So if the treatment room cleared tomorrow, who would YBR select? I'll have a guess:
..............Harper
Barton.....Hughes....Goma....Griffin
Solano.....Dyer.....Acuna......Speed
........Shearer......Cort

subs: Given, Quinn, Dabz, Bass/Glass, Ameobi

Something like that? Glass sitch still unclear - sounds like YBR still felt he was unfit b4 new injury. Would Dabz and/or Quinn be 1st choices at the back? Lee in ahead of Acuna or Speed? Doubt it. What this seems to suggest is that despite the impression that we're inury-ravaged throughout the squad, it's really 'only' the strikers that we're missing. In which case there's going to be a lot of pressure on young Cort. I'm afraid the difference between current line-up and fully fit line-up may not be as dramatic as some hope.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Answers

I'd go for:

Harper

Griffin-Hughes-Goma-Quinn

Solano-Acuna-Speed

Dyer

Shearer-Cort

Subs: Given, Barton, Marcellino, Ameobi, Glass Given and Marcellino could be picked if their attitude is right and Barton if he gets back some form. Only one substitute forward due to Dyer's ability to fill both midfield and forwad roles. Looking for Quinn and Griffin to get forward when we have the ball to make a telling contribution.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Darn

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

none of you have Rob Lee in your side or even on the bench...what does that mean...the general.....MIA.....for shame!!!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

I'm not so sure we can build our side around Rob Lee. He is taking longer to return from injury and a few consecutive games may lessen his impact on the game. I'd prefer to see him come in if any of the central midfield lads get injured, which would probably be often enough!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Sideways passing and "shots" from 40 yards are not going to change the current situation. Rob Lee left the club a couple of seasons ago and what you see is a ghost of his former self. Terrible that such a great servant has ceased to be able to hack it anymore, but it's been staring everyone in the face for years.

The saddest thing is that he had to get all upset by the number 37 stuff to sell his autobiography. He really should have been able to say a bit more than that he has his number 7 shirt back to show how valuable he is. 1 goal in 3 years is simply not enough from a midfielder. Far from giving us a holding option he now starts drifting out of games with his legs going, and aggressive tackling is not the same as competent tackling as his disciplinary record shows.

Nobody liked the way Gullit called his number, but it's been up for a while now and I'd like to remember him for the good times and wish he'd step down a division or two where he might still have something to offer.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Harper

Griffin Goma Marcellino Quinn

Solano Hughes Acuna Speed

Dyer Cort

Hughes to sit in front of Goma/Marcellino , 4.4.2 , midfield to tuck in , allow space for Griffin, Quinn . Team not picked to entertain, this is the one to get the 1-0 wins and 3 points . Dan is not far away , are the staff looking for excuses re injuries . Toss uo for up - front between Cort and Al , plus Harper and Given, we need to go for height at the back, always thought of Hughes as a full back, holding role in central midfield may suit.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Interest selection from Buff. Unless Dyer plays as one of two strikers I can't see the midfield accomodating both him and Solano. If the absence of a Batty like hard man we look too lightwight with Dyer in the middle and Solano on the right. I would go for: Harper Griffin Hughes Goma Quinn Solano Speed Acuna Glass Dyer Shearer ( if fully fit with the stress on fully )

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Harsh and not entirely fair Softie... the General isn't what he used to be but it is probably best to compare him to a Batty-like figure now than a Bowyer-type midfielder (as he was). Yes Lee hasn't scored in a long time but Batty doesn't get many either. Lee can also pass the ball forward and has a better vision than either Batty (or Acuna). Lee also still has more pace now than Batty - without the Batty ability to consistently concede penalties.

Rob Lee is still a central midfielder who can read the game extremely well. Unfortunately his legs can't last the full 90 minutes and his shooting boots are lost. However, I can't see either Bassedas or Acuna being successful midfield replacements.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

you lot have been in the pub way too long....

Given Barton Hughes Goma Griffin Lee Speed Solano Dyer Cort Shearer

Subs: Harper Caldwell Gallacher Acuna

you lot put Harper ahead of Given??? Sorry but you have been blinded by questioning his loyalty.....I have a question for that....If Al was healthy but wasn't getting in because we were doing well without him, shouldn't he want to move on????

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Sparxx, the thing is, Harper was great last season and Given was crap on his rare forays into the team - there's far less between them than you seem to suggest. The question re Shearer is interesting but I think a large part of Shearer's maturing process (ie. accepting thirtysomething-dom) will be him taking on board that he isn't indispensable and that we need to have other options and other ways of playing. My team would be:

Harper/Given

Griffin-Hughes-Goma-Quinn (subject to him looking good for another few games)

Solano-Acuna-Speed

Dyer

Shearer-Cort

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Goalie: Harper/Given inseparable on shot stopping ability, doesn't really matter which, only comment would be Harper is better at back passes.

Full backs: BArton has too much potential for mediocrity, but tries, Griffin is good, Quinn only seen once in black and white, don't know

Centre Halves : Hughes is our wee gift from God, any one of Goma, Dabizas, Marcelino, which I think means none of them and really means "hurry up and grow up les Caldwells"

Midfield: Must is Solano, maybes are Acuna and Bassedas, not had long enogh and jury has to be out, I think Speed and Lee are one and the same and hopeless, also think we need width on left, therefore must be Glass but NOT with defensive priorities, with attacking priorities

Attack, (attack attack attack ATTACK) : Cort I just don't know, only seen him three or four times I can't make a judgement on that, for me Shearer will never be the same, and the fear of God factor is waning, Shola looks a perfect target man to me, if I was Peter Reid I'd be making enquiries. Dyear is the best forward we've had in three or four years.

Therefore Harper Griffin Goma Hughes Quinn (ANO) Solano, Acuna, ANO spelt T-H-U-G, Glass (ANO) Dyer and Ameobi/Cort/Shearer

In a couple of years time, see Caldwell(s), and better partner for Dyer.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Always been a Harper man, so he stays between the sticks. Griffin to the right and Quin (or another) to the left . In the centre Hughes and Goma. Central midfield Acuna and Speed. Left side of midfield Alan Shearer with Solano on the right. Ameobi would be the target man with Dyer behind, suported by Solano and Shearer on the wings.

On the bench Given, Caldwell, Bassedas, Barton and Coppinger . Cort , Rob Lee , Gavilan and LuaLua would be waiting on the fringe for a chance to play. I would actively be seeking a PROPER left winger instead of Shearer, a good little un to play up with Ameobi (or Cort)instead of Dyer, who idealy would be our right winger,with Solano replacing Speed in midfield.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

I may be crucified for this but here goes....No Shearer.

I'd play a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Harper

Griffin Hughes Goma Quinn

Solano Acuna Speed Lua Lua

Dyer

Cort

Subs: Given, S. Caldwell, Barton, Bassedas, and Ameobi.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001

"crucifixion?. first on the left......"

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001

I have to disagree with all of the above. The team should be...

Karelse

Warren Barton, Des Hamilton, Carl Serrant, Nikolaos Dabizas

Robert Lee, Stuart Green, Garry Brady, Brian Kerr

David McMahon, Daniel Cordone

You know it makes sense.

If only we hadn't sold Hottiger.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001