Now that our defence has strengthened considerably, our principal weakness is failing to break down teams who are content to play for a point - we have been unlucky in that injuries have deprived us of Dack and Holtby, the two players most likely to unlock opposition defences. Nonetheless despite the gloom and doom brigade doing their best to convince otherwise we are not out of playoff contention yet.

Very good game and a result we would have taken beforehand. Not sure if it was evident on TV how much effect the wind had - getting the assist for both teams' opening goals. I didn't think either penalty should have been given.

I can't speak for Paul but that would be my definition of a "must win" game - like this one was 3 years ago.

Do we have minimal crowds ? Your admission that the supporters continue to support the manager is interesting; I can see no reason why that would have a negative effect on the atmosphere. Logic would suggest it helps.

I've never denied the existence of FFP ! Mowbray's signings have brought the club to the brink of the play offs. Stop trying to rewrite history.

Really ?

FFP was raised by me because the poster above was talking about a transfer spend of £25m at which point it would become a concern ! I have no interest in project fear - unlike others back in the autumn I was one of the posters saying with confidence that we would not be relegated. I was right.

You also have to observe FFP !

Players of the calibre of Tosin,Walton and Cunningham can be brought in via loans - we've proven that. You are missing the point that young players like Nyambe,Armstrong,JRC,Buckley,Travis will probably be better next season that this as they get more experience. There is no reason to imagine that a team which the league table shows is already close to the top 6- and which is top of the table of the last 17 games - cannot be good enough to be in the top 6 next season without this additional expenditure.

They didn't create the story - it was already out there.

The article makes it clear that there have been reports in the North East of interest in the player. You can't seriously be suggesting that in today's marketplace where local newspapers are struggling for their very existence that the LET should engage in a cover up of a story being reported elsewhere.

That you resort to abuse underlines the weakness of your argument. In those days there was no transfer window so signings were not restricted to the summer; The likes of Friedel, Hughes and Begovic arrived later in the season and we did not become promotion contenders until about November. By the standards of the time Souness spent pretty heavily for the second tier.

Newspapers can't be blamed for reporting the facts - it's the primary purpose of their existence.

There is no comparison between 2000 and 2020. There was no FFP then and the financial muscle of the club was greater than the other clubs in the division - as you point out he also inherited some outstanding younger players.

You seem to be suggesting that transfers in and out should in part be determined by what someone thinks the impact on season ticket sales might be. I don't think any serious football manager would countenance that. I remember Aston Villa signing David Ginola because Doug Ellis thought there would be a pick up in ticket sales as a result - it didn't work out on the pitch at all.

Yes, that is a good analysis of the situation and points to why moving Mowbray on is fraught with risk.

Because the club is clearly making progress under Mowbray.

No wind up - perfectly valid to demonstrate that things can take time and those demanding success yesterday- the ones who quote the likes of Sheffield United etc - need to understand that.

I've read your post which clearly moves the otherwise moving situation regarding Tony Parkes on to the club's financial affairs - and the decisions taken by those responsible for them.

And yet people are demanding that the club spend money on signings. Where does that come from ?

Yes, Brentford are an interesting comparison. The were promoted to the Championship in 2014 with Warburton as manager and in their first season they got in to the playoffs but didn't get promoted. They then fired Warburton and replaced him with Dean Smith who was unable to get them in to the playoffs with them finishing around 9th or 10th until he left them last season for Aston Villa and was replaced by Franke who has them now in the playoffs position. Very much a slow build, and still not come to fruition with promotion to the Premier League. How many of the "Mowbray Out" brigade would be prepared to wait that long ?

Yes, the importance of character in developing a successful football club cannot be underestimated - and Tony Mowbray is making certain we are going about things in the right way at all levels of the club.

I think what was meant was that the club was not going to take the absurd "roll the dice" approach of spending transfer fees on a scale that would bust the FFP limits but gambling that promotion to the Premier League would solve the FFP issue. If promotion is not obtained then there has to be a fire sale of assets or a points deduction or both. Rather the club would stay within FFP limits but acknowledging that it would probably take more than a year or two to build to a level where the club could win promotion.

Good result. Clearly the ethos of strong team spirit and hard work engendered by Tony Mowbray has spread right through the club.

Hardly. We could lose all 3 and still get enough points from the 10 after that.