Last updated: 21st November 2008
Myhill: Talk to the hand
Hull City manager Phil Brown is getting ready to fight for in-form goalkeeper Boaz Myhill when the transfer window opens.
The Wales international has made an admirable start to his Premier League career with two clean sheets among a series of impressive performances, even adding an international shut-out to that against Denmark earlier this week.
And Brown is now preparing for the phone to ring off the hook come January.
"I think a number of top clubs are looking at Bo Myhill," Brown said.
"But he is a Hull City player. When he signed his last contract for three years that made him a Hull City player for those three years. That's it."
And it does not matter how good the offer is. All offers will be turned down, as Brown added: "Absolutely they will. And it won't just be Bo Myhill they'll be phoning about. But I'm ready."
Elsewhere on the pitch, there could be some different faces lining up at Portsmouth following the midweek internationals - but they won't be new faces.
Brown has seasoned professionals Dean Windass, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Bernard Mendy and Nicky Barmby all on standby for surprise starts.
"Those four have been fantastic with their attitude," he said. "They are great pros and they have done everything they possibly can at the highest level and they continue to do so.
"We're taking a 22-man squad to Portsmouth and four will be disappointed.
"But the reason I've put a big squad together is to have competition for places. I wanted two or three for each position and let the best man win."
Meanwhile, Brown has predicted that managers need to take more responsibility for their behaviour in the wake of tighter disciplinary expectations.
He was fined £1,000 by the FA disciplinary board this week for kicking a water bottle on the touchline during the match against Wigan back in August.
"I think it's because of the increased demands on standards that have been set," he added.
"They are at the highest level now and we have to come up to scratch. If you get caught doing whatever you've been doing and get a disrepute charge, that's your own fault. We cannot say it's not."

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Birmingham City | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Burnley | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Everton | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Fulham | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Hull City | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Liverpool | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Manchester City | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Manchester United | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Portsmouth | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sunderland | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Wigan Athletic | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
Skysports.com takes a look at striker Michael Owen's career to date following his Man United switch.
Paul Merson is adamant: Michael Owen will score goals for fun now he's joned Manchester United.
Yuri Zhirkov has flown to London to undergo a medical with Chelsea according to reports in Russia.
Carlos Tevez believes Manchester United fans will forgive him if he seals a move to Manchester City.
Sunderland are closing in on the signing of Paraguay defender Paulo Da Silva.
Felipe Melo has reiterated he is happy at Fiorentina despite ongoing reports linking him to Arsenal.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has admitted Manchester City beat him to Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz.