Exactly and it was most unlike him to do it. It should be his yardstick which he should be judged by the poweres that be. In business it should be classed as his mission statement for next season and what he should be judged against. Suspect he sold a diffreent mission statement in in India, well 'Tone' down that will be something like as a team newly promoted we need another season of stability and it is this that he will be judged

think he is regretting his rallying cry at the end of last season. I thought it most unlike him at the time

His job is not to do Mr. Sharp's job for him by giving him an interview every day. He'd be better to say listen I'll give you heads up when I've something to say. Mr Sharp has to accept that there will be days when there is no news so he will have to do some investigating to fill his column inches

Last seasons goals against column already has done that for him so he is trying to shut the door after the horse has bolted.

Andrews did score some goals. Would have been OK in this league.

Well our kits must be on a rubber dinghy being paddled from China then!

As he says there were reasons for us concedeing too many goals. The main one was our defenders werent good enough. Reading between the lines it is beginning to confirms to me that not only was Bauer was our main target defenisve target he was our ONLY defensive target and we had no plan B. Our Tone was so convinced he'd sign he took the foot off the gas and let others nip in. Is it beyond coincidence that since he has signed for PNE, we are no longer at defenders as a priority?

Smallwood is not a Championship player. Full stop. What is the pont of keeping him as a reserve if he is not good enough when called upon? We need reserves who can do a job when required.

To me, the late goals was more caused by the fact we ran out of gas rather than lack of composure. We dropped deeper and deeper which invited pressure. A 35 year old whose legs may have gone isn't the answer to that one I'm afraid.

He signed one last season

Remember him playing DMC for us and playing RB for England.

I think the refernce is upon his return from City. He definitely improved.

or his agent does!

Cant blame me for being wary. We've been here before. At least you knew what you had with Conway!

I vaguely remember back in the mid 90s the following season's away shirt was shown on the final game of the season. This was in the days though that the home shirt was for 2 seasons but away tops were for one season.

How can you say that? Do you know him personally? If he is an inward type person who doesn't communicate then now matter what he was like as a player he would be rubbish as a mentor. Anyway if you know him personally then I'm sorry that I've questioned you. As a player, historically Downing may have been a better player but is he now? I know Conway's legs had gone and at the level we play up he wasn't up to it but is Downing?

Is it Umbro's markup or Rovers'?

You've still bought an Umbro kit

Umbro get the best of both world then. People buying that kit and possibly buying the offical away kit as well

Fair point...well argued.......

The point I was answering had nothing to do with playing. It was Mowbray wanted to use him as a mentor. I was asking why do that when we already had an experienced winger here. If Downing is better and can benefit the first team squad then I'm fine with the deal. If on the other hand he is having one last payday then it is a waste of resource we haven't much of.

as is Lenihans

sorry but compared to Lenihan, he is

To be fair, most of the time that Downing has been at Boro, Chapman has been out on loan.........................................or on the treatment table

If thats the case why not just keep Conway and not bring in Downing?