Not sure what's prompted it, but the Journal is full of praise for young Hughesie, including calls for him to be named NUFC's player of the year.

Interesting quote from Goma.
"Newcastle must keep Aaron at the club - he is a unique talent and the kind of defender a Premiership club with ambition needs to hang on to. He finished last season very strongly and has carried that form forward into this season.

"He has become far more confident and far more vocal and he has become the key player at the back.

"What I like about Aaron is the fact that he's very clever and very quick. That combination is perfect for a centre half, but he's also versatile enough to play elsewhere in the future."

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2001

Answers

The pink are tonight going to print three pages entitled TOON IN DOCK, on which the team now back from La Manga can read what the fans think about last weeks performance. I think this has gone a bit too far, The Ronnie Gill was supposed to be a suporter of NUFC, I ain't buying it.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2001

Damn. I missed that, Ciara :(

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

You should still be able to find it online as that appears to be the last online Ronnie. www.evening-chronicle.co.uk/html/sport.html

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Oops...I should read my own post sometime. Try the Journal at www.the-journal.co.uk/html/sport.html

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Nope, no joy AT ALL. :((

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Shame Dougal. You got a special mention. Better get up to N'cl quickly and see if they've got any back copies ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

I would say "feck off" apart from the fact that you are currently my hero for your wonderfulness these past few days.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Nah - that must be my twin brother. Did I tell you - he's an ugly bugga.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

..........not identical twins, of course ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Obviously, Screach :o)) Allison - <
-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Eh? Are you two (or too, for that matter) drunk? I can't follow anything either of you have posted tonight. ;-))

Bummer about the Journal site, Dougal. Looks like they finally got around to letting folks know they moved. Silly beggers.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Ciara - we were talking nonsense. Screach has been a real mate to me this past few days but, like most English males of his age, he can't take a compliment, so he had to make flippant comments about an imaginary twin brother. I was merely indulging him.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Huh. I take compliment with my coffee every day. As for taakin' nonsense ,well nowt new there then Doug, eh?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Dougal, I still had Satda's Journal in my deleted e-mails so have forwarded you the Hughes bit.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Thanks, Steph: very interesting. Obviously the whole lot of the people quoted spoke of the need to keep him at Newcastle which immediately pushed me worry buttons - I didn't think there was any question of that at the moment...

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Some of the reports I have seen have complimented Hughes but reckon that he is too versatile to tie down a regular slot for the side.

If Robson brings in another two centre backs, when/if Marcellino leaves, they should be better than Hughes to raise the standards.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Well, I guess that's the danger with second guessing the manager...besides which, with the talent we've got coming through at the back, I think our priority should be at the front that we are looking to buy players.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

PS. DB, the reason our youngsters aren't progressing is because we keep buying in players for an immediate fix. A 7 million defender may be better than Hughesie now but will he better than Hughesie in 3 years' time? Almost certainly not. And on that logic, do we just tell the Caldwells to feck off because they won't get a chance until 2007?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Certainly not Dougal.

My thinking is with the Redknapp/Ferguson thoery of giving the young players their games. Those two managers have benefited by having Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown come through and both are now seen as England possibles.

Arsene Wenger has taken the other way and not given Matthew Upson regular games even though he has been scouring Europe for defensive talent.

I'd rather give the Caldwells and Beharall the chance but personally I think Robson will go out and make additions in defence, not something I agree with. It has to be said that Ferdinand and Brown nearly always had a very experienced defender alongside them them when they were plunged into things. Either Ian Pearce or Stuart Pearce for Rio or Stam/Berg/Johnsen for Wes.

At the minute we can't really give the Caldwells the games alongside Aaron who is himself inexperienced.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Indeed, I've proposed in the past that Hughes, Griffin, Quinn and Caldwell live in a big house in the country and spend their spare time practising defending and watching videos of the famous Arsenal Back four!!

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

True re experience; the Arsenal game showed that up. It's our big problem..and I'm afraid I can't see anyone learning much from Dabs.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Which is why I think we should sign Gareth Southgate if he would move from Villa to us. 3 good years in him and a solid Premiership defender who knows what is what when it comes to defending. Experienced and a good captain figure from which everyone could learn from in our defence.

I can't see another option like this in Britain that we have a realistic chance of signing.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

We'd be too much of a sideways step for Southgate, I think...

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

To be honest I can't see him playing for a better side and it all comes down to whether or not he is just sick of Villa?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Southgate is coming to his prime, but not quite up to it for the cash being sought

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

How much do they want Swifty?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Screach, I think Villa were looking at 8-9 million...

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Hmm - a bit pricey. I'd maybe go as far as £7.5. What did they get for Ehiogu? I rate Southgate better then him, tho probably a bot older. I don't suppose thet'd like to take £10M worth cost of CH in part-ex? Thought not :-(

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Ekioghu isn't that old - 28 max. I really rate him actually. I would love to see Southgate in b&w, too, though. And what about Radebe - he can't be too happy playing second fiddle to the PL's second most cultured centre back.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

>>>>playing second fiddle to the PL's second most cultured centre back<<<

I thought Razor Ruddock had had his day. Radebe's OK on his day. But Leeds would want at least £6M I'd have thought. £2m plus Goma and Farcelino for him and Brdges, eh??

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

I'm not too concerned with how old the centre half we buy is - it is at least partly age we need so that it's not a bairn carrying the main defensive burden, which due to constant injuries to Goma and Marcelino, has been the case this year. Also, we want the bairns to have a senior centre half they can learn from.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2001

PS. Screach. I can't think of a side in the whole of the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish leagues that would be enhanced by the addition of Marcelino. I don't think we should really be expecting to recoup a penny for him. Then again, I said that about Maric.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2001

You could be right Dougal. In which case, YBR and FS will probably just tell him to Fester, (along with Goma??) in the Resorves at KP in the cold.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2001