...from what? Your own adversity or somebody who's seen it all before warning you to look out for things?

Only one's own mistakes if you're Aaron Hughes. Desparate for a youngster. We must keep a hold of Goma. Others will learn from them both. Not from Aaron alone.

Won't fix the defense, but will save a promising career.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Answers

I can see Hughes becoming our right back, rightly or wrongly.

The centre of defence will be new next year with two new players leaving Hughes to be back up or right back. He played well as a left back but is naturally right footed and given Robson's concerns about Griffin's lack of height I can see this happening.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

the problem with bringing in another three or so defenders is it's going to take another few months for them to gel with the rest of the team and play as a unit. I think we can probably write off next season as well....

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

Oh I've already done that! Anyone expecting anything else? No point in getting excited about signings it's all about performances.

I remember getting excited about the prospect of a good defence with Goma and Marcellino but look at how well those two worked out! You could pick two gimps from the lower leagues and they might turn out to develop a great understanding and defend well!

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

Well, from what my NI mate tells me, if Aaron is depending on adapting to being a full back if he loses his central role, he may have to hope no one ever watches videos of his games for NI.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

I think Aaron's been a little bit off form recently, although he was great at the start.

I suppose the whole team has been the same for the last couple of months - baring the games against big teams

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

he's only 21, has to have off days sometime

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001