Given a fair wind and a bit of luck this will be the squad for next year, with the possibility of a couple more signings. No more than 30 would be a decent size of squad to select from including most of the reserves. It would save us having the humiliation of seeing half our team being numbered over 30.

1. Shay Given 2. Warren Barton 3. Didier Domi 4. Alain Goma 5. Steve Howey 6. Kieron Dyer 7. Diego Gavilan 8. Alan Shearer 9. Gary Speed 10. Andrew Griffin 11. Stephen Harper 12. Nolberto Solano 13. Aaron Hughes 14. Jamie McClen 15. Duncan Ferguson 16. Gary Caldwell 17. Brian Kerr 18. David Beharall 19. John Karelse 20. Stuart Green 21. Kevin Gallacher 22. Nicos Dabizas 23. Robert Lee 24. Steve Caldwell 25. Christian Bassedas 26. Daniel Cordone??

Discarded?

1. Elena Marcelino 2. Silvio Maric 3. Temuri Ketsbaia 4. Laurent Charvet 5. Stephen Glass 6. Carl Serrant 7. Lionel Perez 8. Garry Brady 9. James Coppinger 10. Paul Robinson 11. Des Hamilton 12. Stuart Elliott 13. Ian Martin 14. Alessandro Pistone

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Answers

Gullit was given a hard time for missing out Rob Lee. I know he is not getting any younger but he has got to be worth a number.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Sorry, I was looking at the midfield numbers. The foot is now removed from my mouth.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

You had me a bit confused there Tony. I may have misled you , these are not the official numbers for next year, just there to show how many players we have.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I think your squad looks pretty realistic DB. A couple of amendments if I were calling it though.

At GK, perhaps Karelse will have also departed and been replaced by another stand-in (Pav would be nice, but unlikely). I think Bobby will look to persevere with both Shay and Stevie Harps for one more season, hoping at least one comes good before deciding which to offload.

Defence - I still think Bobby wants to bring in Helder (IF the price is right for an injury-prone 29 year old). I reckon he would boost his transfer fund by taking the cash for either Marcelino OR Goma, whichever was wanted first by another club for wedge similar to what we paid for them. My guess is that if Pistone is sold, as looks likely, we will actually keep Charvet as cover for the year. I doubt it will happen now, but I believe YBR should also try to flog Steve Howey to Boro or some other hapless PL club for 1-2 mill, freeing up a handful of centre-back opportunities this season for youngsters Aaron, David Beharall and those nice Caldwell brothers.

Midfield - There's clearly ambitions for one more signing here, someone who's comfortable on the left (will Steven Glass end up reconciling with the gaffer? Strikes me as surprising that no Scottish club has come in for him since he was transfer listed). It's probably the last thing from Bobby's mind, but I would be happy to let Nobby go (a fee of around 5-7 mill would be decent enough), and rely on the youthfiul exuberance of YKD and the Sparrowhawk, covered by the wiser head of Gallacher when required.

Up front - Agreed, the Georgian Loon is gone to the great heedless chicken farm in the sky. I for one wouldn't be surprised if the big(gish) striker signing we're all hoping for this year doesn't actually materialise, and to see Paul Robinson staying at the club for another year.

I hope I'm wrong, but this doesn't look to me like a squad capable of putting up a particularly strong challenge for Europe. Not unless the league turns out to be as mediocre this season as it was last. Well that's my tuppence ha'penny worth. Thoughts anyone ?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000