According to The Journal, Bobby is thinking about playing Dyer up front. I imagine he's thinking of Cort for the first half, then maybe Dyer in the second. Dyer's best form last season was while he was playing up front (although he whinged like buggery about it) so this might be an idea.

Thoughts?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Answers

With JJ available, Speed probably available and Acuna and McClen playing so well last week, it seems a great idea to me. Our style demands genuine pace up front, and CC and AS aren't going to provide it.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

I was just talking about this last night. I reckon it would be brilliant while Bellamy is out, to play Jenas and Acuna (after his great display on Saturday) in central midfield. And Dyer in Bellamy's role up front

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

If KD's performance up front last season is anything to go by, we would murder Ipswich. Hope they have time to work out JJ with KD in training. Good thing the match is televised (up here, that is).

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Great having these headaches isn't it.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

How's about in future Bellamy and Dyer up front with Shearer and Cort on the bench as a tactic?
Seems like a good idea to me.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

This article suggests Dyer's not got a future, at least not with us. 'Newcastle manager Bobby Robson is all but resigned to losing star performer Kieron Dyer to Manchester United in the summer. The player, whose career has faltered as a result of injury this season, is demanding wages that are far and above what Newcastle can afford and looks to be on his way out of the club.

Sir Alex Ferguson is a well-known admirer of Dyer’s abilities and will be keen to step in and take the player in the summer. Ferguson is likely to be given a mammoth transfer budget this summer, as the United board go all-out in search of another Champions League crown, and Dyer will be one of the players on the Old Trafford hit-list.

Newcastle will demand in excess of £20 million for the England star, but Ferguson knows that if he wants the top-class players, then he will have to pay top-dollar to get them.' Is it more speculative tosh, or a dead cert?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

What tosh....Man Utd's current highest paid player is Keane on 52k a week right? how is that out of our league? even Boro are paying 60k a week for Bok(sick)... :))

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

I think Man Utd are going to lose Veron this summer so the cost won't worry him although I'd have thought LKD would have had to prove it at Man Utd before they'd give him huge wages. Equally, I don't know how anyone would justify mega-bucks for him after the season he's had.

I suspect a lot depends on whether we get into Europe, though.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

How come, these so called reports always seem to appear as soon as little Kevin comes back from an injury?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

If he wants to stay here, fine: if he wants to go to ManU, then jolly- well screw him. We've done pretty damned well without him this season, and certainly proven we can be successful without him.

Frankly, I'm way past caring - just make your frickin mind up, pal - sign yer new contract or just bog off. We'll just have to settle for the £20m it'll cost to sign you.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

This 'report' is just a re-hash of the same old stuff the tabloids wheel out on a regular basis when it's a quiet news day. Yawn........

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Dyer is the closest we have to Bellamy for playing up front.

Play him and we shouldn't have a problem with Ipswich.

If he plays more to the left with Robert we could be onto something special.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

RE the supposed reports of him leaving?

No quotes from anyone of any relevance I see. Complete speculation if you ask me. BR and FS stopped responding to sh*t stirring stories like this a long time ago.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

I think it is simply a knock on from Taggart's new contract Paul, plus suggestions that Veron will be leaving, and therefore anyone and anyone who is good enough will inevitably become the subject of speculation linking them to OT.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002