I'm writing this just after the game and I'm really angry. If I were Bobby Robson, I would cancel the trip to La Manga and I'd make them work in the sluice room at the RVI next week. In fact, were it possible without the PFA coming down on the club like a ton of bricks, I'd dock them a fortnight's wages and tell them they weren't getting paid 'til they not only won a match but displayed a bit of passion and commitment. I'd also very probably drop the lot of them for the Man City game and play the bairns instead.

I can take the Toon losing. Jesus, I've had plenty of experience. But what really hurt was that hardly any of them deserved the shirt today. They've had loads of time off recently so tiredness can no longer be used as an excuse. The Charlton lads played in the Cup during the week and probably were knackered. The difference is, they wanted it more. Being out of the Cup has cost us any sort of continuity and momentum and I'd bet that we'll be even worse in a fortnight's time. Presumably our lot don't want to play in Europe next season and they clearly don't care a b....k for the hundreds of fans who travelled hundreds of miles, spending money they can't afford, to watch them. I'm furious, and I only had about 5 miles to get back. What those lads who have to get back to Newcastle are feeling, God only knows. I know that I'm incredibly lucky that my income and lack of family responsibilities means that I can follow the lads all over so please don't think this is a personal whinge: it's on behalf of the hordes who were at King's Cross at lunchtime, making the air beautiful with their singing. And why the team has to save humiliating us for when we are on Sky and being watched by millions is anyone's guess as well.

I imagine that anyone who wasn't at the game saw it on Sky, so I won't go into too much narrative or analysis. However, I can't pick up a single positive from the game except that we drew the second half.....

Given - kicking awful but made one or two good saves so he can stay Barton - utter cack. Sorry Warren, you attitude will only compensate for your crapness so far...... Marcelino - diabolical, cowardly crap, get rid of this tosser, he actually managed to make me wish Dabs was back.. Hughes - Ok, I'm biased but I thought he was just about OK but nowhere near the player he can be and I can't think of any real excuses for him other than having a central defensive partner who couldn't defend against my Aunt Maud (who has two false hips and a Zimmer frame). Quinn - not good enough for Newcastle Breweries let alone a Premiership side. We will no doubt buy him. Solano - stop believing your own publicity, eh? Acuna - Jesus - Gallacher did better but I can't take too much comfort from an old man in football terms being our best player. Lee - Off the pace. Less General, more Sister Mary. Speed - Did he play? Seriously, did he? Dyer - Bolical as the press will no doubt say tomorrow. Was Sven-Goran watching? Would struggle to get called up for the England B team on that performance. Ameobi - Started well but gave up. Don't think we should be too harsh on him, though.

I don't care about the late rally. By that stage, a team assembled so expensively as ours and supported with such passion, should have been about 4 up and the Charlton goals or attacks should have been mere sideshows. I've said it before and I know it winds a lot of you up but I honestly think we will do nowt until the spine of our team has come through the youth team together so they are prepared to go into valley of the shadow (or even just the Valley) and do battle. The other thing we lacked, and I know I'm always saying this too, is leadership. No one was prepared to take responsibility today. You have to point the finger at people at Lee, Barton and Speed for this glaring gap in the team. Do you know, I'm glad we're not playing next weekend? Last weekend, I travelled to Newcastle, the game was called off and I had loads of fun in the pub with the lads and lasses. This week, I travelled five miles, the game went ahead and I feel like crap. And furthermore, I can barely bring myself to send the letter I drafted to Freddy Shepherd, saying "We want the support to match the magnificent efforts of the players...". Feck off, they deserve to play on a cabbage patch in front of one man and his Golden Retriever. Also, we were singing our lungs out for parts of that game and it made not one bit of difference to the performance.

And if anyone wants to say I'm not a supporter for being so negative, there's every likelihood I'll cyber-tw*t them. I was singing me lungs out at the Valley. Yes, I know how well we played against Leeds and Man United and I was as delighted as anyone but there's a common denominator there - Leeds and Man U are great teams and we raise our games to play them whereas we surrender abjectly to the likes of Charlton. Europe? Possibly in pre-season friendlies.

As usual though, lovely to see the Toon Army out and about and there was a lot of hilarity in my area about Marcelino which made me smile. Also, the bloke I went with is a real Billy Deep Pockets and organised a Dial A Cab for us so I didn't have the trek to and from the Valley by public transport....

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Answers

I really don't want to set any alarm bells ringing but Bobby looked almost ill at the end. The thing is, the lads out there today could and should have put more effort in for him and I think he looked hurt that they hadn't. I hope he is all right.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Bobby Seemed OK on Sky when he finally emerged from the dressing room after "telling them some harsh truths" Dougal - thoroughly brassed off, yes; a little tired, maybe. But he was basically echoing the same sentiments you are.
'arry Redknapp even said afterwards "...good honest assessment. Bobby said what I didn't dare to say".

Some priceless comments in your Report:

"Lee - Off the pace. Less General, more Sister Mary...!"
"The other thing we lacked ... is leadership. No one was prepared to take responsibility today. You have to point the finger at Lee, Barton and Speed for this glaring gap in the team".
"if anyone wants to say I'm not a supporter for being so negative, there's every likelihood I'll cyber-tw*t them!"

However, I think your most telling and accurate comment was "The difference is, they wanted it more!" Sadly so.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Clarky, it was maimly his demeanour in his touchline patrols but, to be fair, even when we are winning, he's never like leaping around with glee.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Giving the players marks out of ten, only Given and Ameobi get more than 3 or 4. Nothing, absolutely nothing of worth in the whole game. The team did nothing skillful in the whole 90 minutes.

They had that 20 year old Parker in midfield demolishing the great players that are Lee, Speed, Acuna and Solano (and Dyer).

I've tried to think of something positive, anything at all, but I really can't.

We do have 37 points, and it really should be enough to stay up. We therefore shoudl sacrifice those talented players like Speed, Barton, Lee and Marcelino. These player did nothing, not a single thing worthy of their place, therefore there would be no loss in them not being in the team. Caldwell MUST play from now to the end of the season. If we have the potential to lose Goma then fuck him as well. Picking Barton ahead of Griffin is culpable madness from Robson. Barton tries, he pulls hair, but he's crap, and he always has been. Speed got away with it for a while when he was scoring goals but now that's gone his general contribution shows through. Rob Lee is a game a month guy.

You are supposed to lean on your senior players, ours are just plain crap. Who has been good over the last 6 weeks or so ? Dyer and Ameobi, today Charlton knew that was it and Dyer never got the ball.

I worry about Shearer coming back cos suddenly we'll have him to add to the list, and Ameobi who is far more mobile and willing will end up back on the bench.

Today was crap, we looked 11 players short of a decent squad.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Dougal agreed all round: I took the lass to the game & her naive comment rang some bells. Of Lee she said he looks old & slow - Isn't that what Gullit said? I have to question, was Speed a good buy? Did we not sell Lee Clark & Ginola for less than he cost - great judgement. Lua Lua needs to be told that this is not the third division. Shola would have been better to start alongside Gallager. Quinn is not up to scratch. Barton must be used as cover only. Acuna was OK Marcelino wasn't that bad.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Except when we score against MoanU. ;-)

From the shots shown on tv, I didn't think Bobby looked ill. Just furious and a bit depressed by the end. I feel so badly for him and don't think he's the one that should do the apologizing. Dyer owned up after Spurs. Whoever was captain today should have faced the cameras and apologized to us on behalf of the team.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Are the continued selections of Barton and Speed and Lee political?

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

If it is, can I demand a recount?

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Nah, you can't even demand a refund..

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Today was crap, we looked 11 players short of a decent squad.

I take it that was a typo, I reckon it shoudl have said: Today was crap, we looked 11 players short of a decent TEAM.

Bobby did have some harsh words to say after, read then at THE DAILY TOON The worlds BEST Toon website

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Dougal, well done m`lady, superb match report , the best you have ever done and so right, amongst the posts someone asked, `Is the selection of Lee, Barton , Speed a political one?, I have my worries on this too and have said so on here many times. The worry I have now if Bobby continues to select the above , this may lead to frustration amongst the likes of Griffin etc. The writing was on the wall at early doors, if they were unable to scrap it out with S/lun at home thinking they could do it at places like the Valley, no way

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

In Today's Torygraph, Robson is quoted as saying something along the lines of, "I don't care if a player says to me I've got a certain number on my back, or I play for my country"

Are certain players actually coming out with this?? Has Robson gone to La Manga? Can he motivate the team before a match?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

100% agreement Dougal. I was too depressed to even log on last night when I got back. That is the worst Toon performance I've seen since the late 70's/early 80's .... and we've had some 'mares since then!

I will exonerate Given from any blame as he couldn't do anything with the 2 goals and saved us a couple of times. The rest were complete cack. Injuries to blame? Anyone who thinks that having Shearer up front instead of Ameobi would make any difference is deluding themselves.

No pace
No width
No movement
No belief
No guts
No hope

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Shearer up front WITH Amoebi would have made a difference. We couldn't keep possession yesterday and whatever Shearer's faults, he does not give the ball away too often. He's probably the best passer of a ball we have.

I am coming round to the school of thought that Solano is a 'home game only' man and we cannot afford to play him away from home.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I have to disagree with you DB. The problem was not the front men holding the ball up but the midfield being unable to a) get the ball to them and b) support them. Late in the game a cross came in and only Marcellino was in their penalty area. Nearest midfielder 30 yards away. This was not a set piece so I assume Marcellino decided to show the midfield what they should have been doing.

Many times I've watched the same gutless performance yield the same result WITH Shearer in the team.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Fair point Geordie. The midfield were a bit clueless yesterday and only in the second half did they pass the ball for a few minutes. Too late though as Robson said.

What gets my goat is that other teams seem to have so much more formation, discipline and balance than our team, and then there's the determination!

Supposedly poorer players but in a well balanced, structured formation would suit us better. At least that way the defence may know if a midfield is going to be there to help them, and letsface it they need help.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

DeBuilder, you ask, `can Bobby motivate the team before a match?` Well it certainly didn`t look like it yesterday, and I can`t for the life of me understand why. Am I missing something? Am I being too sentimental about Bobby? Personally I think his passion, his wealth of experience, and his commitment to the Toon is truly inspirational. But, from the comments in the Telegraph it may be that he is having problems dealing with one or two `egos`. Maybe some of the players don`t respect him, and if there are some who don`t, then we really are in trouble.

Where are they off to? La Manga? Or is it La Mancha? Wasn`t that were Don Quixote tilted at windmills.......................hmm, maybe our man knows just what that feels like at the minute. (:o|

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

That is what is so puzzling. Robson has dealt with some of the biggest ego's in his time during his career and has dealt with more players than probably any other manager in the Premiership. His range of man-management skills should be such that our bunch shouldn't be a problem.

I would stop giving players the day off in midweek that they seem to get so readily.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Robson in Saturday's Journal

"With my experience, knowledge and work ethic I would have expected to be able to coach a team which, one day, could get through a game without conceding a goal.

"It annoys me intensely because we have done as much as we can on the training pitch to try to rectify the situation and yet we still fail.

"It would please me enormously if we could win a match and not concede a goal and it's fair to say there's a heavy responsibility on the players to earn that clean sheet.

"Once they're out there, I can't do a thing. When the corners are being slung in I can't jump out of my dug-out and head it clear. I'm pretty quick but I'm not that quick."

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

While we are getting stuff off our chests, is anyone as worried as I am about Wadsworth's influence?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

All I've heard in the lead up to the Charlton match was "Talented young coach" and the rest about Wadsworth, somebody clearly thinks he can do a job, including Robson.

He just looked bewildered yesterday. Christ, even Phil Thompson gets on the touchline and swears at the players if they aren't pulling their weight. Houllier - Brains - Thompson - Brawn.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Dougal wonders about Wadsworth's influence?

Under the influence of a couple of pints of Wadsworth's, most people wander a little

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

What are the alternatives?

Jamie Theakston?

Someone with real Pedigree?

Or just somebody who is Old Peculiar?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I know I've said it before but the way the Col U fans feel about him worries me.. I mean, we think we hate TSM..

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I can accept that Wadsworth may have been a crap manager but he can be a good coach. However, we are not really bearing the fruits at the minute.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

"We are not really bearing the fruits at the moment". Great way of putting it, DB.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Dougal wrote on the match thread that Keegan used to tell his players that they were the best. He was right. They were. Imagine your the opposing coach and dare planning to meet Shearer/ Ferdinand up front, with Ginola, Beardsley, Lee and Batty in support. Do we really think that even the best team we can now field measures up to that squad. The problem in Keegan's day was that Peacock and Barton were so vulnerable. We still have Barton, making the same mistakes, despite his commitment and endeavours, and Marcellino was worse than Peacock at his worst. Dalglish broke up a great team, perhaps Robson should now break up this one which is mediocre at best.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Well, frankly I think YBR should take a LOT of the blame for yesterday. Tactics - where were they? Last season we were playing a right-side heavy 4-3-1-2 type of team. This season - who knows? Last season we played with 2 central midfielders - Lee and Speed. This season we play with 3 and still can't control the midfield. Either they are getting in each other's way (yesterday and most matches this season) or they're letting the ball pass happily down the wings (every match). Bobby has to rethink - it's not working but as the manager the buck stops with HIM. Blame the players all you want but - apart from trying to do their individual job on the pitch - they can't do much towards the team.

I don't think losing Steve Clark in the summer was good for our off-the-ball movement. At least Gullit knew about how that was supposed to work.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001