Apparently Zenden is fancying Parma, which goes against a quote here on Sunday that he'd fancy playing in England. BUT the guys here in the office say that Zenden never really did anything special at all. He was always committed and quick, but didn't have the edge to make any real impact. They reckon 8 mil is silly money, the opinion here is that half would be a fair price. They also say Zenden has the right attitude, gets to the line, tries hard and alsways looks to gat the ball in the box, but is a bit short of "Barca Quality"
what do you say?
I think he'd be ideal for us, balls in the box straight onto Corts head.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Answers

I'd have him....but it AIN'T gonna happen so forget about it, he's WAY out of our league....

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Award for smart-arsed thread title goes to... :-) Very good.

The lad signing for us would make my summer. If Ravenelli can go to Boro...?

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

why?
he's not that good? oh, right, i'm with you

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

No because he's far too good for us! there are bound to be many more teams in for him and we can just can't compete these days....

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Zenden...out of our league???? Oh Gav.... please!!!!!

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

What and you think he isn't?

I'm not saying he's good, i'm saying he's out of our league! just like big ears was.....

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Gary Linekar might well be available...

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Lets face it what can we offer him apart from playing in front of possibly 52,000 fans a week?

Money? Sure we could offer him all the money he wants but is that a good motive for signing? We've had plenty of money grabbers.

Weather, Don't think so.

Standard of football, No European place and only the Premiership as an attraction, but he'd use us to move like Hammann.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

HANG ON Laura, my colleague says, stay well clear, no skill, bad distribution and an ability to lose the ball in key areas makes him a Waste Of Money. Does this clear it up?

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Looking dodgy while playing for Barcelona alongside the likes of Rivaldo is a bit different from Bellamy looking dodgy while playing for Coventry. I don't watch nearly enough Spanish football to be able to judge his consistency in that league but the work-rate and effort he put in playing for Holland in Euro2000 suggested he'd be a star in the EPL. The commentators were saying as how the Dutch papers were on his case about not being up to the job but he was voted man of the match for the urgency and pace he provided. He'd do Quinn a world of good and would be expensive enough to demand a start every week: hey presto no more lopsided crap.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

true,

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

I'm with Gav on this one.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

A nine million pound offer for 24 year old Dutch winger Boudewijn Zenden has today been tabled by

Geordies boss Bobby Robson. Newcastle United want to tie up the deal as quickly as possible with Italian club Lazio also interested in the Holland international.

Newcastle are hoping to sweeten the deal by offering Spanish defender Elena Marcelino to Barcelona free.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Sweetender?, I would have said sickener!

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Not sure about this guy. I've seen him play several times for Barcelona and haven't once been impressed by him - seems to be out of the "heedless chicken" school.
He's probably a decent winger but seems way overvalued at the £9-11 million range that I've seen variously quoted at. Perhaps it's £9 million with Marcy valued at nowt, and £11 million if you care to value the @rsehole at £2 million.

I simply don't understand NUFC. They weren't prepared to pay £6mm for Jesper Gronkjaer when he was available last season, but having put themselves under pressure are now happy to risk £9-11 million for this under-achiever. I know which one I'd rather have at the Toon.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

What concerns me more is that now we appear to be doing something about the lack of a left winger where does that leave the formation for next season? Assuming, we get Zenden, dodgy assumption I know, but hey: Will it be 4-3-1-2 with Nobby and Zenden forming two thirds of the three and Dyer plays behind the front two? That would leave us a bit lightweight in the middle, with only one central midfielde.

4-4-2, is the more obvious choice but that leaves the question as to who plays right winger? Dyer or Solano. If Solano is away for a quarter of the season on international duty then there's no problem.

4-2-3-1? Two deep central midfielders with Zenden, Dyer and Solano playing further up the pitch supporting a lone striker, Sheaer or Cort? Might be good away from home, especially with the pace of Zenden and Dyer.

the purchase of Zenden seems to rule out the use of 3-5-2

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001