roversfan99

https://mol.im/a/8494817 Linked with another central midfielder. Wouldnt take any notice mind as half the league are.

Not top priority? That would be a pathetic excuse even for them. We are a Championship football club and if we arent even worth a couple of hours for a chat online telling Mowbray how much he can spend then they really are worse than I could even imagine.

That sums Mowbray up. Flirts with a formation but doesnt stick with it and goes back. How is that condusive to overhauling the tactical mechanism of a side? I dont think in any way that we have successfully started to dominate games in a way that also leads to us getting results. I also find only changing to 433 false 9 with 9 games to go totally bizarre. If thats the plan, start the season like that! And dont sign a lanky, clumsy 5m striker! Rothwell? Does any formation and style suit a player who offers absolutely zero end product? He looked even less effective in a midfield 3. What are the parameters you set? Is it as simple as less than 60 is regression, 60 is stability/stagnation and over 60 is progression? Ultimately the season is over either way so all these last 5 games are doing is putting a positive or negative edge on it.

Also @chaddyrovers do your recent messages to journalists on twitter and the tone of them suggest that you do now agree that waiting and dithering over budgets is detrimental and illogical?

Again you are assuming that the owners are emotionally invested enough to be fascinated with every bit of detail. If you want to believe that they are then fair enough. I have never been one who gets caught up on the style of football, very much a results first mentality. Its not a case of agreeing with the theory of it. I dont think it has been executed with any consistency, with any conviction or with any logic. His signings dont all fit the philosophy, especially the most expensive one. His attempt to create a unique formation only happened with 9 games to go and didnt work. If we finish on 60 points or less, would you consider this season still one that has been productive and progressive?

I think your problem is that you are viewing the situation as if we have normal, interested and knowledgable owners. As if they are thinking, we can see a progression, we understand the change in style etc. And as if they are saying well we will be happy with a top half finish this year as part of a gradual plan. Im sure that Mowbray sets his own personal targets and he is a man who does clearly care but he wont be held accountable by anyone but the fans if he fails to achieve them. I sort of understand why he would want to have more control over games but there are so many areas in which his actions make no sense or are inconsistent and illogical with such a plan. If he has wanted to play 433 with a false 9 and wide strikers, something that we both agree is a load of bollocks. Why has it only come about after a 3 month break, 9 games before the end of the season after a solitary negative result? At least do it with some conviction if you are going to do it, not from game 38 to game 40 and then ditch it again. You add to that, why isnt his transfer recruitment geared to enabling such a transformation. Why spend all of your money on a really clumsy and technically poor striker? And then mainly play him out wide? Why sign on big wages a central midfielder as bad as I can remember at taking the ball on the half turn, comstantly giving the ball away? Adarabioyo and Downing fit the remit more but one is on loan and one is 35, the building blocks to a tactical transformation? No chance. You also mention Waggott and Mowbrays relationship. Do I think Waggott holds a lot of power? No. But does it help Mowbray having a mate as a go between to the owners? Of course. I look at this season, over with 5 or 6 games to go, probably going to finish on similar points. No real progression on tactical changes. No real progression on our squad this summer compared to last. No 7m striker from last year having a break through season as promised. How is it progression?

I dont even think that Bennett is competent as a utility back up. I think to some especially Mowbray, the fact that he has played in numerous positions fools people into thinking that he can play in numerous positions. The phrase "jack of all trades, master of none" is particularly relevant. He once was an out and out winger with pace, he then got a serious injury which I can only assume robbed him of some of that. He had a loan spell at Bristol City where I think he played at wing back, the start of the post injury Bennett and he didnt earn a permanent contract. Even as a winger in League 1 for us, he was not effective and scored/assisted rarely. The fact that hes never considered for his natural position considering our lack of options out there says alot. He had that really good game with Smallwood v Shrewsbury which the pair impressed solely due to their work rate and energy. He carried on there for a bit in League 1 but never replicated that effectiveness. Then full back became the next place that Mowbray tried to fit him in which he felt was necessary because he is the "voice of the dressing room." This position particularly highlights his inability to draw the line before energetic and tireless become rash and unnecessary. And now hes not even playing on the correct side. James Milner is versatile. His intelligence and reading of the game means that he can play in different positions and not stand out as a weakness. Bennett wherever he goes will repeatedly concede fouls and repeatedly run out of position. Hes not a Championship standard player.

You are quite clearly solely of the purpose to wind up and antagonize so I will stop there.

Youve literally just plucked a random name out of the air and now are consistently using it as a primary argument. Do you think that for a normal club in the same situation as us, that you would allow Mowbray to continue or make a change?

He wont be going anywhere, but not because of the reasons outlined by an amateur journalist echoing a false narrative that Venkys (or the Venkys) are following a linear progression and are genuinely interested in what is going on and can see what Mowbray is doing. He will stay because we of course are not doing disastrously, he has done well over the course of his time but mainly that he has his mate as CEO and is very forthcoming in flying to India when needed and putting up with their strange ways. The reason that their expectations havent changed throughout the season is because they arent invested enough emotionally in the first place. I am unsure how Mowbray thinks we are on target, his target was 70 points if I recall correctly where as now even beating last seasons 60 point tally is in the balance. I think a perfect example of a very confused and illogical attempt to progress us tactically can be perfectly shown post lockdown. I actually do see some sense in making us more possession but the way he has tried to do it is bizarre. If a false 9 and inside forwards based 4-3-3 is the way he has always seen us playing, then why would he bring it in 9 games from the end of the season and after a 3 month break. It hasnt worked and like with 3 at the back he instantly reverts back and gives up on it, until 6 months down the line when he will probably try it again. On Saturday, he reverted back to his strange comfort blanket of having Gallagher on the wing, as if thats always a safe bet. I suppose a late run of wins (or losses) could put a different slant on the season but again with numerous games to spare we have nothing to play for. The recruitment in the summer was (Waggott touched upon this in one of the fans forum things I believe) that signing Johnson, Downing etc was done to try and help out a young squad and give it some experience and know how. This was also meant to be Breretons breakthrough season! I just reflect on this season as it comes to a close and look towards next and I dont see how we have pushed on. The main thing has been Armstrongs progression but ultimately we have swapped that with Graham coming to the end. One thing I would add is that for those keen to point out Venkys and the likelihood of them appointing someone ridiculous, it is for me a bit of an avoidance of the matter at hand. "I don't have anything constructive to defend the manager, err we could get Phil Brown" isnt a defence.

I think its all about ensuring that there is a semblence of balance too. The objective has to be to see if the younger players closest to the first team are capable of not even necessarily being first team starters next year but reducing where possible the amount of surgery on the squad that I suspect is necessary but financially impossible. Rankin Costello is a perfect example. Hes often name dropped as one of the main youngsters breaking through and his natural position is where we are very weak. Theres no point playing him at left back and theres no point giving him 20 minutes at the end. Give him the last 5 games starting on that left wing. Likewise, start Chapman on the right. Theres no point giving him 10 minutes when we are 2 down and down to 10 men. I dont see any players in our squad that are competent wide, so if either or even both impress it could lessen the pressure of summer recruitment. Davenport is being dripped fed quarter of an hour cameos, what use is that? Sadly we can expect Gallagher and Johnson bumbling around ineffectively in those positions. To give these a chance though it should be within the framework of our main players around them. You cant expect to throw too many kids in together and put in a a competitive performance against an in form Championship side. People have mentioned players like Vale and Carter and theres definitely scope to have them on a 9 man bench rather than players like Samuel and Smallwood who should be about to leave, as well as Mulgrew and Bennett who we know arent up to it. But its not constructive to stick them all in at once.

No doubt Bennett will be patched up and chucked back into the side. Gallagher will continue wide right. Davenport should be given a run of starts, Rankin Costello should in his favoured position with Rothwell repeatedly wasting the chances hes had. Chapman too on the right hand side. Get Buckley involved regularly too.

Whilst of course our strikers are further hindered by being played out wide, Gallagher, Brereton and Samuel are all poor strikers regardless.

Is Armstrong good enough for a Premier League team, even for Newcastle? They do need a striker but they have Dwight Gayle who comes up short and if you put him in the Championship he gets you 20 plus goals. Armstrong for all of his wonder goals and his pace is not at this moment a prolific scorer in terms of getting tap ins and scruffy goals. Seems like a 2+2 because hes a Geordie but id be a little surprised. Likewise I am unconvinced that Sheffield United would maintain an interest in Lenihan. He wouldnt get into the team over Egan in the middle of their back 3 and he certainly is not capable of playing the overlapping outside centre back role due to his lack of ability on the ball. Definitely think that wed open to selling Armstrong, Dack, Lenihan, Travis and Nyambe not sure how many if any are capable in the Premier League. Also its obvious that it will be scraping the barrel in terms of recruitment. This could be the summer more than ever when Venkys disinterest and illogical way of working could be a real hindrance. Play off chance over and obviously safe with 5 games to go. No money. Teams releasing players in what will be a crowded market. Yet needless red tape means we are lagging behind. We have no contracted goalkeepers, then are desperately short of quality at CB, LB and out wide and im unsure if we can sign all of those.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18561970.dack-mowbrays-mind-rovers-suffer-another-injury/ Mowbrays moaning about not having Dack fit to take them chances yesterday. Understandable but also not an excuse considering that weve spent as much as we have on our forward line.

I would certainly ask questions about Mowbrays handling of him but I think its incredibly harsh to suggest that hes had the ability beaten out of him. Prior to joining the signing was very much a low risk gamble of a youngish player who had not really exerted himself as someone who had that end product even at League 1 level. After a couple of years of defensive wingers and wide strikers Rothwell broke through last year, running at players, scored a couple of screamers and I do think in hindsight it was a bit of a false dawn.

Hatred? The reason that hes come under fire is that early on his attribute ie being quick and able to run at people were excited as they arent attribues weve seem often from Rovers players in recent years. 2 years on, a record of 2 goals and 3 assists is nowhere near enough and far too often he is totally ineffective. Holtby started the game really well but totally faded I would agree and was overall quite poor.

Another example of how Mowbray has been lucky in terms of the net spend hes been allowed not having to sell anyone. Shame he has mainly wasted it.

Why do you think we are about to shake the squad up? With what money? And how can you trust the man that has left us needing so much work doing on an imbalanced squad considering the poor business done since promotion? And why do you think we are a normal club? With owners interested enough to be in regular communication and making plans regarding budgets etc. Or being logical enough to not make the manager wait to fly over to India and use a video call instead?

Another very poor performance against a far superior team in which some of the same criticisms are again evident. Should have scored early on and looked better with Holtby as a 10 and Armstrong a 9. Then they just went on to totally dominate and out class us. Gallaghers miss summed him up, a pathetic way to spend 5m and high wages. Never did I expect him to score. Rothwell achieved absolutely nothing yet again. Armstrong wonder goals are the only goal threat we have. And Walton is a dismal signing, so many mistakes. And Johnson is another really poor signing, he can barely run. Dont want to see Samuel, Graham etc from now on. Nothing can be gained. Some regular starts for Rankin Costello, Chapman, Davenport, Buckley and mayve even Thompson. Mowbray has to be let go now. As it is, he is safe, the owners dont care and the budgets to plan for next year havent been considered.

Has to go. We are stagnating, not progressing. His tactical overhaul is a very confused an ineffective one. The recruitment since promotion has been really poor and he will never be able to escape the 2 big signings. There is a good chance that we will finish on less points than last season.

Conversely, as I said prior I dont swallow this about us having minimal resources compared to most other teams and I think in your analysis you have overdone that narrative again, even though of course I agree that he certainly is not a crap manager. In 2018/19, we had the 16th highest wage budget and finished 15th, so about right if it is just to be measured on that. Of course, since we have moved upwards in the table and I suspect also in the wage table with the additions of Johnson, Holtby, Gallagher, Adarabioyo, Walton and Downing. So just on wages, we arent really over or underachieving. You also have to factor in that our wage budget unlike some isnt swollen due to the unavoidable retention of Premier League players that are of no use. You also have to factor in the net spend Mowbray has had, over 10m in 2 years and no pressure to sell any key assets, giving him a head start on many other teams. Also, he took a perilous Championship side struggling against relegation and failed to keep them up, dont forget that. But if he left tomorrow his job would have to be considered a success. The club is certainly in a better position now and the trajectory following his initial failure to keep us up, which was always an uphill task, has been an upward one. Has it been as upward as it perhaps could have been, considering what hes had and spent poorly etc, thats another debate, but to call him a crap manager is not only unfair but a little disrespectful IMO. Hes done a good job that I am grateful for, Comparisons with Bowyer are incredibly difficult. He inherited Rhodes and otherwise an absolute car crash. He also had a transfer embargo to deal with towards the end and he definitely stayed on too long and he definitely underachieved with the players available. Some similar faults too, over loyalty to poor players, imbalanced teams etc. But certainly no 5m/7m strikers that he coldl bring in.

Crap manager? I am critical of various things but thats really harsh.

I have never been to any reserve/kids games, of course the young players are important but irrelevant to the topic on Mowbray staying or going. Of course we need them to come through, am I sure that those 2 mentioned will? Not yet, no I am not. The system has been done apparently to try and get us to control games more. That desire is understandable. The way in which he is attempting to do so is massively flawed to everyone but himself and you dont need a totally revolutionised and unique formation (bizarrely started 9 games before the end of the season) to do that. Firstly, the main reason as I have said that it shouldnt have even been considered is that we have 2 top quality number 10s, and one of our main prospects behind that. You dont make a formation that excludes key players. Secondly, this false 9 bollocks is totally flawed. Certainly, his collection of (all but 1) useless strikers are bad enough in their natural position, stick them out wide and they are 10x worse. To be fair, you did say that Bell was on 5k so on that point regarding signing what you guessed to be a cheaper player up for another year, surely it is a little hypocritical to then dismiss Johnson's wages as an unknown? Likewise suggesting that Adarabioyo was signed "to play" but that we were correct to imply to Bauer that he would have a fight on his hands to get into the team?

- The academy players obviously are important but their existence doesnt strengthen Mowbrays position. These players and the academy would still be here if Mowbray moved on. Since Travis only Buckley and Rankin Costello have been given first team minutes but not with any conviction. Is making best use out of our academy important? Of course. Does it have any relevance to whether Mowbray should stay or go? Not really. - Gallagher and Brereton are more than "dissappointing" they have massively stunted the potential of this team being a lot further down the line. Once more, Mowbray now seems infactuated with a 433 formation which involves no strikers, playing attacking midfielders as false 9's and strikers as wingers. - Who is going to take on Mulgrews wages, especially in a pandemic driven economic climate? He shouldnt have been given such a long contract. Bennett is not good enough even to be a "squad player" his experience doesnt come into any use when he still constantly gives away foul after foul and he is not a competent option in any position. Again sitting on another year contract. We have no wingers and hes not even considered there. Right back? A liability. Central midfield? Cant pass. Left back? Dont make me laugh. And Johnson is practically immobile, a really poor signing and a high earning one at that. No matter who our manager is, our transfer activity would always be hindered at times like these when weve got these players taking up high wages but not up to it on the pitch.