We desperately need a top centre half!

IMO Distin is unlikely to prove the answer to this longstanding problem, and indeed despite a decent 2nd half display yesterday, seems to look more comfortable at LB. The Sunday Sun reckons Bobby is losing patience with the protracted negotiations over his transfer - presumably related to his personal terms - so he may not end up staying here anyway.

The Sunday Sun has us after Jaap Stam, probable cost £10m+. However, The Sunday Times reckons Lazio and Juventus are discussing a swap deal involving Edgar Davids. In addition, me marra Screacher reckons Stam has said he will never come back to play in England.

So, who else is there that could fill this problem position for us and make a real difference to our erratic defence?

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Answers

Response to We Need a top CB.

who else is there that could fill this problem position for us and make a real difference to our erratic defence?

Bring back Ruud Gullit and sexy football. Ooops - sorry - I thought you said erotic defence.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Response to We Need a top CB.

Hard question to answer this one. I agree with your comments about Distin and I sincerely hope he stays with us. I don't think there is a superstar CB playing in the Premiership or the 1st division that we would want to buy. Possibly Sol Cambell but he is not likely to move, Southgate is getting on a bit so doesn't fit the mould of Younguns for the future.

I would be very happy if Yap Stam were to come...I'd also be suprised. reckon Screacher is right there. Good footballer, good organiser, dominant, young and fancies Wintering in Newcastle (even with the odd trip to Europe) will be very hard to find. None that I have seen in other European matches (few and far between) have really impressed.

Hopefully our "Scouts" will do a better job than me in answering your question

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Response to We Need a top CB.

........oh you are awful, Jonno - but eyh leyk yoh! ;o{)

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Response to We Need a top CB.

been saying this for MONTHS! Some have been saying it for YEARS!

Agree re: Distin. We need to keep Dabs and i would like to see us sign Distin but I'd REALLY like to see us go for Hofland...

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Response to We Need a top CB.

www.teamtalk.com:

Stam swoop - Reports ^top Bobby Robson is reportedly set to make a £12million summer swoop for Lazio defender Jaap Stam in a bid to strengthen the United defence. After The Magpies secured their Champions League place Robson confirmed his intentions to sign two World Class players to strengthen his side for their assault on Europe. And with the centre of defence targeted as an area for improvement, Robson may turn his attention to the experienced Dutch stopper. The 29-year-old has just returned to action in the Serie A after completing his four-month suspension for using the banned drug nandrolone, however, with the Italian club in debt United will be hoping to prise him away to lead Newcastle's charge into the most prestigious club competition in the world.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Response to We Need a top CB.

Oh dear - is there nobody else? I didn't like him when he was with ManUtd and am loathe to change my opinion of him now. And I really don't want to be singing that dreadful yip yap song.

Well if he is the answer a quick revision of my views on him will be in order I guess ...

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

if Dabizas never played for us again I'd not be gutted, tries hard and all that but trying hard isn't going to take us to the top.

I saw the TC footage of the West Ham goal yesterday at ahlf time. They play about a dozen angles of it. One was from behing Shay and had Dabizas in the picture fomr the ball leaving the goalies foot to Defoe hitting it in. It was so embarrassing. He watched it for ages in the air, never moving. When it was about t flicked on he glanced towards Defoe about three yeards away. As O'Brien lost the header and it started to move towards our goal Dabizas started to move backwards, glanced and saw Defoe moving away furhter, Dabs looked petrified, started to run and failed to bridge the gap. He looked so amateurish.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

I blame that Workie Ticket! It clearly affected either you or me. I certainly don't recall saying that JS wouldn't come back to the PL. He's certainly the type of player we need, tho at £10-12M its quite a lot of Lire to pay for a 29 year-old. Thankfully, it's not as many Euros.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

I seem to be the only one who'd be prepared to let bygones be bygones with Marcy. At least we should give him a go.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Southampton? Not sure I'd fancy Dabs against Pahars.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

If Marcy was good enough, YBR would have him in the side. He's not, which suggests he isn't.

Resorves waatchas, opinions please?

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Damn I'm jealous! I'd have loved to have been there on Satda but no tickets to be had. Anyway it was the in-laws Golden Wedding on Friday so we laid on all the trimmings. A stretch Limo to The George at Chollerford, into the Sauna, Steam Roon, Jaccuzi, Pool with Pa-in- Law, a nice meal, Cake, Champers, B&B then back in the Stretch Limo to Ashington - just in time to see 'Pool drop out of the championship race! Nice. :o))

Now I saw an article a good few weeks ago where Jaap Stam said he was happy at Lazio, had no intention of coming back into the premiership, and wanted to end his career in Holland. Of course this could have been influenced by who it was that wanted him (I forget who, but someone like WHam). I reckon he'd come to SJP if Bobby went after him. I know Lancy Red reckons he's knackered, has a drug problem etc. but I'm sure Bobby wouldn't go for him unless he knew he was right.

BTW I agree with PB re Martha - he deserves another go based on his reserves appearances.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

You obviously didn't ask the right people Pilgrim! As for Farcelino, he's played very well on the occasions I've seen him for the resorves.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Screach .... perhaps it was that Fireman in the pub, before he took his kit off! ;o{)

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Latest on the situation with Sylvain Distin on several sites this morning. The following +ve spin comes from Teamtalk:

Newcastle's on-loan defender Sylvain Distin has insisted he still wants a permanent move to SJP, despite being linked with Liverpool.

PSG star Distin has been at Newcastle since September and had appeared all set to clinch a £3.8million transfer to Tyneside, but the deal had appeared to hit a stumbling block over personal terms and amid rumours of Liverpool making a move for the versatile 24-year- old.

However, after taking part in Newcastle's emotional end-of-season lap of honour at St James' on Saturday, Distin said: "I still expect to sign for United permanently. I'm in discussions with the club at the moment. We are just trying to reach an agreement but sometimes these things take time to sort out and there's no hurry." Distin added: "I didn't need to see the fans' reaction at the end of the game on Saturday to help me make up my mind about staying at Newcastle. From the day I moved here, I knew it was a big club and I have always known what I wanted. The fact we've had such a successful season has only made the experience better."

Sounds as though he has realised the need to bring the negotiations to an end before BR really does lose patience with him and his Agent. I suspect the fact he didn't start on Saturday may have been influenced by Bobby's frustration over this.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Further on the CH front, .com are saying Gary Caldwell's loan at Hibs ends on Saturday. That means he'd be back with us in time for the Soton match. Good opportunity to give his a run out? No pressure as the result is meaningless (and we never win down there anyway ;-) ).

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Alan Oliver in The Ronnie reckons he recently asked BR about any possible interest in Jaap Stam. Bobby replied "I have someone in mind who is better than Jaap Stam."

The plot thickens!

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

better THAN stam? its ME!

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

What! Mattie Elliott?

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

Now the debate is at my level, We have Craig Bellamy, what other CB do we need?

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

I thought it was Marcellino Elena

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2002