https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/tony-mowbray-press-conference-live-19002022 "We're trying really hard. We haven't got millions, probably loans I'd suggest, not enough for a transfer fee and salary. Wants to fill the squad out." Seems to be very much bargain hunting. Wonder how we will approach the goalkeeping situation. The situation shouldnt change, we still need who we need even on a limited budget. You look at the team today, Bell, Williams, Dolan, Brereton, Rankin Costello, Rothwell, all very good performances. Do them 6 play every week for a team that gets into the top 6? Most I would suggest possibly not. But you look at it, if we start conceding goals, Ayala comes in, one of the best defenders in the division if he is fit enough. Nyambe comes in at right back probably next week due to injury. I would like to think that we will have a different left back for most of the season, although Bell keeps his place next week. That midfield, does Johnson keep the consistency, does Rothwell nail down the spot every single week? Do Brereton and Dolan justify a start in every single game? We dont know at the moment, but even if not, Evans is back soon, Travis will be back in 3 months, maybe another midfielder will come in, maybe even Buckley will make an impact, of course Dack will come back, Gallagher will come back. Not advocating that the team all needs changing, far from it. I just like to think that with hopefully 3 new signings coming in, and the situation with returning players from injury, we might have options.

Brilliant performance, last week was great but of course it was against the whipping boys at home, I know that Derby have started poorly, they have injuries, their manager is under fire etc, but to do what we did today is very eye catching, Derby wont be relegation fodder. All about consistency now. Also shows that high possession is not essential. The best area of the pitch today was the midfield 3. Johnson looks the player not only that I thought we signed, but the player he was 5 or 6 years ago at Norwich. Got to appreciate that it is 3 games and inconsistency was his middle name last season, but he looks in far better shape, his first goal was absolutely superb, and he gives us leadership and experience. Holtby again looks in much better shape, obviously benefits from the system and run the show. And Rothwell was very purposeful, some lovely runs and more effective, although needs to work on the back pass style shots as we know he has a wonder goal in his locker. Kaminski overall was very good, made a few very good saves, and some superb bits of distribution. A couple of strange things that he did, seems to be quite unorthodox at times and a little shaky from crosses which seems to be his weakness but overall a very good display. Lenihan and Williams were very good, and credit where its due, Bell was our best full back today. blocked a few crosses, better on the ball than usual and not as passive. Most of their danger came down their left, Rankin Costello was mixed, thought he was neat and tidy though and put in a couple of very good recovery tackles after being caught of position. Armstrong wasnt at his very best, often chose the wrong option but got a goal, thats what you want. Dolan is an interesting one, he does overdo it at times, once or twice in areas he shouldnt be messing about and it could cost us, he did tire as he did last week which is understandable having not played senior football until this season, but its getting the balance right by Mowbray, when do you play him, when is he sub, and discourage him playing in the wrong areas without affecting his play in the final third, youd hate to be a full back against him, so tricky and quick and love him getting a tap in. Fantastic bonus for us. Brereton I thought his overall play was excellent, going on runs, winning fouls, holding it up, very good. Still that question mark in front of goal, unlucky to hit the post, had a good chance with a header, and a couple of other chances that he finished with no composure at all. Needs to chip in, but definitely a different player. Subs, difficult for Nyambe coming into a game as a sub right back but did ok. Bennett, little to do and little time but didnt do anything wrong. Chapman, I thought he was poor but you got some end product, brilliant work for the fourth goal. This team also has scope to get better with players currently unavailable. Ayala is one of the best defenders in the division on his day. Travis has been a stand out performer since he broke in consistently and Dack is probably our best player. We shoudlnt forget that, 3 quality performers who should only make us better upon their return. You probably put all 3 in the first 11 at some point, but if they were all magically fit for next week, they would all be on the bench. Shows the last 2 results for how impressive they are. Think its unfair to suggest that it would be a different scenario with a crowd. The Ewood crowd is not the pitchfork grabbing mob that some portray, ultimately if the players cannot replicate this with crowds then its a little obsolete, but there is no reason to suggest that they cant. Certain things seem to be falling into place and I dont think its fair to suggest that one of those is a lack of supporters. Fair play to Mowbray too. The acid test is not when this way of playing gives teams a hiding, its the consistency and the grinding out of results regularly that will get us near the top. There are still certain reservations about this team but a lot of things seem to be coming together.

I presume that their Bennett is injured but I cant see him being let go. Envious of their depth there.

Doesnt mean that he has accepted that their new winger is going to be impossible to stop regardless of the right back so hes accepted that in advance and just played an attacking player and hell to the consequences defensively. A more obvious logic would be keep the same team.

My point is not even about the right back selection! It is against your logic, even if they had Eden Hazard down the left, no sane manager would accept that there is nothing defensively that he can do and instead pick an attacking player there as if the attitude is to just let the dangerous attacking player get on with it. And thats before you consider that the player has only just signed from the Polish league, he may appear to be an exciting signing and im sure hes a good player but not to the extent that you accept that hes going to have a field day and theres nothing we can do! I suspect Mowbray has literally just picked the same team that won 5 nil. I would have played Nyambe who was excellent the week before and is our best right back but theres a bit of logic to keeping the same team. Of course, the hope is that we keep a clean sheet and win today and the selection is justifed.

Cunningham is starting for Cardiff today. If there was a chance of getting him it may well be gone sadly.

I dont think that a player who may well be talented but is new to the country and a bit of an unknown quantity will tear apart any right back as a foregone conclusion! That would be crazy logic. He may be a big threat but you surely put your best right back on to hopefully reduce his threat.

Dont get the non selection of Nyambe again. Seems a player easy to leave out by the manager. He was "rested" to avoid burn out, did Rankin Costello play better than Nyambe had done the week before? No, so put Nyambe back in. Time for a Brereton goal today in a meaningful game. He is getting regular starts, no excuses.

Wycombe really do look like whipping boys in this division.

His pass at Hillsbrough was good, apart from that, not much. I dont think he lets us down at all, but equally I dont think hes really stood out, I definitely think he will prove a weakness at full back too, even v Doncaster he struggled there. Clearly not where he is best. Hes a young lad though, im not saying he should be the finished product, im not saying hes let us down, he is crap, anything like that, just that his appearances thus far, perhaps at times partially hindered by the position he was chosen in, have been underwhelming IMO. As a utility man, I prefer him to Bennett because of the lack of recklessness that he brings, but I also wonder if his versatility might not necessarily be of benefit to him long term?

Ultimately, people shouldnt have to personally email the club, these queries should have already been answered and communicated by the club.

Exactly, basing a team of the week solely on data without any perspective is inherently flawed. The data is useful but I think you sometimes struggle to appreciate that it is of little use alone. Rankin Costello had a great game in your opinion, not as a matter of fact because of the data. My personal opinion of his performance was that he was ok. Going forward, came close with a shot, crossing was poor. Defensively, totally untroubled. On the ball, neat and tidy. I have yet to see anything particularly stand out to suggest that he should be a regular at this stage. Nothing wrong with that, he is a young lad who as a squad player may be very useful and hopefully he can become much more influential over the season.

I dont think I said he was poor. I said his crossing was poor which baring in mind it regularly went to the keeper, I think is a fair comment. Overall, he was fine. I dont think he is a full back so Nyambe would definitely come in, and I dont think hes done enough to be guaranteed a start, hence, like you, I left him out of my suggested team.

Pick on? He was totally untested defensively, all of his crosses went to the keeper and was unlucky to hit the post from his shot. Not sure he warranted a team of the week selection, obviously thats subjective, he was fine but Nyambe will be needed at right back (who was in the team of the week thr week before) and I dont think hes done anything in an attacking sense to make himself guaranteed a spot further forward.

Davenport has never started a game for us I dont think. And Whiteman may have been so important to Doncaster that they were refusing to sell at an affordable price. Its unfair to assume he isnt up to it on such limited views and assumptions

I dont remember having seen him play nor have I said that he would get into our team. I have no idea if he would nor could we afford him. One game is certainly not enough to decide he is definitely worse than even 2 young midfielders we have, neither of whom have established themselves yet. Travis definitely, Holtby definitely, Rothwell, not sure he pissed League 1 last time he was in it. Johnson, quite possibly. Buckley, clearly has talent, very young and yet to fully establish himself.

Have you seen much if any of him to make the judgement that he could get into our best 11? Or that he is no better than Smallwood? I understand that you are just winding up Sparks Rover but Whiteman may well be capable of slotting into our midfield and improving us, he may not. Either way, we couldnt afford him. Unless Venkys are really willing to sign any cheque ?

No im not, I dont know how good he is. We dont have 2m to spend on a player but even if we did, it wouldnt be a midfielder. And if it was, ive no idea if Whiteman is worth 2m or not. Just a bit simplistic to dismiss it because hes in League 1 without seeimg him play. Signing another midfielder doesnt have to necessarily hinder Buckley. If he is good enough to start every week for a top 6 chasing team, he will. But we cant be sure that he is so we could do with another one in there ideally, capable of slotting into the team.

Its a good job we werent in the Championship when Dack became available if the rule is "if hes in League 1, hes not good enough, regardless of how much I have seen or not seen him."

Have you seen him or is that just based on where he is playing? Personally not seen him play, Doncaster fans seem to love him but unsure how he compares. That being said, we couldnt afford him anyway.

Has JHRover at any point not accepted or indeed even mentioned that some fans wont buy a season ticket?

Just as bad!

Our away form is really poor, 6 losses in 8. We need to be far better to have a chance of the top 6.

Looks like Forest have chucked all of their new signings into the team together. McKenna, Arter, Mbe Soh, Christie, and then Taylor, Freeman and Blackett too. Certainly hasnt been reading the Mowbray text book. Huddersfield have a terrible team on paper.

Ben Whiteman.