If Domi plays on Saturday, should we give him a hard time on the basis of the reports he wants away ?

I'd be prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being, partly because he seems to be denying it quite vociferously and partly because we bliddy well need him, so it would be counter productive, I think, to give him more excuses to go on his terms rather than ours.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

Answers

100% support. Goma still gives(gave) 100% after announcing his desire to leave.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

It could be his agent stiring things, but it's not the first time that Domo (sic) has been in the spotlight for wanting away.

Naturally, every player who steps onto the pitch in a black and white shirt should be cheered on, but I'm not convinced (yet) of Domo's worth. He's not physical enough for our game, I reckon, but can have spurts of brilliance, pace and top passing. All of that being somewhat absent from his game this year.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

Bobby could you just remind me of the last time Domi had "a spurt of brilliance"?

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

DSS, pretty sure it was towards the end of last season :-(

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

Ok, brilliance is a bit difficult to support, but I recall some excellent runs down the wing and creating some good goals. Or did I dream it???

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

He's denying it all in the Ronnie. Interesting bit at the end of the article:

Robson gave his first-team squad the day off today and preparations for what is now a vital match with Bradford City will be stepped up from tomorrow.

So many of them will be fit for Saturday, I wonder.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

100% support, particularly as he has denied the "want away" reports. We are writing off far too many players on here on the basis of heresay - IMHO if they wear the B&W on a Saturday they start the game with a clean sheet - all sins forgiven - capable of becoming Gods (though some have further to go than others!)

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

If the lad plays he will get 100% support, and no grief whatsoever.
I feel most people these days are savvy enough to know that at least 50% of what they read in the press is fabricated, and while there have been some exceptions, players have to be pretty bad, or do something fairly unforgiveable, to get serious stick at SJP.

The thing that troubles me somewhat about this particular kind of story is that they often have a germ of truth in them - remember Harmoan, and Ravioli and Ziege at Boro?

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

I think the amount of support he gets has to be proportional to the amount of effort. There could well be cause for shaking a fist at the bugger. Barton, however, will no doubt receive his usual standing ovation. Can't we just stick with the Grifter?

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

Bobby knows best. If he picks Domi, he feels the lad is ready to do a job I have said it before and I shall say it again - if Domi, as a natural left footer, with supposed talent and potential,cannot command a regular place in the side with only right footed players challenging for his shirt, then, if the offer is there, then sell him.

If hes good and his attitude is good play him. If not sell him for gods sake. Is it not that simple??

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

Domi is a very gifted player imo. One of the best we have. He also makes me p*ssed off. The lad isn't trying, he doesn't care and I think that is terrible. My style of management would be to say "GET YOUR FINGER OUT YOU TWAT!!!".

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000

Taking a cynical viewpoint, (completely out of character, I know), this sort of thing could be nowt more than another agent ploy.

Come out in public saying you're unhappy, to remind folk you're there, then immediately deny it all vehemently just so you don't burn all your bridges, or upset the supporters.

Once a deal's done and dusted, you don't give a stih, but you've cut down on the personal hassle in the meantime.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000

For those who haven't actually read the whole interview:

The Football365 Q&A: DIDIER DOMI

The Newcastle Defender On English Football, The Toon Army & Why He Wants Uncle Bobby To Work Him Harder

Interview by Arnauld Brely, translated by Iain Moody

After two years in the Premiership, what are your impressions of English football? "I love the atmosphere that we have every weekend - I can only compare it to Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain or Lens. As far as the games are concerned, it's much more committed than in France where teams rely more on technique and organisation. The best things about the game here are the high level of commitment and the number of high-profile foreigners who play here. But the English players are not better than us French - far from it."

What surprised you the most when you arrived at Newcastle? "Loads of things. The much more relaxed atmosphere that you find in the changing room before matches, for example. Sometimes we listen to music. We never have to go away to hotels for the night before a home game - we are allowed to relax at home and only go to hotels for away games. However, this does not mean that the English are less professional than the French where football is concerned. I've really enjoyed the whole situation."

You must have been impressed by the Newcastle fans… "Totally. They are fantastic. They always wear the club shirt! They are the best fans in England!"

How do you explain the 5-0 loss to Arsenal at the weekend? "It's difficult to explain. All season long we have had matches where we have played really well followed by bad performances. This inconsistency is why we are in mid-table. We've beaten teams that are doing well, like Ipswich or Liverpool. I think it is a mental thing. The Liverpool game was very intense but we were fully committed and managed to win it."

How are things going for you personally? "I'm not playing up to my potential. In fact, I'm far from it and I need to do a lot of work. With Bobby Robson our training is very old fashioned and it's true that in England, we don't do much training. That's not what I need because I'm nowhere near my best right across the board. I've still got a lot of improving to do and I don't think that I've been able to show my quality so far this season. I have a good left foot and that should be an advantage because everyone here is right-footed. It's clear that I'm not going to reach my potential at Newcastle."

Does that mean that you want a transfer? For the moment, I am a Newcastle United player. But I wouldn't rule out leaving. Anything is possible. Last summer I had offers from Liverpool and Valencia, but I didn't want to go there. If an interesting challenge presented itself, I would be ready to go."

Would you be interested in a return to Paris Saint-Germain? "Yes. It would represent a very interesting challenge for me. I follow PSG's results and I often chat to Nicolas Anelka on the phone. In the past I've had the fortune to work with managers who got me working really hard - people like Raymond Domenech (France Under-21 boss) and Ruud Gullit. They taught me the love of hard work and doing things well. Now that Luis Fernandez is back in charge in PSG, I think he could do the same for me."

Does that mean you are waiting to hear from them? "Yes, totally. I'll never forget that it was Fernandez who gave me my debut in professional football, alongside Anelka and some others. At the moment I am concentrating on all the matches Newcastle have over the Christmas and New Year period. Even though we aren't doing that well in the league, there's always the FA Cup. We've done well in that in the past."

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000

"Interview by Arnauld Brely, translated by Iain Moody "

Translated into bullshit more likely. Most of the answers are pretty harmless and the questions are geared towards damning statements. Imagine if you asked any geordie footballer whether he would like to go back to NUFC and play for them, they'd hardly say no would they?

Domi is not telling us anything new here, apart from maybe the statements about training, but I'm gald that's out in the open to be honest.

I know his performances have lacked conviction this season but I'm not going to criticise him for statements made in this interview. Gutter press.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000

definitely DB. I started a journalism course a few years back and dropped out after about four sessions. Basically, those who really wanted it were the most nauseous people i've had the misfortune to meet and the main lesson was this:

"sell your grandmother, sell your entire family for the sake of a good story."

journalists = scum.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000

The Official Site has an item on a press conference given by Bobby and Domi together, where Bobby read a prepared statement on Domi's behalf, which makes it sound like the whole thing's been a typical rag distortion from start to finish, just for effect. Scumbags.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000

Football365.com have taken off thier 'interview' with Domi. It looks like they took answers from an interview Domi gave and made up some questions to suit their interview style! Scandalous.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000

So it's back to slagging us off now we're not doing so well in the league? I notice the Ronnie has also taken a rather negative, sh*t-stirring angle this week.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2000