Our defense is shite. So who would people like to see brought in in the summer to fill the various places at the back?

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Answers

Jaap Stam. If the price is right and he is clear of his drug problems.

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Maldini Stam

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Wayne Bridge.

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Stam for me, an' aall.

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Arsenal

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

I didn't know Jaap had a brother called Maldini. Strange name for a Dutchman, innit?

I'll just get me nandrolone....

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

How much would Wayne Bridge cost?

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Hhmmm - £6-7m?

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Stam said (papers today) that he never wants to play in England again. After Italy it's back to Holland.

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Gary Caldwell

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

I was thinking about this the other day - 3 signings and we could win the league - Bridge, Stam and Michael Bridges (cover for Bellamy).

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

We'd need another striker as cover for Bridges!!!

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

Keep dropping his name, I know, but Sandi Knavs is fit again and attracting attention from Bayern. Currently at Kaiserslautern, who were top of the Bundesliga until he did his ankle in. Check him out this summer in the Slovenia team. Can handle anything physically, and is calm and composed on the ball. Also knows where the net is at set pieces.

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

Don't see Robson wanting a Stam type profile of player, he only spend good money on younger players, Bridge fits the bill

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

Wayne Bridge is off to Liverpool

Almost certain, apparently they are going to move Riise up to left midfield and play 4-4-2 more often.

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

If we qualify for the CL I see no reason why we can't compete with Liverpool for players, including Bridge. Actually, I reckon we should try to 'poach' Didi Hamman from them!

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

Rumpole?

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

I think Hamann would be seen in the same light as Marcellino. I still think he might be worth a couple of runs in the first team.

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

Teamtalk are reporting that we expect to sign Distin for ca. £3.5m, despite interest from Blackburn Rovers. They also reckon Bernard should be signing his Toon contract, despite the efforts of 'others'.

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

Any more news about Caldwell and his "transfer to Celtic"?

-- Anonymous, March 31, 2002

Remember Distin is only 23, O'Brien 22, Hughes and Bernard are close to that as well.

We could have a defence that could mature together and be a back four for some years.

-- Anonymous, April 01, 2002

With Distin we could shuffle the pack to be a good unit. Only left back is a problem but Hughes can play there. Distin should be our first choice centre half.

-- Anonymous, April 01, 2002

Got to agree Dave (surprise, surprise! ;o{) ). Our biggest problem is the lack of commanding CB. Distin is our best CB and should play there. O'Brien is probably then the best to support him, although I suspect Dabz could also play that role. Hughes has done OK at RB, and is backed up by Griffin.

On paper, we have 3LB's - Elliott, Bernard, and Quinn. As we feel the need to play Distin at LB, then by inference we don't rate the other three as LB's, and should look to move at least two of them out in the close season. We badly need to sign a top-class LB during the summer.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002