The window opens in just ten days but everything has gone quiet

The Spoiler hasn’t even stopped to think about Christmas, such has been our tunnel vision in counting down the days until the transfer window opens. However, some of our friends in the tabloid press haven’t shown quite as much commitment which means there isn’t much gossip to share today. Here’s the best of what we found at the bottom of the barrel:

Roque Santa Cruz will meet Sam Allardyce
Blackburn’s wantaway striker Santa Cruz is going to come head-to-head with new boss Sam Allardyce today and will try to muster up the courage to tell him that he wants to leave next month.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Matt Derbyshire have all got better Premier League goals-to-start ratios this season so Allardyce may consider cashing in.

More talk of a FIRE SALE! at West Ham

Chelsea man poses a far greater goal threat

Despite being voted England’s best performer in 2004 and 2005 by fans, there seems little doubt that if Frank Lampard faced Steven Gerrard in a popularity contest to determine which player should start for England, he would lose out. But our friends at chickendinner have discovered that if you want a goalscoring midfielder, Lampard should always be first choice:

INTERNATIONAL GOAL RATIO
Having scored fourteen times in 64 international appearances, Lampard averages 0.22 goals a game for England. This record is superior to Gerrard’s. The Liverpool midfielder has scored thirteen times for his country in 68 appearances, giving him an average of 0.19 goals a game.
Winner: Lampard

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
Lampard’s goalscoring form in the World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign gives him an even bigger advantage. In that campaign he scored five goals, compared to Gerrard’s two and Lampard finished as England’s top goalscorer.
Winner: Lampard

INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS
At the actual tournament it was a different story