Tony Mowbray Discussion

[Paul Mani]

6 minutes ago, LDRover said:

He's missed 19 games through injury this season and played 17 - I'd suggest he'd be 'holding down' a place if it wasn't for that.

We always played better with him in the team, the fans loved him, yet TM came out with that 'gem' about Evans and Smallwood to somehow try to vindicate his exclusion...

Norwich , he was a regular starter albeit as something of a utility player but again he was loved by the fans during his time there.

I agree with most of your points. But the point here was that Mowbray didn’t believe he performed that CM role well enough. In fairness he had his best games  at RM for us, played RB for Norwich and tbf didn’t play every week for Fulham even when he was fit. Onomah, Cairney and Johanson have been preferred.

As I said, he’s a very good footballer. But I don’t think he’s a specialist anywhere.

[roversfan99]

Just now, Paul Mani said:

I agree with most of your points. But the point here was that Mowbray didn’t believe he performed that CM role well enough. In fairness he had his best games  at RM for us, played RB for Norwich and tbf didn’t play every week for Fulham even when he was fit. Onomah, Cairney and Johanson have been preferred.

As I said, he’s a very good footballer. But I don’t think he’s a specialist anywhere.

He felt that Smallwood was a shining example of how to play the position at that time though. He was very reluctant to break up that partnership of him and Evans but when Reed did play CM, West Brom away, Derby at home, Wigan at home, we was excellent, and he was somewhat stunted out wide.

[Mattyblue]

21 minutes ago, arbitro said:

No need mate. Although I don't always agree with your posts you are consistent with your points and debate them well.

Didnt realise replying to those he disagreed with with - ? ? ??? ? counted as good debating, but there you go.

[Pedro]

1 minute ago, roversfan99 said:

Out of interest, do you know Damien Johnson personally? Comes across as a bit david Brent like calling him "Jonty" all the time if not!

I would refer to him as Jonty tbh - I used to go to all the Rovers reserve games at Springfield Park (Wigan), Preston and somewhere else that my aging mind won't let me remember. We called him Jonty then, everybody would (this was back in the days when both him and Damien Duff would either be playing or scoffing pies in the stands!)

[Paul Mani]

2 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Out of interest, do you know Damien Johnson personally? Comes across as a bit david Brent like calling him "Jonty" all the time if not!

Would feel weird calling him anything else. Sorry if that offends you. I’ll remember to call Dunny, Flit, Janny, Shorty, Trav and Bucko by their Sunday name too in future!

[Paul Mani]

1 minute ago, roversfan99 said:

He felt that Smallwood was a shining example of how to play the position at that time though. He was very reluctant to break up that partnership of him and Evans but when Reed did play CM, West Brom away, Derby at home, Wigan at home, we was excellent, and he was somewhat stunted out wide.

Let’s get something straight mate. Richie Smallwood was bloody brilliant for Rovers. Knew his job brilliantly and was extremely effective. His ability is limited and that is the reason he was replaced.

I think you’re confusing ability and understanding a role. Of course Reed was a far better footballer than Smallwood. But that’s not the same metric as whether or not someone understands a position. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

4 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

Let’s get something straight mate. Richie Smallwood was bloody brilliant for Rovers. Knew his job brilliantly and was extremely effective. His ability is limited and that is the reason he was replaced.

I think you’re confusing ability and understanding a role. Of course Reed was a far better footballer than Smallwood. But that’s not the same metric as whether or not someone understands a position. 

Who would you rather play in that midfield role ?

[roversfan99]

7 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Let’s get something straight mate. Richie Smallwood was bloody brilliant for Rovers. Knew his job brilliantly and was extremely effective. His ability is limited and that is the reason he was replaced.

I think you’re confusing ability and understanding a role. Of course Reed was a far better footballer than Smallwood. But that’s not the same metric as whether or not someone understands a position. 

Smallwood was good in League 1 yes. Reed felt somewhat restricted and at times ineffective from that wide role whereas he put in his best 3 performances in a Rovers shirt from central midfield and played well there for Fulham pre injury so I dont agree that he doesnt understand the position and thus am not confusing anything. When we initially came up Mowbray was very cautious with his team selections therefore a natural central midfielder out wide fit his definition of a defensive winger.

7 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Would feel weird calling him anything else. Sorry if that offends you. I’ll remember to call Dunny, Flit, Janny, Shorty, Trav and Bucko by their Sunday name too in future!

Not at all. I was just wondering and am still in the dark if I am honest.

[jim mk2]

7 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

No, I think it tells the story that he doesn’t know how to play CM. Played RB, RM and CB for Southampton, RB for Norwich, RM and CM for us and CM and RB for Fulham. He can play...he just hasn’t settled in a position. He hasn’t nailed CM.

 Down to the manager and coaches to find his best position and leave him there. The lad can play

[K-Hod]

8 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

I agree with most of your points. But the point here was that Mowbray didn’t believe he performed that CM role well enough. In fairness he had his best games  at RM for us, played RB for Norwich and tbf didn’t play every week for Fulham even when he was fit. Onomah, Cairney and Johanson have been preferred.

As I said, he’s a very good footballer. But I don’t think he’s a specialist anywhere.

I’ll be honest, I don’t think that’s true at all.
He always seemed inhibited on the right wing, even if Mowbray selected him there the most, then when he eventually played in CM alongside Travis, amazingly, he played his best football! 

 

Edited March 1, 2020 by K-Hod

[Paul Mani]

7 hours ago, K-Hod said:

I’ll be honest, I don’t think that’s true at all.
He always seemed inhibited on the right wing, even if Mowbray selected him there the most, then when he eventually played in CM alongside Travis, amazingly, he played his best football! 

 

Argh no way for me. Always thought he flattered to deceive in CM. Was a funny player too. Started off The season  brilliantly and then tailed off. 

[OldEwoodBlue]

He's off again.... "Defenders are coming!"

 

Tony finally catching up with the rest of us. He's a slow one.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18275402.mowbray-knows-rovers-summer-transfer-priorities-lie/

[Stuart]

44 minutes ago, OldEwoodBlue said:

He's off again.... "Defenders are coming!"

 

Tony finally catching up with the rest of us. He's a slow one.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18275402.mowbray-knows-rovers-summer-transfer-priorities-lie/

He doesn’t half know how to insult our intelligence.

[Blue blood]

"We probably need to recruit a whole back 4 for competition" TM

Nothing like forward planning! Not sure how this counts as a slow build progress needing 4 defenders and a keeper. (Actually 2 keepers if Leuits is the back up). 

Although if I am honest I may have heard him say this before...

[47er]

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

He doesn’t half know how to insult our intelligence.

He must think we have no memory!

[Mattyblue]

1 minute ago, 47er said:

He must think we have no memory!

Looking at the comments below the article... we don’t!

[Mashed Potatoes]

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

He doesn’t half know how to insult our intelligence.

Hardly - there's been a significant improvement in our goals against record - down from 1.5 per game last season to 1.17 this.

[arbitro]

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

He doesn’t half know how to insult our intelligence.

At the supporters meeting he was asked about the 'defenders are coming' comment and he said that defenders did come. Whilst that happened it's stretching the truth somewhat as the three that came are all on loan and reading between the lines he doesn't inspire me to believe they will be back either on loan or permanent.

I terms of improving the squad we will be in the same position this summer as we were last summer.

[Blue blood]

30 minutes ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

Hardly - there's been a significant improvement in our goals against record - down from 1.5 per game last season to 1.17 this.

And yet we only have 5 recognised defenders in the squad. 6 if you count Cunningham but that's still pretty appalling. 

It's not solely about the defensive improvement, which is highly laudable and a step in the right direction, but the fact we have only 5 defenders and the fact our improvement leaves in the summer! This suggests the "defenders are coming" comment needed an amendment - "but they won't be here for long."

[chaddyrovers]

21 minutes ago, arbitro said:

At the supporters meeting he was asked about the 'defenders are coming' comment and he said that defenders did come.

Well defenders did come in tho whether on loan or permanent. Think people including myself expect 4 defensive signings. 

Would you not agree that Tosin and Cunningham were improvement on the players they replace? Of course we would like permanent signings but didn't happen that way. 

Going off his comments about summer signings I would hope we make 3 defenders and 2 keepers signings. 

[tomphil]

1 hour ago, Blue blood said:

"We probably need to recruit a whole back 4 for competition" TM

Nothing like forward planning! Not sure how this counts as a slow build progress needing 4 defenders and a keeper. (Actually 2 keepers if Leuits is the back up). 

Although if I am honest I may have heard him say this before...

I've come to the conclusion the slow build they kept mentioning was in reference to bringing our own through. Knowing there is quite a few there plus the ones already in. Intention is probably to sell a load at some point and recoup a few years running costs and outlay, everything in between is just plugging gaps.

The won't invest in defenders debate is open to argument but whats been clear in Venkys time is the reluctance to actually buy a decent goalkeeper. 

[arbitro]

32 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Well defenders did come in tho whether on loan or permanent. Think people including myself expect 4 defensive signings. 

Would you not agree that Tosin and Cunningham were improvement on the players they replace? Of course we would like permanent signings but didn't happen that way. 

Going off his comments about summer signings I would hope we make 3 defenders and 2 keepers signings. 

Whilst you are right with your first sentence (as was Mowbray) I don't think anybody thought that 60% of our first choice defence would be loans. In anybody's book it's not healthy and smacks of a lack of succession planning.

We are better defensively, without doubt but in the summer we are pretty much starting from scratch again from a defensive point of view. Do you think that's a healthy situation for a club with supposed ambition?

 

[Leonard Venkhater]

4 hours ago, OldEwoodBlue said:

He's off again.... "Defenders are coming!"

 

Tony finally catching up with the rest of us. He's a slow one.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18275402.mowbray-knows-rovers-summer-transfer-priorities-lie/

Well, I admit that the headline irritated me. TM said something similar about previous summers.

[Leonard Venkhater]

43 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Whilst you are right with your first sentence (as was Mowbray) I don't think anybody thought that 60% of our first choice defence would be loans. In anybody's book it's not healthy and smacks of a lack of succession planning.

We are better defensively, without doubt but in the summer we are pretty much starting from scratch again from a defensive point of view. Do you think that's a healthy situation for a club with supposed ambition?

 

Agreed. And I seem to remember Desai spouting that the future was loans, just after the takeaway...

[Dreams of 1995]

He has no choice but to go after defenders. Our problem lies with whether or not India sanctions money being spent on them. They hate money being spent on defenders / goalkeepers, hence why we've mixed it about with awful journeymen or loans for the most part. Must be frustrating for the coaches.

Lenihan and Nyambe remain but we are back looking for replacements for our left side. If we can get Tosin again it's a winner but I doubt it- I suspect a top league loan is likely for him.