Back in the Blackburn End reluctantly yesterday. still no clearer why I had to move from the Darwen End yesterday. Dont understand why we didnt shove their fans in the top tier, further from the pitch as other teams do, that said Waggott would never do anything to inconvenience the away fans. Crowd wasnt particularly big, read a couple of comments by people who werent there suggesting it was a poor crowd which im never a fan of, but wasnt surprised because of the price hike putting off people who may have otherwise come back.

Wickham is a better player than Gallagher and far more suited to the sort of player we are looking for, in terms of his hold up play. However, a no solely because of his injury record, and the fact that due to his wages it would only be a short term deal with no realistic potential of extending it. Nixon has already linked him to 2 teams on loan, so its anyones guess where he will end up, look at Nmecha.

From the last year, it was a perfect example of an Elliott Bennett performance. Everything you expect from him, chasing back, flying into tackles, tenacious, hard working, lots of running, getting the crowd onside. But on the flip side, he is playing as a winger. He offered nothing from an attacking perspective. He had one wayward long range shot and his crossing was really poor and just what their 2 centre backs wanted. As much as he warrants praise for the former, he needs questioning on the latter. Last season his positive attacking contributions were pitifully low, hence not scoring until Wimbledon away. And that was in League 1. He definitely can score goals as he proved in the second half of the season when we last were a Championship club. He also needs to be a bit more imaginative, aimless crosses to 6 foot odd centre backs are easy to defend. We've never had the pacy Elliott Bennett of his Norwich days before his serious injury. There will be tough away games where Mowbray will be keen to play him wide just to nullify offensive threats of the opponent. But in most games, especially home, I would like to think that if he doesnt improve offensively, with some of the attacking players we have already and also the couple we will presumably bring in, Bennett will not be an automatic pick wide, even if that means playing him in centre midfield where there is less onus on him scoring/assisting, and with big question marks over Smallwood and his ability to step up.

Correct, and something Mowbray touched on afterwards by saying that until you get that first win you face the same questions. I think if we win at Hull its a good start, otherwise its the start of a catch up situation, one we have had in the last 2 seasons.

Not really an answer. Did you think he did enough in an attacking sense last season? The reason for the roaming is he isnt a winger. His end product was poor so he seemingly wandered to get more involved. Hopefully he will improve. And its an away point for them, its down to the home team to break them down, and we failed on that sadly by failing to get a winner. We offered no attacking threat during the first 44 minutes, our passing was appalling and we couldnt keep the ball. Second half, different team. Must be easily impressed. Awful first half, much better second is for me a more balanced review. No, not really. I was encouraged by his cameo, looked to impress, but it was only 25 minutes. Especially if we sign players, im unsure how much game time he will get. That said, I think he probably did more good in his 25 than Palmer did in 65, therefore I'd start him next week on the left, with Armstrong on the right. Bennett would play alongside Evans, with Smallwood also dropped.

Firstly, you are a better man than me if you know MK Dons tactics 3 years ago. He was, but Gallagher scored a lot of his goals under him playing WITH Graham. He wouldn't have a target man with him, he would have to be the focal point. He doesn't have the same skillset as Graham, nothing like it, Gallagher is quite fast, spends most of his time facing goal, is weak, cant hold it up or win flick ons. Graham meanwhile, is very slow, spends a lot of time facing away from goal, is strong, can hold it up and can win flick ons. If we subbed on Gallagher for Graham, we would have to play a totally different style of football. Do you appreciate the point, and agree with me, that Gallagher and Graham are totally different styles of strikers? We aren't going to agree on whether we rate Gallagher, I don't, you do, so Im not interested in that, agree to disagree. Do you agree with the above point? You are only happy with it because you think everything Nixon says is correct. Mowbray has come out and said he had the same budget throughout, Nixon said the opposite in one of his made up stories. Therefore, nothing Nixon has said regarding our transfer deadline day business can be trusted. I personally trust Mowbrays word over Nixons. I'm not saying Brereton isnt available, but our bid was rejected for him.

Agree with some of that but few questions: Do you think Bennett needs to do more going forward? Won it back loads but his crossing was dreadful. And that maybe he would be better in the centre over Smallwood, who was really poor? Do you think that Palmer looked out of position on the wing? And took far too many risks? Do you not think that we were very poor for more than just 10 minutes, more so the first 44? Do you not think excellent is an exaggeration? Agree that Graham should have scored, that we started slowly and that Rothwell was a bright spark.

Yeah, because hes a former player, and naturally, seeing as supporters arent professional scouts, they are limited in which players they know that we can sign. You mention your Coyle point, but its a thoughtless one. Coyles issue was never that we were not attacking enough, it was that we were unfit, disorgansed, had players like Greer and Brown as plasters over the cracks in defence, we had the worst keeper ever in goal, we had no ability to game manage, hence the number of 3-2 defeats we seemed to had. Coyles tactics were in general, horrendous, but they were in no way of a hindrance to an attacking player like Gallagher, if anything they would benefit him. Why cant you count the MK Dons spell? Is it because he did awfully and it doesnt fit your narrative of him being a good signing? Coyle played a 4-4-2, and if I remember correctly, Gallagher had the luxury of Danny Graham next to him, therefore the fact that he was incapable of holding it up, of bringing others into play, wasnt a problem as Graham could do that, allowing him to use his mobility which was one of his main assets. If he was to join now, it would be a case of either him or Graham, not both, as we play a different formation, with a number 10, which happens to be our best player. How do you know this "Brereton only came available in the last 2 days of window" - is it through what Alan Nixon said? If so, discard it from your thoughts. Everything he said about late increases in budgets etc has been shown by Mowbray to be a load of crap, a pack of lies.

Its on Quest. Same time and host.

Think, subject to new signings, we need to start Armstrong and Rothwell over Smallwood and Palmer, and impose our game from the start. As Mowbray said post-match, we need to get a first win as soon as we can, Hull is a winnable game.

One thing I differ on with you 2 is I still feel like its premature to credit Venkys for their intentions. I judge them on what they do, not what they plan/intend to do. Historically they are very volatile in terms of one minute wanting to invest, then turning off the tap. Therefore, assuming the money is spent in the loan to buy market, or in Jan, then I will happily credit them then. If the money doesnt even materialise at a later day, then such inconsistencies do not warrant praise. If they do spend the money I will happily praise them. I dont think theres anything stopping us getting loan to buys in the rest of the window. If Brereton is the man, or whoever, agree a loan with obligation to buy, youve essentially bought him, and credit shall be forthcoming. Mowbrays comments about short-termism are a concern. In theory, reasonable wages but fees on players that can develop are a viable system, lets see if it works in practice, ultimately that depends on if they are consistent with it, and then if they are, if Mowbray can sign the correct players. We ideally need a striker in the squad next week, as well as a winger.

Poor result and in the main a disappointing performance, need to get that first win to kick start the season. First half, we were appalling. Lethargic, constant unforced errors, slow, boring to watch and they should have had at least 2. Second half for 25 minutes we were much better, much more like our usual selves, and should have scored and got the win. Then we ran out of ideas. Players wise, Raya had no saves of not, the post were his best friend, but his kicking was atrocious. Back 4 all fine, both centre backs had lapses in terms of when on the ball, but both are more than good enough when fit, we know that. Bell was an improvement on Williams, should be first choice. Nyambe very cautious when he gets so far but hes progressing well. That back 4, more than happy with. Smallwood was the worst player on the pitch, needs dropping. Evans similar in the first half, couldnt pick a pass, but much improved second half. Bennett offered nothing going forward, said beforehand that im not sure he warrants a spot in the front 4, he was guilty more than anyone of a series of aimless crosses that played into their centre backs hands. That said, excellent tenacity, work rate and I think is more at home in the middle, with Evans. Palmer lost all discipline in terms of positioning, causing the game to get a bit congested, his final ball/output was zilch, his passing awful and took far too many risks. That said, certainly has some skill and flair that we need to harness and I hope he has far better days than today, im sure he will. Not convinced he can play wide but he will have to due to Dack. Dack was quiet for his standards, and Graham did superbly to out-strength the defender on his first one on one, and somehow outpaced them both times, but has to score at least 1, should have squared the first to Dack. Nothing in the tank after an hour, tried but was a passenger, hence the disappointment of not getting in a striker sooner. Armstrong looked like he had his feet tied together at first but his pace is something we totally lack elsewhere. He will do well though. Rothwell was quite impressive travelling with the ball, end product questionable, decent shot, think he has said to Mowbray maybe he should start at Hull, definitely in the cup. Travis a bit sloppy to be honest. Transfer wise, nothing we didnt know. We need another target man before anything else. We also need a pacy winger, as we dont have one. Centre back we need cover, we also need an upgrade on Smallwood.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16413310.they-werent-the-only-bids-rovers-boss-on-the-transfer-window/?ref=mac Lets debunk a couple of myths. “It was always the same,” Mowbray said of his budget. “The budget was agreed when I went over to India in the summer and the budget has always been the budget." Seems that Nixons theory that Venkys "killed a few chickens recently" to give us a sudden boost in the budget was actually a lie. "Mowbray was disappointed he wasn’t able to add to the three permanent signings made before the window closed on Thursday." People have been ridiculed for showing frustration, showing disappointment at how the window went. I even said to @chaddyrovers that I bet even Mowbray is disappointed to not sign players, and so it has proved. So rather than pretend that everything went to plan, and that everything is hunky dory, it didnt and theres proof. He also said the following: “It’s just frustrating that we had the opportunity to spend some money to try and improve this club long-term for the next four or five years, we missed the opportunity, it didn’t quite happen. “But this short-termism of loans we will try and add some players who will excite the fans and help the team as we go on as when injuries and suspensions come, as the team will have to push harder than last year, some bodies will break down as we go on, we need to have some experience and quality waiting in the wings to make sure we don’t fall off the pace.” That doesnt suggest that signing everyone on loan with an obligation to buy is necessarily what he has planned. Hence the phrase "short-termism." "I’m sure if we’re doing okay then that funding will still be there for the next window." - just hope the money doesnt vanish.

I think the main reason that Mowbray would play him there as he trusts him to do the dirty work going back, same with Conway. He definitely has offensive quality, he scored a few cracking goals at the end of our last Championship season and I have seen him cross well before. But last season, he only got 2 goals and 5 assists, and thats in League 1. If he is to be considered a more attacking player, he needs to produce goals and assists. A point I was shot down numerous times last season for suggesting, because in particular the first half of the season, he was poor as a winger.

As much as he has also played wide, as is common with a young lad who is still growing, from the very limited that I've seen, he is far more of a number 9 than Gallagher, even being a few years younger, Gallagher as a lone striker which we play would be ineffectual, when he was here he played in a 2 with Graham, a luxury that wont be afforded to him now we have better players such as Dack and Palmer to play off the striker. (Plus playing 2 up left us even more open that season defensively) Gallagher under Mowbray played quite a few games wide from what I recall, he clearly doesnt trust him as a central striker. Now in those areas, we are in far better shape, would you drop Armstrong for Gallagher, considering Armstrongs quality and also the fact that he looks far more comf Gallagher is getting to an age where its problematic that no one really knows how best to use him. Hes never a lone centre forward as a target man, which is what we need so that should be the end of the discussion on his signing to me! And hes far too clumsy to be a wide forward in my opinion. I'm not necessarily sure that Mowbray is against the idea of a focal point, hence his obvious faith and importance on Graham. He's had Gallagher, Armstrong and Samuel and has never trusted any of them for a prolonged spell down the middle, because he reverts back to Graham as a 9 as he can trust him there.

But is that the type of player we need, a striker with pace to play wide, when we have Armstrong? We need someone to take the physical burden off Graham in terms of being a focal point, a target man, bringing others into play with his back to goal.

Not convinced that Armstrong has any major question marks in terms of work rate and tracking back. Not a fan of defensive wingers as Mowbray calls them, as much as I appreciate that your wide men need to be somewhat defensively responsible (which is why Samuels inclusion there is an odd one, hes the worst for tracking back) you also need to offer an offensive threat from that position, which is why for all of Bennett's work rate, he has to do more going forward, goals and assists. Assuing Bennett is going to start wide one one side, I just hope Armstrong or Palmer start on the other, someone with a genuine attacking threat rather than Samuel. With Samuel, he offers nothing at all going forward from the wing and he doesnt track back.

You think Gallagher is a bigger goal threat than Armstrong?

Definitely not Gallagher, he would be a lazy suggestion based on being here previously. I know for a fact after watching for a season that he is not what we need as a number 9, he can't hold the ball up, hes too weak, he cant act as a focal point and he cant win flick ons. His goal record is poor, and his spells at Birmingham and MK Dons add further doubt to his ability at this level. I doubt we could afford his price on a permanent deal anyway, plus his wages were a big discussion topic when he joined Birmingham in a financially stupid loan deal last year. I only specifically remember watching Brereton once, v a weakened Arsenal in the cup. He led the line in a way Gallagher never did during his time here, he was excellent in the way he . His goal record is very poor however, like Gallagher Only way this deal should be considered is if it is with a view to a permanent deal, as based on his current ability he wouldnt be worth a loan deal, we'd be buying potential. To answer your question, I think I would rather look elsewhere. But I definitely dont want Gallagher, and am more open minded on Brereton, more based on the type of player he looked when I saw him, albeit only once, and the way Forest fans seem to rate him, but he wouldnt dislodge Graham yet, thats for sure. If Gallagher signed, I would be very underwhelmed and a bit disappointed. If Brereton signed, as long as it was with a permanent deal to take effect in Jan, I would be interested to see how he got on, and feel he would come straight into the squad, and could help Graham with the work load.

Emmanuel-Thomas is a number 10, hes quite slow, hes incredibly inconsistent and lazy and nowhere near the quality of Dack and Graham. Hes League 1 quality at a push. Turnbull, id rather just stick with Leutwiler. Kirchoff is injury prone and barely played for Bolton last season. Rodwell is clearly someone with a big attitude problem with fitness and wage issues. If they were all available tomorrow for the game none would make the bench. We need players to improve the first team.

Emmanuel-Thomas, Turnbull, Rodwell and Kirchoff are beyond the bottom of the barrel.

His main problem is and always will be injuries. He has always shown composure, he is neat and tidy, and quite intelligent. Never gets a prolonged run in the side hence the lack of consistency. If I remember, he was a breath of fresh air when he came into the side, and he has had spells and games, I remember the Forest game at home in our last Championship season, he was very good. Towards the end of last season, he played quite a few games in a row for a couple of months and really got into his stride. Not sure its just a lack of desire, more a lack of fitness over a length period of time.

I think he was one of our best players in the last couple of months last season. A view Mowbray has publically agreed with.

Wasn't that the guy that was clearly making it up, and you even said that to him?

Id be very dissapointed if Samuel was picked over Armstrong and Palmer.