Hector McDougal

Had a coffee with fat Pat this week. He's a good red from what I gathered. He's dressed like P Diddy in this photo. http://okeydokefootball.blogspot.com/2009/...redictions.html

Didn't realise that he's 23 in December. Can't see him being here next season. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ap...n-babel-excuses

Put 5 each way on him for top scorer at 15-1 in august. Thought that was a goner with his injuries but he could yet earn me some cash.

Can Tevez play in the Dirk or Riera role and would he be happy with that long term? Don't see where else he fits in other than as sub for Gerrard or Torres.

Babel did well against them last year in the CL but I know what you mean. Hard to trust him.

Not going to be easy but we can do it. Think Riera was poor and Masch effed up for the goal but think we're playing well by and large. Riera off soon.

They can't afford his fee rumoured to be £18m?

Enjoying the commentary. Thanks Andy.

The guardian are reporting Babel to Arsenal too. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ap...manchester-city

Flying out to Korea today. I'll be watching it in a bar in Seoul. Given that Park plays for them I expect to be the only person cheering for us. Should be fun.

Angelina Jolie and her son Maddox. Jolie's preparation for Wanted saw her reunited with Eunice Huthart, a 41-year-old Liverpudlian and a former winner of TV's Gladiators, who has been her stunt double since she made the Tomb Raider films. 'Maddox is a Liverpool fan,' says Jolie. 'He watches them whenever he can and that's because of Eunice. She got him into soccer and she's a Liverpool girl. http://www.kickette.com/index.php?/site/co...l_fc_supporter/

Clive Owen was in Dublin a few weeks back and I attended an interview he did at the Dublin Academy. He regaled us with tales of watching the Istanbul Champions League final with Mickey Rourke. He has some quality quotes about the Reds in this Esquire interview. "That's a pure thing, that club. Not really explainable, really. My family endures. They don't understand it."

I think we'll get our money back or very close to it from an Italian club. He's done well for the national team by all accounts.

Came across quite clearly on the setanta stream I was watching. Pretty low behavior from some of our fans. Feel sorry for Lucas. Not the greatest player to have played for us but being booed isn't going to help him.

No arbeloa, as mentioned in another thread.

I watched that match with loads of Catalans in Dublin. They were sound and loads came up to congratulate me at the end and said we deserved the win. Watched last night with a Madrid supporting Spanish mate and he was the same. Best team won according to him.

Where can I sign up for the echo podcast?

Didn't Torres say in an interview that Maxi was the one player that he would bring to Liverpool from Atletico? What about Valencia at Wigan? I suspect he'd cost a lot but Wigan seem prepared to sell. Other wide players we've been linked to in recent times are Kuba at Dortmund and Luis Suárez at Ajax. Don't have a clue how much either of those would cost. Luis Suárez cost Ajax €9.5m 18 months ago.

Van Persie would be superb. We could sell Babel or maybe Arsenal would take him from us. There was talk of Wenger trying to buy him when he was at Ajax. What about Vucinic for the left side? He could fill in for Torres up top when he needs a rest/rotation. He's come on superbly in the last 18 mths and Roma are going nowhere fast. They are unlikely to make a champions league spot this season. I don't think he'd be cheap but Roma aren't well off and have sold off a top player every summer for the last few years: Emerson, Samuel, Mancini and Chivu.

Was Dolan a LOI player at one stage?

Aurelio has 4 assists which is as good as any full back in the league. Despite that, the likes of Lawro continue to propegate the myth that our full backs "never cross the halfway line". Pure bullsh1t.

I agree that another striker shouldn't be a priority. If we can get a quality youngster to provide cover for Torres the odd game then that'll be great. Maybe N'Gog or Nemeth will be ready to step up next year. But as others have said, it's a priority to get somebody of top quality for the right hand side, to take Dirks position. We all know that Dirk has his virtues but he should be a squad player rather than a regular starter. If we had another match winner to give us a third threat beyond Gerrard and Torres, then we'd find it much easier to break down stubborn defence who are happy with a point. Stopping El Nino and Stevie nullifies the vast majority of our goal threat. As to who that might be, I don't know. But I don't think a striker or no 10 is the answer.

Is there any chance that we can recall Nemeth now considering he's injured and we could do with him as cover?

Had a dream last night that Everton beat Utd 2-0. Unfortunately I woke up before our match so I don't know that result.

I'm in the same boat. Booked flight over for the Sunderland match and will have to change them now. No doubt Ryanair will fleece me for the privilege.