Sorry folks

I know it might be good for silverware cluttering up the cabinets but I would be against us signing Stam, Keane (Roy) or any of the other thuggish brigade. When we had Batty (David not Ron), he looked completely out of place in black and white. I know the arguments for, but I would rather finish up 4th playing exciting flowing football than sit smugly with trophies with a gang of would-be jailbirds.

But what a season we have had??? Its 9 in the morning and I am listening to my Stan Kenton CD (who remembers him??) and the sun is even shining. AND whats all this about Strawberry being out of the equation what went wrong??

D

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Answers

Hi Derek - tend to share your views re Stam as I said elsewhere on the top CB thread i think. Funnily enough Batty was fine in the KK team always going forward. In the losing Dalglish team he became a thug and an embarrasment.

The Strawberry?? I dunno what flight of madness this is and maybe there is serious discussion to take place before next season. Rest assured you will be kept abreast of developments.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

What on earth is wrong with Jaap Stam? And what qualifies him as a thug - he certainly isn't a dirty CB?

Is his "B&W disbarrment" based exclusively on the fact that, despite being a very fine CB, he made the mistake of playing for ManU? Would that rule also have precluded us from considering signing Steve Bruce or Gary Pallister? Does it extend to Beckham, Scholes or Giggs? Is it purely limited to those we like to boo?

Signing a top-class CB like Jaap Stam would not in any way hinder our ability to play fast attacking football, indeed it would probably enhance it. It might also improve our chances of actually winning something, and the thought of not having to go through yet another season witnessing our feeble attempts at preventing the opposition from scoring is actually something that I find extremely attractive.

Last thought - if we'd had someone like Stam in the team this season we could very well have won the Championship. Are we allowed to contemplate such aberrations?

My only concerns relate to his present form and fitness, and the overall cost of acquiring him given his age.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

PS. As to the Strawberry question Derek, don't worry Derek, The Strawberry will prevail - despite it being a dump where you can't always get in, it is very difficult to get served, and where conversation is nigh impossible. Other than that, it is a top venue. ;o{)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

So the anabolic steroids malarkey doesn't put anyone off then? Personally speaking, it wouldn't be enough for me to be put off, I'm just curious as to why it's not being mentioned.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

I'm not well qualified to speak on these issues as I watch so little football, virtually zero football which does not involve one team being Newcastle. So based on my very few recollections I didn't like his style of play but then my recollections are too few to form an opinion. The drugs issue mentioned by Gibbo does sound very serious. I'd have thought there must be safer bets in the transefer market for that sort of money.

Certainly I would have no problem with anyone from Man Utd playing for us.

Apart from the fact that I just don't think any of them are good enough to get in our team. :-)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Sorry to come the old soldier Derek, but give me the cabinet full of trophies, anytime, however they were obtained.

A lot of years of nowtness have altered my outlook on how we achieve our ends.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

I think Stam is a stronger CH than any we've got now. And just think how motivated he would be to help us take 6pts off his old employer next season. ;-) Also, don't think the nandrolone thing is likely to be a problem. The main concern would be his cost and salary demands vs value of his contribution.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Stam is too old. Robson will not sign him. Because he is now the wrong side of 30. 31 this year i think? We would be better off trying to land a young centre back someone like Hofland from PSV. Yes he would be hard to sign and expensive but you would get better value out of him than Stam.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Stam - emmense

As for anabolic steroids - nandrolone wasnt it - its hardly stanazolol and may have been a mistake as it used to be in loads of food supplements/energy drinks

I d have him in the side any day

J

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

While I believe Stam is an excellent CB, at his age and with other questions about him, I definitely wouldn't pay £12m for the blerk: his wage demands are also likely to be problemmatical. Despite our need, this is probably not the time to be paying through the nose (sic!) for someone of his ilk.

Interestingly, Alan Oliver in The Ronnie reckons he recently asked BR about any possible Toon interest in Jaap Stam. Bobby replied "

I have someone in mind who is better than Jaap Stam."

The plot thickens!

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

What was the headline Clarky? Marcelino to make dramatic return? If so, where to - the first eleven or Spain?

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Maybe a straight swap? ;-)

Seriously, if YBR has found someone better than Stam, bring him on! Even better if it's a lesser known player about to break through that doesn't cost us an arm and leg.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

"I have someone in mind who is better than Jaap Stam."

EXCLUSIVE - DARREN PEACOCK MAKES DARING RETURN TO TOON

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

I reckon he might give Marcelino a game against Soton. I'd actually quite like that.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Re the drugs thing. Did anyone read that stuff in the Grauniad on Saturday about the joke drug testing of footballers in England? It showed how infrequently anyone in professional football was tested and led me to believe that Stam's mistake was not taking the stuff but going abroad where they take these things far more seriously.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

It's simple for me - if we get Stam I'll be very happy.

He is, to put it simply, a WORLD CLASS centre back. He is not a thug, despite looking pretty hard :) .

Don't you want a centre back who strikers are afraid to go near as they are scared of his face?

£12m is perhaps a little bit high, but if BR has been given £35m to spend as the rumours keep suggesting, then there is still room to buy a few more players with the remaining £30m (assuming £3m p.a. wages)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Alternatively, if we want a short term fix, Keown is rumoured to be available at the end of the season on a free.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Contingent on fidning out who the CB is that Bobby apparently has up his sleeve who is better than Stam, I reckon Martin Keown would be an excellent short-term signing for us for a season or two to finally get the buggers organised. He could even be Defensive Coach material after that.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

The thing that struck me with Keown was that he hasn't really deteriorated over the last few years, he is consistent and organises better than anyone - he can also play the offside trap properly.

So it came as a surprise that Arsenal are apparently not keen on offering him a new deal, but at 35 he could still have some life left in him - look at Stuart Pearce who is nearly 40 now but has just recently hung up his playing boots.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

He could even be Defensive Coach material after that.

And then a career as a pundit would beckon. Oh dear - let's not look too far ahead. :-)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

I don't think we need to worry about this.

If Bobby Robson signs him. Then Stam is NOT a thug. We know BR too well. He wouldn't sign idiots.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002