Why are you assuming a replacement hasn't been lined up?

I concur.

That definitely happened LeChuck, I remember it well. However, it was when he left. The badge kissing thing came later, and therefore is probably more pertinent in determining his attitude to us. For all we know his agent penned the letter.

I've read it now... Oh no, I find it much more laughable that she said she was never really that impressed with footballers, yet proceeded to go off to bonk him after being merely asked, even after he kept chucking up everywhere. What a colossal slag. Assuming it's not just nonsense to sell papers, which nobody should ever put the Sun (or tawdry slags) beyond doing.

Good to see we're not shallow here then! There's a bit more to a broad than looks, who knows. I haven't read the story yet mind, she's probably just a tawdry slag. Point being, Cheryl is fit but might be an utter bitch for all we know.

Cheers Den, I was running out of excuses to keep posting to keep the topic easily accessible! Just watched those Burnley away highlights...gods the Dingles were dirty that day.

Weird, I distinctly remember being at this game, but I've no recollection of it being the opening day of the newly developed stadium, none at all. I didn't even remember that I ever sat in it before it was developed, but guess I must have! 25 million for a 30,000 seater stadium, you'd never get anything like that now! Wouldn't be surprised if it cost a similar amount just to rebuild the Riverside to the same capacity as the Jack Walker!

I've edited all the clips onto the first post in the thread, so people don't have to trawl around for them all. If anybody knows the scorers of any of the goals (naming which goal though please), let me know and I'll put that info in too. Us whippersnappers wouldn't know you see

There is a possibility that this is a slight exaggeration.

Personally I would just trust Hughes to get a decent one in. Of course, that also means that if he doesn't sell Andre, I don't expect I'll be criticising him either, as it will mean he doesn't think he has someone available who can do the job.

Didn't know we had an option for another year. That changes it a bit...I still wouldn't be distraught to see him go though if a replacement were lined up.

And why is that? It's called financial prudence. Not being first choice right now, he's a bit unlikely to make the position his own, and although, yes, some centre halves do play on til 36 or so, most are over the hill by about 33. Also, since he isn't first choice, how likely is he to want to sign a new contract? He will be aware himself that his last few years are upon him, and he is liable to want to play them out rather than sit them out. Therefore, a sale now for a mill, helping to fund a youthful replacement, would represent good business versus letting him go for nothing at the end of the season. Do you have a reason I'm wrong that doesn't involve computer games, which nobody else brought up? Besides, I've never been massively impressed with him. He's quality when he's on it, though not the fastest, and he has been pretty poor at times.

Would be nice if they'd make a 1 million bid for him IMO...I was never really happy with this signing in the first place, he's old, in his last contract year, and if we got that we'd get most of our money back for him. Plenty of other options to cover, and we could even have another expert Hughesy gamble on a new young centre half (he seems to be damned good at that!)

Don't know, if Derbyshire can fulfill his potential I can see him getting close. Doesn't look like someone who would want to leave.

Sherwood? Now? He's 38 and retired in 2005, are you talking about the next level down?

Capable, sure, as a fill-in. Nothing more. If we sold Pedersen we would immediately have to look at buying another left-sided midfielder. And though I agree Pedersen isn't entirely pulling his weight, good left mids are not a dime a dozen. We're also unlikely to get 10 million for him when he isn't on his game, and won't want to sell him when he is.

Thankfully, the Wigan vacancy seems to be one Hughesy isn't being linked with! Unsurprising I know, but I just looked at the oddschecker odds, and they've not got Hughes on the list- but Mourinho is 100-1 for it, and probably more astonishingly, Benitez is 40-1 with Betfred! Incidentally, my immediate instinct when Hutchings was sacked was that Jewel would be back. Wish I'd bet on it then, naff odds now.

How many gig is the CM demo? I can only take 2gb home with me from here, and don't have the net at home.

Whilst I never thought Danns was going to make it 'big time' per se, I always felt when he left we would see him back in the Premiership again. I felt he would become a Prem regular with some club too, but I didn't envision the rise in standards that have taken place in the Prem. It's now more likely he will become a Championship club's regular.

Don't agree at all. I love being in the UEFA Cup, and am gutted we're out.

Who scored the belter of a first goal in this one please?

Cheers, know about the first game? particularly the first goal, that was a belter

Thankyou very, very much whittle blue. Any chance anyone could tell me who scored which goals?

Wondering if anything came of this...did anyone get any clips uploaded, or could they? I'd love to see the man in action.

No, he wouldn't. He would enter the second year of a four year deal. However, the rules as I remember state that players can buy themselves out in the 2nd year of a 3 year deal, or the 3rd year of a 5 year deal. Bizarrely the article I read never said anything about a four year deal. But assuming it takes a 5th year to make it last three years, this contract makes sense. Otherwise it doesn't, as we would still have had two years before he could buy himself out. He probably got a wage bump too. Short might have been doing a job for us at 37, but it wasn't a 20k a week job. Mind, I expect if the Admiral stops performing well enough to warrant his wage he'll be off. Incidentally, Henchoz contract has ran out. And we haven't heard anything about whether it will be extended? If it's not going to be we'd probably be advised to get a new centre half in. I also agree we should future proof Samba's contract. I have a feeling he will really grow this year (Not physically...that would be scary) and turn into a highly coveted player. It would be wise to avoid having to bump his wage to 30k a week or something in a year, and just put him on 12-15k or whatever now on a 5 year deal.