Tiresias

I'm really glad our gamble signing him has paid off so far, he's bound to get injured sooner or later, but helping us to this start has made him worth the risk already imo. Got us some proper momentum going, and won us precious points.

Please tell me Colo doesn't have that ridiculous Tevez agent, Joob what's his name.

Scenarios a) It's just taking time hammering out the details b) they're in no rush because both parties are content, Colo's not going to move away where his kids are settled etc etc (yeah appreciate footballers say this sort of thing all the time) c) Colo's playing hardball and wants another year on it or something d) Colo's been approached by a big club and is pondering leaving e) Colo secretly hates the club and is going to bugger off asap f) the club accidently sent the contract offer to Smith who is signing it as we speak

I'm now waiting for the news that Gosling is injured with every bone in his body broken

I'm glad actually he said target was safety and knows it's going to get tougher, I'd hate to think the players are all desperate to stay at forth and once we do start to move down table morale would collapse. Obviously looks like relegation is pretty far from probable at the moment (though if colo and taylor and tiote all got injured or something I'd be fretting a bit) but the team morale both being high and also grounded is excellent

Bale was very effective against Italian teams because the Milan's are both pretty slow at this point and also operate without traditional 'english' wingers. Which actually is a fairly big weakness, Udinese really successfully got a lot of success out Wide because noone else in the league really tried that. Bale's effectiveness was thus pretty much against his idea opponents, and shouldn't have been surprising despite the prestigious opponents. He's a good player, but his form is changeable. A lot more players have such fluctuating form than I think the main press ever really mentions, if a star has a quiet game it's not mentioned, if he has a great game he gets shouted about. Rooney got benched against Liverpool presumably because of his mental state, his mental weakness is born out in his form last season and internationally, and yet the press never dare mention that as brilliant as Rooney can be, he's weak headed, and fluctuates. This is massively unfair on the steady going players, who put in the same shift game after game and are great but they don't dazzle, and disappear, dazzle then disappear, which monopolises coverage. Example of that would have been Vaughn at Blackpool last season, better than Charlie Adam, but Adam threw a strop at transfer day and scored a bunch so he got the media coverage. Vaughn doesn't appear to have carried the form to Sunderland though lol

On it's day perhaps but Guti's reliable, whereas I'd fear Taarabt would affect the team ethic negatively. Wouldn't say no though still, he'd be an odd signing though, unnecessary and a gamble

I guess he's predicting Ben Arfa will get injured again so need another mercurial talent. He is a good player, but can't see him fitting in first team though, and he's also incredibly changable, he hasn't done anything in the premier league yet, I'm not especially keen.

The addition of Ramsey and Wilshere being back will probably improve England squad a lot, players actually capable of keeping the ball in midfield, rather than just losing possesion. Not convinced by Pearce though as a manager

Disagree, Mertesacker made plenty of spot on tackles, did well from teh corners and him and Koscienly looked much better than he...ever has. Looked improved at the back, still rubbish up the front really. If I were an arsenal fan I'd be slightly cautiously encouraged.

Oddly enough can see Obertan drawing a lot of fouls out of the Wigan defence. Though still prefer Marveaux there and HBA central

We do obviously need a big shake up about how we develop youth, not sure fast tracking players to big clubs is a great idea, unless the big clubs set up B teams to play in lower leagues a la Barcalona B etc

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/19/football-league-academies I think this is a pretty terrible idea, if anything I'd go the other way and make it harder for premier league teams to snatch up players. It's not that I don't want us pilfering great talent, but I think what already happens, and will happen is that more youth talent is bought up at a young age to premier league, where they languish in the reserves and never break through. Some will obviously get loaned out, but I think it's healthier for players to play in first teams for a longer stretch before moving up to next level. Wouldn't want premiership teams just buying players just because it's cheap. Hmmmm.

oddly enough wouldn't mind keeping Raylor for utility cover, he's in the end been alright at left back. Get a new leftback, Santon move over to right, Raylor in as cover, I'll be happy

the horror

Their defence is a right mess at the moment, lets keep our high defensive line and really test their backline as much as possible, should comfortably be able to score. Al-Habsi is alright but one of those keepers that looks good from defense letting lots of shots go at him, which he can then save.

Wouldn't mind seeing vucknic start, sounded very good in reserves game

Sounds like no plans on sticking Marveaux or Guti on the right, shame

Oh absolutely could be great, and go for him

Think he said in an interview he wants to manage in England and wouldn't mind trying a team outside big 4 or something. He'd probably be a candidate for Arsenal should Arsene go, I dunno, they may want to go with youth and vigour though, (still think Villas Boas probably more suibted for Arsenal than Chelsea, whom I suspect will chew him up and spit him out).

Not trying to rain on anyones parade, but doesn't look like he'll be a worldbeater if he's not set a league on fire by 25. Not saying bad purchase, hopefully prove canny, and I'll trust the scouting considering Cabaye etc, probably be a good purchase, but would he replace Ba or Best right now? We'll see.

Ancelotti is clearly holding out for totenham once Redknapp goes to England job, if he really does want to manage in england again. If he wanted to manage a smaller club someone would have sacked their manager and given him the job already. I'd hate Ancelotti to manage sunderland since I find him oddly lovelable, like a huggable uncle with a crazy eyebrow

Bruce will probably spend a while out of management, then go to some lower league team, do alright with them and eventually get a premier league job again, and everyone will be going about him being given unfair treatment at sunderland. Though I guess that's pretty much Pardew's career path too actually, only he's turned out to be pretty competant

Don't worry, Ba'll be injured by then

Has he really looked good as a CB there? Wasn't convinced the few times I've seen him there, but haven't seen enough.