Most of the young players we've been forced to play regularly this season will be all the better for the experience. Lichaj, Baker, Clark, Herd and Weimann have all been thrown in at the deep end and have shown they can swim. Not entirely convinced about Bannan and Albrighton, and it's still too early for Gardner but that's a good return from our Academy. Steven Ireland is a quality player and has come on a bundle since Christmas and McLeish deserves credit for getting him on board. Warnock came through a rocky period and despite some miserable performances at left back he's never hidden and his commitment to the cause has never been in doubt. He's finishing the season looking a better midfielder than defender. As for McLeish himself, he's endured an extremely testing time, a section of the fans on his back from the day he walked into the club, had to sell his most influential players then had to contend with a crippling injury list and forced to blood more youngsters than he would have wanted. All things being considered, he deserves time this summer to stamp his mark on the team. The time has come for Lerner to financially back him, or sack him because a repeat next season is simply unacceptable.
