Hopefully nothing more than Uncle Bobby being patriotic. I hope he doesn't get involved and personally I can't see the FA getting him involved. What does he mean about the local mind!!

But the FA could turn to Robson, who guided England to the World Cup semi-final in 1990, in the short term as a caretaker coach or as the mentor to a younger candidate.

He said: "I would dare say that there are few English managers with as much experience and if I received a telephone call from someone at Lancaster Gate in the next few days, I would answer it.

"I am settled at a magnificent club - my club - on a 12-month rolling contract, but there is not much I wouldn't do to help my country.

"Let them decide; if something came my way, I would have to think about it."

Robson, speaking in his column in The Times, said he does not believe the FA should turn to a foreign coach. He has tipped Terry Venables who he describes, as a coach, as "slick, intelligent, inventive and bright".

Robson added: "Arsene Wenger is a nice fellow, but I am far from comfortable with the notion of appointing a foreign head coach for the England team. It is like me at Newcastle, I understand the local mind.

"We need someone with knowledge of the English psyche, its game, its players and its language. How Marcello Lippi's name can be suggested, after being sacked one game into the Italian season, is beyond me."

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Answers

I think he was talking about The Strawberry. Or was it after he'd been in there?

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

aiieeee...noooooo...Don't do it Bobby! Perhaps he should be reminded of being spat on at Wembley. By England fans. It's nice that he cares, but better off staying in Toon and being available for advice to the sucker whoever gets the job.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Freddie Shepherd states that M Robson is under contract and isn't going anywhere, a statement shared by many other premiership chairmen, Strangley though Doug Ellis and Boro's Mr Gibson haven't sent that message out yet.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

An easy way of getting rid of poor managers and someone actually pays you the compensation for them leaving, not compensating the manager leaving!.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000