Cronky

I don't think we are trying to attract anyone to this club "from the position of 13th place". There is no one involved in buying new players (owner / manager / directors etc) who was involved last season. Even Freddy Shepherds temporary role is irrelevant, as he is off ill. Everyone, who may be joining us, knows that this is a totally different club, and that last season has no real relevance to anything at all - for the future. It will become even easier 'after we have achieved' , but it is still nothing like as bad now, as the statement "from the position of 13th place" implies! Okay, 13th place sounds a bit negative, and we're competing well for players with everyone outside the top four. But we're not in a position to turn our noses up at a player like Hoyte.

He looks decent enough to me, and would improve the squad. I think we have to face it, we're going to find it very difficult to attract the very top players from the position of 13th place, and the big four have a big advantage over us at this time.

I'm sure that he was the best man for the job, and the fact that he was the Chairman's son was a total coincidence.

It's difficult for Keane to attract players to Sunderland when there's so much competition from other clubs. (eg Nugent) He's having to pay a bit over the odds for a player who's not much better than the ones he's already got, but that's the position they're in.

My theory is that West Ham are stalling until the season starts. They were only allowed to keep Tevez on condition that he became a registered player with them and his old contract was nullified. It looks like that didn't really happen, so if he leaves without a transfer fee, they're clearly in the shit again. However, if they wait till the season starts, it's more difficult for the Premier league to relegate them, and they can embark on a long legal tussle.

I can't think of a team that Martins is less well suited to than Arsenal. If this goes through, it will be Wenger's biggest mistake since Francis Jeffers - and a very similar one, in fact. If this turns out to be wrong, I'm sure you'll all be far too gentlemanly to quote me.

He's worth one and half million to another Championship side. Not strong enough for the Prem.

I've got a good feeling about this, if it's true. Deco could be our Beardsley - someone to get the whole team buzzing. Despite his appearance, I think he's also a tough little sod who could handle the Premiership. Unlike Luque, if he were to get a whack, he'd give it back.

Zoggy has got it in his head that he's a great player who's been badly treated. In fact, he's a useful player who needs to improve if he's going to be a Premiership regular. That's why his career has stalled. It's interesting that other clubs don't seem to be battering down the doors to take away a player who's clearly unsettled.

It's worth remembering that this idea of 'signings to stun the football world' came from the Chronicle, quoting 'a source'. It wasn't a statement from Mort or Ashley, and Mort explicitly said that he wouldn't be coming to Allardyce, trying to persuade him to go for this, that or the other big name player. This feels a bit like Ruud Gullitt and his 'sexy football'. A quote invented by the press which gets repeated so often that it becomes fact.

If true, it's a poor attitude. The England team needs its squad members as well, and players shouldn't be dropping out just because they're not first choice. They also serve, who stand and wait.

I have doubts about Raul's ability to handle the physical side of the Premiership, which is always tough on a striker. I think he'd be another Morientes. Deco makes more sense, and would explain the trip to Barcelona. Allardyce has bought that kind of player before to add a bit of creativity eg Okocha.

Some interesting points there, Delima. I think Sunderland will struggle a bit, though they'll probably stay up. On paper, I think they had the weakest squad of the three promoted teams and made it on good management and preparation. That'll only take them so far. West Ham seem to be the hardest team to predict, but I think they'll make a few more big signings, and I do rate Curbishley. They also suffered last season from the loss of Gabbidon, who I think is their best defender. I'd say definitely top 8.

Smartass.

Only predictable thing at the moment is that Man U will win it. Unlike Man U, Chelsea's signings seem to be designed to bolster the squad rather than improve it. It's important to keep things moving forward whatever the standard you've reached, and they could slip to 3rd or 4th. 2nd is more likely. Anyone else think that this lack of spending is Abramovich's way of hoping Mourinho goes into a huff and leaves? If Arsenal sort Wenger's future out, I'd say third, because they're on the way up. Otherwise 4th or 5th. Liverpool 3rd or 4th. I still don't think they've found the answer. Between Spurs, us, West Ham, Everton and Villa for the next few places. Whoever gets Bellamy finishes 5th. (That's a bold one)

Deco is the sort of player that Allardyce has gone for in the past with Bolton eg Djourkieff, Okocha - nearing the end of their careers but able to add something extra to a team. Some older players, like Hierro, have also been attracted to the idea of learning from Allardyce's scientific training methods before they become coaches themselves. So, on reflection, it's maybe not so outlandish an idea. I think he's a great player, and although he's only small I think he can survive the physical side of the Premiership.

Interesting that there's a lot of emphasis on not interfering with the Manager's judgement on football matters. Could that be prompted by an awareness of what was going on before?

I share those doubts about Owen. That 4-3-2-1 formation is becoming increasingly popular and he doesn't really fit in. The game as a whole is moving away from his kind of specialist poacher role and he needs to adapt. In the World Cup, he seemed pretty determined to stick to what he thought he did best, and there were rumours that Eriksson was trying to get him to get more involved in the build up.

It's probably a bit of revenge for what Sam said when Roeder was appointed. Ah, I was forgetting that. That would only add to the bitterness.

It seems very odd that there is such a large gap in prize money between Spurs and Newcastle when Spurs only progressed one round further ie Quarter finals rather than last 16. I've got doubts whether that information is right, but if it is, I'd be interested to know the reason why.

Allardyce hasn't said that it would take 5 years to get us into the top six. The 'five years' was for building a trophy winning side, as far as I can remember. I think Roeder's got a chip on his shoulder about his standing as a manager compared to others, and that bitterness is creeping out here. It's a shame, because he has made a contribution, and he didn't inherit the job under the favourable conditions that Allardyce is enjoying. He shouldn't be trying to stir up trouble for a fellow manager by encouraging the fans to raise their expectations though.

............Given Carr....Rozenhal....Taylor....Duff Dyer.....Geremi....Barton....Milner ..........Viduka.....Owen Not absolutely sure that Geremi has played CM, but he looks like he could. I've got a feeling him and Barton would work well together. Tempted by this as a front six though - Barton....Geremi....Emre ........Dyer..... Milner .............Viduka

It would be a very brave official to say that someone was not a fit and proper person, when that person is rich enough to sue you for fun.

This quote says a lot - The panel's ruling states: "Ian Mill QC [representing Sheffield United] mounted a strong attack on the legality of the decision and the tribunal had much sympathy for Sheffield United's grievances. "However the tribunal had to apply the principles of judicial review and determine whether the decision was irrational or perverse. This is a very strict test and is very difficult to satisfy. "It concluded that it was impossible for this tribunal to find that the decision was irrational or perverse." - In other words - 'Sorry, Sheffield, you've been completely shafted and we sympathise. But we're powerless to intevene as the letter of the law hasn't been broken.

There have been signs of talent there, but mentally he looked very tense and he really needed a run of games to develop some confidence and relax. That's not going to happen here, and I think he's doing the right thing in dropping down a division to get more experience. I wouldn't write him off though, he might well come back as a good Premiership player.