With both Dabz and O'Brien struggling to be fit for Friday, TOTT reports that BR is contemplating bringing back Marcelino.

He is quoted as saying:

"I would have no problem at all playing Marcelino. He has been terrific in the Reserves these last few weeks, and I cannot praise him enough. His mind is on the job and he has been outstanding. He is an option we have should Nikos or Andy miss the match on Friday, and he is an option I'm perfectly happy with."

Anything apparently, rather than the blindingly obvious ploy of moving Distin into the centre. Marcelino did look half-way decent in the Reserves last night, but I'd be afraid Duncan Ferguson might suck him in and spit him out in little pieces.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Answers

I'd be afraid Duncan Ferguson might suck him in and spit him out in little pieces Blimey.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Too much middle of the night funny telly Clarky. :-{E}

I'd give marcy a run out just for the hell of it. Like I keep saying, he could save us a wedge that might be better spent elsewhere.

I see nowt wrong with having two halfway decent centre halves.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

I say let by-gones be by-gones and wipe the slate clean. He hasn't whinged about being played in the reserves and has actually played pretty well.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

as one or two folks have said though, one or two false moves and the crowd will be not happy, anything serious and there'll be a riot. Personally I am absolutely in favour of bringing him in, if he's playing well, sadly there will be people in the ground that might not agree/too stupid or blind (see thread about 'the people I sit near at SJP')

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Crowd reaction could be a real problem. Right now, I don't see any other problem with giving him a run if Dabs and O'B are injured. Sounds like he's doing alright in the reserves. If he had a couple of half decent games with the first team, it might greatly improve our chances of selling him over the summer if he still doesn't look like being good enough to stay with us.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

I'm pleased to see opinion on here swinging back in favour of giving Marcia another chance. I've been in favour of this for some time, presuming that there must be some good reason why he was thought worth £5m. At worst he flops and goes back in the reserves. Else he either becomes the centre back we have been looking for or he at least re-establishes himself as a player with some market value. I do hope that if he does get a run out that the mood in the stands will be similar to that displayed in this thread - let's give a chance.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Can anyone remember Rob Lee's "testimonial"?

Marcelino came on and was booed by a large number of fans.

However, an even larger number felt a bit sorry for him, especially since he was wearing black and white, and cheered him every time he got the ball.

I think there will always be a section that will boo him no matter what, but if he plays well and puts in 100% nobody can argue.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

The view I expressed earlier has nothing whatsoever to do with Marcelino's 'history' (that is, his injury record) - a lot of which I happen to believe is largely uninformed BS anyway. It has everything to do with whether he can cut the mustard in the PL.

When I've seen him he looks like a decent footballer who is simply not up to the physical demands of the PL. I also have doubts about his 'bottle', remembering a well-known incident at The Valley last season. Given both the 'history' issue with the SJP crowd, AND the fact he would be coming back in to face Duncan Ferguson, I have serious reservations about his selection for Friday's game.

If either Dabz or O'Brien didn't make it I would move Distin to CB in preference to Marcelino. If they are both unfit I might then consider Marcelino, but would probably either play Steve Caldwell, or move Hughes inside if Andy Griffin happened for once to be fit to play.

The reason? I don't believe Marcelino has any future here, and I would not take any chances with our remaining fixtures simply to put him in the shop window.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

I still think overall Marcia's been a huge waste of money and still tend to wonder if he's just so unlucky to be constantly injured or really weak enough to be rendered unable to play at the seeming bending of an eyelash. BUT....he is still on our books, and if he's looked like putting in the effort and we're looking thin for defensive cover, I do think it's worth giving him one last chance. Not so much for the shop window effect, which is pointless if he bottles it again, but simply to give him the chance to prove he still wants to play football at the top level. He should know himself that he needs to be seen playing decently to have any chance of a move away.

Clarky's got a point about Friday. Big Dunc will know about Marcia and could likely intimidate him with nothing more than a wink and a snarl at 20 paces. Perhaps Tues is better if we're still without Dabs and O'B.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Who's Marcelino?

Sorry, I've been offline for a few days.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

We're not!

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2002

Ignore that Guy, Bud.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2002

I'll try to.

If I do, do you think he might go away?

;7)

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2002

y play elena? he may have been playing reasonably well in the reerves but when he has played 1st team he has aslways looked out of his depth. y not try Steve Cladwell who is supposed to be along with his brother Gary the up and coming defenders in the newcastle squad. they are 20 odd so thy should start getting expiernace of the top level.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2002

Yes wazza that's where I'm coming from. PL points are the only thing that is important right now, and the 'right' decision is the one that gives us the best chance of winning - in preference to either show- casing Marcelino or providing young players with development opportunities.

If playing Marcelino offers us the best chance of beating Everton, then fine. However, I have my doubts.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2002

I try and be optimisitc but I struggle here. If Marcelino made exectly the same cock up O'Brien did against Ipswich he'd be crucified, similarly if he let a Campbell beat him to header the way Dabizas does it would be a lynching. If he has to be around then let him be on the bench for an emergency, but really Elliot and Hughes are better centre-halves on all available evidence I've seen

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2002

Agree about Hughes, but if he moves to the center, who takes his place on the right? Is Griffin fit yet?(ever?) I see Gary Caldwell is supposed to be starting in tonight's Scotland match. I wonder if there's any chance, as someone suggested earlier, of him being recalled for us before season's end.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2002