Tosin Adarabioyo. Bloody hell, I haven’t been this excited about a defender since Phil Jones (Aged 17) schooled a peak Drogba at Ewood. Tosin could be a very special player. Wow

Agreed. ??

TOP TOP signing. There’d be a queue of top Championship clubs and some with much deeper pockets than us wanting Dack I don’t think he’s quick enough to play in the PL personally. Which makes him an out an out number 10. Not many PL teams play with out and out 10’s. I think his best chance at the PL is to go up with someone. Edit - I also think Dack is very lucky to have TM. A manager who excuses his bad games and provides him with the tools, support and ammunition to play exactly where he wants. Dack would have to ‘fit in’ at other clubs. I think he’d have the potential to go off the rails...and I think other clubs know this too!

You’re making a really good point mate. But we’re talking about two different things here. Whether or not you or I rate the players bought. What is clear is that the manager did in fact buy them to take the place of the previous incumbents. Some (Downing, Tosin, Cunningham (whilst fit) have taken that opportunity. Others (Johnson and Gally) immediately displaced old players but haven’t found their stride but could easily come back in and play the vast majority of remaining games. Whilst Holtby will likely becomes more and more influential. My point is that the manager saying he wants to ‘create competition’ is his way of managing the group. In truth he’s trying to upgrade and therefore replace what we have.

That wasn’t the point. The point I was making was people worrying over words like ‘creating competition’ when it’s clear from the summer business and with the fact that Mulgrew, Bell, Smallwood, Evans (up until recently) have all been removed from the first eleven. So regardless of the terminology he uses to define new signings, old players ARE being replaced. For what it’s worth, I believe Gally will succeed Graham and do well for us. Whilst Johnson on the bench is a much better option than Smallwood.

I also reckon Dack will go in the summer (Assuming we won’t go up). He is making noises and the manager is backing them up. I’d have no problems with it so long as some of the funds were reinvested.

Downing, Johnson, Gally, Tosin, Cunningham, Holtby and Walton have all pushed lesser players down the pecking order. Stop worrying about words.

Chill out with the semantics lads. He can’t very well say that he’s bringing in players to replace his ‘error prone’ keeper and ‘crap’ left back can he? Whether you thought his signings were good or not this summer, every one of them was bought to, and have in some way replaced those before them. He doesn’t have to piss the group off whilst they’re on a fantastic run and on the eve of the game to prove that point....

100%. Get a LB and Gk. The key after that is to keep our current formula and pattern of play. High tempo. Target man up top and get Rothwell, Dack, Arma, Holtby etc playing off him. Gally has all the attributes to succeed Graham in THAT position. If we can stretch to CB cover and a loan move for Kodija or Brewster then I think we can be there or thereabouts

What I want is for the manager to dispense with his idea to ‘transition’ us into Tika taka football. This group of players love playing heavy metal football and Wednesday was a fine example. We don’t need 70% possession of the ball to beat teams.  I want Mowbray to keep that 11 and blueprint of high octane football with uncompromising centre halves, workman-like midfielders, lightening quick wingers and a little un off a big un, up top. Everyone busts a gut to get forward and everyone kills themselves to get back. It suits the players and us as fans. We were all buzzing after Wednesday.  The progression is simply to buy better footballers to suit this mould. Upgrade the quality but keep the identity of the team.

What I want is for the manager to dispense with his idea to ‘transition’ us into Tika taka football. This group of players love playing heavy metal football and Wednesday was a fine example. We don’t need 70% possession of the ball to beat teams. I want Mowbray to keep that 11 and blueprint of high octane football with uncompromising centre halves, workman-like midfielders, lightening quick wingers and a little un off a big un, up top. Everyone busts a gut to get forward and everyone kills themselves to get back. It suits the players and us as fans. We were all buzzing after Wednesday. The progression is simply to by better footballers to suit this mould. Upgrade the quality but keep the identity of the team.

Bennett dropped!! ?

It’s more difficult a decision for the owners and their advisors. Undoubtedly things haven’t been great for 12 months. But, overall TM has had a hugely positive effect on the club both on and off the pitch. They see a man of real substance who cares deeply about the club, supporters, players and staff. He’s so hard working and genuine. All those around him want him to succeed. Im pretty sure he won’t be sacked. But he will walk as and when the tide turns on him...

I wouldn’t say whispers as such. I’m very sure he won’t be sacked. But I’m also fairly sure that he won’t hang in there if it’s going wrong with the fans etc...he’s a really top guy. High morals and principles. Enough to walk away from his contract if necessary.

He won’t be sacked. But he will likely walk, soon...

Brereton needs a proper run up top for Rovers. 6 games. By the end of that, his and the managers fate will be sealed one way or the other imo

Those hats are different class!!! Thanks fella’s I’m all over this ??

That list is nonsense

I’m not saying they couldn’t play together tbh though I’d prefer to play with a three rather than a two. Mainly because neither Trav or Holtby have played there much in their careers. Trav has been a rb for all of his career. He still struggles at times with options and threats at 360 degrees as oppose to full back where you play roughly within a 45 degree arc. Holtby is naturally forward thinking and creative so needs that bit more protection. I think Buckley will play as a pivot (Busquets / Carrick) because that’s his natural position. His feet and mind are miles ahead of Trav now. He just Needs to fill out a bit and get a run in the team. But he can do the dirty stuff too and will not get caught out of position. I like the Idea of 4231 formation with something like Arma, Dack and Holtby sat in front of Trav and Buckley (who will dictate the play and step out when needed to make it a 4141). I can see that being used under this regime very soon. Still have decent options backing up too. Johnson, Davenport, Downing, Rothwell, JRC...

I didn’t say they’d be our regular starting CM by Christmas. I said that Buckley would be playing / involved regularly from Christmas and that eventually I see him settling in CM next to Trav. Holtby is 100% not a CM. But hey ho. Game of opinions I guess.

I’ve screenshot that one mate. Can’t wait to throw it in over the next 12 months! ?

Probably just comes from watching the matches and the players performances mate. Opinions.

He will finish up playing with Trav in the middle as a deep lying pivot. A Busquets type who has time on the ball. He will go on to play in the Prem. imo.

I agree. There’s no doubt that there’s huge question marks hanging over both Gally and BB based upon the fees we paid. I’d say it’s a 40/60 split, good to bad signings (Not good enough). Should the likes of those two kick on and the likes of Chapman, Davenport and Rothwell break into the first XI then I’d say he’d be more 70/30 which is pretty good in the market overall...but that’s a lot of IF’s. I think Mowbrays eventual undoing will be his ability in the transfer market and inability to get the formula right (tactically) over a prolonged period. I noted your remark about lack of development and I think that was particularly harsh. I do have a bit of insight into this area and I can see clear development in the likes of Nyambe, Lenihan, Williams, Travis, Rothwell, Armstrong and evenparts of Graham’s game since Mowbray came in. That’s not to mention the managers intense focus on the youth and the work he personally, And with the coaches do with Bucko, JRC, Butterworth, Magloire etc. I think his focus and ability to develop players is good. As for the person who claimed he couldn’t possibly be able to develop a player because he was a ‘clogger’....wasn’t Klopp a defender? Mourinho a translator? SAF a defender? Nuno at Wolves a keeper? ....awkward.

Rothwell is a class act. Bit his attributes seem to place him as a better impact sub than first team mainstay. Id start with Holtby, Dack and Armstrong with Rothwell backing them up. The managers comments this morning are interesting huh? Talking the academy up in particular Bucko (who, as I said earlier they fully expect to be starting games regularly in the new year). To me Mowbray hints that he’s been to India to square off some transfer funds saying that the other young players are probably not ready to take them into the Premier league...yet.