Babb'sBurstNad

Lots of young players earmarked for central positions start out wide. There's more space for them to find and with regards fullbacks it teaches them to bring the ball forward, pick a pass and generally avoid major howlers if they screw up. The problem is not whether it works to acclimatise them to the game, the issue is most don't make it once they're tried centrally and end up back where they were, as slightly plodding fullbacks.

I honestly don't think it's his attitude, he's just inconsistent.

Sega Worldwide Soccer 97 on the Saturn, and I'd give Death the shitty third party pad too. If it has to be a board game, then Scrabble, as I play by my own rules - no nouns and I'm allowed to hum annoyingly when it's not my turn.

Have a good one VD.

I reckon we'll get a CB in, but I'd settle for a pre-contract with Goretzka and wrist splints for Mig.

Turkey crown Bacon on the turkey Pigs in blankets Roast potatoes in duck fat Fine green beans Pork stuffing balls with sage and onion Pork stuffing balls with roast chestnut and thyme Yorkshire puddings Gravy One token sprout

I'd be a bit scared I'd go batshit crazy out of fear and kill someone.

Hope you find your way through this mate, I've been there - as have many others - and I know how hopeless things can seem when your brain's working against you. Just remember, you're not alone and there's always a way out of that hole, even if you can't see it at the time.

If every day was Christmas, then I guess technically it would be Christmas Eve too.

A bit of a booby.

Hope everyone gets some decent toys in their stockings.

The problem is, every time someone exclaims "They can't be any worse than Mignolet", the ensuing performance/s prove otherwise. Ward should've been loaned to Huddersfield again either way.

Got given some Waitrose Duchy organic Herefordshire vintage cider for Christmas. Pretty disappointing considering the poncy name; a semi-respectable 5.0%, but it lacks any kind of body or aftertaste. It's not unpleasant, but it's too watery. Oh, and 2016 shouldn't be considered "vintage", I don't touch a home brew unless it's at least a year or two old.

Anyone who likes music books or the blues should give B.B. King's autobiography, Blues All Around Me, a read. It's a window into another time, and a really heartfelt insight into his personality. I used to think Cash was the gold standard for this kind of book, but King's autobiography runs it close.

That's next up on my list. It's been sitting on my shelf for ages but the impending adaptation will give me the kick up the arse to finally read it. I'm in a sci-fi groove at the moment - currently reading The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester.

Was it ever intimated how Arteta received his injury?

I can't see there being any way in which we'd sell in January. It seems to be rumours fed to friendly journos by the Barca board, just like in the summer when they claimed everything was agreed. In reality, they can't afford him yet. They wanted him and Dembele, and spunked the Neymar cash on the latter whilst offering us some pie in the sky deal involving add ons like an extra few quid if he cures cancer and lands on Mars. Where's the money coming from, and where's the reason we'd sell half way through a season having fought so hard to keep him in the summer? The only slight leverage they might have is if we want to capture VVD and Lemar now, rather than wait until the summer, but given how slow we operate I doubt we could close two big deals in January when it took us eight months just to fuck up the VVD deal before.

No idea, but they sound like the world's least successful hip hop group.

Leadbelly for me. The tempo of the track and the gravitas of his voice I think nail the sentiment more than a slower version. The Grateful Dead did an interesting rendition though.

Peaky Blinders - 4/10. I keep trying to find something to like in there but it's no good. It's got high production values, but it just distracts momentarily from the directing and writing, both of which set my teeth on edge. Over use of slow-mo to cover up for a lack of craft and absurdly macho characters as deep as a puddle of spit. It's like they've given a major production to a film student with a hard on for hipster vintage clothes and derivative gangster films. Can't believe some people mention it in the same breath as the American crime fiction shows of HBO.

I reckon it's got score draw written all over it. 2-2

Belated birthday wishes Vlad.

I'd mark him down a point based on haircut alone.

The clusterfuck of these retrospective bans will hasten the arrival of VAR. It's only a matter of time. As long as the fella watching the video replay isn't a shifty foreigner, mind.

I'd rather we held onto our money in preparation for PSG's fire sale to meet FFP requirements, now that Mbappe's fee won't be carried over to a new financial year. Could be some great players leaving, similar to the last time Madrid had a clear out of all their Dutch talent.