http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/00/05/18/SOCCER_European_Preview.html

Spanish season winds up tonight....Apparently if Barca don't overcome the odds and win it then Van Gaal is outta there which means that our "possible" moves for Guardiola and Enrique could be scuppered....I don't know how much truth there is in these rumours anyway but I do know that I would love to have EITHER of those players at the club...

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

Answers

Good point Gav. Mind you, he`s had the look of a condemned man the last few times I`ve seen him. (:o)

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

Gav,

Do you not think it'll be the same old story. They'll come on the market and other clubs, with tons more dosh than we have, will be in there like big dogs ? Or am I underestimating BR's influence ? Hope so.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

Bill, it must be Washington mate....yup I do think exactly the way you do :((

We have no real influence anymore to pick up real world class players....we're hanging on to a hope that YBR's reputation will do it for us....

Still if we can't dream then we might as well be dead eh ;))

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

I bet Barca are regretting treating Bobby like they did. It wouldn't surprise me one ioto if they weren't preparing a massive bid to get him over as caretaker for a season again.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

It's a paradox that, although we can see that there has been a huge turnaround for the better, next season will be our first season out of European competition for a long time. It won't help us attract signings, especially foreign signings that feel they need to be in the European spotlight, especially if they want to get into/stay in their international teams.

Therefore, I still see next season as a rebuilding season. We need to develop solidly, not splash out ridiculous money to try and give us a short cut back to the top tier. I would love to see some glamorous names at St James' again, but at this stage in our redevopment we'd have to pay too much to attract them. We need teamplayers to provide the consistency needed to get us a top 6 placing in the Premiership, so we can look forward to playing in Europe again in 2001/2002.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

Very prudent Windy...

You could be the next Chancellor ;)

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

It's my Scottish methodist genealogy coming out again. Give me a parade, and I'll rain on it..;-))

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

I think one of the advantages we have is the 'hang a line of strips out to dry and the daft b*gg**s will watch' syndrome. Point being I still think we could take one or two financial risks going after top class players, provided Bobby can convince them to forego Europe for at least a season.

The crowd base is strong enough to make a fair impression on finances, once the season tickets have been dished out and a big name player will ensure SJP is full from the word go. I think that's better business than taking an over-cautious approach, because without a big name signing, I think the ditherers will still dither.

I must admit though, I'd hate to have to decide whether to blow the lot on one real big name, or bring in two or three not so big.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

We're just beginning the 18 months before a major tournament trough where people aren't so bothered about Europe. Look out for the Hamann's who will come for a season and then engineer a move if we aren't as far forward as they'd like...not that Bobby will be fooled by one of them!

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

Windy,

You say ...."We need to develop solidly, not splash out ridiculous money to try and give us a short cut back to the top tier".

Intuitively, you're quite correct. We have a delicate financial situation that could well finish up as a world-series disaster if we spend big again and the gamble fails. However, in order to fill "the top tier, I'm sure the Club realise they need to do something to excite the 'maybes', and convince them to join the "Trophy Trail" - as they arrogantly termed the last Bond Scheme. Two major signings, on top of the BR feel-good factor, would do just that.

What actually happens will be dictated by who comes available that is within their budget. I truly hope that they don't spend just for the sake of filling 'the top tier', and that if the right players either aren't available, or we can't afford them, that we have the nerve and the patience to accept the situation as it is , and set out to build more gradually. The stakes are high.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2000

Pardon me,but aren't we left with one more possible route to the UEFA cup?-ie the InterTonto Cup(Lone Ranger get it out of Tonto!!!!) Surely we would have a reasonable chance with all the other big names already in Europe?-------BTW anyone know what the rules/format is for this tournament? As for attracting players who might not want to play for a team NOT in Europe for one year,then IMHO these are NOT the prima donna's we need.We obviously need 2-3 class signings of players who already look good but who would expect that YBR could make them even better over the course of 1-2 seasons when they would be playing week in week out at the Toon,as opposed to being a squad player at some of the 'glamour'clubs.And we DO have a reasonable amount to spend PLUS several bagaining chips such as Goma,Marcelino,Domi,(Ferguson-I know,I know but what's best for the Toon! Anyway I'm expecting to be pleasantly surprised by YBR(the Great!)

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2000

I might be wrong but I think to get into the inter two bob you had to finish in the top ten and had to have signalled your intention to play prior to the end of April.......can someone correct me if that is not the case.

Bottom line, we want nothign to do with the competition anyway. The first match in it is three days after the Euro 2000 final and if we are hoping that England will do well, the only break that Al and YKD will get is the break they are having at the moment while the rest are in the West Indies.

That would put us in the position that we were at the start of last season, because the Dutch G*t had arranged so many friendly matches, all away from home, we were knackered before the season even started. YBR has already stated that he doesn't want to repeat that mistake.

One season out of Europe is not gonna kill us, and as someone else has said here, if these prima donna's don't want to play for the Toon because we are not in a European competition then DO WE REALLY WANT THEM!

(;0)

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2000

I still rate the last season we weren't in Europe as our best ever. At the start of that season we brought in a new keeper, a wingback, a left winger/playmaker and a superb centre-forward and reinforced the squad during the season with a holding midfielder and another creative genius. We were cheated out of the title but I'd settle for the same again thanks.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2000

Bear in mind that one or two of our bairns might be a bit special. I'd prefer to see G Caldwell coming through than buying an average Spaniard. Wait til we can buy big before we buy at all. Buying cheap is a false economy.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2000