Ayatollah Hermione

True enough but do Liverpool really have the players for it? Their attack is decent but their midfield, Gerrard aside, is very poor. Henderson, Spearing, Adam, Spearing, Shelvey, Downing. All players who are average or poor. Now, I know the first thing Martinez will do will buy some central midfielders but if the rumours are true about him having a reduced budget, will he have to sell Suarez to fund the rest of the side? Will the fans kick off and force him out? From looking, it seems like he's had to sell their good players (Valencia went for £16 million, Palacios for £12) to buy so I was partly mistaken. This gets us back to the point about doing the same at Liverpool; with a scouting system like ours, he could take that £30 million and transform his midfield and do a good job. If he's going to get stupid money then, he can spend daft money at players to compensate for them coming to a side that is in decline and is being rebuilt. The "global pull" of Liverpool dwindles every year they're not amongst the top clubs though. Also, as you say, Liverpool is completely different to Wigan and it's a place where the fans are vocal and in clear distress over the growing distance between them and Man United and the growing parity between them and Everton. It's a job that's going to take some real effort, money or no money, to keep the fans onside despite possibly selling their best players to take them forward and convincing the owners (who don't seem to be the most football savvy bunch, shall we say) to keep the support going. It's definitely interesting like and I agree that it was a matter of time before he got a bigger job. Never thought it would be Liverpool though.

Irresistible musk.

Different kettle of fish though. You're dealing with a club whose fanbase has went completely off the deep end in recent months. They wanted (and expected) Guardiola, Mourinho or that class of manager to come to a side 8th in the PL with Jonjo Shelvey, Jay Spearing and Jamie Carragher in it. They need a manager who will spend a few seasons rebuilding the squad, trying to make as much back as possible off the shite Dalglish has bought and put together a strong side. At the same time, they need to stick to their conviction, no matter what the knackers supporting them expect, they need to appoint someone with full confidence and patience in their vision. I don't think Martinez is the man for that (though he's hamstrung by other factors at Wigan, he's spent a decent wedge) but only time will tell.

Titter

I was going to do one and just belch into the mic or something but KSA has well and truly beat us all for comedy. Brilliant.

Downing though? Howay.

Stevie's is mint. "Robson Green with more sophistication"

Anyone see the squad based purely on stats? Simpson, Baines, Ruddy, Holt, Carrick and Graham all get in and it's a hell sight better than what we'll probably end up with.

I kna I shouldn't laugh but that has to be a first in English football.

Plenty time for you to visit Asia. There's a very small window of time when you can live away when you're young and spend it drinking all day and eating chip shop curry all night.

I heard Yohan invited Tim down to his "land down under" for some wink wink, nudge nudge, unprotected anal sex which, as we know, is frowned upon in the sport.

Somewhere, Rodgers is looking over his side's possession, weeping into his Ovaltine.

It's ridiculous to me that Hodgson can think of two/three better right backs than Richards. I'd have thought it would have been Richards and Johnson, Walker if he was fit.

Maybe it's Cahill who is xenophobic and can't stand foreigners even talking to him? makes you think. namaste

He's only 30 so give him a couple of years. Just as Sammy is finishing up his glittering career at the Toon, in comes another Ameobi.

What if he just called him "a right fucking bender" and tried to flick his lug? Called him a "hairy kangaroo shagger" and farted on his bracket when he was on the deck?

Making room for Danny "Off the Line" Simpson

Had a nightmare with injuries as well, Roeder. Couldn't have done much worse than Allardyce, mind, christ alive.

They reckon the shock won't be with who is left out but rather who's going. Scholes out of retirement? Beckham? Perch?

New Mars Volta album. As always, it takes about 3 month for it to gel in my head. Well worth it if you like them; more straight-up alternative rock with some weird little time structures and song shapes. Nonsense lyrics as always.

England squad

No way it was racist like You can fuck somebody off without calling them whatever it is you can call an Australian.

Pardew sets up a news conference, flicks the v's at Cahill and the past-it knacker can fuck off.

The joy he's brought into our lives can't be doubted. Long may it continue.

She'll be reincarnated just in time for Christmas for a dramatisation no doubt.