In another thread it was said that Rob Lee should not be in our side if healthy, a thought I find completely unbearable. He is far and away more capable than Bassedas, and I can not understand how anyone would feel different. The man is a legend and he still has the ability and the HEART to be a winner for us......

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Answers

Sorry, Sparxx, but Rob has been a weak link these past few seasons and his inclusion in squads and teams has looked political in recent months. The difference in movement, pace and balance without him and with him is remarkable. He is a legend, but so's Jackie Milburn and he was booed at the end of career at the Toon cos he carried on that bit too long.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Got to agree with you sparxx. I haven't read the posts you refer to as yet, but it doesn't surprise me as there is a lot of anti-RL sentiment on here.

Undoubtedly, he isn't the player he was 3-4 years ago, but I tell you what - he would have infinitely improved our utterly pathetic midfield in the last two games.

If I was picking the team for tomorrow, I'd be over the moon that he was fit again, and he would be almost the first name on the teamsheet.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Me thinks a certain manager might have is name in ink and not pencil for Elland Road and, if fit for, the forseable

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

and replace him with whom I ask

Pushed off the ball time and time again and again...in midfield.

Speed out, surely its obvious?

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Rob Lee was a great player for Newcastle and still has a lot to off (the kids), but wouldn't get into my top four ( or five) NUFC, (if fully fit) midfield players at the moment.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

The biggest headache YBR has is with Speed. He dosent contribute enough to a passing creative midfield but is absolutely invaluable in terms of goalscoring/heading etc. If he didnt have this extra he wudnt get near the 1st team i reckon. Hes been very comitted and done a great job for us in general though and has been impotant as Al in keeping our heads above water in recent seasons.

I think Acuna looked very good in the 2nd half vs Villa when pushing forward. 1st half he ran round like a bit of a headless chicken cos he was let down badly by Speed/Bassedas and the wing backs. Id like to see Lee and Acuna given an opportunity in central midfield. YBR may have to this weekend!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

lee's still agood player but you can't play if you're legs can't get you to where the ball is. it's not what he does but what he doesn't do because he can't cover enough ground anymore. result is you've got a mid table player, same as speed, strictly mid table.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Robert Lee 1996 has to be one of my all time great NUFC players, but that was the peak. Just like Warren gives his all, and Speed does it isn't enough.

I waited nearly three years for Peter Beardsley to be replaced before Keiron came along (and he's still just a kid). What we need now is a 2001 version of Robert Lee, preferrably just a wee bit better and aged 21.

Love him to bits, but for what he was, not what he is at 34.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Agree with that macbeth, but right now IMO he's still as good as we've got - not ideal.

I must admit that the thought we might have found a real replacement for Pedro is extremely appealing, isn't it? Even though YKD apparently believes he's playing out of position, I'm coming to think this really is his best position.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

hmm,ok lets assume he's as good as we've got, maybe marginally, but he's taking up a spot in the team. we're not going to win anything or be relegated so why not give acuna bassedas or even one of the kids -kerr or green- a chance to get some experience in th PL, they need it lee doesn't, we don't need lee. if he's still playing this time next year, i'll be posting this exact same message on this exact same thread.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

"....we're not going to win anything or be relegated".

Sorry George but I can't agree with your view that the season is over.

I'll actually be a lot happier when we've got 42 points in the bag, and wouldn't even contemplate experimenting with kids before then.
On the other hand, we're 7th in the League and a UEFA Cup spot, and the major financial rewards that brings, is just about within reach in a very average League competition. Again, until this is entirely out of reach there should be no f@rting around.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

Blind loyalty and nostalgia. The only time he looks half way useful is when brought on as a sub when a game is sewn up, and we don't seem to have the right tailors to do that just now. He gets his name chanted simply because he's one of the 3 players who actually has a song, but the only time it's been sung this season is after he has been called for giving away fouls and picking up cards, hardly a good reflection on us or him.

He used to be the mutt's nuts in being first up in support and first to tackle back, but simply doesn't have the energy any more. If he was a race horse he'd be off shagging mares or being turned into glue.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2001

Dp they still turn horses into glue softie?

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2001

You have obviously forgotten the match this season where he played a stunner at sweeper and was voted by YBR as MOTM. While I'll admit he may have lost a step, but I'd rather have a Rob Lee out there performing at 1000% with HEART than half these lot we've got who don't want to get their hair outta whack.....

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2001

I'm naturally in agreement with you sparxx - in fact I could make a very strong case for Rob Lee being our Player of the Season only last year, NOT 4 or 5 years ago.

However, the point I wanted to make was that I really don't believe we have many slackers left at the Club, so hopefully that criticism can soon be consigned to history.

In saying that, I guess I have to say that I don't class the much-criticised Marcelino, Serrant or even Hamilton in that category. Marcelino and Serrant have been very unfortunate with injury, and Hamilton is just a poor player (it's not his fault that we paid £1.5mm for him).

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2001

Seems he played very well today. Saved from the glue pot ehh? It looks like he can play a role in a system designed by YBR for specific games. Clearly Mr Robson is happy to have him back - listen to the interview with him on the BBC site.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2001

Call me curmudgeonly if you like, but I thought the win today owed far more to switching to 4-4-2 (at the same time Leeds did - well spotted Mr Robson, you knew they would after Ferdinand was left out, didn't you?) than the fact that Rob Lee was playing.

When a side takes a blow to their confidence it really helps to play a system where everyone knows what's expected of not only themselves but everyone else around them.

When there's a powercut you get the candles out from the cupboard under the stairs and are grateful that you planned for the eventuality, but you would be a pillock to keep using them when the electricity supply is reconnected. I will be flabbergasted if we line up with Rob Lee when Dyer gets back, flabbergasted.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001

What I've been musing on Softie is how Rob Lee will explain to his grand-children the nickname he acquired towards the end of his career - "SUPERGLUE"!!! ;-{))

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001

Rob Lee perhaps had become complacent at the start of the season. He had the chance to get his place back in the side against Leeds and played out of his skin. I'm not sure he, at his age can play like that week in and week out. Rather than having Alan Shearer and Rob Lee's name in ink on the teamsheet each week, I think BR will have Solano, Dyer and Acuna's . Rob Lee and Alan Shearer will have to be in top form week in week out and can't EXPECT to play every game.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001

Perhaps we should just allow Bobby Robson to decide when Rob Lee and Alan Shearer should be consigned to the 'knackers yard' - perhaps all three of them can be booked in together!

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001

Good Grief Clarky! You forgot Softies alternative to the glue-pot! Wouldn't pastured out be better?

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001

Shearer and Lee still have plenty to contribute, but I also don't think they should be automatic selections. What's nice to see is that we finally have real options to change players to fit a situation. There will be games where need movement and pace, Lee and Shearer won't fit. On the other hand, when we need tougher, battling players, Shearer and Lee are perfect.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2001

Softie, was it you who did an analysis of matches won with Ferguson playing. If it was or whoever it was could you do one for Rob Lee as I have a feeling that we win more games with him than when he is not playing even in the last three years. I may be wrong, it's just a feeling

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Well I just hope Bobby Lee isnt reading any of this. OK hes getting on a bit but Id certainly have him in the sqaud even if he only comes off the bench to help us hold onto a win. And I bet hell have a sellout at his testimonial.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

These fellas don't play for us out of the goodness of their hearts, I do not think Rob Lee is worth the 25k+ week he currently draws. If you want to prepare for the future then the younger players need regular games and Rob Lee is currently in the way. I have countless fond memories of past achievements, but the key word there is past. This is a forum for opinions and that's mine. You're welcome to a different interpretation but it won't stop me singing my own song.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

And anyway, look how Dyer reacted when many of us were ready to flog him.

Off to look up glue factories.... ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

I love the General but I also love the team and want lads like Nobby and Dyer to stay because the club is surrounding them with other great players who will see us mount a sustainable challenge to the title. I don't think Rob is part of that. However, I would walk through sharpened, molten coal to go to his testimonial. He can still do a job for us now and then, too.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Dougal, if it's molten, it's hardly likely to be sharpened as well. More likely just bliddy hot. However, whatever turns you on.............

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Rob Lee is just the sort of experienced professional you would want in a good squad, and I don't think £25K per week is too much if we have ambitions. He can't play a full season anymore, and there are others who should be before him in the pecking order in a first choice XI. But attitude and experience shouldn't be overlooked, and neither should the understanding he has built up with his fellow players. At least with Rob, when the time comes, you know he'll be ready for it and give his all. And let's not forget his performances as sweeper ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Reports of Rob Lee's demise have clearly been a tad premature. He still has something to offer.

£25k a week? Scandalous. Still he's given better value than Cort & Shearer over the past month!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

A better football brain than all of us on here put together doesn't think Rob "Superglue" Lee is finished, and that's the most important opinion.
However, for completeness and my peace of mind, I'd like to know who it is - apart from Acuna and Speed - that should be playing in preference to RL in central midfield, ie ignoring Solano.
Just who are all these younger players who's development is being retarded by Lee's continuing selection?

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Clarky - Presumably Bassedas and Gavilan?

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

But I guess the glue-meister will let us know!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Well it certainly isn't Gavilan.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001