Hector McDougal

Always bugs me the way papers do this. I notice it more with us but it seems like our buying prices get quoted including all add-ons and selling prices excluding any. I'm sure it happens with other clubs too but United seemed to get more favourable reporting on fees in my (biased) view.

Mate of mine who's a football journo based in Madrid reckons that given the sales Real have made and lack of purchases so far, they're going to make a bid for Bale.

You should try to get a walk on part on Home and Away while you're over there, like when they had Michael Palin on the beach years ago. For all your home and away needs: http://homeandawayireland.com

Even though they bought Falcao? I'm struggling to think of too many foreign clubs that could afford him and are in the market for a striker.

I think Suarez is rapidly running out of viable transfer options. Hope he gets his head down for the season if he does stay.

+1

What about Stevan Jovetic as a replacement if Suarez does leave? Probably leaving Fiorentina now they've bought Mario Gomez. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/jul/09/mario-gomez-fiorentina

Standing ovation.

Very true. Against the grain was all manner of short lived experiments that fell flat on their faces, feile, carnival, something else when I lived on Camden st. Brew Dock was a hole called Kate's Cottage. I hear they've opened one in Blackrock now called the Dark Horse, I've yet to visit it. Nice to see they have a loyalty card scheme in the group for food and own brand beers.

That's my local, I live nearby and used to rent an office on Capel st. Good atmosphere in there on a Friday after work. It's great they managed to make a go of it, been a good few different incarnations before the Black sheep.

L Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter, Brew Dock on Amiens st, Kavanaghs on Dorset st, The Black Sheep on Capel st, Against the Grain on Wexford st? They're all the rage in Dublin now, which is great, being able to ge at decent selection of brews. Brought a few of my mates from Kildare to one recently when they were in town and they spent the whole night giving out, "can we go to a real pub?" and "this beer is all warm piss". They were annoyed that there was no Bud and Heineken on draft. You can lead a horse to water...

Have you covered the David Conn Guardian Anfield redevelopment article from last month on the wrap? Might be worth getting him on to talk about it over one of the summer podcasts if he's available. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2013/may/06/anfield-liverpool-david-conn

100% this. If he just said I want CL football and to be competing for trophies, I'd say fair enough, off you go provided we get a good fee early in the window with time to find replacement.

Shaw is being heavily linked with Chelsea.

Journo mate of mine who lives in Madrid reckons that Cavani to Real is very likely. Doubt they'd sign him and Suarez?

I used to love Crystal maze, went downhill when O'Brien left and the younger dude took over.

Johnson doing good fake surprise when he gets booked.

Berbatov ffs.

I really like Jordan, he's kicked on loads this year. I fear he'll be a sub more often than not next season with Allen being preferred to him.

Did Chelsea finish 6th last year?

Julio Cesar would seem a decent short term option provided we can get him to agree reasonable wages. Really hope we keep Pepe and it doesn't come to that, our defence is going to have enough turmoil and change this summer without adding a new keeper into the mix.

This. Don't get why some people are so down on the Europa league. Yes, it's not Champions League but I'd much rather be in European competition than out of it. Why is it said that Thu/Sun kick offs are harder than Wed/Sat kick offs?

Very funny from Reg. I hope he tells them to shove it when they ask for their money back. It's interesting that Jason Roberts has had nothing to say on this matter when he's not normally short of an opinion but maybe he's involved with the PFA somehow.

Some talk of Sunderland bidding to take Danny Rose on a permanent deal. Haven't seen much of him there but he's done very well by all accounts. Would he be decent left back option if Spurs would be willing to sell to us?

No doubt about it. I'm sure he'll get hammered again next season.