2 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

 

Still doesn't exempt Mowbray from criticism though; by common consent the starting XI at the Hawthorns was bizarre, and we continue to draw games we could have won - yesterday being another example. Some of his signings and tactics / substitutions / lineup tinkering are baffling too.  Others would disagree but footie fans love to argue - it's one of the things that make the game so great. Bit unfair comparing Mowbray with Coyle - even Chaddy knows more about the game than Coyle

Agree with that about Mowbray.

As a manager, Coyley had a decent track record (St Johnstone <cups and near promotion>), Burnley <promotion to PL> and Bolton <kept them in PL when joining part way through season>) up until his first full season at Bolton since when he's bombed.  He was a disaster for us but would give him the nod over Chaddy!

On paper, our next few games aren't as tricky as our last few!

As we know though, football isn't played on paper and we could easily end up with only a point or two.

My biggest concern is injuries to Lenihan, Raya, Mulgrew - Rodwell also injured and read somewhere Dack was holding his hamstring.

Most recognise we needed more quality in the summer and the expensive commitment to sign Brereton seems more farcical by the day.

Confidence and momentum are everything in this league and my two to go straight up are Sheff U, who mullered us at Ewood, and Derby who seem to be shaping up nicely.

I think we will at best be 10th and if we suffer injuries for any length of time to our key players, we could dip as low as 18th.

Two months to go before the window opens and if I was Waggott, there'd be no more money for Mowbray until we can see which way the wind is blowing on Brereton in particular and to a lesser extent Armstrong.  You can't have a manager making major investments and then playing them out of position or even not at all - it's nonsense.

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

I don't agree with Mercer one bit and Mowbrays had his targets for other positions but didn't spend just for the sake of it. 

No surprise there Chaddy.

Good job you weren't around in WW2 as Lord Haw Haw  would have had you done up like a kipper.  Talking of Germans, I think a Klopstock proverb is quite appropriate "he who has no opinion of his own, but depends upon the opinion and taste of others, is a slave"        

Let me ask you a question.  Given you watch lots of football as you tell us and therefore must have seen Brereton in a Forest shirt, if you were the Rovers' manager, would you have signed him and how much would you have paid for him?

Just now, Mercer said:

Add to that list Simon Garner taking over in goal some 30+ years ago from O'Keefe (broken leg) at an Ewood night match.  Can't remember the opposition but I seem to recall us winning that one!?

Sorry, caught up with the posting - already posted on this page.

2 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Roger Jones was replaced by an outfield player (Don Martin?) in the annihilation at Shrewsbury in the early 70's. I also have an image of David Mail in goal.

Over to Meadows for the answers.

Add to that list Simon Garner taking over in goal some 30+ years ago from O'Keefe (broken leg) at an Ewood night match.  Can't remember the opposition but I seem to recall us winning that one!?

12 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

given your statement below you soon switch you tune so quickly. funny

45 mins before we got a point you were slamming Mowbray tactics. how two face can you been?

 

Oh dear me Chaddy. 

You clearly don't recognise when someone is being facetious (ie tongue-in-cheek / jocular remark).

Tony got his tactics spot on.

In Tony we trust.

Fantastic point all things considered.

We'll catch them on the break for a remarkable 2-1 win!

Just now, Trinidad Rover said:

Reed has been outstanding today. SIGN HIM!

Money's gone on non playing Brereton!

Just now, yellowsubmarine said:

to be honest, Reed looks good anywhere of the pitch. He's a natural.

A huge heart.  Wish we had 10 more.

Wow!

Football is a funny old game.

Think we'll win now.

Just now, davulsukur said:

And yet you still stuck a tenner on it ?

Yep because silly me thought Mowbray had enough nous to change it at half time.

We are 1 nil down with no striker on the pitch but we have a £7million striker signing rooted to the bench.  I think there's something wrong here.

Rovers now 18/1 to win.  Stuck a tenner on - gut feeling.  Wife's sent for men in white coats.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Any need for that? 

Stomach injury. 

Chaddy, Mowbray can do no wrong in your eyes.  It's blindingly obvious what we are missing today.

Sounds like WBA are pretty ordinary and there for the taking if we get our system / tactics right.

Put Brereton on up front as a centre forward and let's see what the lad's got.

Anyone know why Charlie went off?

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Mowbray not happy by the sounds of it. Threw his water bottle down.  He picked the feckin team !

We need a striker or 2 on.  No shit Sherlock!

21 minutes ago, dingles staying down 4ever said:

Apparently rushed to hospital from BT studios. Sounds serious.

 

Hope he is Ok

Would echo that.

Always looked so fit.

Best wishes Glenn.

Big statement from Derby this week.

Four points from two away games at West Brom and Middlesbrough.  Such results do wonders for confidence and add momentum.

Will only get better.  One to watch.

Just now, Exiled in Toronto said:

Apart from our top scorer last season and this.

Signed and recognised as an attacking midfielder!

Never saw Frank 'goals' Lampard referred to as a striker.

Unbelievable.

To start with no recognised striker and have three on the bench of whom two cost £9million is farcical.

29 minutes ago, Biz said:

6/7m likely in installments.

The price is also not that big in terms of the recent explosion - infact Armstrong’s bargain price puts more pressure on B.B. for me. The price is only a problem imo, if there is an immediate need and expectation for him to step up and change football games. At this moment, Dack, Graham and Armstrong are all in front of him, so no rush for me.

 

 

Doesn't matter whether the fee is instalments or not - the bottom line is it's a financial commitment / liability for the club.

For the type of money we've committed to, there has to be an expectation that Brereton, or any other player we sign for that type of money, will walk into to the club, make a huge impact and take the club to another playing level.  If Brereton is no better than Graham and Armstrong (central strikers), we should not have bought him for, IMV, such a ludicrous fee.  As I and many others have said, for that type of money, we could have signed 3 very decent players who would command first team spots and who would have strengthened the team significantly.  Brereton has not strengthened the team, Mowbray can't think he's good enough to start, and therefore in my view is an unfathomable signing.

17 minutes ago, Paul said:

For the past 25 years or more the strategy has been to encourage and reward ST holders with very competitive pricing.

I would have thought that obvious. How one views it's success or otherwise is up for debate. One view would be we appear to have a high proportion of our match day crowd who are ST holders suggesting the strategy works.

When you are out of the PL and your ticket income (ST's & walk-ons) is a far bigger proportion of your turnover then it's an entirely different ball game. 

I don't see much imagination in Rovers' offerings to both ST holders and non ST holders and that's why, by Waggott's own admission. crowds at Ewood are a concern.  Waggott's paid a lot of money to get things right and he needs to earn it. 

8 hours ago, DeeCee said:

Pretty much agree with your views but who would be the alternative?

Picking the right man is enormously difficult as countless chairmen have found time and time again.

I look at it from several angles.  We are now a more stable club and therefore a more attractive proposition.  It's been an age old argument on this MB who better can we get - we had it with Bowyer and now, to a degree, with Mowbray.  If you don't ask then you don't get!  I think Rovers would have enormous interest if there was a vacancy.  It needs a CEO with some vision and imagination like the late Derrick Keighley when he made Howard Kendall Rovers' player manager.

8 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Very much disagree with it all..but I find interest you have come back on the messageboard tonight. Wonder how long it is before you telling us Dack wants out and Rovers are selling. 

That's your entitlement to disagree Chaddy.

In a democracy and a country of free press, we are all entitled to voice an opinion providing it's inoffensive.

I've been dipping in and out for a week or two now but the reality is that some of us can't afford the time for this MB that you can.