As we can see who's going down & falling out at their clubs we can start to pick off the remaining decent players.

Jody Morris would get a better run in our team & we need one of those players whom I remember being described as attacking & creative.

Ginola - again complained about life on Villa's bench

Benito Carbone - proves he's class & maintains a decent attitude dispite his surroundings.

David Thompson, Chipo & Hadgi at Cov, all could do a job.

Cov's Keeper

Derby's Poom & the geordie lad I can't remember plus terribo West.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2001

Answers

Rory Delap, Dave? Is he not from somewhere around Carlisle?
Seth Johnson's the Derby player I'd like to see in b&w.
Manure are supposed to be interested in signing Mart Poom as back-up to Barthez.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2001

Why do we need another keeper? Harper is good backup for Shay who's doing a good job. None of those mentioned would come to be 3rd keeper. Only if Shay of Harps leaves.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2001

We could always sell Shay for £5m.

Delap, that's the chap - I thought he was from Newcastle sorry.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2001

IFFFFFFF I were manager then in the summer I'd flog the following,

Marcelino - 3m Speed - 3m Solano - 5m Glass - 1m Total - 12m

the balance from the Domi/Quinn and Goma/O'Brien transfers SHOULD have given us 4m to start with and we SHOULD get a further 10m for transfers from season ticket sales or perhaps Doug Hall's legendary 100m stash. We SHOULD have about 26m to spend this summer.

Squad needs: Strong centre back, left back, central midfielder, left sided midfielder, forward.

Centre back: Dean Richards ( Southampton ) Reasoning: Been class all season for Saints but with Hoddle leaving they're in dissary. Was gutted when we pulled out of a deal for him a couple of years back so obviously would love to play for us.

Left back: Christian Ziege ( Liverpool ) Reasoning: Currently stuck on the Reds bench behind Carragher but German internationals aren't bad players. Can take over from Nobby as dead ball specialist.

Central midfielder: David Prutton ( Forest ) Reasoning: Big lad, fast, powerful, good in the tackle. Only young but can be eased in covering for Rob Lee's increasing injuries.

Left midfielder: Seth Johnson ( Derby ) Reasoning: Fast, skilful, creative and not afraid to get stuck in.

Forward: Michael Bridges ( Leeds ) Reasoning: He's class, he's different to the strikers we've got, he scores goals, he's a Geordie.

So how's this for a squad?

GK: Given or Harper RB: Griffin or Barton CB: Dabizas or Richards CB: Hughes or O'Brien LB: Ziege or Quinn RM: Dyer or Gavilan CM: Lee or Prutton CM: Acuna or Bassedas LM: Johnson or Bonvin CF: Shearer or Cort CF: Bridges or Ameobi

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2001

You'd find it hard getting a million for Glass when he's on a free...

-- Anonymous, April 30, 2001

It would represent a big improvement on where we are now BM. While we might argue over individuals, these are certainly the kind of players we should be looking to bring in.

However, if you give any credence to Press rumour-mongering, I'm becoming increasingly concerned we could bring in another 3 or 4 less-than-top-class foreigners, most of who are likely to let us down, yet again.

We seem to be incredibly slow learners.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 2001