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Tony Mowbray Rumour


RoversBoy said:
Another Rovers fan in peace.

Just thought id give a more balanced opinion on Mowbray as the last poster did not manage that in my opinion. I do know that many share the same opinions with him as after 5 years with any manager, certain things begin to grate.

First up, TM is a likeable guy. Open and honest and a proper football man. Comes across as a bit dour on occasion, but I would not class him as a dinosaur just yet. He is more like a dad trying to keep up with the latest trends. He tries to do things the modern way, put it that way. He likes to play attractive football, although his style seems to change every season. We have switched between 3 at the back, 2 at the back, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 and experimented with false 9s (unsuccessfully).

People need to realise the good he did for us. He was brought in to save us from relegation after the shit show that was Owen Coyle. On any other season, he would have done that. We went down on a record-high number of points and on goal difference.

You guys will know that not coming straight back up at the first attempt could leave you scraping around in L1 for a few years. Fortunately, he was backed very well and did not have to sell any of his Championship players from the year before. He was able to buy the best player in the division (Dack) and brought in some solid loans (Adam Armstrong the best of those). Though it was not straightforward, we did manage to get back up at the first time of asking after he guided us to 2nd place.

He then did what I think is his best trait. Stabilising us and establishing us as a mid-table Championship club. The problem is, that is about as far he can take a club in my opinion. He is a solid option, a nice guy, but has limitations. He never seems to have a plan b and this has to be why he is famed for his post-xmas form (not just at us but at other clubs). He walked out on his previous club (Coventry in L1) after a similar run of ten games without a win. So when we brought him in, we were not what you would call enamoured.

Every season is the same, we would do well the first half of the season but then drop like a stone the second half. It is like clubs figure him out and he cannot buy a win anymore. Last season was the worst. 2nd in January and probably a sure bet with most to at least make the playoffs - he decided not to strengthen in January (he admitted money was there to do so) and we went on a horrendous run that saw us drop down to 8th by the end of the season.

As for his football, like i said, it depends on what mood he is in for each season. We used the counter-attacking style quite effectively before he then decided to change things up and try to out-possession teams. Possession for possession's sake and it didn't work. 60-70% possession each game but couldn't unlock teams. Last season he went back to a more counter attacking approach which served us well in the first half of the season.

We call him the tinkerman as he is always trying something different. We have had strikers playing at RB, a 6-foot-4 striker on the wing and midfielders playing a false 9. It is baffling and irritating at the same time. He will also start to bore you after a while. He loves talking about football and 'Journeys' and how he used to head a ball in his garden as a kid.

A positive with TM is that he can spot a good player. I would say that most of his signings have been good/decent. The loans he has managed to bring in have also worked out well for us. Harvey Elliott, JPVH, Tosin, Armstrong in league 1 before we signed him permanently. He has good relationships with clubs like Liverpool and Man City who have given us quality loans over the years. The same can be said with Brighton after we took two from them last season.

He also likes to bring kids through. About 7 or 8 of our first team squad have come through our academy. We have one of the youngest squads in the division (think it was the second youngest last season).

As for him potentially managing you lot, I think he is a solid appointment that will stabilise things and get you established as a Championship club again. It's just the next step after that he will struggle with. Perhaps keep him a couple of seasons and then go for an ambitious young manager for the long term. He is a safe pair of hands, a decent bloke that works hard and tries his best.
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What a post this was, got Mowbray bang on there.
What what Beale’s former clubs fans think about him?
 
Interesting reading those comments about TM now .
The Blackburn poster was good-
 
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cluffy said:
Aye but once the Blackburn fans and WBA fans talked him up we listened.
Rangers and QPR fans hate Beale. Are we supposed to believe them or ignore them?
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That’s a fair shout. The sense for Mowbray was; you might be disappointed but listen to the fans of his previous clubs, he’s not what you think he is.

If the lesson there is learn to listen to those in the know, you can’t really scan that across to Beale and blindly ignore QPR & Rangers fans
 
ReaL Madras said:
I will say this about Tony Mowbray:
  • He was a very steady and committed footballer
  • He is undoubtedly a gentleman and respectful of clubs and their fans
  • He was extraordinarily dignified and had all of our sympathies when he lost his first wife
  • He is committed to playing fluid, attacking football
  • He has a decent record at this level
  • He likes to play and develop young players
  • He has experienced promotions and relegations
  • He knows the North East well…. This is a big issue with appointing managers here
  • He should be able to advise our central defenders on how to position and defend
  • He won’t be intimidated by our supporters having managed Celtic, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Blackburn.
  • Regardless what we like to think, we are a club in transition and he is still young enough to have that desire to have success
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My comments were pretty good! 😂
 
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Was absolutely gutted when Mowbray got appointed but he did a fantastic job last season. Hopefully Beale turns out in similar fashion
 
I was underwhelmed with Mowbray but then I remembered his teams always played decent footy. Then it was obvious he was canny fella and for the most part performed a minor miracle bearing in mind we had no decent striker for most of his tenure. This fella, I know nothing about, but the fact that those who do to a man say he's a complete melt is depressing. But of course, we'll always support the actual club and the players who wear the shirt.
 
The Beautiful Game said:
People genuinely need to forget his comments about us when he was at wba, his looks (and his shoes) and the fact he managed Middlesbrough and look at his actual record. Even if you argue it’s not inspiring (nor was Neil) it’s a decent record. The comparisons between us and Blackburn are what give me the most confidence he’d be fine.
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Knows his onions 👆

Again, the reaction today is nothing like this thread. This was divisive yeah but not anywhere near the largely unanimous reaction today.
 
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