matthew45

I think Taylor may be distracted by SPOTY last night. He was clearly made up by the recognition. It's tough to overlook Barney but Mervyn King has got what it takes.

No. The reason why the case will be heard so soon - and why the board is pushing for a declaratory judgement - is because there's a decent likelihood it's an open and shut case. I wouldn't be surprised if they settle 'on the steps of the court' to save further legal costs.

I can't believe: a) Peter Gulacsi is as fat as the photo suggests b) Jay Spearing (5' 6") is the same size as Sammy Lee (5' 2") c) Konchesky is that much shorter than Shelvey

It's a really good post (and occassionally funny to boot) but I don't have anything to add to it because the problems with the team are so glaringly obvious. The thing that worries me is the lack of sense that it's going to get fixed. Will Joe Cole's return 'give everyone a lift'? No. Are there lots of top quality players coming back from injury? No. Are there lots of possibilities? No. Any easy fixtures coming up where we can score 6 and get our confidence back? Whoops, missed that chance.

Great write-up, thanks Dave. The whole club seems short of strikers and I'm not convinced that Nemeth and Dalla Valle would have done much more than occupy the space - but given how few people we got into the box that game, it might have helped. I love the idea of the 'PM club'. Any more insights on that? Is it just for all the misfits? Does Owen Brown coach them? Is Rick Parry's son involved ;)

There's another possibility of course: That the injunction was granted because the story wasn't true.

Gulacsi is a very sound option and cheaper in wages

You do know that one of them isn't a yank?

I think it's more helpful to look at the criteria first, then the name. In my view must have: * proven track record in Champions League * won a league somewhere else * strong record of building teams, rather than buying success

I reckon he's had the operation and no-one at the club is saying anything so that he can be sold to Man City in January Anyway, he probably isn't playing because he doesn't like Rafa and just wants out Either that or he's 'doing an Agger' and missing games so that he's not caught.

I think there should be serious consideration to allowing the reserve teams entrance to the football league. at the very least let them start in the conference and work their way up.

bugger. What is there left to do with tonight? No reserve team games now til 2010 - a real pity as we were starting to click.

for a player of apparently limited ability, El Zhar has always made things happen when's he come on. His pace and willingness to run at defenders may not have produced anything for him but has almost always created something for other players.

swap Benayoun and Voronin and I could live with that.

Once El zhar is fit it will give us more possibilities on the right flank. I also wouldn't count against having Aquilani, Lucas and Masch in the middle and Gerrard (whisper it) slightly less in the middle