Bogarde for free?

Reports today suggest that Bobby Robson could be set to capture Barcelona and Holland defender Winston Bogarde this week.

The deal could be done if the Newcastle boss decides to accept Fiorentina's #3.5 million offer for Didier Domi. The Frenchman has impressed during his spell at St James' Park and there has been interest from several top European clubs.

Newcastle have held on to the defender as they are short of cover but the chance to replace him with an established international star like Bogarde on a free transfer might be too good a deal to miss.

The versatile ex-AC Milan and Ajax player has been given a free by Barcelona after the departure of Louis van Gaal and is also attracting interest from Manchester City and Sunderland, but it is understood that the Dutchman would favour a move to St James' Park.

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

Answers

I know this only from teamsqwark, but never-the-less I don't like it.

Most of you will know I'm a Domi supporter, but by and large that has little to do with my misgivings about such a deal.

Isn't Bogarde 29 or something like that? Why would we sell Domi who is 22, has many years ahead in the game and can only get better, for a player who is nearing the end of his career.

If he's on a free, why don't we grab him aanyway and see how he fits into the squad. If he came with Zenden, then it would be a different kettle of fish.

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

|Makes sense to me, 3,5 mill for Domi , free for Bogarde who = has prescence and more importantly height to add to a suspect defence.

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

I simply don't understand why we would rush to sell Didier Domi for #3.5mm - less than we paid for him - to bring in someone like Bogarde on a free.

Frankly, I've never been overly impressed by Bogarde, but certainly respect BR's judgement over mine, and getting a highly experienced international defender in on a FT could be sound business.
However, selling DD for #3.5mm would IMO smack of unecessary panic in offloading a highly talented young player, even though BR just doesn't seem to rate him.
I sincerely hope the DD end of this story is just Press BS - I would be very upset to see him leave for less than #5mm.

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

You won't be suprised I'm a Winston Bogarde fan (and not just cos he's Dutch + used to play for Sparta). When he's not weighed down by kilos of Surinamese jewellery he's a fine player. Barca thought about off-loading him a while ago, until 'Sir' Alex Ferguson came immediately knocking on the door. Selling Domi would make no sense though as Winston has a truly abysmal injury record. I imagine his wage demands would be pretty extravagent too.

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

Seen Stevo`s piece did not realise Winston was injury prone - retract, what is it with these gangly lang strings of meat footballers and injuries, Ferguson and others, always a reason , Doc??

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

NO MORE CROCKS BOBBY - PLEASE!

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

Aren't they getting Domi mixed up with Goma? Wouldn't surprise me for that lot

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2000

This must be the longest running transfer rumour in history. Wasn't Keegan linked with Bogarde?! TSM and/or TDM certainly were. It'll be Taribo West again next.

Any road, the Domi bit sounds like bull to me. YBR's got rid of most of the deadwood (I'd have to say, I'd be in no hurry to sell Goma) and can surely have no need to dispose of Domi (who a)is a decent player, b)is probably not on a prohibitive Maric-esque wage and c) isn't crocked all the time) for a cut price.

-- Anonymous, August 29, 2000

Bobby had a few words about BoGARDE during Euro2000, not altogether complimentary. Basically said that it was pointless to bring him on as he hasn't threatened a defence for three years. Admittedly that's not his primary function nad YBR was criticising the coach's tactics but it sounded as though YBR didn't really rate him.

-- Anonymous, August 29, 2000

From Bogarde's website: Thursday 24th August 2000: No doctor bust-up ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- A few of my fans may have seen me having a discussion with the doctor at Barcelona yesterday. It was broadcast on national television, so people have been talking about it. They say it looked like I was having a big argument. I'm sure it looked worse than it was, but I can tell you that it was little more than a discussion.

Physically I'm feeling fine now, so that's no longer a problem. But I'm very surprised that I'm still here in Barcelona. I thought I'd have left long before now, but I know my people are still working on it. The difficulty for me is that everything is moving along far too slowly.

Training is fine at Barcelona and the mood around the squad is normal. They are all getting ready for the new season, but I don't feel involved and have not attended the pre-season games. There has been no need. My chances of getting back into the squad are very small and playing for the first team is even more unlikely.

The English season has started and I'm a little disappointed that I'm not there to be a part of it all. I've been following some of the games and hopefully it won't be long before I'm in the Premiership. I know that many things are going on and that clubs are interested in signing me, but nothing has happened yet.

Hopefully I won't have to wait too much longer.

-- Anonymous, August 29, 2000

Hmmmm....maybe he really is that out of favor at Barcelona, but it sounds to me like he's just as happy to sit around collecting wages until someone comes along to 'rescue' him. You'd think he'd try to fight for his place or at least go along to support his teammates. As we've just gotten rid of a bunch of those types, we don't want to bring another in.

-- Anonymous, August 29, 2000

Bogarde has signed for Chelsea on a free transfer. Emerson Thome the former Sheff Wed player will probably move to mackems now for around 3 million which looks like a very good deal. He was impressive when he played for Chelsea in a spell last season.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2000