Son of Clough, you've made an offer for Blackburn's spare goalie, Frank Fielding?

"We see him as a No 2 and he fits into what we are trying to do - groom some young players.
We are just waiting for a decision back from Blackburn."

So Carroll will be on song elsewhere this Christmas?

"It is a situation we have been in for the last few months and Roy is aware of it. Financially, it would be best if he could try and get himself fixed up. I think he and his representatives are trying to do that. If one or two experienced keepers in the Premier League got injured or picked up knocks, I think Roy would be absolutely ideal to step in. He is probably too experienced and too good to be a No.2 in the Championship."

If you don't get Frank, Saul Deeney's on the bench?

"There is no change on Fielding but Saul we will get signed up this week. So if nothing happens, we will go with Stephen Bywater and Saul in the first game."

It's not easy to get news from Sam Allardyce, he's been after Pascal Chimbonda, Spurs' French defender, as well as Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak of Zenit St Petersburg - which is why he missed the Leeds friendly. On trial were Kamel Ghilas, Algerian Celta Viga striker, but Sam's backed out of paying €2m for him, and Christian "Methusalah" Vieri, aged 969 1/4, whose ability without his stick has been questioned.

Chelsea youngster Franco Di Santo on loan has been one option not finalised, while Michael Owen was left for a smaller club to risk, due to the number of injuries he's had.

Sam, are we fully focused here?!? "I should have been given the England job .. only ‘political’ reasons prevented me from being appointed in 2006. I was in the running to succeed Sven-Göran Eriksson after the 2006 World Cup, but the FA chose to …" Sam, it's alright, Sven's taken over as Director of Footy at Notts County, and I bet he needs a new manager.

Rovers have a plan to sort out Man. City in the opener. Benni? "The part where I struggled was the last 10 minutes of a match," says Benni McCarthy. "But I've been working really hard during pre-season to try and be able to play 90 minutes and not to be so tired as I was before."

Let's be clear here. If Rovers are relegated, and the Rams promoted, I'll still mention Rovers on the Derby County site next season, but what are the chances of that?