Brian Clough used to say “ Nobody can lose you a game quicker than your goalkeeper, so sign the best one you can afford “. That was when he signed Peter Shilton. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing last night for the first goal. Schoolboy stuff and a poor schoolboy at that.

I remember going to watch a Rochdale v Man Utd pre season friendly. Utd sent what was basically the youth/reserve team. Beckham, Scholes, Butt, one of the Neville’s etc. All their kids at the time. Gillespie was playing on the right wing. He was head and shoulders above everybody else on the pitch. He must have been about 17 or 18 and he was ready for the first team then. He was playing against Jimmy Graham, a tough old pro left back, and Jimmy couldn’t get near him. I said to my son” Bloody hell, they’ve got another George Best on their hands here “. If ever a lad wasted his career .

Hutch could be a real handful. He gave Keith Newton a hard time on more than one occasion. He had this trick were he’d be running at full speed with the ball, then he’d appear to over run the ball. When the defender hesitated he’d bring the ball through with his trailing foot and he’d be gone. I watched him a few times and he fooled me every time with that trick.

Marvin Gaye - Can I Get A Witness

I can’t believe we paid real money for the new lad.

Just seen the highlights. The first goal - wtf was our keeper doing ? I’d be shocked if a schoolboy keeper had done that. Second goal - you have to know “ when to stick and when to twist “. That wasn’t the time to be playing short balls around our box. If things carry on like this Pears will be straight back in when he’s fit again. Leonard did almost everything right, he showed good pace, ran in front of his marker so he either had to let him go or bring him down, then he put it wide of the post. Grr. Siggy wanted way too long with his chance. To get anything from games like that 1) your keeper has to have a blinder. 2) you have to take what ever chances come your way. Neither of those things happened.

Otis Redding - Pain In My Heart

Graham Parker And The Rumour - Heat Treatment

The Small Faces - All Or Nothing

If you were one of the two centre halves what would you rather play against - one striker or two ? It’s obvious to me.

We’ve been in the mire ever since the Chicken Chokers bought the club. It just gets deeper each season.

If we had the players I would, but we haven’t. It worked last season for Luton.

Ritchie Havens - Here Comes The Sun

James Brown And The Famous Flames - Try Me

I don’t know where you find the time to do the research but I’m really glad you do. This weeks edition is especially excellent.

I hope the Chicken Chokers don’t see this !

According to the BBC gossip column. The Premier League are looking into Chelsea’s transfer dealings back in 2013. Nothing like being on the ball is there ?

The only way we’ll give them a game is to play our best eleven. We don’t play again whilst Sunday, what’s the problem ? Keep telling players they’ll be tired and they’ll play like it. Give players an excuse not to perform and 8 out 10 will take it.

If they can’t give what will be a pretty weak Rovers side a chasing they really have got problems.

Johnny Kidd And The Pirates - Hungry For Love

Good question. We used to know what a “ Man Utd player “ was but not any more.

They were looking for the new “ John Stead “ but even Stead had played at league level for a while.

If they do blow Ten Hag out who do they get ? The guy at Spurs is doing a good job there but going to Old Trafford is a big step up. I honestly think Utd have got themselves into the position were nobody can save them.

You know what I think about Mount- the archetypal modern midfield player. He can run a bit, pass the ball a bit, tackle a bit, head it a bit, shoot a bit - but he’s not outstanding at any one thing. Not a “ Man Utd player “ playmaker in a million years but it’s because they’re signing players like Mount that they’re in the mess they are in now.

Maybe, both have decent records. If JDT got knocked down by the proverbial No 17 bus we could do a lot worse.