Were we ever in the running even? Word has it we weren't but I reckon Booby put a wage offer to Pinto.

Don't go to Birmingham Pinto you will hate it.

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2000

Answers

I will be gutted if we don't sign Jaoa Pinto.

Personally I'd be happy if we only signed Helder and Pinto in the offseason and managed to sell or the useless trash players drawing a sellary from NUFC.

Then we could get a feel as to how our team lines up in the premiership. I think with Helder added to our defence (and the only sales of note being Pistone and Marcelino) that area would be fine.

I'd sit with our current midfield to see how the South Americans perform on the wings, with Lee, Speed and Dyer rotating in the middle. We could possibly do with two more signings here, but I'd waite untill either an injury or couple of months into the season to see if we need to bring anyone else in.

I'd be quite chuffed with Shearer, Pinto and Ferguson rotating up front.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2000

He's off to Sporting Lisbon

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2000

REPORTEDLY off to Sporting......but there is also supposed to be a non-signing agreement while teams are still in Euro 2000, soi it may just be wishful thinking by the Portugese newspaper reporting it.

He is supposed to have accepted a #3.5m signing on fee (cos he was sacked it goes to him) and a salary of #83,000 a MONTH.......that a little over 20 grand a week, I can't see that, he was offered more by Villa and even we would improve that I'm sure.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2000