While our attempts to build the strength of our squad continue to splutter, our rivals continue to stride forward.

Juan Veron expects to compete his move to OT next week for a reported £23mm, and Mustapha Hadji is set to sign for Villa in exhange for Julian Joachim.

There are now reports that Spurs are set to make a £25mm move for AC Milan's Andrei Shevchenko, after his Agent said the player would like to link up with Sergei Rebrov again.
Shevchenko is thought to be unhappy at the San Siro after Milan's failings in this season's CL and the fact that the club have failed to make it into the competition next season.
Ambitious Spurs boss, Glenn Hoddle, is said to be ready to bring the player to White Hart Lane. His agent, who also just happens to be Rebrov's Agent, said "The fact that Tottenham are not in the Champions League would not be a reason for Andrei not to join them. Milan are not in the Champions League either, and England is his first choice".

Now this guy would be a truly fantastic signing for us - wants to come to England, and isn't bothered about CL participation. Go get him Doug - put your money where your mouth has been!

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Answers

while we just pontifiacte in the press about how much we'll spend

Quite frankly we appear to be a shambles and Im amazed Bobby is still around to be associated with this shower. Resume pre season with a much maligned 6 million Bellamy and a free transfer.

Where are the 4 quality ready made Premier players promised or even a fraction of the so mentioned 100 million

summer spending spree and rebuilding my arse

How about Nicky Butt. How many games will he get this year?

No chance I guess

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

It seems the boom bust policy of backing former managers has caught up with us. I never complained at the time but I probably should have realised that this plan was only sustainable if it produced silverware. Damned if we do, damned if we don't.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

In fairness, where the f...k are Spurs getting £25 million?

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

I remember years ago reading an article called "Money, Money, Money" which predicted that we would come unstuck by gambling on future success and paying loads of money without already hyaving achieved success.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Spurs are doing exactly what NUFC should be doing. Suprising everyone with a massibe signing. Actually spending big money on guaranteed class. So far we have a dodgy Bellamy (although give him a chance) and 2 free transfers. A big move would bring a feel good factor and givee everyone a lift, players included.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

I tell you gang, if anyone is worth £25mm - which of course none of them are - then Shevchenko is.
In the immortal words of Softie - he's "the dogs dangly bits"!
Stop p*ssing the brass away on useless knackers Doug - go get Shevchenko. Then get a left-winger to provide the ammo.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

I remain bewildered by the continued absence of Bobby Robson from the scene. Is he back from his holidays yet? It seems to me that what has happened here is that we've continued to do business the way they did it 40 years ago, and the big teams are not doing that. Forty years ago you shut everything down after the season for a month and then came back and set about strengthening your team. You can't get away with that any more.

Tip for the future. Next time FIX THE TEAM FIRST, THEN GO ON YOUR HOLIDAYS.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

I'll wait until July 7th before I get too angry.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Bobby was at Centre Court, Wimbledon this afternoon, looking tanned and relaxed and clearly enjoying a pleasant tete-a-tete with the guy in the next seat - Sir Alex Ferguson! In fact, he was hanging on to every word.
While lip-reading as best I could, I didn't see the name 'Kieron Dyer' mentioned, although between the 2nd & 3rd sets of Leyton Hewitt's match with the Moroccan blerk I could have sworn Taggart said something to Bobby about us "taking that lazy tosser Dwight Yorke" .

As I understand it, Bobby's has given Fred & Doug his priority list, and it's now entirely up to them to do the business. Don't hold your breath mind!

BTW, I understand Craig Bellamy was number 147 on Bobby's list!!

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Taking my life in me hands among the m*****s again hoping the blanket over me heed and the screen will keep away prying eyes.

Does look as though we're all mouth snd nee action though and if I was the worrying type I'd be looking for ways to unload me newly arrived ST.

Bellamy and Robby E. Looks great, don't it ?

There's ;owse. Gotta go.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

spending big money on guaranteed class.

Following the spend on the guaranteed class of Rebrov.

I'd be a lot more confident about the coming season if I stopped reading this BBS.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

We have to trust Bobby's instinct as much as the board has done, if he believes Bellemy is our answer to the forward / midfield problem we / the board have to trust his judgement or sack him.

How about Nicky Butt - he's shite, ther's only ever been one decent Ginger playing for us.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

And what happens when that player gets injured like Ferguson? Or flops like Rebrov?

You never learn.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

Spending millions hasn't done the job for Newcastle so far. If we had the money to go after Shevchenko and were successful in landing him he'd probably get injured during pre-season practice and be unavailable for two to three months. Btw, how would he fit in with Shearer? --phoenix

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2001

But ML£ if you pay 650k for a player or 6.5 m for a player and they are injured then you've lost them. The way the accounting goes Sunderland are righting off £200k in their books against the cost of buying Kevin Phillips. When he is completely written off (so to speak) then you will be able to buy another 650k player without any material effect on your bottom line. The same thing is happening at other clubs. If Man U wrote the 12m for Stam off over 3 years then they can now afford to but another £12m player as he is now no hit on their books.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

Well DaveLeF, you'll be thrilled to know that Sunday Sun has us entering the chase for none other than Nicky Butt alongside SAFC, and possibly also Blackburn and Spurs, if he becomes available following the expected signing of Juan Veron at OT.

They suggest the price could go to £10mm! Makes Shevchenko look relatively cheap doesn't it?

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

God - a Makem talking to us about policy for signing forwards when all they have bought in the past two years is Milton bleeding Nunez...

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001

but they did sell Bridges so they do know about selling young talent as soon as it looks good on the money front

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001