3rd round brings excitement and apprehension Just what we needed - a no-win game. Curbs has stated that he will put out his strongest XI tomorrow, which is a rather radical move because I don't think he has a clue what that is.

Danny Murphy, the subject of transfer speculation all week, is fit and apparently is fit. Smertin and Thomas, who has a virus (he gets a lot of virus' does our Jerome), are not.

The news that Uruguyan centre-half Gonzalo Sorondo will be out for up to 8 weeks is a huge blow. We have hardly seen the boy but he looked pretty useful in the game at home to Arsenal until Fabregas put him out of action. An incident that referee Bennett thought was not even worthy of a free-kick, but the bouncing of a ball a sending off offence. Twat.

I assume then that we will continue with two front men but the question remains: Kishishev or Hughes? Both could bring different aspects to the game. Kish's battling qualities will be needed as Wednesday no doubt try to unsettle us physically in midfield. Hughes has a knack of scoring against lower level sides.

I also wonder if Hermann will go back to left-back with Spector coming into the middle. Today it was confirmed that the Chicagoan will stay at The Valley until the end of the season. This brought another head-scratching quote from Curbs: "....he picked up an injury and since then he's been in and out and playing left-back when his best position is centre-half."

"And Hreidarsson's best position is left back but I play him at centre half and Ambrose should be in the middle but I play him out wide, yadda yadda...."

More than 1,200 Addicks will make the journey to Sheffield and despite our horrible form I would love to be there tomorrow. The 3rd round of the FA Cup is a day-out steeped in excitement, anticipation and apprehension and I miss that terribly. I wish I could be there tomorrow, let's face it, they need all the fucking help they can get.

If you're going to Hillsborough give them a song for me.  ¶ 22:50