Harbin to leave? Doesn't look so revitalised now does he? Only Curbs can substitute a defender, one Jonathan Spector for a forward when you are losing 4-0 at half-time. 3 defeats on the trot now for West Ham and a goal difference that is now worse than ours. As a mate told me before Christmas: "we are happy that super Curbs has come home." Glad you are enjoying him.

The bottom teams are taking wins of each other, which we need to see if we are to get that bottom pack as big as possible. Wigan and Sheffield United losing today draws them closer to us, whereas Newcastle and Villa will be looking nervously over their shoulders.

Meanwhile there is further talk that Pardew and Wegner will shake hands tomorrow on the loan signing of 18-year old striker Anthony Stokes, who has been at Falkirk and is the top scorer in the SPL.

Lastly while rumours of who Pards might bring into the club to assist him continue, Teddy Sheringham and Phil Parkinson were mentioned over the weekend, I note that the official site have him listed as Manager and the much maligned title of 'Head Coach' has been removed. Pardew's words of support for "his coaching staff," after the Villa victory could mean that he will find a place for both Mark Robson and Mark Kinsella, when he comes to assessing his needs.

An assistant manager and two coaches would not be unusual, at least judging by most Premiership clubs I checked. I do expect hamstring king John Harbin to be shown the door though and replaced by Hammers' head of sports medicine Niall Clark, who was at Reading with Pardew.  ¶ 14:31