We need to stop sending teams down there until we have a side capable of giving them a game. This is just embarrassing.

Who knows what’s in the lads mind ? If it was me - Leeds or Newcastle or Seville ? Give me a nano second to decide.

Yeah, he’s a bit unusual in that he likes to run from distance with the ball. He’s not like most strikers who are penalty area operators.

When we went up last time what most people could consider was a “marquee” signing, Eyal Berkovic, got us over the line.

He didn’t have the look of a footballer to me. The four lads we have now at centre half, Ayala, Lenihan, Wharton, Van Hecke all look better to me.

I don’t know who was worse Peacock or Dailly. If you rolled them together you wouldn’t have had a decent centre half.

Ayala, Gallagher and possibly Kaminski back in contention apparently. I’d leave the first two on the bench and only play Kaminski if he is 110% fit.

Put Gallagher up front centrally and give him balls to chase and he’ll do ok. That’s his position. His first movement needs to be away from the ball and not towards it. If Brererton is missing for any reason Gallagher can fill in. Anywhere else on the pitch is a waste of time. I first saw Wharton in that egg cup game at Rochdale a couple of seasons ago. He got sent off after 30:minutes. One of those tackles where both players go in high for a bouncing ball and the first one to go down holding their chest gets away with it and the other one gets the early bath. Right in front of the Rochdale bench and of course they all came running on to the pitch. Although it was only a 30 minute cameo I liked what I saw and I though he was one for the future. Marty Platt came on to replace him and you could see the difference in ability.

A lot of his signings were baffling.

Yes, a very good summing up.

West Ham have lost both of their first choice centre halves to medium/long term injuries. They’re going to need new blood if their season isn’t going to fade away.

Come home now lads.

I heard there was a serious falling out between Hodgson and the senior players over tactics after the 4-0 thrashing at United. Things were said that couldn’t be unsaid. After that things went gradually downhill.

You mean like Rothwell ?

Anybody who could could keep Alan Wright out of the team must be a top left back. We were blessed in those days.

The injury didn’t happen at ‘ Boro, it happened at Ewood against Boro. I was there. He got in a tangle with Juninho and the Brazilian dragged him around. LeSaux’s boot and foot stuck in the ground but his body and leg kept turning. He ended up with his foot at 90 degrees from where it should have been. He did well to come back from that.

I think LeSaux crapped on us from a great height after he came back from that very serious injury. I was there the day he did that. Juninho spun him around and his boot stuck in the pitch. He must have had the best of medical treatment. Extremely good player but I’ve no respect for him as a person.

I take my hat off to them. We used to be able to move that quickly in the transfer market etc once upon a time. Now by time the carrier pigeon has flown to Pune it’s normally too late.

Nice version that I’ve never heard before. Sounds like the other guys are singing on it, I can’t really hear Freddie.

Jim Smith used to tell a story about the Dailly transfer. He’d heard through the football grapevine that Rovers were interested in Dailly. He mentioned it to the chairman at Derby who said “ If they come in for him tell them not a penny under £ 2 million Jim “. Apparently Hodgson phoned up a day or two later and offered £ 5 million straight off the bat. Jim Smith managed to haggle the fee up to £ 5.25 million ! I remember watching Hodgson’s team in Italy. He had Zanetti, Djorkaeff, Ince and Aaron Winter in midfield and they were really poor to watch !

Yes that’s right.

That’s what usually keeps teams up - beating the teams around them, especially at home. Along with the odd totally unexpected win or draw against one of the big teams. The fat lady isn’t singing yet but the orchestra are tuning up their instruments.

Which Bond movie ?

Promoting stand ins because they’ve won a few rarely turns out well.

Looks like it. Plymouth were at Rochdale at the weekend. Still pretty impressive recruitment though. Makes me wonder what have happened if Preston would have scored from the pen they should have had and got a 1-1 draw