Come On Souey ... Look At Yourself!

Graeme Souness wants the press - and fans - to lay off Jean-Alain Boumsong, saying his defender has had many off-field problems. The Scot got Fat Fred to pay £8.5m to bring the centre-back from Glasgow Rangers - and if my contacts are right, an amazing 40% of that money went to Boumsong's agent.

The former Auxerre player has missed only one game this season but ex-Toon coach Mark Lawrenson is just one to hammer the player in recent weeks.

Souness: "He has had things going on in his personal life with a life-threatening problem for a person very dear to him and very close to him.

"I am not asking people to be kind to him just because of that but to accept he has a hell of a lot on his mind. The fact he is coming to work every day tells you everything you have to know about him."

BUT .... if the player isn't in the right frame of mind to perform to his best, why does the manager pick him? Sorry Mr Souness, but that doesn't wash with me. Has sentiment any part in today's game?