Sign(ing) of the times

Clunk. There goes the transfer window, shut again. Or at least it will be by the time you read this.

What an exciting month it`s been! The U`s have made several signings and spent some money for a change?

What do you mean you missed it? Did you blink? You missed our landmark signing? A former international with top-flight experience? And the defender we`ve landed - a host of Premiership teams were after him! AND Geraint`s been putting money into things in Spain.

Oh ok, I confess I`m a putting spin on things that would make any government minister proud. The big signing is Aidan Davison postponing his retirement, again. And that defender is my wishful thinking from the time of going to press, that Greg Halford will still be a U`s player. And it was a training trip to Spain that had Geraint on 'Air Espana`, rather than scouting.

We have signed Matt Mills on loan I suppose, that`s something at least. And if rumours are to be believed other clubs have been sniffing around our other prized assets and not just young Greg either.

All the gossip, rumours and intrigue is all fun and games though, isn`t it? Pat Baldwin`s absence from the squad recently has set tongues wagging. The official line is he has a virus. The internet gossip-machine has wound into action, linking him with a move away from the LayerDrome.

One central defender, Mills, arrives on loan. The U`s Rolls Royce defender`s sparkling form can`t have gone unnoticed. Who needs a central defender? Who`s got a few quid (roubles) knocking around? Where did Rio join us from again?

Now you can see how these rumours start!

Gambling - it`s addictive

The news is filled with stuff about 'Super Casinos` and scare stories of this Sceptered Isle becoming a nation of slot-machine zombies, gambling our lives away. Great Yarmouth have been given a "large casino" licence so Essex`s finest aren`t far away from this terrible plague.

Will the U`s board gamble?

Writing this column I looked back at the last January transfer window. Fears then were of Danns going (whoops) and Halford (wahey!) - and hopes that we`d sign Jamie Cureton full-time (got there in the end!)

There were whining voices, questioning when we`d ever break our laughable transfer record of £50,000. There were those wanting to shout: 'Stick!` with our current squad and stop anyone pilfering them. The board and management went closer to the latter and we ended up getting promoted.

Not that I`m saying we`ll romp into the top two this time, though the idea isn`t entirely unpleasant. What I`m saying is, whilst it`s hard reconciling yourself with the fact the club seem to be sitting on their hands (and more importantly their wallets) whilst everyone else is throwing money around - it does seem they know what they`re doing.

But we`ve all tutted and flinched as others spend around us in the past - and we`ve done ok. I`m prepared to 'stick` with the club`s judgement again this time. And I`m sure you`ll be joining me in roaring our rag-tag, bargain-bin team to another three points today! Up the Super U`s!

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