Sounds like he was playing with a groin injury, let's see what he kicks like when that is fixed.

There isn't a rational explanation for offering Conway a new contract.

I thought he could have been the new " Eyal Berkovic " for us in that midfield role but he never really took the game by the scruff of the neck. Cairney never really demanded the ball and seemed content to be a bit part player. Berkovic would want the ball no matter where he was on the pitch and no matter how many opponents were marking him. I remember Cairney playing out wide on the right against City in that FA Cup reply when we got battered 6-0. He was the one player on our team that looked like he was good enough to play for them.

When he was good for us he was very good. On other days you would have hardly known he was playing. I had high hopes for him here. He seems to have come on somewhat at Fulham. I've said before players come in two categories. The ones that get you on top in a game and the ones that dominate the opposition when the first group have got you on top. He belongs in the second group.

I said at the time I suspected it would be a season too far for him and I stand by that now. You can only judge players by what they contribute to the team. If we would have had 11 Whittinghams out there we might have got relegated again. As poor a signing as Dack was a good one.

One thing about him, his attitude will be right. I used to work with his dad. Smashing bloke.

So he'd from day 1 to New Years Eve to take the shirt of the likes of Evans and he couldn't. The bottom line is we dropped a bollock signing him. It was a season too far for his body. It comes to all players and it can come really suddenly.

It's being good that matters most. It's the small guys you need to watch in my experience. Speedie, Dickov, Batty, you know what I mean. There are of lots of big, soft guys. I do take your point about us lacking height though.

Age matters in football. That's why Dougie isn't still running rings around opposing full backs.

He only got five games because he was pants. He wasn't injured all season. I saw him at Oldham for the first time and he could have worn that kit all season and it would have never needed washing. He's another one like Conway, playing from memory.

Do you every read back what you have written before you press the " submit reply " button ? 90% of the time it isn't in complete sentences. If we do play three at the back we'll need another centre half at least. Do I think Downing can improve enough to be a regular next season ? Probably not. From what I've seen of Wharton he looks worth persisting with. We let a young centre half go very cheaply not long ago, now he's playing at a higher level than we are at the moment. Let's not make that mistake again.

I'm not sure about either of Armstrong or Payne. Neither of them shone in the positions we played them in. Chapman, I'd need to see him play again first. I like the look of Wharton, I wouldn't sell him. Maybe another loan deal.

The way I look at it is if we opened tomorrow's paper and read we were signing him from another club how happy would we be ?

From what I've seen of Wharton he's more of a footballing centre half.

He's done next to nothing in this league. The next league up is twice as hard to play in. If we really haven't got a pot to pee in we shouldn't be squandering the dosh on a bench warmer.

Not for me either. Smacks of looking after mates.

I've always liked Brunt , very under rated player in my opinion. Having said that even if he were to come, which he won't, where would you play him ? Lately he's being playing more at the back than on the wing and we've already got two left backs. Plus there's the issue of wages. Even " average " Premier League " players are on mega bucks as are lots of the established players at the next level down.

Yes but for the moment they are cancer free. We are suffering from terminal cancer.

I agree to a large extent. Leicester held on to Mahrez, what did he do this season ? Played when he felt like it and now he'll be off this summer.

Recent history tells me we are definitely a selling club. Nothing Venkies have done suggests otherwise. Sunderland will have the financial resources we can only dream about now Short has cleared all their debts.

Money doesn't just talk in football Chaddy, it shouts very loudly. They are now in a much better financial position than we are. I'd swap league and financial situations with Sunderland tomorrow.

Anybody who thinks the Divisional Player of the Year won't attract interest from clubs further up the food chain must also believe in Santa Claus. In case anyone has forgotten I class even the likes of Sunderland as being further up the food chain for example.

That's why it's essential that we have a coaching staff in place that can get 110% out of our existing players and new recruits.

Neither of Whittingham or Gladwin looked the part before they got injured. That's unless they were injured before they signed.

He might not be a flyer but he's got a good change of pace and he knows how to use it. He's a very clever player on the pitch, off it who knows ?