Good news that West Ham have signed George McCartney on a two-year permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

McCartney was one of our most consistent players last season. He's 31 and maybe lost a little speed, but he proved what a good player he is under Curbishley and should have a couple more seasons left at the top level.

Roy Keane paid £6 million for him a few years ago as part of his helter skelter transfer policy at Sunderland and we've signed him back for a lot less after his career went down a lot of long and winding roads, such as a loan spell at Leeds. The other bonus is that McCartney supplies this blog with an unending supply of bad Beatles puns...