And only now are we in what might be called an injury crisis where you might expect things like yesterday also we've just come off the back of beating Wigan 3 nil. There's definitely been a foot in lost the plot territory in that lot.

It's all got to be built on the platform of a solid settled defence with adequate back up otherwise whatever formations and tactics are applied will keep coming undone as we've seen this season. If not we might as well flog Dack and go 442 with the two sitting mids and draw every week ala Bowyer then sit safely in midtable and allow young players time to grow by chucking the odd square peg in a round hole but keeping everything rigid and basically the same every week instead of multiple changes to every side and multi formation alterations every ten mins. Barmy stuff to watch it really is we can't even buy a draw these days which brings me back to defence... Can he or even will he do that and can they or will they back him to get players to do that ? I'm not convinced at all.

This i'd agree with I think sacking him now would be a disaster unless they got in immediately someone of name who got the players respect straight away and who had the remit to build a promotion challenging squad starting in the summer. Anything less would be a nightmare as we can see some of these aren't consistent enough in this league, there's a lot of youngsters and some experienced one's are rubber dingy men we saw that last time. I'd even suggest one or two are hiding now on and off the pitch because they feel there's nothing to play for. Some would really throw the towel in if he left I reckon. He deserves to see the season out at least but I haven't got great belief in him building a much better squad because he never seems to have a real on pitch or recruitment plan in place or at the right one anyway this season . Far too much meddling and knee jerk reactions but that's how he manages and always has its served him good and bad he's a mixed bag manager but overall far from a bad one. Of more interest to me is what backing will be available and i'm convinced not much the money men are running a tight ship now. The budget might be about the same so it'll be whatever headroom is left in that after wages and outgoings or whatever he can make himself from moving people out/off the wage bill which given his propensity for favs and taking into account the contracts he's handed out won't be much. Down to the whim of Mr B & family and his investment partners if anything else gets tipped up but Christ knows what it'll be spent on or who will actually be bringing them in.

£££ It doesn't and it won't now it's not 25mill+ losses every season pretty sure they bought it knowing and prepared for it being a loss leader though obviously not to the levels it became once the snakes got to work.

Yep like those before him he's working behind a pic and mix mish mash when in reality a manager wanting to build a good solid team his two centre backs and keeper are the first names on the team sheet every week and only changed when absolutely essential.

I don't think the not backing up of team mates is anything untoward I think it's just a sign of the times. Nowt to play for so won't lose my place, seasons over we're just going through the motions it doesn't really matter so just get on with it why get worked up type thing

Nailed it ? I think the young & investment thing has a totally different agenda to the team itself I've always thought that what bit might get tipped up for buying certain players goes back where it came from with a cherry on top when they've had games and are sold whilst the family firm under pins seasonal running costs offsetting profits from elsewhere with the help of the SBOI of course. Which all helps navigate tax on the company accounts having an offshore loss maker where on paper about 150 million and rising is 'invested' but basically written off. I'm sure this type of thing I common in football for those who can navigate around it it's just like rich men investing in race horses really, all a bit of a game.

Raya is supposed to be this highly rated young keeper except really he was only highly rated by a handful who watched him in our development squad and that when they weren't all that good so it didn't take much to stand out. Still young and learning on the job - something else that adds to make this team so weak at the back - however he lacks all the basic good fundamentals that make a highly rated young keeper apart from cat like reflexes and that doesn't on its own. David James was highly rated as a youngster and he stood out a mile he didn't make these kind of bi weekly gaffs nor did Hart they just got exposed at top level. All those times training with Steele seem to have left their mark this lad is no better than Clint was.

Something I've thought for a while i'm not convinced the last window nor a few of the signings are sitting all that well with him despite what he trots out. He;s looked a bit weary of late with it all imo. I'd be in no way surprised if he did a Lambert at some point between now and next season if he finds out the summer plans aren't what he might have expected as I think last window was a warning sign of what's to come again. They certainly won't sack him I don't think as he fits their criteria perfectly but not sure he'll human shield them for long in the way Kean/Coyle etc did.

We could at least ask him but these owners will never ever recruit and back up a manager like that.

Well we know this season overall was about consolidation and finding our feet again in this division although we were only out of it ONE season, also blooding some more youngsters and more experience for others and our numerous league 1 ers. However a chance of a decent season has been totally blown and he has to shoulder half the blame no doubts about it. Forget about play offs i'm just talking about a positive season the kind that gives fans and players hope for next and the kind that keeps your decent players and helps you attract others. Sorry but injuries aside everything we've seen so far since the window doesn't bode very well at all from team or manager less of course the odd glimpse of fighting spirit from a few. We are set to head down a rocky road again and there really was no need for it !

On comes Conway to shore things up for the 0-1...?

They used to do tickets and travel I think for a tenner for some games from Lancaster Uni in the mid/late 90's and used to give away tickets in various student bars and night clubs. The Prem though is a great attraction but sadly at home to Norwich in the Championship won't quite cut it for the floaters/neutrals.

You haven't seen the advert on British tv then ? Cheers for the explanation I did wonder where it came from I've heard the name but couldn't place it.

Who's Derekkkk ?

I'm more concerned that he's going on Saturday than anything else to be honest, still I suppose we have a new scapegoat give Richie and Tony a day off ?

Mulgrew is a quality footballer he was a cut above last season and was decent early this season but went completely off the boil and more resembles the guy who struggled with the intensity of this league in his first season here after he swapped it for the biggest club in the pub league up there. Like the rest of them though they don't really compliment each other, have too many changes to contend with forced and unforced and don't have a solid experienced keeper behind them who isn't afraid to dish out instructions. Lack of basic communication, organization and leadership on the pitch is shocking. Present day watering down of the game though they don't want to upset each other and managers are terrified of upsetting them.

You must now be an expert on what's wrong with the team by now with that record, don't dare mention it though we aren't allowed to be concerned these days.

That might be an unplanned plan of sorts although on the other side of the coin chairmen and owners at clubs have been accused of creating situations in the past were managers have no option but to use their squads and youngsters to save spending on more. Doubt that's the case here though its been more of an imbalance issue not actual size imo.

Just lining the excuses up an Injury crisis all of a sudden can cover up the other cracks in public. If I was him i'd be saying to Mulgrew if he's suddenly fit to play for Scotland don't bother coming back at all, i'd have said the same to Evans years ago. Still a soft touch this club.

No it was Jimmy Armfield in his role of a commentator I think and no doubt said with a touch of humour. I also remember Richard Dinnis in commentary at Middlesbrough saying their fans are known for turning on their players quicker than carousel or something like that. Doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of things Preston fans have been noted for their misery when things aren't going well and Dingles are known to display anger in various guises ! It's football, fans live and breath it.

Fine lines again the guy will have been storing up his fan digs for a few weeks until we beat someone just before the cork is about to pop. Then fortunately for him he gets an excuse to get his ill thought out nonsense off his chest. I think had we lost to Wigan his tune would've been completely different I doubt his inner concerns are any different to a whole lot of others but he seems to see himself as the clubs 'positive' PR man so he'll never express the reality of it he'll just stay in his bubble that keeps him in the LT.

Yep for 75% of his time here he's been a passenger and we know he's basically just a sitting midfielder tidying up the bits and bobs so he often doesn't get noticed but I've always felt he's a better player than that but he's just happy coasting along inbetween International call ups. I'll bet a penny to a pound he'd have started last night if there was no Internationals soon, Saturday will tell us more though. A very fortunate player to have the kind of contract and shelf life he's had here imo.

Got to give TM credit for throwing the young lad in at the back although yes the situation is part down to him and he didn't have a lot of choice but it's still on his head. Big credit for that and if we start looking safe again i'd throw a lot more of them in in key positions and leave them there that'll show bottle and show the 'senior' pros they need to shape up or sod off. Only places safe of the seniors for me are Graham and Dack for obvious reasons although the former needs managing and the latter needs a kick up the arse and extra running drills now and again ! Get that vibrant young hungry team out there they don't need the play off positions to motivate them they've got a point to prove and get Johnson and the touchline as well ! Waggot it's time to earn your money and have a word although those in Pune might just question why all these players on north of ten grand per week and extended contracts are now sat on the bench !!!

'Hamstring Charlie ? Are you sure...... ? '