Ex Lion Tamer

You've got such a problem when the chairman is signing players without any recourse to coaches/scouts

Perhaps, but their careers at international youth level are in no way comparable, if that's any guide

I suppose in today's game a player like Case might stay at Liverpool as a rotation player

He played for the youth team last week and has only played half a game in the cup for the first team. He is making the bench for Champions League ties but not League games, suggesting he's only there because it's a larger bench

He played for the youth team last week and has only played half a game in the cup for the first team. He is making the bench for Champions League ties but not League games, suggesting he's only there because it's a larger bench

Even if we did try for them, Sevilla and Atalanta are more attractive propositions for players than us at the moment unfortunately

Not even on the bench for today's game

Ralph says a lot of things, such as Djenepo playing left back. If Stephens doesn't perform then he'll get dropped, no doubt about it

If everyone does that then no one gains and a lot of clubs get in serious financial trouble. There has to be a point at which clubs say no, it's not safe to spend any more

As good as he still is, I wonder if he'll be detrimental to the team at a whole. Utd need to move on from being a team of individuals really. Can he press or is he going to be a passenger? Also some doubts last season about whether he can still do it against the best teams

TBH I think that's pretty weak but arguably not as much as our GK position I suppose. We ought not to forget that Walcott had some good games last year, albeit he hasn't done it in a while

I'm happy for him to be given a chance but wouldn't be getting my hopes up based on performances against lesser opposition

Leaving you short in the wing positions

Fair play, I'll give you that one

Anyone unhappy with Walcott's signing needs to explain who they would have signed instead for the same money, or who they would have sold/not signed to fund a better replacement, or if they would have just gone without and relied on Redmond/Ely etc to step up

I'm trying to imagine Shearer shouting "Alan's!" every time the ball comes near him now

Ah right. I always hated shouting my own name. Definitely wouldn't have passed LD's captaincy test

1 and 2

Do you really need that much language skills to communicate in a defence? "Up", "back", "yours", "mine" and a few more should do it i'd have thought? Incidentally, is it a real rule that you're not allowed to say "mine" or was that just in 90s Southampton tyro league?

3 unused sub appearances and 45 mins in the cup so far

I was having a dig, Dig Dig, at those who wet themselves when we refused to pay Brandon's loan fee

I wonder if City's form will nosedive like Utd's did when Fergie announced he was leaving. They could end up with Pep leaving well earlier than planned. I also wonder if Pep is suited to international football when he won't be able to hammer home his system day to day with the players

I'm gutted that we didn't get Brandon Williams in

If you buy into the view that we have spent all the money we have available, then Walcott for free and Lyanco to cover for centre back and Romeu was about as good as we could do

Who played the ball to Ely? Lovely pass