Mercer

We finish 2015/16 in 15th in Championship, we get relegated in 2016/17 on goal difference with Mowbray as manager when he was brought in to keep us up and we finish 2018/19 in 15th in Championship (precisely where we were 3 years ago). If you are happy with that then fine. I think Mowbray's brand of football that I see with Rovers is dire. I can't see a pattern of play or a playing identity emerging. I think his tactics and game management are very poor. IMO, his player trading apart from Dack and possibly Rothwell is very poor. I think he talks a good game (as at Blues back in Feb) but fails to deliver. As a football manager, IMO, Mowbray is not delivering for Rovers and we are going nowhere with him. That is my view and why I will not be buying season tickets for either family or business use whilst he remains in charge.

Did I say that? My point is that under Mowbray we have barely progressed from the beginning of the 2016/17 season. In fact in 2015/16 we finished 15th in the Championship in exactly the same place as we finished in 2018/19. IMO, three wasted years where the club, at best, has stood still and for 80%+ of the time Mowbray has been manager.

We started off the 2016/17 season as a Championship club. We finished 2018/19 season as a Championship club in 15th place with a need for some five additional players (again recognised by Mowbray at Blues) of some quality to make an impact. No one, least of all our owners, can be satisfied with that. It is hardly progress. IMO, a decent manager: Would have kept us up in the first place in 2016/17. After all we were relegated only on goal difference and as I have said before, I think Mowbray's tactics / game management cost us vital points that season with winning positions ending in draws and drawing positions ending in losses Having kept us up, used 2017/18 as a season to rebuild and put a stamp on the club in terms of a playing identity Would have had us seriously challenging for a top six spot in 2018/19 Relegation in 2016/17 cost us, hugely, financially and to compound matters, I think Mowbray, in the main, spunked £10million+ away in the last window. What a decent manager would have done with a combination of the financial losses owing to relegation and the £10million+ Mowbray had last summer. I think we are far, far away from challenging for promotion, we have no clear identity to our play (in fact at times I think it's dire <hoofball followed by more hoofball> and some on here had the temerity to criticise Big Sam) and our recruitment, apart from Dack and possibly Rothwell, has been poor. If you are happy with that then you are very easily pleased.

Mowbray was brought in, in his own words at Blues, to keep us in the Championship that season. He failed. In two and a half years since Mowbray arrived, are we really that much better off or placed as a football club than when he arrived. I think not.

Never been convinced by Waggott. IMO, he did not join us with a 'pedigree' nor could he be described as a dynamic 'up and coming'. IMO, he has done very little to move Rovers forward and his decision to extend Mowbray's contract by a further 3 or 4 years was crass stupidity. Sadly, I think John Williams' days as a CEO are over. At his age, your hunger and touch disappear.

I suspect this is a big part of the problem. I think he is a 'ditherer' and also not ruthless enough (frightened to upset his current 'loyalists'). When he does finally make a move, I think his judgement is flawed and very severely at times. I think it's very likely the ridiculous Brereton deal has hamstrung Rovers financially and cast serious doubt in the minds of the Venky's about Mowbray's ability to work the market.

Well deserved. Just hope this is the end for Lowe otherwise Mowbray, Venus, Lowe and Johnson is too much. Too many cooks....................................

Adams was a class act some 9/10 years ago. I think Rovers, at one stage, came very close to signing him from Blackpool and were left arguing over less than £1million.

Heard he was off to Derby but with Frank set to leave.........................

Chaddy would be a far cheaper option and to be brutally honest, I think he'd show a lot more imagination, and perhaps even more judgement, than that lot masquerading as experts at Ewood. In all seriousness, I think the football side at Ewood is severely under-managed. Even factoring in the fact our scouting system was dissipated, I think Mowbray's lack of drive, imagination and nous to work the market is alarming; you would think any manager worth his salt and who has been around for so long would have many contacts in the game - if Mowbray has, he certainly doesn't seem to use them.

Really? Think Gallagher has 'peaked'. IMO, he's stalled and is now regressing. Goalkeepers are like fine reds, mature with age. Like quite a few on here, convinced that with an experienced goalkeeping coach who's seen it, done it and got the t-shirt, Raya would improve immensely. Benson, the 'boy' from Carlisle Community Dep who seemingly has not played pro football, is, IMO, so far out of his depth it's scandalous.

Think In Mowbray's eyes only! Brentford don't pay big fees. Agree with JHRover, would be surprised if it got to £2million. Think Raya is being made a 'scapegoat' in order to hide Mowbray's inability or inclination to sort out our back four. If Raya goes, can imagine Mowbray's script - 'it was good money and I felt we needed more experience in goal as David's inexperience was a factor last season'.

Says it all. No club is getting knocked over in the rush to sign Gallagher. Said it before, IMO, his development has stalled and he should be filed away in the 'Joe Average' section. We have to do much, much better than Gallagher. Firstly, the guy is not young, he is 24 in a few weeks' time and secondly he should have many more appearances than 100 under his belt having been at it for 6 or 7 years. He is a one goal in five games man which isn't good enough. So activity to date: Raya being sold, Downing signed and Gallagher possibly signing. Who would have thought defensively we were a shambles for the most part of last season!

You must have attended the same school of economics as Neil Woodford!

A huge IF ! Meanwhile the club stagnates and possibly regresses. IMO, the lad doesn't have it and never will. My thoughts very early on when he joined Rovers as I could see virtually nothing that offered any hope. IMO, the brutal reality is that Mowbray has dropped one enormous b0ll0ck.

Think you are spot on. The big, big worries for me are Lowe and Benson (as mentioned above). Saw Lowe at the Academy and was underwhelmed by his 'abilities' - IMO, such an uninspiring figure with so little presence. Obviously, Mowbray and Venus are mates and IMO, neither has demonstrated they can organise or set a team up and successfully change tactics as the game dictates. I remember when Sam first arrived and was asked about our defensive coach Winterburn - his remarks 'I'll sort the defence' and my goodness he did. Mowbray and Venus were both defenders but, IMO, there has been little evidence to suggest they can solve our defensive woes.

I think Raya will develop significantly with good, specialist coaching. The 'boy' Benson hasn't really played the game and was doing community stuff with Carlisle not very long ago. IMO, he's way, way out of his depth and therein lies a big part of the problem with Raya. Can you imagine someone like Hart or Carson coming in and being told your coach is Benson!

I've said it before and will say it again, IMO, he should have been sacked for that decision alone. That financial commitment will, IMO, prove to have hamstrung the club's development. I think it's scandalous.

Think more bullsh1t from a deluded and not up to scratch manager. His words are of no surprise to me. What a depressing start to the weekend.

McNamee was a leader and a no nonsense commanding presence. Everything we sadly lack at the moment. Sadly, John is now affected by Alzheimer's and you do wonder if it's a similar 'industrial illness' to what Jeff Astle suffered. Last I heard from someone who knew the family was that he was living in Cumbria.

Predictable stuff. In fact, I think it's Mowbray's usual bullsh1t. Depressing stuff this thread.

Downing signed. Bauer wanted but rejected us. Other speculations: Fielding, Hanley, O'Neill, Gallagher........... Feeling distinctly underwhelmed. Oh for a manager with a knowledge of the market and an ability to work it. Think Mowbray is one of the biggest bullsh1tting managers we've had in recent times. Told fans at Blues back in Feb what they wanted to hear and I think he's a million miles away from delivering that - IMO, a big, big let down.

Then why has Mowbray monitored and chased for nigh on two years!?! Our defence is appalling and it says everything about Mowbray when he is looking to sign squad players. I think the lad has made the right decision going to Preston. Neil will take him to another level and I think we will long rue Mowbray's inability to work the market. After Mowbray's comments at Blues about signing players who will come in and make a difference, it only confirms suspicions. I think Mowbray is full of bullsh1t and we are going nowhere with this man.

This has been discussed countless times on here with links to various articles on fee with some stating £7million+ add ons. My understanding is a very substantial non target fee with add ons - supposedly Forest couldn't believe their luck. That is the view of a colleague/friend who's a Forest fan and uses the hospitality facilities at City Ground. Mowbray knew he had to 'clear' this one up at Blues in Feb.. My recollection of what he said: signed Brereton on basis of his performance against Rovers at their place where we lost 2-1, we'd paid £6/7 million (no attempt to say part of this was with targets) and he thought he'd be a £15 to £20 million footballer in time to come. Anyone on this MB who was also at Blues will be able to confirm.

Well it does as it means the club miss out on a number of season tickets for personal and business use. That is replicated hundreds if not thousands of times over. IMO, V's ownership and the, in the main, direct football served up by Mowbray has cost our club dearly.