Beatt gets the magic number...

Last updated : 12 July 2006 By Les Roberts

If that was the case then Gary Naysmith would have the magic number...which is doubtful!

Anyway, the squad numbers have been announced and James Beattie has been given the coveted number nine shirt.

Andy Johnson, meanwhile, has been given the number eight shirt that Beattie wore last season.

I can picture Andy Johnson being a bit like Gareth in The Office as he was handed the number eight and telling Moysie that he doesn't normally do sloppy seconds, especially not his, as he points to our new number nine.

Or maybe not!

Andy van der Meyde looks like he could be part of the plans next season as he has been given the number seven shirt to replace the number 27 he wore about four times last season!

Tony Hibbert has also jumped up 20 places and he'll wear the number 2, a shirt which many felt should have been retired as a mark of respect when Earl Barrett left the club!

Here's the full rundown pop pickers...

1

Richard Wright

2

Tony Hibbert

3

Gary Naysmith

4

Joseph Yobo

5

David Weir

6

Mikel Arteta

7

Andy van der Meyde

8

Andy Johnson

9

James Beattie

10

Simon Davies

11

James McFadden

13

Iain Turner

14

Kevin Kilbane

15

Alan Stubbs

16

Joleon Lescott

17

Tim Cahill

18

Phil Neville

19

Nuno Valente

21

Leon Osman

22

James Vaughan

23

Alessandro Pistone

24

Tim Howard

26

Lee Carsley

28

Victor Anichebe

30

John Ruddy

31

Mark Hughes

36

Patrick Boyle



In other Blues news, we are said to be chasing Internazionale for the £500k they still owe us for Marco Materazzi.


Kenwright and Wyness were probably watching the World Cup final when Materazzi was headbutted by Zidane (incidentally, why has everyone started calling him Zizou all of a sudden?) and Kenwright said to Wyness (adopting a Mr Burns voice):


BK: “Wyness, who's that strapping young Italian that's just been floored by that French thug?”


KW: “That's Marco Materazzi sir.”


BK: “Hmmmm, Materazzi eh?! I'll remember him!”


KW: “Sir, Inter still owe us £500K for him”


BK: “Release the hounds Wyness”


At which point John Ebbrell and Joe Parkinson come limping out of a hatch in the wall.


Or maybe not!


Forza Everton!