Chaddy, you say we couldn't afford Hughton's wages yet promote the idea of a Director of Football in addition to a manager or head coach. A good D of F would at least be on a salary the same as Mowbray if not more??

For me, the manager gets a free pass from many despite spunking close to 14 million on 3 shite strikers. With recruitment that bad allied to a complete lack of tactical nous or style of play I cannot see how there is an argument for him to stay.

Time for you to open the relegation thread Jim?

Having a bet is very much like making love to a beautiful woman. You've got to study the form, take your time, take out your wad and splash it on a suitable filly. You can then sit back and watch as you clean up.

I've asked on many occasions what Mowbray's 'style of play' ? Anyone know ?

Surely he needs another 10 transfer windows in the 5 year (get the kids through uni) promotion plan?

Fingers crossed for a lucky break cos that's what we need

Probably through banging his head against a brick wall as to why Bennett gets in before him.

Said it before and will say it again, Mowbray's time is up here. Admitted the defence isn't up to it last season and then spunks his budget on another shit striker to add to Armstrong and Brereton. Refuses to play his one spark in Rothwell yet sticks by shite like Bennett. The club cannot and will not progress under him now and I fear we will be in serious trouble if he's allowed until the clocks go back.

'Defensively we're fine'. Are. We. Shite.

I see McBurnie is going for 20 million this summer? I think I was in a very small minority (of about 1) in wanting him last summer. Would've been cheaper than big bad project signing Ben and yielded an instant profit. I'm bloody good me.

Mods, can you not let chaddy back so he can tell us why this is a great deal? While he's at it he can update us on how well our European scouting department is getting on.

Yeah. Shades of Riquelme to Petrovic back in the day

The next couple of weeks will be full of Mowbray downplaying expectations in the press to try to safeguard his job. For me he's toast, he'll be gone by Christmas.

Bang on DE, our upturn in form coincided with Reed's return to CM, it's bollocks from Mowbray to suggest he wasn't disciplined enough. I didn't see Smallwood and Evans' discipline gathering us many points during that awful run post January.

Well said that man.

Do we have one? Trust me the lad will turn out crap - I'm here to be shot down if I'm wrong.

For what it's worth I think Gallagher is crap and I'm rarely wrong on player ability.

Wonder when our euro scouting network will unearth a few gems. I think a reasonable assumption is never...in fact aside of catching the odd game on eurosport I bet it doesn't even exist.

This league is about pace and power, if you play 'in front' of teams fannying about going square and backwards you achieve sod all. Our form last season only picked up with the inclusion of the younger more direct players such as Rothwell, Reed and Travis and ditching the slow and ponderous Evans and Smallwood. So the signing of Downing, for me, is a reverting to type. He's hardly going to drive past anyone more spray a nice crissfield 30 yard pass that looks nice but achieves sod all or hit the odd good dead ball. I may be wrong but I doubt I will be. Feel free to bring this back if I am.

Not really Mike. Buying the previous year's League 1 player of the season to mount a promotion challenge in that league was hardly brave, especially at the price we paid.

Seen quite a bit of Downing over the years when he was supposedly in his prime. Thought he was one dimensional and a bit shit then - now he's an older slower version I can't see what he'll add to be honest.

Showed unbelievable composure when one bears that in mind.

I do believe I put his name out there a few pages ago (edit page 58 to be precise) - the leader we crave. As for Downing, I've always thought he's shit ..now he's old and shit.

About J-Lo? I called it after a couple of games, same as Brereton. You want to hang your hat on one attribute that they have, just one and take it from there. Lowe had none and BB hasn't shown one either.