Opinion seems divided on who should replace Bellers tomorrow, let's take a vote. Then Softie can draw up one of his fancy spreadsheets and send the results to young Bobby. Just post your preference and leave your reasoning for one of the other threads. I'll get the ball rolling........Lua x2

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Answers

Several people have already offered their views on the "So, who will play up front against Arsenal", Dave - including moi.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

I realize that clarky, I was just hoping for a more scientific approach the help YBR make his mind up, oh well, nevermind, I'll just send him the findings of my opinion poll; 100% in favour of Lua x2, fairly limited sample group mind.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Since so few of our goals have come from open play recently, we may find that it makes precious little difference.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

I'll not let you down Dave. Shola to start (Cort on the bench, Luax2 on the bus home).

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Cort to start, Shola and Treasure to help speed up the serving of pints at half time....we need more staff in the bars than we need either of them on the pitch....

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Cort in the act.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Shola with Cort on the bench altho' I'm still not convinced that Lolo won't play up front at some stage tomorrow. No doubt he'll tell us in his interview.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

If Cort is fit enough, go for him.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

I think Robson will go for the experience of Cort. I think all 3 can do a job and I'll be looking forward to seeing at least 2 of them playing a part tomorrow, possibly all 3 with 2 of them being used as subs. When you're coasting to victory it's good to give the younger lads a run out. :-)

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Give Lua-Lua a game. No point in disrupting the rest of the side to accomodate Robert up front. If either Lua-Lua or Ameobi aren't deemed good enough to play when our regular strikers are injured then we should transfer list them NOW. There's no point in having them at the club just so we can fulfill our reserve team fixtures, the expectation must be that they will step up when the need arises.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Put up or shut up time. Bobby's tactical nous well and truly on the line here IMO.

If he can come up with some way of coping with the arse attack, in the short term, and the scousers and the rest long term, either by having some cunning defensive plan (which I doubt) that hasn't been seen yet, or an attack formation that puts enough pressure on the defense that the attack doesn't get out of reverse, we will weather the Bellamy storm and end up qualifying for Europe.

If we can't manage either of those, because the same problem will need to be solved until Bellamy gets back, 'respectable' is likely to be the best we can hope for.

Since we don't have anybody who can replace Bellamy without the join showing, I'd favour going for a format that hasn't been seen often enough for the opposition to have got to grips, which looks to me like Cort getting the nod, the downside being there's been no time for him to get his premiership eye in.

If not Cort, then Lualua, despite his headless chicken reputation, even ahead of Shola. It's how Bobby regards LuaLua that's the crux, not how we do, and Bobby seems to rate him quite highly.

So, it's a toss up between Cort and Lua, with Shola on the bench, I reckon. Don't think Bernard will be first choice, unless (god forbid) Bobby decides to try to solve the problem by going defensive in the games till Bellamy's back.

Tomorrow's game is actually the most vital game of the season, I think. Not primarily because of the points involved, but from a psychological and credibility points of view. If we can win tomorrow, there really won't be anybody we need fear, especially at SJP.

A win will have more impact than if we lose, because if we do lose, Bobby is experienced enough to be able to get them to raise their game again, whereas if we win, he won't have to say a word.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

I was only trying to be helpful Dave.

Cort.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

It's gonna be Shola - Bob's quoted in the Ron "He (Shola) is a good professional so he will get the nod."


-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Nay probs clarky - maybe I should read some of the other threads before posting. Looks like it'll be Shola anyway. My last choice from the 3 available (unless you're including Robert in the equation). At this juncture however, I am humble enough to bow to Bobby Robson's superior judgement.

Can't wait for this one, biggest game of the season without doubt.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Can't you see all this Ameobi talk is just a part of a cunning plan. Bobby drops false leads to Arsene's path, and then plays Robert and Shearer up front and Lua Lua and then Bernard on the left. All the pace you need to beat the Arsenal's Ye Olde Reliable. Bellamy's injury sorted.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Cort replaces Robert when he starts loitering early 2nd half. After scoring twice.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

The Scientific Response

	Starts	Bench	Bar
Cort	5.5	3	0
Lua Lua	2.5	1	2
Shola	3	2	1

Just to prove that democracy is always wrong we shall be informing Sir Bobby that our most popular choice for both starting and warming the bench is Carl Cort.

I can't help but feel that this 10-man starting policy might be a tad optimistic even taking into account our performance at Highbury. This should, however, work as a wonderful example to voters everywhere as to why they get the feeling that no political party represents them in the slightest.

For the record: I would boost Shola to a 4 and have the other 2 on the bench.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

.....forgot to add that in additon to starting CC, I'd have Shola and Lx3 on 't bench.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Seldom right. Wrong again.

Should have waited till we had the Chronic.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Cheers Softie, knew you wouldn't let me down. I'm sure Bobby R reads this BBS avidly and will act accordingly.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Chopra!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

For some reason I couldn't just post Cort. But Cort it is.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Did you get that funny message that someone else had posted an identical posting elsewhere? It's designed to stop tedious f*ckwits posting "NUFC suck!" 500,000 times by robot.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Without Bellamy we will have to change our approach to the game.

Get it down the wings and put crosses in the box. Shearer and Cort are the best options for this. Cort isn't the best in the air, but he's better than either of Shola or Lua.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Has to be Cort

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Lua Lua with Cort coming on after an hour - I wouldn't have thought that he was fit enough to start just yet

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002