weeyin

The 'English" cricket team, in reality, represents England and Wales, so it's quite appropriate that they are playing the first test in Cardiff.

If you can believe reports, West Brom have a few targets on their radar including Irvine at Preston and McInnes at St. Johnstone.

Aye, but with one or two rare exceptions, it easily takes 6 months for a player to settle into a new team. I thought that once he had a few games under his belt he turned in a few sound performances.

I thought Sheridan came onto some form in his last few games. He was man of the match in the game at Douglas Park.

A couple? Clarky is only 23. If he does come back, it won't be for another 10 or 12 years!

With all the selling and alleged buying going on, that would certainly make sense.

Think about it. If there were, say, 8 people interviewed in the first round. After a week or so of organizing the interview schedule that takes 8 days to complete - and not necessarily consecutive. Then, say, you invite 3 back for a second interview. That's another 3 days plus organising. Then you have to agree on the final appointment - which takes a day or two. Then you have to negotiate the contract with the manager's agent - that takes another few days. And that is assuming it all goes smoothly and nobody declines the offer.

Are you not following the news? A decision is going to be made over the weekend and an announcement early next week. A correct appointment is 100 times more important than a fast appointment.

Not really that strange. You often see this in transfers where the buying club has to make an acceptable offer before they are allowed to speak to the player.

There was never any confirmation from JB that he was being invited to interview and even the comments from the man himself were Luc-warm. (That's for the critics that thought my Nemo joke was the worst I could do, btw).

From my understanding, Boothroyd's preferred style is open and attacking football. He even said that, after Watford were relegated, he wanted to try and shape them that way.

And that's where we disagree. I can think of plenty in my lifetime with Joe Wark (Number 3) probably heading the list. And with all due respect to Uncle Phil, Joe was a lifer at Fir Park.

No. Never liked the idea of retiring shirts and it's not a precedent I'd like to start setting now.

I'm guessing here, but I think that is probably due to the teaser campaign. A lot of people would hold off ordering until they actually saw the finished product.

I'm sure sydney's good friend will rectify the situation in good time. And why all the concern over a team that you have already given up on?

For 'fans' like you, there is no point. There are 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, though, NEMO, so maybe you can find a team to watch in one of them

Until the new deal with Sky or ESPN is confirmed in July. If it's not confirmed then almost every other club will be in the same boat, so it will still be a level playing field as we compete for new players. (I know - that was a hell of a mixed metaphor with boats on playing fields )

Exactly. It's always to an agent's advantage to keep his players unsettled.

Whether it's Boothroyd or not, it's good to see JB managed to pull another quality name out the hat that nobody in the press had mentioned.

You need to keep up, mate. Top notch new boss to be appointed early next week.

My Watford supporting mate thinks Boothroyd is a great manager. As for Nijholt, do we even know if he was interviewed? Plenty of newspapers linking him to the job, of course, but that doesn't mean anything. Of the 4 mentioned, I'd take Boothroyd or Gannon. If the report is accurate, it's a pretty decent shortlist.

That's easy. The players' agents advise them against any long term commitment.

That's my fear. I can hear some knives being sharpened already.

I just hope the fans give the new manager time.

Our last manager found Porter. I'd give the new man a chance to see who he digs up. Meantime, put your feet up and relax; you're worrying far too much about hypotheticals.