I honestly don't think we'll even be in the top half of the table. Youse lot?

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Answers

Ferguson didn't dig us out of relegation last season, it was the likes of Shearer, Lee, Speed, Barton, etc.. His loss won't mean we don't finish in the top half of the table. I loved Ferguson, but a player earning his wages has to play week in weel out, otherwise he's not value for money. I'm personally looking forward to seeing Cort and shearer playing week in week out developing a partnership.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Shite!

No one player can ever dig any team out of relegation trouble.

Ferguson played one of the most important roles in scoring goals and enabling Shearer to score the goals he did. We were riding high when Dunc played and his contribution should not be underestimated, no matter how much chuffing money he's on.

More short memories.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

During Dunc's purple patch we were looking at a top 6 finish and dreaming of an outside shot at 4th. After he damaged his back against Wednesday and started the decline, we slipped week by week to looking at 11th. He may not have dug us out of relegation, but he certainly made us contenders for 6 weeks.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

eughhhh.....horrible news. A significant drop in the quality of our squad and that added excitement of him playing/wondering whether he will play alllllll gonnnnnnnne ;-(

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Nobody can say for sure whether we're in a better position or not, until the new signings prove them selves in real games. If Duncan F does go, and there are no replacements, we could still be better off than last year. Cort and Cordone could easily outperform whatever Ferguson and Ketsbaia gave us. The worrying is because we don't know for sure and we've had too many bad experiences of late of promising signings turning out to be utter shite - hence the strong feeling in some quarters that it's best to hang on to a half fit Ferguson who we know can at least provide the goods if he actually makes it onto the pitch.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

He has been a fantastic player for us but I've thought for some time now (about 3 hours) that his career is over and he's crap. (-;

It will be most galling if he's an ever-present for Everton this season.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

I'm sure Cort and Cordone will combine to be better than Ketsbaia and Dunc but the trouble is that Kets and Dunc were not enough anyway. We have always needed another striker and if we had had one there wouldn't have been the emphasis on Dunc to come back when he's not ready, same for Shearer.

Now we're back to square one with two new additions, both of which we don't have a clue about their injury record and could turn out to be as bad as Dunc.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Despite Softies stats, and his evident popularity, I have no problem at all with Robson letting Duncan Ferguson go. Bobby has his reasons and its not difficult to guess what they are. Of course if Dunc is an ever present next season and wins the golden boot I'd be a bit miffed, but his record suggests it isn't going to happen. Gullit paid over the odds for a player who never came close to justifying the fee, or his wages. I just hope Bobby uses the money gained more wisely. Personally I'd like a new Centre Back.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

I quite agree Stevo. Defensive players do not attract attention, particularly with most of the Toon faithfull. But Robson's Rant after the game in Spain indicates where our BIG problem is. We do need an A! defender who can organize the defense.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

We could do with a decent holding midfielder a la dorty Gorman whose name shall not be mentioned... more so than a centre back IMHO.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Dougal

You are SOooo negative. You can spot your threads a mile off. Smile - it could be worse.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000

It's my way of managing disappointment.....((-:

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000

'Smile!', they said, 'Life could be worse'. So I did. And it was

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000