have been key recently. With 9 days until the next game, ask them for one more push.

I hope for just one change, Holtby for Dack. Id potentially accept a point but we shouldnt go there with fear. A loss would in no way be understandable or acceptable, it would be dissapointing. I feel like at this stage we have somewhat of an inferiority complex about playing the teams towards the top of this league, and also play with very little expectation away from home. Both mindsets need to be eradicated if we are to seriously challenge where Mowbray says he wants to.

Ultimately if you want to and have genuine ambitions of being a top 6 side you cant adopt an inferiority complex against fellow top 6 rivals. We should be going down there expecting to bring something back, not treating things as a bonus. (Thats not aimed at you btw just a general observation)

I dont agree that Rhodes was at his best with Gestede or in a 442 at all. He scored goals continiously regardless of his team mates here but he actually scored most goals in his first season when he was usually played with a number 10 behind him, whether it was Kazim Richards, Dunn, Rochina, Gomes, whoever. I dont think Holtby would be best in that midfield 2, he was really ineffective v Leeds and Barnsley there and couldnt influence the game from deep. For me once Dack goes, Holtby has to be the main to take on that mantle I dont think him and Gallagher would be a good partnership either and am not sure with Rhodes lacking confidence initially where the goals would come from with Gallagher rarely troubling the score sheet either. We cant afford to let Dack go mid season, 100%. I think Rhodes' confidence has sapped from being a regular here to being seemingly not wanted at Boro, in and out in the Championship, totally ignored in the Premier League and has seemingly never settled since. Im not sure if it will ever be recovered but I hope it is as he was a superb Championship striker here, as good as there was around.