Any truth or is in Journalistic tripe? from the Mail.... England: News Friday April 14, 2000, 9:19 PM London Time Newcastle striker crisis as Fergie faces lay-off By John Richardson Duncan Ferguson's injury problems have once again thrown Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson's plans into disarray.

Soccernet can reveal that the Scottish striker's knee problem, suffered during Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea, will keep him out of action for three to six months.

He could need surgery which would make it unlikely that he would be ready for the start of next season. That would necessitate a swift change of policy in the transfer market.

Robson knows he cannot rely on the effective but rarely seen partnership of Ferguson and England skipper Alan Shearer to spearhead a climb up the Premiership.

Most of the transfer cash being made available to the Newcastle boss had been earmarked for defensive and midfield reinforcements, with Barcelona's Josep Guardiola among Robson's top targets.

But with Ferguson's catalogue of injuries showing no sign of abating, a striker to help take the weight off Shearer's shoulders has become a priority.

Robson is expected to harden his interest in Bolton forward Eidur Gudjohnsen but with Middlesbrough, Sunderland, West Ham and Derby also keen on the Icelander, the asking price could reach #5million.

Ferguson was restricted to playing in just seven Premiership games last season after his #8m move from Everton but had enjoyed a run of 20 matches until his latest setback.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

Answers

It wouldn`t come as that much of a shock if it were true. I`ve been kind of holding my breath all season. The official site have now changed it`s posting from Big Dunc back on the 23rd to possibly back on the 23rd. It doesn`t look good. Dabs is not recovered yet, nor Gallager. That was a costly four days worth of football, and the week`s not over yet! Fingers crossed that things go OK today! (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

So what would you do if you were BR and Ferguson is out for 3 months? Don't all say SELL HIM, no one would want him, we should have sold him when he was fit we now need to bring a couple of top strikers in at the end of the season. I would have gone for Rebrov #12m (before the transfer deadline ) Having sold Solano and Ferguson to pay for him. I would also have tried to tie up a pre contract agreement to get Guudjohson at 5 million at the end of the season.

Now it looks like we'll either have to Play with Dyer upfront, Play with Kets? Wait for Gallacher to get fit, or Bring in Robinson? What would you do if you were BR?

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

Is this any help?

FEAR FOR DUNC'S SEASON

By Mirror Sport Staff

Duncan Ferguson is in a race to play again this season after being struck again by his injury-jinx.

Newcastle's towering Scot has had a scan on the knee injury that forced him off during the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea.

While the trouble is not as serious as the Geordies first feared, he could be out for at least three weeks.

Ferguson has successfully recovered from the pelvic damage that forced him to have an operation immediately after last season's FA Cup final, but manager Bobby Robson said: "His knee has been quite swollen and there is some damage."

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2000

Off to the Smoggies? FOOTBALL: BORO BACK IN FOR POUNDS 5M DUNC

MIDDLESBROUGH will make a pounds 5million summer bid for Newcastle United striker Duncan Ferguson.

Boro boss Bryan Robson asked namesake Bobby at St James' Park about 28-year-old Ferguson earlier in the season, but was told there was nothing doing.

But with hard-up Newcastle, who lost Leicester yesterday, having to sell before they can buy, that situation has changed.

And with England skipper Alan Shearer having committed himself to the Toon on a long-term basis, Ferguson is Newcastle's most saleable asset along with Peruvian winger Nolberto Solano, who is wanted by Real Madrid.

Selling Ferguson and Solano would raise around pounds 10m and that would go a long way to allowing Bobby Robson to launch a close season rebuilding programme.

Ideally, the Newcastle boss would like to keep the injury-prone Ferguson after his partnership with Shearer finally blossomed this season.

But with virtually no interest being shown in any of the 13 players he recently transfer listed, Robson knows he must sell if he is to find the finds to reshape United's fortunes.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2000

If Shearer het sinjured during Euro2000, we are stuffed and no mistake.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2000

Thanks for that note of cautious optimism about the new season Dougal. Any thoughts on BR's long-term health prognosis while you at it?

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2000

LOL.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2000

Dougal, your e-mail address looks a bit dodgy, Duncan will get some stick if it isn't kosher. I know you had some grief from somebody who claims that they are dougal@hotmail.com, but that might be because you hadn't used the account recently before hotmail had their clearout a few months back. That's how come I got promoted from Softie34 to Softie02 since they allowed you to take over lapsed accounts. You might need to re-register at hotmail, just a thought.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2000

My solution would be more drastic than just selling before buying. I reckon that this needs the people controlling the purse strings to take an out and out gamble.

B****x to paying off debt with most of the new funds - give Bobby the lot so that we can compete, even if just on a one off basis, for the likes of van Nistelrooy, etc.

It just seems to me that a fair bit of the revenue needed to keep the suits of our backs could probably be raised just as easily from ticket and club shop sales etc, and fans being fans, one or two really big name signings would make more of an impression than 10 to 15 mill spread over three or four signings.

But because no suit worth the name would dare take that approach, I know there isn't a snowball in hell's chance of owt like this happening, so I reckon we'll end up with the players BR already has in mind, provided we can fight off anybody else who's after them, and the attack to be made up from what we already have, even if it's make do and mend at the start of next season, until Fergie gets fit, cos there's no way anybody will buy him crocked. The 5 mill for Solano won't go far.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000