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?

You're missing the point. What you think of why Lambert hasnt achieved what hes set out at his last 4 clubs is irrelevant. You suggested that @Bigdoggsteels point was a moot one because McCarthys success with Ireland was a long time ago and football has changed, even in the last 5 years. So surely Lamberts success or lack of in recent times means that hes possibly not the man youd want to be spearheading a promotion push, was he to relegate them?

Point being, whether there were mitigating circumstances in any of them, hes not achieved what he set out to achieve at any club hes managed in recent years. Therefore, how is that different to peoples points, most pertinently @Bigdoggsteel that McCarthy has proven in the past with other teams that he can have success AND play attractive football, as he did for Ireland? Which was also well in the past, as was Lamberts success. (also unconvined that after spending what they did on Helder Costa and Cavaleiro that he couldnt have done better last year, but thats beside the point)

Can I ask why you rate Lambert so much? You mention the hypothetical scenario of relegation, if that happened hed have failed to bring to success to Villa, Rovers, Wolves and then Stoke in succession. You are basing his job therefore on past success; how would that be any different from others defending McCarthy in a similar way? McCarthy has no money and a team full of grafters but no real flair or quality, and they are comfortably mid table, I do understand why fans might get itchy feet but id not be remotely surprised if a more "exciting" appointment followed and then they started to fall as a result.

Thought you preferred Rashford to Sterling?

Thought Sterling was a class apart, 2nd name on the teamsheet, so clever between the lines. Stones was awful, all for passing out from the back but theres a line. Does that in the world cup like he did tonight and we will soon be going home. Dier again very little use, in contrast to henderson the other night whose limited but fitted the style of play much better.

I personally wasnt convinced last season either.

Think its just his loan that ends. Besides, had a poor season.

I don't understand the point of the discussion if rather than picking the team you'd play, you are just discussing what team you think Southgate will play and agreeing with that. You also said the other day that you wouldnt pick Smalling. If people would prefer a different formation, or players that are unfavoured by Southgate, it still doesnt change peoples opinions that theyd prefer someone else.