Being snubbed publicly by two foreign 'stars' having agreed substantial fees with their clubs.

What should we do?

Clearly money IS availabe and in quite a large quantity.

Im at a loss

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

Answers

hold tight, see it as a blessing?

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

We have to chill out, It's a dissapointment not to sign a couple of quality players, but we have £70 million worth of players at Newcastle already . I'm sure they'll do the trick. we'll have to make do. Save the money for next year when we're in the champions league. We'll need it for the likes of Rivaldo and Van Nistelrooy.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

What I would like Bobby Robson to say is .... "We've tried to buy some quality players, but we've been unsucsessfull. I'm not going to panic buy and spend money for the sake of spending money. We will continue to try to bring in better players than we allready have at the club, but won't waste the available funds on more squad players."

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

in essence that is what he is saying....though have to agree about the latter. Quality not quantity.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

Nice theory - however, the squad is simply not strong enough to compete in 4 competitions unless we are unbelievably lucky with injuries & suspensions.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

You know, I just have a feeling the boys will still pull a rabbit out of the hat. Of course, it might still prove to be Bugs!

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

RE where to then? The pub, its the only alternative!!!

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

36 players surely is enough Clarky.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

Only if they're good enough Rik. Many of our squad have little (and in some cases no) experience in the EPL. As I said elsewhere, we should be looking to repplace some of our existing "has-beens" with new talent. Then 36 should be enough.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

I certainly would like to see another TOP striker and a LEFT winger that are better than our exsiting players put pen to paper at Newcastle. But if we don't manage to attract the right calibre of player then I think we have a large enough squad to cope with the coming season.

Players that emerged last season like Shola and Steve Caldwell will have stepped up to another level, and would be compfortable playing in the premier league. Then ther'll be the new faces that will emerge, possibly Pedro Dimas and Gary Caldwell might get a few games when we are troubled with injuries.

What I am dead against is bringing in run of the mill squad players. We should either hang fire and go with the best , or give our younger players a chance.

Most Eurpean teams have a squad of between 22- 25 inclding a few youngsters. We have 36, that's more than enough in the squad.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

So are you against Bellamy then Rik? I would say run of the mill is the perfect phrase for him, if a little kind.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

I believe that we need TWO TOP players in every position meaning FOUR strikers, We have Shearer , Cort and now Bellamy. Beneath them we have a couple of youngsters in LuaLua and Ameobi, who last year wern't quite ready for the task. We are likely to have one, two or even three strikers out injured in spells during next season . I wouldn't like us to have to rely on Ameobi and LuaLua so feel there is a need for another forth striker. But that striker has to be as good as the others, otherwise I would prefer us to do without and fall back on the youngsters.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

As for Bellamy, he cost £6.5 million so he must be good ... right MR Robson?

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

Ask yourself this

Would you have bought Bellamy?

Would you trust him to get 15 goals for us next season?

Do you think he'll blame his failings on our fans if he has any?

Would the Toon army forgive him if he treated them with a hint of disrespect (consider ay damaging repurcussions)?

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

Why not give Bellamy a chance, there will be plenty of time to rip him to shreds thro' the season. (c:

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

I doubt (& hope) Bellamy will not be a striker, don't be suprised if he's a our much needed attacking midfield option, even deplyed as left sided midfield/winger.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

Bobby obviously wants a striker and a winger so in my view he can't be earmarking Bellamy for a starting place.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

Can't see the point of not starting him Swifty. Means we're just taking up where we left off last season. I think he and Elliot will probably be ever present, barring injuries, even when all of the crocks are back.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001