That` makes our lot look like chancers, he is 33 mind you , came on a free, might have had an alleged problem with his hooter in the past, goes past players with real pace , has the utmost composure on the ball, is inventive,scores goals and leads by example, forum members I give you if I could Claudio Cannegia (remember him) of whom Danny Cordone does a poor impression. Mind you he was only playing against Celtic who would murder the Toon at present, South American connection Bobby, sack your man out there. Also a converted wing back, built like a Anderson shelter, if there was still a professional footballers 100mtr sprint would leave the rest trailing in his wake, cost a mere £50,000 to Martin O Neil from Hibs, Santa Buff gives you Didier Agathe Lastly and I feel this present is heading the way of Man Utd although Newcastle could do with him, the most promising manager in the UK, along with Curbishly and O`Leary, Alex McLeish . and by the way Jock McBeth,I agree Latapy is a free spirit and I could watch him all day, My first tentative posting on the aul communicata had words to the effect, He can either play football or he cannot` concerning a player at that time, same still applies, Latapy can play and then some, cos McLeish has two decent holders in midfield who cover for him.

Finally what have Cort, Dunc,Flo got in common -all injured -same. why - tall lanky strikers, hint end is too far away from ground. said it enough on here over the piece, can not cope with the turns requ

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2000

Answers

Buff , the trouble with South Americans is they can't make the club any money

We should buy some Far Eastern playrs

He're another cunning plan from the soon to be released "Riks book of cunning plans" Newcastle United should a South Korean, a Japanese and a Chinese player. Then sell the TV rights to the east Asians for colossal amounts of money

Their TV stations would make a fortune as all of the citizens of these countries would be converted toon fans. The team might not do to well but we would be one of the biggest supported teams in the world. After a couple of years of avoiding relegation we could tell the overseas players to piss off and with all the revenue that they have brought in buy ourselves a championship winning team

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2000

Yes. That worked brilliantly for Crystal Palace.

Buff - yeah, noticed Agathe doing pretty well - what standard would he reach in the Prem? And how good is Barry Ferguson?

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2000

Rik you are wasted in Shields North, move leccy shop to Stowell St in the toon, business contacts,

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2000

Why does Quinn not suffer from the same infliction then?

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2000

Dan in answer, Agathe needs to tighten up defensively, walk into Toons team, wing -back now for Celtic but played up front for Hibs. He sure as hell frightens me, runs AT SPEED , Yeah for £50,000 ,snip

Barry Ferguson,last year I thought he was too much like Paul McStay his turning area in midfield was too large, now capt at Rangers, with Henrik Larsen now the two best players up here, has dominated center of midfield, (against some European opposition), toughened up his game, has of late got into the box more and scored. This is a kid who will finish up with one of the top 2 in EPL or Serie A, good as anything similar in England inc Keane,

One for the future >> 18 year old center forward Kelgan Parker from St Johnstone, the big clubs are sniffin around as we speak.

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2000

Gus, When did you see Nail Quim, back to the goal, attempting to turn his marker?, most of his work is done with his heed, (inside and out) Low center of gravity, twists and turns nae problem - witness Michael Mols (Rangers) and from my youth Len White (Newcastle),okay Mols has been out for some time with a serious injury but it aint a groin or hamstring

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2000

Buff

you're right (again !!), Barry Ferguson has somehow moved on and up from being the next Paul McStay, the captaincy seems to have galvanized him, and hopefully the mess his brother made of his talent keeps him on the straight and narrow, he does have a spot-on Hun snarl as well.

I like Keigan Parker's attitude, maybe it's just the lack of responsibilty that comes form youthfulness but he looks good.

I'm not convinced on McLeish. Every year a new third team appears in Scotland to 'challenge'. Every new year it falls away. Jeffries (who I do think is spot on) did it with Hearts, then Williamson last year, Toten did it for a while, can't even remember who got the blame when Motherwell were Doingwell.

AND I agree with the long tall Sallys comment. It was always held up that Denis Law had a low bum, Dalglish did too, and Waddle seems to have long body not long legs. Cort and Flo have a similar build but the Dunc issue is slightly different as he has so much upper body strength whih you'd hope would compensate a bit. What I'm looking forward to seeing is when the equuivalent of a Jonah Lomu appears in football. Someone with massive (not just big) frame and huge speed and control comes into football.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2000