I reckon we could've picked up 9 points from those first 7 games (and not lost at home to the mackems!)....would've given us 61 and a 6th place finish...

Anyone think we might've done better or worse?

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

Answers

Mate i agree , just cos you look lonely ; - ) Have a nice week , good result eh and lines us up for Washington nicely ( and i dont mean Mackemland ).. cant wait for next season, did we qualify for the Inter-Toto or fair play spot or the like ?

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

No back door entry into Europe....but that's not necessarily a bad thing in my eyes....but only for one season while we try to consolidate and improve on YBR's first season....

Top 6 finish next season in what I think is a transitional season (while we get rid of some of the chaff!) and I'll be a very happy man....

We've still gotta find out info on flights etc if we're gonna do this Washington weekend jaunt....it'd be nice to show the americans how to applaud politely for your team ;))

Oh and how to drink as well!!! ;)

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

I agree about not being in Europe - at least on the footballing side. We could have done with the revenue, though. And on that score, Liverpool's loss and failure to get into the Champions League is not a good result for them at all, after all the money they've spent. Put's a lot of pressure on the manager for next season.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

Being brutally honest, not to mention a tad controversial, I still have doubts we'd have qualified for Europe. However, I do think we'd have finished above the makems. The reality is that Bobby has worked a miracle with the players at his disposal, but the squad isn't good enough and deep enough to compete at the highest level. We have entirely inadequate cover in a number of key positions, and indeed have had for three seasons now.
Just look at how many top-class players the Arse were able to leave out yesterday and still give us good game - Bergkamp, Overmars, Henry, Viera, Petit, Adams, Dixon, Grimandi, Yungeberg, Seaman, and initally Silvinho. How many of our first eleven could we similarly leave out and expect to compete?
If BR is given a reasonable transfer budget, and has little better luck with injuries, next season will unquestionably see a significant improvement. I would expect us to be more consistent and more competitive. The improvement in the playing depth and quality that Bobby is able to bring about during the close season will dicate just how successful.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

There's a lot of building work needed for us to really get up there with the big boys, and if I'm honest, I can't see us achieving it next season. We will have to be patient and build sensibly. Overspending would put horrendous pressure on the team to get fantastic results, with a possible negative effect. 2-3 key signings are definitely needed, but not mega signings. Perhaps I'm being unambitious. I suppose if we offload some of the shite at a good price, we could be more adventurous, but I can't see it, and we're still living with the Dalglish/Gullit legacy. Top six and a UEFA place should be our ambition next season...the league and even a Chapions League placing is out of our reach.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

This is the league table from the date Bobby took over from Clarke. 6 games to play, everything to play for :o)

FA Carling Premier 1999/2000 from the Chelsea game
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Manchester United	32	12	4	0	48	15	11	2	3	33	26	40	75
2	Arsenal	32	12	3	1	37	14	7	3	6	29	23	29	63
3	Leeds United	32	11	1	4	26	15	7	4	5	24	22	13	59
4	Liverpool	33	10	4	3	26	12	6	6	4	19	14	19	58
5	Chelsea	34	10	5	2	30	12	5	5	7	15	20	13	55
6	Newcastle United	32	10	4	2	38	14	4	5	7	17	22	19	51
7	Sunderland	32	9	4	3	25	16	5	4	7	26	32	3	50
8	Aston Villa	32	6	7	3	17	10	5	5	6	21	22	6	45
9	Leicester City	32	8	2	6	27	22	5	4	7	19	27	-3	45
10	West Ham United	34	9	5	3	29	22	3	4	10	15	28	-6	45
11	Tottenham Hotspur	33	8	3	5	33	21	4	5	8	15	21	6	44
12	Everton	32	5	8	3	27	19	5	5	6	21	21	8	43
13	Middlesbrough	32	7	5	4	22	22	4	5	7	17	22	-5	43
14	Coventry City	32	11	1	4	35	19	0	5	11	7	29	-6	39
15	Southampton	33	6	4	6	20	17	3	4	10	17	36	-16	35
16	Bradford City	33	6	7	4	25	25	2	1	13	11	36	-25	32
17	Derby County	32	5	3	8	19	20	2	7	7	20	30	-11	31
18	Sheffield Wednesday	32	6	3	7	19	17	2	3	11	16	40	-22	30
19	Wimbledon	32	6	6	4	27	23	0	4	12	10	37	-23	28
20	Watford	32	4	4	8	21	27	0	2	14	10	43	-39	18

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000

Thinking back to the start of this season - seems like feckin years ago now - it completely twists me melon to think of how Sticks-in-the-Gullit's first team was shaping up. Sure there would be the predictable spine of Big Al, Speedy, Nobby & Bartinho. The binned Bobby Lee & Sandro had already played their last games for NUFC and would be gone within weeks or months. The first team would therefore be filled throughout the year by Marcelino, Goma, Dumas, Domi at left back, Maric and Glass, ably supported when necessary by the likes of Charvet, Karelse & Griffin - with frequent run-outs for Robinson whenever DF was injured (that much at least materialised as expected !). The likes of Dabs and young Aaron would hardly ever need to be called upon. Right ??!

What a year. Only following the Toon eh ........

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000