Houghton named new manager of Birmingham. Of all the favourites, he's the worst, so I'm pleased with that.

And I'm pleased Fergie has got Young, Anfield would have ruined him, Mancini would have put him on the bench and Wenger would have still used Walcott...

Why shouldn't he use Walcott, what do you mean?

Cuellar used in the unveiling of the away shirt today, always a good sign. Anything under £5m would be awful business.

I don't imagine we've actually been interested in McGregor if that's his price then. Would rather pay out on Foster or get Al Habsi on cheap.

Yet Villa quote us £3m? Our owner was on SSN saying there's a deal to be done there.

Think it's more paper talk than anything I think, Villa generally release nothing to the media until it's all over.

Barca have had a £27m bid for Cesc rejected apparently. This is why I don't see Milan signing him, I imagine you're looking at £35m-£40m to sign him and we're too worried about the finance rules.

Sky have suspended betting on Given to join Villa. £5m is a bit to pay for 35 year old shot-stopper. Would rather have someone who commands his area much better than Given can.

Given is a magnificent goalie, despite supporting Celtic. He'd be a brilliant signing for you.

Sky have suspended betting on Given to join Villa. £5m is a bit to pay for 35 year old shot-stopper. Would rather have someone who commands his area much better than Given can.

Speaking of Arsenal, apparently they're selling both Clichy and Nasri to Man City.

I'd rather have a decent shot stopper to be fair. He's only a couple of inches off Buffon and might be around the same height as Friedel. He's deceivingly not small. Look at Iker, not even 6ft. Unless you mean in terms of voice, and from what he used to show at Newcastle at times I'm sure he can do that.

Someone younger? Perhaps, for that valuation anyway.

Speaking of Arsenal, apparently they're selling both Clichy and Nasri to Man City.

And they sold Craig Gardner to Sunderland. No doubt Gardner will come out saying he's a lifelong Sunderland fan in his interview.

Carson Yeung on trial

Birmingham in the **** even more than I could ever have hoped. Their financial situation was awful at best anyway. They've already sold one of their top players at a cut price. Hopefully teams start to low-ball them for the likes of Dann and Foster knowing the trouble they're in.

Gael Clichy in 2009: 'I really believe if you are a player who thinks only about money then you could end up at Manchester City.'

So, Clichy to ManCity is official. Good signing for City, though don't they have Kolarov in that position?

So, Clichy to ManCity is official. Good signing for City, though don't they have Kolarov in that position?

Adam to Liverpool looks a goer.

Still can't believe these big clubs really rate him so highly. I mean he was hardly that great for you was he? Think it's a case of a decent player in a pretty low-skilled team, I'm sure he won't actually do anything of major note.

Which basically sums him up - he can score goals, yes, and he can create chances, but for a midfielder he really lacks the ability to carry out the basics of the game. He's like a Hollywood player - with talent, yes, but a disregard for the bread and butter of football.

Which basically sums him up - he can score goals, yes, and he can create chances, but for a midfielder he really lacks the ability to carry out the basics of the game. He's like a Hollywood player - with talent, yes, but a disregard for the bread and butter of football.

The only good thing I can really say about him is his moving to Liverpool will net Rangers a windfall sell on fee.

Paul Scholes used to make enemies only when one of his poorly timed challenges sent an opponent sprawling.

Now, after calling some of his old England team-mates ‘selfish’ and claiming they were more interested in personal glory than playing in a winning team, a few well-known names may feel tempted to cross the former Manchester United midfielder off their Christmas card list.

But who did Scholes have in mind when he complained: ‘I always felt that players, especially at clubs like your Aston Villas, try to use England as a way to get to a top club. I think they are very selfish people.’
Big money move: Gareth Barry left Villa for City in 2009

Scholes isn’t saying but some might be tempted to read that as a criticism of former Villa player Gareth Barry, whose England career was in its infancy when Scholes quit the international game seven years ago.

Certainly, Barry’s England form helped him make his £12million move from Villa to Manchester City two years ago, but that was only after he had spent four years in the international wilderness following Sven Goran Eriksson’s initial interest in him.

I don't think a guy who spent his entire career being pampered by United, earning millions a year, winning tonnes of trophies and someone who retired from his country at a young age has any right to say anything about anyone.

£20m aint bad, think we could have got a bit more.

Hearing you may get J.Cole as well. Oh dear.

Villa apparently accept £2M bid from Rangers for Cuellar.