Toulouse lose

Yesterdays game was not a classic. As is often the case with the champions league third round, it's a case of get the job done. Given the oppressive heat in the afternoon sun, we weren't over exerting ourselves. Veronin scored just before half time with this 25 yard belter.

Great to see that the Raven is building on his pre season form. It was an efficent rather than an inspired team performance and I'm sure that we'll put them to the sword at Anfield in two weeks time. The only worrying sign was the fact that Gerrard came off injured after an hour. The latest news is that he has a hairline fracture in his toe but he'll be fit for Sunday which is a huge boost.

The Chelsea match this weekend is huge now. Sky will be trying to build it up as a title showdown, which it isn't, but it's important that we learn the lessons of previous seasons and keep pace with the leaders at the start of the season. Too often in recent years, we've started slowly and have had to play catchup. With Utd having dropped 4 points from their first two matches, it's a good oppertunity to put down a marker against one of the other titile contenders. Chelsea seem to have a few injuries at the moment but I wouldn't be surprised if they manage to recover. Expect to see both Terry, Carvalho and Essien line out on Sunday at 4.00.

Have a look at this for a great interview with Torres. You will need access to spanish or a decent translation website. Interestingly they say that the fee was €26.5m or £18m to be paid over three years which is a lot less than was reported in the UK press. It's the kid's Anfield debut on Sunday. Let's hope that he makes it a special one.

We've signed another new keeper. This time he's a seventeen year old Hungarian called Peter Gulacsi. He has been signed on a years loan apparently. With a name like that maybe he should have joined Golden balls at the L.A. Galaxy. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Bremen and Auxerre

Since my last post, we've gone to the Switzerland and won two friendlies. As a wise man once said, in Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. He mustn't have heard about Milka chocolate.

First up was a 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen. Veronin had an impressive match and scored two goals. He looks like a strong runner who has good vision and will link the play well. Even though he is likely to be fourth choice, he's already a fans favourite and will probably develop into an impact sub. Riise added the other goal from a rocket of a free. Torres got a few minutes at the end of the match.

Auxerre were beaten 2-0 on Fri afternoon. Gerrard scored his first of the season and Dagger got the second when a free was floated into the far post. I only saw highlights of this match but it doesn't sound like it was anything to write home about.


Steve Finnan signed a new deal this week. Great news for him and for us as it means that well have our "Mr. Dependable" for the rest of his career.

There's a good Torres post on this blog. Well worth a read.

The BBC have an article on the Heinze situation. I hope that it gets sorted one way or another shortly. There's little point in dragging it to the courts if it's not going to be resolved before the transfer window closes.

If you're feeling nostalgic and of a certain age then you might enjoy a look at this Dalglish and Rush compilation. It was featured in the guardian during the week. Some amazing goals there from arguably the greatest partnership in English football.

Here's more of the same. Peter 'The Great' Beardsley was my favourite player when I was a young fella. I had Peter Beardsly shin guards. Unfortunately, they didn't make me play like him and I was still crap.

Some of the online rumour mongers reckon that we have our eye on Samir Nasri at Marseille. There is some specualtion that we have secured an option on him for next summer as part of the Cisse deal. I don't have a clue whether there's anything in this or not but it's worth bearing in mind for a years time.

South China FC are our lunchtime opponents tomorrow. I can't tell you anything about them. Our far eastern tour has begun in earnest. I always wonder about the value to the team of these tours but I suppose it's about raising the profile, expanding into new markets and blah blah blah. As you can see, I didn't apply for the job of commercial director.