Rovers v Canaries. Sat 12th Dec 3pm

[CrouchingNunhiddenCucumber]

1 minute ago, tonygreenbank said:

How can you say the season is over on December 12th? Do you really mean that? There are plenty more games left and an equal number of twists and turns. 
Im not prepared to give up just yet.

We've seen it all before though this is where he is coming from. Mowbray can't/won't learn from his mistakes. 

[DE.]

16 minutes ago, alcd said:

You need to be careful what you wish for in terms of managerial change with Venkys appalling track record. Ipswich fans were hurling pelters at McCarthy for keeping an extremely dull team in midtable. Then just look at what they've done since he left.... Mowbray has massively improved the squad in 4 years but he is utterly clueless about constructing a solid defence. There is likely to be a wholesale change in the squad next summer but the world weary Mowbray is not the right person to handle it. 

Do Venky's really have an appalling recent track record though? Take the first couple of years out of the equation and the only terrible appointment they've made since the 12/13 season was Coyle. Bowyer, Lambert and Mowbray have all been middle-of-the-road steady eddies. Any club can hire a dud (Ipswich basically sealed their doom by hiring Paul Hurst), but I don't think Venky's are worse than most other owners when it comes to appointing managers, so it's not as big of a risk as some make out imo.

For the record this is not me defending Venky's in any way and I wouldn't expect them to appoint anyone better than TM. I just don't think it's nailed on that they would appoint somebody so much worse that we'd plummet into oblivion as a result. 

[Giant]

Much as I like Arma, it was clear today that Pukki is on a different level. He was a menace throughout, not giving our defence a minute’s peace. His work rate is phenomenal, showing he’s not just a goal scorer. Top player.

[alcd]

3 minutes ago, tonygreenbank said:

How can you say the season is over on December 12th? Do you really mean that? There are plenty more games left and an equal number of twists and turns. 
Im not prepared to give up just yet.

To get to a minimum of 73points usually required for the playoffs Rovers would need a WDL profile of 14/6/8 or 13/9/6 from the remaining 28 games. Not impossible but clearly now drinking in the last chance saloon. Certainly needs a massive improvement on a profile of 7/4/7 in the first 18 games. 

[Bbrovers2288]

12 minutes ago, tonygreenbank said:

How can you say the season is over on December 12th? Do you really mean that? There are plenty more games left and an equal number of twists and turns. 
Im not prepared to give up just yet.

When you can’t beat a top half team, your not going to suddenly shoot into the playoffs , we have a poor defence and a weak underbelly which has never been tackled by mowbray. We have a decent squad that I believe a better manager would be getting a better tune from but no I’m not kidding, this season is done. There might be a few more glimpses of near the playoffs after a run but you know a similar poor one is just around the corner. Do not get sucked in again 

[matt83]

Clearly the season isn’t over but it’s really not far off. 6 points from the playoffs and 6 teams to get past. Statistically with the teams above us likely to win more than they lose even if we win all the remaining games of 2020 it won’t be enough to get into the playoffs. Then we obviously need to get in and stay there. I just don’t see it happening. 

[matt83]

Its the Tony Mowbray mirage. Creating illusions of playoff contention. Only 6 points away, only 4 points away, only 2 points away, bugger only 5 points away. Well we were in the play off mix in spite never laying a glove on the playoffs.

[alcd]

15 minutes ago, DE. said:

Do Venky's really have an appalling recent track record though? Take the first couple of years out of the equation and the only terrible appointment they've made since the 12/13 season was Coyle. Bowyer, Lambert and Mowbray have all been middle-of-the-road steady eddies. Any club can hire a dud (Ipswich basically sealed their doom by hiring Paul Hurst), but I don't think Venky's are worse than most other owners when it comes to appointing managers, so it's not as big of a risk as some make out imo.

For the record this is not me defending Venky's in any way and I wouldn't expect them to appoint anyone better than TM. I just don't think it's nailed on that they would appoint somebody so much worse that we'd plummet into oblivion as a result. 

Another middle of the road manager isn't going to fire up a promotion push. The promoted teams either have a quality squad eg Fulham or an exceptional upcoming manager eg Dyche, Farke , Wilder or a serial promotion specialist such as Warnock or Hughton of which there are very few and sought after by bigger club's such as Forest. 

[davulsukur]

25 minutes ago, tonygreenbank said:

How can you say the season is over on December 12th? Do you really mean that? There are plenty more games left and an equal number of twists and turns. 
Im not prepared to give up just yet.

Mowbrays time in charge has been a continuous cycle of undefeated steaks followed by winless runs.

The fact we are in basically the same position now as we were at the same stage last season and the season before suggests it isn't going to change this time either.

Better squad, absolutely.

Same average manager, definitely.

The difference this season is that we can beat the poorer teams but not the better ones. Previously, Mowbray would spring a surprise result out of no where after another barron spell.

[tonygreenbank]

Football always has the ability to surprise. Years of supporting this great club of ours means I’m not prepared to give up yet. 
We are all disappointed when we lose but there is still time to get back on track. A week is a long time in football.

[Bbrovers2288]

2 minutes ago, tonygreenbank said:

Football always has the ability to surprise. Years of supporting this great club of ours means I’m not prepared to give up yet. 
We are all disappointed when we lose but there is still time to get back on track. A week is a long time in football.

Like your positivity but prepare for further disappointment and underwhelming results mate 

[47er]

Mowbray saying we were the better side in the second half but I thought we were so fortunate to be only 1 down in the first. Game could have been out of sight by half-time.

That middle three is too light-weight for me. We either need 4 or a tougher three.

Missing Travis so much..

Not going up, not going to make top 6 although most of us think we have a squad capable of it.

And let's remember that the match-winner Pukki couldn't hack it in the Premiership, he's not a world-beater.

 

[matt83]

If a week is a long time in football then 2 and a half seasons of the same old is truly a lifetime. 

[DE.]

10 minutes ago, alcd said:

Another middle of the road manager isn't going to fire up a promotion push. The promoted teams either have a quality squad eg Fulham or an exceptional upcoming manager eg Dyche, Farke , Wilder or a serial promotion specialist such as Warnock or Hughton of which there are very few and sought after by bigger club's such as Forest. 

We came close to appointing Warnock once upon a time, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility we could strike lucky at some point. I can't say I'm optimistic, but I have to retain some hope or I might as well completely give up on Rovers until Venky's leave. 

[47er]

2 hours ago, Paul Mellelieu said:

And at the end of the season we can judge.

We do it at the end of every season but Mowbray stays for the next one.

[matt83]

3 minutes ago, 47er said:

We do it at the end of every season but Mowbray stays for the next one.

Let’s see what he can do in the summer. Can’t possibly sack a manager 10 games into a new season. Christmas is an important run of fixtures. Let’s see what happens in the January transfer window. Give him until Easter. Easter is an important run of fixtures. Too close to the end of the season now. Let’s see what he can do in the summer...

[47er]

1 minute ago, matt83 said:

Let’s see what he can do in the summer. Can’t possibly sack a manager 10 games into a new season. Christmas is an important run of fixtures. Let’s see what happens in the January transfer window. Give him until Easter. Easter is an important run of fixtures. Too close to the end of the season now. Let’s see what he can do in the summer...

Oh don't worry I'm totally resigned to seeing what he can do in the summer!

[Gav]

6 minutes ago, matt83 said:

Let’s see what he can do in the summer. Can’t possibly sack a manager 10 games into a new season. Christmas is an important run of fixtures. Let’s see what happens in the January transfer window. Give him until Easter. Easter is an important run of fixtures. Too close to the end of the season now. Let’s see what he can do in the summer...

The goal is to get promoted with the current crop, who would you bring in to do that Matt?

[matt83]

1 minute ago, 47er said:

Oh don't worry I'm totally resigned to seeing what he can do in the summer!

I’d be happy if swag or our regal owners said we’re targeting the playoffs as a minimum this season and if Tony falls short (again) we’ll shake his hand, wish him well and try something else. Everyone from the manager, to the players, to the fans will know where we stand.

If, however, the club is happy with mid table and it’s all we hope for say so. But don’t keep harping on about playoffs then scratch their heads in wonder why folk are unhappy never get there

[matt83]

Just now, Gav said:

The goal is to get promoted with the current crop, who would you bring in to do that Matt?

Hughes of Pearson. 

[Gutted]

3 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Amazed anyone buys this sort of "it takes ten years for anything good to happen" type nonsense. 

After getting promoted from the Championship to the Premier League through the play offs under Dalglish we finished 4th, 2nd and 1st. People would no doubt argue that was down to Jack's wallet but it is still a great achievement. Good things tend to happen very quickly when a manager knows what they're doing. Where are we after 3 years with Mowbray -15th, 10th, probably 14th or 15th again.

For a more accurate comparison re finances Howard Kendall took us up from the old 3rd division and then missed out on promotion to the top flight the following season on goal difference with the same group of players and far less financial support than Mowbray has had because he was a good manager and didn't need to waffle on about supposed long term plans to excuse poor performance.

Bumbling along in lower mid table under a crap manager, I'm sick of it, I mean what's the point?

Agreed, its a total cop out. Look at Stoke, appointed a top manager who got the required extra points to stave off relegation last season, and straight into play off contention this season. No messing about and compare to Mowbray efforts......failed to get the required extra couple of points to stay up in first season, and still messing about years later going absolutely nowhere. A proper manager just gets the job done with minimum of fuss and makes rapid progress..........Mowbray talks a good game but goes nowhere and this is accepted by majority unfortunately.

[Gav]

2 minutes ago, matt83 said:

Hughes of Pearson. 

Good shout, we’d probably end up with Gary Monk....

[alcd]

3 minutes ago, Gav said:

Good shout, we’d probably end up with Gary Monk....

A middle of the road manager if ever there was one. 

[jim mk2]

1 hour ago, tonygreenbank said:

How can you say the season is over on December 12th? Do you really mean that? There are plenty more games left and an equal number of twists and turns. 
Im not prepared to give up just yet.

The season's over, that must be obvious. The team is flawed and the manager can't fix it. 

[joey_big_nose]

1 hour ago, matt83 said:

For what it’s worth I don’t think anyone is saying Mowbray has done a bad job for me he’s been fairly decent (not amazing as some seem to think) and if he were to leave tomorrow I’d clap him out of the door for his efforts so to speak. So this isn’t like a Kean or coyle situation where literally any other human being will do. 

It’s a case of improvement both on and off the pitch and I really think he’s taken us as far as he can. So that being said with obviously Warnock shunned I’d take any of Hughes, Pearson, McCarthy. All of whom I think would get better RESULTS than Mowbray.

And if they’re not up to it appoint someone else. 

And I think all those managers would look at the squad and think they could make playoffs with a couple of new additions.

A proactive chairman and owners would be getting the contingency plans lined up in the background ready to trigger start of Jan if required.

But as others have said we don't have those sorts of owners or chairman.