Playing for England these days has become almost meaningless. Just look at some of the puddings who've pulled on the shirt over the last few decades. Then you think Howard Kendall never got near a cap.

It'd have to be something pretty serious for a player to cry off when you've only just arrived at a new club. I hope he wasn't taking his dog to the vet.

And what if he can't hack the pressure of the fee and just goes into his shell ? That's happened plenty of times. Kevin Davies being the classic example. Then we've blown our dosh. We need a target man because we can't play like we did at Hull every week, I wish we could. Teams will come to Ewood and deny us space for the quicker players to run into.

You know when you buy a car and the seller wants £6k for it and then £8k then £12k , what do you do ?

Pickering was the next best behind Shearer. After that it'd be Bellamy ( I'm a lot older than 34 ).

I'd walk away. He's not the only deal in town.

The only drawback there is if he does flop we won't have the back up centre half we've been agitating for.

I agree, it's the fact that for various reasons it's ages since he last played competitive football that's bothering me. It's hard to pick it all up again after a long absence even if you are an international.

Yeah and he didn't cost £8 million either.

Yeah I agree, I was just thinking who was the last full England international we had at the club, Wes Brown then Danny Murphy just sprang to mind.

I'd rather be playing this away really. We seem to be set up better for away games. I'll reserve my prediction until I see the team.

Well done Sam, obviously fed them duff information.

Well anyone who pulls on the shirt gets the benefit of the doubt from me in the first instance. We'll soon know if he's good enough or not. He should be the best player on the pitch in training if his past achievements are anything to go off. It'll give our existing centre halves pause for thought if nothing else.

Maybe he can keep Gladwin company on the treatment table ?

No mention of any of the usual suspects going out on loan anywhere ?

We're not that desperate surely.

No problem.

If he was signing for the Dingles we'd be laughing our heads off. My Sunderland supporting pal just got back. When I told him the news he said - " You are joking aren't you, the lad's not dealing with a full deck."

Err, Gladwin also.

You may be right. Centre half involves the least amount of running around apart from the goalkeeper. On the other hand if you're any good there you get a fair amount of physical punishment instead

Yeah I think so. Middlesborough seemed to get a few players picked for England when they were a second division team !

As a kid. Not recently.

My mate's just taken his daughter to the aeropuerto. I'll grab him when he gets back later today. He lives in the midlands and goes to as many games as he can but his brother is still up there, he's a season ticket holder and is in the loop regarding the club.

I sort of agree with your second paragraph but you also had the danger of desperate clubs coming in just before the March deadline to sign your best players. I E Hull taking Ken Knighton off us to ensure our relegation in the old days.

I'm talking back in the days before Alf Ramsey. When you weren't even thought of. The FA Committee picked the squad/team and the manager had to get the best out of them. I thought it was common knowledge these days.