Also the solution is not just to add a League 1 free agent centre back and the problem will disappear. If that is what we do. Its a far more deep rooted problem than that. For a start, even if he turned into a superb signing, Bell would still be giving away goals on the left. Raya would still be giving away gifts. We would presumably still keep buckling holding onto leads. The defence needs revamping and it needs far better guidance from the manager.

One thing you would say in comparison to Coyle. Goes without saying that he couldnt organise a defence. But with far less resources and time he tried to bring in more defensive players, at least acknowledging that the previous defence had been picked to pieces by vultures even if he was incapable of fixing it. In comparison, Coyle brought in Mulgrew who is at least a natural centre back (who has played elsewhere) whereas Mowbray brought in Rodwell. Coyle spent his only money on Williams, Mowbray spent a similar fee on Bell. Both not up to it. Coyle brought in Hendrie, Mowbray brought in Hart, low risk gambles but nowhere near good enough. Hoban and Downing both slight temporary upgrades, neither Championship standard. Coyle also added Greer and Brown, both experienced but ultimately well past it. We had no defensive alternatives today, and thats including playing a midfielder and an incapable full back as part of the back 4. And we only had 2 unavailable.

He wouldn't.

The thing is, a draw away at Birmingham isnt that bad, much of the performance wasnt that bad. But yet again I am pissed off following watching Rovers. Mowbrays been here for 2 years and youd think by now wed be built on solid foundations, that hed by now be able to organise a team to see out results, even for a minute. Sad truth is, hes treated defensive matters with total neglect. The only 2 "defensive" players hes signed that are still at the club played today, ones a bloody midfielder who for all his finesse is ultimately going to keep coming up short out of position, and Bell, who we signed for a couple of hundred grand who is by far the most repeated offender in terms of mistakes. Yet another today, he is dog shit. His comments recently dont suggest its going to change. 10m worth of attackers on the bench and nothing spent on the defence. Individually, thought Graham was excellent and deserved the luck for the goal. Dack was better and made one sublime pass in the first half, but still not quite happening for him. Bennett did nothing going forward, neither did Reed. Armstrong was quiet bar one incredible individual run at the end. Travis was sloppy at times but his drive is important centrally. Smallwood average. Raya made a howler that he was very unlucky to get away with. Mulgrew again with a good goal, him and Rodwell can have decent games but the lack of resolve back there means the goals will keep going in. Nyambe was fine but shit scared of attacking and Bell has escaped compared to Mulgrew in terms of criticism.

Dont talk bollocks. Some people wont be able to attend all for a change that for all the guff coming out of the club is at the clubs request, for what reason exactly? And no, they wont be there regardless of the kick off time, you seemingly cannot fathom that some people arent as desperate to attend as you or I.

No pace in that team, why Armstrong is a sub is beyond me. Evans over Smallwood any day too.

Why does anyone need to find an excuse not to attend? Moving it to time people may be working at (for no reason at all) will make it impossible for some even with season tickets to attend. Thats not an excuse. It is correct to suggest that fans who havent already got season tickets will be less likely to buy them at high prices for a mid table game. Ill be going regardless but some like yourself seem intent on provoking arguments.

Why that specific time period? Surely it depends on results. For example, if we went down this season, something thats incredibly improbable, but as an extreme example, he would surely warrant dismissal. Likewise, if we were stagnating in the bottom 3 after 20 games next season, surely his job would deserve serious consideration. Not saying I suspect either of those will happen, but I dont see how you can say he should be the manager for x period of time. Depends on results.

@MCMC1875 was bang on. My criticism was based on the suggestion of signing a player solely based on an individual performance. Of course, that might not be totally factual. I would like to think plenty of research and scouting went into the deal, albeit that is certainly not something that seems to have happened based on what we have seen since. I stand by my statement that you see far more at a game than on TV, no matter how big. Thats a fact. You see every player, every bit of the pitch and everything not picked up by the camera. If you are scouting an individual player, for most of the game they wont be on camera.

Im not doubting that we need to strengthen. But look at @DE. and his excellent and well researched point as to how reliant we are on Dack (and Graham) for goals. Cashing in on him would be the opposite of strengthening. Quite a few of the other players on that list are his signings and have barely contributed at all. I dont think people realise how impressive his stats are in an average team, and how important he is to us. If the choice was Dack or the Dack proceeds in Mowbrays hands id choose the former everytime and that isnt necessarily just a slight on Mowbrays recruitment. The whole sell your best player and buy half a new team idea rarely works as well in practice as it does in theory.

Is 7 in 182 a lot of posters? No it isnt. And you know it isnt. Still, lets not allow facts to get in the way.

May I ask how you are in a position to judge his performance levels this season. He is already a very good Championship player in our team. Hes the key to any top 6 push and he will be incredibly difficult to replace. Id take Dack over 15 million in Mowbrays hands any day. Very rarely does that scenario work as well as youd like it to.

The grounds for scouting Brereton sound similar to players in the past, I think Dack and Gladwin were also mentioned as players signed on the back of a good performance against his team. A very dangerous policy. Hopefully that Dack scenario doesnt happen. Dack will be almost impossible to replace and id much rather have Dack than 15m in Mowbrays hands.

Should have left it at 3 but there you go.

Raya Nyambe Rodwell Mulgrew Bell Evans Travis Armstrong Dack Reed Graham Subs: Leutweiler, Bennett, Smallwood, Chapman, Nuttall, Rothwell, Davenport Very hamstrung by having only 3 available defenders in Nyambe, Mulgrew and Bell.

Well thats because you seemingly dont understand a poll. Had the poll showed plenty of fans demanding Mowbray to be sacked, you may have had a point, albeit even then it wouldnt be "insulting" as a managers job is forever vulnerable to questioning, any manager. Goes with the territory. I am not sure who decided to make the poll, I may be wrong but did @blueboy3333 suggest it? (I may be wrong.) And he is not one of the meagre total of 6 from 162 calling for Mowbrays head. It was not done as a witchhunt, the numbers prove that but still you want to make out like it is. @Bigdoggsteel is spot on, essentially stating that the majority of fans even off the back of 4 losses are happy to see the manager remain in charge doesnt carry the same controversy and the same license to ridicule the "impatient and entitled" Rovers fanbase. And on your last point. A managers job security changes based on results. Who'd have thought it! Essentially, the poll is almost unanimous in backing Mowbray at the moment. So you are not even criticising people for wanting Mowbray out. You are criticising people for daring to question Mowbray at all, and whether they do want him out. (Which they almost unanimously dont)

I was giving my opinion, not Mowbrays, and I dont consider Rodwell to be a natural centre back. I would personally sign him up for an extra year or 2 as a holding midfielder. Therefore, we have 2 centre backs left, both very injury prone and neither of whom have impressed much this season, leaving huge doubts as to whether they could play key roles in a promotion push. Theres no point signing players expected to be back ups, we need 2 in with the quality to expect to have a strong claim for a starting spot. Of course, we would have 4 centre backs then (the correct amount) and if Mulgrew and Lenihans form improved, of course there would be excellent competition there. If Bauer is one of them 2 on a free, that may allow us to spend big on a quality Championship centre back like Sheff United did with Egan. Sadly, I suspect that as per in the past, any defensive recruitment will be minor and on the cheap.

Must say that I find quite a lot of the reaction to the poll, both on here and on twitter to be quite frankly embarassing. I think some people have mistook a poll for a petition or a witchhunt. Ultimately, the results show that our fan base isnt the blood thirsty mob some would like us to believe. Ive seen people (even Alan Myers suggested on Twitter it was bordering on insulting to Mowbray) suggest it is unfair or disrespectful. The poll was done at a particularly emotive time, off the back of 4 losses with many of the causes being ongoing issues regularly pointed out yet neglected or unresolved by the management. If we were all as fickle and impatient as some would suggest then the poll results are doing a funny job of showing it.

An overhaul of the defence, and a proper one, has to take priority over anything else, including a permanent deal for the impressive Reed. We need 2 centre backs, a right back and at least one, ideally 2 left backs, and a goalkeeper. And not back ups or squad fillers, first teamers. Of course, personnel changes will only go so far and Mowbray has to stop being so negligent and laissez faire with how he organises the team and how much of a priority he sees the defensive side of things. A striker to compete with Graham would be next on the list, as would a winger and Reed or a replacement. Rodwell if he is signed longer term should be as a midfielder. Bennett and Smallwood should be squad players at best.

Reading and Sheff United first halves yielded a total of zero goals, watched the first on TV and was at the Sheffield Utd game and if they are our halves where we played the best football then we are in trouble. Very few clear cut chances created in either, especially at Sheffield Utd bar a couple of free kicks. Graham is an easy out ball but it doesnt even favour him to just lump it in the air. He is good on the floor as well, far better than Brereton and as a central player, Armstrong.

Too simplistic, you can never have too many leaders. Lenihan has been perhaps worse than Mulgrew this season lets not forget. Lenihan and Rodwell did very well for them 3 games to be fair but the 3 opponents strikers were as easy as youll face. They werent really tested at all and indeed Rodwell in particular impressed more on the ball. As soon as they faced a challenge at Brentford they folded.

Unfortunately Mowbrays neglect of defence in the transfer market means that there is no alternative in central defence. Nyambe was dropped because its easier to drop him than Bennett in Mowbrays mind.

Hes far too loyal to players who are useful to have around but who wont push us forward. He seems oblivious to the problems we have in defence. Smallwood and Bennett I would be happy to keep around but only if they are phased out and not regulars. Useful squad players perhaps but no more. Id love to know how @chaddyrovers is so sure that hes going to show a ruthless side and cull those not deemed good enough. Nothing suggests that is the case so far.

You are taking the poll as a negative thing. It is a way of getting a general consensus of whether recent criticism of him, very deserved at that, has left our fan base in support of him still or wanting him out. The poll has been useful in proving conclusively that, contrary what some would like you to think, that (based on the sample) the fanbase is still united behind Mowbray staying as manager, with only a tiny minority suggesting otherwise. Hardly the results youd expect from a negative, pessimistic, torch burning fan base desperate for the managers blood. Many would like assurances that he can prove that he is aware of and capable of fixing the major issues currently holding the team back before committing blindly long term. A very fair and open minded stance to have. You also consider discussing the major flaws at the moment as "clogging up the messageboard" so theres no middle ground with you. Theres a poll with an incredibly low percentage of our fans wanting Mowbray out. The exercise has proven that the fans are behind Mowbray. So you choose to moan about the poll in the first place.

@chaddyrovers @Paul Mellelieu @Lie_still_Rover you all seem to have totally missed the result of the poll, presumably as it doesnt fit your agenda of wanting to believe that everyone is baying for the managers blood. Less than 4% have already decided that Mowbray is not the man to take us forward. Many like yourself are unreservedly behind the manager long term, many like myself are more than happy to give him more time to see if he is indeed the man to take us into a promotion push going forward, of course throwing away leads, having one of the worst defensive records in the league without an attitude of desperation to change that, and a very underwhelming transfer record will all have to change if that is to happen. Whether he is or isnt the man to change these things, one thing is for sure, I appreciative the work he has done so far, especially the promotion. Im sure even the 5 who want a change feel the same. And chaddy, going over the major issues and faults of the team at the moment that are affecting it progressing at the moment is not "clogging up the messageboard." Nor do I believe you have acknowledged it, indeed you are very defensive whenever anyone questions why we spend so much on sub attackers yet make do with midfielders "doing a (poor) job" failing to stem the tide in defence. Ive seen lots of criticism about this poll even on social media. All its proved is that the vast majority are patient and dont want the manager to go just yet, and that unlike some of those in defence of Mowbray, they are able to distinguish between deserved, constructive criticism and radical moves to change that. Mowbray deserves criticising recently, he has been criticised but the vast majority want him to stay.