Deadline is 22nd December 2000 24:00 GMT

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2000

Answers

Something tells me the Xmas holiday period is going to be crucial in the TeamPick competition. I have no Internet access from the 23rd to the 27th December, a period where vital points and possibly a new player will arise!!

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2000

Yep! Unfortunately I'm sans internet access until January so I'm knackered re Team Picks. I do reserve the right to cheat;-))

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2000

Here goes:

Given
Griffin Hughes Marcelino Barton
Solano Lee Acuna Bassedas
Dyer Shearer

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000

Given

Barton Hughes Marcelino Griffin

Solano Lee Acuna Bassedas

Dyer Shearer

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000

Is Speedo suspended? (or just out of favour with you two?)

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000

the former.

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000

Given

Barton Marcelino Hughes Griffin

Solano Lee Acuna Bassedas

Dyer

Shearer

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000

Given , Barton, Marcellino,Hughes, Griffin, Solano Acuna, Bassedas, Glass, Dyer, Shearer

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000

Given Barton Marcy Hughes Griffin Solano Lee Bassedas Acuna Dyer Al

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

Given Barton Hughes Marcelinofinger Griffen Nobby Lee Acuna Bassedas Dyer AS

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

2:20pm

Given

Barton....Hughes....Marcelino

Solano.......................Griffin

Acuna....Lee....Bassedas

AS....Dyer

However, Solano is doubtful with a groin strain, Domi is still MIA (tw@t!), and AS is to play but said today "I'm not feeling brilliant, but I'm not bad. Certainly I am no worse than I was before last Saturday's game and I will be playing at Derby County tomorrow." - great start to this busy spell!

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Smith
Robson The-Kit-guy Ferris Wadsworth
Carver DerekWright Winsper Ian-the-photographer
Chopra The-Tea-Lady

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

srnicek watson, howey, charvet, pistone batty, ginola,clark, thompson ferdinand, ferguson

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Given

Barton Hughes Marcellino Griffin

Solano Lee Acuna Bassedas

Dyer Shearer

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

If-they-aren't-crocked/hungover/awol etc XII:

Given
Barton Hughes Marcia Griffin
Solano Lee Acuna Badass
Shearer Dyer

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Go with the favourite:........
Given , Barton, Marcellino,Hughes, Griffin, Solano Acuna, Bassedas, Glass, Dyer, Shearer

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Well, being Christmas and all that: Rudolph Prancer Donner Blitzen Dancer Noddy Clarky Softie Big-Ears Screacher YBR Plenty of festive cheer there then.

Hmm - just heard the whole of the back four and goalie have been ordered to do something else this weekend and those two twerps in midfield aren't up to it. The other two are totally dependent on them so that's the midfield out as well. YBR says he'll only play if desperate (sp what this space) and I've just hurt my finger typing the bliddy HTML commands. So, in that case, I'll just cut'n'paste instead.

Given Barton Hughes Marcelino Griffin Solano Lee Acuna Bassedas Shearer Dyer

Mind - I think Glass is in the frame too.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

7:10pm

It looks as though Solano is out, so I'm changing my selection.

Given

Marcelino.......Hughes......Barton

Griffin...........................Glass

Acuna.......Lee......Bassedas

AS.......Dyer

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Surely you didn't just pick up on my Glass suggestion, Clarky? Oh Deer, Oh Deer (as Santa might say). Just kidology from NUFC.COM and Sly Sports I'm afraid. They heard that Noddy wasn't available. You'd expect that from .COCK, but not .COM. Still, plenty of time to change..................

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Several sites are now reporting he's out Screach. I reckon it's worth a chance to pick up a point on you - if I'm wrong, I'm wrong - and next weeks games could get interesting anyway.

Was going to go for LuaLua with YKD in Solano's place, but figure Bobby might want to go for more width and keep the AS/YKD combo right now.

It's only a competition you know!

I'm hoping to see you in the Strawb pre-game on Tuesday, but got my bro-in-law and his good lady from the US in tow, plus No.2 son - so it might be tricky.
'Er indoors is going to the manure game, so I'm going to try to persuade her to meet the gang + LR (!). Have a great Xmas!

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Clarky, if I was serious aboot this, I have just ower 2hrs 20mins to the deedline, so if I want to ensure I stay aheed o' yer, I'll just cut'n'paste :-)

Mind, an interesting thought from you - LKD oot wide? Nah - I saw Lua x2 on Tuesday and he was cr@p. But so was Glassy ;-)) Mebbes Corblimey will make a return. Or of course, it could be a strike 3 of LKD, Corblimey and Lua x2. I hear Shearer's knacked.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Oh - BTW re Tuesday, I'll be hitting the Straabeery straight from Ches. Unless I get up early and go via Blyth - but with dodgy buses (bastards let me faal asleep last weekend!) it's probably prudent to park up in Toon. Anyway - I'm up from Tues to the Spurs game, so plenty of oppos for us to have a few beers.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Bless 'im According to Ronnie: Nobby Solano becomes a Newcastle United ton-up boy in tomorrow's game with Derby County at Pride Park.

And pride is something the amiable little Peruvian will feel if he shakes off a slight groin strain to make his 100th appearance for United.

For Solano is more than proud to fly the flag as he is poised to become only the second player from South America to play 100 games in a black and white shirt.

Before heading off for the Midlands, Solano told me today: "I'm surprised but delighted that this will be my 100th game for Newcastle United.

`I would love to celebrate it by turning in a good show but the most important thing is the three points so that we can keep a good position in the league.

"I was not sure how many games I had played for the club but this is my third season at Newcastle and I am very happy and settled. I enjoy it so much at Newcastle and it pleases me to play 100 games because when I first signed I told everybody I wanted to stay here for a long time and that is what I am doing.

"But now I want to start winning things. I want us to win a cup for the Newcastle fans. This is something which is so important to me."

Solano was the last - and possibly the best - of Kenny Dalglish's signings when he arrived at St James's Park for £2.5 million from Boca Juniors the day after the 1997-98 season started.

Like his midfield partner Gary Speed, Solano did not make an immediate impact at St James's Park as he found it difficult to adapt to the hurly-burly and pace of the Premiership.

But, like Speed, Solano is now recognised as one of the best midfield players in the Premiership and he is a rival to David Beckham as the best crosser of a ball in the league.

Speed, of course, is suspended tomorrow and Solano will take the South American lead in a midfield that is also likely to include Clarence Acuna and Christian Bassedas at Derby.

And Acuna, Bassedas and United's other South American men Diego Gavilan and Daniel Cordone are all trying to take a leaf out of Solano's book.

Solano added: "I think they would all love to stay at Newcastle for a long time like I have and become a success here.

"When each of them arrived here I told them what a great club it is and how important it was for them to work hard for success. Now they have seen for themselves and they want the same as me."

As far as South Americans are concerned, only George Robledo - 164 appearances - has played more games than Solano.

The Chilean's brother Ted played in 45 games, with Brazilian Mirandinha starting 55 matches during his three-year stint at St James's Park.

Aah telt yi Clarky - it's aal a bluff. Unless he strained his groin on the bus.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000