Vela, Jay and Bob too

Pick a striker, any striker. Is he playing for his club? No. Check. Is he available? Maybe.

So far so good.

Need a club? Link him with Albion.

Vela, Simpson, Manucho, Nugent, Harewood, Derbyshire, Sturridge, Lee Hughes (!!) and a succession of foreign names.

Another day, more speculation. Most of it no more than that. Names plucked out of thin air during what is still a quiet time of year before the mayhem starts. Sometimes it's because a scout has been spotted at a game (eg, midfielder Brian Stock - linked with Albion because Baggies officials wanted to see how his Doncaster team-mate Shelton Martis was getting on and someone, somewhere jumped to the wrong conclusions) or because he's an obvious name to link to the club.

Tony Mowbray fielded more questions about January's transfer window at today's press conference. Names weren't mentioned - no point, he won't say anything publicly. But, as you'll read in Friday's Birmingham Mail, the policy remains the same. Loans and more loans.

Naturally, the Albion boss keeps his cards close to his chest regarding names. What I do know is that his No1 target isn't based on these shores. Nor is it the obvious foreign striker, Oscar Trejo.

It's someone else.

Mowbray wants the 'Zaki' effect. Get a player in, hope he keeps Albion up and the parent club watch the player's value soar. A little bit mercenary? Perhaps. But, in the short term, everyone's a winner.

The Albion boss, nevertheless, gave interesting thoughts on his current forwards Luke Moore and Craig Beattie. Trialist Mindaugas Kalonas, who was at Bohemians, won't be pursued either.

Elsewhere, Bob Taylor was down the training ground today loitering with intent just like he used to in opposition penalty areas. How Albion could do with a centre forward like him right now...

Speaking of old players, check out www.oldbaggies.com when you get a chance. Wanted to know what you former hero is doing? Wonder no more.

Put together by Brendon Batson's daughter Zoe, it features a new former player interview every Tuesday. So far they've had Cyrille, Asa Hartford and Ray Wilson.

Wednesdays brings you a Club and Country feature, with a Q and A starting next Thursday and every Thursday thereafter.

There's also a re-run of one of past seasons - they're running the 1967/8 season at the moment, going out every Friday. Can't think why they chose that year.

After games, there's a post-match piece from one of the many former Albion heroes.

That address again? www.oldbaggies.com