Les Ferdinand, Carbone, Cannigia, and Sheringham are on available on either free transfers or for nominal fees at the end of the season.

I would love to see us make a move for Les Ferdinand; letting him go was one the biggest mistakes the club have made in recent years. I also think that Carbone has something to offer.

Any thoughts.....

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

Answers

More mercenries Well done!

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

It has taken Les 4 seasons to approach the number of starts he made for us in 2 (1 of which featured a long injury lay-off) and he has scored less than half as many goals in twice the time.

All that aside, I'd still react like a big kid if he came back and can only put it down to sheer stupidity :-)

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

Les is a giant in every sense of the word, but I think it's just a little too late for him - wouldn't object to him coming back for a season or so mind - in fact would welcome him with open arms. Great man.

Ditto Sheringham - very good player, too old to be part of a long-term restructuring, but would be a terrific stop-gap for one season or so.

Not sure about the other two. I've only seen Cannigia on telly once or twice, and he looked like a 35 yr-old Pedro - looks canny in the SPL, but doubt he'd do it in the PL at this stage in his career.
Carbone? FT yes, but £50k per week wages makes him a huge gamble for anyone. Volatile, unpredictable - but has the ability to make him a Toon legend.

Personally, I'd be focused on long-term restructuring and wouldn't go for any of these admittedly good players - although I'd be torn with Les, who really should never have left his spiritual home.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

I'd take Les back, if only for what he show our youngsters. Then again, I'd have taken Tino back.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

No, no, no - he'd only start filling his spare time by writing articles for the Pink. Knowing how popular he once was, they'd probably give him his own column (not as in monument). Would we really want this?

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

The only one of those I would have is Sherringham, but the notion of getting him on a free or a nominal went out of the window the other day when he picked up the Player of the Year award.

I still reckon Pahars linked with a 100% Al and the Born Again CC would do the biz.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001