In our local newspaper former England international midfielder and all-time p*ss artist Alan Hudson has a weekly column. He has a huge chip on his shoulder about the fact that a bloke like him who could play Beckenbauer off the park, hasn't got a job in football and so he spends his time bad mouthing anything and everything about the game. He has a particular problem with KK and has written numerous articles blaming Keegan for everything from our World Cup demise to the situation in the Middle East and Third World debt! (I understand they came close to a punch up after a game at Chelsea when KK was manager at Newcastle - story was the Hudson was a little the worse for wear at the time).

Anyway, in this week's column, he is waxing lyrical about Jean Tigana's Fulham. In particular he speaks very highly of Lee Clark:

"Clark - surprise, surprise - was never truly valued by that great footballing brain belonging to Kevin Keegan, but I always maintained he was a better bet than David Batty or Rob Lee in midfield."

Now much as I loved Lee Clark, does anyone else agree that this statement is rubbish. After all, Lee hasn't played a single match in the Premiership since he left Newcastle has he? Comments please.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2000

Answers

I was sad to see Dalglish part with Lee Clarke Jacko. OK so he might not be as gifted as Rob Lee , but has bucket loads of passion and would never stop giving his all for NUFC. I think he would be better than Batty (and less injury prone) and I would have kept him, and if the oppotunity arose I would still swap him for Gary Speed or Clarence Acuna.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2000

Rik don't be daft. Unless you've been to Chile for your hols I doubt you've seen Acuna play inthe flesh, and I'd be surprised if you remember all his games for Chile from the World Cup. Give the guy a chance.

As for Lee Clark. We all ove him, and his t-shirt to death, but he wasn't good enough. The only time we contemplated playing him it was on the back of "Robert Lee's playing crap at the moment Keegan should give Clarkie a chance". It was never a case of Clark is better than Lee.

In my opinion Clarkie is the supreme First Division footballer, probably never been a better one. He played for us when we won that division by miles, then the mackems and now Fulham. He is without question a 'world class first division player'. He is probably a good squad player for the Premiership.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2000

Love the lad - good player and deeply passionate about the Toon.
However, let's remember he has yet to prove himself in the PL. If he plays there with Fulham next season and finally proves himself to be a star at the top level there will be at least 52,000 Geordies who will cheer him to the rafters.
He was totally different player to David Batty - who incidentally Rik, was NOT injury prone when he was here - and not as good as Rob Lee at his peak.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

I feel a bit like jeremy Clarkson (and the Eco blerk on Thursday nights show). I've been woped on this thread that's for sure.

From now on i'll be totally behind clarence@acuna.co.uk.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Talented, but he will never set the world alight, I always remembered him as being a yard off the pace but he had decent vision and some telling passes.
As for Gary Speed if he could hone his short passes and find OUR players he would be the complete midfielder, the stick he gets is unwarranted.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

I'm with Rik, Clarky is & was better than David Batty, It's a rare critisism of Keegan that he bought Batty into a position Clarky took to like a stroll in the park.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000