in the close season report Teletext this morning. A sum of 5M was mentioned. What do you all think.

To me it seems like good money for someone the wrong side of thirty who has never really done the business. I really think that we have to move away from a central midfield of Speed and Lee. The key thing though is whether the money will be spent wisely on a decent replacement. I'd hate to see 5M wasted on another Bassedas.

Personally I'd like to see a good ball winner in the David Batty / Patrick Vieira mould signed and played alongside Dyer in the centre.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Answers

Straight swap for Davis!

Speed is out of contract at the end of next season so we should either offer him a new deal or sell him. I think he is too old for a new deal and we can do better. Quite a significant departure but we can't keep everyone till they are 35.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

I believe Gary speed is a decent, and committed player and an excellent professional. However, at 31 we should accept anything over £3 million for him - simply good business.

A swap for Saun Davis would be a brilliant deal for us, but there's no way Fulham will release such a fantastic young player and a key part of their playing set-up. However, you increasingly have to wonder whether something really is in the works for Lee Clark, who would love a move back home.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

The Journal this morning has BR interested again in Marion Pahars, who they reckon may be somewhat unsettled at S'ton. They also suggest we're worried about Michael Bridges fitness, and have doubts over Hakan Sukur's willingess to move to the NE.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

You'd certainly think the subject of Clarky coming back would be breached either in Goma's transfer dealings or the suggested Speed's transfer.

I don't really think that Clarky would be a regular first teamer so would he be preapred to accept a bit part role? His wife and children have already moved back North haven't they?

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

You can be certain that LC would not be prepared to come back here as anything other than a regular 1st teamer. I'm sure he would accept there could be no guarantees, but would certainly look for assurances that he was being signed with a key role in mind, and not simply as a squad player.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

If Clarky had been performing to the same level for a Premiership team I'd be happy to give him a key role but IMHO we should be looking for that class above.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

I'm not too convinced about Lee Clark. The guy who loves then Toon so much that he joined the Mackems. He's a player who looks exceptional in the first division but distinctly average in the PL. Remember that he failed to hold down a regular first team place under two previous NUFC managers ( albeit in a far better team than we have now ). As a replacement for Speed we should look elsewhere.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

i.e. Seedorf

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Speed isn't worth £5 million, Although I think Clarky is a good player he's not really much of an improvement on Speed. I'd sell speed for £3m and put a £7m bid in for Parhars.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Clarky's a better player now than when he left us - and he was better than Speed then!

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Everyone raves about Pahars but has he had a decent season? Seriously I don't know!

If we signed him would he play as a left winger or a striker? If he can do the left wingers role then yes.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Pahars was anonymous against Ipswich the other night - and then sub'd.
He is not a left winger - I believe he's right-footed. The only position to play him in is support striker.

I think he's an excellent player, but if we're seriously contemplating signing him I hope someone has figured out why and where he is to play. We have a history of signing players, and then trying to figure out what to do with them - result: a squad of square pegs when we're looking to fill round holes. In this regard, the first question in my mind would be where would YKD play if we brought in Pahars?

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

In that respect only sign Pahars if our genuine game plan is to be 4- 3-3 for the next season. Dyer and Pahars playing off Cort or Shearer.

Can't see it happening that way so I'd rather Dyer played as an out and out right winger and forget Pahars and sign a left winger. Lets get away from this three central midfielders, lop sided midfield and get back to a basic 4-4-2.

If the players are good enough they can adapt that formation to the way the game is going, whether it be to 4-5-1 or 4-3-3. The key is obviously getting the right players.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Pahars would be a great addition to the squad. He's a quick, skillful and intelligent player who would provide a great link between midfield and attack. If not Pahars we need another good forward signing.

I wouldn't bother playing him in midfield just up front. He, Shearer and Cort would have to contest the two forward places. We really need one, if not two, more quality strikers. Perhaps with the emergence of Shola, just one.

A lot of our problems in recent seasons have been due to a lack of fit, quality forwards and if we are to progress as a club this has to be fixed.

Our best spell post Keegan was between Nov '99 and April '00 when both Shearer and Ferguson were fully fit. I think this has been the only long term period since Shearers injury that we have been able to deploy two fully fit quality forwards. Surely the impressive results during this time aren't just coincidence.

I too would go for a traditional 4 man midield. In the absence of an enforcer I think we are presently too lightwight if both Dyer and Solano play. We probably need an enforcer and someone to play on the left. Failing that if fit I would play Dyer in preference to Solano.

So many players needed. How much money do we have available? Is Douggy Hall correct in saying we have 50M or is this pie in the sky?

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Left winger and a left back who could cover both the left back and left wing positions (Bernard good enough?)

Two strikers

Ball winning midfielder

Commmanding centre back

Whoops there goes at least £30 million.

We are in a dangerous position in that we need to buy a team not 'create' one.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

I think actually that we have a decent foundation. We have some young players who show promise in Given, Harper, Griffin, Hughes, Caldwell, Dyer and Ameobi and Cort. Andy O'Brien is also highly rated although I'd be a rich man if I'd had a tenner for every highly rated youngster who has joined the toon only to sink into obscurity..... Combined with some older more expereinced pro's such as Shearer, Dabizas, Barton, Solano etc, we have, at least on paper, the basis of a decent squad. The deficiencies are a lack of quality cover for injuries when our first choice forwards are out and a weak central and left midield area. I would hope that the summer rebuild could address some of these problems.

BTW I like YBR's strategy of bringing in young, promising British based players. They at least will understand the history and traditions of the club and view the Toon as a step upwards in their career. They will therefore be busting a gut to do well. I don't think the same application will necessarily be present in older foreign imports. I'd hope that the majority of our summer signigs are young, up and coming British players. Sure we need a couple of establised stars but lets try and build for the long term rather than go for another quick fix

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

I actually agree with just about everything you say SellElena (including the sentiment in your 'monika'). I'm just concerned that we don't buy players just for the sake of buying them which we've been doing for 3-4 seasons now.

Pahars is a terrifc player and I'd take him like a shot - but either him or Bridges, not both, to play in the support/link striker role. I don't believe YKD can play in central m/f, and I'd play him in preference to Solano on the right side of m/f, with two strong central players and a creative, hard- working left-sided player.

I don't agree we need to buy an entire team. Over and above what I've outlined above, we need a big commanding centre half and another LB - I'd actually take Robbie Elliott back on a free to cover LB, and provide a different option to Wayne Quinn as required.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

"On yet another Hoddle-related story, Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has insisted that none of the Saints players will be joining Hoddle at White Hart Lane. Hassan Kachloul and Dean Richards have previously been linked to Tottenham but Lowe states: "Most of our players are under long-term contract and are not for sale."

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

I'd have Richards as well!

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

i must be losing it, ¿Pahars? that would be a dull signing - beattie would be more interesting from soton

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Beattie is too similar to Shearer and Cort and would cost too much for an average player who has had a decent season.

Pace up front is an absolute must.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

With Shearer, Cort and Ameobi why would we need Beatty, Swifty? Pahars is nippy and immensely skilful - a different kind of striker in the dare-I-say-it, Pedro mould (not as good mind).
Beatty would have been a good - and cheaper - signing before we invested in Cort, but I can't see it right now.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

What about Coventry's Craig Bellamy. I know that YBR was keen last summer but the deal was scuppered by Dennis Roaches antics. He hasn't set the world alight at Coventry in goal scoring terms but is playing in a very poor team. He is quick, skillful young and British and got some great reviews for his performance on Saturday.

He could be available if Coventry go down. Has anyone seen enough of this guy to form an opinion?

BTW I noticed that cockRoach is also Glenn Hoddles agent - I guess that Southampton will be the latest club to join his list of fans.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

pahars always looks average to me, in the same average way ostenstad used to for them

i say push the boat out and get jardel, he wants out at galatasaray...

i think the smartest move would be to prise larsson from celtic, i think he´s a class up from pahars & co

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

We couldn't afford Larrson. I'd only be happy to sign him if he was available for the same sort of price as Viduka was, which is never going to happen.

The leagues are different and signing a player from any other league is a gamble, we should be concentrating on reducing our exposure to expensive failures.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Larsson is a big questionmark to me. He plays extremly well in Celtic but I think he had 1-2 shots at goal in two games for the national team. One thing I'm sure of: He will cost a lot of money and he's not worth it.

I don't want LC back. Why should we? But sell Speed for anything above 3-4m.

Pahars is to expensive i think. Have never heard of the guy before.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Larsson is a great player. Sadly I think it will be at least a year before we can again compete for this calibre of player. Not wholly because of the money but because at present we are a mid-table team who aren't going to play in Europe next season. At a minimum UEFA qualification or preferably Champions League will be necessary to lure the likes of Larsson.

I think this close season that our needs are going to be best served by trying to find players with potential who hope to make their names at Newcastle. If this works out then maybe in a years time we will then be an attractive proposition to the class players.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Gary Speed has hit out at speculation linking him with a summer move from Newcastle by committing his future to United. The 31-year-old midfielder has been linked with Fulham and Manchester City in recent weeks but insists he wants to stay at St James' Park. "I know nothing about Fulham or Manchester City but it would not matter because I want to stay with Newcastle," said Wales skipper Speed. "Despite our current form Newcastle United is still a big club and if I was to leave here it would be a backward step. "Not only that but my family love it here and that is very important to me and it is another big reason why I want to stay."

The fact that Speed's current contract runs out next summer has fuelled speculation about his future but he insists he is desperate to agree new terms with Newcastle.

He added: "My contract expires soon and I have not agreed a new deal, so my future with Newcastle is a little uncertain but I hope to get things sorted out soon."

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

For Speed, substitute almost any of the "elder statesmen". I'm bliddy sure I'd want to stay to end my career at NUFC if I was on their wages. And therein lies part of the problem.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

There's not many of them left now. Barton said it last week, Lee said it ages ago, christ even Marcellino says he want's to see out his contract.

Hollow talk and they've been guilty of it all season.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

GARY SPEED`S agent Hayden Evans has confirmed that his client has not received an offer from Fulham, or any other club. Evans exclusively revealed to planetfootball.com that Speed is happy at Newcastle, but he is yet to open negotiations over a new contract.

"It is very straight forward, the onus is with Newcastle United and we are anticipating they will make contact soon," said Evans.

"At that point we we will meet them and see what they have to say, but Gary will continue to perform for Newcastle.

"If a bid is made from someone such as Fulham, then Newcastle would have to decide whether they want to off load Gary, and if they choose to do that, then they would let us know that a bid had been lodged.

"But as the moment, nothing has been made."

The player himself, who joined The Magpies for £5.5 million in 1998, says he loves playing at St James' Park and believes any move from there will be a downward step.

"I know nothing about Fulham or Manchester City but it would not matter because I want to stay with Newcastle," Speed said.

"Despite our current form Newcastle United is still a big club and if I was to leave here it would be a backward step.

"Not only that but my family love it here and that is very important to me and it is another big reason why I want to stay."

The possibility of a move may still exist though as Speed's contract runs out in the summer of 2002 and Bobby Robson may choose to sell the Welsh captain rather than see him leave for nothing a year down the line.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

The true test of loyalty would be being told his next contract will be at a wages a lot less than he's on now, say reduce it to £200k a year, then we'll see how loyal he is, or whether it's money related.

I am in no way a Barton fan (I did mention that didn't I ?) but I feel he would stay at a reduced rate as he has coaching ambitions and likes the area not just the fat pay cheque.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Somebody mentioned blooding youngsters with experienced campaigners - sorry, it only works if the experienced campaigners are good enough. Barton, I rate well enough to drop him down a division. Dabizas has shown plenty of spirit but no real quality. Lee, now too old to build a midfield around. Solano, blows too hot and cold as it is. Dyer, god forbid he loses a yard of pace with this injury and he'll be ordinary. Shearer, no longer should we be looking to build a team around him. Speed, to bring back a long forgotten term - bollox.

And there lies the problem. Youngsters learn from those with experience. When it comes to playing in the Premiership, I wouldn't trust that bunch to teach one.

Time for new thourouhbreds, sign a good few in their late 20's, some in the 30's. Let's not build on what we've got - its not a solid foundation.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001

Teamtalk reckon Speedo is staying put. "Gary Speed has made his firmest statement yet that he will be remaining at St James' Park, saying: "I have read that Fulham and Manchester City might want to sign me, but I haven't heard anything, nor do I expect to as I want to make it clear that I intend to stay where I am.
Speed's contract is up at the end of next season, but the Welsh international has stated that he is anxious to sign a new deal and United fans will be pleased to hear that negotiations have begun.
Speed said: "We have already had preliminary talks and I am discussing the situation with my agents. Hopefully I will be signing a new contract in the next few weeks and I will be happy to commit the rest of my playing days to Newcastle."

Well there you are, the fans will be pleased with that then.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001