With the talk being of returning Geordies there seems to be a split between the realists and the romantics. Some of us would rather not chase a player based on birthright whilst others would rather see a local lad getting stuck in. The argument being the really talented Geordies don't want to come, where the talented ones do...

DeBuilder (does he whistle at girls in short skirts?) made the oft mentioned point that a great team is made of a super talented 'spine' and extra willing 'support players'. So on that assumption the ideal team would be a spine of the very best and Geordie support players willing to give their all fopr the team. Its a gem!

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2001

Answers

Yeah I reckon everone thinks the same Swift. Although we'd like to see a team full of Geordies, it isn't realistic to expect them to be able to compete in the PL with a local team.

I still think that given time, other players can become adopted Geordies, like Pav and Phillipe Albert.

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2001

Worked for Manu. They bought the spine and grew the rest.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001

Would we all really want a team full of Geodies? Or would we settle for a team of cockneys or non British players if it won us the league?

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001

If it got us into a position to win the Chimpions League, a team of black and white apes would do me.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001

If we had a team full of geordies and they didn't perform there would be clambering to bring in some 'foreign quality'. We've tried the foreign route and now we want to go back to the natives.

The key is to buy decent players no matter where they are from. How many Yorkshiremen play for Leeds? Batty?

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001

These issues (like most everything else) are always more complex than the tabloid-speak rubbish we are usually presented with.

Home grown players should certainly add more to the team spirit. British players are more culturally similar and speak the same language. Having said that you can't always get top quality at the right price in Britain and foreign players can add a great deal to the team. The trick is to blend whatever individuals you have into a team, such that you have the right blend of technical skills, team spirit, etc. I have no problem at all with signing foreign players. But whoever we sign, they have to want to play for us. With the stadium and supporters we have, that should not usually be a problem.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001