jim mk2

So I think we're agreed the old European Cup with champions only taking part and knockout football in every round was much better than the over-hyped, over-inflated Champions League

Upsets can always happen with 2 -leg knockout football. Looks what's happened this week. That was the beauty of the old European Cup, Uefa Cup and Cup-winners Cup. It's making cups into leagues that make it boring. The dominance of the same teams is a different issue and applies to most of the main domestic leagues throughout Europe.

They're boring because it is a league. Revert to the old European Cup knockout format and it would be exciting again. But it won't happen because money rules

So Mowbray has backed down on resolving the team's biggest problem - the fact we have a dodgy goalkeeper. Doesn't bode well for him signing the quality defenders we also need this summer.

Prepare for more national embarrassment and humiliation as the intelligentsia among Spurs and Liverpool inflict a day and night of misery on Madrid. As English football fans are unable to go abroad and have a good time without getting drunk, fighting, urinating in public and being generally disagreeable, I feel sorry for the citizens of Madrid, the Spanish public in general, and the Spanish police service who have to deal with them

Macc is probably NW too so that's 5. You're right though - football represents wider society with an elite cadre of clubs at the very top that are untouchable and divorced from the reality of the struggles of the rest; and smaller southern clubs doing increasingly well while big northern clubs languish I mean, the likes of Bournemouth, Brighton and Watford - 3rd and 4th division clubs in my eyes - in the top division would have been unthinkable back in the good old days.

and Wigan. Could Southport, Barrow (used to be Lancs), Morecambe and Darwen make it back to the Football League too?

Have to say Burnley are in a great situation at the moment. They have an experienced and canny manager who is under no pressure to achieve anything other than to try to avoid relegation - and even then, he would probably still stay in post and Burnley likely bounce straight back. Burnley are also unlikely to lose Dyche to one of the "bigger" clubs because of his "dour" image and perceived playing style. Couple that with a stable board, the appearance of a well-run club and the Premier League riches flowing into Burnley's bank account with each passing season and it's not difficult to be envious of them compared to the situation at Ewood Park.

No thanks. And his wages would be astronomical

Best signings for me would be Reed and Rodwell. Why does Mowbray look any further when he's unlikely to find better?

If we stick with Raya next season, sooner or later he will let us down. He will cost us vital points that will make the difference between a promotion push and mid-table, or between mid-table and a relegation fight. There's very few successful teams with dodgy keepers, And Raya is dodgy.

Given Mowbray's past pronouncements, and his tendency to do the exact opposite of what he says, I'd suggest Hart will be in goal for us next season.

Raya has cost us many points for 2 seasons. I think a significant part of our defensive problems is that the back 4 (whoever they are) do not trust a goalkeeper who consistently fails to dominate his area, is weak on crosses and makes basic errors. I don't see why he won't continue to do the same next season. If we have any pretentions to be top 6 next season we need a new goalkeeper. Leutweiler needs packing off out of the club - preferably tomorrow.

Why on earth is Travis with RB ? Fed up with Mowbray;s square pegs in round holes. Will he ever learn?

Disappointed if Rodwell goes. One of our few class players. And Reed. Where is Mowbray going to find better than those two?

Notts fans bitterly regret the sacking of Kevin Nolan, who had them near the top of the league barely 12 months ago I think. Notts panicked after some poor results and sacked him

So would I - we need to move forward. But that doesn't mean he deserves criticism like Rev's post. He has been a good player for us - better than "average" I would suggest.

Conway is past his best but there's no way hes' "been instrumental in taking us down the divisions". That as you well know is a down to the club management and a libel on a good old fashioned Scottish winger who always gave 100 per cent.

Like Hart, another poor goalkeeper who should never have won England cap. No to both of them.

.... and a young Howard Wilkinson in the 1980s. Sad to see Notts go but they've been badly run for years

Just like politicians. I'll believe what Mowbray says when the new players walk through the door.

“67 goals. They’ve shown they can’t do the job at this level. New defenders are coming, and the current ones know it.” Hurrah. But why didn't he do something about it during the season? And how much of the frailties are down to his coaching?

In view of your 100% losing record on match previews, which continued at Norwich, please stay away on Sunday

Jaguar Land Rover announced today it is to build next generation of Defender in Slovakia. And the weather's going to be cold and grey over the Bank holiday. Is Danny Graham to blame for those too?

Brereton needs to bulk up and start knocking defenders around. If he can also learn to play with his back to goal like Graham then we might have half a player. At the moment he flatters to deceive and seems to be a "nice" boy who doesn't like the rough stuff.