It looks as if UEFA are moving in the direction of changing the finals to twenty-four nations but not until 2016 at the earliest. I hate to see them move from 16 which is a perfect number.

Rob Bagchi asking if a player cannot get a game then why should he cost more?

Ian Herbert on a player who turned his career around – Richard Dunne.

Brian Reade tries taking a look at the Newcastle situation from the ordinary fan’s point of view.

Louise Taylor on the role being played by former Spurs director Paul Kemsley.

I missed this one from last Monday. Gabriele Marcotti on why Dave Kitson should care about the FA Cup. 
 
A class action claim against Dave Whelan’s JJB Sports over replica football shirts has been settled.

Roy Keane does not think much of the FAI’s search for a new manager – either that or he thinks a great deal of Big Brother. It seems surreal that Mick McCarthy’s name is even being mentioned let alone a strong second choice.

I know there were a number of questions asked last week on the response section and weekend preview that I was not able to get to. Although I try to chip in on the blog throughout the week the best time to get a response to your question is by posting to Monday's Speakers' Corner.

As always thanks to everyone who reads and posts.

Just a quick word or two before we get going this week on some responses. If you have any comments to make about the Fox Soccer Report – good or bad – that don’t directly relate to the soccer highlights could you please e mail them to the address that is regularly shown on the show rather than posting to the blog. Thanks.

Gumbee2005 - What do you think of Maradona’s comments on how he now hates "America"?

Bobby – I spend as much time thinking about what Maradona says about America as I would if Madonna commented on the latest Argentine national team performance. 

IanJames – Well, I'm quite happy you were a bit off about the City vs. United game. I stuck with Kasper in my Yahoo Fantasy team, and it very luckily paid off. City didn't deserve the win, but for parity's sake I'm happy that it happened.

Bobby – Even though I said there was no way Manchester United was going to lose I had picked Richard Dunne as my captain for the midweek round of games – shut out and double points. I forgot to make a change for the weekend round of games and got lucky as well!!

Shmish – Re comments about more scoring opportunities and fewer players.

Bobby – You make an excellent point about the number of scoring opportunities created. Likewise the reduction of the number of players. Without necessarily advocating this as a solution and for the point of discussion what about enlarging the size of the field together with the size of the goal?

CIAO - Do you think Arsenal need to bring in a keeper before the window closes? If so, that you know of aside from Amelia are there any keepers that would be worth making a move for? How do you rate Arsenal's current keepers (Jens, Almunia and Fabianski)?

I guess the questions also brings up the German national team... Would you agree with me that they should hand over the gloves to Hildebrand?

Bobby – It would be very unlike Wenger to sign another keeper at this stage. If he is unhappy with Lehmann then I think he will go with Almunia. I thought when we saw Almunia last season he looked to have improved but still dodgy on crosses. I haven’t seen anything of Fabianski and I think you have to regard him as one for the future rather than someone who is likely to step up this season. If Hildebrand had progressed like he should have he might have been the WC keeper in 2006. But his 2005/06 season was poor although he recovered last season.

Ummufan - Any teams that look to dip into the transfer market that thought they were done? (Man Utd for a striker/LB, Arsenal for a keeper, Bolton for a manager?)

If City was a "really need to win" game, Tottenham becomes a MUST win. But not as dire as last year. I sense with the big 4 beating on each other and an improvement in quality of the top 10 overall we will see a champion in the low 80's rather than 90's. There is still hope United aren't cooked yet (emphasis on 'hope').

Bobby – I don’t think too many teams with a transfer budget left. Managers build squads with a view to taking care of injuries, poor form and suspensions so I don’t you will suddenly see Fergie or Wenger making panic buys. It’s not like they have lost players for the season. If Sammy Lee is fired before 20 games are up then chairman Phil Gartside needs to fall on his sword first. I could see 85 points winning the league this season.

LetsGoBuffalo - Does anyone know if Styles was punished after last year's opener between Liverpool and Sheffield United?

Bobby – He was not.

Bigdavedisaster – I think that people, myself included, have been waiting for a team to compete with the big 4 for a while now. I know its early this season but are we more likely to see a group of teams over the next couple of years get better together Man City, Everton, Spurs, Newcastle, Villa all together with the added money of new ownership and the EPL instead of just one team making it the big 5 like Chelsea made it the big 4?

Bobby – There was an article that I posted earlier this season from the Guardian (I think) that made the point that with the influx of new TV money that this was the chance for the mid table teams to strengthen their squads and close the gap. I’m also hoping that it happens. I can see a tighter title race with more than two teams involved and a couple of teams (at least) close the gap between #4 and the rest.

Red Skin - Why no matches featuring Liverpool on FSC for the whole month of September?

Bobby – Sorry but I have nothing to do with how the station is programmed. You need to e mail or call FSC.

Foxcube - Will you modify your EPL one after August 31 when the transfer market closes?

Bobby–Nope. If you change predictions after the transfer market closes then why not wait until the winter transfer window closes? At some point you just need to make a call and stick with it.