1 minute ago, Commondore said:

2 new assists for Holtby, when not injured he's very high Championship quality. He needs to be involved more next season, although Dack also needs to get into that midfield, and we're already shipping too many goals. It's a bit of a puzzle, but I think Mowbray deserves the chance to keep laying it. As long as you end the season higher in the table than the season before (15th, as everyone no doubt remember) it takes something extraordinary to mark it as a failure, and the dud transfers of Brereton and Gallagher doesn't qualify for that IMO. 

Hotlby is one of several players that we have who has the ability to contribute to a successful team at this level, but to a certain extent relies on having the right players around him. Don't think he quite has the rounded game to be the main man consistently, but I can still see him having a better year next time round (and that's not to say that he hasn't had some good games this season). I feel similarly about Rothwell, although his season has obviously been more disappointing. I hope we have the budget to keep Downing, as having creative midfield options of a fully fit Dack, Holtby, Downing, Rothwell all competing for shirts with Buckley, JRC and hopefully Chapman, it will mean that this is the one area of the park where we won't need to worry about recruitment!

16 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I wouldn't use sarcasm when it doesn't back up your point, Brereton has only started back to back games twice in two years, Chapman has hardly been seen since signing 18 months ago, Nyambe invariably has to play second fiddle to Bennett, Travis was on his way out on loan before Smallwood got himself suspended, Wharton and Magloire can't get a chance, Buckley only gets cameos, JRC only got in as a result of an injury crisis.

That's an incredibly choice way of looking at it. You could just as easily say that he's given at least 8 debuts to academy players in his just over three seasons and our oldest player finishing the game today was 26. Neither account gives a proper reflection.

I'm not worried about any of our lads being looked at by Prem clubs for next season (maybe Trav at a push). 

I am worried about wealthy Championship clubs with money burning holes in their pockets looking at a few of them though,

If there's interest in Armstrong, I hope we're brave enough to recognise his value. Young English forward who scores bags of goals, sets a few up and scares teams to death with his pace. Needs to be 8 figures to start the conversation. 

Wigan have put together some good form in recent months, but Cook is the same manager who had them at right at the bottom after the first half of the season. I'm not sure we'd be as forgiving about their utterly dismal away form that they've had for the vast majority of their time in this division. 

Perfectly decent manager, but there's no way that I'd either i) swap him for Mowbray or ii) want him if TM was to go for whatever reason. 

2 minutes ago, matt83 said:

He may be 35 but I reckon could do worse than David Marshall at Wigan. Jonathan Bond at WBA has been mentioned, as has Darlow at Newcastle. But as with most transfers Mowbray has an inability to get them over the line so not overly confident 

Good shout, although he was available last summer and we didn't go for him, so I assume that won't be one we'll be looking at (although I hope I'm wrong)

27 minutes ago, OnePhilT said:

A tighter defence!

We criticise our attackers a lot because of the amounts spent on them, but I think our defence is our real problem. Assuming no players leave in the next window, I would be lost for words if we invested any more in attackers while neglecting our defence.

Lenihan isn't afraid to get stuck in, but I think he has to maintain his position better in certain situations. It's been something that I've noticed on the radar for a while, and he reminds me a lot of Grant Hanley. That's being over-critical, as comparing him to Hanley means that he 's good enough for Rovers, but he was primarily at fault for Reading's second goal today. Reading's first goal was a great free-kick, but I feel as though Walton is becoming another Rovers punchbag if people are focusin on him being at fault for the second goal, whilst Darragh gets off scot-free.

JRC is not a left-back, but he's filled-in well, and I don't recall any (or many) defensive mistakes whilst he's come into the side. Bell did improve after the New Year, but it feels like he will never maintain that form, and I think a young non-left-back in JRC has sort of put him to shame in how to defend. Next season, and assuming that we sort out the left-back position with a Cunningham or similar, I'd like to see JRC as an impact sub for the attacking wide left position. He is clearly very comfortable at that end of the pitch, and he certainly has an air of quality about him.

I get the feeling that Nyambe's injury woes took hold of his game today. I don't think he was at fault for anything, but he didn't get forward as much as you'd expect today. I like him at RB, but it always feels like a case of how often he'll be playing. For all those saying that Bennett is Mowbray's biggest chum, let's remember that Benno doesn't get a look-in when Nyambe is fit these days. If Nyambe proves to be similarly injury-prone next season, I think we have a decision to make, as we cannot rely on players who are fit for just half a season or less.

 

Whilst I basically agree, I think before the lockdown (or at least before the Derby game!) we were close to cracking it. Mid-season we were racking up a very respectable number of clean sheets, and I think we definitely looked much more solid since last season, where soft goals and late goals dogged us.

Since then we've obviously been far too easy to score against, and we can put a quite a lot of that on Walton's shoulders but blame needs to be shared around too. Not just with the back four either, as impressive as Travis is, we would have conceded two less had he not lost the ball cheaply against Leeds and this afternoon.

Obviously can't be reading too much into games like this, but Buckley showed that he has talent. Big progress from the little boy in his couple of showings. 

What an absolutely ridiculous game

Assume it's a fitness thing, went off at the weekend and he's had a propensity to pick up injuries

14 minutes ago, superniko said:

Can see a draw so we all know it’s over but Cardiff losing too so it’s still possible mathematically, leading to it all dragging on to the last week where we need about 6 results to go our way, rueing our missed opportunities. 

The end to this season is reminding me me plenty of the Bowyer season where we almost got in the play offs. I remember watching us put 4 past Birmingham away in the first half and being more concerned about 4 or 5 other teams results than enjoying ours!

In the end though it didn't matter as the horrible Yeovil and much much worse Sheffield Wednesday results took it beyond us. I expect this season will be the same with Wigan and Barnsley, but it looks like they're doing a good job of just about keeping our hopes alive by a slither until the final moment. 

2 minutes ago, rog of the rovers said:

Really close between a few for me:

Downing - Very solid signing, gets an honorable mention, but mainly between Adam Armstrong and Lewis Travis.

Armstrong's goals have been crucial, particularly in the second half of the season, since Dack has been injured, but decided to give it to Travis. I feel as though he has the potential to play in the Premier League, his work is so crucial to us and you really feel his absence when he's not in the middle of the park! 3 assist and 2 goals also! 

I'd have no qualms at all with either of those getting it, especially Armstrong the way that he has kicked on, but I've voted for Darragh. I remember seeing our win percentage with him and without him in the team a couple of weeks ago. These things can be misleading, but even so I really think Lenihan is the one player in the squad that we miss the most when he doesn't play. 

43 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Don't know where this talk of him having no final ball.

Whenever I've seen him cross it's always a really good ball.

Mowbray just doesn't want him running at players and getting the ball into the box.

Game of opinions, but I really don't see it that way at all.

I do think that he has worked really hard on his technical play and he can do a pretty good job of keeping possession high up the pitch, and it might be easy to exaggerate how bad his final ball tends to be (happy to say it's no worse than Bell's, more often than not). Even so, I can't agree that we can call his crossing good, definitely a weaker part of his game as I see it. 

Just now, roversfan99 said:

I think hes always had a weakness in terms of attacking. Its like there is a brick wall before the final third. Even pre lockdown he rarely put in a dangerous final ball but he was more forceful breaking through and providing an overlap.

I think hes always been a more defensive full back.

Can't argue with that. I suppose the way that the game is going fullbacks are increasingly less likely to get away with just being good defenders and not need to offer a significant attacking threat. Having said that he has clearly developed in running with the ball and keeping possession - he probably only needs to become adequate at his final ball and other clubs might be looking in his direction.

I wonder if a player like Andre Ooijer would have had any sort of career as a right back in the modern game. Good defender and technically v. decent, but his instincts are so much that of a defender that he might've not even have been given the chance there to begin with. 

23 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

He seems to have temporarily regressed post lockdown back to the over-cautious full back he has been in the past, so reluctant to run forward at the moment and not offering a threat on the overlap.

Even on top form he was powering forward but not really doing much once he got so far up the pitch.

I cant see Premier League teams having any interest in him.

That being said, Nyambe at his worst is always a better option there than Bennett.

I like Ryan a lot but I think this is a fair assessment of where he is at present. Progressing nicely but not yet PL standard.

He does seem to be playing slightly within himself post-lockdown - not in a way which is a concern but still a slight drop off. I wonder if this might have something to do with him managing his body with all the extra games. He's talked about his tendency to pick up muscle injuries in the past, maybe the extra games in a condensed period means that he wants to reduce the risk. 

Just now, rovers11 said:

Given that he's had a lot of stick this season, it's nice to say that he was excellent when he came on today. Pace, power and end product. Set up our goal and also set up the one on one for Davenport. 

All debates about the merits of playing him wide aside, he clearly has the pace and power to make life difficult for full-backs. Good on him for making the difference today, next season we'll have to expect him to deliver a bit more frequently. 

Players who have (correctly) come in for a bit of stick showed glimpses of their potential today. Even apart from the goal, Rothwell looked as productive as he has for some time. Gallagher showing that he has the attributes to cause full backs issues, even if his position isn't out wide. 

Disappointed, as even three wins will probably see us fall just short. 

And they've just gone behind!

25 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Derby equaliser v Brentford 

Just had a look at Derby's remaining fixtures and they've still got Leeds and Cardiff to come. Even a draw today would make it difficult for them.

13 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Have we ever spent more than a few hundred thousand on a defender or keeper under this regime?

Our first choice defensive unit this season  was: Walton/Nyambe/Cunningham/Lenihan/Toisin. Not a single transfer fee. That goes up to £300k with Bell in for Cunningham.

Quite startling when we splurge £12 million on two very raw forwards.

Think we spent a couple of million on Scott Dann, but next to nothing since relegation. Suppose if you're being charitable we have actually proceeded more than our fair share of young defenders who were of a decent level in Nyambe, Hanley and Lenihan. Beyond that, you're probably looking at Duffy who was what, 400k?

11 hours ago, OldEwoodBlue said:

Cardiff lose.

Is the dream still alive ?

I think the four wins will probably be enough now that Cardiff have lost. 

Mammoth task which at the minute seems beyond us, but if should be get the better of West Brom today then I'll probably start believing again!

1 hour ago, Mercer said:

Only lost what I'd won in the previous matches!

If that's "crashing and burning"............................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think "crashing and burning" is when you spunk £20million+ (including wages) up the wall on two strikers who couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

Fully expect WBA to win tomorrow with the winnings big enough to buy 2 nice quality reds for dinner tomorrow night.

That's Gally with a hat-trick tomorrow then!

9 minutes ago, ben_the_beast said:

I live in Pompey. I think a lot of people would be disappointed quite quickly with Curtis. Not a lot of pace, dribbling technique, nor is he particularly direct. Yes he has chipped in with a few goals at league one level but he would do a lot of passing it sideways and turning back against better opposition. 

Also he is very, very mouthy. Not saying it's a bad thing. But it's not a Mowbray thing

Interesting. Out of curiosity what do you think he is good at? I've never seen him play beyond the odd highlights package. At a higher level you could easily describe MGP (or even David Beckham) in a similar sort of way, but they managed to make up for it in other ways. Something similar here or is it just a knack of getting into the box and scoring?

Just now, JoeH said:

Scott Wharton clearly has some ability, and for me will have a decent career, and maybe when he's 30, he'll have played some Championship football. But if we have ANY ambitions of a top half finish, let alone top 6 or promotion, you can't start a season with a League Two defender lining up next to Darragh. If we do then we're condemning ourselves to yet another consolidation season, and proving once again that we don't have true ambitions of promotion.

Absolutely, definitely not advocating him as Tosin's replacement for next season. I don't think I caught the original post on Wharton, so I could be missing the point, but I was just saying that I wouldn't be reading too much into his lack of game time at Ewood - not so often you get a Phil Jones who can take to such a demanding position so well at a young age. 

Just now, JoeH said:

Maybe, I think his consistent loans to decent League Two sides is so he can be shifted for £250,000 to a League One team when the time comes and we can make some money on him. If he was ready to play for us he would have done by now. He will go the way of Willem Tomlinson, not the way of Lewis Travis.

Time will tell, I haven't followed him other than knowing his promotions so I can't call it either way.

Having said that, seems to me as though there's a pretty big middle ground between Travis is & where Tomlinson seems to be - there's room for Scotty to be a relative success if he finds himself in that middle ground.

Just now, JoeH said:

He debuted in 2016, the fact he's only made two appearances in a Rovers shirt, under multiple coaching set ups, isn't a positive for him - it sheds a negative light.

John Buckley, 19, thrown straight in
Lewis Travis at 19, thrown straight in
Ryan Nyambe at 19, thrown straight in

These are the players who succeed, not a 23-year old who's spent the last four years out on loan, mostly in League Two.

I can't say one way or the other if he'll be at the right level, but it's different for central defenders. There's no luxury to introduce them gradually and allow them to learn on the job in the same way that you can for other outfield positions.

I would've thought his lack of appearances for the Rovers 1st team reflects both his position & that the management think he's going to develop more playing mens football rather than them thinking that he's never going to make it.