He’s right when he says he should have left at the end of last season and I’m still none the wiser as to why he didn’t. He implies he stayed as a favour to steady the ship, but I thought it was widely recognised that we had a squad well equipped for the championship and in fact our transfer market activity before and during last season seemed to factor in a plan B.

Had he retired after the win at old Trafford he would have been rightly regarded as a very good manager for this club. And while I think he still should be, this season will obviously bring that into question somewhat. What shouldn’t be forgotten is the way he did bring things together and get everyone behind the team again after the self-inflicted mess of the past few years. But he doesn’t half blow his own trumpet. I’d love to read his self-review for his annual appraisal