roversfan99

Give them chances for first team minutes? What does that even mean, surely thats Mowbrays issue? I think this sanitised environment that you suggest Buckley (or indeed for anyone) is totally unrealistic and maybe something if anything that having played development football, they arent used to and that system needs an overhaul to prepare them more. Any analysis of what happens in the ground is moot at the moment, but people never have gotten on his back vocally that I have heard. Most players dont have a song either if you think about it! It suits NO ROVERS FANS for him not to flourish, and for any player, if he is deemed to be underperforming, to not look ready for first team football, then its unrealistic to expect supporters not to comment. Here, Twitter, wherever, as long as it doesnt involve tweeting him directly, these are the platforms for supporters to discuss, to praise better performers, to criticise poorer performances. I think it is a dangerous place for footballers to go on social media in general, just as it is counter productive for him to make a profile on here, that is a different issue entirely. It wasnt an issue around my support. I feel like I was balanced with my review of him yesterday, I praised some parts and criticised others. Is it because hes thin? Quite possibly, his lack of physicality does sometimes see him bullied and pushed off the ball, so that isnt a stereotypical perception issue, that is a general issue. For me, I think it is a simplistic reason, as I mentioned with my comments on him yesterday, I was more critical of what he did when he was on the ball, off the ball/pressing impressed me. That last sentence makes absolutely no sense. How does a player who has yet to really stamp his mark at Championship level suit the Premier League more, a higher level! Im guessing its a fear of the cloggers at lower levels but if hes as good as hes made out to be, that shouldnt be an issue. His supposed technical ability and intelligence should set him apart against the more limited players who dont read the game as quickly, and allow him to prove that he CAN impact on games, not even necessarily about him physically toughing up, but to dictate, to create, to assist, to score, to thrive and then to potentially push for a starting 11 place upon his return. Do you think that occasional starts and cameos suits his development?

My point was that I dont need to see random clips when I watched the whole game. Unsure if you have managed to see it but he gave the ball away a number of times in the first half, to the point whereby 2 biased commentators were critical. I acknowledged his wonderful run and pass in the second half and also praised a side which often comes into question ie his ability to win the ball back. The Dack comparison is senseless. I never said to you that you "need to get behind" Dack or anything so meaningless. We differed on our opinion of how he has and how he should be used which is for me at least constructive debate rather than platitudes and questioning of support. I was very critical of the positions in which Mowbray in his muddled up thinking has put Dack since his return, very deep in midfield, as a false 9 and on the left wing, none of which suit him. I also feel a few months since a return to full fitness that it an issue of match sharpness and rhythm rather than physical fitness that is holding him back, something which will only come from regular game time. i thought he was excellent yesterday and I put that mainly down to the way he was used which suited him much more than the other 3 braindead ideas that Mowbray has come up with since his return. Regarding next season, it is rather depressing that we are already at a stage whereby we are experimenting towards next season, but that is where we are, and also that implies that the manager will remain, which is also depressing. But I would agree, not necessarily in terms of giving out token minutes to youth players, but figuring out combinations etc going forward. Armstrong seems destined to leave, for all the criticism, we dont have a replacement for his goals within the club so will need to recruit. But Dack is the key man, he needs to regain that rhythm in his natural position, it makes sense to play him like yesterday and build around him. Defensively, once Ayala is fit, he should play over Harwood Bellis, only the former will be here next season. Kaminski is an obvious. Neither left back is contracted into next season, but we know Bell is far inferior, so play Douglas every week with the carrot of earning a contract. Right back, that needs sorting. I dont think Rankin Costello is a full back, and Nyambe is better, but which if any will be here next season? If so, probably prioritise them. Travis in CM should get plenty of game time. Davenport should be back involved when fit. Evans and Downing should only feature in an emergency, beyond winning a new deal now. Buckley? Unconvinced that he has use in a squad next season pushing for promotion, maybe one to be loaned, but give him game time to give him a go. Johnson and Holtby? Might be scope to keep one for experience, but are they fit enough? Rothwell? Not sure whats happening with his contract, not arsed either way with him. Would give Gallagher a game or two centrally, shouldnt be our main striker next year as he isnt good enough for that, but see if he can push a new signing. Brereton, again perhaps need a new deal, give him game time off the left. Dolan, again give him game time.

I dont need video evidence as I watched the whole game live. In the first half, he gave the ball away, chose the wrong pass and dawdled in possession a number of times, to the point that a pair of commentators biased to the point that they would have you believe that a play off push is on repeatedly mentioned it, and also shouts from the management team on the side could be heard when he repeatedly squandered possession. I did however mention that his run just before he came off down the wing and the ball in was superb, and his pressing and industry was impressive. My comments were based on the theory that he is a gifted player who is physically out of his depth. I felt that the physical side he coped with well, and it was his use of the ball that let him down. Mowbray specifically mentioned Buckley for praise so it will be interesting to see if he backs that up with a second start on Tuesday night. I wouldnt necessarily be against that with eyes already turning to next season as I remain at this stage unconvinced that he can be a first team regular any time soon, but would love him to prove me wrong. Im not sure he has really proven anyone wrong either. Jason Lowe and Elliott Bennett, not that I am comparing them obviously, but both have thousands of minutes to point to, did either prove people wrong with their quality? No. I particularly am confused by the comment "we need to get behind him" at the end. May I ask what that even means? Just a totally unwarranted and pointless statement that is regularly used which always baffles me. Players have been playing in front of empty stadiums for a year, and before that, did he ever receive anything but support? Has he received personal abuse on social media? Or is that a counter argument to constructive criticism of a player on an internet forum by questioning their supporter status?

A hell of a statement! At the end of the day, the primary remit of a striker is to score goals. Armstrong has had 2 major spells in his career as a striker, at Coventry he got 20 goals, and since playing there for us, he has is it 30 since last January? That alone sets him apart. We have no idea how many goals Dolan would get as a striker. I think it is unfair to suggest that Armstrong is lazy either, regularly I see him either making runs that arent picked out or chasing the goalkeeper. Mowbray had it right describing Dolan as a "whirlwind" and he is 100mph, his energy does set him apart. I think that Armstrong has shown decent link up lately, there have been a few examples, there was the one at Boro leading to a goal, one at PNE leading to the penalty and a few others, to be honest he has been particularly unselfish which in turn especially with a lack of runners in behind him had led to a reduction in attacking threat. Dolan does have a trick in his locker, that obviously goes either way, sometimes he beats a man, sometimes he over elaborates and sometimes he tricks himself which happened a couple of times yesterday. Hopefully the latter 2 scenarios will reduce as he learns that there is a time and place for tricks over time. Dolan was a real nuisance yesterday and his enthusiasm is incredible, but lets not make ridiculous conclusions just yet. I would like to see him get plenty of game time with nothing to play for looking forward to next season, but I think that should mainly come from a wide area. The set up yesterday meant that the central striker had Dack in close attendance and there was much more fluidity along that line which should suit him.

100%. Also the pass in the build up to the red card v Preston and the lay off for the goal at Boro off the top of my head. Also hes put in a few brilliant passes across the face of goal that havent been attacked and has got players sent off.

Just makes no sense to me, and doesnt sit right that there is so much criticism of such a prolific scorer who didnt even play today. Over the course of this season, would you think that we would have collected more or less points had Armstrong not played a minute? Surely the former if we benefit from his absence. Same question to you @Bigdoggsteel And do you think that the 3 would have made up for his 19 goal output? And what did you feel of the individual performances of the front 3 today? I thought Dolan was the pick, mainly through his raw enthusiasm really, his end product wasnt really of much note and he tricked himself a couple of times but he was a pain in the arse. Gallagher worked hard but often held onto the ball too long, and Brereton was very quiet. You could put Armstrong in any of the 3 positions, he has the pace to play that, and he would have benefitted from Dack being much closer to the striker which hasnt been the case in recent weeks, take Tuesday night when Rothwell was invisible, Evans gets a nosebleed across the half way line and Armstrong was on his own in a different postcode. Armstrong in recent weeks has been far less selfish but has shown sides to his game that I didnt think were there, holding the ball up at times and bringing others into play, and his movement (often ignored) is intelligent. The thing separating the 3 today with Armstrong is the goal output and that is the most important part of a forward. If Armstrong is the hindrance many are making out, and he is attracting suitors, think of the money we can make on Gallagher, Brereton and Dolan!

There was also once when Douglas put him through inside the box but he was caught on his heels. Mind you, his lucky goal came from being in a good position but he is not and I suspect never will be a prolific goalscorer. I think both of those players would have only further improved todays performance. One of the keys was Dack back closer to the striker, have we ever really tried Dack behind Armstrong? He would have added a far more potent goal threat than any of the 3 chosen. And Travis would have provided more quality than Buckley beside Trybull.

I thought things got worse under Appleton and the performance against Millwall was an absolute disgrace. Never seemed the most likeable bloke either.

Very pleasing victory. Still want him out but well done Mowbray for how the team was set up. The front 3 were so busy led by the pest that was Dolan who gave them no end of problems. Is his end product the best? No. Does he do too many stepovers and self confusing tricks? Yes. And do I think his long term position is up front? No. But he has definitely shown the manager that he warrants more game time, that defenders hate seeing him and that he should be a certain starter on Tuesday. Gallagher and Brereton were industrious albeit slightly awkward, the former very lucky to be on hand to score but in the right place to receive such luck, and as a trio, they were a pain in the arse of the Millwall defence. Trybull was as good as anyone in the holding role. Buckley on the ball was dreadful, I have always felt that people focus too much on his physicality when in fact today, he won the ball back a few times but the slowness of thought and his use of the ball was piss poor, bar one superb run that should have led to a penalty. Dack was excellent unsurprisingly playing much closer to the strikers. He will get goals from there. Back 4 were all fine, with the 2 centre backs superb, especially the massively underrated Lenihan. Subs added little, with Rothwell winning the ball back very well before typifying his Rovers career with no end product. Must say that some of the obsessive comments making out as if the third top scorer in the league is hindrance to us to be laughable. Sniping at an important player is a bizarre angle to take following a very pleasing victory. Armstrong will rightfully come in and improve this side when fit, indeed I think the set up we went with today will suit him and he would give us a real goal threat that todays 3 dont to the same degree.

Surprisingly refreshing half. Think the catalyst is having Dack further forward. Dolan has been an absolute pest although not sure there is many goals in that front 3. Would like to see Armstrong when fit instead of Gallagher. Brereton uncomfortable wide right too. Buckley has been surprisingly industrious but on the ball, nothing to do with his physicality, he has been dreadful. Constantly giving it away and so slow to make his mind up. Trybull has been very good beside him. Lenihan a rock. Rankin Costello a downgrade on Nyambe.

Hes picked a bizarre team, and needs sacking anyway. But picking a team in Armstrongs absence to go out and fail purposely is one of the most laughable conspiracies ever seen on here.

Totally bizarre team, especially if it genuinely is Dolan down the middle. Very strange choice of a midfield 2 aswell, and right back.

If there was 40 more games and Armstrong didnt play one of them, he would still finish top scorer to be fair.

Didnt you say earlier this season that we should plan without Dack and that he was unlikely to play for us again? Agree with the idea though, hes our best player with Armstrong and it makes sense to play to best suit Dack, we lack a goal threat from midfield and Dack will get in and around Armstrong, but he needs regular time in his best position in the absence of anyone else stepping up. If we are building though, surely Travis plays.

I think it again shows you how age can dictate standards, ive seen numerous younger fans on twitter acting as if losing Williams is painful to them!

We shouldnt be basing our system on statistical quirks regarding how a mid table side has fared against different formations. I bet we havent done particularly well against back 3s either. We have to play consistently to our own shape and identity, something which Mowbray does not do. Many of our available central midfielders are defensive, Evans, Trybull, Travis and Johnson. On numerous occasions, we have (as we would this weekend if we chose a midfield 3) tried to play one of those further forward where they arent suited. We also know that our best player is Dack who will not get fit playing cameos out of position. Get him behind the striker, Armstrong has been so isolated with the current formation and Rothwell always flatters to deceive. Then in turn have 2 of the other midfielders (Travis and Johnson for me) a little deeper, both of whom can individually push forward from time to time themselves.

I disagree in that I think it is fair to critique the potential likelihood and indeed suitability of names mentioned. In regards to managers mentioned, most of them I feel are not very good options, I was a fan of the idea of Nigel Pearson before he unfortunately went elsewhere. Managers like Wagner and Cowley would also have some merit to them albeit they dont overly convince me, but I would consider them an upgrade.

I just dont see the purpose of bringing in a manager with a very limited track record, on a short term deal that he would be unlikely to accept. As I have repeatedly said, that is a strawman argument because I dont profess to know potential managers across Europe, but they are out there as numerous teams near the top of the division have proved. The pick of the experienced managers have gone to clubs in our division already.

Even if Keane was deemed to be the best man for the job, which would be crazy. Why after a break from the game would he take a contract for 13 games? Obviously it is all hypothetical as we know that Mowbray isnt going anywhere, but we are not in a position whereby we want someone until the end of the season, as and when we change manager, it should be to appoint someone for the foreseeable future, not as a firefighter. Not that Keane has history of firefighting anyway. The likelihood of us going down is very small in reality, so a manager could use the remaining games to plan on how they will set up going forward.

Should he? Would he be on 19 goals if he did? I think one of Brereton's biggest weaknesses is an inability to anticipate where the ball will fall, rarely getting between the posts, the amount of times a ball has been squared by Armstrong and there is no one in the space is infuriating.

Will this be a daily occurrence now until the end of the season?

Should be 100% now, a draw and loss after it was 80% sure?

Will current season ticket holders be rewarded with priority if next season starts with supporters allowed in under a reduced capacity? Who is primarily responsible for sacking a manager? if it is Waggott, based on his previous relationship, would he consider it a conflict of interests? Will season ticket prices be roughly back at the levels prior to this season?

Despised? I have never got that impression at all. Terrible manager though. Underwhelmed here and at Wolves, disastrous at Stoke and then at Ipswich. A master of spin though, timed the announcement of his exit here to go out a hero and even at Ipswich, publicity stunts such as paying away travel etc which meant that they didnt seem to appreciate how bad he was doing until the last year. It did feel like a rare glimmer of a sensible appointment on the face of things, following on from a manager who had stabilised the club but failed to push things on. He also started well but things soon dipped and the rest of the season was nothing to write home about.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19130769.injury-concern-rovers-top-scorer-adam-armstrong/ Armstrong carrying an injury.