It's been a strange campaign, divided into two almost equal halves by the fact that two different managers have been in charge over the course of 2006-07.

In the press room at Bradford City the other week they were showing highlights of the 0-0 draw between the Bantams and the Cobblers at Sixfields earlier in the season.

Having the video evidence to hand so soon after seeing the new regime illustrated the huge sea change that has taken place since Stuart Gray took over from John Gorman - not just in the personnel but in the playing style.

Before Christmas the team played a possession game, keeping the ball at all costs and thinking nothing of recycling play through several phases before attempting a pass into the final third or a shot on target.

There's a greater sense of urgency in the play now, and it's hard to argue with the results. Brad Johnson perhaps typifies this change in style - he didn't get a look-in under John Gorman really, but his energy and willingness to fire shots in from all over the park is apparently just what the new boss is after.

Several people have asked me if I think Mark Hughes is a better player than Luke Chambers, a question I have found it impossible to answer.

That's because Chambers played almost 150 games before leaving here for pastures new and Hughes has only a handful under his belt.

Both are fantastic prospects and I - along with probably just about everyone reading this - would have been disappointed had the club sold Chambers without bringing in a replacement.

But the fact of the matter is that Gray had Hughes primed and ready to come in, he had done his homework and it was a case of replacing (almost) like for like.

I'll finish the debate by saying it will be interesting to see what Hughes is like when he's had the benefit of 150 games at this level.

I've been interviewing a different member of the 1997 Wembley team in a weekly feature in the Chronicle & Echo, something I am happy to admit is a labour of love.

Like 32,000-odd others, I was at Wembley the day John Frain wrote his name in the annals of the club's history, and from what I can remember of the night that followed it, it was a cracker.

One thing I can't get my head round, though, is the fact that it was nearly 10 years ago. Another disturbing fact is that most of the team that will start this afternoon's game were probably still at primary school at the time, while I was knocking back the Moscow Mules in the Roadmender.