But Brereton and Gallagher aren't earning peanuts, they are both being well paid. There have been a number of good defenders gone to other Championship clubs this season for reasonable fees or in some cases on frees. Either we aren't in for these players or they don't want to sign for us, either way it is a big worry and leaves us with a defence that is a liability.

We managed to do it when we wanted a striker last summer and this summer.

For me if we don't win the Ashes then this summer will have been a failure.

Sibley certainly has the temperament for test cricket.

Changes needed for the next test. Roy, Buttler and Denly are not test cricketers for me. Obviously Anderson will be out after the stupid decision to play him in this one, whilst Bairstow and Ali are both terribly out of form. For the next test I'd go with. 1. Burns 2. Sibley 3. Root* 4. Stokes 5. Northeast 6. Bairstow+ (drinking in the last chance saloon) 7. S.Curran 8. Woakes 9. Archer 10. Broad 11. Leach

Not sure I follow the logic here how can there be no future in someone of Dack's ability but there is in Brereton and Gallagher who are both massively inferior players? And how can there be no future with Graham who 33 yet you go with Johnson (32) and Downing (35)?

I first called for him to go after the capitulation at Elland Road and pretty much everything that has happened since then has only strengthened my opinion. I would get rid of him now because for me he is not the man to take us forward whether we win or lose the next 5 games my opinion will remain the same, as this is a view formed over a long period and about more than just results. I would agree it is not an ideal time to do it after one game but for me it is about more than one game it's about the last 9 months and that is why he shouldn't have lasted the summer. I think we are heading down the wrong road with Mowbray, better to act now than later when we are even further away from our intended destination.

Enough was enough months ago. He's not the man to take us forward. As I said earlier on new season but the same old dross being served up by Mowbray, still showing the opposition to much respect, still the same terrible back 4, still playing numerous players out of position, still tinkering with formations and Rothwell and Nyambe still on the bench. He should have been sacked before this season had even started instead we have had another transfer window where the defence has been neglected.

We spent £7 Million on a striker who still can't even get on the pitch when we need a goal.

Well a new season but the same old dross being served up by Mowbray, still showing the opposition to much respect, still the same terrible back 4, still playing numerous players out of position, still tinkering with formations and Rothwell and Nyambe still on the bench. Walton- I thought it was Raya in goal as he made some good stops but despite his height was very suspect under crosses. Bennett- It really does beggars that Mowbray thinks he is our best right back. His main attribute is acting like a court jester if we win but in terms of footballing ability he has none of the attributes that a good full back would have. He's as bad in possession of the ball as he is when defending. And if he is searching his own name on twitter then it just shows how insecure he is. Lenihan- Get's cut a lot of slack because he is the best of a bad bunch at the back but for me he looks a poorer player now than he did when he was playing at this level in the Coyle season. Mulgrew- Time to hang them up Charlie. I haven't seen many footballers lose it as quickly as he has. He's never been a fantastic defender but he was decent enough the first half of last season but since he came back from injury in February he has completely lost it. And his positional play is awful, so many times he gets caught under a high ball. Bell- He's a very poor defender who is playing a level of football higher than he should be. I've never seen a full back like him before he shows no desire to stop a cross coming into the box. Travis- Started alright but faded. Nodded of for the winning goal. But the pairing of him and Johnson was just about the brightest spot of the day. Johnson- I liked what I saw strong and physical exactly what we need in midfield. Armstrong- His better performances always come on the right, so of course Mowbray started him on the left. Moved to the right and looked better so of course then Mowbray took him off. Dack- One half chance other than that you wouldn't have noticed he was out there. Needs to step up his game after a disappointing end of last season. Downing- He was neat and tidy and a good set piece delivery. But does he still have the legs now to beat a player and really worry a defence? I'm not so sure. Gallagher- Given the chance ahead of our best player last season and he disappointed. Then moved to the wing and showed that he is certainly not a winger. None of the subs had a great influence but I though when we made the subs we looked as though we didn't know what system we were supposed to be playing. If I was Rothwell and Nyambe I would be asking my agent to get me a move before the window shuts. At their ages they should be playing first team football not being kept out of the team by a 35 year old in Rothwell's case and in Nyambe's case by a nearly 31 year old failed winger. Finally I've seen a lot of people on here that one more centre back and it will be a successful window. One new centre back is not going to get close to solving our defensive issues, we need a new left back, a new right back and at least 1 but probably 2 centre backs otherwise the defensive frailties will continue.

I first called for Mowbray to be sacked after the capitulation at Elland Road on Boxing Day (to the derision of many on here) and everything I have seen since has only strengthened my opinion. When people on here were saying give him the summer, I could not understand them as he had already neglected to improve the defence in January when we were on the cusp of the top 6. He should be sacked for negligence, to put that defence out on the first day of the season is an embarrassment from a manager who is either blind to the defensive failings or is completely deluded either way he has to go it we want to have a decent season.

A very good day for England and a fantastic temperament shown by Burns. Would like to get the lead to 120+ as I don't think batting last is going to be easy. Can see Roy getting out a lot like he did today and against Ireland for me he is not a test match opener, outside off stump he is too loose and goes too hard at the ball. I have to say I'm still not convinced by Buttler as a test batsman and he certainly should not be batting ahead of Stokes. As I said last night I would have Stokes batting 4. Whilst he hasn't got the big scores of late in test cricket his temperament and technique has really matured and I think he is going to score a lot of runs in this series.

His worst performances last season came towards the end of the season when it was Travis in front of him. But anyway the results don't lie we are a better side without Mulgrew in it.

I don't pay any attention to pre-season friendlies they are about fitness and nothing else.

There is no room for sentiment in football it is a ruthless business. Mulgrew has been a decent player for us but the key word there is 'has', his performances towards the end for season were an embarrassment.

If England can't work out a way to get Smith out then he may well singlehandedly carry this very poor Aussie batting line-up to victory, he's a class above anything else on either team. Let's hope that Archer can be this teams Larwood and test him out with some sharp and short stuff, although Root is certainly no Jardine. I thought before the game that England should have gone with Sam Curran over Denly (although of course batting lower) because Stokes' is not bowling well and should focus on batting in the top 4 (which I think he is good enough to do) and the way Stokes bowled today only convinced me further of this. A lot of pressure on Moeen in the 2nd innings to keep an end tight (like Lyon will) with it being only a 4 man attack now and I'm not sure if he is up to it, he bowls to many loose deliveries.

Well lets hope so.

No doubt about it Sir Stanley Matthews, a true pioneer of the game.

Not sure I would class Mulgrew as a leader on the pitch given how much better our record is without him. I'm afraid to say that these days he is more of a hindrance on the pitch than anything else.

I do wonder if some posters have watched us much over the last few years if they think that we should still be playing a centre back pairing who were regulars in a team that conceded 69 goals last season and the season before that in the Championship were regulars in a relegated team. Talk about setting the team up to fail.

And then come January it will be wait until the summer, just like it was last season.

As crazy as lining up with the same defence that shipped 69 goals last season?

It must have been one heck of a thorough medical/

They have received getting on for £40 Million in the last year by selling Reid, Bryan, Kelly and Flint.

Then how do you explain the fact that in the last year he has given new contracts to Smallwood, Mulgrew, Williams, Bennett and Evans.