1 minute ago, Stuart said:

Who mentioned Mowbray’s pals? Your words.

He shouldn’t be dropped at all at this stage of his development. But this keeps happening - this weeks excuse was that he has been playing too well (!). Mowbray overthinks games and picks a team for each opponent rather than putting out best XI out there and having them worry about us.

I certainly wouldn’t blame Nyambe for not signing a new contract. Call it a narrative if you like.

The idea that Mowbray has his favourites and he picks them in front of more deserving players has cropped up on here quite a lot, but in fairness you didn't mention it in this case so I'll hold my hands up for that one. 

But you did say the bit I've highlighted, which clearly isn't true! It doesn't keep happening, it's happened twice in eleven months, and one of those was explicitly to do with preserving him from picking up the sort of injury he has been susceptible to getting after putting in two big shifts in a week. 

I think you're right about the tendency to chop and change too much, but the game is in trouble if a player in Ryan Nyambe's position won't sign a new deal on the basis of getting dropped for one game in thirty, and then rested for another. 

Just now, Stuart said:

So Bennett didn’t play frequently at rb under Mowbray then?

He's played there plenty. At the start of last season, and since then when Nyambe moved to centre back to cover injuries. 

The point is that in the last 11 months or so, Nyambe being dropped for Bennett has happened once, and even that was in a period of playing a match every 3 or 4 days. I've no idea if he's inclined to stay or not, but this narrative of him not signing because he's forever being dropped in favour of Mowbray's pals needs nipping in the bud, because the evidence simply doesn't back it up.

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

That’s fine but let’s nobody complain - or blame the player - when we lose Nyambe for nothing at the end of his contract because he won’t sign a new one. This work rate and hamstring worry is just the latest ‘explanation’. Last season it was that he had to shoehorn Bennett in somewhere at all costs and Travis was undroppable in midfield while Brereton or Gallagher had to be squeezed in on the right.

Post the restart, Nyambe was dropped for one game, which happened to be the 6th game in just over 2 weeks. Before then he was our regular starter since October, where he started every game other than three where he was injured.

Ryan may or may not sign a new contract, but if he doesn't it won't be through lack of playing time. The idea that he has been unfairly treated and/or is an easy target to get dropped is a complete myth.

3 minutes ago, Wood26 said:

Im noticing the games BJ plays well we win. Today, Bristol away, others that escape me right now.

Cardiff away too, when Armstrong scored from 40 yards out.

He can without question be a frustrating player at times, he gives the ball away too much for a player who has reasonable ability. Having said that even when he doesn't play well he brings things to the team that others (Travis aside) can't in his physicality and know-how. He'll be an important figure over the coming months given how many young players we've got involved at present. 

1 hour ago, yankfan said:

Checked in on the Noblers forum to see what they thought of Dolan. 
 

Seem to think he wouldn’t make the bench in their side. The delusion of fans never seems to amaze. 

Hilarious. Maybe he doesn't get in their side. Maybe he doesn't get in ours when Dack and others get back.

The point is that he's a baby in footballing terms, in a few years time he could be so far ahead of either of us that you could buy ten Tom Barkhuizens for what he might cost. And they gave him to us for nowt.

Just now, Tugay's Right Foot said:

Almost scored with his first touch though, shot from outside the box. Game like this and that late on, as a defensive midfielder, nothing much to be shown 

Yes, just read what I wrote again and realised that 'not the sort of player' could be interpreted as me saying saying that he didn't have Buckley's talent. I just meant that it's hard for a defensive midfielder to showcase what he has in his locker, like you say.

2 minutes ago, Darwen Rover 007 said:

How was Davenport when he came on? 

Tidy. Not the sort of player who could use the 25 minutes to really show off what he can do. Buckley on the other hand...

Buckley's pass ?

Things I wasn't expecting to be saying this afternoon:

I can't believe this is only 4-0

Just now, Fraserkirky said:

Anyone that doesn’t rate Rothwell is out of their mind. Finally playing in his best position.

Just a brilliant performance so far, even Johnson has done some good things.

The attacking players will rightly pick up the plaudits, but Johnson has been vital to our success in that half. 

Brilliant first 45 by basically everyone, hopefully Buckley can get decent minutes in the second half.

11 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

No. He was on the bench for all of them (bar one which Mowbray claimed was tactical). Mowbray preferred Bennett at the start of last season.

Just checked, to be fair he was on the bench more than I remember, but he still missed a few. Anyway, he's started the vast majority of the games that he's been fit for since about October-ishlast year and he's started this year really well, so I'd be really surprised if Mowbray's just dropped him it being partially a fitness precaution. I hope so anyway, because it really wouldn't make sense otherwise. 

Just now, Miller11 said:

Apart from the 10 at the beginning of last season where he had to play second fiddle to Bennett.

He was injured for plenty of those, no? 

In any case, I'd be astonished if this is down to anything other than being cautious about his fitness. Not saying it's the right call either, but very much doubt it's just him being dropped. 

Almost all the games missed by Nyambe over the last 12 months have been through injury or wrapping him up in cotton wool. I could be wrong, but I'd expect the same is going on here. 

23 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Cue Bell putting in a Graham LeSaux style performance this afternoon, I hope !

Match Report: Blackburn Rovers 0 - 3 Wycombe Wanderers

9 man Rovers succumb to defeat after Amari'i Bell & Bradley Johnson are sent off for fighting

3 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Ah he is the set piece taker? That's a little different then, though a good source of free kicks etc is always welcome. But Charlie Mulgrew had far better goal stats at CB...and we know how that turned out...

As long as he can actually defend, which it mostly sounds like he can, I'm very much excited if it's him. As has been said, Bell can't, so even a fairly decent defender who can also smash goals and assists is a huge, huge upgrade.

I think he does. Seems like the only plausible reason for him being out there on his own anyway. Flip side of that is that he is considered good enough to take free kicks! Like you I don't really know much about the defensive side of his game, but I'm taking heart from that he seems to be leaving because of a contract dispute, rather than him being a defensive liability. 

19 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Reading QPR fans opinions, common consensus is hes very good going forward and poor defensively. Some suggestions that hes better in midfield.

Sure that him being a set piece taker will be playing a big part in him being so far ahead of everyone else. Even so, that's an incredible statistic. Whilst Gally rightly came in for plenty of stick last year, that sort of service to him could lead to us seeing a totally different player.

Just now, J*B said:

I know it’s really fun to blame Swag, but he really isn’t the problem and will be retiring soon. Suhail is the problem, he slows everything down and despite being the most senior person at the club bar Venkys, has very little footballing knowledge. We’re better with Swag than without. 

That's interesting - going off what you've heard would you say that the issue is Suhail personally or is it more that we need to have someone as the go-between with the owners which is the issue? 

As a relative Bell apologist (he is clearly a weak link - but I think some of his criticism is OTT) it has to be said that his crossing is as weak as I've ever seen from a Rovers full back.

I would've thought that Douglas would be beyond us, and I don't know a huge amount about manning, but looking at those assists it seems as though either of them would look like Le Saux compared to what we've been used to. 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Bennett's experience counts for little if he still has the naivety as he does to charge around, firstly getting caught out of position, and secondly his actual tackling just gives away fouls to a side who will want to win set pieces.

There is no way that he can be trusted to be a sitting midfielder. 

I think that depends on how we're trying to play. A proper sitting player, absolutely, but if we're talking about Travis replacements I can see some value in playing him in a midfield three providing energy & athleticism alongside at least one more talented and creative player. 

I know that there are plenty on here who just don't rate Bennett full stop, but I think there are decent aspects to his game which are more likely to come to the fore when he plays in the middle. I think back to the Shrewsbury game in L1 and when we beat Brentford in our first season after getting promoted. Both games where he didn't need to be better than mediocre with the ball, but his closing down and snapping into tackles really helped the team. He would obviously be a pretty sizeable downgrade on Travis, but putting him there as a stop-gap suits his game as well as any position in my view, and wouldn't be the worst idea to keep balance in the midfield. 

A game with all the hallmarks of those over recent years where we should've won comfortably and ended up with a bloody nose. Having said that, I think we'll come away with a much needed three points.

Ayala obviously won't be fully fit, but if he is anywhere near the this is a good game to bring him in. We'll expect to be dominating possession and hopefully not need to spend too much time defending. Unless he's a mile away, I'd start him. Travis and probably Evans being out & us dominating the ball presents a good opportunity to bring Buckley in, but I suspect that he'll be on the bench.

                   Kaminski

Nyambe Lenihan Ayala/Williams Bell

          Buckley  Holtby  Johnson

          JRC      Armstrong     BB

2-0 Rovers

8 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

That would have been the bare minimum we need but truthfully, we need another CB as cover, possibly a RB for competition (and to stop Bennett playing there) and possibly somebody else for up top with DG and DS gone. That's without the backup keeper and LB that we need as minimum.

Still, I am so far happy with the keeper on first impressions and Ayala brings lots of experience to our backline. As long as we get the LB and backup goalie on perms, I would not be adverse to filling the other requirements with a few good quality loans.

Agree that there is still work to be done, but to be honest I'd be happy for all of the remaining signings to be loans so long as the quality is right, now we have the goalkeeper & centre half sorted for the long term. Obviously permanent deals are preferable but we don't suffer from instability in the same way we would (arguably are continuing to) from having loans in goal or at centre back like last year.

No getting away from this being a frustrating summer on the transfer front, but getting Ayala on a free really does put it in a wholly different light. All of a sudden we're a left back away from being a team to be reckoned with at this level

25 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

I’ll be amazed if Bennett doesn’t start. 

In fairness, this is exactly the sort of game where he should be playing. Keep Nyambe fresh for the games where we need him.

5 minutes ago, JoeH said:

I'd go for:

Kaminski

Nyambe   Lenihan   Wharton   JRC

Travis Evans Buckley

Rothwell Gallagher Dolan

Rest Armstrong. He's 2 goals from 2 this season and clearly going to keep scoring, but only if he stays fit for league games. Give Gallagher a game if he's fit enough, he's not featured in a single pre-season match due to injury and needs to get sharp if he's going to help us in any way before the Int. break. Keep Kaminski in net because he needs to bed in and get English match experience.

Dolan deserves a first start in a game that we're likely to lose anyway, and Rothwell did enough in his spell to earn a cup run out. Evans can start over Johnson just for the sake of rotation and keeping everyone active. Give Buckley a start too as he's suited to a more Premier League style environment anyway.

At left-back I think JRC is more competent than Bell, and should start. Wharton over Williams to give Scott game time. Lenihan to captain the side for consistency, along with the consistent back bone of Travis and Nyambe on that right side too.

That's my team too, I think. Certainly Getting Wharton & Buckley in. Might be inclined to start Davenport too but then again you can''t be resting everyone.

I'd keep Bell in place of JRC though, not because I'm especially enamoured with Bell but I don't want to get in the habit of playing Rankin-Costello in a position we don't really want him playing unless we have to. If he's going to develop into either an attacking midfielder or a right back, I'd keep playing him there rather than shoe-horn him at left back, even if it means playing Bell.

9 minutes ago, dingles staying down 4ever said:

You are wrong. Nyambe was criticised and dropped regularly in favour of Bennett. It  is why I suspect he'll run his contract down and walk.

If he was dropped regularly, I'd be interested to know how he still managed to rack up thirty-odd starts whilst at the same time missing plenty of games through injury.