OneSizeFitz

He was before he moved to us, yep. He's scored three goals in two years since he moved back... Guess my argument is more that if the League of Ireland is a 'pub league', then ours probably isn't far off either. Which might well be true...

Just thought it was a bit disrespectful, really, and can understand why it's not gone down well. Not sure the standard is all that different to the standard he was managing over here, really - he was at the bottom of the Conference with Chesterfield. Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers have both had decent European campaigns in recent years. Players get called up internationally from time to time (Jack Byrne being one example). Cameron Dummigan can't buy a game at Dundalk and he played regularly in League 1 for us... He's the one who decided to move over there - no-one's forcing him. If he doesn't like it he should give someone else the opportunity. No doubt there are lots of hardworking and capable people who'd jump at the chance.

Latics legend or not, he really does lack class sometimes. He's the one whose career's nosedived to the extent that he's managing in this "pub league"...

Willy Gros on the bench for Madagascar as they make it through to the Quarter Finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. They beat DR Congo in the Round of 16, having already beaten Nigeria in the group stage.

Gutted about Clarke, disappointed about Baxter and Gardner. But not surprised. Absolutely terrifying that we're in contract negotiations with Benteke...

You know perfectly well that's not what I was saying...

Completely different intensity though, isn't it? In the Cup non-league teams always seem to tire towards the end of games against League opposition, partly for that reason. Some of the best football I've ever seen has been from teams who've played with one striker. If it were as simple as just playing two up top, everyone would be doing it...

Thought Bury were the best side I've seen in this league all season, and the scoreline was a fair reflection of the game. We looked very much like the mid-table side we are...

Thought 1-1 was a fair result. Today serves to highlight just how lacking we are in quality outside the first XI, and that's why I don't think we'll make the playoffs.

He didn't...

You're of course entitled to your view, but I think it's far too simplistic to blame a performance like today on the fact that we played with two holding midfielders...

We also played two holding midfielders against Port Vale, Notts County and Fulham; were you disappointed in him then too?

We haven't gone this season without having a match postponed because of the weather...

Bit unfair on O'Grady, that. He's been excellent for a good few weeks now...

Sheridan, Corney, Abdallah and the players all bear some responsibility too... It was a team effort to get that lot relegated.

He's a bit of a Football League legend isn't he? 700+ games and counting and player of the season at five different clubs. Seems a thoroughly decent chap too. Happy Birthday, fella.

Spurs, Liverpool and City all play with one striker... The answer's not always 4-4-2. It's playing individuals in positions that get the best out of them that's important. You can play one up front and tear teams apart, and equally you can play two up front and be utterly toothless. This formation seems to get the best out of our wingers, Maouche, and both Missilou and Lyden, so it's fine by me.

Thought we deserved to win, without playing brilliantly. County were poor in truth; hoof to Stead and hope. We had a ropey period in the second-half where we seemed to be tiring and / or panicking, but thankfully Oxlade-Chamberlain jr contrived to get himself sent off and it was plain sailing after that. Lyden, Clarke, Lang in particular played well. Nice to see young Robinson have a run out. Judging by Lang and Surridge's reactions at the end, I'd be surprised if we see them at BP again... they'll be tough to replace.

Just to fact-check this assertion... 2017-18 Coventry - 6th (P) Swindon - 9th Port Vale - 20th Chesterfield - 24th (R) 2016-17 Doncaster - 3rd (P) Blackpool - 7th (P) Colchester - 8th Crewe - 17th 2015-16 Leyton Orient - 8th Notts County - 17th Yeovil - 19th Crawley - 20th 2014-15 Shrewsbury - 2nd (P) Stevenage - 6th Carlisle - 20th Tranmere - 24th (R) 2013-14 Scunthorpe - 2nd (P) Bury - 12th Portsmouth - 13th Hartlepool - 19th So over the last five seasons, only 6/20 (30%) of relegated teams reached either the playoffs or were automatically promoted in their first season. 9/20 (45%) finished 17th or lower... How many points closer to the playoffs do you think we should be? My view, for what it's worth, is that we're about where we should be. On average attendances, we're 13th, and by all accounts we cut our wage bill fairly sharply over the summer. We tend to beat teams below us in the league, and not beat teams above us. At the start of the season, some pundits were tipping us for relegation (FourFourTwo had us 24th; Guardian as relegation candidates) - largely because of our off-the-field issues - whilst others thought we'd fare slightly better. We're a mid-table team, with mid-table players, mid-table attendances, and up until Boxing Day a steady if unspectacular manager. That's not to say we shouldn't aim higher than that, but to "expect" us to be further up the league than we are seems a little ill-founded.

He does, which is precisely why I don't think he'd want to go through it again...

So all we need is a manager willing and able to: Challenge for promotion in League Two with a mid-table squad assembled by somebody else. Work under an allegedly trigger-happy, unpredictable and interfering chairman. Perform despite a climate of financial instability and regular late payment of wages. Placate an expectant but disillusioned fanbase. Easy as that. Can't wait to find out who it is...

Can't imagine it's improved our chances of keeping Surridge, put it that way...

This is the crux of it for me. Mid-table League 2 teams win some, lose some, and every now and then are on the receiving end of a hammering. That's where we are, unfortunately. We're not good or consistent enough to challenge for promotion at the moment.

Would you rather we played without them...?

None of our full-backs are good enough defensively to stop crosses coming in and the 'keeper doesn't command his area; think both of those things need to change for us to reach the playoffs. We could do without giving away so many daft free-kicks in our own half too - Hunt & Edmundson two of the biggest culprits. They're not bad players; just average League Two ones. Work to do on the training ground and / or in the transfer market...