Disappointing performance but the essential thing is to get through the qualifying round and we would have to lose to Wales by a 4 goal margin not to do so, so job done.

Just a week ago some of us were celebrating England winning the T20 Cricket World Cup ! Not much disappointment there. England struggled so badly in the last football World Cup they got to the semi-final.

Er no, Burnley were champions and their fans had the experience of supporting the champions.

Why do you think our promotion would be fluked rather than earnt ?

As a matter of fact they did experience that in 1921 and 1960.

To date Adam Wharton has played 45 minutes or more in 7 Championship games, of which only 1 - the game against Coventry- has been against a team currently in the top half of the table, so I think he is being protected and being used against weaker teams. No doubt that will change when the manager and coaching staff think the time is right.

I bet there are supporters at a lot of other clubs who would like their players to be "just going through the motions" if it gets you 3rd in the table and a win away to a Premier League club in the Carabao Cup.

Spot on. We are doing much the best of the clubs in the division who do not have the benefit of parachute payments. The manager is very much in credit for his work.

I'm happy ; you seem not to be.

If you re-read my post I said "one of the best" which is not the same as best.

No. I'm taking a view on the season as a whole - 3rd in the league, through to the 4th round of the Carabao Cup, excellent group of young players who are being tied down to lengthy contracts. Keeping things in perspective is a big help.

We're having one of our best seasons in years - I'm happy.

I'm certainly not boycotting- I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully England can do what we've just done in the cricket.

Given the level of losses sustained by clubs at Championship level I think you are correct - at least as regards clubs playing in this division. But worth pointing out that when it comes to tying players down under contract the cry will go up on this messageboard "Show some ambition - pay him what he wants" .

Footballers at Championship level are considerably better off than most people in the UK - get over it.

What makes you such a successful manager ?

Go back a couple of pages and you will see one poster who thinks otherwise.

We won a World Cup this morning. What's the problem ?

You must be a clairvoyant to know where we will finish.

Maybe the top German side - who signed Jude Bellingham when he was 17 - see something you don't.

Of course it is about the league position. The money shows you how well we are doing given what we are up against.

I don't recall Alex Ferguson giving any apologies, proper or otherwise. On one occasion , after a bad day, he blamed the colour of his team's shirts !

Your post only enables me to identify one individual. How on earth is JDT "absolutely stealing a living" when we are 3rd in the table and the 4th round of the Carabao Cup ?

The TV commentators made the point that you can't "kick some of their players back" now in the way you once could, if you want to stay on the pitch.