1/9 Ahead of the first international break of the season, the Champions League squad is picked. This season, there’s a big jump in the numbers of home/club grown players:

99/00 98/99 97/98 96/97 Club trained - 6 2 2 1 Nation trained - 14 9 11 11 U21 - 10 2 3 3  I need a holiday…I’m off to Skegness for a week…

8/9 Needed that

12/9 Manchester City (a) Shearer made his point in the last game, so retains his place. Ferreira picked up a knock so he’s out and we’re still struggling with a number of injuries. Bruggink’s role is changed from Trequartista to Shadow Striker Martyn - Hofland - Montero - Lucio - Edman - McAteer - Redknapp - Vieira - Rivaldo - Bruggink - Shearer

 I’m not sure the change in role worked for this game, but it was really Martyn in goal who gest the plaudits as he saves a penalty and keeps City - particularly Didier Drogba - at bay.

AFTER 5 GAMES: GOALS: (6) Shearer. (1) Rivaldo ASSISTS: (2) Edman, Rivaldo. (1) Redknapp, Ronaldinho

15/9 Anderlecht (a) Landreau - Hofland - Lucio - Carragher - Sylvinho - McAteer - Vieira - Zanetti - Rivaldo - Bruggink - Shearer  A few players suffering a lack of fitness, so it’s a bit of a change - Bruggink stays in the shadow striker role to offer more of a threat.

That should have been more comfortable than it was but the crazy 6 minute spell towards the end made it tense

Juventus score 8 against Sparta Prague in the other group game Rivaldo - 3wks - hamstring Chief doctor says that Vieira could do with a rest as well

Bring in Rosicky from U23s…

 18/9 Injury update - Ferreira (1wk), Babb (2wks), Simeone (2months), Nesta (2months), Rivaldo (3wks).

19/9 Newcastle (h) Landreau - Hofland - Montero - Lucio - Edman - McAteer - PIrlo - Zanetti - Barnes - Bruggink - Shearer Barnes & Pirlo make first starts of the season - slight rotation with the CBs.

Good result built on a pretty solid defensive display. Lucio gets his first for the club but the penalty was contraversial Keegan wisely decides ‘not to say anything in case I get into trouble’ after the game. Very sensible Kevin, very sensible. 22/9 Barnes - 2wks - ankle injury

23/9 Likely to be almost all change for the upcoming cup game

24/9 Leicester (h) Landreau - Hofland - Woodgate - Carragher - Sylvinho - McAteer - Pirlo - Zanetti - Ronaldinho - Bruggink - Fowler Perhaps not as many changes due to injuries & me forgetting when the U23s/U18s played…Woodgate makes his first start in the middle of the back 3.

Zinedine who?? Owen replaces an injured Fowler to make an impact and we even have the luxury of missing a penalty. Ronaldinho ran the show.

26/9 The next round of the League cup pitches us away to Newcastle. The holders, Man Utd, lost to Championship side Stoke in the 3rd round. We have an excellent chance to add to the 2 we’ve already won. Arsenal (a) Martyn - Lucio - Montero - Carragher - Edman - McAteer - Redknapp - Vieira - Rosicky - Bruggink - Shearer 8 first team injuries…and a lot in the AMC roles means Rosicky makes his first senior start.

Of cours it was…the old boy came back to haunt us. We missed 2 very presentable chances just before this but pushing on for the winner probably cost us. A change in formation didn’t really pay off, but we needed it after ANOTHER injury - Rosicky this time. Rosicky - 4months - achilles

29/9 Not really the game I wanted with all these injuries…but training seems to have been okay, so…we’ll see.

30/9 Juventus (h) Martyn - Lucio - Montero - Carragher - Edman - McAteer - Redknapp - Vieira - Pirlo - Bruggink - Shearer

It’s fair to say I wasn’t expecting that, but what a performance from Redknapp playing the BBM role. More importantly we got through the game unscathed in terms of injuries, which is critical. Bruggink’s free-kick set us off but after that, it was the Redknapp show. FK: Rivaldo 0:1 Rest of team AFTER 10 GAMES: GOALS: (7) Shearer. (3) Redknapp, Ronaldinho. (2) Bruggink ASSISTS: (3) Edman, Bruggink. (2) McAteer, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo

Rivaldo, Ronaldinho & Barnes should be back to full fitness within the week which is good news.

Still pretty early in the league, but already Arsenal look like they’re keen to make a much better of fist of it this season after four consecutive 4th placed finishes. Manchester City are having a very peculiar time of it - they spent £116m on players in the summer and have 6 Players on more than £200k a week. They should not be sitting bottom, even this early. 21 year old Didier Drogba might be worth a serious look at for a transfer.