This seems to be aimed at allaying fears about our lack of defensive signings. And although most fans will be more relieved to hear that Grimandi's staying (especially with new doubts over Upson's return), Luzhny's performances last season were good enough to make this good news. He's an experienced international and now that he's settled maybe we'll start to see the best of him a little more often. Still, what problems we had last season were in defence, and so you're excused if starting the season with the same personnel as the last makes you a tad nervous.

The reason we focus on Luzhny is that he was one of 6 players rumoured to have been put on the transfer list (see this month-old item). So that list might have to go up in smoke, although out of the other 5 it seems unlikely that we'll be seeing much of Wreh, Vivas, Malz, or Mendez next season. The 6th was Nigel Winterburn.