What's everyone's feelings on strikers then? To get anywhere, I reckon we need four top flight strikers to rotate in and out. At the mo we have 1 and a half.

Gudjohnsen is touted as a target; I believe YBR signed him as a youngster for PSV; he then got an unfortunate knee injury which kept him out.

What about trying to prize Solskjaer away from the Mancs? I can't believe that he's that happy about spending all that time on the bench. Apart from wearing the wrong colour shirt, I think the guy is what we need; he's really mobile around the box, and his finishing with either foot is comparable with Fowler (who is IMHO the finest natural finisher in the game right now); basically he's a good poacher.

Anyone else think of realistically priced possibles that YBR can turn into a star?

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

Answers

If we get Gudjonsson I'll be a very happy boy. The way he took the piss out of Villa when he got the ball was a delight. He turned his way through Ehiogu and Southgate like the Shearer of 4 seasons ago.

The other chap I really have time for is Southampton's James Beattie. If someone can show him how to use all his gifts properly he'll be fantastic. He's strong, fast, has a shot like a thunderbolt, he's brave, he'll try somehing spectacular (he knocked one in from the touchline last season) and yet he's only shown glimpses of his undoubted ability. He needs Bobby Robson to tell him how to do it and Alan Shearer to SHOW him how to do it.

I don't fancy shopping abroad much, we've been stung too often. Gallacher is still useful cover up front and we've a better crop of youngsters coming through to fill in during the bad patches.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

Flag to the proverbial mast - I don't like the AS/DF combo. I don't believe you can be successful these days playing two less than fully mobile front men - it puts far too much pressure on midfield.
IMO, the ideal partner for AS would have been Robbie Keane, but you wouldn't get him now for less than ukp10 million. Another in a similar mould is Marion Pahars, but again he would now be expensive. I can't actually think of another, although a real favourite on this bbs, Matt Jansen (!!), would be a possibility and within our budget.
Softie's suggestion of James Beattie is an interesting one. Like Softie I rather like this lad. He's big, strong, awkward, brave as a lion, and I also think working alongside BR & AS could be the making of him. Worth a punt, IMO.
I have a funny feeling BR may still harbour hopes of luring Van Nistelroy to SJP, but the required wedge is almost certainly too much.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

clarky,
That's why I think it's short sighted to have tied up so much of the new money in paying off debt. Being successful would take care of that, I reckon.

I think that if we aren't in a position to compete on cash terms when 'class' players become available, we'll stay as also rans.

Say what you like about him, McManamanamanamanaman had a blinder againt manure last night and if he became available, we could do a lot worse.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

I haven't given up hope on Van Nistelrooj coming .. Seriously, I agree with Beattie - was modelled on Shearer apparently. Otherwise, Julian Joachim is wanting out of Villa - get the ball to his feet in the area and he scores. He's been pushed out a bit. Then again, I'm sure Bobby has been clocking kids like no one's business and will come up with a name we've not heard of.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

Anyone fancy re-uniting Al with his old sidekick Chris Sutton? Nah I thought not. Personally I think Al and Larsson (Celtic) would be a good combo. Think TSM would swap him for Glass and Given? He was good at dumping good'ns and replacing with expensive journeymen.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

I think Larsson and Shearer would be devastating. He is one of my favourite players, great shame about his leg. He'd be 6-7 mil though I reckon. I am still impressed with Pahars though.

I wouldn't want that cheating little gnome Solskjar though. Too expensive anyway.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

On this subject, Sutton can't have become a bad player overnight. The thing is, he is like Al - he needs wide men/wingers and Chelsea just don't play that sort of game. He'd have been better going to Spurs. I would take a risk for about #2mill.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

Well said Tynedale Man - that Solskjar(sp) he`s...he`s... he`s so.....slappable!!! And on the same subject, I would HATE that Chris Sutton in the team too! (:o|

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

Quickly, someone help me get that 2mil off Dougal before she buys Sutton (grunt. strain) Help us out here, lads, I think she's serious. All our plans and dreams down the toilet (sweat. gasp)...

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

Sutton!! He's gone to seed.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

is a cheque alright Softie?

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

This wouldnt' be the same Sutton who at Wembley in a one on one with one of our defenders only needed a tad more pace to beat our man to the ball and find himself in a great goalscoring position...instead pulled out of his run and let our man clear the ball.

I don't think I'd take him if he paid me the 2mils out of his own pocket.

Though he's not bad looking. Might consider him for the girlie team on the other thread. I'm assuming brains are optional in the qualification... ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000

Very short memories going on here. Chris Sutton won the PL Golden Boot the season before last. You don't become a bad player overnight. He is unquestionably with the wrong club. I'm not sure that Shearer would have cut that much of a dash at Chelsea. When Ruud went for the Chelsea style of play, he scored 14 PL goals, 9 of which were from open play, At Spurs, where they have wingers, he'd have scored about 20 this season. Besides which, history shows that Shearer has enjoyed his most prolific scoring form with Sutton as his partner. Mock if you must, but don't forget that he has a better scoring record than Duncan Ferguson and is injured slightly less. Disciplinary record pretty much the same.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2000

Shearer and Sutton apparently don't get on. We seem to have a pretty united (sorry) dressing room at the moment so lets keep it that way.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2000

It looks like that Eidur Gudjohnsen is most likely Robson's number 1 target for up front. Soccernet reports that Mick Wadsworth again watched the player on the weekend. Soccernet also speculate that the asking price will be 5 million pounds.

However both Middlesborough and Blackburn are said to be interested in him.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000

Sutton has had a bad season. But who knows mayve next season he'll score 20+ goals. IMHO he'd be worth a 6 mill punt. However after Duncans "2 - 3 week" knee injury i would sell him for around 4 mill. Then buy Gudjohnsen as well. That should give the team a fair amount of potency up front. Also T.Snclair would b a good signing though i wouldn't pay more than 4 mill for the lad. As for a left winger i dont really know but the kid from Oxford seems a fair punt @ 1.5 mill given that he can play L.M, L.B and L.W.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2000

What's De Bilde's situation? I reckon there's a lot more to him if properly managed in a team capable of actually achieving something.

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2000

I'm here and waiting for the call. Is that the phone...........?

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2000

Does your moniker presuppose that you're a De Bilde fan?

On another note, Le Boeuf appears to be heading back to his beloved France and Lyons. Looks like wor Alan really scared him off this time.

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2000

Not really, although i think he'd be a useful acquisition. Good riddance to Lebouf if he goes along with his water carrying matey Deschamps

I work in the Construction Industry!

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2000

What a joy to watch that was! Making to back into him to draw the dive and then neatly stepping away so that we could all enjoy the 2 feet of daylight between them as Le Bouef crumpled in 'agony'. Using his 'lost' 2 yards of pace to round the feckless frog, pause just long enough for a really World Class defender to get back and make the tackle, but in the absence of this defender, crossed effortlessly for Rob Lee to nod us into seventh Heaven.

The thing we were cruelly denied was our rightful victory. I think the sight of Al at the end of the game consoling the blubbering Beef with a pat on the head and, "Don't worry, son, this game isn't for everyone." Would have made the Season.

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2000

Oh yes, the humbling of Le Boeuf is defintely one of the sweetest memories of late. I've also read that the existing Lyons manager, Bernard Lacomb, is thinking of quitting 'because of pressure'. Surely it's because he's heard of Le Whine's imminent arrival. And what use is Lacomb on a head like Le Boeuf's. Arghh..sorry, that was worse than aweful.

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2000

Saw a story that Blackburn were looking to swap Jansen with some body at Rangers.

We could offer then Kets and Silvio. I am not a Jansen fan but it could be a worse deal!!!

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2000