Comments? Half decent player but seems a bit of a stop gap signing, isn't he about 32?

GAYLE TO BLOW INTO ST JAMES' PARK

Bobby Robson's search for a striker to cover for the injured Alan Shearer and Carl Cort looks set to end with the signing of Marcus Gayle from Wimbledon.

Robson has been searching Europe for a striker and MiDAS believe that he will in the next week sign the Wimbledon man. A skillful, yet forceful, striker he fits the bill, strong in the air he will lead the line in the absence of Shearer and Cort but when they return he is more than capable of holding down a place on the left side of midfield.

A fee in the region of £1.5-2m will see Robson get the man he needs at the price that cash strapped Geordies can afford!

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Answers

This may not be the link that The Ronnie was on about earlier in the week, according to Nufc.com.

There is another name being touted, which they(Nufc.com) won't/can't release and they suggest that we should be prepared to be severly underwhelmed so the Kitson link would be about right!

If whoever it is, is not miles better than Ameobi or Cordone then why bother?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

kitson, has to be

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

I'm going with Armstrong :-(

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Armstrong? Chris you mean? I'd take him......definitely take him over Kitson....

I reckon it's gonna be Mendonca....hahaha

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Nah you're all wrong it's John Barnes.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Steph and I are planning to go to the training ground on Friday barring any unexpected blizzards so will report back if we see any new faces or hear any rumours.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

I heard a rumour about you and Steph but I'm sworn to secrecy.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Marcus Gayle isn't a bad player at all. He's big and strong, gets his share of goals, and would provide decent cover for us.
Paul Kitson is a proven useless plank who has had his chance. I'd most definitely be underwhelmed if we signed him again - I'd rather see Jamie Coppinger get a run in the team.
I can't believe were seriously considering Kitson, and wonder if Tommy Johnson might be the one under consideration.
Of all the 'affordable' names mentioned so far I reckon Gayle would be the best bet.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Don Goodman?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

John Goodman

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

The Jamaican international will go down as one of the club's best ever buys.

Signed from Brentford in 1994 for £250 000 he started his Dons career on the wing and developed into a very tricky player for opposing teams.

However it was only when he moved to striker at the start of the '96 campaign that his true potential was unleashed. With Efan Ekoku he formed one of the most deadly Premiership strike forces and scored some tremendous goals

The 1997/98 season saw Marcus battling more injuries than defenders, but he regained his form towards the end of the campaign and was a member of the Jamaican World Cup squad in France '98, along with fellow Don, Robbie Earle.

Marcus is the complete striker. In addition to his ability in the air, his fearsome pace and strength, combined with wonderful ball control makes him an increasing threat in front of goal

POSITION Midfielder

DATE OF BIRTH 27.9.70 PLACE OF BIRTH Hammersmith DATE SIGNED 24.3.94 FROM Brentford HEIGHT 6' 1" WEIGHT 12st 9lb HISTORY Club Transfer Fee Wimbledon £250,000 Brentford from trainee INT HONOURS Jamaica

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Now i see hes only 30, i reckon this wud be a tremendous 1.5-2 million buy. The fact he often plays as a left winger wudnt hurt either. Im actually now very hopeful we sign this blerk!

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Other possibilities for strikers with PL Clubs's who might be available, cheap, and would probably 'underwhelm' us:

Dean Sturridge (Derby, Bosman at end of season?))
Dean Saunders (Bradford)

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

Dean Sturridge, once a target for Arsenal apparently, a few years back.

Seemed to have the talent but has failed to shine at Pride Park, mind you it is a dull manufactured atmosphere of a place.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

Ronnie Gill says we have bid £1.5M for Gayle but the Wombles want £3.5M. Also TeamTwaddle says we are signing an Argie midfielder, Juan Fernandez de A-something or other for £1.5M. Why??

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

Planet football are also mentioning the Argie midfielder, his agent said earlier in the week that he was going to Spurs and Spurs' David Pleat said it was nonsense. I expect the Argie Agent sees us as a possible buyer due to the fact we have so many South Americans here, I'd be surprised if the transfer actually happened. Unless he's a great left winger!

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

Why? Cliff. Acuna, Bassedas, Solano. Thats why!

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

Name: Juan FERNÁNDEZ DI ALESSIO Nationality: Argentina Age: 25 Born: Ciudad de Buenos Aires Club: Lanús • Argentina Stats: 1.71m(5'7"ish!) • 71kg (just over 11 stone) Shirt No: 8

There was a graphic on the website I got this info from and it suggested that he plays in the middle or on the left of midfield. Seems a bit lightweight at first glance but I suppose Bassedas is no heavyweight, concerns about his lack of height though!

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

I don't like the sound of Marcus Gayle, at any price. Why do we ant another average striker?

I wouldn't be buying a ford escort with the money I had, I would wait till I had the chance of a loan for a new Ferrari .

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

Well Rik, our last acquisition from Dagenham was pretty expensive (Barton's sort of from that part, in'e?) and our last expensive Italian was a waste of space(ish). Mind you, the Eastern Bloc motors are not much better, tho' the Russian model on display on Tuesday looked a decent runner.

Fingers burned with the Jorman's and Frenchies too. Any good Jap models around worth looking at? The vintage market isn't much better, judging by our past purchases.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

wayne Quinn, it is then.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001

The Ronnie and Teamtalk reckon the deal for Marcus Gayle has hit the bumpers - with Wimbledon seeking £3.5mm and the Toon only prepared to go to £1.5mm. Seems like a fairly fundamental problem to me.

Teamtalk also report that a spokesman for Argentinean club Lanus, Nicolas Russo, insists midfielder Juan Fernandez di Alessio is on his way to Tyneside in a £1.5m deal, barring any complications. "The transfer of Juan Fernandez is still not complete but next week the negotiations will be finalised. There are only a few details to agree with Newcastle".

Who the hell knows what is really going on!

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2001