Nine points from 12 and a visit to a state-of-the-art Premiership stadium in the Carling Cup represents a more than satisfactory start to the season forAlbion.

Rewind 12 months and what would Martin Hinshelwood have given for a similar run?

The permanent capture of Leon Knight underlines the significance of having a man of Steve Coppell's stature in charge.

The pint-sized striker had a choice between Albion and QPR. I've no doubt had he chosen Loftus Road over Withdean, the Southern Counties Radio switchboard would have reached meltdown and The Argus postman would have been off with a bad back.

So congratulations to chairman Dick Knight for brokering the deal. Had it failed he would come in for a tremendous amount of criticism.

I've no doubt the overriding reason for the transfer was Coppell himself. I don't think the prospect of possibly playing at Falmer came into the equation for Knight.

The player respects the manager and wants to play for him. I doubt he will be the last player to sign for the Albion on that basis.

It was just one of those days at Barnsley. Come the end of the season, I doubt there will be any shame in losing at Oakwell, although it was a game we could and should have won.

To lose Danny Cullip at any time is bad enough but after just seven minutes was a bitter blow. His animated reaction at having to come off again highlights how fortunate Albion are to have a player of such standing and commitment.

But one player's misfortune turned out to be a stroke of luck for another. Cullip's injury opened the door for the much-maligned Guy Butters to play against Luton on Bank Holiday Monday.

Too much has been made of one fan's decision to put a spoof for sale notice for Butters on the internet.

Supporters are entitled to their opinions. I certainly know that from my days as a fanzine editor, but what happened demonstrates the powerful influence of the Internet.

Had a similar advertisement been placed in Gulls Eye about Mark Farrington, the majority of people would have laughed and forgotten about it a couple of days later. There is no way The Sun or any other national tabloid would have picked it up.

But put it on the net and the whole globe has access and that's why Butters received the coverage he did.

It's terrible his kids got stick at school, although I doubt it was a picnic for Gordon Smith's son after that infamous miss in the FA Cup final all those years ago.

A few more performances from Butters like the one he produced on Monday and the whole episode will be a dim and distant memory.

What kind of sick world do we live in? Claire Byrd, the press officer for EDF, kindly arranged sponsorship of a new strip for Worthing United under-nines.

One parent suggested it might be a nice idea to give the boys a squad number and have their names printed on the back of their shirts.

It would also have solved the age-old problem of the kit-washing rota, as each boy would have his own.

But the idea was scuppered by FA rules which ban putting names on the back of shirts because it might identify them to any passing paedophile.

Shocked? On reflection I wasn't, it's just another sad indictment on our society.