I'm starting to get used to this transfer merry go round thing, although I don't particularly like it.

No longer do teams buy players and keep them for years on end, now things have changed and players come and players go and the role of the manager is not neccesarily to builkd a team but to integrate the new signings as quickly as possible.

Hamann came and went, now, by all accounts, it's Solano. The English players don't move as much but the foriegners just seem to come and go. (Except for Maric).

I'd be sad to see Solano go, particularly if the fee was #5m. There are others out there though, all we need is a manager who knows the international market and knows where to get a good player for a good price.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Answers

It wont be the end of the world if Nobby goes. With Dyer, Gavilan+even Gallagher all well able to play on the right weve got to try and get 7 million for him and balance the team.

Great control and skill but lacking pace, has he ever had a good away match?, inconsistent and cant back track a left midfielder- deserves a good slap for ball watching on Poyets 1st goal- he tracked him back to near the pen area then watched the ball as Poyet steamed in to score.

7 million, yes please.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

I read today at Sky Sports that Nobby was again talking about Real Madrid, article titled "Solano dreaming of a Spanish move".

I'd be gutted to see Nobby go, but I continually agonise over the makeup of our midfield.

We have seen when Domi plays down the left of midfield how much better we are. So a left winger is essential and I'd want Domi at LB.

My dilema is who we should play across midfield. I'm not sure if Dyer's up to a central midfielfd role. Lee is briliant at times,but I'd have as a sub and as a rotational player. Speed needs replacing.

Also we could really do with Rebrov, and I don't see Bobby having the cash to buy three quality players unless someone is sold.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

It would help, like, if Solano could play with the ball while it's moving.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

That Sylvian Wiltord fellow in france is looking rather canny as well, and his price isn't through the stratosphere yet.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

Nobby's monthly absences aren't helping us settle down. We must have had at least 12 corners on Sunday, but I only remember one great cross in the whole game, an that was from Alan Shearer. Trust me on this folks, Gavilan puts in infinitely better corners than Nobby, and you can bet he would have been on if Ferguson's breakdown hadn't enforced the early substitution. These stupid statistics don't tell us anything. How often did Speed stretch himself to twice his height and still only manage to get the tip of his head to the ball? Those will count as 'completed crosses' to Nobby because opta-stats don't consider intentions; he was trying to get the ball in where someone could head it into the net, but he kept hitting first defender or putting it out of play on the far side.

Reminds me of 'The Magnificent Seven' with the, "Best shot I ever saw!" scene..."You mean the worst, I was aiming for his horse..."

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

Nobby is a decent PL player but not an outstanding one. It seems fairly clear he wants to join Real Madrid, and provided they are prepared to stump up the appropriate wedge, then IMO we should sell him.

For a Hispanic player, I guess playing for Real Madrid might be like playing for the Toon to a Geordie, so perhaps we shouldn't be too hard on him, even though players deciding they've had enough half way through their Contracts really cheeze me off.

The Real rub (sic) here, according to some Press reports, is that Madrid are short of brass - but probably nowhere near as short as we are - so they may not be able to stump up the dosh.

It would cost potentially cost #7-8 million to adequately replace Nobs, and we should not consider selling him for less. As has previously been speculated, a swap for McManamanamanaman would be worth considering - he looked really good against manure recently - although with reported wages of #60,000 per week, the odds are probably 100-1 against.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

As we all know Left Wing is the problem we have in the club with only Stephen Glass recognized as an orthodox left winger.

Sure sacrifice Solano if Gavilan is as good but we must make sure that if we are to challenge for a top six spot we need a decent left winger. Someone like that Quinton Fortune would do.

(Enter 'Tre' stage left, proposing Bouma of course!!)

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

Of Course,

exit stage right.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

The dastardly Softie emerges from behind the awnings with dagger, delivers soliloquy on taking Glass off transfer list and takes up station in secret compartment behind tapestry.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Clarky, I`d certainly be happy with MacMananananman, but you are right, we`ll never get him on those wages.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Always thought that McManamanamanaman wasn't consistent enough for Liverpool/England so I wouldn't be too keen on having him...

Still he played very well against Man Utd the other week....Agree that the wages would be a joke though...

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

According to most Spanish jouno's the performance against Manure was Macca's best for Real Madrid and he hasn't really set the world on fire.

Not naturally left footed and a bit of a floater, I'd rather have Dyer! Don't touch Macca I reckon.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

I agree that MacManaman isn't consistent enough to pay big money for, either as a transfer fee or wages. He'd be useful if on the cheap side, but not otherwise.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

This one's come up agains from Optasoccer...FEYENOORD are to open negotiations over a new contract with captain Paul Bosvelt, in an attempt to fend off competition from Newcastle United. Bosvelt's agent - Bob Maaskant, has confirmed that he has begun negotiations with the Dutch champions.

"What Paul wants for himself, is dependable on what Feyenoord offer him," said Maaskant. "The departure of Leo Beenhakker will have no effect on Paul's future.

"It is the first time we have talked about a new deal and we will talk about his future."

The 30-year-old midfielder, is contracted at De Kuip until 2002, but is attracting the attention of a number of clubs, and Bobby Robson is a big fan of the tough tackling Dutch international.

Good age offering experience but I'm not sure if we should go for him.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Man I've gotta learn how to cut and past stuff. Also I've gotta learn the pecking order of the internet football rags on which ones talk some sense and which ones talk utter bullshit (teamtwaddle).

Anyway Soccernet are linking Robson with a move for Portugesse international winger Sa Pinto. They also include some pretty good raves about him.

My question is, isn't he a Right winger?, and if so, will we be playing a midfield that consists entirely of right wingers?

Pinto, Solano, Gavilan, Dyer.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

Arsend Wenger has just released Suker. Whilst I don't think Suker will move to Newcastle, it appears West Ham are the keenest to take him. Up until the Newcastle game, Wanchope wasn't exactly flavour of the month. At a reasonable price, he could be just the sort of tricky, unpredictable player to give us a bit of variety up front from the Shearer/Ferguson battering ram approach.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I think Leicester have targeted Wanchop as a replacement striker.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000