Just because they prefer it doesnt mean it is the most efficient way or above criticism. The manager and assistant manager shouldnt be spending half of an international week in India unnecessarily IMO.

Cant train this week lads, have it off, me and the coaching staff are going to India because theyve not heard of Skype!

Miracles? Promotion from a terrible league, then last day survival and relegation before the shit storm of this summer. He was of course under restrictions but surely miracles would have entailed survival in the spite of all that. As it was, he failed but understandably so. I think Bolton fans wanted him gone mid way through last season, obviously that was before things really unravelled. Daniel Stendel fresh from a promotion in the same league last season is an obvious one. If he wouldnt be interested, which would surprise me, people like Ainsworth, or even Adkins/Rowett/Neil Harris, I do wonder if one of those would take it. They could have done worse ie an emotionally driven appointment like Kevin Phillips who was mooted.

Sunderland seemingly going for the cheap route, can only presume many other choices have rejected them. Cant see Sunderland fans being overly happy with that appointment.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50055214 "I was stunned to be offered the job as I had started the recruitment myself," Bowen told BBC Radio Berkshire. Main point is, whether he has snaked behind peoples back or manufactured this if himself, that based solely on his lack of credentials, he is incredibly fortunate to get a Championship job and I, as the supporter of a Championship club saw my club appoint him, then I would be equally dismayed. As I said though, its good for us hopefully as its another fellow club potentially struggling which helps us.

My point was that his quotes are worthless as he is always going to defend himself. Gomes did well at the end of last season, but I think its more the combination of a total novice managerially getting the job of a Championship club, plus the fact that he got it on the back of himself leading the hunt for a new manager having been at the club himself for not long that has caused outrage. I think you are more open minded as you seemingly have a soft spot for the individual.

No I havent but it does surprise me that he didnt come out and state that his intention was to get the managers job all along, that he has justified the supporters portrayal of him as a snake and that he only cares about himself, not the club!

Everytime Waggott comes up with deals, there are always strings attached. You have to pay an 1875 membership (is that £15), cheaper deals if you bring a friend, cheaper tickets if you commit to attending in advance. The product at the moment isnt all that great and Waggott has people who seemingly arent that arsed about goimg needing to jump through hoops to go, which most simply wont do, hence the repeated failure to hit sales targets. Even this 3 game deal isnt brilliant value, its just an attempt to make it seem like that by showing the saving compared to 3 individual tickets, but when one of them tickets is extortionately priced as a petty retaliation by Waggott then it doesnt mean much to be cheaper than that. Just a simple stand alone game, no strings attached promotion would be far better IMO. Think @Mattyblue mentioned this.

Many a competent coach has turned into a dreadful manager, not least our very own Steve Kean. Mark Hughes' time here was over 10 years ago, and his work since is at best mixed. Throw into the mix the uncertainty regarding his appointment, ie a novice in management terms getting a job not that long after becoming sporting director, and after being tasked with finding a new manager, the best he can find is himself, its no wonder the reaction to his appointment has been as negative as it gets for a new manager. He wont get any time or patience because of the scenario around his appointment. I can only see spectacular failure, that said, the more teams dysfunctioning around us, the better! I dont personally have an opinion on Mark Bowen, just as if Mark Venus was to get a job as a manager one day I would be equally indifferent. You seem to have some sort of positive opinion on someone who I wouldnt have noticed if he never got a job again personally which is fair enough. Im just trying to take a step back and look at the situation objectively and it doesnt look good and Reading fans are raging.

How are you so sure that Bowen "knows his stuff" and is an "excellent coach?"

The ticket prices for Sheffield Wednesday are an absolute disgrace, immensely petty by Waggott.

England have done well against a terrible Bulgaria side and amidst a horrible backdrop. Winks makes a massive difference, whereas Rice, a bog standard ball winner often hides, Winks is always available and keeping things ticking over.

No hence the word "seemingly" but it all seems a little fishy. Theres no way that Bowen has earnt that job on merit, even in the short term, and I can understand the wholly negative reaction from the Reading fans. Apparently he only recently joined Reading, was partially responsible for appointing a new manager, and happened to get it himself. I am glad because in case we get dragged into any danger, I think Reading have one of the 3 relegation places sewn up.

I really cant get my head around Alexander Arnolds continued exclusion. He talks about players in form, I dont think theres been a better right back in world football compared to him since the start of last season, yet he doesnt start.

Bowen has no managerial experience, hes come in and seemingly stabbed a manager in the back to get the job himself. How would you have reacted had Mowbray been sacked and Mark Bowen appointed here? Even without the way he seems to have got the job. Doubt youd be happy so why are you implying that Reading fans are expecting too much.

Very strange appointment. No experience of being a manager at all. Common consensus seems to be that Bowen has stabbed Gomes in the back. Appointed sporting director a few weeks ago, integral in the process of sacking Gomes, and a key part of "naming" his replacement. Would fancy Reading for one of the relegation spots now personally. The fans arent going to give a chance to a rookie who they deemed to have been underhand in getting appointed as manager. All replies underneath suggest that they consider him to be a snake.

Think Nyambe is the better choice at RB.

A game we very much need to and should be winning, irrespective of signs of life following the appointment of Cowley. Walton Nyambe Adarabioyo Williams Downing Travis Johnson Holtby Dack Rothwell Armstrong Subs: Leutwiler, Bennett, Hart, Chapman, Graham, Evans, Gallagher Big 2 conundrums are left back and up front id suggest. Bell cannot play, Downing is a slightly risky choice at LB (with Nyambe a more defensive choice on the other side) but for me the least risky choice available. Armstrong I would let have a go up front to add to a couple of recent goals. Samuel I dont want near the squad either. I do expect to see Downing and Armstrong wide, Gallagher up top, Bell left back and Holtby and Rothwell kicking their heels on the bench.

I have never been overly impressed by Rashford, I dont think hes that good. But he certainly isnt on form and there would be no justification for playing him over Sancho considering how well he is doing at Dortmund, goals and assists all the time. Rice is a bog standard player for me, good to be in the squad, not one to build around. Jordan Henderson is a regular and is the captain of superb Liverpool side. He is far better than Rice, and as I said you dont need both. It was more just a comment on Mourinho, I wasnt saying he should be manager but I am not convinced that Southgate is capable of organising these defenders. Thoughts on his continued selection of the woeful Michael Keane and repeatedly going back to Delph?

Rashford, as @K-Hod touched on is so overrated. Been absolute crap for United, I've never been that impressed with him his numbers have never been particularly impressive whereas Sancho continues to impress for Dortmund and gets goals and assists. Deserved to start although had a poor game. Henderson is far better than Rice, Champions League winning captain and a constant in an unreal Liverpool side, if its on club form hes one of the first names on the team sheet. Rice is decidely average however, and you dont need him AND Henderson. The latters passing was poor yesterday but he was at least making himself available and showing some leadership and some bollocks, Rice hid all game, never making angles. Winks should play for me. Trippier was woeful all last season as he even admitted himself, I think the move to Atletico seems to be a good one for him but enough to jump him ahead of the top class Alexander-Arnold? Not in a million years. Chilwell should start ahead of Rose, another of Southgates favourites. And how Keane even makes the squad is a joke, one of Southgates favourites but absolute dog shit. Same with Delph, only missed out through injury. Would be really interesting to see how a Mourinho type would do with England for a tournament. His ability to organise and drill a team, with the players in attack always capable of nicking goals.

Why Rice, Keane, Rose and Trippier were playing, I have no idea. Everything wrong from Southgate.

I know, look at my comments in the style of play thread about Burnley. I totally endorse teams playing a style to suit their players, their resources, not playing what is fashionable or deemed attractive. But its hypocritical to approve Ainsworth doing it and criticising Hughton. Whose Brighton team got promoted banging in plenty of goals anyway. Disagree on Johnson, such a gamble. Especially this notion of custom assembling backroom staff around him with further former players or other people. A manager should pick his own assistant where possible.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11830591/burnley8217s-style-of-play-is-now-unique-among-premier-league-teams Found this to be a very good article, albeit such a shame that its our rivals getting the praise. Theres an obsession with playing it out from the back, we are the perfect example of a side who it doesnt suit, who seemingly dont understand how to do it and seem to be trying solely because its popular. We dont have the players and ultimately this season has been incredibly boring and led to few goals and few goalscoring chances. Burnley have 2 strikers, they have wide players like the talented Dwight McNeil and they consistently overachieve and have a consistent, set style. Dyche sadly is a superb manager and the sooner a bigger club realises that, Sadly amidst the snobbery in the game I cant see that happening at the moment. Clubs would rather get a more exotic choice, a Marco Silva or a Quique Sanches Flores and ultimately flatter to deceive but trick people into thinking its better to watch. He would be a superb choice for Everton.

Out of interest chaddy, Ainsworths Wycombe dont have a reputation for attractive football by any means. Why doesnt this bother you, but all you can talk about regarding Hughton is a supposed boring style? Chris Hughtons last season as a Championship manager saw his side score 74 goals anyway, and youve repeatedly defending the "style" of football Mowbrays Rovers have played, which almost every single other person finds to be boring, so suppose it is all subjective!

Absolutely disastrous news, the player I would argue if we picked someone who would cause the most damage by being injured, its him. A monumental blow that will cost us a few places in mid table IMO. I would go as far as saying that you could argue that only 2 of our players are of top 6 quality, Cunningham and Dack. Bell has had more than enough chances, hes the worst left back I have seen in a Rovers shirt, and has that fatal mix of lack of ability, and also cowardice and a half arsed demeanour. He shouldnt be considered even now. We have 3 options, all scraping the bottom of the barrel. Downing at LB, albeit we then lose him as a midfield option and of course its a risk baring in mind he has minimal experience there. Sam Hart, but he looked out of his depth last time he played for us and im not sure half a season at Southend proves anything really. And Williams with Tosin and Lenihan at CB, which means Williams plays in a position he is crap in.