After seeing todays squad, and seeing the possible injury list to come from it, it becomes more and more evident that we just don't have enough proven Premiership (level) talent to be even consistent. We only had 5 players out there today who had played more than 5 games in the premiership (Given/Harper - Barton, Hughes, Lee, Dyer and Shearer). No offense to YBR but he seriously needs to get the board to kick in some funds for some above average talent. Our depth is seriously compromised now, even more than it has been at the best of times this season.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2000

Answers

Afraid I must agree. What an atrocious job of managing resources by the powers that be. The money spent over the last 5 years is mind- boggling, and the net result is that we are - at best - an average premiership team with no way in the forseeable future of getting any better. Certainly the cupboard seems to be pretty well empty.

Somebody cheer me up.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2000

Mince pie Southpaw? (:o)

Sorry, I`m just trying to cheer you up!

sparxx (don`t recognise your name), sorry if you`ve been posting for a while and I haven`t noticed. (Busy time). Nice to meet you anyway! That certainly was a sobering fact that you posted - and it does feel like we`re going to have to scrape the barrel a bit over the holidays!

Oh well - can`t say we`re not used to a rough ride with the Toon!

Happy Christmas anyway! (:o)

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2000

Well - Bergkamp, and Dani provide the latest speculation regarding incoming proven talent. However, quite frankly I'm just fed up with continuing speculation, and continuing indecision and inactivity.
We are told the right players aren't available, and yet all the while top-class players are changing Clubs - some like Titi Camara for peanuts.

Southpaw hits the nail squarely on the head when says "What an atrocious job of managing resources by the powers that be. The money spent over the last 5 years is mind- boggling, and the net result is that we are - at best - an average premiership team with no way in the forseeable future of getting any better".

Sadly, the Club is in a slow spiral of decline, with a squad that is nowhere near good enough, will struggle to put together any kind of team against two potent PL forces over the next week, and yet again is in danger of losing it's Manager - this time through utter frustration.

Precious little Xmas cheer for Toon fans I'm afraid, and nothing but a bitter struggle for survival to look forward to.

Bah humbug!!

-- Anonymous, December 24, 2000

There was another Bobby quote in one of the papers yesterday saying he has 2 defenders ready to come in, but it's dependent on selling Goma and Marcelino first. He was worrying that if he can't shift those 2, someone else will grab the players he's targeted and he'll be left with 2 unhappy players. Be nice if the board would get in the holiday spirit and release the funds he needs now. He will sell Goma and Marcelino to get the money back.

-- Anonymous, December 24, 2000

Gal,

Sparxx is one of the oldies....we used to argue loads about how good/bad Keegan was for us in the good old days ;))

-- Anonymous, December 24, 2000

true-enough gav... been kinda displaced ever since the old BBS died... had to resolve listenin to Metro on saturdays for games and such.... had the occasional mail from Rik.....anyhow now that the gang is all on here and I found ya's I hope to contribute even from my tiny abode out here in the middle of the Atlantic....

As much as I admire YBR, I feel he is being asked to do too much with very little resources, injuries can only be held as an excuse for so long.... we need help and need it now!!!

-- Anonymous, December 24, 2000

Nice to hear from ya again Sparxx!

It's the same old story though don't you think? new man comes in, wants to buy his own players but doesn't have the cash, the board bends over backwards to scrape some cash together for them and f**k all happens.....bring on the next manager....

It's gotta stop somewhere! the club whilst still amongst the elite in terms of turnover is struggling with debt which we must pay off before we can think about splashing the money as we have before....if that means a couple of seasons in the middle of the premiership then so be it.......

I hope and pray that BR is a little more realistic than the ego's of Gullit and Godleash and that he'll see this short term job out without trying to force the board into spending in a big way.....he's done pretty well so far....

Allegedly each club in the PL gets an extra 20 mill next season from the new tv deal, not certain whether it's true or not but if it is then it should steady our ship tremendously and leave us in a position where we can start again the season after.....

Anyhoo.....merry xmas to you all!

-- Anonymous, December 24, 2000