Kuwabatake Sanjuro

I wouldn't consider it an excellent performance at all, he did the simple things well abut could have done better for the goal, He had no influence going forward which was down to the lack of control o the game from the team. He will do better in games when on top and I still like his attitude.

Just checked what he is up to and he is looking smart to be fair. Unfortunately the caption below reads "Mário Jardel acusado de vários crimes no Brasil" Money laundering, false documents and criminal association seem to be the charges.

Looks like the sort of appointment that will help us consolidate our position in this division.

9 As in his GCSEs although I'm not entirely sure how impressive that is. Academic intelligence obviously doesn't equal footballing intelligence but I'd consider him a decent judge of a manager. Somewhat on topic Steve Bruce's talent as an author is worth noting. https://www.balls.ie/football/steve-bruce-novel/293169

1st choice for me is Marcelo Bielsa, might be difficult to get at this stage but if Dr Tony is willing to splash £15m on Championship strikers then he might be able to make an offer worthy of the great man. He could finally sort out the culture of the club and leave a platform for others to build on. 2nd choice is a bit more realistic in Michael O'Neill, a very shrewd tactician and generally is a very positive man without being a spoofer. Has overachieved in his last two jobs. Jonny Evans who is probably one of the smartest professional footballers in world football recently mentioned how shocked he was that no clubs have come in for him.

What is needed is someone who is tactically astute, can set up a defence properly and can get players believing in themselves. Michael O'Neill is the obvious selection for me.

I feel sorry for Bilic,I'd like to see him do well but the club and supporters I couldn't care less about.

He will make more mistakes like every other keeper on the planet, hopefully they aren't as costly and hopefully the fans won't get on his back again. I don't think they will as after a few games he is looking like a good keeper.

To play inter county Gaelic football at an amateur level it is generally accepted that there would be no drinking for the majority of the season. The odd exception would be after big wins or team bonding sessions during training camps. In my own county we had a top class u21 player who was called up to the seniors but was dropped off the panel for missing a training session and going horse racing instead. Unfortunately soccer players have contracts so it harder to enforce the same level of commitment to the team.

On now if anyone cares, Kilkenny leading 2 points to 1 after 6 mins.

On now if anyone cares, Kilkenny leading 2 points to 1 after 6 mins.

Not much else on with the international break, this is worth watching if anyone is bored today. Throw in is at 3:30pm(coverage starts earlier obviously) and the teams are Kilkenny and Tipperary. Kilkenny win almost every year, Tipperary win most years they don't, nobody really likes either of them but it should be a cracking game of hurling played in front of 83,500 people. It could also be the last game of hurling shown on Sky as the TV rights are up for renegotiation once again.

Pochettino's man management skills are highly rated, if he can get him motivated then it won't be a bad bit of business but it is a risky one. Newcastle fans are delighted but he could sicken them.

I watched the full Hull game and seen bits of him in preseason. Have seen him a couple of times for CSKA in the past but didn't really pay much attention.In the In the Hull game I noted that he has pace still but takes the wrong options almost every time. A couple of shots from him were pathetically weak too. I'm not one who believes that all Nigerian players cheat on their ages but he is a suspicious one.

Unreal so he was, couldn't believe the nonsense he was spouting about Wilshere. A good panel overall though and Chapman is probably the most talented football host in the English media.

When Pardew is disposed of they have the makings of a good team, could do with a lot more quality in defence though still.

I don't think they are much better than Kodjia and McCormack though, arguably not better than Okazaki and Ulloa either. Slimani may make me look foolish but Musa looks atrocious, possibly the reason for the signing of Slimani.

Steve Parish had great things to say about him as a leader moreso than a footballer on 5 live there a minute ago, said selling him was one of the hardest things he has done as chairman there.

£29m for Slimani is crazy money for a 28yo who only has 1 very good season in Portugal to his name. I would have liked Villa to sign him but Kodjia is better value definitely. Musa will be rubbish for them too and there is no way he is his official age. Leicester will still be one of the fittest teams in the league but have had a poor transfer window and will drop back into the pack.

Leeds have signed Eunan O'Kane, I'd have liked to sign him as a squad option but he presumably would rather guaranteed 1st team football. Arter is better but unlikely to leave Bournemouth now. Business is probably done but 1 more central midfielder who is good on the ball would have been nice. Hopefully Gardner can play a bit better if he is called upon again.

Another small positive for me is that he plays football with a smile on his face, there hasn't been enough of that around Villa lately.

Rhodes wouldn't be much cheaper and could easily have higher wage demands. He wouldn't have the mobility of Kodjia which is more important for the team.

I wouldn't be surprised if Veretout turns out decent, Gana is already starting brightly in a better team while Sinclair is playing with confidence again at a lower level albeit. The bad managers/management and toxic atmosphere at the club last season did not provide good conditions for players to flourish

The squad still needs an exiting attacking midfielder/wide player. Grealish is nice to have and will improve as the season goes on, Green too but has a long way to go. Someone like Gil but a little better would do nicely with the players he'd have around him. On another note it would be class if Wilshere can't get a PL loan and would be willing to drop down a division for football in September. I don't even like him but a signing of that sort of quality would be required to be in contention for automatic promotion. At the moment the squad should be good enough to compete for the playoffs but is a bit off the quality of Norwich and Newcastle still.

SNE got the Malcolm X comparison before me but it is a good look to have. The glasses are class. He is the right sort of signing but the spiralling costs are worrying, especially as the team is still nothing special.