roversfan99

I would say he has been a liability more often than an asset but he either tends to be really impressive, the last 2 games, the opening day, Bristol City away and maybe 1 or 2 more. A lot of the time he has been really poor on the ball, constantly giving it away, albeit he is asked to receive the ball off the back 4 and he cannot play on the half turn like that. Its just frustrating because he certainly has the track record of a top 6 Championship midfielder but needs to be like he was today most weeks.

Both central midfielders are absolute bell ends in footballing terms. I mean that in a good way when they are playing for us, wind up merchants, if need be, cheats, hate them if they play for the other team.

I was just saying that my first reaction was not to randomly criticise Gallagher as you implied. He should be well down the pecking order at this moment in time. The 3 forwards who featured today and Graham who is miles more likely to score should all be ahead of him and it is very difficult to justify having 5 strikers in a matchday squad. The side should be the same with Rothwell introduced to the bench.

Totally agree. I appreciate that using young players warrants patience and can often compromise results in the short term but thats why it should be done incrementally and you do wonder if he has tried to do it far too quickly. He hasnt had loads to spend but his recruits have not really improved the team. They didnt lose loads of important players either, Downing couldnt start games for most of last season and Flint was poor for them. Pulis had them in 7th and was sacked so to drop so far down the table makes it nigh on impossible to warrant more time.

I didnt. My initial response was a detailed post in which I shared my views of the game I watched, with praise across the board for both players and manager. I then interjected into 2 ongoing conversations, firstly about mentality and going to Brentford targetting a win, followed my a conversation about Gallagher amidst the best way that we can line up upon his return, in my opinion without him. So please get your facts straight, I didnt mention him first.

Fulham really should be top with the players they have, Mitrovic, Knockaert, Cavaleiro, Bobby Reid, Cairney, Hector, Bryan etc and all that money spent. I also see that Middlesbrough have gone into another tail spin, cant see much to justify another year for Woodgate.

Its still very unlikely and impossible to believe properly until we spend some time in the top 6 but with the injuries I have been very impressed by the last 2 performances and results following a meek surrender at home v Fulham in which I felt the lack of quality on show was a sign of what was in store for the rest of the season.

Both true but if you are genuinely implying that Mowbray wasnt showered with praise and adulation when we got promoted then you are re writing history, whether it be on here or in person with 30k fans turning up to sing his name v Oxford, people turning up in town to see him and the team and celebrate, he got plenty of praise for it. I just think that theres a general undercurrent of people trying to imply that the fanbase is either unwilling to praise the manager when warranted or being unsupportive to the players and its untrue.

Its not really fickle, its just judging players based on their performances. Samuel overall has been a poor signing, one very underwhelming season in League 1 with no goals post November, 18 months out, common consensus is that he isnt up to it. Comes off the bench Tuesday and gets a goal and puts in a very impressive display today, some good hold up, worked hard (he hasnt always) and rather than saying no hes not up to it and trying to dismiss his impact, people have praised him. Buckley has been nowhere near up to now, justifiably surprised to see him start, puts in a very good performance and praised for it. Brereton again people are getting excited over 2 cameos when hes done very little in terms of tangible impact but people desperate to see him do well. Much of the criticism regarding Gallagher has been at the manager for playing him in a position in which he clearly cannot operate in but even as a central striker in the main he has been particularly poor. Yet the only disdain shown at Ewood was a brief chorus of "why the fucks he on the wing" followed by singing his name to show that they were not getting at him. To go off on a tangent, not aimed at you, theres also a lot of myths peddled about players not getting support and it becomes quite tiresome to read and you do question why people are so keen to criticise their own fan base. @Hasta has it bang on regarding Bell, hes going to get plenty of criticism on here because hes been not up to it so many times but its painted as if hes publically scapegoated and hes not. Brereton apparently gets all sorts of stick, and to be honest hes not been anywhere near good enough, but you see all these claims about him breaking down in tears due to the fans and constantly people berating fans "not getting behind him," people were singing his name on Tuesday for doing things if any other player did people wouldnt bat an eyelid just because they were desperate for him to do well.

He did at the time, 2 years ago. Strange time to take this approach considering hes getting plenty of praise for today and rightly so.

Gallagher being in this side plugging up and down the wing would make us worse, make no mistake. Sounds harsh but its a very valid point IMO.

Need to go to Brentford targeting a win. Wins are the main currency, such a win would be a statement plus it would put us into the top 6 at least for a couple of hours which would be a first and massive psychological.

Right up there with the best performances of the season. The 2 old heads doing exactly what we needed and leading the way, Downing and especially today Johnson were superb. Well done to the players and well done to Mowbray who got it spot on. Buckley shut me up by putting in a performance a million miles from what we have seen prior. Samuel as good as ive seen him with some very intelligent hold up, Armstrong has had better games and not quite as sharp as he can be but of course a threat. Adarabioyo so composed, Nyambe had a shaky first 10 minute them back to his usual recent self afterwards, Bell far more composed than usual, Lenihan made a few really needless rash challenges and one yellow away from a 2 game ban but a leader back there. And Walton bailed us out with a few excellent saves and was generally very dependable. Travis gave it away a few times and got sloppy but got through plenty of work. And the subs came in and just slotted in nicely.

Good half but weve been assisted with the wind in the same way that they will be second half. Have to make sure we dont mess this up now. Been on top but bailed out by a couple of superb Walton saves. I think the Samuel incident could have gone either way. Buckley lucky with the deflection but his overall performance has been by far his best in a Rovers shirt. Downing is a class above.

Which rumours am I fine with? Like I said, I have been very consistent in my opinion about Buckley being nowhere near ready and needing a loan spell in the lower leagues. I think to be honest that is a view shared by more than most. You are clutching at straws suggesting that his exlusion would lead to criticism.

The most logical thing would be to play Samuel as a right winger?

He usually plays him wide to be fair. Rightly or wrongly!

I think you are a little too focused on trying to highlight The Chapman rumours have snowballed again with perhaps slightly more foundation than the Maddison ones but still. But ultimately we lack natural width and our only natural winger I would like to get a chance within an injury crisis. Hes done little to warrant a start because hes never given a game. He certainly never looked as lightweight and ineffectual as Buckley has done. Who has given Mowbray pelters for not starting Buckley? I have been very consistent on my view that basically every time he has featured he has looked well off the standard and physically lost. Indeed most have said the same.

Bit strange to see Carter on the bench and Mulgrew playing with the kids.

No I wasnt saying that it was your only reason, but I personally think that if any decision is plagued by fear of appointing another Coyle or Kean then we might as well pack up now!

Hope its a narrow 442 with Samuel and Armstrong together. Would have personally gone for Brereton over Samuel but suppose the latter would have felt hard done by, and Buckley is still lightweight and would have gone Chapman there. Need to win today.

Sammy Ameobi is very average but would get into the weakest area of our squad.

Out of interest, you was quite strong of the belief that Venkys would do anything to get us into the Premier League and are only hindered by FFP. On the flip side, you are also terrified of what they will do post Mowbray. Could you not argue that these 2 mindsets are at odds with one another? I still dont think that fear of the alternatives is a valid reason in isolation, especially when you are suggesting your own personal opinion on what you would do. If you think Mowbray is the man to get us into the Premier League, then fine, but if not, it has no logic to accept mediocrity rather than being willing to gamble, because quite frankly, what is the point?

Maddison getting his first goal.

Maybe but its just the way I would play, @Ewood Ace hits the nail on the head regarding a lack of assists from the full backs so any notion of overlapping is moot. Downing especially will possibly play narrower than many wingers so theres less risk of being outnumbered and he can get crosses in from that side. Dont think the inverted wingers is a successful tactic, indeed Mowbrays use of wide players has not been a strength during his time here.