Been away for a while so had to pop in, say hello+try to write something remotely interesting.

Somehow found myself at Selhurst Park last week watching Wimbledon vs Wolves. I have to say that Hartson was fantastic(till he ran out of steam in the 2nd half that is!). His skill at holding the ball up using his strength + flicking balls on, was immense and easily as good as our Als.

He looked the absolute perfect foil for Al though of course the problem is his fitness/injury problems. Does anybody know the details of his inuries in past seasons? Is he the sort who IF he was motivated enough by YBR hed be reasonably stable injury wise or wud he be another Big Dunc???? I wudnt be bothered writing this, but he really was the perfect type of forward for us and he was still not match fit having only played a few matches. Any comments? Too risky? Wait +see how his season goes?

-- Anonymous, September 22, 2000

Answers

We cud offer him 20K a week so if he did turn out like Dunc it wudnt hit us too hard? Worth 3 million up to 4 according to games played? Surely Wimbledon +Hartson wud jump at the chance after the 2 recent fiascos at Spurs+Rangers.

-- Anonymous, September 22, 2000

Hi spud - welcome back.

I believe Hartson has a very dodgy knee, and it's that that has put paid to his transfers to Spurs & Rangers.
I have to say that I believe he'd represent a major risk, and as you suggest, would essentially be another Big Yin. Because of this I don't believe BR would ever consider him.

-- Anonymous, September 22, 2000

Hartson's always pissed and as we now have FOUR decent strikers, I don't think we need a fifth one.

-- Anonymous, September 22, 2000

Four? Come on mate, Al's only good when he fancies it (so it seems) and Cort's barely had a run out, never mind against a decent defence like Chelsea.

Then we've got Cordone who is Ketsy in disguise (passion, passion and more passion but is raw and lacking in quality) and the mystery man Lua Lua who YBR reckons is 'far from the finished article' (i.e. give me 1 season).

Hartson would be a good signing if his fitness was beyond doubt, but I fear he's another Ferguson - love to have him but is not the player we really need.

Soft Lad, bring back the Totti thread...we need him!

-- Anonymous, September 22, 2000

No - I'm afraid I don't think Hartson is the player we need. IMHO, the day of the big bustling CF is behind us, or almost so. We've got another couple or so seasons left with Shearer but I think that we need more mobility and pace. Hartson doesn't provide that, even if he did a Lazarus (and I'm not talking about the ex QPR fella).

-- Anonymous, September 22, 2000