Have we missed him? I would say we have to the extent that he is great in the air and therefore protects us at set pieces and against big gits and even scores the odd goal. His work ethic is commendable, too. On the down side, he is prone to panicking and is normally right at the centre of any slapstick defending (see for example Michael Owen's goal at SJP last season). I think I'd conclude that he wants to stay at Newcastle, shows commitment and has his moments and is therefore a more valuable asset long term than Goma, who is unquestionably a better player. Thoughts?

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Answers

wouldn't disagree with that. I'd like to see Goma stay as he's a classier player, no doubt but we really need a CB who shouts, cajoles, gets stuck in, unsettles strikers, and commands the entire team. That's what we lack. A bruiser.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Dabizas should be training in a few weeks, will he get back into the team?

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Steve Caldwell is the bruiser you're looking for.

I admire Dabizas' commitment but really, really talent wise he is just a Greek Warren Barton. None of us (?) would ever pick him ahead of Aaron Hughes, we need one (both) of the Caldwells to turn into dominating centre halves to match Hughes. With Griffin at right back we woudl have three of our 4 defensive positions sorted out and the oldest of them only 21.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

"He is just a Greek Warren Barton". That is the best comment on here for days, MacB. Made my day. I agree re the bairns - as Tony Pearson keep saying in The Mag, once the bairns have had a year or two to get mean and gain some weight, we will be awesome. BTW, MacB, do you still write for The Mag?

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Dougal, How can anybody agree with Tony Parsons?

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

or Tony Pearson for that matter

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Well, I normally don't agree with him but he's palpably right in this case.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

For all his aerial prowess, it seemed to only work offensively: not once this season have I found myself thinking "Oh no, we look so weak defending set-pieces and we used to be rock solid!" or "If only Dabz were here to hack him down on the edge of the area!" or even "Nobody seems to try to handle the ball on crosses anymore (even the keeper), I really miss that..."

One dodgy defender is a luxury, 2 would be foolish.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Although in fairness, we did concede very few from set pieces last season. I remember Bobby going mental when Jamie Redknapp scored from that corner because it was the first goal we had conceded outside open play in ages. Of course, that may have had nowt to do with Dabs - we had some height in the team last season.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

He really came iinto his own last season, but I still have some reservations about him at the back, as it is not meant to be his natural position. He came to us as a defensive midfielder , but got plugged into the CB role out of necessity. He does not have pace, and ofrten gets caught by thinking forward instead of staying at home, but as I said he had gotten better prior to his injury. I would prefer to see the Caldwell/Goma/Hughes combination and use Dabs as a man marker in the midfield when called for.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Dougal, Mag has disappeared from my life. Dunno what happened, just lost appeal. The instant feedback on here was more gratifying :0) I think I've only written a couple of things in the last two years having been an every issue person up till then. Tony Pearson means well it's just he's Victor Meldrew in a Mag top.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

"Dabz is a Greek WB" - undoubtedly top bbs remark of the month, Macbeth. LOL.

There have been times when I feel we could have done with our "GWB" in the squad, but in truth he's not a top class defender, and probably not as good as Goma. At best, he's a squad player.

Steve Caldwell could develop into the "bruiser" we seem to believe is needed. Having seen him a couple of times in the Stiffs, Gary looks more of a footballer and might eventually push Aaron.

Assuming Quinn confirms the first impressions - we could soon have the excellent basis for a long-term defensive squad in Griffin, Hughes, Quinn and Steve & Gary Caldwell, plus Harper and hopefully Given.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Macbeth, like you i haven't witten for the Mag for a couple of years, I was really just a TSM basher (& would claim to be the first to see the light) but when he left I had one effort at being positive & another on how SJP should have been turned 90 degrees so the refurbished ground wouldn't be lop-sided.

My question is, do you still get a free copy of the Mag, I always feel a bit guilty when it drops through the letterbox along with a polite request from Mark that my next article gets to him by the deadline date.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

I'm still uncertain on Dabz. But I'm getting worried about Goma. He's been sh*te recently. We're still looking for a solid centre pair. Will Dabz feature? Dunno. Sorry.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Comparing Dabizas with Barton is a bit harsh on Dabizas in my opinion.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2001

As I say in my match report, I can't see why Bobby put Hughes in midfield and put Barton in the centre of defence - Barton is on a hideous run of luck and form and should be kept away from any danger and Aaron was doing OK where he was. It may have been because Aaron can tackle and pass the ball, skills amazingly lacking elsewhere in the midfield, but I'm half-tempted to say that the strategy cost us the game.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2001

When you have a bad run of form you go back and get the basics right. Barton still continues to be out of position and humps balls forward into nowhere.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2001

Re: Dabizas. I love his commitment to the team, but get sh!t scared everytime he's on the field. Personally I'd sell Marcelino, Goma and Dabs at the end of the season and try and bring in Gareth Southgate to partner Hughes. And have the Caldwell brothers on the bench.

Re: Barton. The sooner Griffin takes over as the number one right back spot the happier I'll be.

Re: The back line. 1) I hope Quinn does the buiseness as a left back. 2) The only way I see Griffin taking over from Barton any time soon, is for the club to get an experienced central defender who has captain qualities. Gareth Southgate!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

I agree Tre. And i notice that he was injured the other night so he'll feel right at home.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Worryingly, Talk of the Tyne are saying that he is one player who will walk straight back into the side when he comes back. I mean, I know they don't print the team sheet, but are our opinions of Dabs so out of kilter with everyone else's?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

I can't see Dabs walking back into the team displacing either of Hughes or Goma, who should be rewarded for their work and committment with an almost automatic first team place.

I would welcome Dabs on the bench as he is a committed player and one, like Barton who can make the unexpected happen, which is not necesarily a good thing!

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Dabz probably will walk (hobble?) back into the team on the basis that Goma and/or Hughes are bound to get injured sometime in the next four weeks. After all, if you play for Newcastle and you're playing quite well, that's the law. I'm also concerned that Dabizas is timing his return 'ahead of schedule' to allow him to play for Greece, rather than timing his return to coincide with, and I know this is old-fashioned of me, the point at which he's actually fit to play. I'm getting a bit weary of players 'amazing the physios' by getting fit 'ahead of schedule' only to aggravate their injuries.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Glad to see Bobby saying that we aren't going to play him this season unless absolutely necessary. This will no doubt piss him off, particularly if he wants to play for the Greek national team.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2001