And Bell is just as bad. Turns his back on crosses, cowardly, and often looks lost dawdling on the ball rather than driving forward. Useless and needs replacing as much as anyone else.

He wasnt at his best, but what about that brilliant turn that was followed by a slide rule pass which Gallagher should have done far better with in the second half? To be honest, Graham, Dack, Gallagher and Brereton are all central players, none of whom can play wide. Dack and Graham, especially Dack are the ones who you would want any chances to fall to, of that there is no doubt, with Dacks goal record it is incredibly difficult to justify taking him off when we need a goal. We could do with an alternative formation perhaps that could allow 3 of them to play central when we need a goal, but ultimately the main alternatives (diamond in midfield or wing backs) are totally unsuitable because none of our full backs can cross a ball. I don't think Mowbray could have got his tactics any more wrong yesterday to try and force a late goal. Taking off 2 wide men who were starting to influence the game, and that nonsense with Dack central and Graham and Gallagher either side. We had our 2 main headerers of a ball out wide, and absolutely no actual width anyway. Sadly with his comments about not having strikers down the middle that he made in pre-season, I suspect that we could see repeat perfomances of that system that provided absolutely no sign of a fightback or creating a chance whatsoever.

The first goal summed up the 2 full backs and exactly what is wrong with the pair of them. Bennett if I recall was at least partially responsible for an attack breaking down deep in the Charlton half, fair enough. Charlton countered but he charged right across the pitch to the point where when Williams crossed the ball in, he was not there in time but he was essentially a second left back. Their left wing back meanwhile drifted in unmarked from the opposite side and had a simple finish to put them 1 up. It summed Bennett up to a tee, horrendous positionally, and often feels the need to be rash and desperate to retrieve the ball rather than allow the defenders already on that side to try and deal with preventing the cross and if not, he should have been back into position anyway to deal with the danger comfortably. Bell also summed himself up in the same move, he was responsible for trying to prevent the cross and typically he turned his back on it. Its a bit of a myth too that hes good going forward, hes so lackadaisical and him dawdling on the ball is such a regular occurance. I genuinely dont think theres a worse pair of full backs in the league than those 2.

Sorting the full back positions has to be number one priority this week. We do need a centre back and another keeper, but we cannot have them 2 jokers at full back for a game longer.

There was plenty of support and noise at the ground, this is an internet messageboard, if you expect such a drab performance and poor result mainly due to the same repeated mistakes is going to be greeted positively on an internet messageboard then you really are deluded.

Utterly depressing and sadly inevitable way to start a new season. Charlton are shite, playing essentially 5 at the back and only Taylor and maybe Williams who could be considered attacking players. The full backs are as bad as any in the division, make no mistake. Bell looks repeatedly lost as to what hes supposed to be doing on a football pitch. Messed up a 2 yard pass at one point. Bennett is teachers pet but his performance was summed up by slipping them in on goal near the end. Both cannot continue to play if we want top half, never mind bloody top 6. Neither are Championship players. We know Mulgrew is finished, its not a surprise. Lenihan loves a pass into touch still, and Walton doesnt inspire much confidence but made a good save at the end. The defence is a repeatedly neglected shit show, we need a left back, centre back and right back in this week, plus a keeper. It needs overhauling. It hasnt been. If Mowbray wont do it then someone else should come in and do it. Gallagher didnt impress me either, ran in behind a couple of times but didnt really achieve anything with it, mind you when we needed an equaliser he was practically stood in the Riverside. More square pegs in round holes. Dack was quiet again, although his turn and then through ball which Gallagher couldnt do anything with was a delight, looked frustrated. Armstrong wasnt great either, always feel hes better right than left. Travis wasnt at his best either. Johnson was by far our best player barring once when he surrendered the ball in a stupid position. Played some lovely passes, a few great turns and added some bite. Downing was poor on the right first half, our whole right side was non-existent, when he moved onto his natural left he was much better and I thought it was a strange decision to sub him. How Rothwell and Nyambe didnt start I have no idea, and the Brereton farce continues to baffle.

I meant Mears, but hold my hands up that my slip of the tongue does make me look rather stupid. I obviously saw him in person when he was excellent at Ewood, and of course in the return fixture and whenever they were on tv but it is pretty common knowledge that he is a very good Championship defender so I was just surprised you hadnt heard of him, more than knowing him inside out. My point of contention was more that theres no evidence that Pep neecessarily wants him around, big teams loan players out with very few coming back, most are sold on. I stand by my comments about Tosin playing right back for half a season as first choice due to squad imbalance and chronic lack of alternatives. I have also said that although West Brom fans did not seem impressed, and I wasnt particularly especially at Ewood when he was taken off, I hope this is due to being forced to play out of position.

Not sure how much of the Championship you watch based on your ignorance of Webster at Bristol City? But I think the main reason that Adarabioyo had monopolised that right back slot in the first half of the season was a lack of alternatives in the West Brom squad with an imbalanced post relegation squad. The only alternative really was an ageing and crap Tyrone Mings until January when West Brom signed Mason Holgate (again a CB but very comfortable at right back) who played in that role for the rest of the season at Adarabioyos expense. You keep saying about Pep but as Jim touched on, hes been loaned out for the second season, has played a few Champions League dead rubbers (think he featured in weak teams) and ultimately there is no definitive sign that he isnt one of the many big club loanees who seldom play for their parent club. By your argument, you could say that Mourinho and Conte must really have rated Todd Kane to keep him around and just keep loaning him. My main hope is that a large proportion of his troubles were due to being out of position and would like to see him ASAP. I also think its critical that we sign further defensive reinforcements.

I hope hes not given the chance to play again, any chance of some sort of revitalisation seems incredibly pie in the sky. That being said, it goes without saying that I hope every Rovers player does well and il be there on Saturday and thereafter hoping as such.

Im sure everyone will be behind him and the team in the ground, hoping we win as always. Airing a players incapability on an internet messageboard doesnt mean people wont support him. He didnt have a "bit of a whack in form" he was crap all season.

The stats show that we picked up far less points and conceded far more goals with Mulgrew playing last season. Does anyone have the stats at hand, there was a table last season that showed it? Also, he scored 10 goals but many were penalties and the goals often didnt lead to points. Bringing in a quality midfielder might make us better overall and indeed might help the defence but it wont change the fact that Mulgrew made us statistically defensively worse when playing than when not. Its a shame because for his first 2 years he did well but sadly hes past it, it wasnt just a bad month or two it was a bad season and we need far better in defence than him.

The 2 situations are totally different. As you say, Graham is our player of the season so deserves to start the season. Defensively, new signings should be able to and need to just walk in because our current defence has proven itself as unfit for purpose.

Cardiff have a squad packed with proven Championship quality, especially in defence, but also with plenty of attacking quality (Bobby Reid, Hoilett, Murphy, Mendez-Laing and now Whyte and a new striker from Germany) and most importantly, a proven manager at this level. Hard to look past them for me.

Adarabioyo is capable of playing anywhere across the backline, but Mowbray's only aim is to play the 21-year-old in his natural position - at the heart of defence. “He played in both full back positions at West Brom as well as at centre half," the boss added. "I spoke to Darren Moore at length about Tosin and he said that his versatiliy was a real strength. “Darren couldn’t speak highly enough of the kid and said that he felt Tosin grew into the season with them. “Do I envisage playing him at right back? Not really. I think maybe in emergency cases, if we have injuries, he might, but we’ll look to have him as a centre half." https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2019/july/added-championship-knowledge-makes-us-stronger/ Happy to see Mowbray say that.

You've literally twisted my words into a sentence with a totally different meaning. I'm saying that I can have an opinion on a player based on seeing him for other clubs and what their fans thought of them. Conversely, does that mean I cannot be happy about the Bradley Johnson signing? I will still judge the player on his performances in a Rovers shirt, if I was so indifferent to players past history then I wouldn't bother the a transfer thread. There could be reasons for players over or under performing at previous clubs, playing in the wrong position, style of play, team mates, in Johnsons case some Derby fans felt his high price tag wore heavy on him. Brereton has yet to come close to justifying blowing such a large proportion of our budget last season, and was IMO justifiably heavily criticised. What was the reaction in the stadium when he scored v Bolton? Universal relief and happiness for him.

You could say that about anything, that any criticism of a potential signing is irrelevant because a professional manager does rate him. May I again ask why you frequent the transfer thread of a forum if that is your ignorant stance on the matter and peoples opinions? I have never confessed to thinking I have the knowledge of a professional manager. The common feedback I have found (not just one singular bloke on twitter) has been that he was poor at West Brom. I am clinging mainly on to the hope that it was caused by being out of position. I am "negative" because in my opinion based on the admittedly limited times I have seen him before, combined with the opinions of those who have seen him more regularly at West Brom suggest hes far from the answer (but as of yet the only addition) to a dreadful defence last season. What would I get out a player not proving to be a successful signing, or in fact anything happening that isnt positive to the club, considering I spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds a year and hours and hours of time supporting the club? Researching a players previous career and letting him play before making your mind up in a Rovers shirt dont have to be mutually exclusive.

No one has suggested that they wont judge him in a Rovers shirt, but as with any signing, people want to know what sort of player we are getting and how hes done and been received at previous clubs. Makes sense to me.

You are totally twisting my words, I never said they are more important but these fans have seen him week in week out, and I have seen him myself a few times, 2 important things to base my post on. If you dont value the opinions of other supporters, and are being so incredibly rude and patronising about them, why do you come on here in the first place? The whole managers know more than your strawman argument essentially invalidates any need or purpose for supporters having opinions of their owns and sharing them on a messageboard. Ive never, and no one has ever claimed that they have a fraction of the knowledge of Guardiola.

You can be as childish as you want with your replies, or go down the route of seemingly suggesting its in anyones best interests for him to fail, which makes no sense. Johnson is the main signing we have made that impressed me. He was really poor at Ewood and got hauled off. When I saw him, he was rather ungainly and clumsy, and neither as elegant as youd expect coming through at City nor as imposing aerially as his height would have you hoping. Of course, I didnt see him week in week out, hence me checking what those who did at West Brom thought of him. In the main, West Brom fans seem very much of the opinion that hes not very good. Look at the replies to these: I actually tried to suggest that hopefully thats just a positional thing. May I ask, if people like me and my opinions are so insignificant compared to actual managers, why do you come on an internet forum?

Walton Nyambe Lenihan Adarabaiyo Bell Travis Johnson Armstrong Dack Rothwell Graham Subs: Leutweiler Mulgrew Gallagher Brereton Downing Buckley Evans A game we really should be winning.

Not overly excited about the Adarabayiyo deal. Nearly every comment ive read from West Brom fans back up what I saw both against us and when they were on TV last season, he looked like bambi on ice. My main hope is that was just being out of position, as he has some attributes. Mowbray loves an out of position player but he referenced him as a centre back so I hope he only plays him there. Definitely needs to be the first of 2 or 3. Concerning that hes not ready to slot right in because a defence of Bennett, Lenihan, Mulgrew and Bell/Downing is the defence we all dreaded.

Youd lose decent money then.

Preston have Nugent and Bauer, Wednesday have 3 as do WBA, those figures are wrong. That being said, the recent uproar has been not about the timing of the deals, but on the back of Mowbray himself saying that he wants one centre back (presumably Adarabioyo) in because any more could cause problems with *insert list of defenders who Mowbray rightfully said have shown they cant do it.*

Mulgrew is finished. Across the whole of last season, he had a considerable negative effect on both points accumulated and goals conceded when he played. Theres no way that Bauer is a worse defender than him. If he was, its beyond me why we even ever looked at him.

As a pairing, in terms of Mulgrew being part of that pairing. I do think Lenihan is overrated somewhat, by far our best defender but he can be incredibly rash. Theres definitely a defender to polish there, and im definitely happy to see him in our team. Mulgrew is well past it though, the stats over the whole of last season show how we perform with him in the team. Even if he played 46 games injury free, that isnt the main problem necessarily.