Duncan Barkes

Let's put injuries to one side for a second.

We're playing teams that have got £8 million, £10 million players out there on the park.

They don't look a lot better than us.

But, of course, they can edge it from time to time.

And that's why they're £8 and £10 million players.

And John Massino is clearly saying that if we want to establish ourselves as a bona fide top half championship side, I think that's the plan for next season.

That's what he wants to do next season.

You're just going to have to spend a little bit more.

And it may be that his message is in part for California.

And he's saying to the Eisners, we have talked about this, but I'm now talking about it out loud because the fans deserve it.

And our players need to know where we're going.

I'll tell you what, it's absolutely unheard of in this day and age for not just a championship manager, but just about any manager anywhere to be talking about where he wants to be with the club in four or five years time.

And this is fantastic in so many ways.

And it's what our manager is saying.

So, you know, there's reason to be optimistic.

But as one prime minister used to say, I'm an optimist, but I always carry a raincoat.

Up at Ipswich, the coaching staff are defending George Hurst.

Remember him, who has only scored once, I think it is, in the last 15 games.

Down here, John Massino, from time to time, thinks it's a good idea just to remind us that Colby Bishop is of great value to the team, even if he's not scoring as many goals.

anywhere near as many goals as he did last season and the season before that.