But neither have shown obvious signs of physical decline, quite the opposite towards the end of the season.

With Conway, id totally agree, his legs are clearly going, he doesnt affect games anymore. Mulgrew on the other hand, his intelligence and ability have never been in question, just his fitness and Im not sure what more he could have done this season, albeit I admit its a weaker league, to suggest he can cope physically. Hes got a year left on his contract anyway I think, so im sure he will stay.

As much as we do need strengthening, its critical not to totally discard the heart of the side whose incredible consistency has got us promoted in the first place. Mulgrew has played alot of games and avoided injury in the main, and provides us with leadership and know how that we would sorely lack. Graham also gives us that, and the pair of them get the best out of Lenihan and Dack alongside them. For me, the way that theyve both ended the season shows that theres no evidence that they are no longer of massive use to a side promoted to the Championship. Mulgrew, Lenihan, Bennett, Smallwood, Dack, Graham, need to build around that. Then beyond that, Raya, Williams, Nyambe, Bell, Whittingham and Evans will all be able to play a part in my opinion, to varying degrees. Agreed on Lowe though, in fact ive seen us linked with a few ex players on here, Gallagher, Mahoney, we need to look forward, for the first time in a while we have something strong to build on.

No no, Gladwin is terrible and lazy, and a donkey. Not Downing. Im sure they played with him and Holmes wide, Morris central, but the point is, if you want a right wing back, get a right wing back, not a winger.

I do agree that Adelukan could be a really good signing. Unless hes signed a new deal I get the feeling his contract will expire soon too. I do agree that Mowbray might try 3 at the back, more likely with 1 central striker and 2 playing off him. I hope he sticks with the formation that has served us so well and for me gets the best out of our 2 main partnerships, Mulgrew and Lenihan, and Dack and Graham. No but I cant see a massive queue of teams wanting them. No but both of them did well for us practicaly from the start. I am not the only one who feels that after seeing him play a few times earlier this season, hes not only terrible but his attitude seemed likewise. Mowbray might have done a good job but you cant polish a turd. Again though, a difficult one to offload. Re Adelakun, so you are suggesting we sign a right winger and shoehorn him into an unfamiliar position? Surely just sign an actual right wing back. For a striker, I feel that we need someone with legs for when Graham needs a rest/rotating. What Samuel should have done and has failed at.

Might be mistaken, but I think he signed a 2 year deal yeah.

Where would a winger like Adelakun fit in a 3-5-2 though?

One thing I will say, people are suggesting Caddis and Whittingham (who id keep around) should go, whose going to buy them off us, both are under contract, and I imagine the latter is on a decent contract. Same with Gladwin to be fair, one who Id look to get rid of straight away. Really hope we dont recruit towards a 3 at the back. I know it can be a good system and a couple of our players, notably Bell would potentially benefit but theres alot that wouldnt. When we played it last time we had Mulgrew stepping out from the left, last time we used it it looked all wrong because Mulgrew was in the middle to accomodate Williams. Nyambe is seemingly a big part of our defence, hes a defensive full back hes certainly never a right wing back. And if you play that formation it would break up the Dack and Graham partnership, most likely leaving Dack as one of 2 number 10s, reducing his influence. Hopefully Mowbray wont see fit to change a winning system. Just add to it. And @chaddyrovers why do you see a player that has got nowhere near the Sheffield United team to be a good potential signing? Yes we were linked last season but hes literally not played all year. And Gladwins a donkey ive seen that with my own eyes and if he never plays again for us itll be too soon.

Mulgrew and Lenihan need new deals too. Agree with all of that.

What is your Gladwin hope based on? He was lazy and generally awful when he played early in the season, and has since had serious injuries. He also came with ridicule from QPR fans so theres nothing to suggest he could do anything in the Championship. Henegan would be a strange one, not played a game all season. Morris isnt the type of winger to put you on the front foot, and Chapman is too injury prone. Nolan would be a good signing if he was obtainable.

Definitely feel that the wings for me need to be number 1 priority. Once the loans of the players weve played there expire, who arent even wingers, as well as Conways contract expiry, then we have a bug gap there. Graham and Dacks partnership needs to be maintained for as long as possible, although we need a better alternative than Samuel, but we need at least 2 wingers with pace to come in around that, as well as Armstrong. Think we need another central midfielder too, but wide has to be priority. Conway and Samuel, weve disagreed on, but on what grounds would you keep Ben Gladwin?! Hes a donkey. Not necessarily what id do, but what makes you suggest that Bell will come in as number 1 left back next year? Cant see Williams being dropped. Also, a lot of suggestions ive seen for players that used to play of us, even players like Gallagher and Mahoney who didnt do very much. I also feel that Chapman may be partially sentimental due to his injuries, Id like to think that Mowbray will cast the net further rather than go for old players.

The thing that people seem to lose track of when suggesting that we need more of our very successful academy team in the first team, is that the first team itself has been successful enough to seal promotion with 2 games to spare. So for me its a bit unfair to suggest that its only Mowbrays reluctance and lack of trust, more a case of the first team doing very well itself.

Think the point was more that no one is exempt from being sellable.

No i know im just saying I think compared to McCarthy it would be a massive downgrade.

That would be a terrible appointment.

Im the first to get annoyed when people try to deride others by taking their criticisms out of context as some kind of attempt at spreading an agenda or whatever. But I personally think, and seemingly others echo this, that in a season and at a time where know how, consistency and mental strength is key, experience tends to trump youth. I think this is unfair. Whittingham for 1 example, hasnt played a minute i dont think even since hes been fit, hes obviously a good player but for various reasons hes not hit the form of previous heights and seemingly Evans has over taken him. I dont rate Samuel but both him and Nuttall for me have been equally ineffective when theyve played, so not sure if Nuttall can feel that hard done by. To be fair to Caddis hes a steady eddie and has never let us down. His experience of these situations for other clubs may give him the nod over a promising defender last seen showing indiscipline. Theres no rush and im sure he will play a bigger part next year.

Personally think you are being slightly overcritical there. Using phrases like "unceremoniously dumped" is perhaps a bit melodramatic in my opinion. You mention his unwillingness at times to play youngsters but would they have been able to guarantee the consistency of results that the experienced players have provided? Is it 1 loss in 29(?), and 26 points from the last 10 games. To be fair, a point you have gone onto acknowledge. You mention moving Bennett aswell, Bennett has been very good at right back and I feel Evans has justified his selection alongside Smallwood so for me theres little scope to suggest that Travis in either position would have been better. Regarding the individuals, i felt that Nuttall broke onto the scene, 2 goals in what was primarily a first team and youth team hybrid tournament really, plus 2 goals off the bench which he deserves credit for. Following that though, I felt that both in his starts and his sub appearances, he didnt do anything of note and at times (like Samuel to be fair) looked slightly disinterested. Travis' lack of discipline could have cost us, that said you learn from your mistakes but nows not the time to throw in the kids. Its a time for experience and know how. Both have gained valuable experience this season and are prospects going forward. I understand the desire to get the youngsters into the team, especially considering their success for the u23s, but on this I side with Mowbray; i feel that our results have truly vindicated his choice of plumping for experience. Theres no rush either, id like to see Travis and Nuttall perhaps really involved in pre season, ahead of Caddis and Samuel regardless of division really.

That as maybe, but whats the rush to get a practically untested into the side/squad, in the last 6 pressure cooker games of a promotion push, when the team is winning games? Surely let him finish what hes doing for the u23s, then integrate him over pre season.

To be fair, theres an element of truth in that, hes failed both times hes played in the league above it. Hope he proves it wrong with us next season.

Going back to that article, at the end of the day a manager can be doing one of 3 things: - Exceed expectations - Hit expectations - Fail to hit expectations Carry on as we are and he will be doing the middle one, Hirst deserves the manager of the year as hes in the top category, Mowbray and Cook deserve credit for doing the second. I know a few people are seemingly set on spreading the notion that the angry mob are constantly criticising him, but the vast majority of things I see are positive, that doesnt mean people shouldnt criticise minor things ie team selections, subs, all part of being a football fan but I feel like he gets alot of praise and backing which he deserves. Crowds home and away are healthy, and are certainly behind him. Hes not underappreciated in my opinion. Even from last year when he failed to keep us up, the fans backing throughout the summer and at the start was constant, there was a period of understandable doubt after wed lost 4 in 11 because we looked destined for more underachievement but hes turned it around.

No idea. For me the worst part is the lack of notice, maybe theyll announce it the day before.

To be fair they have moved some of ours recently to stupid times.

How much of a joke is it that Sky have put on Sunderland away at Fulham on a Friday night with 3 weeks notice?

The point was absolutely nothing to do with that. It was simply that you are discounting McCarthys previous achievements, whereas you are basing Lamberts promotions from 7 years ago as reason as to why he is the best man to get Stoke back if he takes them down.

No I never. Im not saying that McCarthy has done the 2, it was other posters. I said its hypocritical to discount the point that McCarthy has had success in the past playing attractive football, because as you argued, that "Football has change so much in the past 5 years let alone 16 years" Then in the same breath suggest that Lambert should be trusted even if Stoke go down because hes had promotion in the past, which was 7 years ago. What has Paul Lambert done anytime recently to suggest that he would be capable of achieving promotion?