Just done the most basic of research on him and the random Scottish club's manager said that they were literally the only team willing to take him (on an emergency 3 month loan) last season, nobody else was interested. Sounds exciting!

I'm not convinced on this - from watching him live and looking at his stats, he works harder off the ball that most in the team. This improved moreso when VI came in. It's been his decisions on the ball that have been inconsistent so far, though the quality of players around him have played a part in this.

I don't mind Toth at all, I think with more gametime, he'll develop into a decent GK at this level. Calamity...I think it's clear how I feel about him. TK is streets ahead of both and was probably Luton's best player in their solitary season in the Prem.

Certainly Cantwell, around 12 months ago - he had a few options available to him, but JE sold him the club / role / etc.

I think that this fact tends to get lost on a lot of people. We lose that amount of money because of the model/running of the club. A semi-competent ownership and/or UK SLT and it's a different story altogether.

Anyone who thinks Calamity Pears will move for a seven-figure fee is - quite frankly - on drugs.

I don't particularly disagree with your point, but it looks to have been a good seller, I see it more regularly than the home or away shirts. Popped over Accy Tesco last night and I saw 2 different people wearing it, for example. See it all over the place.

This. The record books never show method, only result. It's why I never understand the arguement about football being entertaining. Yes, it's nice to be entertained, but football is a competitve sport first and foremost; nothing matters as much as winning.

If it works like it does in FM (I know...), once a player is within the final 6 months of his contract, he's free to discuss terms on a pre-agreement. The owning club doesn't have a say in this, at that stage. Once a deal is agreed, the transfer takes place upon expiry of the contract. The onus for the owning club is to tie a contract up before you get to the final 6 months.

Additionally, how many times have we fallen foul of the 'weaker' sides? Like Iceland, under Woy. In any case, we beat Germany in a knockout phase in the last couple of tournaments - and, without checking, I'm sure we've beaten some Croatia-level sides also. You don't get to choose who you play; the trick is beating them and progressing.

To be fair and to use the full sentence on that, he described it as moving from a 'massive club' to 'another massive' club, which he felt extremely lucky to have represented both. He worked hard in the games he did play for us, so no complaints from me.

Have a feeling, based on absolutely nothing factual, that Batth will stay and it's already been agreed - but the club are planting the seeds of doubt in the local media. So when the new contract is announced, they can spin it as a huge achievement.

A proper captain and a proper man. To think we picked him up on a free. Sparky's scouting setup knew their stuff.

Me too, I loved this kit as a kid.

It's a 4-2-3-1. But I find the inclusion of Jordan Henderson the most baffling aspect.

Our best GK in recent times (Kaminski) spoke really highly of Benson, during his time here. Not sure why so many people seem to have such a low opinion of him, to be honest.

He is, but not a very good/reliable one. As long as anyone who reads his red-top gossip guff understands that it is exactly that. By default, he'll get one right every so often, but even in those cases, he's usually covered all bases and caveated.

Absolutely my attitude. If he's adamant on leaving, then let's move on and wish him luck. For his sake, lets hope it's not another Nyambe situation.

Nah, surely that'd be on par with winning the Auto Windscreens Trophy, or whatever it's called now? A major domestic trophy would be the top division, FA Cup or League Cup, in my opinion.

I was surprised when I heard this. Probably take success for granted, seeing Rovers' rich history across the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. But blew my mind a little than a fairly prominent club like Palace had never won a proper trophy in their history until today.

I don't believe for a second that the owners even know that we have a women's football team, never mind making a decision on whether to fund it. Look closer in the direction of those who may have a vested interest in reducing costs. Possibly benefitting by way of annual revenue targets / personal 'performance' bonuses. Think large sums straight into their pension pots, for a competely random example.

Yes, everyone with a different opinion to you must be an employee of the club... He's generally not done much at all when he's played for us, but every now and then (Newcastle at home in the cup, for example), he shows that there's a player in there. If you can't see it, fair enough.

I'm not sure, I think Markanday could do the vast majority of what Dolan offered.

West Ham at home, Jan 1995 (4-2, Shearer hattrick / Le Saux). I grew up just over the hill, so spent years watching from the hill and through the gates, but this was my first game proper. Sat in the Walkersteel with a couple of my mates, would have been 10 or 11.

He is literally on the club's payroll - he'll be towing the line.