Tony Mowbray Discussion

[Guest]

When you think about our 2016/17 trip to Derby County (where we did actually win), and you look at the squad that we took... it’s actually so relieving and exciting to think about where we are now. Some of the players in the match day squad: 

Jason Steele
Jason Lowe
Danny Guthrie
Gordon Greer
Hope Akpan
Wes Brown
Liam Feeney 

Then you fast forward to now, in the 2020/21. Our squad, the way we play, the press and the passion and the inensity. The skill on the ball and the high calibre players.

If you’d have told me we’d have the likes of Lewis Holtby and Daniel Ayala knocking around our team, and we’d be scoring 11 goals in 3 games this season, back at the end of the 2016/17 relegation season, I’d have laughed you off the forum.

We’ve come a long way, and I haven’t even touched on the youth progression side of things either. Tony Mowbray has absolutely revolutionised this football club, it’s philosophies and has only ever sold ONE important player at the club in 8 transfer windows.

[Mattyblue]

We are seeing what ‘time’ can mean.

’He needs time’ is that oft repeated phrase, but it’s a tricky balance for clubs at our level. Three and a half years for Owen Coyle and we’d be still playing derbies with Bolton.

Three and a half years for TM and we are seeing a playing culture transformed, players and styles phased out whilst evolved methods bed in. Yet, many (not just on here) were turning fast less than a year ago as we laboured against Barnsley - why? Because another relegation wasn’t out of the question if we’d had carried on with that trajectory and League 1 for a second time in 3 years could’ve proved terminal for this club (especially now).

The very strange set up at Blackburn Rovers has allowed TM the time and freedom that just doesn’t exist elsewhere in this crackpot league and, early days though it is, I‘ve seem nothing else in the division that says we can’t be up there.

Dips will come, especially with a young squad, injuries never seem too far away here, but there’s something stirring (and don’t we all deserve to witness it - well ifollow it).

All power to you Mogga.

Edited September 27, 2020 by Mattyblue

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

1 hour ago, JoeH said:

has only ever sold ONE important player at the club in 8 transfer windows.

Yes, he's been very lucky in that regard. 

[Blue blood]

1 hour ago, JoeH said:

When you think about our 2016/17 trip to Derby County (where we did actually win), and you look at the squad that we took... it’s actually so relieving and exciting to think about where we are now. Some of the players in the match day squad: 

Jason Steele
Jason Lowe
Danny Guthrie
Gordon Greer
Hope Akpan
Wes Brown
Liam Feeney 

Then you fast forward to now, in the 2020/21. Our squad, the way we play, the press and the passion and the inensity. The skill on the ball and the high calibre players.

If you’d have told me we’d have the likes of Lewis Holtby and Daniel Ayala knocking around our team, and we’d be scoring 11 goals in 3 games this season, back at the end of the 2016/17 relegation season, I’d have laughed you off the forum.

We’ve come a long way, and I haven’t even touched on the youth progression side of things either. Tony Mowbray has absolutely revolutionised this football club, it’s philosophies and has only ever sold ONE important player at the club in 8 transfer windows.

Not so fair a comparison. One given three years with no sales and a good budget, the other sells his best players with no replacements. 

Go back a further year for a team of Gestede, Rhodes, Ciarney, Conway, Marshall, Hanley, King and Duffy and you see we have had a strong championship team before (how the hell that team never even got playoffs is a travesty). Progression compared with this team in terms of quality is much less pronounced. 

That said am I glad we are where we are than under Owen Clueless - too right. Not defending Clueless as a manager at all, just saying it's not a fair comparison. 

And fair comparison or not I also appreciate that we are in a better position than that year. 

I also think while Bowyer was better at spotting players TM would have got the Rhodes et al squad into the playoffs. 

And as another aside from this comparison it's interesting that of  Bowyer's unfulfilled potential team Evans is the only one still here (I think). 

[Norbert Rassragr]

Whatever Tony and co. have done over the last few weeks, they should carry on doing it. Just need Ayala to fit into the team and then a left back and backup keeper.

[Admiral Nelsen]

3 hours ago, Blue blood said:

 And fair comparison or not I also appreciate that we are in a better position than that year. 

I also think while Bowyer was better at spotting players TM would have got the Rhodes et al squad into the playoffs. 

And as another aside from this comparison it's interesting that of  Bowyer's unfulfilled potential team Evans is the only one still here (I think). 

 

Good way of summing things up. I think whilst there have been valid criticisms of TM's selection policy, there's no way that he would have stuck to the rigid 442 which might have suited some of our squad, contributed to letting King & Judge slip through our fingers. 

Agree that we shouldn't forget Bowyer's incredible ability to spot good value players. Cairney, O'Connell, Rudy, Conway, Marshall, Duffy, Judge, Evans and Spurr for about half a Sam Gallagher. Then again, he also brought in Steele, Brown and Varney, so it just goes to show that you can't win them all. 

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

Bowyer is now Derby's U23 manager or coach. Started a few weeks ago. 

[matt83]

If I’m not mistaken it’s Kean out day today. As much as Mowbray frustrates the hell out of me sometimes it’s not a patch on those days. If it is Kean out day merry Kean out day or is it happy Kean out day.

[philipl]

2 hours ago, matt83 said:

If I’m not mistaken it’s Kean out day today. As much as Mowbray frustrates the hell out of me sometimes it’s not a patch on those days. If it is Kean out day merry Kean out day or is it happy Kean out day.

It is one of the best days of my life Kean out day- I was that happy.

[Feed the Yak]

1 hour ago, philipl said:

It is one of the best days of my life Kean out day- I was that happy.

I remember the feeling of optimism going to the Charlton game. I had my team back. Things didn't necessarily improve but a glimmer of hope that was almost completely extinguished by that cretin did return. 

We are lightyears away from those dark old days with Tony. 

[perthblue02]

4 hours ago, matt83 said:

If I’m not mistaken it’s Kean out day today. As much as Mowbray frustrates the hell out of me sometimes it’s not a patch on those days. If it is Kean out day merry Kean out day or is it happy Kean out day.

My thoughts on this special day are with his biggest supporter Mrs Desai. Not only did she loose the man who's only qualifications were apparently he works long hours and was a master at blowing smoke up her arse, but she also lost Margaret and those cosy girliy nights in, in  Pune and it was also the beginning of the end for her just a like a family member Jerome. What a sad day it must be for her and her brothers.

Chin up Mrs Desai, I'm sure making him rich beyond his wildest dreams is some compensation, hopefully the undeserved windfall as not made his liver suffer more.

Edited September 28, 2020 by perthblue02

[Paul Mani]

I spoke to a Rovers fan yesterday who had been watching us from the early 90’s (Pre-PL like me) and stated boldly that he had NEVER seen Rovers play better football than the first four games (inc cup) of this season under Mowbray!

I was gobsmacked!!! “What? Better than Kenny’s Champs? Than Hughes team? Than Souness’ team the year they came back up? The Kean team...(only jokin)” but you get gist...

His answer was “I’m not saying this team is better those teams but even the year we won the league we didn’t play better football than this.”

What do you think? Mowbray bringing the BEST brand of football we’ve ever played? It’s too early for me to decide.

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

I'd compare it with the Brazil team of 1970.

Mobrazilia!

[Mattyblue]

Nobody is enjoying these thrashings as much as me (we’ve played 3 league matches, by the way, so it’s a daft discussion), but from this very small sample size, better football than a side containing some of the world’s top players in ‘95? Better than early Souness? 

Not for me, however those two sides I mentioned had one of, if not the biggest  budgets in their league (the Souness promotion team, not his PL team), so this team achieving promotion would probably be a bigger achievement.

Edited September 30, 2020 by Mattyblue

[Stuart]

Have to smile at these comments since the weekend. Trust me, I’m delighted by recent results but let’s have some context.

Mowbray is on his best ever two-game run in his time at Rovers.

The important thing is that he keeps playing his best players in their correct positions, and that Dolan continues his fine form (and he isn’t dropped after a couple of quiet games) but we will face tougher teams than the ones we have in these last two.

Cautiously optimistic.

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

We've just played two really poor teams who have scored 1 goal between them in 6 games.

On the other hand we look a lot better than last season.

This team is nowhere near the standard of the Souness team that got promoted to the Prem, It's not even a discussion. 

[Mattyblue]

Indeed, that Souness Promotion side was an absolute juggernaut once we got going in the new year.

Full of top quality players for the division. Proven by the core of the side then winning the League Cup and finishing 6th in the PL in subsequent seasons.

Anybody thinking our current side is close to that in either quality or standard of football obviously can’t remember 2001- 2003.
 

Edited September 30, 2020 by Mattyblue

[tomphil]

1 hour ago, Paul Mani said:

I spoke to a Rovers fan yesterday who had been watching us from the early 90’s (Pre-PL like me) and stated boldly that he had NEVER seen Rovers play better football than the first four games (inc cup) of this season under Mowbray!

I was gobsmacked!!! “What? Better than Kenny’s Champs? Than Hughes team? Than Souness’ team the year they came back up? The Kean team...(only jokin)” but you get gist...

His answer was “I’m not saying this team is better those teams but even the year we won the league we didn’t play better football than this.”

What do you think? Mowbray bringing the BEST brand of football we’ve ever played? It’s too early for me to decide.

I'd send him to the doctor pronto.

Best football we've ever played imo was the first half season under Woy until him and his methods got found out. It's not always about the easy on the eye stuff though it's how it functions as a team. He might want to remind himself the more successful Rovers sides operated like well oil machines and didn't play in pretty patterns.

All that being said 'pound for pound' this side is now shaping up nicely if they did somehow pull of the impossible it would have to rank as one of the best ever achievements by a Rovers side and manager.

[MarkBRFC]

2 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

I spoke to a Rovers fan yesterday who had been watching us from the early 90’s (Pre-PL like me) and stated boldly that he had NEVER seen Rovers play better football than the first four games (inc cup) of this season under Mowbray!

I was gobsmacked!!! “What? Better than Kenny’s Champs? Than Hughes team? Than Souness’ team the year they came back up? The Kean team...(only jokin)” but you get gist...

His answer was “I’m not saying this team is better those teams but even the year we won the league we didn’t play better football than this.”

What do you think? Mowbray bringing the BEST brand of football we’ve ever played? It’s too early for me to decide.

Complete nonsense, especially after two games. Now if we go through the season playing like this and stuffing teams 3, 4 & 5-0 every week then I might change my mind.

I still say that Hodgson's sides at the start of the 97 season was the best "pure football" I have seen from a Rovers side, followed by Souness's side of 02-03.

Obviously if we're combining the whole package, then the side of 95 had it all, good football that could mix it up, and where everyone played as a team.

 

[JacknOry]

Yeah difficult to get carried away just yet although we have been playing some lovely stuff. Wycombe will get beat by most this season and Derby have been in freefall post-lockdown. 

Think we have just found better positions for some of our players and they have hit form early. Holtby in that deeper role for one, Rothwell has been immense in CM and is starting to get a bit of end-product with an assist. Even Breo admittedly looks a different player. 

Still, though unlucky, Bournemouth showed that we will still concede goals against the better sides. 

I then worry about our depth in some positions. Lenihan, WIlliams and Nyambe always spend time out with injuries as does Holtby. 

We do have some kids coming through that should help but in defence in particular is a worry for me. 

Do think we will beat Cardiff and Forest though (on current form of the teams) and our next real test will be Watford.

[Dreams of 1995]

Best football we’ve ever seen? 
 

Come on man, far from it actually. It’s been fantastic to watch the last 5 games, even the losses we performed well, but it is by no means a sign that this squad plays the best brand of football. 
 

Souness early 2000s and Mark Hughes after both played nicer football. There’s not a passer in this team that remotely resembles Tugay. Holtby is good, but he’s a league below. They have some way to go to match them squads.

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

The Holy Trinity of Gayle, Garner and Kennedy > Dolan, AA & BB?

[arbitro]

There are a few getting giddy here. Whilst the football has been good (and long may it last) to say that it's the best football is hugely stretching it. As many have said parts of the Souness era was terrific from a football point of view but for me the Jim Smith team with Waggy, Taylor, Bailey and Hird was the most exciting, attacking play I have seen. There was so much attacking intent and natural width in them four encouraged by a like minded manager.

[philipl]

12 minutes ago, arbitro said:

There are a few getting giddy here. Whilst the football has been good (and long may it last) to say that it's the best football is hugely stretching it. As many have said parts of the Souness era was terrific from a football point of view but for me the Jim Smith team with Waggy, Taylor, Bailey and Hird was the most exciting, attacking play I have seen. There was so much attacking intent and natural width in them four encouraged by a like minded manager.

Agreed about that Jim Smith team. I was too young to see Rovers before 1966 so the Jim Smith team is the bar. I will also happily take their 5th place now! 

 

[LDRover]

I think there's a collective feeling among Rovers fans that we desperately want us to be the real deal after the last decade, hence the, IMO, over reaction of some.

However, there's no doubt that the quality of football is hugely improved and our talented players are showcasing their skills in a formation that suits them. Cautiously optimistic should definitely be the case for us all so far.