They were showing loads of his great goals and he spoke of the honour of captaining Newcastle United. He also said that fans are always going up to him saying "The team was better when you were there". Hmm.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Answers

Frankly, the team would still be better if he was there.
I read an article recently about him taking his coaching qualifications under the FA Fast-Track scheme that AS is supposed to be undergoing.
He was has to get practical experience coaching professionals, and was praising Boro for assisting him in this (also praising their magnificent training facilities!).
He alluded obliquely to some disappointment that he hadn't been able to assist the Club he really loves. However, the real message was very clear.
I felt embarrassed that NUFC have treat their greatest player over the last twenty years with such disdain and disrespect.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

It's an NUFC thing, Clarky - from the way they cast aside the great Colin Veitch, to humiliating Wor Jackie, to letting Shearer play when his leg is hanging off. It's the reason they don't commit to youth training and local lads. They have no respect for people who love the club. Just watch, we'll move heaven and earth to keep Dyer even if he won't commit but the second anyone makes a half-decent offer for Aaron, they'll flog him. Despairing? Yes.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Dougal, get the blinkers off, Bobby didn't want Pedro near the first team

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

And you base that assumption on what precisely?

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

And let's face it, his efforts for the England first team, weren't great (although that isn't the point).

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Ps. What I mean is, there is a historical pattern of treating our great players badly whereas as far as I'm aware, there is not a whit of evidence that Bobby has been involved in any decision-making about Pedro. So, like who has the blinkers?

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

I don't recall there being any suggestion of Pedro getting involved with the 1st team - BR already has full coaching team in place.

The idea mooted was for Peter to coach the kids. I can't think of anyone better respected, and more likely to assist in attracting the best talent, local and otherwise, to SJP.

OK, at this point he isn't a fully qualified coach - however, surely it wouldn't have been unreasonable for his Club to have assisted him in this goal, rather than him having to beg the Smoggies for the opportunity to gain the necessary experience?

Frankly, it stinks, but then nothing really surprises me about NUFC any more.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Peter and Daveed are the two greatest players I've seen for us in the last 35 years of watching the lads. I love Peter.
I don't think he has the words - the communication skills - to coach.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Pedro was offered to be involved with the kids, Pedro turned it down as he wanted to be involved with the seniors. Now if the board were to ride roughshod over Bobby’s recruitment of coaching staff there would be hell on. We’re getting into the trap of saying everything the board do is wrong. We can’t offer every ex-player a job for the sake of it.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Great players don't always make great coaches, and he didn't exactly turn the England team into winners with Keegan did he?

Pedro was a god on the pitch, and a fine embassador for NUFC off it. But for a man of his stature training kids is below him, and he's a lot to prove if he wanted to train 1st / reserve teams.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see him back at SJP. Just make sure he's coming back properly and for the right reasons.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001