8 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Blimey, Ive explained my opinion on the way we used Brereton and patience is needed. Explained my view on what I expect from each player regardless of cost. 

On the budget, he still have some left over and I think the owners will.get some more money for us to kick on and sign 3 players. If you disagree fair enough

 

How do you know he has money left over?

There is a huge difference in having £1million or £10million leftover.

Across industry and commerce you have to get your pricing strategy right - it makes or breaks brands and companies.

I challenge anyone to articulate what Rovers' pricing strategy is!

One tough game tomorrow.

WBA will be looking to bounce back from the home defeat to Derby.

Our best chance could be to get at them from the start and exploit any fragility / lack of confidence following Derby defeat.  We MUST be positive.

Avoiding defeat will be a result but I think we can win and have therefore placed a bob or two on us at 4/1 which I think is a great price for a flutter.

3 hours ago, unsall said:

Serious question, Mercer do you think Mowbray is doing a decent job, or would you prefer someone else, as you probably know I think he’s a breath of fresh air after some of the dross we have had recently, I know everything he does isn’t 100%,sometimes I think he gets the subs wrong, but overall a very decent, honest manager.

I must have seen 20+ Rovers' managers going all the way back to 'Jolly' Jack Marshall!

I've seen the good, the bad and the darn right ugly.

IMV, Mowbray is no better than a 'steady Eddie'.

OK, when Coyley left, we were in a mess but I think Mowbray should still have kept us up.  To go down on goal difference when we surrendered so many points through, IMV, Mowbray's tactics and negativity was so galling.

Did a decent job in bringing us up at first go but League One is dire and nowhere near as competitive as it was when firstly Gordon Lee and then Howard Kendall brought us out of the old Third Division as then was.  Last season, we were also probably the best resourced in that league by a country mile.

I think, at times, Mowbray over complicates things (tactically all over the place), too many square pegs in round holes and is too negative.  I find most of his substitutions baffling.

I think his transfer record is very mixed.  Dack is obviously the diamond signing but I wince at the likes of Hart and Gladwin.  Big money, for Rovers, has gone on Brereton and Armstrong and I can't see anywhere near £9million of value there.

A very decent and likeable bloke but for me, not the football manager  to lead us back to the PL.

20 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

well we did. 

I said we need to be patience and time to adjust to our tactics and formation. Then judge him when he plays in proper position or the position Mowbray wants. 

I never said it was a good piece of business. yet again things ive never said. 

I have seen recently his ability to run with the ball, good touch, pace. hopefully he will played more and show how good in i

 

I see this every week on the local football pitches!  Even at my age (and I played into my 50's), I can offer the first two but sadly the pace went a long, long time ago!

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

you have no idea what the budget will be in January as this will be decide in November when Mowbray and Waggott goes to India for talks.  So why did you post this comment earlier today "how did it limit our options to strengthen else? Still got money left over from the summer budget". 

Mowbray has already said the way he has handled Brereton since coming in but now you are coming through with another conspiracy theory. Which is right, bring him in slowly and let him get up to speed and used to Mowbray and his tactics/fitness demands.   Like Liverpool did with Salah!  Come on Chaddy, get real - you pay big bucks, you expect big things.

of course its relevant but you will disagree. 

I haven't done any U-turn but I have posted what Mowbray has said in media to posters asking those question why he is playing wide or not starting. How people read things that I haven't posted. 

signing someone like Brereton who is young, not played this season and not used to Mowbray ways/methods it was always going to required patience.  IMV, nonsense - a huge signing for the Rovers and for £7million, Brereton should be tearing teams to pieces for us and not getting splinters in his backside sat on the bench.

The money isn't relevant as I expect the same from every player regarding of cost or wages. When they put the Blackburn Rovers shirt I expect 100% commitment, work rate, desire and passion from every player. here a saying from Goal the film, "the name on the front of the shirt is more important than the name on the back of the shirt

 

what full story? another conspiracy theory by someone else. 

exactly. Mowbray and his staff will have done their work on Brereton.  Then, IMV, they are on the thinnest of thin ice as evidence so far suggests, IMV, they have failed.

Thankyou for the support 

Just now, unsall said:

Very true, but when I seem to give my opinion I get shouted down by members and mods, saying I shouldn’t be saying positive comments.

Say what you feel and you wont go far wrong.  It would be a dull old world if everyone agreed!

9 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

There are very fair points in there that I agree with, notably that the price is most certainly relevant, that we need to use resources (limited isnt 100% accurate mind) to strengthen the first team, and that moaning about a lack of strikers after spending 8 or 9 million on 2 is crazy.

That said, you lose all credibility in your post IMO when you start bringing players like Kylian Mbappe into it, even if its obviously not a direct comparison.

The comparison is for age !!!

To hear Mowbray talk, you would think our young lads had just stepped out of kindergarten.  I think it's ridiculous.  Butch Wilkins captained Chelsea 1st team at 17 !!!

It's simple enough - if you are good enough you are old enough.  If you aint got it, doesn't matter whether you are 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 etc, you'll never make it.

3 minutes ago, unsall said:

You should have put in for the managers job, seem to know all the answers.

Like all MB members, I do have an opinion and a right to exercise it.

Just now, roversfan99 said:

If played in his position, yes.

It doesn't matter where you are on the field of play.  A good player shows technique, rhythm, timing, awareness, imagination etc - not seen any of this in Brereton.

Just now, unsall said:

Wonder why Mowbray gave the ok to sign him then, he wasn’t getting much game time at Forest, but it’s potential he has, why do England u20s pick him, he must have something.

Think Jason Lowe was selected for England U20s & U21s on well over a dozen occasions.  Enough said!

38 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Should a player not be given time though, particularly a younger guy? If he starts for us next season and does a job, that's 7 million (or whatever) we'll spent 

Varies from player to player - some make an immediate impact (eg Shearer), some need a bit of time (Sherwood) and some will never cut it because they are simply a dud!

Seen Brereton several times now and I haven't seen anything at all which made me sit up and take notice or even think he has half decent potential - irrespective of where he has played.  I would have been disappointed even if we'd have signed him on a free!  I would love to know the full story behind this signing - sadly, it's all reminiscent of the many clangers dropped by Rovers that it's been my misfortune to see in almost six decades of supporting the club.

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

how did it limit our options to strengthen else? Still got money left over from the summer budget. 

You need to listen to Mowbray's comments from yesterday that I have just posted. 

 

 

You need to listen to the Mowbray's interview I posted today from BBC Lancashire. He explained the way he has use him so far. and asking for fans to be patience. He explained that he is the Graham, Dack and Armstrong plus 1 more as the front 4 cos of the chemistry and the understand they have. 

We only have 3 strikers fit at the minute and I understand why he wanted another striker available but Samuel and Nuttall are injured. Would be given him more options. 

How much?

Whether it be £100,000 or £1million, we have £7million LESS to commit in the next transfer window or possibly even one or two windows after that.

£7million would have bought at least 2 or 3 very decent players who would have gone straight into our starting eleven instead of a striker who is not good enough, even Mowbray must acknowledge this by virtue of the fact he wont select him,  to command a regular starting spot.  IMV, a signing that defies logic.

4 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Mowbray on Brereton when he signed here including his role within the side, the price, not putting too much pressure on him. From the LT article. 

Tony Mowbray is keen not to burden Ben Brereton with too much expectation after the 19-year-old secured his move to Rovers.

 

But the boss is excited to work with the England Under-19 international who arrives initially on loan from Nottingham Forest.

That will be made permanent in January, with the fee in the region of £6m-£7m.

Mowbray felt the opportunity to sign Brereton, who has eight goals in 53 Championship games, was too good to turn down, having pursued him for much of the month.

The boss said: “I’m just trying to add quality.

“He’s 19-years-old, I’m conscious of not overplaying him. He’s a young guy with lots of good attributes, he’s fast, can run with the ball, play off both feet, he can dribble, and hopefully he’s going to score and create goals for us and be another string to our bow.

“The price for me is really irrelevant. I know it’s not for the bigger picture for the football club but I’m just trying to add the right quality to the team that’s going to help us and make us stronger, more creative, offensive and creating more chances.

“I think it's just too good an opportunity for us to turn down. We had the money to spend and when you've got it, let's spend it.

“Let's forget about the price now and concentrate on the player. He's a 19-year-old boy. We're not going to burden him and expect him to win games on his own.

“Let's be excited about him coming, but let's not burden him with a huge expectation, because he's 19.

“There will be games where he doesn't start and has to affect the game off the bench. There'll be other games where we have to hope he can make the difference in the game.

“Let's just give him time to settle in to our club, to get to know the lads, to move to a new area, to find accommodation and not over-burden him with expectation too early.”

Brereton, at 6’3 is able to play across the frontline, but revealed his favoured role is playing down the middle.

Mowbray often uses what he describes as ‘wide strikers’, a role Brereton has done in the past, and one Mowbray could look to utilise him in again.

But his versatility will be useful to Rovers, as the boss weighs up his options for the season ahead.

“I’ve told him that. His preference would be to play down the middle, but so would Adam Armstrong’s,” Mowbray added.

“He played most of last season on the left wing for me and scored goals from that position.

“Mo Salah plays on the right wing for Liverpool and scored 40 goals last season.

“Wide strikers, I wouldn’t say they’re going to be right wingers or left wingers. A number nine or wide striker? We’ll see what the opposition do and play to our strengths against the weakness of the opposition.

“As long as the players understand that, an Adam or a Ben, that at times we might play them not necessarily where they want to play, if it benefits the team that’s what we’ll do.”

 

     57

Absolutely staggering stuff!

How can the price be irrelevant when it limits our options to strengthen elsewhere!?  It's Mowbray's job to use the relatively limited resources available to strengthen the 1st team.  To commit almost £9million on Armstrong and Brereton and then say we are a striker light is, IMV, farcical.

Mbappe who starred in a World Cup Final is just 19, Alex-Arnold was ripping it up at 19 and played in a Champions League Final,  Sessegnon and Ampadu were/are sensational 17 year olds.

The bottom line is if you are good enough then you are old enough.  IMV, we have wasted £7million on a 19 year old striker not good enough to command a regular place in a newly promoted Championship team.

By the way Chaddy, both Shajan and Northcote are very good in their own different ways!

Pluses and minuses for me.

Firstly, I think he should have kept us up the season we were relegated - his negativity resulted in too many wins turning into draws and too many draws turning into losses.

Brought us back at the first time of asking - job done, well done.

Decent start this season - still not convinced though, last two matches (despite win at Bolton) worrying.

Transfer record mixed.  Big plus Dack.  Brought in some duds.  His 'big investments' (Brereton and Armstrong) are a concern.

A very decent chap but wouldn't get carried away with a lengthy contract.  In my opinion, big question mark as to how far he can take us (with or without investment).

Not a believer in long term contracts.  Too often, managers get new long term contracts, things go sour  and within months clubs are paying fortunes to get rid.

To me, I'd give him a lucrative one year rolling contract plus heavily incentivised bonus based upon league position - jackpot time if her gets us up to the PL.  Would also give him a bonus based upon collective net profit on player trading (ie what we sell them for compared to what we bought them for).  Payment by results is fair and focuses the mind - failure should not be rewarded in any shape or form.

3 minutes ago, Ozz said:

How anyone can make a judgement on him based on his performances at Rovers so far baffles me. He's hardly touched the ball in few minutes he's had. 

 

Your argument in itself is baffling.

Why oh why is our multi million pound striker not starting on a regular basis?  If he's no better than 30 odd year old Graham or whoever else we have, why the feck commit a small fortune on the lad when we so obviously need strengthening in other areas!?

For clarity, I m not comparing him directly with Shearer.

What I have said is a player with a big price tag comes with big expectations from the fans.  Shearer clearly didn't disappoint and looked every inch the part from game one.

Whether the deal for Brereton is 3, 4, 5, 6 or £7million, it's still huge money for Rovers in present day circumstances and in my view, the fans are justified in expecting much more from Brereton from what we've seen so far.  To be honest, if we'd have signed the lad on a free, you'd still be scratching your head with what we've seen so far.

8 minutes ago, Biz said:

There is is lads. Proof that BB is going to be the next big thing.

Joking aside though - the fee is being used as an excuse to be overly critical of a 19 year old who’s been here about 6 weeks. That’s an non disclosed fee by the way, and since none of us can predict what the Rao’s will do, it’s not as black and white as this “eggs in basket” debate that’s built on nothing but assumption.

Plus 7m (highly doubt it’s that before clauses being met) is the equivalent of 50k in 1992, so I’m not sure what relevance that is?

The lad needs time, not hyperbolic criticism! Could do with some guidance on how to tie his laces quicker mind...!

Genuinely hope the lad proves to be world beater and a snip at the price.

If the deal is worth nowhere near £7m, why the hell didn't Rovers say so and take some of the pressure off the lad?  Perhaps Rovers wanted to create an illusion for the fans of having invested heavily!?

When we signed Dack last season for £750k you almost immediately could see a bit of a spark, some potential.  Recognise players need a bit of time to settle, particularly youngish lads, but you do hope to see at least a glimpse of what they might be about. 

Some of us will have seen and remember Shearer's Rovers' debut at Palace in 1992.  A 21 year old signed for a British record transfer fee of £3million+ in 1992.  Like a duck to water, there was never, ever, any doubt about the lad's ability - two superb debut goals and the rest is history.

For big money, particularly now in Rovers' circumstances, you expect big things immediately.

I just can't see what the lad offers or indeed any potential.

Young players who excite like Sessegnon, Alex-Arnold, Woodburn, Ampadu and Rice stand out a country mile and have already shown quality and maturity at the highest levels.  I am not saying Brereton is in the same league but I don't think he offers even  a tenth of what these lads do.  Sadly, I think we've signed a dud.

19 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

I'd say playing a part in 13 goals in 10 games is getting more than involved in each game. ? 

Well I'm greedy. 

Just think the lad has much more to offer.  It's a two way thing.  Mowbray has to find a way of the team generally getting more out of Dack's skill and intelligence and Dack himself needs to challenge himself for more and not be satisfied with his usual goal / assist.

10 minutes ago, Ricky said:

He’s scored 8 goals and had 5 assists in 10 games this season Mercer. How much more do you want out of him??

Much more! 

He's our one real bright spark and we have to get him far more involved in the the game.  Maybe he thinks he's done enough when he scores or chips in with an assist?  Contrast with the attitude of greats like Messi, Ronaldo etc, they have an insatiable appetite for more, more and more. 

23 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Disagree. He had some decent touches but his movement was good/decent. We need to learn how to use him. His game is about movement and playing on the defender shoulder. 

Your comments always remind me of Alf Thornton.

Alf was a lovely chap who was LT's Rovers' journalist but bled blue and white.

The crap players Rovers' signed in those days would be masked by Alf's scribblings in their first few games 'showed some nice touches'.

Sadly, I think Rovers have just poured a shed load of money down the drain with the Brereton deal.  In my opinion, a signing as puzzling as many others in recent years.

Doubt we will get near Leeds.

Leeds to deliver a footballing master class and win by at least two clear goals.

Any win away from home is good but we were really poor after taking the lead against a very, very ordinary Championship outfit who we really should have put to the sword.

Mowbray again became negative with his puzzling tactics and substitutions almost costing us the game.

Rothwell looks very promising and was the one bright spark for me - Dack again too much on the periphery and I think we should be getting much more out of the lad.  Rodwell looked leggy to me and didn't show the athleticism of his early days.

A lot of work to be done and nowhere near good enough to think about top 6 in my opinion - with Dack in our team, we are a mid table outfit at best.

My Bolton friends were gutted about losing that one but at least had the consolation of me picking up the post match drinks' tab as is our tradition for the winner.

18 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

David Moyes new bookies favourite for Villa job.

Some Villa fans on twitter not happy at all. 

Neither would I be!

Saw Moyes in a Lytham restaurant a few weeks ago and he didn't look a happy chappy!

If Villa have any sense, they'd appoint Big Sam.  As close as you can get to guaranteed success.