Just now, JoeH said:

I wonder who the play-off rivals will be. Certainly doesn't seem like Derby or Forest will challenge. Maybe Swansea are one you could sketch into a top 6 position, but I wouldn't write them in with an ink pen either. Wide open season

It's a good question, definitely seemed like a wide-open league before a ball was kicked, but I'd have certainly had Forest and even Derby before last weekend as in with a chance. Forest still have the squad to make a comeback in my view, but the manner in which they missed out last year can either make or break teams. On the evidence so far, it looks as though it might have broken them.

I think you're right about Swansea, they've recruited well but then again they've needed to seeing as they've lost two premierleague quality players in Brewster and Gallagher. 

I know we're getting a bit giddy after two thumpings, but it's all there for us to challenge for the top 6 this year.

This will no doubt be a better indicator of where we are than against Derby. Win here and we can go into the international break full of optimism.

Amazing how your perspective can change from just 1 or 2 results. When the fixtures first came out I was looking at the games in September and October where we could pick up the points to keep us competitive after a difficult start. Now I'm looking at the Cardiff & Forest home games as opportunities to already put decent gaps between ourselves and play off rivals.

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

There are attacking players like Armstrong who are quite happy to jog along and not get a really significant touch of the ball for 5 even 10 minutes. But when the ball comes their way they come alive. Then there are the attacking players who when they don't see the ball for 5 or 10 minutes they can go into their shell and never come out. I think Rothwell was like that when he was played as a winger. In a more central role he's in the game a lot more and he can't switch off as easily.

Completely agree. He played most of his football for Oxford there didn't he? I think both him and Holtby are benefitting from each other's form too. I could be wrong, but I've got the impression over the last 12 months (especially since Dack's injury) that our attacking midfielders have suffered a bit from needing to be the 'main man' at different periods. If there are 3 or so attacking players who are all at the top of their game, then you can't double up on them all. 

28 minutes ago, Fraserkirky said:

I think it’s Rothwell 

Rothwell's started off like a house on fire. I think even over the last few games you can criticise him for not doing better with his chances in front of goal, but in terms of creating chances he's developing the ruthless streak that he's been missing until now. Only having one assist for about 80% of last season was criminal for a player with his ability. 

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. 

I'm in real danger of getting carried away on the basis of today's performance, so I'll try not to go overboard in my praise. All I'll say is this.

Whilst Rothwell, Johnson and even Holtby have come in for some justified stick over the last 12 months, the three of them together is an extremely well balanced midfield. Watching Holtby today was an absolute joy.

Brereton, whilst not scoring, is clearly worth his place in the team on the basis of how hard he is to defend against. He used to be a liability for how easily he gave the ball away, today he was a menace whose performance was only missing a goal.

A couple of swallows don't make a summer for Bell, but beyond a horror 15 minutes against Doncaster, his season so far has actually been better than decent.

Says something about that half that I'm genuinely a bit miffed that we only scored three goals. Wonderful stuff.

On Brereton, still some clumsy touches, but he is now a genuine handful for defenders. Would love for him to score to cap today off.

53 minutes ago, BRFC4EVA said:

Cocu is doing a media conference this morning (about now I think) with an update about the injuries to Marriott and Jozwiak from their last game. Looking like one if not both won't be fit. 

If they're both out, then they look well short up front. 

Rovers being Rovers, I still don't find this reassuring. 

1 minute ago, LeftWinger said:

I've watched the 5th goal about 20 times purely for the pass by Buckley.

One of the best passes I've ever seen - eye of the needle kind of thing. The vision, accuracy and weighting of the pass is absolute perfection.

It's so good. I've made up my mind about his talent, we've seen other midfielders (and some good ones) play hundreds of games for Rovers without weighting a pass that well.

He'll probably still need some bedding in over the coming months as he learns to improve and manage his weaknesses, but I hope that we'll finish the season with him being as established name on teamsheet like Travis has become. 

2 minutes ago, S8 & Blue said:

Unpopular opinion but I think Bennett could be ok in the midfield 3

No doubting that it'll be an unpopular opinion! But I agree it's where his weaknesses are least exposed and his strengths (such as they are) are best used. 

Might be a decent time to play them, seem to be missing a few up front. Waghorn & Lawrence not played yet this season & I think I'm right in saying that Marriot & their new Polish winger both went off injured against Luton. They let Martin go at the end of last season too, could be down to the bare bones up front. 

Expect Nyambe to come back in, otherwise the same team as against Wycombe. 

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.