Blue Monday?

Unless there are some unexpected and rapid developments this weekend, it looks very much as though there'll be a tearful reunion between Messrs Souness and Bellamy when pre-season training begins on Monday. I bet neither party can wait.

Despite the fact that recent noises emanating from Bellamy's gob have hinted at a willingness to return, that's frankly impossible as long as Souness, Shepherd and Shearer remain in charge of the club. So Craig better hope he can find a new club sooner rather than later, or he'll be facing up to a life training with the juniors. He might actually enjoy that, what with being taller than some of them, mind...

In other news, we've been again linked with Man Utd's Alan Smith and Italian international Christian Vieri, released by Inter Milan. According to Souness both deals look unlikely, though. Otherwise, there's nothing new on the Emre / Van Buyten / Distin fronts.

What worries me even more, though, is the silence with regard to Given - Fergie might have snapped up van der Sar from Fulham, but Wenger's surely still in the market for a new 'keeper, especially with Stuart Taylor packed off to Villa.

One thing to keep us entertained on a fairly slow news day: Boro's new signing Emmanuel Pogatetz might be banned for six months. Might have been a wise idea to do your research, eh, Steve?