The opposite of Brereton approach!

Another turgid, boring, stodgy Rovers performance under a manager who hasnt the foggiest what his best team is, and whose inconsistent side creates precious few clear cut chances on its descend into what I suspect will be a season of mediocrity and frustration. Sam Gallagher is absolute shite, and another example of big money poured down the drain. Choosing him wide over various alternatives suggested that Mowbray was desperate to get his big money signing into the team, again, totally unwarranted. With Graham having minimal impact too, albeit he is not given the same run of games as Gallagher, it seems inevitable that we will be up shit creek once Graham dips below the standard needed with Gallagher, Brereton and now the returning Samuel all woefully short. The team didnt know what it wanted to do IMO, especially first half. All this bollocks about playing entertaining, passing football has fallen by the wayside, we dont have an identity, we just look confused and lethargic. We have undoubtedly got talented players amidst our ranks but inconsistent selection and tactical confusion seems to be hindering them. Rothwell and Holtby made a big impact when they came on and they have to start games. Mowbray was saying how much he rates Rothwell and how he would have started the last 2 games, if thats the case why is he sub behind Gallagher tonight? Him left, Armstrong right gave us much more balance. Armstrong was better tonight, still can do more but looked much more lively and took his goal well after initially seeming to be a little indecisive. Holtby is a bundle of energy and so much better than most on the ball. Walton had nothing to do but lacks urgency and got nowhere near a cross early on, getting very lucky. The 2 centre backs were fine although were often guilty of some terrible distribution, as was Bennett. Cunningham was the pick of the back line, a very accomplished left back. Travis I thought was pretty poor, often negative and wasteful on the ball, Downing was very economical and a marked improvement on Johnson in there.

If Downing is on the right wing, Armstrong on the left, Gallagher considered for a start and Rothwell and Holtby left out again then no minor tactical alterations will solve the problem IMO.

I think its a little unfair to suggest that he played Rothwell through "gritted teeth." At the end of the day, he did get a decent run of starts. You could argue that the situation was similar to the Travis situation, who I again dont think its fair or accurate to suggest only broke through due to Smallwood red card. Both are situations whereby a younger, exciting player broke into the team, had an instant impact but with contrasting consequences. It was a pretty easy decision on both accounts to leave them in the team, they both improved it. Travis has since been a regular week in week out, and has been a marked improvement on Mowbrays previous favoured fulcrum of Smallwood and Evans. Rothwell wasnt afforded the same chance however, as you suggest totally unjustly dropped back to regular sub, totally unmerited, which is why I dont swallow Mowbrays hollow words on the player in the media. I judge him on actions, he has dealt with Travis well, Rothwell has been hung out to dry with Armstrong repeatedly given chances as one of Mowbrays favourites. The balance of our team looks really poor I must say. I am not sure how you best mould together quite a few very talented players, we have 15m worth of strikers and absolutely no goal threat, and Mowbray is obsessed with constant rotation at the cost of any momentum and cosnsistency.

What he says and does are often 2 different things. He was outstanding at the end of last season and deserved to start the season in the team. He started it on the bench and has only made one start all season in the League, in our hardest game. Compare that to the treatment of Armstrong and its a struggle to justify it on merit.

He suggested that he may become unhappy in the future if he continues to be somewhat unfavoured. Not that he is now unhappy. Its definitely a prediction that has logic to it. Rothwell was absolutely outstanding at the end of last season, and it was agreed that he deserved to start this season in the team and that he could be a huge player for us. Totally unmerited, he has started one solitary game out of 9, whereas Armstrong gets free reign amidst regularly pitiful performances. Tomorrows team will be interesting, Rothwell I think will start, him, Holtby, Dack and Travis have to all be in our best team. I think its which of the others you include to provide the best balance.

Neat and tidy, did nothing of note. I stand by my initial comment.

I am yet to see that Buckley is good enough for the first team.

Not sure they are that useful when theres no mention of goals conceded.

Chapman has been getting goals and assists at that level and was nominated for a personal award. He deserves a chance over Armstrong who has been consistently poor and often lazy ever since we bought him outright.

There was one for both that and goal music. People voted against goal music, it was removed, and now its reared its ugly head again sadly.

Youd think the clubs response would be to listen to fans criticisms such as this, rather than to somewhat flippantly and sarcastically respond like that. Its a strange one as it was only a year since that the club allowed fans to vote on goal music and they voted to get rid.

Dont think it will go anywhere soon sadly.

Yes I was, it was a rhetorical question. Mowbray said post match that it was the best 15 minute performance weve put in all season, which is a huge worry as we didnt come close to scoring. If theres one thing you cannot use in your reasoning as to why a manager wouldnt be any better than Mowbray, being "boring" is certainly not one! The football is turgid to watch.

Did we have a shot in that first 15 minutes, or more pertinently did Sluga have anything to do?

If you see a team that is capable of challenging for promotion then I suspect that you are attending different games to almost everyone else. Next you will be saying that Sam Gallagher can win the golden boot.

Got 1 in the cup and its made no difference. Its a terrible sign as a striker if you arent even getting chances, hes not getting into the positions, not anticipating where the ball will fall. He also quite cowardly passed the buck on at least two occasions when he could have got a shot away instead misplacing passes to no one. First thing Graham did was peeled off his marker brilliantly and got a shot on target. He also peeled off his marker again soon after and it took a superb defensive block which led to a corner. He also did a couple of lay offs to get a bit of life out of Dack, whereas Gallagher repeatedly lost aeriel duels as he often does in the centre. Its an embarrassment on behalf of the manager that our only competent striker is our freebie 34 year old when hes blown 15m on incompetent strikers. We seem totally toothless at the moment.

Think hes going mad.

Downing plays best on the left. And whilst Armstrong is mainly shite, I prefer him right if anywhere to simplify his game. Mowbrays obsession with inverted wingers means Downing spent most of his time coming inside and getting crowded out.

Absolutely rubbish and the perfect summary of why we wont get near the play offs with continued crippling inconsistency and never being far from a shocking result against a crap team. Some will blame the ref I am sure for not handling the time wasting well but that was a self inflicted defeat, with the team looking clueless in terms of what they were supposed to be doing tactically and totally devoid of any urgency Gallagher again was shocking and offers zero goal threat. Armstrong continues to get away with lifeless performances as teachers pet guaranteed a start with his next goal contribution now due next spring. The 15m thrown down the toilet makes an absolute mockery of Mowbray. Armstrong 53, 6, Gallagher 9,0, Brereton 26, 1. 90 appearances, 7 goals is the combined Championship total (think ive worked that out right) and we are 15 millon down. Johnson gets worse with each passing week, Dack looked totally fed up, Walton was all over the place and the only 3 minor positives were Travis, Holtby and Graham.

I dont rate Bennett especially as a right back and still feel he is the weakest component of that back 5. That being said, I have to say that I feel like his recent performances have been massively improved and I hope they continue.

If Jones gets anymore time at Stoke hes very lucky, doing a woeful job. 3 wins in 29.

It isnt his fault but of course his price tag should play a part in how we judge him, you are bound to look of the opportunity cost. Coversely, Dack is even more of a good signing due to the low fee we paid. You are right, not all transfers work out as plan, those that dont will be criticised.

@Paul Mani i found this comment a little strange: "Gally £5m and 8 games in a league where Bamfords get traded at 7-10m?" Bamford is a very good, proven Championship striker. He scored goals at Derby, Leeds and Boro where he won player of the year at this level. Gallaghers goal to game ratio in his overall record as a Championship striker is very undewhelming. Not saying we could have afford Bamfords wages or whatever but just found the comparison a strange one considering the difference in quality. Even with Breretons age, the fee does matter as @Blue blood rightly points out. But ultimately, prior to his injury he was not really close to getting a start, he still seems a way off the first team, we cant really spend 7m on someone so far away from making any sort of impact, its a bizarre situation considering how far away he looks when he does feature and how much hed already played for Foresr prior. And crucially is there any justification on what we have seen that Brereton or even Gally will be "banging in PL goals" or even payback their fees? Also, Rodwell was not fit for purpose as a centre back and Samuel scored 5 League goals and none after November. I would suggest that Mowbrays transfer dealings up until now are very mixed. I suspect that this summers business will prove to be his best window, that being said all the question marks for me surround the big money striker again. But we cant make definitive judgements on any yet or rule any as successes or failures. But I am optimistic.

I have seen no one suggest that Dack is anything other than a superb signing. Ultimately it doesnt make very good debate when everyone agrees I suppose. You also say that "transfers arent infallible." No one ever said that they are. Or that Mowbray should have a perfect transfer record. Equally that doesnt mean that his signings cant be criticised which in Breretons case is very justified.