Got to be careful going for a ‘big nasty centrehalf’. Most aren’t the quickest and neither is Charlie. We’d be better at dealing with balls in the box but shredded by a nippy striker. IMV that’s why TM likes Lenihan so much as he has aggression and pace. Unfortunately he’s also prone to impetuosity. As with so many other aspects this is a team in evolution with several players growing into their roles. Would like a Kevin Moran type option but don’t want to impede Lenihan’s progress completely. He’s got great potential and is one of our own home grown.

Nor would I expect him to lie through his teeth. BD probably has more to thank Mowbray the man for, than Mowbray the manager. Glad that he appreciates that. Or he might be banged up by now. Anyway you chattering classes crack on debating how much better you would be as Rovers manager ?

It’s no surprise that the manager should face criticism after two shocking performances from his team. But this has been a deluge. So a couple of points in his defence. Firstly Whilst we may not agree with his selections and tactics, Mowbray almost always explains his thinking behind those changes either post match or in the days that follow via the website or in the LET. They are always to me at least thought through and reasonable even if they don’t always come off. We have more of an insight into the whys of his management than anyone I can remember previously. We may not agree but there’s always honesty and footballing reasoning on display. This in part leads to the criticism that he overthinks things. But seriously do we want a manager that thinks less? Almost every manager these days , especially the good ones alter personnel and set up from game to game. Gone are the days of picking the same eleven, winding them up and sending them out. Secondly he has shown evidence of learning and change when things don’t work out. The last time we lost 2 in a row was the opening games of last season when he tried 3 at the back. The players couldn’t do it and he reverted to a back 4 and we barely looked back. He has said he’s trying to evolve the current style. I don’t think the players (and I know they are his choices) can implement what he’s trying to do this season. He has shown when that happens he can change to a more pragmatic approach and that’s what I expect in the next few games. And finally quite a few have mentioned that he’s a good bloke which we appreciate but discounted that in the face of poor results as the only thing that matters. I don’t think his character is irrelevant to this club nor to his chances of putting this right and for me at least increases my patience and belief when things are not going well. He’s not beyond criticism that’s what a forum is for (and mostly it’s been reasoned and temperate) but I thought some mitigation was in order. And no I’m not his brother or love child

Quite aside from what Mowbray has done with the structure of the team, the recruitment of players , selection and tactics (which are all appropriate topics for message board debate) is the reconstruction of our our club as a decent, humane, principled organisation. The man in my opinion deserves huge credit for restoring to Rovers one of the great assets I always believed we have had: that this club has values rooted in a northern working man ethos, that we are honest and clear eyed, unapologetic, determined, realistic, loyal and incredibly hard working. He is refashioning a team we can identify with and a club we can be proud of...and in many ways that matters more than any arguments we may entertain ourselves with over selection and tactics.