That's good to know. Makes a change from some of the impostors we had last time we were in the Championship.

Very true. I saw a picture today that Adam Armstrong put up on Instagram, it was him and his wife with a comment along the lines of "6 years married to the love of my life" After I finished crying, I thought that's a really, really good idea for young footballers careers. Rarely see it these days. I can understand why as well though to a point...

I don't know who Simon Ireland is, is he Stephens father? Appeared on his head or in his head?

Ya, thats it. Watching some of the stuff he did last season, I would just think "you can't teach that" How he dribbled, finished and found pockets of space to get assists was a joy to behold. If a team gets him on the ball, he will eventually hurt the opposition.

On his day McGeady was a serious talent, I can remember one of those games, but apparently there are others... He ended up at Everton before North end and , in fairness, was pretty excellent in the championship for about 2 months. Duff played a minimum 8 out of 10 in pretty much most of his games, he was that rare mix of raw talent ,consistency and hard work. In Sounesses autobiography, where he speaks very, very highly of rovers, he said that he tried to get Duff to work less hard defensively as he was running himself into the ground trying to do everything. Imagine having a winger like that now. Ya, you're right actually, I shouldn't have said that, McGeady isn't fit to be mentioned in the same breath as the Duffer. Ah, Ireland was deadly when he came on the scene first. I would imagine you didn't watch much of him then.

I honestly think that if Dack stays injury free, he will be a revelation in the championship. He done the business last season, in the games when it mattered time and time again. He did it while being the most marked man in the division. He will be up against better players next season, but he will have a little more freedom I think, at the start anyway. Needs to keep out of the boozers though first and foremost. He has another scandal in him I reckon. Mowbray is a good manager to have in that respect. Imagine having to go into his office after letting him and the club down... That would not be a nice experience

I reckon we will see a much better version of the players who went down with us next season. Going up from League 1 was great, but it was kind of a minimum. To really make a name for themselves here, they need a good championship season and I think some of the older lads realise this. They probably look and see the likes of Dack and hopefully Armstrong and think, maybe I can achieve something big here. They will definitely be fitter and more motivated anyway, that's for sure Let's be honest, that half season under coyle was a joke shop full of bad characters and rickety freebies. It must have been so difficult for good honest, older pros like Graham, Conway, Bennett and Mulgrew. We are a different outfit now. Not perfect, but vastly better. Come on Danny lad, get aboard. We are about to depart!

What is the Raos long term strategy for the club? Not Mowbrays, not Waggotts, theirs. Do they, off the record at least, acknowledge the mistakes they have made? What, if anything, is being done to tap into the Indian market?

Stephen Ireland and Aidan McGeady for Ireland. Both, but Ireland in particular, massively underachieved. He was one of the best performing players in the premiership when he came on the scene first for city. Absolute waste of a career really since. You look at guys like him and think "is he actually 30 already?". His international career was literally over in the blink of an eye. The whole made up dead granny story was bizzare. He looked to be the biggest talent since Giles or Brady, maybe even surpassing Roy Keane, but ya, it seems he couldn't handle being a professional footballer. Amazing that he was in the premiership for so long,considering how little he has done. McGeady, well, just shouldn't have followed the money and went to Russia that time. A few top 6 premiership teams were in for him as well. On his day, arguably as good as if not better than Duff. The problem is Duff was Duff very consistently, McGeady is the best version of himself once a blue moon. Both really only have themselves to blame. In the case of most of the English guys in the opening post , you would really have to blame the English manager at the time. Apart from Raval Morrison, he would go in the category of the two Irish lads above, but had an even weirder career.

Ageed. If ever a link was convenient, it's this one!

So we let him go for the sake of, let's say, less than 200,000. All those saying let him go, what then? Who do we sign to replace him? I know, not yer job to identify any potential signings... But ye will be quick to criticise Mowbray or whoever if he isn't replaced properly. I don't think we should be held for ransom, but this isn't some random player. We know what he is about and what he brings to the team. Whether it's for 90 min every week or not, he is still a very useful player to have around. Good, experienced strikers don't grow on trees.

That would give us 5 strikers for 1 starting role...

No, I don't think that's true

I suggest we make a move for him too!

With a stronger squad than the one we went down with, wouldn't you agree?

Nail on the head. The very same fans saying we shouldn't offer him a bit extra to keep him are the very ones who will be moaning if we can't replace what he does for the team. For a few extra thousand a year I don't see how it doesn't make sense to keep him. We won't sign equal quality for the difference He is 32, not 42. No reason with correct diet and training we couldn't get at least another 2 good years out of him.

So what did we offer and what have they offered? I am guessing you don't have a clue. If they are offering €2000 extra per week, you don't think we should match that?

Well an extra year means more money

Yep, so lucky we didn't stick around there. Now we are in a position where we have a very good wage structure in place for the level we are at

A 17 year old? No thanks. When has a 17 year old ever started centre half for a club in the championship?

Plus the wages off the book I just can't see them going into administration. I see some deal being struck I'd say most of their players are on wages that put them out of our reach. Alan Hutton would be great competition for Nyambe. If Fielding doesn't work out, we could do worse than bring Bunn back

Where would Celtic finish in the Premier league I wonder? A flirt with relegation would be on the cards I would say, although I would expect them to stay up. Championship? In and around the play-offs

I wonder did Downings confidence take a knock? In fairness he did little wrong, but the minute Lenihan returned he was out of the starting 11. Downing was a huge reason in us going up. He did a great job while Lenihan was out,. I do agree on the above than Lenihan could make it to the Premier league. I really think the stint he has had in centre midfield will really stand to him going forward as teams look more and more towards ball playing centre halves. I think he has the potential to have a really good season

Ya, I can. It's just the nonsensical ,trivial and unsubstantiated criticism I see sometimes on here irks me. Not at all directed at you as your response above is well thought out and measured.

So Dr Pepper was actually a spoofer at the back of it all. A big fella when they were a Premier league club and when parachute payments were going, but disappears when the chips are down. I don't actually feel sorry for Villa fans, an arrogant bunch. Well the Irish supporters club anyway. It's funny how some of our fans wanted us to go the same route so that Venkys would leave, well I would hope they sit back and take note of what fate awaits Villa. A 12 points deduction looks likely as a starting point