I know its not easy to get quality on loan but in the light of several of our lads being farmed out and the possibility of Marcia going(ha ha), would it not be feasable to get a midfielder on loan

De la Pena?

Surely wor bob has contacts

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Answers

Awaiting oPinions

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Bassedas has gone, Speed is out for three weeks and Rob Lee is struggling with a groin injury that after all this time I suspect may need surgery.

As a team sitting 3rd in the PL at the end of January, with a legitimate chance of winning the PL or qualifying for the CL, we have two fully fit central m/f players - 5'6" Clarence Acuna and 5'8" Kieron Dyer: between the two of them they weigh less than 20 stone.

This my friends is decision time; this is it. Everyone of us knows we need to get one or two players in - loaners if necessary. We almost got to this point at the turn of the year last season - the Club sat on its hands then, and it all turned to sh*t. We are in danger of repeating the very same mistake yet again.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

In my opinion we should have kept Bassedas unless we were actually selling him for cash that we could use to buy a replacement. With Lee & Speeds ages and Dyer's injury record it's hardly beyond the realms of possibility for all of them to be out at the same time, just when we need them.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Shearer could probably drop back if we were desparate, Solano often plays in the middle during games when he drifts inside - sometimes successfully. Hughes has also played there, although it has never really worked. Lua Lua has played in the middle for Colchester before I think with varying degrees of success.

Obviously none of these are ideal, but someone good enough for a top 5 side in the PL isn't necessarily going to be available on loan or for cheap. Unfortunately, I think it is perhaps too late now to buy a central midfielder - this should have been done as soon as the rumours of Rob Lee started. This was before the season started, when he was linked with Man City, but the chance was there to buy.

Fat Freddie is conveniently away on a trip. What a coincidence.

With all the talk of Jenas, I still think David Prutton is a better bet - he is a proper defensive midfielder, a real Rob Lee replacement. Jenas has got potential, but is someone who has only played 30 games for an average first division side really ready for the Premiership? He is still only 18 or 19 remember.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Can't we recall Bassedas if we need to?

I know on Championship Manager you can recall loan players almost straight away - they are still legally contracted to you. If it gets desparate then we should be able to get Bassedas back.

How's he doing in Spain anyway? I haven't watched the Spanish football recently so I haven't seen him (that's if he played at all)

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

.... let's face it, we'd have to be pretty desperate to recall Bassedas!

I read somewhere that he played 60 minutes in his first game at the weekend before being subbed. It's probable that his team- mates weren't capable of 'reading' his subtle passes into space. ;o{]

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Sorry - I don't think Bassedas is the answer. Acuna is better in that role in the current m/f

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

I know that, but if Acuna got injured as well as Speed and Lee (which would be pretty unlucky) surely Bassedas is better than Aaron Hughes in midfield?

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Jamie McClen is better than Bassedas in midfield

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

...... we could always recall Stuart Green from Carlisle, for who he has been getting rave reviews. In one report I read, he was being credited with leading Carlisle's revival since he joined them.

Then there is Brian Kerr, and ... erh Jamie McGlen, and ...........erh .....well, Aaron Hughes, and ........ "One Warren Barton, there's only.............."!

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Clarky - it ws NUFC.COM - Bassedas played 60 minutes which included hitting the post with a shot - the rebound was tapped in.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Ah, now I can see your tongue poking thru your cheek! .COM said Green was playing well, but like Kerr, he's had no first team experience whereas McClen has. I wonder what Des Hammilton is doing now?

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

What about Brian Pinas?

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

I'd recall Bassedas before relying on McClen. It's very possible Bassedas' passing would suit our attacking style. His preferred position, which he's rarely had a chance to play in with us, is central midfield.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Yeah I'm with Ciara - not saying he should be brought back and made a first team regular instead of Speed, but I'd have him back as cover given how thin our squad is. I'd certainly play him in the middle ahead of Barton, Hughes, Dabizas, Shearer, Lua-Lua etc.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Why not play Bads and Distin centre back and Obrien midfield he seems to like going forward... And has played there for bradford.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2002