Athelwulf

Yes, spot on. What the Italians don't know about defending isn't worth knowing, and they seem to do it with the technique of players in more advanced positions. Higuain's a tremendous signing IMO.

This explains the prices. But I'm shocked at Leeds, bearing in mind the fan base and merchandising.

And re-establishing the Hourihane/Winnall partnership which Bruce stopped us doing when at Veela.

You'd probably sell to Wolves. As a PL side they'd be able to pay more. The only advantage in selling to Veela is if it helped them thwart United and Leeds' promotion bids.

Yes, we were brown and smelly today but it can hardly be gauged as a yardstick for how things will be when Brucellosis finally grasps the reins.

We daren't even play our players in league games, let alone the cup.

Basically, if Chansiri wants promotion this season then he's going to have to gamble and bring in 3-4 PL standard players. We're talking Snodgrass standard, players who win us games when we've played bob. That's what Villa did here and especially at the Lane. You're looking at probably £4-5 million in wages between now and the end of the season. Promotion is still doable, but we'd need several players the rest of the league can't cope with.

We were bob today, but at least Brucie will be in no doubt what we need.

We need to bring in 4-5 bona fide PL players. Then, when we go up, those rules and regulations will count for nothing. We're probably going to be sanctioned anyway, so we may as well go for broke.

They'd never dare punish us, WF. Chansiri could make a start by selling Thailand to fund our promotion drive.

Spend! Spend! Spend! If we want to go up we need to bring in players too good for this league, like Wolves did. I'm not interested in anyone who's earning less than £60 000 a week.

Bruce is actually a French name, Le Bruis. Or better, Scottish Norman, like Robert the Bruce. Etienne Roger le Bruis.

Bloody Nora

We've just had 3 tough fixtures, and I guess they won't all be as difficult. I guess it depends how many six pointers are to come. OK, Brum was one, but we haven't lost ground on them. If we can beat the teams above us, then we have a chance. You'd think we'd be stronger after the window, and we're usually better in the second half. Why post-Xmas we're usually better, I've no idea.

Yes, I remember that first encounter with Leeds. Monk picked the biggest midfield I think I've ever seen, and Leeds doubled up down the flanks. Carlos argued that FF could have opened the scoring, and that to beat that type of opposition you need quick ball. But this is the second tier.