Optimistic Nut

Seem to remember we were very close to signing Mark Hughes as well just after Cole went to Man Utd, but he knackered himself scoring against us a few days later and nothing came of it.

Who was that lad that Middlesbrough signed from Boro at the same time as Greening? Greening at least made a decent Premiership career for himself, no idea what happened to the other lad, and he was the more highly rated at the time as well.

Agree to a point but the start of the following season was the best I've seen us play, seemed like we were winning 4 and 5-1 every week. Yeah, I remember us having a spell at the start of the season where we scored 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5 in our first 6 games...although I seem to remember Steve Watson playing up-front at the time and scoring goals, as Beardsley fractured his cheekbone at Leicester on the first game of the season. Seriously, I remember more about what was happening with Newcastle when I was 8-12 than what I do in the last 2-3 years. I think we won something like our first 5 away games that season! Before losing at Old Trafford iirc. I remember going to the first match (the Leicester away game you mention) and coming away thinking we could genuinely win the league that year. Yeah, it looked good for a while. Didn't Keith Gillespie score against us in that match you mentioned? Seem to just remember thinking we were going to thrash anyone and everyone those first few months.

Only really need a couple of centre-backs. Alton Thelwell came to mind. From the Spurs first-team and England Under 21s, to Hull, and now Leyton Orient, still only 28.

He now owns a crepe shop on Dean street according to someone on here Aye he does. Went in a couple of weeks ago and the only two customers in the shop were Bassong & N'Zogbia.

Agree to a point but the start of the following season was the best I've seen us play, seemed like we were winning 4 and 5-1 every week. Yeah, I remember us having a spell at the start of the season where we scored 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5 in our first 6 games...although I seem to remember Steve Watson playing up-front at the time and scoring goals, as Beardsley fractured his cheekbone at Leicester on the first game of the season. Seriously, I remember more about what was happening with Newcastle when I was 8-12 than what I do in the last 2-3 years.

Think Brian Kerr deserves a place on the subs' bench. After playing a dozen games in a team finishing 3rd and playing in the Champions League, as well as earning a Scotland call-up, he's just recently been released from Hibs.

I think Prutton is worthy of a place. Very good call. Think the story at the time was we were close to getting him in the summer of 2001 from Forest but they were being fussy over the transfer fee, then as the season developed Jenas began to emerge, and we signed him instead for a couple of million more than what we'd offered for Prutton.

Honourable mention for Christopher Wreh. Was 22/23 when he played a part in Arsenal winning the title in 1998, just 5 years later he was playing for Bishops' Stortford & Buckingham Town.

Remember when he pulled his hamstring celebrating a goal against Arsenal a couple of years ago in the Champions League?

John Harley?

Rohan Ricketts?

They don't count anyway since they've retired.

Ruel Fox & Chris Sutton both had very good Premiership careers and played a fair bit of European football. Hardly on a level with Richard Wright & Jeffers who were bought for big money by Arsenal, had done well previously, won England call-ups, then disappeared when they should be in their prime now, or Bernard who disappeared from football completely.

No they won't.

Another good one. Could Carlos Marinelli count in this? Or was he just all hype at Boro?

Hmm, to be fair they've still both made a decent Premiership career for themselves though haven't they? How old's Gillespie now?

Or younger even.

And who are still 27-29 today.

Gomes.

Not for a sustained amount of time though. What I mean is players who were regulars in the Premier League, playing well, then by 27-29 had disappeared.

Answered your own question really.

Was hardly at a high-level in the Premiership at one time though was he?

Was just trying to think of a team of XI players who were once at a high level in the Premiership, but for whatever reason have seen their careers go to pot. For this team, they should still be at an age where they're in their prime, so the likes of Cademarteri, Jody Morris, etc. don't count. I've filled in 3 pretty obvious blanks. GK - Richard Wright RB - Stephen Wright LB - John Harley CB - CB - RM - David Prutton LM - Olivier Bernard CM - Seth Johnson CM - Stephen Hughes CF - Francis Jeffers CF - Carl Cort

Perhaps because you're a nothing club, and yet the media still hype you up to be bigger than what you are.