Because Buckley finally had a little spell of looking like a player, and because Downing fancies another contract next year.

We have been better this half, and unlucky to concede in it for a change. The ideal solution is obviously to change just under half the team with not long left. I'm sure that will improve the rhythm of the team.

I saw this and was about to post that we know what happens next after we hit the woodwork three times.... ...but it had already happened.

Yes, I don't want to acknowledge that that's a thing though.

Great. We know what's coming out in Tony's presser now. 'We hit the post twice...if those go in...it's just those small margins'

I think we look a bit better this half so far. More intent, and less porous. We will see if it stays that way.

Tony must be mystified why a manager as experienced as McCarthy isn't playing Kiefer Moore as a flying winger.

He clearly hasn't been in the games lately though. For once Tony was right, he needed to rest and be eased into proper shape. Unfortunately he was wrong to have been playing him prematurely in the first case.

It is forbidden.

How did you die?

Oh look the goal comes from a counter attack, what a shocker!!!

'Good strike' according to the commentator. Said with a fair bit of enthusiasm too. I immediately said 'no it wasn't'.

Not as much as he seems to cost us. Causes us problems every time.

It's all just so tediously predictable, isn't it?

I asked the bookies. They said 'fuck off, we don't just give money away'.

You would think McBride would make a decent target for them. Barr probably instructed to do certain things a certain way with the youth team, so they can fit in with the first team...poor bastards. And we all know Tony is so afraid of crosses he could be a fucking vampire.

Do they have to win the league to enter that? Second won't suffice?

Forgive me, as I haven't done analysis on this lad, but please tell me why I should be excited about a lad who at 25 years old has 8 goals in the SPL this season? Playing for Scotland won't cut the mustard for me, Mulgrew was still playing for them (as captain too?) whilst playing absolute doggers for us. Does he have great link up play or something?

It's really winding me up this 'I'm a performance based manager' shit. Well you're the only manager in the entire game who is then, everybody else lives and dies by their results. Alright having your mate in charge ain't it.

That second sentence alone makes it seem very odd that you feel the need to wait until the end of the season to give a verdict. Shouldn't be on the cards at all.

Good thing his name is Harry then.

First point is a fair one. Brereton is 2 years younger and has got better at using his size in the last year. I just think it's harsh, and doesn't track, to say someone older than him has more room to improve. Most of what you say in response is about his current ability not future. Brereton was 17/18 on his video wasnt he? Not saying this lad is gash or anything, I know little about him. Might check out his vids if links persist. Yeh I dont think 4 mill is gonna happen. Clubs and fans often overvalue at first and settle for less. I seem to remember Gills wanted 1.5 mill for Dack? And Pickering was rumoured as requiring a seven figure fee then we got him for about 350k according to reports. So maybe something like 2.5 mill is more likely? If Blackpool go up though, different story.

More potential to improve him? He is 23, Brereton is 21. His goals record in League One, even if it transferred exactly to the Championship, is nearly half of Armstrong's total. I haven't seen the lad so not saying you're wrong, but the basic stats of it don't wow me much. Lad at work was telling me about Yates, the other league one striker we are linked with at Blackpool. More goals, and he says he is quick, good ball skills and a hard worker. Says what he brings to the team in general is as important as his goals. I had a look at his youtube clips last night and whilst I can't speak to the last part I'd agree with the rest. Probably not quite as fast as Arma, but very tidy with the ball. A year older than the Rotherham lad, but the main issue is the lad at work reckons 4 million is fair. Fans always overprice their players though, but that would be a risk for a 24 year old who has only just proven himself in a league below ours. Dack was one of the best in that league and he was less than a quarter of that.

I think we were both pretty clear tbh so I'm not sure what you don't grasp and I'm not going to argue the point with you. I knew you'd be quoting me disagreeing as I've already seen your views on him. All I'll say is this. When I say he is crap, I'm basically saying he is a bit sub-par for average Championship level (keep in mind my definition of this is probably different to yours), but I expect my backup LB to be a bit sub-par. He is a backup. Someone guaranteed (not that you can be) to be better than that will command I'd expect double his wage or more. Maybe a fee too. Anyway this season I feel he has been a bit better, and not the worst for a few games if someone has a light injury. I wouldn't have kept the Bell of last year, he was truly woeful, and I'd prefer someone a little bit better as the backup. I'm just saying that from an overall resources perspective with how I read our situation, my assessment is offer him a very cheap one year deal, with an ultimatum to sign it soon so we can plan accordingly. Despite what you say, of course it's easier to do. No need to scout a few players, draw plans, discuss, check the budget, sound out an agent, make a bid, blah blah. Besides, whilst we might get someone better we also might get someone worse. People always like to say at this point 'well they can't be any worse'. Yes, yes they can. People like to exaggerate. We all thought Douglas was going to be a huge improvement, had plenty of pedigree, yet it took half a season for him to be even a slight improvement. Bell himself cost a few hundred grand and was meant to be the next good thing. Anyway I've said more than I intended to but I really don't want to get into back and forth with you about. You think he's worse than I do, I'd take him for one more year primarily because of how much work we need to get through this summer and how sparse our budget will be, and you wouldn't. Not much point us having a debate. Yes ideally you get a better backup, but we aren't in anything close to an ideal situation. I'm interested in what the u23s might have to offer, testing them with a more experienced player to fill in if it's an absolute disaster works fine for me for now considering. JRC has also proved adequate at LB in a pinch a couple of times if Bell reverts to full disaster mode. Crap was probably a bit harsher than I truly assess him from this season alone. I think 'meh' might be a better assessment. I always fear he has huge blunders in him but I think past perception based on his abysmal showings last season, and him not setting the world alight this year means some people still categorise him as worse than he has been this season. Game of opinions. You rate the whole squad as worse than I do too, so be it.

Unpopular opinion, but I don't really mind if Bell signs a very cheap one year deal. We need a backup LB, and whilst one or two u23s may have promise there, we can't rely on them yet as they're untested. Yes we can find a better free agent I expect, though we had that task last summer and ended up with Douglas on loan. He isn't much better, and has probably been worse in the liability stakes at times than Bell. It's also a case of can we find one as cheaply, and more importantly for me, the fact we have a TON of recruiting to get sorted this summer and backup LB isn't high on the priority list. Getting it boxed off early frees up resources. Yes, he is crap, before anyone tells me. He has been a bit better this season for me though, albeit still naff. Just with our situation I'm fine if we sign him on short term cheaply whilst we explore other options. I'm also fine if he leaves.