"NEWCASTLE defender Nikos Dabizas is being targeted by Italian giants Inter Milan. The Greek international is hoping to secure a new long-term contract at St James's Park and has already publicly appealed to United boss Bobby Robson to rectify the situation. But Dabizas has become frustrated at the lack of progress in striking a new deal despite enjoying a renaissance under Robson after being frozen out by former manager Ruud Gullit. Inter are known to be in the market for a centre-half and Dabizas says: "I feel I really deserve something better." "

Goodbye Nicos. Part exchange for 'The Chinaman' would have me dancing on the roof top. You're wonderful in the opposition's box and often hopeless in ours. Serie A will give you the time and space to make decent decisions and not pass the ball back for Michael Owen, play volley-ball in the box, hack people down when they get past, attempt to outleap Niall Quinn by leaving him unmarked and unsuccessfully attacking the ball 3 yards away thus leaving him with a free header, taking his eye off Kevin Phillips for a second and generally losing his head under pressure.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Answers

Hang on softy - Dabs drops bollox quite often, too often. But the man can head a ball, he can tackle. He doesn't hide. He has never in his couple of seasons played in settled defence. If all are fit I doubt he would make my first 11 but a able prem squad player. Who's the Chinaman?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Hmmmm.... A tad unfair Softie. Dabs has held the defence together over the last few months. I wouldn't sell. I'm not sure who wor Bobby reckons are the best pair of CBs. He cleary likes Helder as he wouldn't have bought him (or borrowed him). Helder/Howey has a nice ring to it.

Marcellino can go. He's never looked comfortable. Goma? What about Hughes? Is he consigned to left back reserve and emergency CB cover?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

'The Chinaman' is Recoba. Permanent understudy to Vieri, Ronaldo, Baggio and Zamorano. Inter sent him on loan to Venezia last season and his goals kept them up (with a little help from Taibi and Pistone). He is second only to Mihailovic from dead ball situations and has a passing ability of the kind of range that makes you think "Beardsley" - rather than a one-trick pony of the Beckham, Ginola model, however good that trick is. Bobby expressed interest in him earlier in the season and was reportedly trying to do a deal for him involving Maric going the other way. That was the occasion when he also famously enquired about borrowing Ronaldo to help him convalsce.

I'm glad to see that my forthright opinion about Dabizas has provoked some response. I make no apologies for it, he is behind Helder, Howey, Goma, Hughes AND Marcelino in my book. The first three are infinitely more reliable and less prone to errors of judgment, Hughes needs a chance to show what he can do and Marcelino needs a run in the team to show what he is made of. Dabizas has no ability whatsover as senior party at centre-half, so he cannot be played with Hughes or Marcelino who both need someone solid to show them the ropes.

He simply isn't good enough, however committed he is. I would be delighted for him to drop his bollocks in someone else's penalty area and we can get on with finding TWO centre backs we can have some confidence in. This isn't a charity, it's a business. We pay the guy a fortune; he either justifies the wage or he gets sold. We shouldn't have to pick other players to compensate for his problems. Any two from Helder, Howey and Goma are an excellent pairing: Dabs just gives me the heebiejeebies. My opinion and I'm sticking by it.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Dabiza,s when he first arrived, looked superb. I feel that it's only because he went through a bad patch (as did many other players) under Gullit, that every little fault is blown up and analysed, whereas it's more often than not passed over in others who have already won our trust.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Sorry Windy, he's still screwing up now. His backpass against Liverpool to let Owen in cost us 2 points and was indefensible; he LOOKED at him over his shoulder and then passed the ball back anyway. If his brain can't register what his eyes have just seen then I can't help but suggest that he's in the wrong line of work. One legged Tarzans need not apply. His insistence on leaving the man he's marking to jump for crosses would be fine if his success rate was higher, but I would suggest that he should jump with his man so as to at least put him off when he misses it. You don't wander off and leave Niall Quinn unmarked for God's sake! You certainly shouldn't let Phillips get goal side of you - maybe I'm being harsh, but perhaps marking our strikers in training doesn't prepare you for pace.

I take your point about us putting up with it from others we have leart to trust, but the heart of our defence is not the place to carry a passenger. Barton scews up, but his errors are less likely to result in a goal unless you have someone dubious in the middle. However, Barton's ability to keep going for 90 minutes and the leadership he's started to exhibit more than atone for his occasional positional lapses. His crossing just keeps getting better and he has got to the point where he invariably beats his man in our half to set himself time for the pass instead of the aimless hoofing we used to get. Not the same with Dabizas; when he screws up it's usually a goal or one of the amazing number of reaction saves Harper and Given have pulled off.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Dabizas has played well recently (especially against Everton), made less mistakes than Helder in general and is an honest committed player. His positional play has improved as he is playing in a more settled less anxious side.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

The last thing I want to do is start any Barton bashings but he is responsible for some stupid penalties too (eliminating us from the last 2 UEFA cups if I'm not mistaken). And his errors are less likely to result in a goal because he is not a center back.

YES, Dabs is not perfect. So who is perfect? Which defenders is perfect and has his eyes always in the right place and always makes the right decision and never takes a chance.

I really like Recoba but I've watched him go down 3 on 1 only to shoot over the bar leaving Vieri and friends scratching their heads. But now, 2 months later, Recoba looks for the open man or just beats everyone down the field. I wonder what he's worth? I would guess 10 million.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

I'm afraid you are mistaken about Barton, Pete, it was Charvet who gave away the pen against Roma (no foul involved of course) and Batty who tried to pull the shorts off the Partisan player in the Cup Winners' Cup. We bombed out of the Champions' League for playing without any strikers against PSV, twice, and got knocked out of the UEFA the season before for trying to play Rob Lee as lone striker against Monnaco - the only NUFC error was a bad pass from Beardsley in the away leg.

I would have thought Recoba would be 15mil by now with Vieri going for 32mil. As you say, he just keeps getting better and Baggio and Zamorano are knocking on a bit whilst Ronaldo is looking more and more like a burnout case all the time. Outside our price range without some sweeteners; if they really want Dabizas we'd be stupid not to try for a lever, especially with him agitating for a pay-rise.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Barton's positional nightmares seem to have been curbed by Robson and he has more awareness for his CB's. Result...3 clean sheets in 4 games.

Harsh to drop Dabizas on this form but the sum of the parts equals the whole and Helder seems more accomplished and composed than Dabizas. If Inter want to offer #5 mill then sell him. Goma and Howey is my long term goal for the CB partnership. Physical presence, enough pace and experience....Robson will do the rest.

Dabs can stay as back up, but if he's whinging about contracts already......

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Softie, sorry about Barton, still can't forgive him for that clearance attempt however, the one where he sort of bicycles the ball right into our penalty area.

Still, our opinions don't matter. I'm not convinced BR doesn't feel some comfort having Dabs out there.

BTW, I know he's popular, but you like Barton way too much. Apart from the resemblance, to quell any rumours, you are in no way a blood relative of Bartinho right?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

So, you're not Nicos' No.1 fan then Softie?

I'm not quite so anti-Dabs as you, although I know where you're coming from. He has improved significantly under BR, and importantly stayed fit when all our other CB's were falling like flies. There have been times this season where we'd have been in real trouble without him. I think he's generally done well for us this season, despite some mistakes - which frankly all defenders make.

HOWEVER, the real question is - is he a good enough CB to form a defensive partnership that will help make us truly competitive in the PL. For me the answer is no.

We discussed this on a similar thread in the dying days of TFBB, and I made the comment then that I'm not totally convinced about any of our CB's in considering the above criterion. Would any of them get a game for manure, the Arse, Chewsee or Leeds - the answer is plainly no.

At his best Howey is very good, but there must be real questions about his ability to stay fit. Hughes is a good prospect that needs encouragement, and also is very versatile. IMO, all the rest are "maybes". I really do feel Dabs has been a plus for us this season and is a decent squad player, but if someone made an offer of more than say #3 million for him, I'd take it.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

It's a matter of priorities. YBR will have a finit e pot of gold to spend. Would that be better spent on yet another CB, or would he be better to keep the likes of Dabs, Howey, Goma, Marcelino, Hughes and buy Helder? I doubt if we can justify all 6. IMHO, I'd let Marcelino go. He doen't seem to fit in with the rest. Hughes is good cover all across the back as well as an able man-marker. I like Helder a lot. He has a calm head on his shoulders and is a class defender. I'm less certain about Goma, but it's difficult to judge as he has played so few games. I think we all agree that Howey is potentially an England player if he can regain and sustain his fitness. However, that is a big doubt. Which leaves Dabs. Committed, often scoring at key times. But if we got a decent wedge for him. I'd be tempted to take it to fund another stiker or midfielder. I certainly wouldn't buy another CB ahead of a top class striker and probably also another class midfielder. But YBR will make the decision, not me!

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Dabz is an honest centre half - he stays fit and is a squad player.

The others :-

Goma - looks class but not played enough

Marcellino - looks brilliant but injured all the time - Bobby will shift him for dropping out against Partizan - even tho he proved himself injured 2 weeks later

Howey - again injury prone

Helder - when fit world class

Whats the link - yep all bar Dabz have been in and out more times than the proverbial. Dabz may be not quite as good as the rest but HE'S BEEN THERE - a settled defence who all know each other and help each other out can cover a multitude of weaknesses never mind the odd blunder. The Toon defence (& the rest) are now willing to die for each other - Dabs & Barton epitomise that spirit.

Over the years all successfull teams have had a Dabs. Keep him if he's happy to be a squad player.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

I reckon if u asked YBR hed tell u Dabs has been easily one of the best players in the team since he joined.

Wether hed be good enough to be in a team to win the league its difficult to say.

Lets not forget 11 million was spent on what Guillit and most likely the board felt were top class defenders. These 2 have got to be given a better chance to show their stuff in a settled team. Players dont suddenly become crap overnight .....unless ur name is MAric of course ;-)

Remember George Grahme was very keen to get Goma and as much as I dislike the man, i wud say he knows a thing or 2 about defenders. Then again Taggart was going to buy Maric for 5 million.....c'est le footballe....

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

From Sport Live:

Dabizas axed in pay dispute Carl Liddle

Bobby Robson revealed his ruthless streak on Friday night by dropping Nikos Dabizas. The Greek defender is having an outstanding season in a defence that has conceded only one goal in five matches.

But he has been dropped after stalling on a new deal. Robson has indicated he will not be held to ransom over contracts.

He recently said: "When the time comes to look at contracts after we have secured our place in the Premiership for another season, you never know, I may reduce some salaries, never mind increase them."

Robson has opted for a three-pronged central defence of Helder, Alain Goma and former England defender Steve Howey, even though Liverpool will be without Michael Owen.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Hi there guys',

I've said this before that Dab's is a confidence player who plays well along side a senior partner. Trouble is he panics, when he panics all hell goes off, and when he panics against pace he loses everytime. Mind you as a perceived good header of the ball and the type of defender I'd play against big bussling centre fowards, he's in my squad but not my team I have to say. I don't like the smack into row Z type of CB. Marcelino should go (he should raise the most cash anyway) Goma stays Helder if we can afford him Howey if he gets his form back Again that leaves Dabs struggling.

Mind you someone did mention spirit, teamwork and understanding are important in a back four, and he definitely has that and exudes it too.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2000

One thing's for sure, Nikos needs to shave.

I think after yesterday's disaster, we can all appreciate Shearer's goal and Given's performance and look forward to the semi-final. There is still work to be done but we have 2 things in our favor- YBR and no manure.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2000