I am getting a bit worried about the lack of contracts being signed. Distin seems nowhere near signing, with the board seemingly dragging their feet. Given has said he wants to wait until after world cup ( I bet he does!), we are told Dyer is close to signing but he hasn't yet and what the hell is happening with Bernard FFS!

The sooner that little quartet are signed up the better I am most concerned about Given - he could currently go to any top side and I am sure a few PL clubs would be interested.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002

Answers

Another Post gone AWOL

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

Sounds like agent stirring to me , particularly in Distin's case. Apparently 'he's' asking the same money as Robert, and it can't possibly have anything to do with the fact that he has the same agent as Robert.

It's less of a worry, I think, because we're in the Champs League. At least that'll reduce the number of clubs that'll have the gall to come after them.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

I'm trusting that The Good Shepherd won't be losing any of his flock. I also hope he'll be laying into one or two of them (especially their agents) with his big stick.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

Apparently Blackburn are now interested in Distin.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

And G Caldwell

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

We are hardly known as crap payers so somebody will have to do pretty well to gazzump us.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

I think the Distin saga may have a good while to run. Remember it took a long time before the Robert deal was finalized. This agent spins things out - he probably thinks that is the way to get the best deal but I'm not sure the club will accept that. There are signs that they do not like the way some agents behave.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

.... Blackburn are now interested in Distin ....

And you can just see him leaping at the chance to go there and experience the glory of fighting off relegation, rather than the misery of all that travel around Europe with nothing more in it than some tin pot trophy and the chance to earn a few bob selling the Euro version of the Big Issue.

Can't see how we can better what Blackburn are offering, might as well say tarrah now.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

Is Distin really asking for £25,000 a week? He's ok, but not that good. Perhaps he's had a look at our wage structure and thinks that if Marcey can get £17,500 per week for playing in the reserves then his demand, as a first team player isn't too extravagant.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

Well his agent will have told him what Robert is getting so he'll have a decent indication of what he can aim for....

Fuck off mercenary.....as has been said, he's good but he's not that good...

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

He's better than what we have. Sign him.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

He's better that what we have, but is he better than others available for less? I certainly don't see him being worth anywhere near what Robert gets. I am prepared to eat these words if he proves to be world class next year BTW :)

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

Yes he is better than what we have, but how much would we be expecting to pay Gary Caldwell, who is potentially far better ?

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

If he fckus off to Blackburn, he'll sill get a game in Europe. We might even play against him in the UEFA cup.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

From The Independent:

Newcastle United's manager, Bobby Robson, is to make a £4.5m bid for Ipswich Town's 20-year-old centre-half Titus Bramble. Robson has decided that the powerful defender – seemingly heading for the First Division with the Suffolk side – is his first-choice target for the summer.

Newcastle have been linked with several defenders, including Jaap Stam, but Bramble is the player Robson wants. Bramble, whose form has suffered during the battle against the drop, will be available if Ipswich go down, and comes within Newcastle's budget. His arrival would mean that Sylvain Distin will not join Newcastle permanently. The Magpies' chairman, Freddie Shepherd, has been unable to agree a £4.2m fee with Paris St-Germain for Distin.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2002

This smacks of Freddie playing brinkmanship. 'Sign, or f..k off, and I'll take a Brit'. Worth a try.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2002

So who do we believe now ? Distin and his £25 thou, or PSG wanting more than £4.2 mill ?

Surely if Bramble is that good, his class should show through regardless. Sounds like a bottler to me.

Mind, Bellamy didn't look that classy at Coventry, so WTFDIK. :-{E}

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2002

True Bill, though perhaps the better comparison is with O'Brien - another CB who wasn't exactly outstanding in a sinking side but showed potential.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2002

Bobby seems to be fairly consistent with the players he is after. Bellamy was a target before he went to Coventry. And he's been after Bramble for a while too. A judge of character as much as talent?

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2002

Titus Bramble would be atypical YBR buy. Young, with a lot of potential British and performing well for a struggling side. See Jenas, O'Brien, Bellamy.

I would rather have both Distan and Bramble but would take Bramble over Distin

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2002

If we do get Bramble it will be a further indication that Mr Robson is really building for the long term future of the club. That's quite something for a 69 year old who has suffered a major illness. Perhaps he's the best fan of the lot of us?

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2002

Bellamy was quoted on icDP recently saying Bobby would prefer to buy British.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2002