Barcelona enter race for Hughes...

I knew we would eventually agree on something.

I don't get to many live Rams games these days (I live in the wrong part of country for that) but I was at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

I was very keen to see if Will Hughes - who I'd heard so much about on here - was the real deal.

To be honest an added bonus would be to check out Zaha as well. Not often a second tier player gets to play for England.

Contrary to most of the doom mongerers I don't think we played that badly. I don't think we capitulated, even at 3-0. We just came up against a top side in peak form & confidence is all. It was a fast game with high skill levels.

Hendrick had a torrid first half, Bucko has his limitations, and Sammon's first touch let him down a bit, but I was impressed by Keogh and Jacobs and of course... (finally getting to the point) the boy Hughes.

He has a great eye for a pass - not necessarily 50 yards, but the right pass every time. He seems to have that extra moment available to him on the ball, that coolness, which is always the hallmark of class (Todd had it - yes, different position I know, but the concept is still valid - and so did Kinkladze). He shone out in the midfield for me. And just when I thought I had seen all he had to offer.... the one-two with Theo, change of pace, and curling shot for the top corner after 87 minutes... wow!... he has other skills than just passing. A lesser keeper than Speroni (who I've always admired) might not have kept that out and we'd all be raving about a Goal of the Month contender.

So yes, for a 17-year-old, he's absolutely .

I'm very excited by seeing someone that good in a Rams shirt, and I want to see him develop and get better and better. At Derby.

to Mojaca for spotting him early and telling us all about him!

But having said all that, let's not get too carried away! £10 million plus, as mentioned by some here, is silly money for a guy his age. I think he needs a couple more years experience and maybe even an England cap of his own before he's worth that sort of money. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a great talent. But he could lose it, or get injured etc etc. And sooner or later opposition will catch on to him and the cloggers will be out. It will interesting to see how he copes with that.

As for Palace - well, they had skill and pace and no obvious weak links, even though Zaha was kept relatively quiet on Saturday. For what it's worth my 50p each way is now on them at 5/1 for the title.

Nobbler

Nobbler The amount of scouts and agents sniffing around that tournament in the Algarve was insane, and the way Will played in all three games, there was no wonder word would spread like wildfire throughout the footballing community. It's a necessary evil I suppose, but as you say, prospective number tranfer fees being bandied about are indicative of the madness that still bedevils the game. I'm currently re-reading 'Cloughie-walking on water' sat here on my balcony on my hols with moistened eyes and wishing for simpler times.....

Currently SITTING

...bloody musicians.

I had a long walk earlier 666, and no, that's not a typo...

L to N - just a knight's tour away.

Bloody premature hit of 'enter'.

Have you ever covered the Bob Segar classic 'Night Moves', Kev?

Mojaca

It's a good problem to have though isn't it? Better that than him being cr@p and there being nobody interested.

That I can agree with Nobbler!

Eddie: No mate, did Hollywood Nights though, and of course Rosalie via Thin Lizzy back in the day!