Wow... where does time go? We're just minutes away from finding out the team news from our early game at the Etihad.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my cue to hand the live text baton on to Tom Rostance. Over to you, Rozza...

There were some interesting quotes in the Times this week, with Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini saying he felt like he was made a scapegoat for the club's poor form last season.

"Last season we didn't play well as a team and it was easy for people outside the club to say it was me because the manager brought me with him, but that was something I had to deal with," Fellaini said., external "It was a difficult moment because in all my career I hadn't experienced anything like it."

Is he right?

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, PA

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "There is no doubt that when you're a young player coming through you are looked at differently to when a club pays a lot of money for you.

"I think that even now Danny Welbeck could be in the Manchester United side but they always looked at him as the player who had come through. I think the move has been excellent for him as a man. Even though Olivier Giroud is coming back, he has gone there and puffed out his chest."

Louis van Gaal was similarly non-committal when asked about the future of loanee Radamel Falcao. The Reds have the option to buy the player permanently - but will have to shell out more than £40m for the privilege.

"He hasn't played so much," said Van Gaal., external "You cannot see too much of a player if he doesn't train so much.

"He has been injured a lot of time. First you have to be fit. Now he shows fitness in the training sessions so maybe I shall select him (for Saturday's game at Aston Villa), maybe for the bench or the line up. Let's wait and see."

BBC Radio 5 live

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was angered on Friday when journalists asked him if he will sign former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who has been training with the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy tells BBC Radio 5 live: "He signed me when I was a youngster and I've never walked on egg shells in my life like I did then. Now he is a changed man but then, on the football pitch, he was the scariest man. He is a perfectionist and he does not want mistakes, even in training.

"I'd be training with the first team and being sick because I was petrified."

Jason Roberts
On BBC Radio 5 live

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Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore has not scored a Premier League goal in more than a year going into tomorrow's derby with Newcastle.

"You're passionate about what you do. It's not a case of going home and forgetting, this is an issue and it's your passion.

"My way of dealing with it would be not to leave the house. The majority of players I've been with, it means that much to them."

Your tales of improvised kit continue to flood in via #bbcfootball, external on Twitter and the MOTD Facebook page., external

Mark Nash: As a kid I used my dad's gardening gloves to keep goal after I realized I had forgotten my own. We lost 7-0.

Pat Murphy
BBC Radio 5 live

"All this stems from Roy Keane getting fed up with various rumours that he stormed out of Aston Villa after allegedly rowing with some senior players. Keane wanted to know who was briefing some reporters and went round to ask Tom Cleverley, whom he knows from his Old Trafford days, if he was the source. Paul Lambert, weary and fed up of all the Keane rumours, said Cleverley told him there was no row at his house and a civilised and mature conversation. The Villa manager reiterated there was never a training ground bust-up."

Image source, AP

Imagine opening your door and Roy Keane being stood there?

Reports had emerged that Keane wanted an angry showdown with Tom Cleverley this week, about recent 'leaks' from the dressing room from his time at the club. Villa manager Paul Lambert has played down the seriousness of the incident - but admitted Keane did go round to the player's house.

Lambert, speaking earlier this week, said: "I spoke to Tom this morning really briefly and he assures me that what is being portrayed is certainly not what happened. That was it, really.

"I've probably spoken about Roy more since he's left than when he was here. I think you (should) give the guy a break.

"From the brief chat I had with Tom, it certainly wasn't how it was portrayed."

So far, we've had pretty much every book from The Very Hungry Caterpillar to War and Peace being used for shin-pads (the latter if the opposition has a proper unit in midfield). Here are some more of your stories of improvised kits, from the MOTD Facebook page..., external

Luke Morgan: My manager brought the wrong kit and our kits clashed with the other team so we swapped with a team on another pitch.

Conall Lavery: I was managing an under age game and kid turned up with no shin guards. We only had 11. So one side he had half a note pad and the other a sponge. Save to say the ref wasn't to impressed when there was pages everywhere. He called the kid over and pulled out a season's worth of team sheets

BBC Radio 5 live

Sunday Telegraph football correspondent Jason Burt tells BBC Radio 5 live: "I think the league is condensed with no-one cut adrift. Everyone who wants to be at the top is not too far away.

"I also think there is a lack of top candidates out there, Tony Pulis is the prime one waiting. Some have been under pressure and pulled it out of the fire. I don't think there is a team in such a state that they feel we have to make this change."

BBC Radio 5 live

No Premier League side has so far pressed the panic button and sacked their manager yet this season.

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy tells BBC Radio 5 live that is positive news: "Nobody wants to be the first.

"When one goes others may think it's their turn because no one will talk about them being the first. It's good for the English game and gives people like me hope. I think there should be a transfer window for managers as well. Teams would be stuck with the manager."

It's quite remarkable that we are deep into December and no Premier League side has sacked their manager this season. Yet.

The BBC Radio 5 live team were discussing that very subject last night...

The Saints, however, might fancy their chances today. Everton have only won twice in 15 Premier League visits to Southampton (W2, D6, L7) - and they scored two own goals last season in a 2-0 defeat. The Toffees' bogey side?

What's going on at Southampton? One minute they're talking about the Champions League, the next they're one defeat away from their worst run of results since 1957.

Not that manager Ronald Koeman is too concerned: "If somebody said to me in the pre-season 'after the middle of December you are the fifth in the list' I would have said 'give me the paper and I will sign it now'."

Just don't get Ronald onto the subject of Nigel Clough...

Head on over to the MOTD Facebook page,, external where you will find a lot of funny stories of improvised kit, as requested by Danny Baker on Radio 5 live this morning, including this...

Anthony French: When I was 'manager' of a Sunday League Team, I had to referee a game with no whistle, allocated ref didn't turn up, we were the away team, home team only had 11 players... 1 linesman with a can of deep heat for a flag! In the same season, my goalkeeper turned up for a game with two left hand gloves and no right hand glove.... I was also at the game in 96/97 (I think?) when Chelsea had to wear Coventry City's away kit at Highfield Road due to either bringing the wrong kit/their kit not making it to Coventry.

Image source, PA

Hit or Miss.

I'm not talking about an obscure board game which you need to get down from the loft in time for Christmas... but Robbie Savage's latest column in which he rates the success of the signings made by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. All 24 of them.

Who might he be talking about here: "A big success. I am just surprised he has not played more in key games for Liverpool this season."

Go and have a read.

Your examples of improvised kit continue to flood in via #bbcfootball on Twitter, external and the MOTD Facebook page..., external

Andy Barnes: I remember one muddy Sunday the opposition goalie wearing sheepskin mittens. Needless to say he couldn't catch a thing.

Tash Holt: Turned up to play my first game for Exeter City girls team only to find out I was playing in goal, no gloves with me so I had to borrow my mates bright pink fluffy gloves!

Eric Cocoran: Our keeper forgot his shin pads so had to use nappies instead.

So, what's next for Fifa and Sepp Blatter? BBC Sport's Richard Conway has put together an excellent and considered blog on that very subject. Read all about it here.

Moving away from the Premier League for a moment, another big football story which is making the news concerns Fifa.

The governing body has now agreed to publish a report into claims of World Cup bidding corruption, after previously refusing to do so, while author Michael Garcia resigned as Fifa's independent ethics investigator over the body's handling of his report.

And former England captain Gary Lineker says the way Fifa is running world football is "a farce".

"It's hugely depressing for those of us who love the game," Lineker told the BBC. "I don't think there is any question that Fifa is at an all-time low."