Mercer

I hope you are right but he hasn't shown me anywhere near enough for me to think he might be a 'real player' for us. I compare him to Vale and I think Vale is head and shoulders above Butterworth. How many times do you need to see a player? An old friend of my dad's was a scout for a Division 1 (now PL) club, scouting senior players and he reckoned he knew within 45 minutes if a player had anything about him or he was wasting his time and the player could be crossed off his list - it was fascinating to hear his observations, particularly if I was watching football with him.

Carter is not 'only a boy' - he is 21 years of age this year. As I have said before, ability is relative to the level you play at. IMO, if Carter was going to be a player for us at Championship level, at his age, he should already have broken through or shown much more composure and dominance in his two games for us. Sadly, I think he is another Academy product who will just drift into obscurity or earn a crust at Division 2 or, at best, Division 1 level. You watch these lads at levels below first team and and I think it's pretty obvious who has got something about them and has a chance to become a real player for us and who hasn't. IMO, Jack Vale looks like he could be the real thing but others like Butterworth, Davenport, Fisher, Grayson, Magloire, Mols, Wharton etc you can forget.

We know how good a coach Hughton is. Proven track record, far better than Mowbray's. I bet you, however much money you want to bet, not only will they finish higher than Rovers next season but they will finish in top 6. A club with massive potential.

Number of points here. Firstly, I do not think it is inconceivable that Venky's have sidelined Waggott and have someone working on their behalf to see if they can find a replacement for Mowbray. The silence is deafening and it would explain a lot - perhaps their confidence in Waggott and Mowbray has gone. Who that someone may be or who they are looking at is another factor! Secondly, we might have had half a dozen or so Academy / Development players on 'the grass' at some point over the last couple of games but like you, I would question if they really are good enough. Most of them are 20 going on 21 and I think a couple or so are even older. You look back over the years and the 'big players' broke through in their teens Butch Wilkins captained Chelsea at 17, Rooney, Mbappe, Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice and more recently Reece James at Chelsea. And before anyone throws their toys out of their pram, let me make it clear, ability is relative to the level you are at. I do not think for one moment our younger players should be playing in Champions League or World cup Finals but at their age, if they were good enough, they should have battered down the first team door and become regulars at Championship Level. I think Alexander-Arnold and Rice have already clocked up 100 first team appearances or so at just 21 years of age. Lenihan is no longer a youngster and at 26, I think he's found his level. Travis is a decent Championship player at the moment with room to go but the lad is almost 23 and still nowhere near 100 appearances, Nyambe is 22 and as far as I'm concerned, his development is being held back by Mowbray's mismanagement. Rankin-Costello I think has just turned 21 and his first team appearances are still in single figures - could become a decent Championship player but no more, IMO. Carter 20 is no Phil Jones and doesn't look good enough to be a first team regular Buckley 20 is, IMO, as you say, ineffective and too weak Have seen the rest of our younger at their respective levels and, IMO, there is only one who really excites me and who looks like he may have some star quality and that's Jack Vale. Like I've posted before, our Academy is NOT producing the 'big players' for us - the David Dunns, Damien Duffs and the Phil Jones's. I think the rest, in the main, are much of a muchness ability wise - average. IMO, it needs looking at.

It's a bit more than slow build and evolution! IMO, lays bare just how much Mowbray has mismanaged the transfer windows.

IMO, he spouts so much sh1te. I don't think he understands the game.

Last night was very interesting. From bits I saw, Mowbray, IMO, looked very disinterested. Was Venus there - someone mentioned they didn't see him? The normally statuesque Lowe seemed, IMO, to throw a wobbler at the end. No Mowbray comments that I can see in the LT. You can but hope that this is the end for Mowbray, Venus, Lowe and Benson.

IMO, a season of despair - devoid of hope. Mowbray just turns me cold. IMO, just spouts sh1te and soundbites. The 'happy clappers' might be happy tonight but I'm just p1ssed off with Mowbray's mind numbing Rovers.

John Barton filled the goal! Little room for the ball to pass!

Absolutely. Think Fred Else was Yashin though in comparison!

IMO, he just spouts so much sh1te - it's embarrassing. I don't think he understands the game at all. At best, IMO, a 'yes man'.

Spot on. Mowbray's article in LT was, IMO, feckin disgraceful. I think he's frightened of playing Chapman because he knows what he'll do if given a chance but he simply doesn't like the guy.

Think Yardley is a complete tosser. Full stop.

But we extended contracts for Hart and Smallwood - IMO, utter incompetent madness if that's why the reason for Hilton's exclusion.

IMO, another lost opportunity. Would like to have seen Davenport and Vale start. Vale looks like he has REAL potential and star quality - why hold him back!?!?

Not really. All this seems down to the new owner who, arguably, should not have completed the acquisition. This is not the fault of Wigan FC. I think it's 75/25 in favour of Wigan being successful in any appeal.

Don't think so - quite simply, without the points deduction (which would be deemed unfair if the appeal is successful) they would have been relegated anyhow.

You are right if looked at in black and white. However, think we are now in a 'grey area' and the decision from the appeal may well become a precedent - law and the like, in these sort of matters, evolves.

As I said, I think they will win the appeal. Those who run the club did not deliberately run the club into the ground nor strive to keep operating when they knew insolvency was approaching - it was not an attempt to 'cut and run' at the expense of the creditors. I think it will be construed the new owner of less than four weeks was grossly culpable and the EFL, IMO, have made a real dog's breakfast of it.

Whacked a good size bet on Wigan to be beat Fulham at almost 2/1. Pretty sure Cooky will have Wigan fired up and will be far too feisty for the southern softies.

Hopefully, Cooky will move to Ewood to replace Mowbray!

Also to think how much we paid this guy in wages over the years - probably measured in £millions! I don't blame Lowe for that, you must look after yourself and you don't look a gift horse in the mouth! The lad's probably set himself up for life.

A huge, huge worry. To put it into perspective, I would think you are talking about a monthly cost in the £40k to £60k range. In the scheme of things, for a football club with a staff cost bill of say £23million (as per last accounts) per year, IMO, it's chicken sh1t. Think your red flags need to be raised a lot, lot more!

A bit deeper than that. You are what you are and management style will depend upon what skills you have in your own locker, your personality, the level of experience you have and, importantly, the needs of your team / colleagues (part of which will include your kicking / cuddling!). The ethos / culture of your organisation will also play a part (though I'm buggered if I know what that is at Rovers!).

and he had Chapman when we were in League 1. If he knew what Chapman 'was all about' then why the hell sign him for a second time? Chaddy, have you ever managed anyone at work in your life? If so, what is your style, authoritarian, servant leadership, pacesetting, visionary etc ?