With Ziege apparently about to leave Robbo's Riverside Drinking Club the Domi-to-Boro rumour has resurfaced. Unless I've forgotten someone we've only Hughes and Barton (at a push) as cover. Would you sell Domi and if so for how much?

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

Answers

Never - I adore him. Gullit's best signing - better even than Dyer IMHO.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

Not to the Smoggies for anything below 10 mill.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

Aparently in the Journal it says that PSG have made a #6m bid for him.

If he goes then we only have Hughes, Griffin and Barton who can play in that role and I don't think any of those are as good as Domi at left back. I won't even mention Serrant! ;O))

I agree that Domi was Ruud's best signing. You have to remember that he's still only 21 and I think he's got to be one of the hottest left back prospects.

I hope we hang onto him!

Dolly.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

I have double blank and say "Domino"!

;-7

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

What does Gullit have that got Domi to sign for us, a club doing nothing, that Bobby Robson doesn't have that will persuade Domi to stay ? I reckon we have a bliddy sight more potential now than then.

And what can the smoggies offer him that we can't ? Seems to me the only thing that might tempt him away is playing for a club in one of the euro cups.

What looks encouraging is that he's saying nowt, and he's having nowt attributed to him. I'll worry if that changes.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

Robson continually played Domi "out of position" last season in a wide left midfield role. With Hughes having (maybe) tied down the LB slot, he can only see himself continued to be played out of position. Hence, if he were to go to Smogland, he believes he would have more chance of playing in his favourite position - one where he hopes to break into the full international scene in the not-too-distant.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

Loath as I am - not to be confused with Loathas Matteus - to agree with Gus, I think he is spot on with his recent comments about Hughes and the left back slot. It's not a long-term option to be converting a right-footed player into a left-sided specialist. IMIO Bobby has no option but to play Domi (barring mystery chest pains) as he is the only senior LB we have - once again not counting Serrant. A priority for next, if not this season will therefore be to buy another LB depending on whether Domi is staying. That way we keep the talented Domi happy, and don't turn young Aaron into the new Stevie Watson.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

meant to say "to buy another LB, EITHER FIRST CHOICE OR RESERVE, depending on whether Domi is staying".

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

He's changed entire games. Remember Blackburn? Remember Leeds? Remember Everton? He also scored against the Mackems, too.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

Hello everyone this is my first time here. gus has gone for a lie down. He said all that writing about home has made him depressed. Then when he read the note from Loony he hurt himself laughing and fell off the chair.

He said we should all get ready for a major disaster as Loony agreeing with him is surely a sign, but he is not sure if it is good or bad.

I have finally seen what he does on here and for an educated man. seems to spend far too much time writing crap.

Mrs gus

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

You know we really ought to keep a whole series of errudite conversations on file ready to cut and paste when one of the lasses looks in to cast aspersions on her poor fella :-)

Think of all the withering sarcasm that could be avoided!

Hello Mrs Gus. I'm one of the sensible ones who don't talk crap :-V

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

self evidently Softie.......;-+))) Stop showing off to Mrs Gus, just 'cos ye'v been to antinatal classes doesn'y make yer all woman friendly all of a sudden does it? Not goin' to suddenly break into conversations about the erganimics of water birthing are you? (hehehehhheheheheheh snigger snigger)

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

Howay man TM, I was doing really well there, I was about to ask for a picture ;-)

Don't tell Gus, mind, he's so busy keeping an eye on that Tre that I should get a clear run without his noticing...

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

That REALLY was Mrs gus. I was called away and was just finishing telling her about Loonys' agreement when she took it upon herself to play when I was away. She often just stands and watches me type. Normally tut tuting and shaking her head.

When it comes to football, she lost most of her interest in us when both Sir Les and Daveeeed left. She seems to pick up interest when Harper plays, haven't figured that one out yet!

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

Ahh, good taste, Mrs Gus! Why don't you join Steph and I over here in the Steve Harper appreciation corner. :-))

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

She needs no encouragement from you two!

I will allow her to look again this evening when I return home. I am sure she will reply herself.

She has no great interest in football except it gets me out of the house and away from under her feet on Weekends and some training nights.

It took me a couple of years to stop her interest in the team she "supported" in her 10 years working in UK. She now realises that if we have a good result the atmosphere around Villa gus is correspondingly good. Who says scientists have no appreciation of the real world?

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2000

Softie, what a peculiar name. gus said he wanted to post a picture of me here, however he was afraid of attracting the wrong sort, he told me about what happened to Riks' friend Maria.

TM, it would not work with me, although I am married to gus i am not the mother of his daughter, so all that birthing stuff does not impress me.

Thank you Ciara and Steph, I think it is his smile, I also like Ronan Keating.

We do not get that TV show here so have no idea what you are all on about. It will probably be about a year before we see it. No one is taping it are they?

Nice to meet you all,

Mrs gus

PS I will change the name when I have more time, but it is so hard to think of anyone other than how you first meet them.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

Hello again Mrs gus: believe me, Softie is a lot less peculiar than my actual name. It's just a shortening of my old name on the previous bbs, 'Soft Southerner'.

Gus mentioned that he was going to post a picture of you on here, but he said that the picture he had in mind would attract exactly the right sort....so he's lieing to one of us, and, since you are closest, I vote that you clatter him round the head with a frying pan on principle :-)

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

Softie, you don't give up do you mate, have a smashing weekend....

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

And you TM, sorry we couldn't come down for your farewell bash, but I hope you understand why not. I'll make sure we're on the welcom wagon when you come back again, ok? :-)

p.s. Big Brother is on at 8.30 tonight...

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

TM - when do you and your good lady leave for Oz? Don't be a stranger..there are internet cafes down there ya know. Let us know how things are going. And have a fantastic time!!

Mrs gus - I can't remember what Ronan Keating looks like, I've seen him..just can't remember. For me, I think it's partly a keeper thing..I just seem to find many of them attractive for some reason..maybe all that leaping around gets my mind to wondering... ;-)))

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

Not on your life. Unless Chivu is Robson's target, and provided the lad can perform to the same standard that he did in the European 2000 tournament.

Griffen is Bartons successor. Hughes will eventually be a mainstay centre half. We have no-one else.

Plus Domi is still young enough to expand his game, and become a much better defender.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2000

Ciara, he is blonde, spiky sort of hair solid build, not big though and a nice smile.

I did not think about the goalkeeper bit, although that is what gus does! Although I think that sometimes his job is to pick the ball out of the net for the others.

Softie, I understand your name now. gus tells me your wife is expecting your first child soon. We will see about the picture when the digital camera comes back home in about 2 weeks. It will probably be posted by Rik or Kegsy as gus can send it on an email, but not post it here.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2000