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.

I can't see that myself.

I can't agree there Parson, maybe nobody is to blame but surely our recruitment plan wasn't supposed to be like this.

England basically had this system for years I believe. The FA suits picked the squad and the manager had to get on with it. It was only when Alf Ramsey was given control of the squad that we started to look a good team.

That's really tough luck. A pal of mine had it, at least he was in his mid sixties at the time. I believe Don Revie had it as well.

You've given up on Whittingham then ? I think we'll struggle to loan him out even if we pay his wages. On another tack , what about the invisible man that is Gladwin ?

I'm out on holiday with a pal who's a die hard Sunderland fan. I'll risk his blood pressure and ask him for the low down on Rodwell later we he gets up.

Hutchison gave plenty of full backs a tough time. He had a trick were he over ran the ball and then dragged it through with his trailing leg. He fooled me every time and I was only watching from the stand. I've never seen another player do this particular trick. I rated Nyambe when the knives were out for him on here. He has pace and athleticism. That'll take you a long way in today's football. The skill bit will come with time.

I'd rather not panic buy. It rarely turns out well.

From what I read about Rodwell he's exactly the wrong sort of player to bring in. The original bad apple. His attitude at Sunderland stank. I daren't ask my Sunderland supporting pal what he thinks of him, he's already got high blood pressure !

Is he what we need though ? We seem well stocked for midfield players. On another tack - when are we going to move some of the fringe players out ?