Derby done by Donny...

So the new Cokey Coley Championship season finally got under way on a damp autumnal afternoon in August...and the big shock came at Pride Park. I don't suppose it's entirely surprising that Derby County lost again, but 33,000 fans might have been expecting a swift upturn in their fortunes after relegation, and what could be better for the confidence than a home game against newly promoted opposition? They went down 1-0. Jewell had a lot of new faces in the starting eleven, but but as mitigating circumstances go that will hardly appease the Derby faithful. Other new boys Swansea lost, Bongo FC sneaked it against the Blades and the other Sheffield lot spanked Burnley. Other stuff happened too. 

All of that is all very well but the real action starts tomorrow lunchtime, and I'm dead excited - and nervously optimistic. Bring it on!

Harper too pricey for Southgate?

I always said he was a genius that Steve Coppell bloke, his cunning ploy of increasing the price of our players as we get closer to the CCC kick-off seems to have put Gareth Southgate off coming in for James Harper. That said Southgate looks in dire need of someone in midfield with Arca sidelined for weeks, so perhaps he'll come back with more cash if he gets desperate next week. It goes without saying that to lose someone else now would be a blow, as it is I think we can reasonably pleased with way we have managed to retain most of our players thus far, but it'd be nice to see a couple of new faces soon...

That Leroy Lita

Leroy could have a career in the circus to erm, fall back on...

Roy's keen on Kev?

Is Kevin Doyle the next player on his way out this week? The Daily Mail think Roy is, um, keen on the Irish International, but hasn't Keane been linked with almost everyone, almost all of the time? Also, my mother told me never to believe anything written in the Daily Mail, ever.

Losing The Doyler would be a blow as it would leave us looking a bit limited up front, for all his problems last season he's been there and done it in the Championship and I'd like to think he can regain his form and do it again for us.

He's Villa...he knows he is, he's Shorey is...

The summer's third longest transfer saga seems to be drawing to a close as almost everybody is reporting that Nicky Shorey is 'having a medical' at Villa Park. The fee is rumoured to be around £3.5m. So it's entirely possible that Hunt Senior will be playing left back at the City Ground on Sunday. Oh good.

Hunt Senior could play Left Back...is it just me?

Steve Coppell says "I know he's uncomfortable there but if he continues and grows into it that would save us grief.

Sorry Steve?

"I would like to stay within the squad for a solution rather than having to find someone else at the last minute."

Right, I gotcha...

Sooo...let's start the season by playing someone completely out of position then. I had hoped we were eyeing up replacements for some time - or is this just Steve's fabled dry wit coming to the fore?

Sonko was Superman, now, erm, he isn't.

What happened to Ibrahima Sonko? Once one of the most formidable central defenders in the Premiership. It would putting it kindly to say that when he arrived at the Royals he wasn't quite the finished article and looked a bit clumsy and uncomfortable on the ball. However, before too long he went on to forge surely the best defensive partnership we have ever had with Ivar. As the team struggled to cope during last season his form suffered more than most with rumours surfacing that he 'liked to go clubbing a bit too much', soon the 'Sonko is Superman' unwanted  t-shirts were stacking up in the Megastore (pictured, yeah I just wanted to get this lame gag in here). I watched him at Arsenal in March and he was painfully exposed and out of position on more than one occasion, no shame at the Emirates you might say but only 12 months earlier he looked like the real deal, a Premier League defender of the highest order. Let's hope he gets himself back in the team and playing well this season, because The Scourge of Every Right-Minded Pitchside Paramedic has shown he can play in that role and do a decent enough job. 

Kebe in 'quite good' shocker as Royals draw with Villa

Yesterday's friendly with Villa at the Mad Stad ended in a creditable 1-1 draw. The Royals' goal came courtesy of a tap-in for academy signing Jem Karacan who had come on for Kalifa Cisse. Stephen Hunt saw his penalty saved by Villa debutante, Brad Friedel. Hunt Jr., Noel came on as a sub and saw his first touch hit the post, but perhaps the most surprising thing was the impressive display from Jimmy Kebe. Fair to say he never quite looked like he could make an instant impact in the Premier League, and at times looked like an unsteady newborn foal on the ball. Let's hope this is a sign for the forthcoming campaign as Glen Little's departure means there's a vacancy down the right that needs filling quickly.