This morning's Journal reckons Forest are keen on Andy Griffin and that he could become a makeweight in any deal for Jermaine Jenas.

Apparently they watched Griffin in a recent Reserve game and were impressed. The Journal reckons they could now press their interest, especially if we go back for JJ.

They also reckon BR doesn't want to lose AG, so it could down to which of the two he wants most. Griffin's fitness record is appalling, but imo he is a very good FB - a position in which we are very weak, imo of course.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Answers

If Forest needs money, why should they want to swap players and not get some of that money one wonders?

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

I think we are fairly weak across the entire back four, Clarky: new left back and a talkative centre back being additional requirements. Griff is a bit like Big Dunc, though: mint player if you can get him to play.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Clarky, this 'story' appeared on Teamsqualk. Enough said.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Griff is a good FB, but he's f*** all use if he is only available for 25% of the season. If we aren't convinced about his ability to last the course, then I'd say it'd be worth doing a deal. We must rate him at least in the £1.5M bracket, which leaves only about £3M to find for JJ. If Rob Lee goes for £500k to Wham, plus a similar amount for Farcelino from Real Majorca (as reported in the Geordie Beano this w/e) then we're almost there. 'twould also cut the wage bill a canny bit as well.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Wishful thinking Screach. We'll get bugger all for Marcelino and will be lucky to scrape £200,000 for Lee. Sorry to pi** on yer chips - I'm not in a great mood today ;(

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

But you carry it so well :-)

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

If Griffin became the key to getting JJ, I'd be tempted to let him go. I think he's an excellent FB but seems incapable of maintaining his fitness, so he falls right into the 'Yin category. Having said that we're bound to find him an ever-present for Forest and ultimately being transfered to Leeds for £10m.

I actually think we're in need of two top-class FB's - imo we're making do on both flanks right now.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

".co.uk" has published the following statement in connection with this rumour. They're becoming terribly responsive:

Reports in the local Tyneside media this morning suggesting that United defender Andy Griffin may be used as bait in a possible move for Nottingham Forest player Jermaine Jenas have been rubbished by Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson.

An incredulous United boss said: "Andy Griffin is part of the long term plans at this Football Club. The reports circulating in the media this morning are completely without foundation and the player is not for sale.

"Reports like this are not only unsettling for the player concerned but do nothing to enhance the overall spirit at the Club which this season has been first-class."

Only last May, Griffin, 22, agreed a new contract with United which will keep him at St. James' Park until the end of the 2003/04 season.

So, there!!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Well, I must admit Dave, I prefer salt'n'vinegar on me chips. The GB's story said that Real Mallorca need a CB and they'd be happy to take Farcelino back for circa £500k to help them "rescue their season" (along with another old boy Ivan Campo from Barca). £200-500k for Rob Lee would be OK in my book too, but the wages that both these are costing would make a big difference to the outgoings and could easily pay the wages of JJ and add some to the coffers for LKD's new contract.

Of course, everybody's forgetting that we still have WB waiting for a recall.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

we need a new WB to replace the old malfuntioning version, which can't seem to get thro its MOT and out on the raod any longer. Of course this WB would be a left sided WB ratehr than right sided (allegedly). If we need a classy left back then Wayne Bridge is that man.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

That Rushworth and the others who write for the Journal seem to either regurgitate the gossip ("I hope we win on Saturday" says Bellamy" )of some big-gobbed Newcastle player - Bellamy of course being the favourite: but also Dyer, Given and Dabs - or else pick some "exclusive" straight from their colons. Also some sh!te yesterday about how well Elliot's doing as FB. Are powers of observation no longer a pre-requisite for jounalistic college these days?

The Journal's become as useful as TeamTwaddle.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Shags, you're still assuming that they write stuff to inform their readership??? Far from it. The only reason the write it is to sell their papers. And as long as we continue to buy them, they'll continue with their cr@p. I had this discussion over New Year in the pub with an editor from the GB. He agreed that they often publish contradictory stories in their 3 papers (Journo, Ronnie and Beano) just to "stir things up". Well, at least that's what I think he said. I was somewhat inebriated at the time. I seem to remember giving him my business card and arranging to continie the discussion at a later (more sober for both of us) stage. But as one of my reolutions was to give up booze, I don't expect to meet him again ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002