Dack has not shown any signs that he has not recovered physically fron the injury, he may not have regained his form (apart from glimpses) but he has mainly been on the bench, in a struggling team and often out of position, once as a false 9 and mainly far too deep.

I think considering a few games as evidence of the overall capability of the players is a little risky. They were very impressive performances but not indicative of the overall performance level of the team. In our first 10 games, we had those 3 thrashings, 2 coming against ten men, 2 competive losses v better teams, and the other 5 games in that spell we played really poorly in. Do I think that constantly changing formations, players out of position etc are hindering the players? Yeah I do but equally I dont think the squad is quite as good as we think, which again is the responsibility of Mowbray.

To be fair, Armstrong was played in the wrong position for a year and a half, and upon that change scored so many goals. Being part of an unsettled defence wont have helped as you say, plus we only have heard the positives of why Bennett has been put in, and why Nyambe has been dropped. That might be circumstantial in that the reactions cause Mowbray to feel like he needs to justify Nyambe being dropped, but had he simply said this week for example that Nyambe was taken out in fear of over excursion due to injury, it wouldnt have caused a shit storm. Raya was criticised because he did make a number of errors, and Nyambe lately has made mistakes, so in a way the criticisms are justified, but specifically in dealing with young players, it is not wise man management.

Rothwell and Premier League is a hell of a statement, this isnt a player who has ever hit those levels and is only now underachieving, this is a player whose best games are usually ones he doesnt feature in. Ayala may have done 3 or 4 years ago but now he isnt fit enough to play and when he is, we lose more often than we win. Douglas again in the past and has improved in recent weeks, and even Nyambe is a level off the right backs of the top 6. Holtby has never displayed any signs of being a top 6 player in this league either, I think with him his reputation stemming from his younger years and potential he perhaps has never fulfilled fool us a bit. Even Travis, compare to Cook, Lerma, Pearson, Wilshire, Billing, Rupp, Skipp, Da Silva, Norgaard, Hourihane, Grimes, Will Hughes, Chalobah, Cleverley, Swift etc, not sure he is as good as. 100% he is responsible for the squad he has assembled. I just feel that there is a slightly false perception of the quality of the players we have, and whether more than pure underachievement, the underperforming is down to the flaws in how the squad has been assembled in the first place. He cant moan about resources or time. I personally think that to get us into the top 6 could be perceived as slightly overachieving. Then again, there are certainly managers that armed with a prolific goalscorer would certainly put us in with a shout, albeit with a lot more tactical consistency and simplicity.

They are the exceptions though. Derby were in crisis and Wycombe got a few beatings when they came up, the latter going down to 10 men, and Coventry went down to 10 men very early. The performances were still very impressive but they did skew peoples perception of our quality in the first few months.

The comparisons are interesting to be fair, Marcus had that one season where he (perhaps quite surprisingly) got player of the season but I suppose Nyambe could argue that his Championship record is not too disimilar at a young age, with plenty of scope for progression. Martin has Premier League and international record with a decent country so Nyambe has still plenty to do to get to that, although Martin was never a good defender. The one thing we would need to concede that in the main, Nyambe has been the undisputed first choice right back in Mowbrays time here, and especially this season, he has developed noticeably on his game. I also do think that Nyambe has made mistakes lately. It is the constant lack of competent back up that has made him being dropped at any time counter productive and with the bizarre media comments, that is where the questions pile up. I do wonder where he will go from here. Assuming a new manager was appointed, a mid table Championship club with aims of promotion as a first teamer could possibly be his limit at the moment, barring a move abroad.

Just wondering what people think to the overall state of our current squad. I see regularly that it is a top 6 squad grossly underperforming, I am not convinced. To clarify, this is not a defence of Mowbray, I acknowledge that his tactical inconsistencies further hinder the current group of players, and this is very much his squad of players in the first place. Kaminski is a competent keeper with incompetent cover. Defensively, still a mess, the only 2 of any credibility are Lenihan and Nyambe, both of whom have a year left and Mowbray inherited. Beside that, we have the incompetent Bell, a loanee in Douglas who has improved recently, a couple of kids who arent ready on loan, an expensive crock on a long term deal, Williams who has never been particularly good or reliable, and then wingers covering. In midfield, we have signed so many, Johnson, Davenport, Rothwell, Holtby, Trybull, Downing etc, there may well be sone quality there but none have contributed to a point where we would really miss them if they left tomorrow. Travis is the only one and he himself is not one of the best in the league. In attack, we are solely reliant on Armstrong with the manager struggling to get the proven Dack back in regularly, and Elliott has been a very good loan. Aside from that, we have our 12m misfits and a raw kid. Not sure the squad is as good as people make out.

It will be interesting to see where Nyambe goes next, as shit as it is that it wont be continuing here under a new manager. I am not convinced that he will have Premier League suitors even as a prospect playing second fiddle to a more senior right back, and even a promotion chasing side at this level has a player like Aarons, Roberts, Dalsgaard, Femenia, Stacey, all a level above I would suggest. Maybe a move abroad may appeal to him? Such a shame that he wont be here on a long term deal.

It took a little longer than most for the penny to drop regarding the stagnation under the current manager, and seems that it has yet to drop regarding our absent owners.

Why would Chris Hughton come, and would a current member of Mowbrays staff with no managerial experience be an upgrade? You look at Brentford, Norwich, Swansea, Barnsley, Reading, there are managers out there aside from the ones we are aware of, especially across Europe, that we on here are unaware of that could progress us. If we do go down the experienced route with someone like Pearson then great, similar to Forest, Cardiff, Boro etc, get someone with a track record. People like Monk or even nostalgic picks like Hughes, would they be an upgrade on what we see at the moment, maybe, but they would be unlikely to get us promoted.

We are still in the dark about the exact plans, but even assuming that they are a major threat, it isnt of Mowbrays doing. The only indirect way in which he would be responsible is not getting us promoted to date.

The logical thing to do now would be to bring in a new manager now that a play off finish is unrealistic and play predominantly the players that he plans to keep in a formation that he would like to play, consistently. If they dont go up this season, I would suspect teams such as Forest and Cardiff will be much stronger with managers having already started to mould the team into the way they would like. As it is, Mowbray will still be overseeing confusion well into next season. Demoralising.

We will see then, if they really do care and he really is under pressure, considering the comparative stagnation to previous seasons, the on field confusion and the recent form in particular, he wont be on charge v Watford. He will.

He wont be, they dont care. He will stay at least this season regardless, and I would be flabbergasted if otherwise.

Thats what im saying. I am fed up with him and have been for a bit not because of how he acts on the touchline or indeed what he says in his interviews. He can say what he wants and do what he wants if the team wins games. Its solely the on field confusion and repeatedly poor results that causes me to be pissed off.

I would disagree. He has outlasted his welcome for quite a bit now, we are stagnating for sure. But he isnt threatening the long term future of our club.

Woeful again, no plan, no threat, a journey in reverse. Solely reliant on Armstrong scoring. We wont miss Gallagher on the pitch but best wishes to him and hope he recovers as soon as possible, sounds like a nasty injury. Brereton non existent too bar a few pathetic attempts. Elliott poor but like Gallagher in the wrong position. Davenport our best player whereas Travis continues to underwhelm. Bell an embarrassment at left back, the kids at centre back not fit for purpose, Nyambe was pretty good and his injury is a huge blow. Subs wise, none made an impact, Rothwell and Buckley were pointlessly late, Dack was as desperate to impact as any but played too deep and Dolan invisible bar one woeful cross. Most of the anger seems to be towards the comments Mowbray makes at the moment, I get that but dont agree. He wont be under pressure from the owners but no one likes their competence being questioned, hence the continued nonsense he spouts. The anger and frustration for me lies on what I saw and continue to pay for and see on the pitch.

Absolute bollocks. Also, on the second sentence, he would be, Venkys dont give a shit. Weekly protests and Kean remained until he left.

Hes not a particularly good striker, dreadful technical footballer, ball bounces off him every time. But certainly not a winger as you say. Should be on the bench and sold as soon as possible.

Absolute shite served up again, not that the idiots on ifollow would give you that impression. In attack we are again imbalanced and totally reliant on Armstrong, his movement and his magic which he nearly scored with. Gallagher on the wing again not working and even beyond that, he is technically bereft. Brereton crap too, 3 attempts which all barely reached. Elliott is not a central player. Defensively the 2 kids are bombscares, especially Harwood Bellis. And easy to forget quite how bad Bell is until he plays, a terrible player. Only 2 positives are Armstrong as mentioned and Davenport who will be dropped for the next game anyway.

One less.

Rich Sharpe has posted that he average age of our team is 22.3 years old. That does include a 17, 18 and 19 year old all on loan who bring the average right down.

Communication, non existent. The plan to downsize but renovate, at this stage unclear. The amount of people (not seen any on here to clarify) instantly coming to Venkys defence, the same people who are grateful that we merely exist and arent in administration, sick inducing. The cretins that own us do not deserve the benefit of any doubt.

Shit team again. Elliott presumably in central midfield, 2 kids at centre back, the undroppable lump of shite Gallagher on the wing and Bell brought in for no reason at all.

https://t.co/3d3t8LK7RB?amp=1 "if we had Ayala and Lenihan playing centre back in this team, we wouldn’t have conceded the goals that cost us points and we’d be winning lots of football matches." Ayala has started 8 times. 2 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses.