Mercer

We need two quality centre halves and I would then let Charlie anchor our midfield playing just in front of the defence. He reads the game well, can tackle and can pass the bloody ball.

I am not as close to football as I once was. However, other clubs find innovative managers. Who on this MB knew much about Wagner, Farke, Santo, Jokanovic etc before they were appointed. I want a manager with real passion and a spark that transmits to all connected with the club - it goes a long way. A manager who gets us playing in a style that excites and wins football matches. A manager who can get us to the PL, keep us there and turn us into a top 10 team. Sadly, in my eyes, Mowbray doesn't fit the profile. You should never ever settle for mediocrity and stagnation. A poster earlier made a valid point, don't let fear rule - we wont be able to do any better. When Bowyer was our manager there were better options out there and I am convinced there are far better options out there than Mowbray.

Arnott and Speight ? Wish we had those two lads now in our midfield now. Skillful lad Arnott and Speight was blood and thunder.

Good preview! Not a chance on Saturday. We will concede at least 2 goals. Our fitness levels are increasingly worrying and it will be no surprise to me if it looks like our 7th game in 7 days! Bookies fancy us to take a pasting. Best you can get on 4-1 is 25/1. Gone for United at 11/17 and a couple of fun bets on 3-1 at 12/1 and 4-1 at 25/1.

The galling thing is Mowbray was a centre back himself - surely he can see what's wrong. In actual fact, I think it's personnel, fitness, organisation and tactics! I remember Sam taking over from Ince and instantly dismissing Winterburn (our defensive coach) with words to the effect 'I was a defender, I'll sort it', and he did.

If the club wants to move forward then yes. He inherited a mess from C o y l e but at the end of the day, I think he should still have kept us up. To be relegated on goal difference was a tough, tough one to take when, IMO, his overly cautious approach and muddled tactical thinking turned some winning positions into draws and drawing positions into losses. Mowbray had to get us back at the first attempt which in fairness he did. However, Div 1 is pi$$ poor and nowhere near the challenge that Gordon Lee and Howard Kendall successfully came through. Rovers were the best resourced club in Div 1 by a long way. In my opinion, we 'ragged' it on a number of occasions last season and I was never convinced we were a team on the march that was going to make an impact this season. As I posted earlier today, I really scratch my head as to what Mowbray brings to the party. I think we are unattractive to watch, tactically muddled and our player trading is very poor apart from the rare exception (Dack) - two of our better players (Mulgrew and Graham) were both secured by C o y l e ! If you want 'stability' and are happy to tread water in the bottom half of the Championship then Mowbray is your man.

Fergie had already won big silverware (including European) with another club before moving to United. To even remotely compare Mowbray with Ferguson is ludicrous.

Like building with Brereton and Armstrong at almost £10million when there are so many holes in our team?

I think it was ludicrous for Mowbray to come out and say after one match words to the effect 'this is where we are'. Well Tony, 'this is where I am', and I dare say other fans will feel the same way, I aint going to pay any more money to watch Rovers rollover and listen to your platitudes. Due to family/work commitments, I've seen more away games than home games recently and Wigan, Boro and Leeds all left a sour taste in the mouth. There will be no more for me.

Has Tony Mowbray become a managerial dinosaur? Virtually all aspects of Rovers worry me. I cannot see a pattern of play - I find most of our football drab and uninspiring (and to think some on here hammered Big Sam!). I don't think Mowbray is tactically competent never mind tactically innovative and this shows in our game management. We are overly cautious and rarely seem to take the game to the opposition - let then start feckin worrying about us for a change. IMO, Dack apart, Mowbray's transfer dealing are very poor - I think Brereton and Armstrong are disastrous signings and there have been far too many Joe Averages such as Hart, Gladwin etc. We constantly see square pegs in round holes - how the hell is that going to help either the team or individual players develop. As far mental and physical fitness, we seem to lag behind so many teams. Personally, I can't see how Mowbray can be trusted as the man to take us forward. IMV, to give him funds for the transfer window would be foolish based upon on his record with us. Some supporters detest change, hope things will change for the better, bury their heads in the sand, Sadly for Rovers under Mowbray, I think we will tread water at best.

Certain we wont go down given what we already have in the bag. However, don't buy this consolidation cr@p - aim for the ceiling and hit the floor......... I think the confidence and momentum of promotion plus the addition of 3 or 4 decent players (not a £7million+ player who can' even get a game), should have seen us flying. We are marginally better off than 2 years ago but read somethereal our league position is identical to Christmas 3 years ago. This is not progress.

Mowbray is not going to change. IMV, his reign has been characterised by an overly cautious approach, muddling tactics, poor player trading, failing to use what he has properly (square pegs and round holes) and poor football. Last season we got away with it in a pi $$ poor league. This season we will get punished for it. I do think we need a young and progressive manager and not a very poor man's Mourinho

Quite worried about you. Historically, quite scathing and brutally honest. However, trying to defend Brereton (whose signing, IMV, is almost as mystifying as anything under the V's reign) as you have done on occasions and stating that Leeds were 'very, very lucky' today suggests that your personality has had a complete 'makeover' !!!

I wouldn't trust Mowbray to strengthen / rebuild our squad. Other than Dack, I don't think there has been a signing that has stood out. Almost £10million, IMV, wasted on Armstrong and Brereton.

Sorry Parsonblue but think you are so wrong. The manager and his staff buy players, sell players, coach them, select the team and derive the tactics. The buck stops with them. I think our tactics are muddled, there is no game management, we look far less fit (mentally and physically) than other teams, other than Dack, our player trading under Mowbray is abysmal (£10million wasted on Armstrong and Brereton) and there are too many square pegs in round holes. All this is down to the manager and his support team. I have no confidence in this manager and I think there are many others who are now seriously questioning Mowbray's capabilities.

Don't be kidded by the scoreline. I think we were woeful. Thankfully, Leeds were not at their best. No game management, can't defend, sterile going forward, no intensity and no pace. Leeds could have doubled their score. In the first half, on at least two occasions, the distance between our defence and midfield was frightening. IMV, so many of our players are simply not good enough. Immediate improvement could be made by starting Reed in centre midfield and also starting with Rothwell - impressive whenever I see him and loved the way he tried to drive at Leeds when he came on. Been saying it for a while, do not think Mowbray's the man to take us forward. Wouldn't trust him in the market having seen him, IMV, waste almost £10million on Brereton and Armstrong. Get a new man in, see if there's any club desperate enough to give us £15million for Dack and start plugging the gaping hones with that.

Merry Christmas to you all and your families. Have a good one!

We haven't a prayer. Leeds play football that is inventive and excites. Will be two very contrasting styles and managerial philosophies on show. Think the best part of Boxing Day will be dinner after the match. 'Fun' bet of Leeds winning 5-1 at 66/1 doesn't look so ludicrous with our porous defence.

There are bargains to be had. How much do you think Pukki cost/costs Norwich!? Bottom line is Brereton is a huge financial commitment for Rovers and at the moment, IMV, it looks like we've got a complete dud.

New players would help, however, in the meantime, it's about getting the best out of what you've already got and, IMV, Mowbray spectacularly fails to do this.

You are right. Mowbray selects the team and tactics. I think we see over complicated systems, too many square pegs in round holes and an overly cautious approach. Time and time again, I've posted on here that Mowbray needs to let the players off the leash to to go for it - stop worrying about the fackin opposition but give them something to think about instead. What United did yesterday at Cardiff would not have happened under Mourinho - Mowbray should take note. The buck stops with Mowbray

The key point is what the Rovers' financial commitment is over 4 years. It is very likely to be a minimum of £11million when you factor in fee, wages, NI, agents fees etc

Think Mowbray is tactically muddled and other than Dack, has failed miserably in the transfer market. We've had two years of Mowbray and the signs are there for all to see. I do not believe he is the man to take us forward. Sadly, watching Rovers these days is an underwhelming experience for me - IMV, there is little excitement, little structure and little style. I think Mowbray has served up some dreadful football whilst in charge. Situation is pretty much the same as with Brereton. Diehards like you tend to bury their heads in the sand hoping that things will improve and can only see the world of Rovers through rose coloured spectacles. Think Mowbray has either dropped a real clanger with Brereton (if indeed he's Mowbray's choice) or someone else has foisted Brereton upon Mowbray and therefore you would have to ask if Mowbray is really just a puppet who does as he's told.

Replacing him with the washed-up John Aston. Waggy was a joy to watch, a craftsman of the highest order. I know it's different eras but no one in the Rovers' side can hold a candle to him. If Brereton is worth £7million, Waggy would be priceless.

If your observations are correct, and I don't think they are, then it would seem Mowbray has dropped one big clanger and in most businesses would be told to clear his desk. What rational football owner would trust Mowbray with further funds after, seemingly, making a right horlicks with this one.