Italian job

Since when was "just eight goals" in five games a poor return? OK, so six of them came in the thrashing of Villa, but I wouldn't say we exactly look goal-shy at the moment - especially when we're playing only Bigger Lad up front and so have a bench stuffed with forwards.

Clearly Talksport can detect a deficiency that the rest of us can't, in the course of claiming we're keen on Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino. Personally I'm against us wasting our money - Italian international though he may be, he's been positively donkey-like every time I've seen him in what passes for "action".

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni seems to be trying to engineer Shay Given a move to Serie A. With Steve Harper out injured and Tim Krul possessing only minimal Premier League experience, it would make good sense for Chris Hughton to try to wangle an emergency loan move - but he's ruled it out: "I can categorically say that won't be happening".

Our predicament is made all the more perilous given that Fraser Forster, currently enjoying some success north of the border with Celtic, can't be recalled under the terms of his loan. Krul perhaps does deserve a run in the first team - but I'd feel more comfortable if we had some cover.