I was there too. Yes in March he wasn’t ready. Neither was Magloire. But that will be 5 months since come the start of the season

They think he might be ready mate. Impressing in preseason. I hope they do trust him. Still have Travis, Johnson, Rothwell, Downing, Evans and Bennett as well as Buckley to play in there. (Not including Smallwood).

I was there too. It was awful. Mowbray was 100% at fault because the team was set up to play to a big guy and then he withdrew the big guy...which made no sense! It would be like Klopp setting up as he does and then sending direct balls into Firmino. The difference now (if we’re going down that route) is that the team will be no longer set up to hit those direct balls but to progress into the pockets and play higher up the pitch..

If Davenport injury is serious I’d push Buckley up rather than buy Adam personally

Or it could be a 433 without a Target man so that they are interchangeable (like Liverpool). This is perfectly feasible so long as you aren’t going direct into the likes of DG which is what Mowbray spoke about. The only question about 433 is how does it suit Dack? Other than that, I like it.

??? exactly and then when one of us highlights the absolute lunacy there will be the standard “I don’t think anyone has actually said that” nonsense..

Sounds like Foderingham is the ‘younger’ one coming in so expect another - maybe Carson as well. Would certainly strengthen our options from last season. GK department ✅

Were the top 3 spread across or was one of them sat in behind?

What formation did we play mate? Looks like a 433?

Don’t blow yer load too soon pal. In that passage he also spoke about continuing to strengthen in future windows. Sounds like two keepers (which makes sense as he wanted one plus Raya when he first spoke about the GK department) and a defender to me. I’m certainly not expecting a CB (or two), a lb and a rb as well as two keepers. Are you expecting five to six more signings? Nah, because that my friend is unrealistic! ?

Yeah, so the upshot of ALL that is, we’ll know how well the manager’s done by the end of the window ??

If we are after a potential wing back then we must be looking to revert to 3 at the back... what did we play tonight? 433?

Prob a midfielder ????

Haha me too!

You make some good points. It’s obvious that you’re balanced and rational in your opinion. I just tire of the constant whining from people who know very little about football. I bite my lip and scroll a lot but @47er suggesting I’m simply chomping down on Mowbrays rhetoric is ridiculous. It’s hard to listen to, especially when you do have some actual access and the guy who’s spouting clearly doesn’t. I apologise it it came across condescending but it’s the truth. Ill say it again. He HAS to strengthen a weak defence and goalkeeper ASAP to keep my faith. Nothing has changed. But the fact he hasnt isn’t because he doesn’t want to, it’s because he’s been so far unable to...as have many managers with two weeks to go before the season!

Shame

They’re expensive, it’s understandable. Plus, the clubs have to be ready to part with them.

Always interesting when it goes quiet...running out of time for your end of the week prediction pal ?

My point is that IF the manager believes that Bennett is the man to play RB then he will live and die by that decision. I know they believe in Nyambe and Bell. Again, they will live and die by that decision. But what I think many are missing is that the manager actually WANTS to get promoted. He’s stated it publicly (and privately). This is important because people seem to think he’d somehow sabotage his own job and ambitions just to play Bennett or Mulgrew? It’s weird. Why would he do that? It makes no sense. If he’s playing them then he believes they are the best player for the job. Bearing in mind he watches them train, play etc everyday then he is much better placed to make this decision than you or me...and again, he will live and die by those decisions!!

I’m not all over anywhere and I’m falling for nothing. I said at the start of the window that I would judge the manager at the end of the window. That hasn’t changed. It’s unrealistic to believe that we will buy 3 first team defenders and a goalkeeper in one window and gel them into a top 6 side. You (and the other doom and gloomers) are basically backing your initial rhetoric by demanding the club buy two fullbacks, two cbs and a keeper because you know it’s unrealistic. Setting them up to fail. But aside from all that, you haven’t got a clue what is happening with the development of Nyambe, Bell, Buckley, Butterworth, Davenport, Magloire etc. There’s been very little discussed about the impact of Jonty’s promotion and what he brings in terms of providing the conduit between a group of amazing youngsters and the first team. You’re also not aware of the massive changes in analytic focus and how they are looking to develop all of the players immeasurably. Im fortunate to have some access to those ideas and processes. So if they see players in Nyambe and Bell then I will go with that. But let me make something clear for the last time. I’m a Rovers fan, first of all. Whilst I think Mowbray has done a good job, if he does not get a defender and a keeper who I believe are better than what we have, I will lose faith in him too. Please don’t mistake my positivity for naivity.

The window hasn’t shut yet...

I would agree that we do need another couple of cb’s with Rodwell leaving too but I think they genuinely believe that Magloire can fill one of those spots. The fullback situation is simple to me. I wouldn’t sign another RB as I believe in Nyambe. I prob would look to get better than Bell but I do think there’s a player in there. So I can understand them not rushing to buy fullbacks.

???? Yes, because Premier League centre back always come cheap!? It doesn’t matter how much it costs, especially as your second name isn’t Rao. The only thing that matters is that we improve. As has already been said on here Villa gained promotion with 2 or 3 “cheap premier league cb loans”...

Gallagher wasn’t expensive. One season of 15+ goals will treble his valuation. Same with Brereton. That’s why managers and club owners feel comfortable investing money in them.

What you’re asking for is unrealistic. Even if we’d signed two fullbacks, a cb and a new keeper on June 1st I’d be worried about them gelling for the start of this season. Nyambe and Bell have potential and a year on, are certainly worth starting the season with. They have some more time imo. AAK’s post showed how many points we gifted to teams because we lacked game management / experience. Based on this I’d be delighted to go into the new season with what we’ve got plus an experienced CB and GK.