I've always liked Everton fans. Some of the most knowledgeable in the Premier League as I think I've said in the past. And Friday in a friendly they stepped it up a notch by cheering Joleon Lescott throughout Everton's pre season match against Malaga. There's no right or wrong way to react when a player is a transfer target, but if there was any hesitancy in Lescott's decision making I'm pretty sure it is gone now. I'll be very surprised if the Everton central defender leaves Goodison Park.

Good quality win today in the final pre season match against Celtic. Well taken goals by Barry and Bellamy, but what I really liked was the introduction of Carlos Tevez. Whenever the Argentinean picked up the ball and started bombing goal ward there was a palpable sense of menace as City streaked forward with Adebayor, Ireland, Petrov and others in support. You could feel the intensity and the expectations rise.

Vladimir Weiss had a cameo appearance at the end of the game coming on for SWP but didn't particularly impress. Personally I think he could do with a year out on loan at a top Championship side or maybe one of the newly promoted Premier League clubs.

Earlier in the week Celtic drew Arsenal in the qualification stage of the Champions League. Already the smack talk is happening with the expectation of an upset. Not going to happen. Arsenal will crush Celtic by at least 4 goals over the two legs.

Elsewhere... It should come as no surprise that Middlesbrough opened the season by not scoring against Sheffield United. That led, temporarily at least, to Boro leading the Championship standings here on Soccernet and poor old Newcastle somehow being pegged as bottom. Not sure how that particular piece of software update works; just funny to see. I'm anxiously awaiting the West Brom vs. Newcastle match a little later on today. Going to be very interesting.