How Green is your Valley? Obviously not Green enough after we today signed Liverpool's 20-year old Scott Carson on a year-long loan. I think this is a better goalkeeping deal, and infinitely cheaper. Stories of a £6m bid were clearly way off the mark and West Ham now seem set to sign Robert Green tomorrow. He is currently injured too and not expected to return for a month. I am one of those fans in the "why do we need a new goalkeeper camp," so a loan deal seems a better option.

There is no mention of a permanent deal being part of the arrangement after the year, but it gives us, Carson and Liverpool time to consider all the options. It remains to be seen if Dowie looks to offload either Myhre or Andersen before month end.

Getting back to Green. I think Carson is better thought off in coaching circles and a Norwich mate of mine tells me of stories circling Norfolk in the summer of Green piling on the weight. This leaves to discussion whether the Addicks actually declined to move forward with the bid. It is certainly obvious, bearing in mind the time it took to announce Traore and Faye's signings, that a medical these days is slightly more than checking a heartbeat, which judging by some of players we bought under Curbs used to be the case!

Whilst on the subject of goalies, I notice that Dean Kiely suffered an injury in a friendly on Saturday, which gives 'Arry an excuse to start the season with new signing David James in goal. However in a severe case of deju-vu, Kiely was quoted as saying today "I would think it an injustice if I was replaced in the side considering my contribution last season."

One other move of note to me today was Ipswich's signing on loan of West Ham's Mark Noble. I heard whispers that he might come to us but I don't think Pardew was over keen on having him play on loan at another Premiership club.  ¶ 14:54