Just watching press conference on Sky- he says hes delighted to be rejoining Everton. He also said he never asked or wanted a transfer form Newcastle and was looking forward 3 weeks ago to getting fully fit+playing for us. Says he finds amusing the stories about probs between the board+him.

Sad day.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Answers

Walter Smith said that YBR had said he wasnt available end of last season +start of preseason but they found out 2 weeks ago that he was available. HEs also just said that he was happy at Newcatle but the board AND THE MANAGER didnt want him.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Dunc also said hes 100% fit for selection this weekend.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

How many goals will he score against us this season?

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

With all this messing around he'll probably get a hat trick against us. Twice.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Does anyone else see the smokescreen. This was all planned. Expect a mammoth signing of huge proportions over the next few days. Uncle Bob doesn't plan to be short changed, he has something in the works no doubt about it. Remember you heard it here last

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

This is ridiculous, how can we sell him back for so little? Unless his wages were too high, why sell him in the first place? He is good to have and all big teams need to have options up front. Unless there is a signing it just doesn't compute.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

I really hope you're right syme, but we ain't gonna get a lot for #3.75m. ;-((

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

saving #2m/season on wages is nice! Saved #6m on his remaining contract.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

WEll Bobby supposedly has 1 or 2 players he wanted to bring in when he got a little more cash. Don't think there's any affordable replacements for Big Dunc, but a strong central defender would be nice.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

True Geordie but weve lost 4 million +well have to pay big wages for a replacement anyway. Although of course if he continued to be so badly crocked we cud basically lose 8 million. The only way this will be a good deal is if we get a striker who performs well and who cud be sold at a good price later if he didnt want a new contract.

Very interesting to hear Dunc say that Bobby didnt want him....does sound likely that someones lined up ;-)

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Lets face it, if Bobby didn't want Dunc to go he wouldn't have gone. Even this Board recognises that they couldn't just sell one of the squad behind Bobby's back.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

NUFC.com has the fee at 4 million rising to 4.5 depending on appearances. (Info from Stock Exchange)

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Given Bobby's comments about recent performances I expect (and hope for) a central defender. We do have people who can score. But he defence remains a serious weakness.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000