Just after your thoughts on the following:
I've heard that Francis Jeffers is to be sold in the summer as Arse no longer want him. Would we want to bid for him, I assume he will go for less than the £9M they paid for him. How will the crowd react to him after his snub the summer before?? AM
Yes, do not refresh, this IS a FOOTBALL THREAD!!!

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

Answers

Very interesting thought AM. BR does have a long memory - for possible signings anyway(!) - and does have a record of going back for players he doesn't get first time around.

I suspect there would be strong reservations with the fans, as there were with Bellamy. If Jeffers did well, and scored some early goals, things would be fine, but otherwise there could be problems for him.

Speaking personally, a lot would depend on the price. He is a natural goalscorer, but has a truly dreadful injury record, and I wouldn't risk paying more than say £4m for him. Arsenal will want to largely recover their investment, and that could mean him staying there.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

I wouldnt buy him at all, we have bellamy and lua x2 is starting to come good . I also reckon cort when fit will be a very good assett.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

I'd rather have Revbrov(sp?) from Spurs I thought he was/is? a smashing player. He's quick and brainy and I can't understand why he has been such a flop. Worth a punt if the price is right imo.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

As well as the existing strikers we have, purchase of another young star, delays the possible introduction of Chopra and Offiong plus limiting the opportunities for Shola to get needed experience. IF we were to buy Jeffers or someone of that ilk, and not unload anyone, my assumption would be that it's thought those guys aren't really going to make it.

IMHO, if we do think that Shola will come good, that Chopra will make the grade, etc, it might make nore sense to get someone at the other end of their career who could be used sparingly over a season or so. I'm thinking of examples in recent seasons such as Suker or Boksic, the kind of player whose vast experience would be useful in any European venture and whose expertise would be invaluable to the youngsters still learning their trade. Such a player might cost little or nothing in transfer fees and would not be around too long to block the opportunities of the youngsters. I don't know which, if any, such players will be available this summer.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

Tend to agree Jonno. Although we have to be careful we don't optimistically assume that our youth stars will be better than what we can buy elsewhere. I'd love that to be the case, and the signs are promising, but that's the call YBR will have to make, without bias.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

an older head i suppose is shearer?

I say go with youth, preferably English.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

Doesn't the need for players like Jeffers depend a lot on our involvement in Europe ?

Even taking account of his injury record, surely it could be seen as a step in the right direction of having a good level of cover if/when important games start coming thick and fast.

Probably not worth the risk, in fact, probably no need, when other positions have a higher priority, if we don't make Europe.

I like better the experienced player idea, from the point of view of finance and having the experience to call on. Going for people like Jeffers is bound to make the likes of Chopra, Ameobi etc, wonder just what it is they have to do. How Bobby handles these kids is my main query concerning his management style. What did Jenas show that appears to be missing with Chopra etc ?

It sounds to me like Jenas started in the Notts Forest first team out of necessity. Who's to say that Chopra and some of the others wouldn't come on in the same way if we were forced to play them ?. The fact that we don't really need them playing first team football is probably working against them. But they aren't getting any younger.

I realise this sort of thing is mostly to do with priority, which at the moment is to get into Europe, so maybe it's not surprising that bringing young players through isn't that high on the list.

Be nice to find out one way or the other about these kids, but, without it being an emergency.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

I feel confident that BR will recognize that we are well covered in the striker position and that we should not be diverted from using our resources to strengthen our defence. Assuming we make the CL -- and I hope and expect we do -- our failure to progress will not be for the lack of strikers -- the problem is and will be the defence unless remedial action is taken.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

Personally I would like to see Sir Robert Robson try and bring in some sort of defence during the summer. At the moment we don't seem to have one. At the moment we have a team that seems to play like Keegans team, only at twice the bloody speed. I'm not saying it's all a bad thing, but like the majority of people on here, I feel if we bought a couple of world class center backs,we would be a better bet for the title next season. Some will probably laugh at this, but when we have a midfield of Dyer, JJ, Solano and Robert, I don't think you'll find a better midfield in the PL.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

First of all, the 'youngsters' have to be good enough, and they must be physically up to it. Chopra's time will come Pit Bill - I still feel he's not quite "cooked" yet. However, I expect him to come through and be making a few appearances in the first team after Xmas next season.

This is why I'm so very disappointed over the situation with Gary Caldwell. IMO, he and Chopra were the two 'kids' we could realistically have expected to start to make an impact as next season progresses, but it now looks as though we may have allowed GC to slip through our grasp.

Regarding Ameobi, he has had chances and hasn't really grasped them. IMO he hasn't progressed this season, and next season is a really big one for him.

Regarding Jonno's point about possibly getting in an experienced striker I wonder if there may have been anything in that recent rumour about Paul Kitson returning to SJP in the close season? Even as a squad player, I couldn't really see Kitson being very useful to us.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

If we bring in Paul Kitson, I will personally boycott the toon (at least for pre-season period). He wasnt good enough when he was here the first time and he sure as hell isnt good enough now!! I think bringing back former players is a step backwards - see Elliot. I know there are exceptions to the rules aka beardsley but lets move on!! A hard tackling midfielder, a left back and a centre back are required. My three would be Emerton, Wayne Bridge and Stam. Get them three in and we will be challenging for the title in a big way. Sell Dabs, acuna,our other LB not Elliot and ameobi!! AM

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

Emerton, Bridge and Stam would do me very nicely, AM.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

nice call

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

You can keep Emerton

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

If we get a defensive midfielder do we just drop Jenas? He seems to be doing very well as is. As was Speed before he was injured. Far rather see a Stam style defender and leave midfield alone.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

Nick - I think JJ is one for the future who happens to be handling the present pretty well. However, put him up against a Viera or a Keane and the difference will show. Even Gerrard at 'pool has had McAlister or Hamman to bring him along. Hopefully, JJ/LKD will be a brilliant partnership. I have to hope that YBR intends them to play together, else he's expecting LKD to leave. But in the short-term, Speed/Acuna can hold the fort when necessary. I'm not so sure about the defence :-(

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

But buying someone who is better now than Jenas is now would cost a fortune. A fortune better spent on a center back and left back. And then a Shearer replacement.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2002

I thought some of you would have sussed from the Arse, 'pool and last night that we are a little short of a playmaker.

Our m/f 4 do not meet the requirements. They are all good at running on to through balls, passing or taking people on, but not one of them can put their foot on the ball and slow down a game or find that pass that splits the defence. The other night against Everton it happenned a couple of times, but that was on a breakaway situation. I am talking about when we have everyone marked when we are 1-0 down and our only answer is a long ball.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2002