It appears Lee Clark has given up hope of making an emotional return to SJP, and finally signed a new contract at Fulham.

With the new season only a few days away it looks as though the promised new m/f player won't be coming, and even if we signed someone they surely couldn't be integrated into the team pattern at this juncture?

So, after the cr@p we endured last season, what progress have we made in improving the squad for another campaign?

It looks to me as though we have only really positively addressed the problematic left-wing position.
We still have major problems in central m/f - with our best pairing of Lee/Speed another year older and seemingly likely to struggle against top-class opposition.
We still look a little short of class at LB, although hopefully Elliott will eventually settle into that position.
We still lack a commanding centre-half, and still look vulnerable defensively.

The positives are hopefully Roberts emergence as a genuine PL star, and the continued development of several of the bairns, in particular Ameobi.

Other views?

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Answers

We are crap at the front- Shola has great movement etc but will never be the "fox in the box" goalscorer, Bellamy doesn't score enough, Cort may be a goalscorer but he's not very good in the air by his own admission (meaning that Lolo's and Nobby's crosses are wasted) and Shearer's future contributions are limited. Our midfield is just crap. End of. We have no real cover for the fullbacks and have a panic-stricken Greek as our senior central defender. And the bad news? Most of above are injured.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Ok, so other than that, are we all excited for the start of the new season? ;-))

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Robert, Nobby and Dyer as our flair. Shearer and Cort as strikers (when all fit) isn't bad. But we are at the moment looking toothless in the striker dept. and light light light in midfield.

Dabs isn't all bad Doug, but i'd like to see more cover in the Venison mould for these boys. Aaron and O'Brien are an interesting pairing...what of Helder Doogs?

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

I think I read something with Bobby saying that they had considered Helder but had decided that central defence is the one area we don't need to improve (I mean in terms of personnel). I think O'Brien and Hughes are just too lightweight to play together and both are ballplaying defenders so I think it's either/or with those two although letting them develop together may be an idea because they'll get stronger... I like Dabs but he makes at least one awful cock up per game and does flap. Nobby is a great player, once every four or five games...

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

I think that clark is better off down there.GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. anyway ......hi-ho hi-ho...its off to the pub i go.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

It's a worry, the quality in the centre Midfield as far as this BBS is concerned (me included) is the critical area where we are lacking. Up front we can hope to get a year out of Shearer whilst Aneobi learns the ropes whilst Chopra & the other young lad start sniffing around the odd bit of expirience. The defence may be ropey at times but if Bobby finally realises Griff is streets ahead of Wazza, it's not a bad four.

Midfield though surley would be improved by Clarkie. Otherwise we have to bet on Bassedas really coming through this season. Mind you just watching Bradford on telly now, Carbone really is a shark in a fishpond in Div 1.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Damon Robson will be terrific when he steps up, but that's 2 or 3 years away. We had one half each from Barton and Griffin yesterday and only the most desperate would have seen an improvement.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

I've heard from an 'informed source' that BR rates Griffen very highly but is not satisfied with his fitness levels - hence Barton's continued selection. Makes sense to me.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

i hope Griff gets the same message Clarky, therwise i worry that we may see the best of him elsewhere

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001