Been there 2 or 3 years I believe, if he's still there. Fell out of love with the professional game a long time ago, think he has a mate at Stoneclough, so just plays there for fun. Did a very honest interview a while back if I recall.

5 goals (4 of those in the cups though, only one in the league). 4 assists. In 73 appearances. Not a great record, though not sure how much of that was off the bench. But we've had worse. I remember quite liking him as a squad player tbh, but maybe I'm just remembering patches of him being alright. Definitely worked hard, but I wouldn't put him in the Lowe category for lack of anything beyond that. Wasn't great, mind.

So would I. But I'll take 3 points at senior level over 3 points at U21 level every day. The real solution would be to have U21 games after senior games (when feasible) as I've said before. Then anyone who didn't get enough minutes on the Saturday can play for the U21s the next day, keeping them match sharp and improving the U21s chances.

I'd echo the 'strange signing' verdict for now. That was my view when we signed him, for the price we paid anyway, and though he started perfectly with a goal, and has missed a few games through concussion, I haven't seen much to change my impression. However, it's still very early days, and the people who decided to sign him will have seen more of him than the rest of us combined. Too early to render a real verdict, these are just early impressions. Players sometimes take time to settle and this time next year (or even next month) we could be saying what a good signing it was.

Can't see the point tbh, other than in the hope the U21s finally win a game from it. Plenty good enough to be getting time in our first team, and I should think he will be fresher than Morton as he didn't play Wednesday.

Hedges didn't make the recent 28 man squad. And it will be a 23 man squad I think? With the selection due I think it was mid to late October. He's got very little time to make a very large impact. It's very unlikely he makes it. Apologies if the details are off, going off memory.

Do you mean Hedges? Outside chance he makes it but I doubt it. Vale would have to absolutely set on fire starting now to make that squad.

I'd be surprised. If I were Ryan Nyambe, I wouldn't go anywhere near Tony Mowbray ever again.

Sunderland are not a massive club.

Oh I remember that from phase one of The Journey.

The U21s are really struggling this season. They did last season too initially, hopefully they turn it around the same way or we might not be in the top league next season. I know a lot of U21 players are involved with the first team and that won't be helping, but this side still had at least 4 players with first team experience (Hilton's being elsewhere). Brentford didn't even have an academy until this season, and it's a category four. Their U21s (well, B team) don't play in a league as far as I can see. I don't know if this means they're a fairly experienced bunch with some on the cusp of Brentford's first team tbf, or if they're mostly just kids who only play matches Brentford manage to arrange.

The noises from Cov suggest Hyam didn't push for a move at all, and that the club almost foisted it on him. Meanwhile, Lenihan was very much wanted here but decided he wanted to be elsewhere. Funny how differently their form and fortune has been, you'd expect it the other way round based on whether they got what they wanted (I worried Hyam might not be motivated here but it doesn't seem to be the case).

So, YOU ate all the pies?

Aside from Bristol, we have won every game (including cup games) where one of the Wharton brothers started, and Adam was brought off on the 69th in that game (at 2-0 down tbf). Conversely, we have lost every game where neither of them started, except for West Brom. Looking forward to both of them starting, the only time that's happened so far was the 4-0 win against Hartlepool, our heaviest win so far (yes I know, only Hartlepool).

If it's as you say (missed most of the match) and continues in that vein then it's a massive plus. An over reliance on Brittain staying fit was starting to look like a real problem for this season. I did secretly hope Carter might be up to it after his Pompey stint. If he's a reliable right back at this level it's a huge bonus.

As a grown man, I think he can make his own decisions about when to wee.

Lenihan appears to have not made the bench (and not been injured) for Boro's game tonight, which they lost, leaving them 20th. I wonder how green he is finding that grass?

I had to miss most of the game because I had something else I had to do, only caught the last 10 or so, but I can tell from the stats we were fully in control. Shots on target: Us - 6 Watford - 2 Shots off target: Us - 7 Watford - 1 Sounds like three good CBs is making us hard to break down again, just like last season.

At least they'll net themselves an appearance fee I guess. But yeh this one was pointless, think it was just to run the clock down a little more.

Here we go, Hirst on and also Mola for his debut.

I'm not gonna complain, cos of the score, but I'd definitely take some legs off after that 2nd goal to keep them a bit fresher.

Have there been no subs? Seems odd at 2 up with another game pending.

That was a majestic finish, especially from a CB! Zlatanesque!

I think it's the case whenever there is a midweek match on Sky's red button or something like that. It was in place last season too. Seems a very random rule but whatever.

Indeed, but if we reacted the same way we did last time we lost 7-0, I'd take it! As long as we skipped the second half of the season collapse this time...