The mirror say speed wants to mave because he is worried about hostile fans. Then they actually put down his quote which says he hasn't been offered a new contract yet. pants

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

Answers

Speed is not helping his own cause by mouthing off to the Press over this issue. His form has not been good recently, and he risks alienating both the fans and his Manager by using the Press as a mouthpiece. He should know better at his age.

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

Howay Senor Swift - surely you must realise (now that the year is ending) that we're getting into silly/sillier season for tabloid hacks ?

Can I please be the first to say that anyone coming on this bbs expressing shock horror at any speculative journalistic bilge deserves public tar & feathering down the Bigg market !!

And that goes for you too BTW Bobby. In case you're worried, I still support 100% what you've achieved and what I believe you are capable of doing, but the newspaper 'jerk' wasn't completely wrong. Yes, Shearer deserves to stay next season. So does Lee (but only to see out his testimonial). Barton should be sold & replaced - IF better & younger becomes available. But you should indeed be saying thanks but adios to Gary Speed. For me this would mark the surest sign of real ambition to improve on our turgid and predictable midfield play of the past few seasons.

A man of your experience shouldn't be getting riled by the published opinions of one individual (unless of course it was all a ploy on your part?) I beg you all, let's just see the media for what it is eh instead of allowing it make our lives hell in the coming weeks ??

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

Swift had made his mind up about Speed before he joined.....

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

But Gav he was right

The money to buy Gary Speed came form the sale of Tino. If ever there was a watershed trading of players then that was it. Who in ten years time will be talking about Gary Speed, unless of course he's still doing a lot of work off the ball in our midfield ?

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

Yeah but the way Tino was playing at the time it wasn't a bad swop. Tino on form was one of the finest sights in football but the man wanted to go and we need a midfielder (or anyone!) who could score goals.

"Hostile fans"? Surely the boo boys were far harsher to him when he first came than they are now? A poor excuse.

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

Whoa. Hold on. I'm happy to be put right here and even happier if Speed is actually "driven out of Ncle by hostile fans' (I'll even drive the b*ggers car meself), but... he hasn't yet blamed the fans or spoken to the press. He merely spoke about his contract to his own poxy website.

The silly season IS here, we're in for a long summer of stories cooked out of nothing, and most of us will buy the papers/check the websites to read the stuff.

Then we'll get on here and talk about how cr@p it all i

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

his avid use of his head made him out to be better than he really is. Certainly he can score using his head, but we hoped he'd be the maestro we didn't have in Hamman or Batty. He never was the supremo to control a game, rarely made an insightful through ball, and was content to keep the flow of the game going by his off the ball movement.

He never impressed, never gets MOTM, never does anything outstanding, and I'd let him go in a heartbeat if Bassedas is ready to fill the role permanently.

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

the day he broke the Premiership appearance record he was made MOTM but his wife made the choice

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

I'll be devestated if Barton and Speed are sold.

What with Serrant retiring,

Hamilton leaving on a freebie

And Marthelino being sold to Deportivo

I'l have nobody to criticise.

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

This is EXACTLY the way Speed started before he was sold to us by Everton. I'm in total agreement with macbeth and have beenf or some time. He's an average midfield journeyman in the same way that Bartinho is an average defensive player.

Regardless of the story/non-story here, Speed should be the only one to put the record straight and i think his comments clearly indicate where he stands.

tada GS. Can't say i'm sad to see you go.

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

According to "an inside source at the training ground" Speed is probably on his way.

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

Sell Speed, buy Helder. Works for me!

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001

Selling Speed is Illegal though.

-- Anonymous, May 18, 2001