* Palermo manager Francesco Guidolin has admitted that the UEFA Cup draw against West Ham is a difficult one. "It will be really hard. I was certainly expecting a better draw," he said.

Club captain Eugenio Corini is also concerned about the draw, but is looking forward to it. "It will surely be a good away match even if we have been paired with the most difficult opponents of the ones that were in the pot," he said. "West Ham, like all English sides, are surely a tough, physically strong team. To get through the round Palermo will need to show real quality. The only thing that could give us the chance of qualification is maybe the fact that we will play the second leg at home."

Well, I think that physically strong comment is a bit of a jibe, but we'll take what we can get. Those Sicilians are not generally big blokes so maybe they're genuinely concerned that guys like Marlon and Danny G will outmuscle them.

* Alan Pardew still wants to get players before the transfer window closes on Thursday but admits, "It's going to be a difficult week because everyone knows there's only a limited amount of time left. Both the buyers and sellers are hedging their bets and that makes it awkward for the Premiership clubs who are trying to secure the faces that can take clubs forward and strengthen squads. We're all in the same boat and we'll have to address everything again when we get back to work on Tuesday morning."

* The rumours are still strong about Steed Malbranque. Chris Coleman has fueled the fire by saying, "There is a club - and clubs - interested [in Malbranque]. We are close to a deal with one club. The sooner Steed signs for someone else the better for this club." Sounds like Steed is taking them for a ride. Heh, heh.