Transfer stuff

Transfer gossip is like Neighbours - repetitive and a waste of time but really compelling. Hard as I try, I can't stop myself checking Tribal Football every few minutes.

• It looks like Ronaldinho is going to Milan. Like Mourinho and the England job, it seems that he flirted with us just long enough to force a deal with a more attractive employer. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Our main problem in the transfer market is a lack of credibility with foreign players. By having our name connected with Ronaldinho in the pages of Gazzetta dello Sport we have gone some way to addressing that. Yes it's vulgar, but it's also extremely helpful.

• News of the World talked about a return for Wright-Phillips. Sounds perfect to me: we need a right sided Petrov equivalent almost as much as we need a good striker. The key is going to be convincing SWP that it's not a step backwards or an admission of failure: and that lies in maximising our points and league position. He played for us in seasons where we've finished 9th with 51 points (2002/03) and 8th with 52 points (2004/05). Hitting 60 points and 7th place would show that this is a new team.

• Kris Boyd sounds more like a Pearce era signing. The last few years teaches caution with regard to players who have 'set the SPL alight': Barry Ferguson, James McFadden and Millers Kenny and Liam have all dissapointed after crossing the border. The jury is still out on Darren Fletcher and Craig Gordon. That doesn't mean he definitely wouldn't be up to it, but that SPL success isn't sufficient. I'm sure he'd be an improvement on the current strikers though: Benjani and Vassell remind me of Samaras and Corradi but with a much better work rate and added slapstick element.