* Wigan has snubbed Everton in their attempt to buy Leighton Baines. Coincidentally, or maybe not, Rafa has revealed a renewed interest in the left back. Baines would be a great pick-up, but I don't know if there is an ounce of truth or reality to this story. I don't know if he would turn down the move since he was an Everton fan as a child or because he would still play second fiddle to Riise. It would allow us to play Riise at left mid, if needs be, but with Kewell most likely to be the starter there and Babel around to back him up, it's not likely nor necessary unless Rafa feels it's the better match-up on match day. We also still have Aurelio coming back in October. The only good thing it does is take pressure off Arbeloa from having to cover Riise as well.
* Voronin not only wants to emulate Berbatov, his former teammate at Leverkusen, with a great first season in the Premiership, he also would like everyone to lay off his fellow Ukrainian, Shevchenko. Andriy thinks Sheva will have a much improved second year. I have to admit, I concur, and I still don't think he had a bad first year. As for the wanting to have as good a year as Berbatov's debut, one can only dream.
* According to the times, we have offered Anthony Le Tallec to Fulham, West Ham United and Birmingham City. I'm not sure in what capacity, but I assume it will be on loan. I guess he has two years left on his contract, which would be rather odd, but I don't think we would loan him out if this was his last year here.
* Finally, Macca has thrown out his two-cents about the upcoming year and Fernando Torres. He basically doesn't think we've closed the gap with Man U and Chelsea just yet, but he believes El Nino will be instrumental in doing so.