Suggestion: Adama Traore

According to The Telegraph he is available for £20m.

I think that as a team we still lack genuine pace, and he obviously has plenty. He has so much he will probably still be fast in 10 years time. Obviously he can't finish but as a winger/wing back he'd be brilliant for us. Cover up front too, not that I'd want him playing there too often. Personally I think the next step for this squad is to go 3-5-2 and put Ward out of his misery. This guy could give us a genuine outlet as a right wing back. What are people's thoughts?

Player Ratings And Reviews: West Ham (home)

Thought I’d kick this off as it was an interesting game:

Guaita 7 some good saves.

Mitchell 6 solid
Guehi 6 fine
Andersen 6 ok
Ward 5 distribution poor, looking slow again

Milivojevic 1 loses a few points for insisting on taking set-pieces
Schlupp 2 disappears in midfield
Hughes 6 worked hard and effective

Edouard 7 busy, scored, could have scored more
Benteke 4 did nothing of note
Ayew 8 MOM tireless running and excellent crosses from right

Subs:

Mateta 7 lively
Olise 8 what a talent

Lost it in midfield I’m afraid. Played well going forward but no protection for the back 4

Self publishing a book

Happy new year.

On NYE I completed a novel I've been writing for the past six months. It checks in at 97000 words, has a beginning, a middle and an end, a fun story, characters to like and hate. It's not perfect I am an amateur, in particular I'm not happy with the dialogue its at best dry and at worst cringey but I'm comfortable with other people reading it so would like to get it published. Currently doing an edit taking the scissors to the bits I don't like, checking the squillion SPAG errors and making a start on the sequel.

If anyone is interested its historical fiction/horror. Basically vampires and shit but set in 6th century England.

Will do my own research once I'm over the post holiday lull y'know those 2-3 days when you can't be arsed to do anything but someone on the BBS must have taken this route before or knows someone who did so any hints or dos and don'ts or recommended resources or anything really that may be useful would be much appreciated.

No delusions of grandeur here I know making money from writing is hard for those who've been doing it for years and fully expect to be doing my day job until I kneel over from some drinking related illness. Just be nice to get a bonus from this hobby I enjoy.

For an amateur with no credentials or connections the chances of traditional publishers even giving it a read are thousands to one so self publish or bust I guess. If its expensive I guess I can just put it on the back burner for a few years.

Crystal Ball: Vs. The scum of South London (a)

I don't think there are any replays and am presuming there will be extra time... Can we at least end our cup goal drought?

Millwall 1-0 Palace AET.
Ojo
19,876

Time for the next squad clearout

With the transfer window now open I believe it's a good opportunity to get rid of some players that don't really add that much value or who are past their best before date.
Freeing up wages, hopefully getting a fee will add some dosh to the purchasing coffers.

With that in mind I'm thinking:

Luka
Martin Kelly
Riedewald
Benteke
Mateta

Mateta is better than Benteke!

he wins more header, is more mobile and eduoard plays a lot better alongside him.

Can we stop those stupid short goal kicks

We do a good enough job of putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves so why pack three players in the box at a goal kick then Guiata passes it two yards to one of them then they all piss around with it until we lose it or kick it out to touch after being pressured.

The opposition just line up on the edge of the box licking their lips