i think someone may have already mentioned this but where is Gavilan?

One of BRs first buys and yet he never gets a game. We were told he was 'one for the future' about 100 years ago! Has he just not improved or was he always crap? Does he even play regularly for the reserves?

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Answers

I reckon hell get his chance very soon- Nobby isnt essential for set pieces anymore with Robert about. Nows the time to give him a chance before Dyer comes back and takes over on the right side.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Lynda, there were rumours last season that he hadn't developed as well as we thought he would and that he was for sale if any half decent offer came up. I think he was a Wadsworth buy and I know for a fact that Spurs gave him a trial and George Graham decided he would never make it in the PL.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Gavilan keeps plugging away for the Reserves. He generally cuts a fairly forlorn figure, and while I've seen him perhaps five times in the last year he has never excelled. However, it is very difficult for anyone to really shine in the CL.

For what it's worth, imo he is still a talented young player who might just make the grade. However, we really need to give him a 4 or 5 game run in the 1st team to assess his potential and true value to the Club.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Oh fercryingoutloud Bobby Robson bought Gavilan not Mick fekkin Wadsworth. Let's just forget that supposed bogeyman shall we? The lad has put in some good performances for Paraguay in recent months. Face realities, we`ve got a manager who, unilaterally, consistently chooses to play 'experience' ahead of youth

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Loonytoon I agree to a point. BR seems afraid to give the young uns a go. Despite the fact our 'experienced' players often leave alot to be desired.

As someone said on here recently Owen was about 17 when he was playing in the first 11. How soon for Chopra and Offiong? Probably 10 years at this rate!

Thanks for the info on Gavillan btw, I just thought he'd vanished off the face of the earth!

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Totally agreed with LT. There's a problem with the selection of players for matches in the club. While I'm all for experience as there's always something to be learned there, I just feel picking players based on experience regardless of form is more harmful to the mentally of the younger players than anything else.

Someone mentioned on another thread "Thank god Speed is on the way back". Sorry but I totally don't agree with that statement at all. Speed has done nought since the beginning of the season and though not a big supporter of Lee myself, I would put Lee in ahead of Speed anytime. But we all know who Lee will partner once Speed is declared fit. Whatever Acuna has done good or bad on the field will have no bearing on selection once Speed is fit. If you don't believe me, just look back on Sunday's match to find a prime example. Resting Griffin with a view of Wednesday's match my foot! If Barton had perform well and not gotten injured, he would be in the team on Wednesday. Sometimes I wish Bobby would show a bit of what managers like Fergie, Houllier or O'Leary does with their team. "You aren't doing well on the pitch, my boy. You will have to sit your arse on the bench until you start showing me something. And if you don't like it, you can leave."

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

I agree with some of this criticisms of BR but not entirely. He has brought some young players forward, and most of his signings have been young players bought very much with the future in mind.

He does seem to have blind-spots with regard to certain players, and Barton is certainly one of his favourites. On the other hand he clearly didn't rate Glass, who was wantonly ostracised. However, I would argue this happens with all Managers, in sport and commerce actually - they have their favourites and their whipping boys. It's human nature.

With regard to his midfield selections I happen to agree with him. The choice is very limited, and whether or not they are a good enough pairing for the top echelons of the PL or not, Lee and Speed are simply better than Bassedas and Acuna.

For those clamouring for Offiong and Chopra, I can only offer my personal opinion - having seen them both several times - that neither of those top prospects are anywhere near ready for the 1st team. YMO may have been physically more advanced and ready at a younger age - but pushing these two kids too fast could simply ruin their careers, and we need to trust Bobby's judgement on this one.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

clarky the only problem I have with what you have written, is that Lee and Speed WERE better than Acuna and Bassedas are know.

Half the reason Acuna is running everywhere is that when Speed and Lee are left standing he is the one who chases the opposition down.

I have watched the last 2 games a couple of times now, he has to come off his man to tackle someone else because they are free and heading towards goal with no other player in sight.

When the rest of the team are playing ok (manure) things are fine, however when Robert, Solano and Lee go missing Acuna tries to mark all their men.

Personally I think Acuna should be playing just infront of the back 4, let Bassedas play in the middle of the park and play the balls wide, infront of Solano and Robert or through the middle for Bellamy.

These days by the time Lee has the ball brings it under control and looks up he has been closed down and left with a ball sideways to Barton for a punt (did I spell that right?) up the field.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Every one of Wazza`s balls forward is a hopeful punt !! And from the West Ham game it seems as if Robbie Elliott`s been spending too many nights down Grey`s Casino with him ...

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Gus,

It's all down to personal opinions at the end of the day. Acuna is a decent player, no more. There isn't much to choose between him and Speed right now, but my slight preference is Speed. However, imho Bassedas is simply not up to the PL - he needs far too much time on the ball, time he is never going to get. He seems a very good pro, and a nice lad, but quite frankly I'd rather have Warren Barton or Jamie McGlen playing in m/f than him, and McGlen will never make it either.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Crikey Clarky, Jamie McClen? You must be in a bad way ;-)

WRT Bassedas, I agree with your comments, but what I find difficult to accept is that we paid £4.5M for him. But that wasn;t £4.5M on a "nobody". No, Bassedas is a full international, for none other than Argentina. I have to confess, I haven't seen him play on the international stage, but either they must have a cr@p team or Bassedas has something to offer that we haven't seen. Bu99ered if I know how to get him to show us mind :-(

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

i sense the first seeds of anti Bob sentiments here.

two themes that i've been preaching for a while

1) bob's signings (except robert and bellamy) are crap, although in some cases we may never know because they rarely play. 2) bob relies too much on the old guard (lee barton speed) who are all crap, but according to bob, better than his signings.

i think the old fella's done an ok job but it's time someone with a new outlook either took over or added a different perspective.

bob would have picked neil webb ahead of gazza in italia 90 (as i've often harped on about). the yougsters at the club must be really crap since they can't get ahead of the crap old guard and bob's crap signings.

not too impressed with his (lack of)tactical improvisations on sunday either. he's past it i reckon.

let me retire a safe distance.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Acuna is NOT crap. We couldn't have predicted that Cort would get injured - his strike rate when playing suggests he will be OK. Cordone cost us f...k all so we can't say anything about him. Wayne Quinn - we got what we paid for. Andy O'Brien is OK. So that leaves, esrm, Bassedas really: not a bad "crap signings" record when you think about it.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

What this club needs more than anything is CONTINUITY. Who would you replace him with? George Graham?

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

dougal:

wayne quinn - got you paid for???, what kind of logic is that?

why not play bernard at LB and spend $ 1 milion on lollypops.

is o'brien better than caldwell?

are acuna and bassedas better than speed and lee?

point is the team (bob's team) is average. he's been unable to improve it significantly a point supported by the fact that the old guard still get in ahead of his own signings. he refuses to give the kid's (some of them are not kids) a chance implying that they are next to useless. so whats he freakin up to for fox sake????

no not george graham for criissakes but not being able to come up with an alternative off the top of your head is not a valid rebuttal.

back to you dear (as bob might say)

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Screacher,

I read somewhere that Bassedas has nowhere near the number of full caps he was reported to have when he came here. He played in their Olympic team ('92?), which I guess counts as full caps, but I think that's about it.

I genuinely feel sorry for the guy - he has been a model pro since he came here, and conducts himself well on the pitch. He is as brave as a lion, but he just needs too much time on the ball.

I'd really love to be proven wrong on this one, but I really can't see him making it in the PL. He might be make a go of it in the 1st Div, but I can't see us getting more than ca.£750k if or when we decide to offload him.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Bassedas:

does he need too much time on the ball or do the rest of the team need too much time to get into space to receive the ball.

i think he could be a good player but not in this team.

also feel sorry for him, i don't think he's had one game in his usual position, always been used as a stop gap on the wings.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Yes, Mr C, my patience is running out with Bassedas too - about as quickly as it is with Nobby, but at least with him, we could recoup much if not more than we paid for him (but for how long?). As you suggest, Bassedas is never likely to attract anywhere near that amount. Maybe he would be better received on the continent - tho I guess we can forget about trying to sell him to Deportivo. They seem as tho they might have a decent enough m/f already ;-)

I hadn't realised about the Olympic team - I guess I might have expected to see him if he'd played for the full International team.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Betsy, can you please tell me exactly which is Bassedas' usual position? AFIK, he has been played in most, if not all m/f positions for NUFC. You're not suggesting we wasted money on Sylvain Distin are you?? Seriously, he probably hasn't had a sustained run in the team. But I have to say, against Brentford recently (not exactly EPL class) he was useless. IMHO, time has just about run out for Signor Bassedas. Maybe the Makems would like him as a replacement for Dorty Dim?

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

If Arse picked up Bassedas you would see how good he is. With the rest of the midfield making themselves available and the strikers moving for the ball he would have a field day.

I agree with Mr Best, it is the rest of the team who have to catch up. I think his performance in a side with Robert, Solano and Bellamy would look a lot better. As with my point on Acuna, look at the work off the ball as well. On Sunday the only M/f player giving the ball and then going for the return over most of the 90 mins was Acuna.

Having said that I feel I am in a Softie defence of Barton here. I think these 2, Bassedas and Acuna, are getting way too much abuse for things they have no control over.

While I am on this high horse, nice view from here mind, I do not suscribe to the "Back four are ok and they only look bad because of the midfield" clique. Oh yes you know who you are!

The back 4 get the ball, what do the midfielders do? Leave their man and move to be given the ball. The defence then punt it upfield, telegraph a pass so it is intercepted, or realising that the opposition know where the ball is going and then just give it to them anyway. Then the howls start, the only thing is someone who is coaching the opposition sides tell their players to pass the ball to their own team. It comes straight back to the our defence and they claim the midfielders are not doing their job.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001