Branthwaite is quality. Him and Lenihan back there totally eliminate our long standing weakness under a high ball. Wharton also good from that perspective. Prefer someone like Branthwaite to a Tosin to be honest. Tosin is a very good ball player but just never convinced defensively.

He's better than Rhodes in that he has real pace that worries anyone, also can score long range, can play wide. Sure he is not perfect but he is an excellent player. Rhodes career completely fizzled out after Rovers as his allround limitations (lack of pace, strength, movement etc) meant successive managers just refused to play him. I'm sure Armstrong will continue to get plenty of games right through to retirement. Not convinced he's Premier League quality though.

Not really sure what we should do. Luton look poor, pitch is worse, but the way we are playing has delivered quite a few chances..... Reckon maybe straight swap of Brereton for Dolan and maybe Downing for Dack. And go 4231 Kaminski Nymabe. Lenihan. Branthwaite. Douglas Travis. Rothwell. Elliott. Dack. Dolan. Armstrong ?

Think he's retained the ball okay.

This game feels like a good one for Dolan. Loads of room and the ball, and Luton defence looks ponderous. We should really be ahead considering the areas we've had the ball but we haven't tested the GK.

That's what makes it such a hard league though. 12 or more teams with decent squads in the division, but so so many games that it's really about avoiding injuries more than anything. I think I'd spend as much on my physios as a new player.

Towards the end of the last game against Boro we went route 1 and it worked pretty well. Gallagher and Brereton we both effective. Think Dack helps as he's so good at working the space off big forwards. Reckon we will probably start in our usual 433 then maybe change things if it doesn't work to something more direct.

I'd have Rothwell in over Davenport in that deeper role. He's absolutely exceptionally running from deep and has got much better defensively. Play BB wide left. But otherwise agreed. I do wonder if TM really will give up the 433 though. He's stuck with it for so long.

Agree with the teams. I would say we should be looking at switching between 4231 and 433 in game as necessary. As an aside I think it would also to have a 352 option also for times we come up against 3 at the back and struggle (eg. Bristol City, Notts Forest) Kaminski Nyambe Lenihan Branthwate Elliott Dack Travis Rothwell Douglas Armstrong Brereton But probably a while away from being comfortable enough to do that.

Sorry Swansea at home!

Had a look at the fixture list. We've got one game a week now for the next four weeks - unless Swansea gets rescheduled in there - and all games where on balance we look favourites. Got Travis and Dack coming back, Douglas looks finally fit, Branthwaite looks like a solid CB. If we are going to get into the top six now is the time to do it. Indeed if you look through the list for the rest of the season only Norwich, Reading and Swansea away look like nailed on losses. Everyone else above us we have at home so.... It really is the hope that kills you.

I think the force he swung at it in the penalty area at head height was definitely excessive.

I think he is talented, and has already scored a few useful goals despite very limited minutes. Gets himself in the right places and can pick a pass. But you can't get away with being that lightweight, especially if you're not particularly quick. Realistically he doesn't have a future in the team unless he can become physically much much stronger. Hes so wiry I do wonder whether he can bulk up.

I think Mowbray tried to correct that by committing to 433 at the start of the season but after a good first half dozen games or so it's really struggled as we arent really good enough to dominate decent teams in the way the system needs. So now I think weve gone back to being a bit reactive and muddling through game by game like last season. What we really should have done at the start of the season is had a couple of different tactical setups we were happy with so we have a ready made plan b. Anyway Mowbray has pulled out a win when he needs to. He's so good at that... Just wish he could do it to get us into the top six, not just take the pressure off his job.

I agree every player in the Championship need to be physically competitive and he doesn't have it. Either he bulks up like Breo did last season or he's going to need to look down the leagues for his career.

With Gallagher and Breo on it gives him a lot of room to do what he wants to do.

I'd say it's Brereton and Gallagher are winning everything.

Mowbray got stick for the 3 subs but we've been so much better since they came on. Feel bad for Buckley but I don't think he should have come on. The opposite of his sort of game. The balls spent more time in the air than on the grass.

Boro defending there was mental.

Lol

Can't see how Dack fits into this game....

Travis for me is part of the problem. He just isn't covering the grass. Doesn't look fit enough. Whole midfield being bypassed.

Hard to argue with that. It's kind of harsh for him, hes got freakishly long legs and had his eye on the ball, but it was incredibly dangerous to be swinging his boot that high. Apart from that I've been quite impressed with Branthwaite. Really physically dominant, gets his head on everything, long legs for tackling, and has a bit of pace. Him and Lenihan at the back will be a very good combo. Probably the only two players on the pitch, plus the GK, who have had okay games.

Made me laugh!

Yeah I really don't get this either, Rothwell is much better running from deep. I would get Brereton on so there is someone for the ball to stick to. Id take Buckley back off to be honest and drop Rothwell into midfield.