Newcastle United have signed Wimbledon's England Under 21 striker Carl Cort in a #7million deal. The 22-year-old frontman flew to the north east on Wednesday morning for talks with chairman Freddy Shepherd and chief executive David Stonehouse. And, after a rigorous medical, he signed a five-year contract. "I am thrilled to be joining a club as big as Newcastle United," he said. "The chairman and chief executive have impressed me with their ambitious plans for the club and I am delighted at the prospect of playing for Bobby Robson. It is a great career move for me." Newcastle emerged as one of the contenders for Cort's signature only in the last couple of days with Tottenham and Leicester City hot on the trail of the England under 21 international.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Answers

AN ESTABLISHED England U-21 international, Carl has started to realise his full potential after breaking into the first-team squad.

The lanky midfielder/striker joined the Dons as a schoolboy and worked his way through the YTS and reserves.

He enjoyed the perfect full Wimbledon debut away to Newcastle in September 1997, scoring after just two minutes in a 3-1 success.

An exciting player with a good all round game Carl has great self- belief: "Players of my height are usually good with their head, but I'm better with the ball at my feet. This surprises a lot of people."

POSITION Striker

DATE OF BIRTH 1.11.77 PLACE OF BIRTH London DATE SIGNED 7.6.96 FROM Trainee HEIGHT 6' 2" WEIGHT 12st 0lb HISTORY Club Transfer Fee Wimbledon from trainee Lincoln City loaned on 3.2.97

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

FROM SKYSPORT.COM

Newcastle have signed Wimbledon's Carl Cort for #7million, on a five- year contract.

The 22-year-old England Under 21 international flew to the north east on Wednesday morning for talks with chairman Freddy Shepherd and chief executive David Stonehouse, and underwent a rigorous medical.

After signing his five-year contract, the Southwark-born ace said: "I am thrilled to be joining a club as big as Newcastle United.

"The chairman and chief executive have impressed me with their ambitious plans for the club and I am delighted at the prospect of playing for Bobby Robson. It is a great career move for me."

Cort will have fond memories of St James' Park, having scored there within minutes of making his full Wimbledon debut in a 3-1 win in Spetember 1997.

Newcastle emerged as one of the contenders for the player's signature only in the last couple of days with Tottenham and Leicester City both left out in the cold.

CORT: THE CASE SO FAR

1977 Born Southwark, November 1

1996: After joining Wimbledon as a schoolboy, working his way through the YTS and reserves, signs professional terms with club.

1997: February: Loaned to Lincoln, where he plays six games and scores one goal.

April: Makes his Premiership bow for Wimbledon at home to Aston Villa.

September: Enjoyed the perfect full Wimbledon debut at Newcastle, scoring after just two minutes in a 3-1 success.

1998: Played 22 games for the Dons in 1997-98 season, netting four goals.

1999: Scored three goals in 16 games for the club in 1998-99.

2000: Scored 15 goals for Wimbledon in their unsuccessful fight to avoid relegation - although fails to hit the target in the last two months of the season.

Went to European Under-21 Championships in Slovakia, scoring in 6-0 defeat of Turkey on May 29 - his first goal since March 11.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Bliddy hell! For 7 million, I hope he makes a meaningful contribution!(:o)

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

The ever knowledgable official site says its our 1st permanent signing of the summer. Does anyone know who writes for the site- wonder which team he supports...... Hope Bassedas dosnt stumble across it online.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Time will tell, but I feel much more enthusiastic about Cort than Mpenza. A cautious "woohoo!" from Boston. :-)

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Curiously, after the "Spurs snatch" story last night, the Ronnie carries a "come and get me Toon" story on Mpenza.
The Mpenze deal seems to have gone sour for some reason, and it looks like BR has basically said "screw you" and gone for Cort.
My bet would on the players wage demands, although it's possible Schalke have upped the ante given the interest shown in the lad - The Ronnie reckons they still owe Standard Liege money for his incoming transfer and are a wedge short.
The Ronnie also carry a story saying Didier Domi wants to stay here, saying that he feels he can force his way into the French national team if The Toon are doing well in the PL - assuming he's playing of course.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Agree with Ciara - I've always thought Cort looked a canny player. My first trip to SJP for yonks was the game against the Wombles where he scored after about 2 minutes!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

With Ciarra on this one, no cautious whoohoo , more of a optimistic WAYHEY, Probs I forsee is that he has played in a team of spoilers, hands, knees, richochet off the hintend into the rigging, how does he fare if the Toon go for the bootiful futbal option, like passing the ball to each other/ serious comment, discuss and thats an order

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

I'm also with Ciara on this one, i think Carl Cort is an excellent signing..Mpenza IMHO did well in Belgiums' first game then did naff all(although he was playing against Europe's best!). Cort is only 22 years old and still has a lot to prove, but with YBR and big AL to work alongside.......

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

A lot of discussion about not wanting to develop our game plan around the strengths of a man who only plays in half our games (DF), but Cort has the ability to replace either As or DF if need be which makes him a brilliant choice. It also means that we can get someone quicksilver fast to try the other option so that we can vary things.

AS & DF for those dodgy away games we ought to win to kick the sh*thouse door in (Aston Villa, Spurs, Bradford and the like) and then AS and CC for the games we need to play a bit in (Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool). Home games will be easy: play all 3 and hoy the kitchen sink and the b*ggers!!!

Haven't felt so upbeat in yonks. Last preseason we bought the defenders we knew we needed and 2 of the 3 may still come good. YBR has brought in cover for Nobby's protracted vanishing acts (vital with big target men) and some vital midfield cover in Bassedas. If Cort is happy to play that wide left role where the player cuts in as second striker when the opportunity presents then we can finally play Dyer behind Shearer without losing the width. The permutations of a new, young, highly talented ENGLISH player who can play in a couple of positions are endless. This is such a good signing for...it just confirms everything we are learning to expect from YBR. Maybe Carl can teach our centre halves a few things about stopping players like him always bliddy scoring against us as well.

Obviously anyone who scores hattricks against the mackems should be welcomed with open arms :-)

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Totally agree Softy...just hope we hang onto big Duncan now!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

In addition to the points you've made Softie, the thing I really like about this signing is that at 22 years of age CC can be groomed alongside The Master to become his ultimate successor - this is first-class management thinking.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Sorry SOFTIE!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Yes Softie! Yes! And, what is more, its got Spurs goggle eyed at what YBR can do. From the Spurs Update: "Cort flew up North last night,completed a medical and signed a 5m contract for 5 years - only hours after it became known that Bobby Robson was interested in him, if only we did deals like that."

Does this alter your previous appraisal of where we are? I.e., if I took last week's comment that you made, that next year is a "building year" and we should not expect too much?

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Softie wrote:

>>Obviously anyone who scores hattricks against the mackems should be welcomed with open arms<<

Hmm - does this also include Stanley Collywobble?

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Hold on before we all start congratulating ourselves on the signing of Cort, if he was so good why haven't the top five gone for him. Is our competition really the likes of spurs and leicester? I thought we were bigger than that. someone had to put the breaks on this bandwagon before we all started talking championship. Lets not put any pressure on him or us by coveting him as and exceptional signing, just yet. When he scores a boatload and is picked for England you can all come over her and give me a good hidin' I'll just get me coat.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

I'm fully behind the thoughts of Chairman Softie on this one.

Got to be a good signing in my book, and hopefully if we can also keep hold of the Big Yin we will really have a strike force to be reckoned with as well as having some of the other midfielders banging them in as well.

Now all we need is a decent hard working central defender to replace Howey and I reckon we are set fair to get going.

Onward, upward, the world and BEYOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

The mackems are gannin delallytap on RTG , a mag with Leeds connections slipped Cort and Bellamy in at lunch time, he quoted the Leeds chairman Ridsdale as saying "Cort is for the Toon", since then the regulars on their board are fighting like loppy dogs with the odd mag interjection to keep the pot boiling. WOB or Winston oboogle amuses me, he still maintaining that the Toon will be bankrupt in the near future. I just hope they get Amuroso, no grey areas with Lorenzo, he will have them drooling one game with his display and in the next he will be total cr-p and dropping them points. The future is bright, its black n white, to hell with moaning JONNO........TIOY

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Softie, you're making me feel alot better about Cort!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Excellent signing. Don't bother to collect your coat Syme - it has already been hoyed oot into the street for the most negative posting of the week. When YBR buys a player you don't ask questions you just look forward to seeing him in a B&W shirt. (-;

Excellent value for money. He should still be saleable for at least this much in 4/5 years time.

There's been a number of negative postings lately - not good for morale. Have faith. There are those who said there'd be no money unless there were sales - the board proves them wrong once again. YBR and the board have played a canny game, holding cards close to the chest as regards whether cash was available, making it clear they had more than one option (Mpenza) so they wouldn't have their arms twisted. As for Syme's point that we should apparently only chase players that "The Big 5"(???) are after, I wonder how much that sort of policy would cost us?

Good signing - can't wait to see the lads play (and join the Big Six).

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

YEEEEHHHHHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a happy little vegiemite as happy as can be...

Back flip Back flip Summersault...

;-)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Tre, make your day with transfers, Murray jnr is brokering a deal to take Gazza and Brian Laudrup to Northern Spirit

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Whoopie - that's a sarcastic one Buff.

Sorry not really interested to much in the fare that they serve up down here. That said the Spirit, Wolves, Glory and Marconi do play some decent stuff. I just hate it how the Brisbane Strikers can't hold onto any of their talented bairns and are always losing the to the big clubs.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I'm feeling a wee bit happier as now we have three future england players, three past england players, and one player who should have been at euro 2000 instead of a fricken Neville brother. Plus an english goalie who is just outside of contention for a place in the national squad.

Now all we have to do is sign Guardiola to strengthen the midfield. Then if we have any cash left over do a player (Given), plus cash (2 million quid), swap for Richard Wright.

The we can track how well Hayden Mullins, Seth Johnson, Gareth Barry and David Prutton do this season.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I'm obviously way more excited about this signing than most on here. Carl Cort's been on my personal hitlist for a while as one of only a few 'proven' homegrown youngsters worth chasing (ie. with some sort of a PL pedigree, unlike the 6 million nonsense quoted for Bellamy etc).

I only hope we hold onto Dunc as well. The press cr@p on about Cort signing inevitably meaning he's on his way out. Count the decent strikers at Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds, then tell us we have too many. We need Dunc to stay, unless of course we can do better.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I agree with Jonno that the whole transfer seems to have been completed in a very professional manner. It is reported that Cort has not even met Robson yet, so Freddie must have given him some fair patter. Credit where it's due and all that.

Shearer, Ferguson, Cort and Cordone/Gallagher all looks a bit better now doesn't it. Plently of South American flair and British grit behind them. A decent centre back pairing and we're off up the table. Hang on to your hats.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I'm not convinced he's good enough.....I haven't seen that much of him but what I have seen suggests that he's all arms and legs....

I'm praying that YBR is right and I am wrong!!

Now if we can get Guardiola or Enrique then I'll be a much happier man!!

Shoot at me all you will.....I won't change my opinion until he makes me!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Gav...remind me what Michael Bridges had achieved before he made his 5 or 6 million pound move from the makems to Leeds!

A damn site less than Carl Cort is what.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

On an aside note...thank god I don't face the prospect of having to lick Gav's boots now.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I don't get your point Tre?

Yes Cort has done more than what Bridges had done, he's also done more that was Big Al did before he joined Blackburn for what was a record fee at the time.....that doesn't mean diddly!!!

All I'm saying is that I have reservations about his ability and his class, I'm going to keep having those reservations until HE changes my mind...

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Gav you sare deliberately obtuse sometimes , come on man hes the most exciting young prospect in England at the moment . any ideas what his wages are ?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Big Al scored 13 in 12 games for the U21's!

I'm ready to be shot down on this but I reckon at the time of his transfer to Blackburn, Shearer had achieved far more than Cort.

Immaterial now anyway as long as Cort carries on in the way that Alan did. Good luck to him.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Sting,

My guess would be.....TOO MUCH!

It's not as if I don't want the lad to do well!!!....I'm just not convinced about him!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

BEARDSLEY: CORT WILL BE A HIT Exclusive by Ben Reynolds

Former Newcastle favourite Peter Beardsley believes that new signing Carl Cort will be big success at St James Park  and possibly even for England.

The England Under-21star joined on Wednesday as Newcastle stepped in ahead of Tottenham with a #7million bid to Wimbledon to lure the striker from Selhurst Park.

Beardsley told Sky Sports.comTV: "I think he's got the ability to do anything he wants. He stood out in the Wimbledon team and for a big lad he's got a good touch on the ball.

"In terms of effort, that's the Wimbledon way, so I'm sure the Geordie fans will like him. Now is a good time for him to move up here - no disrespect to Wimbledon.

Beardsley believes that Corts partnership with Alan Shearer will help him learn from an established international and enhance his status within the England set-up.

"There are places up for grabs and basically the number nine shirt is up for grabs because Shearer has announced his retirement. So there's everything to go for and obviously, being a young lad, he's got a big future."

Cort, an Arsenal fan, was being feted by Spurs but decided on a move to the north-east after suffering relegation with the Dons, and is impressed by Newcastles vision for the future.

"I am thrilled to be joining a club as big as Newcastle United," he said. "The chairman and chief executive have impressed me with their ambitious plans for the club and I am delighted at the prospect of playing for Bobby Robson. It is a great career move for me."

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

De Builder,

So you're saying that buying a player who's scored loads for the U21's but not very many at club level for a british transfer record is not a risky deal?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

15 goals last season is decent enough. First time I saw Cort was when he turned Pistone inside out, left him on his arse and scored against us. He's a good signing. It's a large amount of money, but he's young and British so the price will be more inflated.

So, assuming we hang onto Duncan we've got Shearer, Ferguson, Cort , Gallagher and Dyer at a push. They should see us through the season, maybe with a youngster or two pushing through the reserves.

Thing is we didn't struggle for scoring last season, it's the other end where we had problems. We've sold a full back, we've got 3 + Hughes left which is OK and we've got a lot of centre backs even if Helder doesn't return, but we've no idea what the best permutation is or whether Marcelino and Goma are even up to the job. Will Howey ever be fit?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Of course it's risky but isn't every transfer risky. Cort is a calculated risk as was Shearer at the time. Shearer scored shitloads for the U21's and Cort hasn't even done that, therefore backing you up on your reservations.

However, as you rightly point out there's not much point in debating it until we see the lad playing for our team. Coming from Wimbledon I would expect he knows the meaning of hard work (maybe not last season) so I'd expect him to slot in a hell of a lot quicker than Mpenza would have.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Damaged pitch forces Magpies to acquire co(u)rt from Wimbledon.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Well spotted Sounder! Last week I was languishing in the slough of despond thinking it was all selling before buying, and this week I am feeling euphoric. I can't explain it; bliddy football - always the same...I try to be cautious but the first sign of transfer activity and I start expecting us to take the league by storm.

If you are worrying about what the top five are after...they are paying the full whack for proven talent: Man Utd tried Van Niestelrooy for 30mil or whatever, Leeds for JFH at 12mil, Chelsea went for Sutton at 8mil and have now had to lower their sights, Liverpool bought Heskey who has a fifth of the goals Cort has in a much better team and can't stay on his feet for 2 minutes and paid 11mil for the privilege, Arsenal have broken the bank again on Champions League survival hopes.

These folks are betting it all on a single throw of the dice. They have to be sure that they get a return on any investment as they cannot allow time for blending in which is why they are buying proven talent at top whack. We did that with Shearer and I don't think you can afford to write off a stake like that more than once in a decade without needing to recoup on the outlay by selling on. Cort isn't a guaranteed success but he's better at 15 goals in a season for a relegated side than some 'big' names at plenty of other clubs.

He was third choice at Wimbledon behind Hartson and Euall(?) wasn't he? He scored more than our second highest scorer, (and we were third highest scorers in the League), more than Sutton and Heskey together at 29million. Looks suspiciously like prime potential to me. We also offer him a great chance to feature regularly in a 'top side' (his words) as all the afore-mentioned sides already have 3 or 4 top forwards in place.

This is precisely the sort of player we have been banging on about for yonks: someone who knows and performs in our league, who is young and has the physical attributes to complement what we already field (what was the point of great wingers with Andersson or JDT? Wouldn't head a balloon!) and recognizes a chance to make his name as part of a side. If he was holding out for big wedge and a seat on a bench at one of the striker-sated clubs already at the top, he would be absolutely wrong for us. Could be the answer to all our prayers.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I think you've hit the nail on the head there JC.

What we have been lacking for a while now is a solid Centre back partnership. Whoever it is we need them to be playing at least three out of four games so the Goalkeeper and full backs know what is going on. The most frustrating thing is that Marcellino and Goma were fringe players for their National Squads before they came here. So if we can see them at their best we could be on to a winner.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

fING HELL IM MORE EXCITED THAN IVE BEEN IN AGES , KEEP IT UP LADS AND LASSES , 'WAY TOON. : -))

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Goma was magnificent at times and will hopefully be fully fit now. I'm not sure if he's the wise head Dabizas needs alongside him to keep him in check, but if he is then we'll be a damn sight better this time out. Griffin coming back into contention means that left and right at the back has some competition as Hughes, Barton and Griffin have all 3 made a good stab at both sides of the pitch and Domi is still a class act in my often mistaken opinion :-)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Gav

Cort put 15 goals away last season, with a struggling club that finally went down the pan. If he did that with us, he'd have been 2nd top scorer.

We've made a top signing, and no mistake.

On another note, anyone remember the rumours of YBR having #15m to blow this Summer? Well, with #10m out, #3m in (Pistone) that leaves #8m...which is Emile Mpenza's price tag. Four good strikers for NUFC?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Ahh come on Cliff - not up to your usual high standards !!

:o)))

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Bobby,

I think if Ferguson were to go, which I hope he doesn't, then we would certainly be in for another Striker. I'm not expecting another signing of any great magnitude this summer. Just hope everyone stays fit so we see the full potential.

The emphasis now must be to get rid of the dross and get some money in the bank so if the right player comes available we can compete for him. Before Cort signed it was getting a bit desperate but now we can afford to calm down a bit.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Delighted. He's young, scores goals, looks like a likely partner for Shearer OR Ferguson. Three good strikers is the minimum for a good side and we can't count on the luck we had last season vis a vis Big Al and injuries. He's a young lad and company for Dyer. Everything smells rose-like about this. A joyful day.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

This is from an unofficial Spurs website,Pleat explains Cort loss Thursday 6th July, 10:07 DAVID PLEAT has explained that Spurs lost interest in Carl Cort upon discover that another club (namely Newcastle) "valued Cort far more than we do". Which is fair enough, the general concensus amongst fans was that if we can get him for #3-4m then he would be an asset to the club, but any more than that and it was a risk.

He also says that we are currently discussing a transfer fee with Wimbledon for Ben Thatcher and they won't actually be speaking to him until a fee has been agreed (if it ever is).

A classic case of well we never wanted him anyway. Go and pay #6mill for Ben Thatcher because he's well worth that isn't he!? :-)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Yeah, decent signing. Adds some much-needed pace up front. But we still need to get rid of that Ferguson waste of money and find someone else. AS and DF: too one-dimensional.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

If you took the criticism of the Shearer-Ferguson partnership seriously you'd think that they both ploded up the pitch at the same pace making the same run into the same channel then going for the same ball!

I appreciate what your saying but is it really that bad?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

A Manc has just e mailed me to tell me that Corta lawys scores against them. Woo and indeed hoo!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

No it wasn't anything like that bad DB. At times the two were awsome, and frightened the cr@p out of some sides.
The real problem is a tactical one, particularly in away games, where playing effectively with two CF's we get out-numbered in midfield.
One of the two strikers MUST fill in in midfield to prevent this occurring. While I believe they're both aware of this responsibility, and indeed do their best, they are just not mobile enough to be able to do it continually.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Maybe we shouldn't have signed Cort and signed Corta Lawys instead, mind you sounds like another foreigner!

Sorry Dougal :-) Just about to leave now.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Carl Cort is potentially a great great signing. It reminds me a little of when we signed Andy Cole. A rough diamond striker. I think Bobby is the man to get the best from his talents. WE no longer have the clout to sign the cream , so this has to represent the best opportunity for what we have available - good luck Carl. I hope he becomes a star, but don't be surprised if it doesn't happen, remember he's young and it could go either way. Go score some goals matey!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

That period before Christmas and into the New Year when the pair of them got on the scoresheet every week was pure magic. Some highly rated defenders were seen sh*tting themselves. There is no question that AS and DF are an effective partnership, the question is over Ferguson's lack of appearances and the worry that the other players take the easy option of hoofing the ball up to Dunc everytime they get it. The only thing stopping us clearing up each week was our insistence on giving away soft goals to the likes of Liverpool and West Ham after the hard work was done. I can only assume that anyone questioning whether the 2 of them were any good as a partnership hasn't actually seen them. Dunc managed 32 appearances and 10 goals which is far from being useless and Shearer was at great pains to explain how much it helped him having Ferguson alongside. We can quibble about his fitness, we can quibble about value for money at 40k per week but there is no question that Ferguson is a great asset when he's fit and that he and Shearer are the best pairing in the EPL on thise occasions. There's not many strike partnerships where both get on the scoresheet against Newton Heath...wouldn't be surprised if the last English one was AS and Big Les.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

May I suggest that "hoofing the ball" is a British trait. With Barton, Hughes, Howey, Lee and Speed behind him, is it surprising they took the option to hoof it? Now, with Helder (?), Goma, Marcelino, Solano/Gavilan, Domi, Bassedas, Guardiola (ahem) and their ilk behind the front pair, we may see some more cultured play. I wish.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

The thing is, we play crap when we play longball. Look at us v Chelsea last season when we tried to play longball against them.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I'm clearly out of step with everyone else here, so I'll make my point for the last time, and then leave the stage.
I don't believe we 'elect' to play long ball - what happens is that if/when we get out-numbered in midfield, playing the ball through m/f ceases to be a viable option. In that situation the man in possession has no alternative but to hit it long.
This is PRECISELY what happened against Chewsee at SJP.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

The only player we have who could play in a supporting role behind Shearer and compliment midfield is Kieron Dyer (unless Cort can now do this). Ah we may have stumbled upon where to play Dyer but Shearer will be inneffective up front alone with only one man supporting him.

It has been mentioned elsewhere that the way do support the midfield would be by wing backs supporting. Domi and Barton as wing backs should compliment midfield leaving two up front to keep defenders busy thus making their midfield works harder.

Choosing the three centre backs is a bit more tricky though, but Hughes could well see some more action this year as the left sided man of three. Dabs and Helder/Goma, who knows?

Whatever we say the first game against Manure will go a long way towards telling us about the team for the coming season and if picked will tell us where Bassedas plays!!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

It's very difficult to judge how competetive we'll be, because we know next to nothing about Bassedas and Gavilan and to an extent Cort. We also don't know how much potential Goma and Marcelino (if he stays) have, as they never really got going.

Either way, there's a lot less pressure on us this season, as expectations are reasonable and realistic. IO second Clarky assesment of the long ball, and would add that there's a big difference between hoofing it and the long ball per se. Ifdefenders are comfortable with bringing the ball forward (as many of ours should be, then that frees up at least one midfielder to pass to, avoiding hoofing it.

If we have midfielders with vision and ability (we have Solano, hopefully Bassedas will add to that) who can play accurate long balls, then that also by-passes midfield congestion. Long balls don't have to be to the forwards - spotting a full back on the other side of the pitch and changing the point of attack is as if not more effective.

Our existing attack caused defences worries. Cort will add to those worries. Scoring was not a real problem last season, as we have plenty of midfielders capable of that too. I think forward play these days is as much about occupying and disrupting defenders as it is about scoring goals.

I'm very positive about this season

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Excellent news, I thought he was head & quite literally shoulders above our defense at SJP. How long to go before the season kicks off.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

He's a young lad and company for Dyer.

Oh dear, does this mean we'll be hearing "Cort and Dyer direct underage orgy flicks in a Quayside flat" stories next season?? Nurse, go see to YBR quickly!! ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

The official site has a complimentary profile of the man and closes with this paragraph

If Cort can forge a strong partnership with Alan Shearer, then he may turn out to be a great signing. One area in which he will prove an undoubted asset is in inspiring tabloid headlines. Already, in Wimbledon week, we have seen the likes of "Number One Cort". I'm just hoping that when we play Sunderland, Carl is marked by Steve Bould

Well what are they thinking of, how about "Old Bould gets Cort out"

or "A Rolling Bould er... gathers no mates"

Well it's getting late you give it a go

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Gees and here I was thinking that Griffin was the same age and nationality as Dyer.

We now have three brand new ex-england U.21 players.

That said I always thought Gallacher was Dyers drinking mate. ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000