Dont get how a side with supposed top 6 aspirations offering again zero going forward in a home game can be seen as doing well. That said, defensively much much better.

You said that Gallagher is a player suited to a technical game. Whilst I totally disagree, why do we now have to play direct with him in the team? And why is Chapman at a stage where he has to prove himself for the reserves to even warrant a place on the bench when our current attacking players are not performing? Even so, hes got a goal and an assist this week for them. You have been very vocal on our need to play more entertaining football. Do you think what we have seen in the first 5 games fits this criteria, baring in mind we have 3 goals (a penalty, an own goal and one from a free kick that only counted because the ref failed to blow up for Armstrong impeding the goalkeeper whilst offside) and a lack of clear cut chances and shots on target represents progress in this area? We regularly dominate possession now, as we saw today that comprimised of slow, lethargic passing across the back line followed by an aimless hoof right into Cardiffs hands. You mention Rothwell, after a superb end to last season hes ended up right back where he started, whereas Gallagher cannot perform out wide, rarely won headers and offered no threat.

Yep, suspect that Jones will be at the job centre this week, Hughton would be ideal. Bielsa's Leeds I suspect will go one better than last season and get top 2.

A horrible, horrible performance to have to endure, and another toothless display going forward. Cardiff were more dangerous but ultimately it was a load of shite all round. Firstly the positive, a third clean sheet is undoubtedly a massive improvement. Lenihan was the stand out centre back for me, Williams fine bar one mistake that led to Ralls (I think?) hitting the post in the second half. Bennett was fine again, three in a row. Bell is a joke, summing himself up when the ball was cleared to him from a corner, he had no idea what to do and ultimately did absolutely nothing and they countered. Nowhere near up to it, Cunningham back is a massive relief. Has to be massive question marks aimed towards the manager and his tactics, he seems happy post match but I've no idea why, bar obviously the improved defence. Today, it was obvious that if we went direct, Flint and Morrison would eat everything for breakfast, yet he left Armstrong and Rothwell on the bench, and we had no pace, Downing had a shocker and Gallagher again plodded up and down the line offering bugger all going forward. He spoke at length all pre season about practising ways of playing in terms of attacking, we have appeared blunt in attack all season, 3 goals in 5 games (a fluky own goal from a corner, a penalty and a header from a set piece that shouldnt have been given) is nowhere near acceptable. We repeatedly dominate the possession statistics but its just laboured passing at the back for the sake of it, that ultimately usually ends in a lump forward anyway, its been even worse to watch than last season. We arent creating good chances, we rarely if ever look like scoring. The Gallagher wide experiment surely has to end now, he can quite obviously not play that position, its another game that he has failed to score in, or indeed come close to scoring. We had 2 pacy players out wide at the end of the season, getting fans off their seats and ultimately providing goals and assists. How is Gallagher above them in the pecking order for a place? Or even Chapman.

I've yet to see any of these strengths but fingers crossed.

Don't get why people are suggesting different solutions that involving breaking up aspects of the team that are working. Williams and Lenihan have done well at CB, yes I appreciate we are short at left back, that Cardiff are a big side, but we shouldnt break up them 2 within a back 4 unless their form dips or one gets injured. Downing was superb on the left on Tuesday, theres no need to move him either. Also, dont understand this desperation to not upset Man City by ensuring we get Tosin back into the team ASAP, whether it be by formation changes, moving Williams out to left back or even randomly bringing in him on in midfield. If Williams and Lenihan continued their form up until January, no one, whether it be the player or Man City could expect us to change it, if that meant incurring financial penalties, then so be it if it means continuing with a winning formula, and if it meant they recalled him, fine we will get someone else. As it is, I'd be amazed if firstly their form maintained right throughout and we continued plucking out clean sheets, and also both have history of injuries, so Tosin will get another chance, especially with us so light in that position with only 3 players.

Agreed that its a different option. Sticking a tall striker wide gives us a further option for a longer ball since we have become a bit more pragmatic and gone direct, as he tends to have the height advantage on full backs and he does put in the graft going back. Dont think he at all fits the technical type of striker you mention, not where his strengths lie. Ive no idea but its still a worrying stat. As I said, I personally disagree. I think he should be played central if at all, and Graham is still miles in front at the moment. Gallagher a clear front runner as first choice back up to him though

Ultimately our 7m striker doesnt get into our matchday squad on merit, think thats fair to say.

Why do you have such a desire for him to stay? Surely its better for more of our rivals to be struggling. Found his team selection baffling yesterday. His stubbornness with a midfield diamond that clearly isnt working. Continued attempts to turn McLean into a left back and Ince into a number 10. And the likes of Mark Duffy, Sam Vokes, Stephen Ward, Tommy Smith and Peter Etebo all not playing. Ultimately he did a great job at Luton but 2 wins in 22 is not good enough to expect to keep your job.

Main decisions are clear, left back, up front and right hand side. I would have said bring Tosin in at CB and push Williams to LB but on the back of 2 clean sheets its impossible to justify splitting up a CB partnership that has shown promise. So its between Bell and Hart, both significant and worrying downgrades, I'd go for Hart. Gallagher doesnt deserve to start for all of his effort based on his lack of goal threat and incapability to play wide, and Armstrong has not done much to demand a shirt. Graham is a given up top for me, easy decision. Would go Rothwell right. Gallagher, Armstrong and Chapman as subs.

Agreed, Gallagher has got a lot of plaudits for his willingness and effort but its 4 games, 0 goals and hes not looking like scoring. Theres no point playing him wide when we have Rothwell, Chapman and Armstrong all far more adept there. We need our 14m strikers to step up to the plate this season, the moneys been spent and we need to become far more threatening in the final third. We are totally reliant on Dack and Graham because the rest have yet to show they can be relied upon. And @chaddyrovers whilst the final ball definitely needs working on it is always a concern when a striker is not really getting into goalscoring positions, and when a striker hasnt scored for 21 games. I dont doubt his work rate but we havent or shouldnt have signed a 5m striker for his ability to run back as a wide man. He shouldnt be played out wide, he IMO didnt look totally comfortable there or offer an attacking threat in either game, he needs to step up and start offering an attacking threat and a goal threat. He definitely has more to work with than Brereton in terms of his power and his aerial threat but we need to get some goals back on our huge investment in that area. Armstrong needs to step up too.

Gallaghers main attribute so far bar undoubted work rate has been his ability to beat primarily full backs to longer direct balls and flick them on, either way he needs to start scoring. Hes not offered a goal threat so far. Very poor decision yesterday to head the ball back across. I dont understand this myth that Gallagher would be right at home playing technical passing football. We need far more from our expensive strikers. Brereton has consistently been out of his depth. Gallagher has offered an outlet but simply must not be used wide, he should be Grahams main competition. Armstrong in a Rovers shirt has undoubtedly been the most effective of the 3 but was poor last night and too often looks half arsed. He needs to improve on his numbers this season. Between the 3 of them we need plenty of goals because whilst the puzzle is coming together we still lack a goal threat so far.

That wasnt a result of Graham playing away from home, more an example of how he isnt suited to being an impact sub. He has to start to make an impact. I dont recall 2 clear chances against Charlton for Gallagher? And I have personally not seen any evidence that he will become a "top top player" for us and wasnt surprised to see that hes gone 21 games without a goal. He doesnt look at home on that right hand side either. A big question mark at the moment for me is getting a return from these 14m worth of forwards that Mowbray has signed. A lot of the rest of the puzzle seems to be coming together but for that sort of output we need a cutting edge and some goals from those 3 very soon. Armstrong I felt was quite ineffective as a central striker, repeatedly being caught offside and when he was played in, let down by a heavy touch. I certainly wouldnt doubt that Johnson was a very good signing and a massive improvement on our central midfield. Has plenty of qualities that we lacked But giving the ball away isnt "because hes trying to pass forward" he seems to struggle picking the ball up on the half turn when we play it out from the back and it has happened at least once in each of the 4 games this season. He is somewhat cumbersome and clumsy taking the ball on the half turn and at times lacks awareness as to whats over his shoulder.

Really. Commented on his work rate but looks a fish out of water out wide as an attacker. Offered no goal threat so far. Out of our 6 signings, the one ive been least impressed by.

An imperfect but very impressive win. Walton with a couple of excellent catches and a superb penalty save, otherwise well protected. Defence was superb, difficult to seperate the central 2, both excellent. Cunningham again terrific, looking an outstanding addition although very lucky in injury time, switching off to allow their RB to blaze over before a clumsy challenge that somehow wasnt a penalty. Bennett beaten once or twice but still think he was much improved on normally and im usually a big critic. Johnson a massive asset and at times a liability in equal measures. Stupid challenge for the penalty and repeatedly guilty of being a huge issue with any attempt to play the ball out. That said, a monster who offers a threat going forward. Travis brilliant, composed and tenacious with one particularly superb tackle. Though Dack showed some superb touches and turns to knit things together and technically superb but needs a goal perhaps, Rothwell impressed when he came on and Downing was brilliant, great game management and his decision making and quality from open play and set pieces was great to see. Lovely bit of pace at one point too. Armstrong and in particular Gallagher very poor. Gallagher without a goal in 21 now and cannot play wide, thought for all his effort he was ineffective there on Saturday but far worse today. We lack a cutting edge and the worry is with a team around it starting to seemingly piece together, we need our 15m worth of forwards to give us an extra dimension. Very lucky in terms of the ref too. Our goal shouldnt have stood and they should have had a stone wall penalty at the end but we will take it all day. Hull bottom half fodder reliant on the wide 2 to keep safe an otherwise really poor side.

We dont have the quality to play from the back. Causing us problems, Johnson repeatedly caught. Going forward, think Dack and Downing look good, and further back I have been impressed with Lenihan. Good save from a poor penalty by Walton. Armstrong non existent, poor again in that position, and Gallagher has been the worst player on the pitch by a distance. No goals in 20 and you can see why.

Agreed that Gallagher needs to start scoring. Hasnt really looked like coming close so far.

Graham proved a few times last season that he CAN play the vast majority of minutes in a 3 game week.

Dont agree with Graham being dropped. Hopefully its Downing left, Armstrong right and Gallagher up front.

Nothing that he said suggests that he doesnt want him to succeed. It seems ultimately his thoughts eminate from a belief that he is not the most suitable person to bring success to the club. That doesnt mean that his primary objective is Mowbray failing, it means his primary objective is Rovers succeeding.

They were 4th, but closer to 8th than 2nd and struggling for form and consistency, especially at home. I remember being shocked when he was sacked and thinking it was harsh so looked into it and found that West Brom fans were actually surprisingly understanding of the decision compared to the media who perhaps are speaking from a far less knowledgable perspective. Certainly far better off with Bilic now. Interesting article below regarding the up turn after sacking him. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/west-brom-sacking-darren-moore-mistake-championship-play-off-promotion-premier-league

Hull are no great shakes aside from their obvious 2 threats out wide. Their signings in the main this summer have been very uninspiring. Obviously wont be easy but we should be going there targetting back to back wins if we do genuinely have ambitions of challenging at the higher end of the division Dont see why we would drop our most effective striker either.

I find this snobbery towards being slightly more direct, reading Mowbrays post match comments especially, very strange. I was entertained today and as always the win is key. At times we went to Graham and played off, but there were good bits of interplay between the lines between the midfielders especially. We were defensively solid, good performances throughout the pitch, always seemingly in control, and offered far more threat than we did "attempting" to play out from the back in the first 2 limp performances. Bar a couple of awful Bennett passes, the whole defence was terrific today. Cunningham is so much better than the inept Bell, technically very good but also far more defensively solid. The middle pair were colossal, especially Lenihan for me, and Bennett himself was far better than normal in that role, very solid defensively. Johnson and Travis were terrific in midfield, worked really well together, good on the ball and horrible to play against. Downing improved us technically, his effort in the second half if it was a shot was unlucky. Also gives us good set piece deliveries in the main even though there was the odd poor ball too. Gallagher gave absolutely everything but I thought (as to be expected) he looked rather clumsy in a wide role and it is clearly unnatural to him, but cant fault his effort. Graham is the absolute master at what he does, Mowbray has spent so much on strikers and seems desperate to move away from Graham but he puts in great performances every time he starts, he cannot be dropped. Dack worked his socks off and threatened on occasion, the pair are excellent together. Rothwell was also impressive when he came on although perhaps should have scored. Walton made a massive error in that second half which could have really cost us, and Buckley looks quite a bit off, physically a liability, one attempted tackle in particular showed this.

Is that the actual team, as I know youve named teams before even for behind closed doors friendlies, or just your opinion. Gallagher wide over Rothwell, Chapman and Armstrong would be an outrage.

Walton Nyambe Lenihan Williams Cunningham Travis Johnson Rothwell Dack Downing Graham Subs: Leutweiler, Bennett, Evans, Chapman, Armstrong, Gallagher, Hart