roversfan99

People are just commenting on his performances like anyone else. And unfortunately, his price will always be part of the discussion, it has to be. People arent writing him off, but his cameos thus far have been poor, theres no way of dressing it up, and thats all people are saying. The ball repeatedly bounced off him, especially on Wednesday and it led to our attack breaking down numerous times.

Theres too many "can plays" in your list. I want specialists. Firstly, your wing backs, for whom I question their ability anyway as wing backs (Bennett defending 1 on 1 as we saw and also Bell going forward) but even so, if either are unavailable, there are no alternatives. Nyambe has looked like a fish out of water at centre back and isnt good enough going forward to play as a wing back. And Armstrong was deeper than Brereton, but either way, Dack was almost sidelined. I dont want the central partnership of Dack and Graham in any way being impeded. Mowbrays signings are not above criticism. Looking at the team that played on Wednesday, only 2 of his 7 signings started, one of whom was here last season, and both were out of position. There is certainly some promise amidst his signings but they certainly arent above reproach. 3 at the back is not the kind of formation that you tinker with. Look at Sheffield United, they play it every week and every player knows exactly what their role is and how to play it. Their squad and signings are built around it, they dont use it for half an hour then go to 4 at the back. If he wanted to use it then he should have started off in pre-season using it. If he wants to use it he should stick to it. Totally agree on Chapman. If not him, then definitely a winger. Also agree on your points regarding the balance of our squad. Mowbray does always seem to have thoughts of 3 at the back at the back of his mind, trailing it with no success occasionally, reverting back to 4, then repeating it. As Ive said above its a very specialist formation that requires the team being used to it and knowing exactly what it is doing. The question would be, if his squad is built with 3 at the back in mind, why play all of the season so far with 4 at the back?!

The squad is also lobsided to play 3 at the back. We only have 2 natural centre backs who he trusts (Downing is clearly not up to it) otherwise you are bringing in full backs and midfielders to make the numbers up. It also gives us a problem regarding Nyambe as he is never a wing back, nor is he a centre back. Crucially, it hinders Dack in my opinion, he in particular has struggled when we have gone to a back 3, in that we play 2 players in behind Graham, rather than just Dack.

Forgot all about Breretons suicidal pass that put Sheffield United on the attack. Also think Rothwells done very well on 79 considering that he wasted his initial play by choosing the wrong option and his shot was awful.

Im guessing youve read that suggested elsewhere as its an incredibly random link youve suggested. Smith makes the most sense, ticks most boxes, doing a good job at Brentford and theres an element of long termism there too. Style is secondary at the moment. They need promotion therefore they shouldnt turn their noses up at Allardyce and McCarthy who would prioritise fixing their leaky defence.

They were, but its the attitude and acceptance that Sheffield United are better than us and thats final that doesnt sit right. My point is more that individually, I dont think Sheffield Uniteds players are miles ahead of ours, it was more that the way Wilder has them playing got 100% out of every individual in a way they know down to a tee. Look at their team. Are veterans Billy Sharp and Mark Duffy, whose career pre Sheffield United is hardly glittering, David McGoldrick, released by Ipswich and riddled with fitness issues, and journeymen Leon Clarke and Connor Washington; an attack that is on paper far superior to ours, which cost nearly 10million to assemble? I would suggest not. And aside from that, they have some good players, Norwood, Fleck, OConnell, Egan are all solid Championship players but so are Mulgrew, Evans, Bennett etc. Agreed on the Forest first half to be fair. And yeah I would suggest that there are a few teams who dwarf us, but also the likes of Preston, Hull, Reading, Ipswich, QPR, Birmingham, Bolton, Rotherham, Millwall, even Wigan probably wish they had what we have to spend.

Was it? We picked up the most home points last season with 51 from 23 games, scoring the most goals. We picked up 6 less points away. At home in particular we need to try and inflict our style on teams from the off. We have yet to score a home goal in the first half (I think). Against Millwall, Reading, Sheff Utd and Forest we were particularly poor in the first half. We are showing our opponents far too much respect in winnable games. I think we are best suited to high intensity football, Sheff United had an obvious identity yesterday and that was the difference, there wasnt an individual quality chasm, they just knew what they were doing. Mowbray has been given funds to build a much deeper squad, therefore that gives us more scope for potentially using up more energy.

Good topic to have. With the money we have spent, resources, momentum, players like Dack/Mulgrew etc we should be above the bottom 8 comfortably. Teams like Sheffield United shouldnt be on a different level. Aim should always be one eye on the play offs, no point aiming for mid table. But if you end up there comfortably then thats acceptable id suggest.

People are defending and arguing against an in the main, totally fabricated argument that Mowbrays job should or is in any way questionable. As far as I know only Jim suggested that was the case, plus Mercer who has seen a poor performance, smelt blood and made a perfectly timed return... We were crap last night and Mowbray had a poor night. Its not wrong to say that. Also as much as Sheff United are having a good season theres way too much respect. Theyve only been in the league a year and havent spent much money compared to us, selling their star player in the summer. Key was to continue to play their game, their identity, in a way that played to their strengths and efficiently. They did that well. We did the opposite, we are at our best with a high intensity rather than backing off. We was the home team and there was too much unfounded fear for me.

Agree with @Dreams of 1995 on this issue. Graham has been as good as any Rovers player this season and Brereton has done nothing in his cameos to give any sort of credence to an argument of starting him over Graham.

Need to dismiss any myths that our fan base is anything but universally behind Mowbray. One poster (unless ive missed anyone) has suggested otherwise, that should be treat in isolation but to be honest even that seemed more of an appreciation as to the success the likes of Allardyce and Bruce have had in their careers rather than actively saying Mowbray out now. Yesterday in the first half which was dire, the supporters more than once rallied to try (and fail!) to get an on the day underperforming team. That simply doesnt happen if theres any doubts over the managers future. Expectations are a bit of a grey area this season id suggest, with a whole mixture of different ones from person to person. Some seem insistent that stability and survival are the names of the game. For me I think we should definitely look to achieve more than that. Thats the territory of spending over 8 million in the summer, the inferiority complex that seems to strike some in regards to being in a higher league is somewhat eridicated when you spend more than most in the summer to compliment a squad that people often refer to as a League 1 squad, but both us and Wigan achieved considerable points hauls after avoidable relegations in the first place due to mismanagement. Anyway, back to yesterday. Mowbray got it wrong for me and showed the opponent far too much respect.

Brereton convinced you with his 35 minutes, of which he spent half of it failing to control simple passes into him, and half of which he spent tieing his laces, that he deserves a go over a player who was not involved tonight but who has been superb all season? Armstrong couldnt be arsed tonight but he hasnt run over your cat unlike poor Kasey.

Still yet to start a league game so no one is writing him off. But needs practice at controlling a football and tieing his laces to start to justify a 6m tag.

Spent a lot of money and failed to get promotion then went down at Swansea. You seem to be gullible to a fancy foreign manager or a director of football system that usually ends in tears. You also seem to be on board with stuck up responses of clubs who are underperforming but turn their noses up at experienced, proven managers. Your ability to judge a manager has been shown up by berating Pulis and Bielsa before the season. Not doing too badly considering...

Why in a game we were totally outclassed in at home should people look in the mirror if they criticise him? Are you suggesting that he should be above criticism? No one says he didnt try and get back in the game. Sadly what he did tonight failed. All bar one person who controversially said he doesnt think Mowbray is the best person have solely criticised a single game in which we didnt play our usual game, sat back, offered nothing at all, with the manager culpable for that. (Mulgrew sub, Reed corner taker, no pressing etc) Also the likes of Brereton have taken flak simply because they played crap. Overall so far this season we have done average. Too many draws. Mowbrays doing fine and obviously only those courting controversy will suggest a change. Theres a lot to like but its not quite the fantastic start people paint it to be.

Replace him for Reed. Although I dont think Smallwood was notably worse than any of our other midfielders, Reed included.

Palmer does have 3 goals to be fair, hes not done enough wrong to be below Armstrong I would suggest.

We dont have enough centre backs to play 3 at the back permanently, although it never seems to work anyway.

If theyd prefer Carvalhal over the bottom 2 then they are idiots.

Bolton have started better than expected but are a team of frees cobbled together. Need to go and play our way there. Could do with a win as tonights loss makes recent dropped points look more costly. Raya Bennett Lenihan Mulgrew Williams Smallwood Evans Palmer Dack Rothwell Graham

Mowbray got it totally wrong tonight. Seemingly showed Sheffield United too much respect, no pressing at all as clearly instructed, and not playing our natural game. Tinkering between formations too. If Mulgrew is fit for a half why is he not starting? Bizarre. No idea how Reed got man of the match but why is he taking corners when he is so bad at them? Brereton spending over 2 minutes tieing his lace summed up his cameo. Think he had his boots on the wrong feet. Ball never stuck and looks so flimsy. Dack and in particular Armstrong looked like they couldnt be arsed. Nor what their role was. Rothwell showed far more hunger but just kept running into traffic.

Apologies, I meant the team you said looked good. I hope he plays 4 at the back like we both suggested in our teams. It would still be a negative change. Armstrong deserves to start, certainly not benched in favour of a third centre back.

For sure. That said, its a bit deceptive in that we had Brereton on the bench and Armstrong who you missed who cost at least 8m between them. The summer has removed us from being one of the teams struggling to scrape 2 pennies together. That said, there is quite a few academy players in there which is good. As you say its the wages that are the main difference. With the likes of Mulgrew, Evans, Bennett, Graham etc and the new deals dotted out in the summer id guess we were again mid range in Championship terms but miles away from Villa and co.

Agreed 47er. Need to concentrate on our own strengths, especially at home. 3 at the back has in the main failed in the past and we are doing ok with 4. Lets hope Mowbray sticks with 4 at the back and brings in Armstrong for Nyambe, with Bennett back at right back. And obviously Mowbray has more knowledge than us chaddy but thats a silly point to make. May as well shut down the messageboard if thats your argument. Your formation relies on Reed as primary support to Dack and Graham, a man with 2 goals in his career. Bell gets so far forward and shits himself, so hes hardly going to scare Sheffield United either!

Looks incredibly negative to me.