Out of the blue red

And there we were, lamenting the fact that today's transfers had bypassed us completely, when the news broke that we've signed Man Utd's Italian U21 striker Giuseppe Rossi on loan until January.

Following the long-term injury to Michael Owen and the fitness doubts hanging over Shola Ameobi and new signing Obafemi Martins, it's not surprising that we were in the hunt for reinforcements up front - but the identity of the new recruit certainly is a surprise.

As Taggart himself has admitted, ""It was a big decision for us especially as we don't have the choice of strikers". Little more than two weeks ago I wrote of Man Utd: "They now look short of firepower up front, particularly given Louis Saha's injury record - Fergie must have an awful lot of faith in Giuseppe Rossi". So much faith that he's allowed him to go out on loan...

Cynicism aside, Rossi is obviously very highly rated by someone I must grudgingly admit is one of the best managers the English game has ever known. Whether or not they've got someone better lined up as a replacement (our other last minute striking target David Trezeguet perhaps?), he's a good signing. Regardless of the fact that it will be a short term move, Rossi being tied to Old Trafford until 2010, he's a good signing. And as for whether we should be stooping so low as to be accepting charitable handouts from the big boys, we're not currently in a position to quibble.

However, Fergie has claimed that "this is something that Giuseppe wanted as he needs regular first-team football". Is he good enough to be guaranteed that? We'll see.