Just about to drop Yelli off at the train station. Seriously heavy rain again most of yesterday, last night, and it is coming down in sheets this morning. Fingers crossed that the train doesn`t let her down. So to anyone who`s meeting Yelli at the other end ..... she`s on her way!!!! (:o)

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Answers

Thunder and lightening now too! Nice! (:o|

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

ahhhh...25 degrees here. wentr surfing today and got sunburnt. ahh,. what a life...

; ))

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Hope she ain't getting the Virgin service......story around this morning about one of yesterday's Edinburgh to Southampton services on the Virgin line that took over 18 hours!

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Trying not to think about that ITK! (;o)

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

I always said the Virgin trains wouldn't go all the way!

Hat Coat door gone.........I wish......stuck in this bliddy office till 6.00pm.....knowing that all the Mags are not that far away! bummers!

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Morning Gal. Morning Ken.

Half-decent morning here in God's country - pink sunrise (yeh, was up early - couldn't sleep), very light cloud. Cool mind.

I think we're gonna lose today, but funnily enough I wish I was going - it's as though I could help them if I was there, but am totally helpless sitting here.

The Journal this morning paints a gloomy picture of Big Al's injury - "need to just wait until the inflammation goes down, and then specialist can assess what is further action is required" and "...he's already had two cortisone injections, so he can only have one more, then that's it".

That's VERY interesting, seeing as how in the Summer it was vehemently denied that he had had any steroid injected!

I'm afraid I've got a real bad feeling about this knee problem, and with Carl Cort only going yesterday to have his stitches out and at least a month away from playing, I think we'll see some action in the transfer market soon.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

i hope so. but he's got a lot to do whoever he is: lift the club, be young enough to learn but experienced enough to do well, lift the team, score goals, stay injury free, be a world class player.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

I hope he does start doing something soon.......our biggest problem is IF we hold our own and get a draw (or even a win) this afternoon, YBR (or more to the point FS) may see it as an opportunity to forge forward without the need to dip into the pocket.......the words false and dawn spring to mind.

Personally I wouldn't mind going for some like (as mentioned yesterday) Ostenstad on loan first and if it works out sign him full time, and if it doesn't woirk out and either (or both) Cort and Al get back earlier than anticipated we can send him/them back from where they came and not incur a massive loss in value.

I'll also raise the idea again, but isn't Amaruso at Rangers a 'forward midfielder' - same deal?

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

ITK,

Lorenzo Amoruso is a CB - built like the proverbial brick netty.

I've only seen him a few times on telly - makes the odd howler, but also I've seen him look awesome. In the recent Old Firm game he was truly immense.

My impression is that he's not World Class, but is better than Dabz, Goma or Marcia (!). He's probably as good as we're likely to find elsewhere, and could be an excellent acquisition - depending on price. That could be the problem as I would think Rangers would want several mill for him.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

We'll have him, they can have Marci, Goma AND £2m

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Ostenstadt would OK for a month's loan, but I really couldn't see him as a permanent solution.
I'm sure BR would like to get someone in temporarily until the real extent of AS's problem can be fully diagnosed. If he is going to be out for a protracted period we will have to buy someone - and someone good, not a stop-gap.

If we get to that point, just who is there that could be bought? This Lee Hughes at WBA must be a candidate - he seems to be a natural goalscorer, at least at Nationwide level - but would not be cheap, and therefore would be a risk. There's the current Norwegian international gadgy who was mentioned on here earlier in the week, that the hackems were interested in.

I note Ipswich have signed Alun Armstrong from the Smoggies. This might be in expectation of cashing in on David Johnson - he's not bad, but not IMO good enough for us. I do like James Scowcroft, but doubt they'd let him go - at least this side of £6/7 million.

The two players I would really like to see us targeting are Marion Pahars and Michael Bridges. Either might cost £8 million but would be worth it. These two could partner either AS or CC, can score goals themselves, and create them for others. They're both top class.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

.......just had an uncomfortable thought - Jason Euell!

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Certainly as far as Ipswich are concerned I'd go for Snowcroft, he looks real class prospect.

Pahars.....yes please.....I thought about Bridges but he's long term injured as well isn't he......knackered his ankle in training.....I'll check out his progress on the Leeds site later.

Ostenstad would be a stop gap loan as you say and no more....mind you, if he really hit it big (and it can happen) we could then reconsider....they are not losing anything in that way other than what he is paid.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Did you post that bit I did for you on the dailytoon site, Ken?

I have problems navigating your site - I can't read the stuff just off the right side of the home page.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

I'm still waiting for Andy to create the pages for it to go on......hopefully it will be pretty soon.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

I think the hackems v smoggies game is on live at the local via cable, so I'll pop round to see if the wit & wisdom of El Tel pays any initial dividends.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

southgate on monday please bobby. followed by keane on tuesday, bridges on wednesday, faber on thursday, recoba on friday and ronaldo on saturday. you can have sunday off.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Southgate, Amoruso and Pahars will do for starters....£18 million the lot......and try and off load some of the deadwood (like Marci) as makeweights.......well its worth a try

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000

Works for me! So who's gonna start the negotiations with their respective clubs?

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000