I think this is C&P from the Sunday Mirror, but ity is pretty much what R5L were playing last night as YBR's quotes from the game.

FOOTBALL: BOBBY FURY

Robson declares wor on slack stars

BOBBY ROBSON last night revealed that he had left his superstar players "hurt and damaged" after a dressing-room blast.

The tongue lashing followed a home defeat to Charlton. But the Toon boss defended his skipper Alan Shearer, despite another score-less display from the ex-England striker.

Shearer's latest flop means he has scored LESS goals this season than at the same stage last term. Robson said: "Yes, I'm concerned about the situation, but we are not making enough chances for him. "We have to do more for him and he has to do more for us."

But the United boss pulled no punches when it came to the rest of his side's efforts - slamming the worst display and result at St James's Park since he came to the club.

"It was definitely the poorest display since I came here," he moaned. "I told them after the second-half at Southampton that I wouldn't accept another display like that one and they did it again today.

"We were lethargic from the start. We defended too deep and they scored a goal from about two yards out.

"I've said enough to hurt and damage them but I had to keep my cool because we have a Worthington cup game on Tuesday and I have to pick them up for that. I'm very disappointed."

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Answers

All well and good, giving the rest of the team a bollocking, but why dosen't he include shearer?

Does he think he'll take the huff like he did with Gullit , if he gets dropped?

Shearer stands around waiting to be served by the rest of the team, he should be working to shrug off his defenders more and getting into spaces wher he can recieve the ball. He plays with his back to goal and nearly always loses out when he recieves it either at his feet or on his head.

erhaps dropping into midfield leaving taller and more mobile players ahead of him might be an idea? Or is it too much like hard work changing your game at 30 year old?

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Just possibly, Bobby Robson defends Shearer because he really believes what he is telling us about why Alan isn't scoring - why is that so hard to believe?

We're quite happy to accept everything else Bobby tells us exceptwhen he defends Alan Shearer.

"Roll up, roll up, join the Shearer-bashing bandwagon all you Mags!"

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Not so much Shearer bashing Clarky but you do have to question why the guy is never subbed or rested.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

I don't advocate dropping him, he's far too dangerous for that, but if things aren't going according to plan, which they clearly weren't yesterday, then taking him, or any of the others off could provide them all with the spurt they require.

Two more games (Orient on Tuesday and Man City Saturday) and then 16 days off, so hopefully if, even this early in the season, a rest is all that is required, Al and the rest of them will come back fully recovered and raring to go again. I just worry about a team that is apparently knackered after just eight games.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

(....val dashes on, stage left......)

hello, all. Still here but in spirit mostly, lurking whenever possible

I'm with you 100% on this selective belief bit, Clarky.

GE'DOFF OUR CAPTAIN'S BACK, ONCE AND FOR ALL, FOR GOODNESS' SAKE.

Oh, Aye..I can see the 'Conventionial Wisdom' wisps of fog starting to swirl around Maboy, getting ever denser until his whole persona is shrouded. YES, he's naff occasionally, he's NOT GOD. But he adds strength, depth, leadership, deadly headers, blinding crosses, fear into defenders, I haven't got time to write everything else and more. Oh, ye of short memories. Oh yes...and he's a Geordie who's declared his allegiance and you don't turn on yer own.

And While I'm On....it seems to be accepted, without condemnation any more, that NEWCASTLE UNITED, THE BLACK AND WHITES, are booed off the pitch by certain sections of the ground from time to time nowadays.

Just wish to state my case, as a middle-timer, that I can NEVER NEVER NEVER accept that. Mind, I'm not saying I expect 36,500+ to cheer wildly all the time when it's a turgid game - I can get disgusted as much as anybody. No. It's the BOO-Boys I'm after with my trusty electric carving knifE. :-O..

God, when a Newcastle crowd does that to it own, Newcastle and football are changing and not for the better.

I don't care WHAT other crowds around the country do. I have expressed my feelings passionately in person to any booers in or out of range at St.James. so I'm not just sounding off in writing. Where's their Pride - where's their loyalty ?

What's the next thing ?? Geordies joining the barstewards around the country, booing OUR AL whenever he gets the ball ??

:-{

Oh, I do feel better. Thank you, thank you, one and all.....it was GREAT to get that off my chest !!!! It's not half therapeutic.

Here's to Tuesday night and I trust Bobby will make them afraid, very afraid not getting it together and showing what they CAN do every game.That's his job. Our's is to get there every week and Support them. And the crowd didn't have a great game from where we were sitting. At home, that is.

We get Metro on the official site now totally free. Really glad we had it last night, mind. Flamin' awful for the most part, some good bits. Good to hear good initial reports of Lua Lua.

bye for now...back when can. (Oh, good, that'll be nice then, I hear you say !!)

Love to all and HOWAY THE LADS FOR TUESDAY. The bad times are when they need us MOST.

(....val dashes off again, stage right, waving slightly crumpled but clean hankie....)

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Got no problem in criticising Al when he deserves it, but I thought he had at worst a fair game, and at best average.

Main points of concern for me are:

Solano - either he's unfit (last week in Soton he was covered in sweat, but barely made a decent length run) or needs a period in the reserves to buck his ideas up.

Dyer - was shockingly poor. No imagination, little to reminisce of the sparkle of last year. Seemed unwilling to run at the opposition; a tactic which nearly paid off, when Goma (yes, centre back Goma) made an excellent forage into the Charlton defence. Had a player of Kieron's undoubted ability chosen to take the challenge, we might have less to whinge about.

Cort - at times looked clumsy with the ball at his feet. Needed Dunc's swiftness of turn and ease on the ball. Should've made more of the 1/2 chances presented.

Cordone - seemed to linger on the right wing for ages, without really contributing to the game in any constructive way. Needn't have bothered getting changed at all.

However, Lua Lua was good for the 20 odd minutes he was on. Showed a bit of bottle and a determination to give a good account of himself in return for the tremendous standing ovation he received when he entered the fray as part of YBR's audatious 3 man substitution. Nearly paid off.

Several of the players subbed, to paraphrase Bake from Soton's game, should have just kept on walking...Nobby Solano the prime culprit, but could easily be joined by any of 6 or 7 players.

This club breaks my heart...

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Welcome to the 'This Club Breaks My Heart' club, Bobby.

Don't they just sometimes make you gnash your teeth in impotent rage ?

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000