Whitey Grandad

The apparition of someone who you knew very well has a resonance with me. Twelve years ago my business partner who I had known for nearly thirty years died from lung cancer so I had to buy his half of the business from his widow and made several rearrangements. For several years I had a recurring dream where he had come back, seemingly from the dead, and I was annoyed that all my changes would have been in vain and that I would have to share the business with him again. Because I knew him well and knew all his mannerisms I could talk to him and he would respond as I expected. He was very real. Gradually I learned to adjust, firstly by arguing that I had seen his death certificate, then later that I had bought out his share anyway. Gradually the dreams receded until they stopped but for the few years that they continued they were very real and disturbing. When you have a model in your head of how someone behaves your mind can recreate them in a very realistic fashion and it can be very unsettling.

I've missed the start of this showing so I've programmed to record the next showing on Wednesday. Thanks for bringing my attention to it.

Because he was chicken?

It's not that I'm not bothered, I'm just pragmatic.

Very true. Had someone messed up his hair?

That's good, isn't it?

I saw the 1972 version years ago. How does this one compare?

A clean sheet away from home and a point. That's a good solid basis on which to rebuild. I have only seen the result and not the performance but at this stage of the season we need to be grinding out results. Flair and understanding can come later once the window closes and the squad is settled.

European compromise innit.

But both Vlaar and Gardos are suffering long-term injuries which doesn't help us much for at least the first half of the season.

I also have one spare in the home end. If not taken then I shall have a bit more space to sit

We might all be excused for thinking that the playing side of the business is not top priority. Nothing beats a settled team and at the moment our team seems some distance from that. Hoddle makes the point in the Mail today that the manager spends a lot of his time sorting out transfers rather than coaching the squad.

No, not on Sky

Yes, that surprised me too

Clément Turpin. I thought he was good too. http://sportif225.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ARBITRE_TURPIN_Ligue1.jpg

Hoddle doesn't like the window either: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3207352/Deadline-day-panic-day-transfer-window-shut-season-begins.html And on Wanyama the Mail on Sunday stirs the pot further: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3207372/Victor-Wanyama-tells-Southampton-unhappy-wants-leave-midfielder-refusing-discuss-new-contract.html

Yes, surprise indeed. It was probably the best of a very few offers.

This shows why referees should never mimic the offence, or lack of it, because such actions can be misinterpreted. I took the ref's actions to mean that the player's hands were down by his sides but we can't know that for sure. A simple shake of the head would have been more than enough.

We have nothing like £100m in the bank, we should just be grateful that we have sufficient resources to trade at a comfortable level if we manage the business properly. We cannot sign anybody on a 7 year deal. Professional contracts can only be for a maximum of 5 years, 3 if the player is under 18. Please check the facts before going on a rant. http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/27/64/30/regulationsstatusandtransfer2010%5fe.pdf

My apologies Wighty, I didn't mean to belittle you, I was just trying to take your last point to its logical extremities. It's inevitable that Targett will be compared to Shaw but first and foremost we should be comparing their defensive capabilities. Anything else is a bonus.

Good to hear but the suspicion must be that these reports are leaked in order to unsettle the players.

#welimpon

There was one on Thursday that annoyed me. JWP was open for a short pass and Victor chose instead to drive the ball out to the left wing and into the crowd. JWP was not impressed.

So because neither he nor Shaw managed a goal or an assist they are equal? Fullbacks are there to defend and protect the flanks first, anything else is a bonus. I cannot imagine Targett ever being as good as Shaw but that's not his fault, that's just the way it is.

Lionel Messi ???