[Butter]

I decide to poke around the squad a bit, and notice some interesting things.

Jesus Castro is annoyed that his injury is hampering his settling into his new club. He has had a couple of minor injuries already, so we send him to a specialist for about 4 weeks to try and get it straightened out.

Vagner (full name: Vagner Dias) is considered a "temperamental" striker. I'll have to keep my eye on that one. He does have a tendency to get carded. That could be a problem in big matches in the future.

Arenas has improved his reputation to "continental" after his UEFA Cup performance last year.

Ibrahim Kargbo is upset because "he feels he isn't being played in his strongest position". I play him nearly everywhere, so I don't know what that position might be. In his profile, he's listed as a center-back... where he played several games last year. Maybe he's just a whiner.

Carlos Bocanegra has DaMarcus Beasley listed among his favored personnel.

Diego Gavilan is listed as a "tireless midfielder", which I would agree with.

Javier Mascherano is listed as a "tenacious midfielder" who has a "driven" personality.

Both Fabrice Fernandes and Kenny Lunt are "experienced midfielders", which is just a polite way of saying "old".

Wesley Sneijder is a "cultured attacking midfielder". Whatever that cultured means. Does he run around the field with a tea cup and his pinky out?

Niko Kranjcar "wants to impress his new manager"... which he has definitely done so far.

I take a look at the reserves a bit, and note that newly acquired striker Michal Jablonski is a "realist". He is also developing like gangbusters down there... only 20 years old, and he has a bright future with the big club.

With Jesus and Mascherano both out for at least a month, that leaves us with just Ibrahim Kargbo and Cesar Arzo as defensive midfielders with experience on the big club.

Roman Wallner states in the media that since complaining about wanting more playing time, he has noticed a greater willingness of me to play him, and that he was once again happy with his role at the club.

John Heitinga picks up a calf strain in training. He will miss about 2 weeks.

The League Cup Third Round Draw is made, and we get a pretty good one... drawing a road game at one of four remaining League One sides, we'll play Kidderminster Harriers on October 26th.

Sept. 24, Match 7
4-2-0, 3rd pl., 14 pts.
@ Aston Villa (3-1-2, 9th pl., 10 pts.)
Series: Even, 2-2-2
Fav: Posh, 6:4

Out with injury: Heitinga, Jesus, Mascherano, Vagner
With the first AC Milan match coming in 4 days, we play for the road draw here with the 2nd string.
Lineup:
GK: Arenas
Def: Jensen, Svensson, Marcos, Sarr
Mid: Kargbo, Lunt, Gavilan, Kranjcar
Str: Mokoena, Balaban

11'- Some slack marking in the back, as a ball is played wide to Petter Andersson, and he crosses low to an unmarked Eidur Gudjohnsen, who finishes inside the far post from 10 yards. No defensive pressure at all on that play. 1-0, Villa, as ageless wonder Gudjohnsen scores his 50th goal for Villa.

13'- John Arne Riise with a fierce 20 yarder that Arenas knocks down... the rebound is put over by Cana.

23'- Darius Vassell misses a glorious 8 yard chance, putting it wide.

24'- Finally, a break, as Lunt's 40 yard free kick drops to Svensson... he plays it to Mokoena on the left of the box... Mokoena plays it right to Gavilan... Gavilan with a short cross to Balaban, who turns and shoots high... he roofs it! Powerful strike past the Villa keeper, and it's 1-1!

32'-Lunt's corner kick passes up Kargbo at the near post... keeper Thomas Sorensen seems surprised to see the ball, and he can't hold it... Balaban is there to make him pay! 2-1, Posh!

39'- Riise with a cross to Phil Jagielka, open on the right side of the box... he shoots low, and without much pace... but Arenas barely moves, and it goes in. 2-2.

45+'- In the first added minute, Gavilan wins a header on a long ball from Arenas. Gavilan then slides a wonderful through ball ahead to Balaban... but Bosko tries to be a bit too cute, and wastes the opportunity allowing the defense to recover.

50'- Gudjohnsen with a 30 yard effort... Arenas does well to parry it, but Petter Andersson is there... Arenas comes out to him, but he lays it back to Vassell, who finishes into the open net. 3-2, Villa.

54'- Sarr with a steal, ahead to Kranjcar... he passes short to Balaban, who has some open space on the right wing... Balaban gets around a defender, then cuts inside another... he tries a crazy shot from the edge of the area... it looks like a screwball, and it goes in off the far post! Balaban with a hat trick, and we're back even yet again at 3-3!

66'- Lunt puts a cross into Balaban, but the defense closes him down and forces a corner.

75'- Aston Villa with a nice corner kick... but apparently no one occupied the center of the box as it sails out the other side untouched for a throw.

76'- Balaban is exhausted, he comes out for Bellomo... Mngomeni in for Lunt.

87'- Gudjohnsen with a nice cross to the top of the six for Luke Moore... his header just sails wide.

89'- Mokoena with a good long ball to Bellomo... but the keeper gets to it... Bellomo sticks a toe in, pokes it away, but the defense slides the ball left... Mngomeni tries a long range shot, but the Villa defense with a nice clearance in cover of Sorensen. After two runs up and down the field, Villa back with it in our half... Vassell with a short cross to Cana, and Arenas with a great save to tip the short header out for a corner.

Bellomo needs some work on his off the ball movement... Gavilan had the ball in midfield, holding it for at least 5 seconds waiting for Bellomo to get back onside... but he just lingered well past the last defender, standing there like an idiot.

And that's how this one ends. Bosko Balaban with a 10 and MoM honors for his hat trick. Arenas actually did well to keep it to 3... we were dominated in this one. He gets an 8, as do Kargbo and Kranjcar.

Draw, 3-3, up to 2nd place
Shots/on target: Villans 19/9, Posh 7/4
Poss: 55-45, Villans
A: 37,689

EPL Round 7 results
Boro 0:1 Chelsea
Arsenal 4:1 Palace
Norwich 0:3 Man U
Portsmouth 4:0 Cardiff
WBA 0:1 Newcastle
West Ham 0:2 Birmingham
Sheff Wed 2:1 Spurs
Man City 2:4 So'ton
Blackburn 0:3 Liverpool

Norwich with their 7th straight loss to open the season... yet, they still sit above pointless West Brom on goal difference. Southampton pass us with their Sunday win, as they continue their unbeaten start to the season.